CB Denzel Ward (9.28.23)
What is kind of the extra attention you have to give a guy like Lamar (Jackson) because of what he’s able to do? What does he cause for corners like you guys?
“Yeah, I mean he causes a lot of problems. You guys see the type of player that Lamar is. Able to make plays with his feet and with his arms. So potentially having to cover guys longer than usual and not letting any guys run free off of second chances. So just staying tight in coverage and getting a good rush on Lamar and being able to get him down.”
As aggressive as you guys have been under Jim (Schwartz) these first three games, do you have to rein that in at all because it’s Lamar (Jackson) and because he’s got that escape ability and ability to hurt you with his legs?
“He’s a great player, but I don’t think we can take away from who we are and what we’re good at. I think we still got to attack and be that fast, physical defense that we are. Can’t let guys on other teams get us out of character, away from who we are so we still got to go out there and attack.”
What do you see in Zay Flowers? 21 catches in three games.
“Yeah, little quick guy able to make plays after the catch. Definitely a guy that we’re going to have to lock into when he’s out there on the field. Big play guy for those guys able to stretch the field.”
Where does he (Zay Flowers) line up?
“He lines up everywhere. So I mean, just got to see where he’s at and lock him down, make a play on him.”
In the secondary, you guys are breaking up a lot of passes and able to be more physical with the receivers. How much is the pressure that Myles (Garrett)and Za’Darius (Smith) and Dalvin (Tomlinson), they’re getting up front, allowing you guys to do even more than you normally would be able to do in the secondary?
“Yeah man, those guys are big. I mean, the rush and coverage work together. It’s all those guys. Ogbo (Okoronkwo), like you said, Dalvin, Myles, Z, all those guys. Alex Wright, those guys have been playing huge for us and being able to get the ball out, put pressure on the quarterbacks, not giving them great windows to throw in. And guys on the back end, MJ (Emerson), Greg (Newsome II), Grant (Delpit), those guys been able to make plays and work together, so it’s been good.”
Are you looking forward to seeing Odell (Beckham) if he plays in this game and what does Odell do so well?
“It doesn’t really matter to me who’s out there playing. Like I said, our focus is going in and finding a way to win this game. I think it’s about us and we just got to go out there, attack and focus on what we got to focus on and that’s us and what we got to do to win.”
What does he (Odell Beckham) do well though, just in terms of what makes him such a good receiver?
“Yeah, a great receiver. Got great hands, great routes, able to make a play after catch.”
Does he (Odell Beckham) look back to form? I know he didn’t play in the Colts game. Have you looked back at some of his games?
“He’s like I said, great receiver, able to make plays after the catch, and definitely a guy we got to lock into and could change the game. So like I said, we got to do our part in taking care of those guys and find a way to win the game.”
Does he (Odell Beckham) look as quick as before.
“Like I said, he’s a great receiver, so he’s going to do what he has to do out there and able to make those big plays. So, yeah, he’s quick.”
With you individually, I guess, watching you this season. To go back to the aggressiveness question, do you feel like you’ve reached another level with that and some of the plays you’re able to make and the skills you’re able to use just because of this system and how it works?
“Yeah. Coach (Jim) Schwartz, he’s brought in a great system that I feel a lot of us, a lot of guys are flourishing in. Playing fast, physical out there and able to attack. So, I mean, we’re not where we want to be yet. I think we still got to build on the foundation that we set, but I think we’re on a good track, though.”
The Ravens made the change in offensive coordinator in the offseason. How has that changed their passing game?
“It changed a little bit, I think just on the type of throws that they’re having Lamar (Jackson) make and don’t want to get into it too much, but I have seen some changes out there with Lamar and the team compared from this year and last year. They’re doing a great job.”
As good as you guys are playing on defense and as aggressive as you guys are playing, are you surprised you only have two turnovers?
“Yeah, we’d definitely like to get more turnovers, but we’re still getting stops, whether that’s fourth down stops, considered a turnover and still making plays on the ball. So, I think those turnovers will come. But as long as we’re still locking guys down, getting pressure on the quarterback, getting sacks, doing what we’re supposed to do to help the team win, I think we’ll be good.”
You were here when Todd Monken was here as OC in ‘19, I believe. Is there any crossover between what he was doing here and what you see Baltimore doing now?
“Yeah, similarities. Some similarities out there. So, I said they got a great offense and we got a challenge up for this week that we got go out there and execute.”
Under Coach (Kevin) Stefanski, I think you guys have a plus seven above 500 record at home. Do you feel like that you guys are finally establishing somewhat of a home field advantage, like teams like the Chiefs and Seahawks enjoy?
“Yeah, I think we always had a home field advantage, so definitely take a lot of pride in playing at home and defending our stadium in front of our fans. They’ve been great as well, our fans. Just the competitiveness out of our fans, the loudness that has been on those third downs and on those stops. So definitely take a lot of pride and definitely looking forward to the game.”
I remember the game at Baltimore, you guys intercepted Lamar (Jackson) four times and then he threw the touchdown to win. And the game here in 2020 where he came out of the locker room and pulled that one out. Do you feel you guys owe him one? I mean, you’ve beaten the Ravens with that other guy in there, but how do you feel about just payback?
“Yeah, Lamar, he’s a great player. Great player for those guys, able to make a lot of plays. We got to find a way to finish on them and find a way to execute and play a complete game to not allow them to make those game winning plays, game winning touchdowns, game winning drives. So like I said, we got a bigger challenge ahead of ourselves, but he’s a great player and able to do things like that.”
How do you guys feel like you have kind of handled in-game adjustments and that communication?
“Yeah, I think it’s been good. I mean, we handle a lot of in-game adjustments. Actually, our coaches, every time we get off the field, going over plays and things that they’ve seen out there on the field and things that we got to correct out there. So, it’s constant communication even when we’re out there on the field and getting off. So, I think we’re all on the same page, and that’s allowing us to play fast.”
And how much is that going to play into going against a team that has a guy like Lamar Jackson who You might have to adjust to?
“Yeah, it’s going to be big. Like I said, once we’re out there on the field, we got to play fast. And then once we come over to the sideline, we got to make adjustments. We got to be able to listen up and communicate with one another fast and then get out there on the field and execute it.”
Is this as well as you played in your career?
“Potentially. Potentially. I’m not trying to look too much at how I’ve been playing. I’m just trying to go out there, find a way to win every time and do my job to the highest level that I can. But I’m just trying to execute and win. That’s it. That’s the main focus.”
You guys as the defense have played well all year long, but when you see the offense finally kind of come around and have a game like it did against Tennessee, what do you think that says about the future this season?
“Yeah, that just showing the potential that we have with this team. But I mean, potential hasn’t been touched yet, so I think that we still got to continue to build on top of the foundation that we have and play that complementary football. So, where defense is playing well, offense playing well, special teams and all play together and I think that puts us in a great position like you seen last week to win the game.”
Is this the best that you’ve seen Grant (Delpit) play since he’s been here?
“Yeah, Grant’s been balling. I believe so. I believe so. Grant’s been balling, a great player for us, making a lot of tackles, a lot of plays out there, interceptions. So, we’re going to need him to continue playing how he’s playing. So, he’s been playing great.”
Have you always kind of known that that’s been in there? He’s (Grant Delpit) just kind of been coming back from that injury?
“Yeah, definitely. You definitely saw that with Grant coming out of college and then just in practice and everything. Just the plays that he’s able to make, the range back there in the post he’s able to make and his physicality in the run game. So, he’s a playmaker out there on the field for us.”
What kind of boost is getting Greg Newsom back in the secondary?
“Man, that’s huge. I think Greg is the best nickel, best corner in the NFL. So that’s huge getting him back and we’re going to need him as well. Need all of us to keep building on what we got going.”
What’s the key to this defense continuing to play consistently well week in and week out no matter who the opponent is?
“Oh, I think it’s just not changing. We have to continue to stick to the basics and what we’ve been doing. Communicating, practice, meetings and just not changing what we do and not changing for other people. Just doing what we do.”
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