CB Denzel Ward (10.16.23)
Hey, Denzel, what can a win like yesterday do for you guys, shutting down what many believe to be one of the best offenses in the NFL?
“Yeah, it was a huge win. Those guys were undefeated, and we are looking forward to the matchup to kind of see where we were ourselves in matching up against those guys and just come out and try to find a way to get that win. So, definitely plan to build on top of the victory we had yesterday and keep it rolling.”
Coach (Kevin Stefanski) has talked about continuing to fight no matter what. That’s the attitude Jim Schwartz has really tried to instill in you guys as well. Do you feel like that on your side of the ball? You’re kind of setting the tone and the personality of this team this year?
“I believe so. I think we’ve taken a lot of pride on the defensive side of trying to set the tone for this team and set the pace, bringing the energy and just going out there, making plays and trying to put our offense in great positions and just doing what we’re supposed to, doing our job on our side of the field to help us get the win. So, I think we definitely are taking a lot of pride in that.”
Hey, Denzel. You guys have talked to us a lot about MJ Emerson and his growth since he got here. For him to get his first career interception, what was that moment like for you guys out there, celebrating it with him?
“Oh, man, that was special. MJ, he’s been playing elite. He’s definitely been one of the biggest reasons we’ve been able to get the wins that we got so far. He’s been playing great ball, locking his side of the field down, and had a big play yesterday. And like you said, that interception. So, it was special for him to get his first one and like you said, us being able to cheer him on and go out there, celebrate, take pictures and everything on the field. So, it was exciting. It was fun to see.”
What does that moment do for you, the rest of you, as a defense, when you’re looking to capitalize on that turnover battle week in and week out?
“Oh, man, that’s huge. I mean, that got us going. You get that interception, that just keeps the crowd going, keeps the energy going in the stadium. That gets me excited. I’m like, man, I got to go out there, try to get myself an interception out there. Can’t let MJ beat me on the interception board out there. So, it’s been fun. It gets us all going and gets the team together. So, looking forward to trying to get some more takeaways out there and help this team win.
Denzel, are you involved in sort of the little best defense in the world campaign that Greg (Newsome) was talking about it and some of the other guys are kind of circulating that a little bit? What can you tell us about that?
“Yeah. That’s our goal, is to be number one, to be that best defense. We went against who you guys considered the best offense yesterday, and they were a great offense. And I feel that we’ve been showcasing what we’re capable of week in and week out, and we got to continue to stay consistent. But I think we got all the guys and got all the coaches and everything that we need to be that number one defense, and we got to just go out there, continue to show that.”
Hey, Denzel, way back in minicamp, Rodney McLeod called Jim Schwartz a culture changer, and I wondered if you agree with that, and if you do, how has the culture of the defense changed and what is it? Is it ongoing or is it complete?
“I think it’s definitely building. But to answer your question, initially, I think Coach Schwartz, he’s definitely came in and put the culture of this defense and this entire team on an up-and-up track, for sure. He’s instilled a lot of things into me, I think into this team that guys have been feeding off of, whether that’s the energy, the communication out there, just guys playing together, just his system that he’s brought in and just who he is as a person and just having guys wanting to play for him and play for this team. So, he’s definitely done a lot since his time being here, and he’s a great coach.”
We’re only in the 6th week of the season. Where does the defense go from here to better?
“I think we got to just take things a step at a time, not looking too far ahead. Just focus on this next week, focus on the next day, next practice, watch the film, see what we got to get better at because we’re not perfect out there. We still let some plays slip by. So just focusing on those details and seeing what we got to do to get better on that end.”
Hey, Denzel, it looked like you and (Brandon) Aiyuk were locked up for a while there in that pregame scuffle. What was going on?
“I think that those guys just came out trying to be disrespectful, and for us, I think we just got zero tolerance level of disrespect. I just don’t think that we were really having that and they wanted to make it a fist fight. I think were going to come out swinging and that’s just our mindset going in. So I don’t think it was too much. It was what it was after that. Got out there on the field, locked in, and played our game.
And then after the game, Greg (Newsome) thought that you really impacted the field goal at the end with your speed off the edge. Did you get that sense?
“Yeah, a little bit, but a little disappointed, though, in myself because I feel this team is going to need me to get my hands on those balls and be able to block one of those kicks to help this team win. So I got to go back and watch that film and see what I could do to make it not even get as close as it was and not even let the ball get there. So I think I got to be better on that unit and better for my guy. So next time I’m in that position, find a way to block it.”
Hey, Denzel, I want to ask you about that play, too. What was your emotions like when that whole thing was unfolding? Relatively short field goal and then elation or nervous, or how was that whole 3 seconds?
“Wait, say that one more time for me.”
The kick. What were your emotions like? Were you nervous then elated, obviously, or how was that all unfolding?
“So before the play, actually, I remember Rod (Rodney McLeod) saying, ‘hey, just keep hope, keep faith’, and the game’s not over yet. We still got one more play. So the focus was just play this play as hard as you can. Everybody come off hard and try to find a way to affect the kick and go block the kick. And so it was just a lot of emotions during time, but just really just trying to stay focused and keyed in on playing that final play as hard as you can and find a way to help this thing win.”
And then so when it did go through, you guys were relieved. It would’ve been crushing, I would think, to lose that game as hard as you played.
“Yeah, we got the win. So that was the biggest thing you could say, relieved. But, yeah, we worked so hard to put ourselves in position to win that game and make plays in that game. So it was definitely a great feeling to be able to come away with a victory.”
Denzel, San Francisco walked right down the field in a blink of an eye on that opening drive. I think they had like 84, 85 yards on it. But the rest of the game, you guys only gave up around 130 or so. Just what changed for you guys in that moment after they scored that touchdown? And really, you guys seem to be dialed in for the most part from there on in.
“Yeah, I mean, you guys see that they’re a great offense as well. Like I said, they’re number one in a lot of those categories and being able to move the ball downfield and put points up on the board. And they showcased that on that first drive, being able to drive down the field and get points away. But our team did a great job of being able to key in and get our cues and do what we got to do to take care of business for the rest of the time and try to eliminate as many points as possible and help this team.”
Are you guys ready for some of the positive attention you’re going to get with this defense that you’re playing? A couple of guys mentioned that you were well aware no one was picking you to win that game yesterday and you kind of took that a little personally and things like that. But now today, everyone’s talking about the great defense that you’re playing this season. Are you guys ready for some of that positive attention?
“Yeah, I think we’re ready. But like you said, I think that is a big thing, being able to accept criticism but also accept compliments and good as well, but not looking too much into it and just focusing on really what you need to focus on. Regardless of what everyone’s saying, we still got to go out there, do our job and execute.”
Hey, Denzel, we heard that Coach (Jim) Schwartz showed you guys some boxing matches last week. What kind of impact did that have on everybody?
“It was huge. I mean, it was going to be a brawl out there. We knew it was going to be just like two heavyweight matches, a high power offense and a high powered defense and just getting us prepared and getting our mind in there that we’re going to have to go out there and fight and do everything we can to go out there and get a victory, get the win. They’re going to throw some punches and they’re going to make some plays here and there, but just not falling down like you hit the canvas, get right back up and find a way to throw them back and make plays to help this team win.”
You mentioned before that Rodney said for you guys to keep hope before that last kick. That was the kind of game the Browns have typically lost in years past. What does it mean to kind of have the breaks finally go your way?
“Yeah, it feels good. Like I said, we put in a lot of hard work, offense, defense, special teams to put ourselves in position to win games and get there. So for us to come out with the win, it means a lot to get a win for this city and win for this team and keep our hopes alive and keep it rolling.”
Yeah, Denzel, two things real quick. First of all, is a Victory Monday a pretty big deal for you guys? Does that feel really good to get that? And then also, how much of a lift will it be for you guys if you show up for practice on Wednesday and Denzel’s back out there, I mean, and Deshaun (Watson) is back out there? How much will it be a lift if you can get Deshaun back?
“Yeah, we definitely love Victory Mondays, so definitely looking forward to that and being able to just take care of your bodies and you got the win, got the victory and take care of those things. And with Deshaun, definitely looking forward to his return. We’re welcoming him back whenever he’s fully healthy and ready and that’ll be good for this team.”
Denzel, I saw a stat that you guys played like 70% man yesterday. And I know we’ve talked about Coach Schwartz wanting to do that, but when it’s that high a number, did you know that ahead of the game and what’s your reaction to playing that much?
“Yeah, he told us before the game all week. This is a game plan. We’re probably going to play predominantly man to man. We feel like we got the personnel, the players to match up with these guys and just seeing what they’re good at and seeing what we’re good at and how we could match up, that was the best game plan going into the game. So we just had to get our minds right mentally on what type of game that it was going to be. I think those guys did a great job of doing that and going out there and being able to lock their guys down and make plays and help this team win. I feel we got a great group of man to man corners and great D line, great safeties, everybody that could cover, guys that could rush and guys that could help this team win. So I think we compliment each other well”
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