LG Joel Bitonio (11.9.23)
Joel, what have your thoughts been on the way you guys have been able to sustain the running game without Nick (Chubb), kind of had to go to a back by committee approach?
“Obviously, Nick’s a huge component of our run game and he makes up for a lot of things that’s not perfectly blocked sometimes, but I think (Jerome) Ford, Reem (Kareem Hunt), Pierre (Strong) have done a good job in finding kind of their niche coming in and running. Last week, weren’t quite as successful as we wanted to. We knew our defense was going to play well, so we wanted to kind of ball control a little bit. We didn’t run as efficiently as we wanted to last week, but I think, guys are starting to understand where we want to hit the ball, where we want to find the rush lanes, and we’re trying to keep those guys fresh so they’re all around anywhere from like eight to 15 carries. I think that’ll be good for them.”
Helpful that all three of them kind of bring a different skill set? I mean, you got Kareem (Hunt) inside and feel like Jerome (Ford) can take it when he needs to.
“Yeah, it’s good. Like I said, with Nick (Chubb), you kind of have all that in one. But Reem, I think, understands his role and then Ford and Pierre (Strong) can take it the distance if they need to on those outside runs and things like that. So, it’s very complimentary and we’re still trying to get the fill, but I think we’ve been slowly progressing.”
You playing left guard on Sunday?
“We’ll see. No, we’re working through that right now. Obviously, Jed (Wills), a steady left tackle for us and losing a guy like that, luckily, it’s not as bad as could be, but we’re kind of figuring that out this week. We have a few new bodies in here, so we’re getting to know each other a little bit and get a little bit of extra work in.”
You’d feel comfortable? You played last, what was it, like, 2021?
“2021. Yes.”
You had to play, what, one or two games?
“Two games. I remember them. No, yeah, that was a few years ago, but I know Bill (Callahan) is working, trying to get our five best guys out there and we’ll kind of see how that plays out.”
I mean, this is bad timing. That kind of uncertainty against this defense isn’t it?
“Yeah. They are one of the best defenses in the league. They’ve been playing lights out lately. You just look at their last few games and they’ve been very dominant. The first time we played them, they did a good job with us and they’re very complimentary. They run a lot of games, picks, their backers are very good on the blitz, so it’s a tough challenge, especially at Baltimore. So, we’re trying to put in that extra work so we’re ready to go come Sunday.”
Joel, you had said five best guys, and I think that’s an interesting thought because you kind of hear two different schools, like, do you put your five best linemen and then figure it out, or do you try to find the five best guys at each position? When you’ve got so much uncertainty, how flexible do you have to be in a situation like that?
“Yeah, O Line’s one of those positions where, as the year goes, know you’re hopeful that everybody stays healthy, but it’s a tough position. So, I think Coach (Bill) Callahan has had a lot of experience with mixing and matching guys and keeping us ready for really, no matter what. COVID kind of helped with that too, because you had those random sicknesses, but it’s one of those things where you just stay ready for me, for Wyatt (Teller), for Po (Ethan Pocic), you’re trying to understand the whole playbook. So, if you do have to move out to tackle or do something differently, you kind of have an understanding of what’s going on out there and you can perform as well as you can.”
You’ve gone through seasons where, I don’t know if all five guys have made it through the whole season, but most of them are playing every snap. But just how unsettling is it to be the midway point and really not know who your two tackles are going to be?
“Obviously you were hoping at this point it was Jack (Conklin) and Jed (Wills) out there and then Dawand (Jones), he’s trying to fight and get back. So, it’s one of those things where we’re battling, and we know it’s football. Obviously, you’d rather have your first five out there for the continuity sakes, but we’re going to work this week and we’re going to try and do our best.”
When you saw Jed (Wills) and then Dawand (Jones) kind of miss time Sunday, are you thinking if something happens, I might have to go to tackle?
“Yeah. It’s always a contingency plan. I think – I don’t know how many it would be, but the third or fourth tackle on game days is usually me. So, I’m always ready if I have to go out there in a pinch, you know, on game day.
It felt like Jed (Wills) was playing maybe the best ball of his career the last month or so. Is that fair? Is that what you saw?
“Yeah, I think the last couple of weeks he really has really stepped up. I mean, he was good in pass pro. He was running the ball. I mean, there are a few times where he’s knocking guys down, finishing, helping other people out, really good energy. So, it was definitely unfortunate timing for him. And that’s football for you. It sucks, the injuries suck, but I think he was understanding what he had to do and really is playing some of his better football.”
What do you think happened there, Joel? To us, the guy’s playing much better. What do you think? What was the difference?
“I think for him it was just, each person is different, but he was getting in, I think a comfort. He was understanding. I mean, if you just look at his technique, I think it was slowly improving throughout the whole process. And there’s plays where to me he just had a good energy about himself and I don’t know where that comes from, but he was playing with a good energy. There were a few times when he was uncovered, and he was knocking my guy off and doing all those things. So, it was good. I think it’s just development. It takes time to play a line in this league and he was just taking those little steps.”
Amari (Cooper) described this offense as resilient. How have you seen the guys respond with the injuries and so much uncertainty happening?
“Yeah, very know anytime you lose your quarterback, you lose Nick (Chubb), you lose Jack (Conklin), Jed (Wills) now, guys have to step up and part of our mantra as a team is being resilient. So, we’ve really focused on that. No matter who’s out there, we got to put our best foot forward and really try and be resilient for it. But I think the group has done a good know. Our quarterbacks have come in on short weeks. Sometimes guys have picked them off the street and how to learn a new scheme. So, we’re really trying to fight through that and hopefully, as the season progresses, we can get some guys back and try and be at our best.”
What’s 92 (Justin Madubuike), right for Baltimore. What’s he doing so well to put up those numbers?
” Yeah, he’s explosive. He’s a powerful guy. I’m not going to say undersized because he’s like 200, 300 pounds, but he’s not a huge guy, you know what I mean? But he’s very explosive off the ball and he’s winning one-on-one matchups, too. But they have a great pick game and they do some things with their linebackers where he’s coming free a lot, but he’s relentless in the way he’s played and he’s really, I think over his four years there, he’s progressed. They’ve done a good job of kind of developing those guys, but he’s playing well. He plays hard, and he’s been capitalizing. You can get pressure and stuff, but he’s been capitalizing on those sacks and obviously leads the league I think tackles and sacks.”
What can you tell us about Leroy (Watson), what you’ve got to know about him? Just his game.
“Yeah, he’s athletic. He moves really well. I think he played tight end maybe in a past life, and he came from San Francisco. He had kind of that Shanahan system, which I played in this, so I kind of talked to him about that a little bit. He was there with Trent, and he’s still developing, but you can see all the traits are there, like the athleticism, and the smarts, and he’s been fun to work with. He runs around pretty good out there, so it’s good to see him out on the field.”
Want to ask you about Amari’s (Cooper) performances. Is he as steady as he seems? It feels like no matter what he’s catching these balls, he’s just kind of the same guy.
“Yeah, him and Nick (Chubb) both, when they’re out there, you look in their eyes, we can be up 20, we can be down 20, and they’re just the same guy no matter what. At practice, at games, they’re so focused on the next play and just doing the thing. And I think anytime we have a big third down or something, you’re looking like, all right, is Amari going to make this play for us? He just comes up with it. Even when he looks like he’s banged up or something, he’s back out there two plays later and just does the same thing over time. But I think he’s been such a steady presence for the receiver room and for the offense all year.”
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