CB Mike Ford Jr. (11.13.23)
We always talk about next man up and how important that is. For you to actually be able to execute that on the field and perform when your numbers called. How does that make you feel in that moment in a game day?
“It’s a great feeling just being able to be out there and have my teammates back. That’s my role on this team, is to always be there and be able to have their backs. So it was just great being able to have that opportunity and show those guys that I’m there for.”
What was going through your mind on that big play, in that crucial moment when you were able to get that pick?
“Man, it just went in my hand. I was like, man, it’s the first one. Let’s celebrate a little bit. Then I saw Za’Darius (Smith) and he’s like, give me the ball, give me the ball. I’m like, all right, I handed him the ball so that I can have that in the office and then just go celebrate with my team. Bring a little energy out there for the guys.”
You guys played from behind the entire afternoon. Pretty much spent almost all the game down double-digit scores. What is it about this team where you guys don’t allow mistakes to snowball, and you guys find a way to respond to them in a very positive fashion?
“We play a sport where it’s more than 30 plays. On offense, they’re going to get about 30 [or] 40. Defense, we’re going to get about 30, 40. So you can’t hang your head on one because you have 39 more to go. So, it’s really about seeing what the mistake was, correcting it on the field, correcting it on the sideline, getting back out there, getting the job done, and just being together.”
And I saw the video after the game in the locker room with Kevin Stefanski congratulating you guys but said next week’s the biggest game of your lives. And then he tried to say he had no idea who you were playing. This one, having to put such a great win behind you guys so quickly to get ready for yet another crucial game against the Steelers that could weigh heavily on your divisional prospects. Just touch on that and just the mentality you guys have to have now.
“I think we come into that game with the same mindset that we come into every game. It’s a big game because it’s the next game. Every game is a big game. Every game matters. So, we don’t want to get too high. We don’t want to get too low. We want to stay consistent, know, prepare, and come to work.”
Hey, Mike, just to go back to the interception, you know the Ravens on that drive, get the ball with just over a minute left. Like, as you’re going for that play, how much of it is on your mind to get a stop here so they don’t double dip essentially?
‘Yeah. I mean, it’s a big thing. Anytime that you’re out there, we want to at least try and get that ball back to our offense, take the ball away, stop them from getting points. So it’s no different than any other drive. It’s just more so right now, it means a little bit more because they got the opportunity to double-dip. So we just go out there and we’re like, as every other drive, let’s go make a play. And it just so happened my number was called and I was able to be there for my team.”
We got to see your aggressiveness there, but it feels like we’ve seen your aggression all year on special teams, and some of the coverage stops you get and things like that. So just your mentality coming here, how this year has gone for you and how you’ve tried to maybe up the ante in terms of mentality here for the larger group.
“Oh, yeah. If I’m not mistaken, I’m pretty sure me and you spoke at the beginning of the season about coming to the Dawg Pound and bringing that to them, and that’s just who you know. So, I just wanted to show what I said was who I truly am.”
Hey, Mike, on that hit on Lamar (Jackson) right before the interception on the sideline, were you worried that you might get flagged for that?
“No, I wasn’t worried. I felt as if he was still in bounds. I feel like he didn’t get a clear foot out of bounds. He had not let up yet. When I was looking at it and I was coming down to make the hit, it’s kind of as if he had lowered his shoulder on me a little bit. So, it was more so, like, I just felt like we were playing football.”
And then coach and you guys talk so much about resilience. How do you develop that?
“It’s just something you practice. You put your guys in those situations and you kind of let them grow from those situations, learn how to deal with those situations, and then over time, that becomes part of your personality.”
Hey, Mike, can you talk about the camaraderie you guys have on defense? I mean Myles Garrett gets big headlines, but every one of you guys seems to step up and make plays.
“Oh, yeah. I mean, we bond. Like, this is probably the most team bonded wise I’ve been on as a team. We all just link up really well. We come together really well. And it’s just being there and being able to spend this time together and be together so much. You develop emotions for guys. You develop feelings for guys. And when you have feelings for your teammates and you care about those guys, you don’t want to let them down. So, I feel like that’s part of the thing. Like, when a guy makes a play, if you care about him, you know what I’m saying? You’re going to celebrate with him. So, I feel like we all care about each other, and it’s just the camaraderie is great here. I love it.”
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