Cornerbacks Coach Brandon Lynch (12.6.24)
What has it been like for you to soak in and watch Denzel Ward and the season that he’s having given, especially a couple of plays he made the other night on Monday night. But just what has it been like the whole season long?
“Yeah, you know what, he’s a young player that’s consistent. We’ve always talked about how work is important to him. I think that you really see his attention to detail, his urgency to execute and really just serve. It’s really embodied in the award that he just got from the team. But you see it all amongst the group. You see it on defense, you see it on special teams and our offense. So really that’s just a residue of him just being excellent.”
Jim (Schwartz) yesterday said that interception that he had to reach back for was one of the best that he’s ever seen. Denzel said it didn’t quite match up to the pick-six against Cincy (Cincinnati Bengals) three years ago. Where does it rank for you in terms of Denzel plays or all-time interceptions?
“I think expect the expected. And expect great things from great people and players. So, it definitely ranks really, really high up there. But at this point in his career, you really expect him to really come down with those plays and really finish and help the team.”
What about the play he made where he tipped the ball up and Greg (Newsome) ends up picking it? A little play like that, it’s not a pick by him, but it’s a pass breakup that turns into an interception.
“Absolutely. Rush and coverage, it works together. We talk a lot about tipping overthrows like we’re going to get them. So having the wherewithal to play with great fundamentals and technique, accelerate to the catch point, but then also understand that we’re trying to get the ball back for our offense and our special team. So, causing ball production is something, obviously, that we’re going to keep needing.”
What is your message to the guys about facing George Pickens again? Knowing that he might try to get under their skin again a little bit and just the whole dynamic there.
“Sure. Expect the expected. And expect the expected meaning, like keep the focus on the work and our urgency to execute for our team. It’s an AFC North battle which is a blessing. Great players going against another great player and Pickens. So really just enjoying it, having fun with the matchup and obviously dominating with our fundamentals and techniques.”
How have they integrated Mike Williams into their offense since they acquired him?
“Yeah, absolutely. A blocker, he’s a jump ball guy, but he’s also a young guy that getting in, you got to know where he’s at. He always has the ability to make those – we call them 80-20 throws, right? But he always has the ability to go vertical, to go deep, and you got to really account for him because he’s also a tall task with tackling on short passing routes.”
Jim (Schwartz) talking about Denzel yesterday, he mentioned his incredible ability to close. What about him allows him to do that?
“A lot of it is 1,000% mom, dad and the Lord. And then his urgency with technique and fundamentals. Coach (Ron) Brewer (Director of Player Engagement) is one of the guys that really like aids and assists our guys in development. And he talks about how his approach as a student, he wants to know the smallest detail – the young guy wants to be superb, not just great. So, when you’re critiquing him as far as ways he can be more efficient – he’s a young guy, he comes out, he applies it, he does it over again. And it’s important to him.”
When you talk about that God given ability, is that feet? Is it just his feet are so quick that that allows him to do that?
“An extremely fast turnover. He’s a twitchy young guy, and with him being twitchy, he’s very confident in what he sees. So, when he sees something, he’s able to respond very, very quickly and execute.”
Jim was talking about Martin (Emerson) yesterday, and even though he’s been involved in some big plays, unfortunately this year, that you guys still have a lot of confidence in him, that he’s working hard to be consistent. How have you seen him kind of deal with some of that adversity in year three and just how is he working behind the scenes to maybe correct some of those things?
“When you talk about Martin, I think about trending upward – great learner, great teammate. He’s a trusted teammate. So, when we talk about as an organization, we trust him. That’s largely in part because he’s a young guy that comes in early, he stays late. And at this year in his career, he’s still seeing plays and he’s able to digest those plays. He’s able to go out on the practice field and learn from them and then execute after that.”
Martin was talking after the Denver game, he talked about the number of what he called, “Big X routes” that they were running. Have you noticed that a lot of teams are starting to run more of those against you guys? Not just him specifically, but you guys because of things they see in coverage and everything.
“Largely, that concept is system specific and versus our system, we do get that versus the teams that that’s in their systems. But it goes back to us as learners, expecting the expected. There’s some telltale signs on when those are coming and our urgency to execute that.”
Jim was talking about Martin, and he mentioned how he has lost some at the line of scrimmage, so then he’s trailing and can’t catch up. What does he need to do to be better at the line of scrimmage? Is it just getting his hands on guys or what does he need to do?
“Yes, just urgency to be consistent. And thankfully he’s the right guy in the organization when we talk about urgency to be consistent with technique and fundamentals and to have the importance of it, right? Like young players still learning, but having the forefront of being a student, wanting to really come in the meeting room and know, like, ‘Okay, what’s the detail? How can I keep improving?’ and then coming out early and keep applying that. That’s the biggest thing.”
How about Calvin Austin, what do you see in Calvin and what makes him so good?
“Largely a lot of things that we see from Denzel, from a matchup aspect as far as like he’s fast, he’s quick, he’s a matchup deal in space where the punt returner really comes out of him and then he can really stretch the field vertically. So, expecting the expected, knowing where he’s at. And Russell (Wilson) feels very comfortable with throwing him the ball. So, you have to always be aware.”
Whether because of injuries or whatever the case may be, Cameron Mitchell is a guy that seems like he ends up finding his way on the field. What have you seen from him this and what are some points of emphasis from him?
“Accountability. He sits right next to Greg. In the off season those guys do things together. But largely we want smart players in first. We talk about smarts never comes before toughness, and obviously toughness is a very big ingredient for us on defense. But he’s a very smart, aware player. And just like Martin as a young player, he’s a guy that he can apply things on the run with urgency to execute. Trusted teammate.”
Do you feel like Greg Newsome did exactly what he was supposed to do on that Hail Mary and in that exchange with George?
“Absolutely and you love to see when guys have the urgency to execute the details because when Jim (Schwartz) says… When we call those type of plays, they the game is on the line. So being a trusted teammate to be in your space so that we can win our 1-11 so rushing coverage can work together. I was proud to see how he executed that.”
With Greg in general, it felt like he gave us some stuff early. Do you feel like he’s gotten better as the season has gone on and kind of rebounded from maybe it was a rough start?
“Absolutely. Like resilient, right? But that really goes into everybody that Andrew (Berry) and Coach (Kevin) Stefanski have brought into the organization, making sure we have resilient guys that can be accountable to our techniques.”