DT Larry Ogunjobi (11.16.20)

On the uncertainly the players go through knowing a teammate tested positive for COVID-19: 

“I mean, this is kind of what 2020 is. It sucks, but it is just the nature of what we are in right now. We have been handling it since the start of training camp as far as wearing our masks, following the right procedures and everything. So, I mean, we are not really fazed by it. We just have to continue to go through the protocols. I know some guys are kind of frustrated about it, but it is just once again the nature of what we got going on. It is one of these things where it takes all of us. It is a shared responsibility. It takes all of us to get it done. So, we are just going take it one day at a time, continue to roll with the punches and do what we have to do.”

 

On if preparation is harder with the virtual meetings and if practices are different: 

“We got a taste of it last week when we went into intensive protocol. I mean, you still have to practice, you still have to meet, so I feel like it is just a different environment. But being able to kind of be flexible, I think that is what is the biggest thing about it.”

On saying he is not fazed by what is going on: 

“I do not want the word and unfazed to be used in the wrong manner. When I say unfazed it is more or less that it is one of those things where your hands are kind of tied. We have to do what we have to do, you feel me? If you start to let it like affect you and how you think and how you move, it is probably going to affect how you play and how you perform. So, when I say unfazed, I mean that you have to understand that this is just the situation we are in. You can’t complain about it, you can’t cry about it, you have to just handle your business. You are going to have to be flexible. You are going to have to do things that you normally would not have to do. And once again, this is shared responsibility. It is going to take an entire team in order to get it done. COVID is very serious, it is was something that we take very seriously. And that is why we are in intensive protocol. So, when I say unfazed, I say that we can’t cry about the situation, you can’t complain about it, you just have to handle it as it comes, find the best way to just roll with the punches and do what you have to do to make sure you are able to perform your best on Sunday.”

On how instrumental head coach Kevin Stefanski has been in handling these situations: 

“I feel like he has been great. Just his attention to detail, how serious he takes it as far as making sure guys are wearing their masks, making sure we are following the rules and procedures as far as wearing our Kinexon and things of that nature. So, I feel like he is doing a great job of just being able to keep us on the field and allowing us to be in the building when other teams have had to shut down and have not been able to get on the field. So, we have found a way to work around things since we have handled things the right way we were allowed to practice and things of that nature. So, I think he is doing a great job.”

On joining Waterboys: 

“Me and (TE) David (Njoku) had the end SARS thing going on, you know, the SARS thing going on in Nigeria, and (DE) Myles (Garrett) reached out to us. I kind of learned about Waterboys my rookie year through Chris Long and I always wanted to join and Myles ended up becoming the captain about two years ago. So, finally we just got to sit down and had the conversation. I thought it was a great initiative to bring water to a million people. I think we have already brought water to about 390,000 people. We live in a place where I can walk in my bathroom, my sink, in my fridge, and I get running water. That is not a normal occurrence for people in Africa and places that we are trying to provide water to. So, to be able to help those people, I think the average African woman, I can’t remember the exact number and I do not want mess it up, I think it is somewhere between 30 miles just to walk to get a couple gallons of water there and back. That is just insane when I can walk five feet to water. Just to be able to help and be a part of an organization that is going to really change the world as far as something that is really needed is just a blessing to be a part of.”

On being part of an organization that encourages using his voice: 

“Like I said before, I feel like a lot of times there is a time for words and there is a time for action. And I feel like an organization has done a great job of putting action behind our words. We talked about the things that we wanted to do when we started with the digital divide and social injustice, and to see those things being put into action is amazing. So, I feel like when you are able to put your actions behind your words, I feel like that is good.”

On what the defense learned about themselves during the bye, particularly about getting off the field on third days: 

“That we just have to be better at it, really. That is pretty much it. Just attacking our keys, playing to our strengths, understanding how to put offense, being better on first and second down, I feel like that was the biggest thing. You put yourself in a good position first and second down, you are getting to third-and-long then your percentages of getting off the field go up. So, I feel like that was the main focus to be better on first and second down so that we can put ourselves in a favorable position in third down so we can get off the field.”

On facing Eagles QB Carson Wentz who has 12 interceptions this season and what tendencies he looks for in film study: 

“Takeaways and turnovers come through practice repetitions, actually attacking the ball, being intentional. For DBs in coverages I guess breaking on the ball and things of that nature. I feel like you should be perfect every time you get an opportunity to play the quarterback and I feel like we just got to continue, we are one of the best in the league in takeaways, so we just have to continue to build on that.”

On what life looks like away from the facility this season: 

“It is just different. Like I said, it is a different time. For me personally, I have always been kind of like a homebody, I like to chill at home, kind of keeping myself. So, I mean, not too different to what I usually do. But at the same time, I just understand that there is an aspect where mental health is very important and I feel like, people do not really realize that when you work, we work in a business where that is one of the things that are stressors each and every day. And for me, it is like understanding that some of these guys will go home and it is just them. Or just certain stresses that you can decompress with because you do not have that ability to kind of just get away from it and you come home and it is just you by yourself. So, it is different but at the same time this is a shared responsibility. It is a different type of league this year as far as the things that we have to do in order to make sure that we can all be able to play on Sundays. It is just one of the things like once a game we have to just roll with the punches and just find ways to continue to just keep on going because that is just what it is right now. You have to be able to control the controllable, for me, and right now we can control our contacts by being able to go out and all that kind of stuff. I feel like the risk is not worth the reward, if that makes sense. I feel like a lot of guys understand that right now and you have to stay home, you have to just grind it out, you have to just continue to play so we can all play.”

On handling the weather conditions better this week: 

“When somebody puts a bad taste in your mouth you have to be able to respond. I feel like that is just what it was. We just had what we needed to do. We had a bye week. We saw the problems that we had and worked on them all week. We wanted to correct them and we did. Just being able to take that step forward and continue to build off that is the biggest thing.”

On the season Garrett is having: 

“I think he is doing great. Obviously, he is rushing the passer extremely well. He is playing out of his mind to be honest. And then just how he is becoming so much better in the run. I feel like just becoming that complete player is just really important. And I am just extremely proud of him. I mean, I think the proof is in the pudding, you turn the tape on, he is always flashing and always making plays. And that is just the player he is.”

On how he and Garrett motivate each other: 

“I feel like we always challenge each other, like we work together, we push each other, we talk to each other. I feel like that is just the nature of our relationship. We have high expectations for each other. The sky is the limit for him. We want to continue to see him do well and see continue to see him ball, and I know he will.”

On the resiliency of the team of how much of it can be contributed to Stefanski: 

“I just feel like it is just the message that we came in being able to understand that it is not what you say, it is what you do. Adversity comes, it hits everybody, but being able to respond is the biggest thing. And that is what the year is, it is just all about how you respond. You are going to get thrown curveballs. Some days you are going to be in the building, some days you are not, but it is all about how you respond. I think that is the biggest thing. I feel like the guys really understand that this is a shared responsibility and within that shared responsibility it is all about all about the team. And when you have guys playing for each other, I feel like that is the true difference. And I just see that now that a lot of guys are playing for each other and they understand that when we win, everybody wins and it is a great feeling.”

On if he feels the DL can take off and carry the defense down the stretch: 

“Yeah, I feel like that is the attitude all the time. But you know, just guys understanding their role, understanding what they are here to do and just going out and doing it. I think that is the goal and that is what we want to do. We are just going to continue to build, continue to stack, and just understand that it is just day by day. Each day getting better, mastering your craft and going out there and showing the world.”

On how it felt to get his first half sack yesterday: 

“It was good. Should have been a whole.”