CB Denzel Ward (10.19.20)
CB Denzel Ward:
On how frustrating it was that the Browns defense did not have any takeaways yesterday:
“It was very frustrating. That is our goal going into each game is to get takeaways, and we were unable to do that yesterday. Just have to find a way to get the ball next game and help put our offense in a better position.”
On coming back after Sunday’s loss and his role as a leader to help the team rebound:
“We are going to learn from the loss yesterday, watch the film, see what we could do to get better, see where we struggled at in the game, refocus for this next week, take practice a day at a time and do what we have to do to pull it out next week.”
On if it feels like the Steelers and Ravens are on a different level than the Browns and how the Browns can close that gap, if so:
“No, I do not believe that they are necessarily on a different level. There are things that we have to get better at and work on. Missed some opportunities yesterday. I do not think the final score was a tale of how the game went. Like I said, we let some things get away from us, but we could definitely compete with these teams and compete with whoever in the league. There are just things we have to work on.”
On how much better the Bengals and Bengals QB Joe Burrow look now compared to Week 2:
“I have to watch some more film on them. I have not watched too much on them just yet. I am going to check it out this week.”
On if the Browns’ four consecutive wins after the loss to the Ravens offers confidence that the team can respond well after the most recent loss:
“Yeah, definitely. I feel we have a resilient team. We just have to refocus and do what we got to do to pull it off next week.”
On playing Burrow for the second time this year:
“Joe is a good quarterback. I know Joe is going to play well. It is all about us, though. We just have to do what we have to do to take care of our side of the ball and like I said, put our offense in good positions, find ways to get takeaways and doing our assignments.”
On how he expects QB Baker Mayfield to bounce back after the loss and leaving the game early:
“I have no doubt in my mind that he will bounce back. Baker, he is a competitor. He is going to work hard. He is going to do what he has to do to make sure he is ready. We have his back. Like I said, we have to do what we have to do to help put him in good positions, as well, but I have no doubt in my mind, he is going to ready.”
On if he is encouraging CB Greedy Williams and how Williams’ mood has been since being placed on IR:
“Greedy, he is always in good spirits, but it is tough. I know he wants to play. He is eager to get back, but he just has to heal up. Once he is ready, he will back.”
On CB Terrance Mitchell’s performance this season stepping up for Williams:
“He has been playing well. He has been playing well. That is what we needed once Greedy went down. Whoever is in there, like we said earlier, it is next man up, and he has been doing his job.”
On the double move by Steelers WR James Washington that resulted in a touchdown in the second quarter:
“It was a good play call. I was playing aggressive, and they ran a double move. Just have to have the short memory and play the next play. Other than that, I do not feel like that defined how I played personally in that game. They called a good play and did a good job on the pump fake. Just have to get my eyes back to the receiver and not the backfield so it was a good play. A good play by them.”
On the Browns defense’s performance after starting strong in the first quarter:
“Like I said, the whole season we have been finding ways to get takeaways, and that is one of the things that we have to get better at. We have to find ways to get takeaways, continue to finish the games out and find ways to get our offense on the field and in position to score.”
On what the Browns defense has learned from losses to division opponents:
“One of the big things like I said is takeaways. Just seeing when we do get takeaways, we put our team in better chances to win the game and better outcomes, as you have seen. In this last game, we did not get any takeaways. It kind of did not go as we planned. We did not get the win. That is the one way is just trying to find ways to get the ball. That is the most important thing on that field.”
On what CB Tavierre Thomas has meant to him as a teammate and how Thomas plays on special teams:
“He is a great player. Tavierre, that is my friend right there, coming in same class and everything. He is a great player on special teams. He set a record on special teams – Cowboys game [with five special teams] tackles. He is a great player. Put him in on defense at nickel, he is going to make plays. He is fast, competitive and he can play ball. Definitely, he is a good player for this team.”
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