CB Denzel Ward (7.22.23)
So how do you feel about going on the road for the start of camp?
“I like it. I like it, get away, focus on the guys and the team and just build that camaraderie. Build the team up out here. I’m definitely looking forward to it and I’ve been enjoying it already.”
Do you feel that was missing at all last year, that camaraderie or chemistry that Kevin (Stefanski) hopes to build here?
“No, I don’t think it was missing, but I think this year we’re definitely building upon it and building with the guys. We’re here, close with the guys, close facility, and I think we’re just building up the team.”
How can you tell that the chemistry is starting to happen?
“I think like this year, just guys being around each other more, doing a lot of more things outside of football. Whether that’s going out to eat, just whatever it is. I think you could just see guys getting closer, talking more, communicating more. You could just feel it around here.”
Do you feel like a renewed sense of focus or commitment within the locker room? Or a feeling that you guys have what it takes as individuals to be a really good team?
“Yeah, no doubt. I think we definitely got the guys, definitely got the talent, but there’s a lot of talent around the league. We just have to all put it together. I mean, that’s what we’re doing, bringing all the guys here to Greenbrier and just focusing on what we got to focus on, taking a day at a time and building upon it.”
What have you noticed with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz?
“I think he has a great defensive playbook, like his coaching style. He’s going to be hard on us and that’s what we need. We need someone to tell us what we’re doing good and what we’re doing bad, what we need to fix and focus on. And he’s right there in our ear letting us know.”
What’s Schwartz’s style like?
“Yeah, he’s just a fiery guy. A guy that’s going to tell you what it is. And like I said, that’s what we need around here.”
How important is it to have a guy like Rodney McLeod around?
“That’s big. His leadership’s been showing up since we got here already. I mean today he called up a meeting with all the DBs and was just speaking on goals and everything and a lot of other things. But just his leadership already to the team has been big.”
There are like 55 activities at this resort available to guests. Do any of them appeal to you?
“I still have to check them out. I haven’t seen all the activities they have available here, but I might check some of them out. But I’ll probably just be playing football and sleeping the rest of the time.”
When you guys start running those gassers, does it hit you like the summer is over?
“I mean, we’d be preparing for the entire summer and working out and getting ready for that. So there’s definitely multiple things throughout the day that show you like, oh yeah, football’s back and we’re here to get it started.”
When you look at this roster from top to bottom – offense, defense, special teams. Is this the most talented roster you’ve ever played with on the Cleveland Browns?
“I believe so. I definitely believe so since the time that I came in. But as I said before, you can have a lot of talent, but you just got to bring it together and bring all those pieces together. So that’s what we’re doing and focusing on making it happen.”
Jim Schwartz is bringing kind of like a one-on-one type of mentality. Everyone worries about their individual job, beating their individual guy. How much do you think that’s going to make not only you a better player, but just collectively on that side of the ball, elevate everybody’s game?
“Yeah, I think it’s going to be big. I mean, the game of football is a bunch of individual battles within the team concept, so I think it’s going to be big. As you said, he’s making that a focus and we’re out here just trying to win our one-on-one battles and compete and get better.”
Denzel, do you feel like you guys as a cornerback group, man-to-man, that sort of plays to your guy’s strengths and if we see more of that this year?
“Yeah, no question. I would definitely say that man-to-man is a strength of ours. We got a lot of talent in the room and a lot of guys that could do a lot of things, but I’ll definitely say man-to-man is one of our pluses. But we can also do other things as well.”
How excited are you to see the new defensive line in full action pads going one on one, 11-on-11?
“Yeah, definitely looking forward to it because where we were before we obviously had no pads – we weren’t really able to see the pass rush or anything. So it’s going to be fun just to see the pass rush and the DB/secondary lineup and match up with each other.”
How good do you think the D-line is gonna be?
“I think it’ll be special.”
Speaking of DBs, any extra juice this training camp? The first month in the division altogether, but getting to match up against those receivers?
“Yeah, no question. We know the guys over there, we’re familiar with them and they’re familiar with us. We know it’s going to be a great battle, but we’re here to work and get ready for that game, get ready for that matchup. Come that time, I think we’ll be ready.”
What do you think about Greg (Newsome II) changing his number to zero?
“I like it. I see him making a lot of plays in it. I like it.”
What do you think MJ Emerson will bring to the team?
“MJ is a special player – physical player. You’ve seen it last year, his dominance on the field, he’s able to lock down the best receivers on their team. So looking forward to him having a big year this year. But we definitely need him. He’s a special player for us.”
Do you know why Greg (Newsome II) chose Zero?
“I’m not sure. I haven’t asked. I got to ask him the same question.”
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