CB Greg Newsome II (8.20.23)
So, first of all, how are you feeling? Can you give us a health update?
“Yeah, I feel good. Finally out here, able to get out here and make some plays, be back with the guys. Felt good today.”
How good did it feel just I mean, last week you got in there against the Eagles. What did you gain personally from that, and what did you feel like you guys gained as a secondary, specifically?
“Yeah, I mean, having the opportunity to play against a Super Bowl contender team who was just in the Super Bowl is amazing for us as a team in general. It showed us where we are at currently, and we got some ways to go, but I thought went out there and competed, so I was excited about what the things we put on tape.”
Was there something specifically, you came away with saying, wow, positive or negative? Just that you learned from those.
“I mean, positive is just our D line, man,. They were doing amazing out there against arguably one of the best O lines in the league. So just seeing that, super positive. And as always, we always got stuff to work on, so I think we took a great step forward.”
Greg, it seems like compared to last year in those joint practices, especially like this year, it just seemed like you guys as a defense made it so much harder on those pass catchers, and it’s a great pass-catching core. Do you feel like there was a difference there compared to a year ago?
“For sure. And I think talent-wise, I feel like we’ve always had a lot of talent, but I just feel like what we do outside of the building – always together, literally every single day, guys are doing stuff together, getting food together. So, I just think that camaraderie that we have, not only in a secondary around the whole entire defense and the whole team is just amazing. So, I think it’s definitely showing on the field.”
Was that time missed a concern to you at all? Do you feel like you’re still on pace to be where you want to be in week one?
“Yeah, for sure. Sadly, I’ve had this happen before, but I’m always engaged. I credit myself on being one of the smartest guys out there, so I’m definitely able to take a lot of mental reps, and I think it just allows other guys to go out there and make plays. I think, like I said before, me being out there, obviously I would love to be out there, but it gave guys like Caleb Biggers and Cam Mitchell gave them some more reps to show what they can do. So, I kind of try to find a positive in every negative.”
I wanted to ask about Cam. Obviously, you know him super well, but he feels like he’s showing up a lot. What have you seen from you, how impressed are you with his quick transition to the NFL?
“Man, I’m super proud of him. He’s a who came in, and mistakes that he’s made he doesn’t make them twice. I’m not really too excited right now for him, honestly, because I expected him to do this. I said it from the jump, even before I was like, Cam Mitch is one of the best corners in college football, and he fell to us, so we’ll definitely take him. But I’m not really too excited for what he’s doing because I expect him to be like this. I expect him to get out there and make plays. We have high expectations for our room, so that’s nothing I haven’t seen before.”
Players and coaches have talked about this defense being a little bit more simplified this year. Is that what we’re seeing up here after this hot start and you guys kind of seeming to click early?
“For sure. There’s definitely some stuff, though that we kind of mix up, but I think it’s just the sense of urgency that Coach (Jim) Schwartz coaches us with. He doesn’t accept mediocre, so when we get out there, we get new coverages and things like that. Guys aren’t making the same mistake twice, which is a good thing. There are definitely some mistakes being made still, but I think the sense of urgency that we’re playing with, learning with and our teachers are teaching with is just at an all-time high.”
When you look at that defensive line now that’s been rebuilt with Myles(Garrett) there, and now that you’ve gotten to actually see it in motion, what does that do for you as someone in the secondary, knowing that you have that type of pressure ready to go up front versus maybe years past?
“Yeah, I mean, just thank you, Lord. That ball has to come out super fast. Just even sitting there the game before against the Commanders and just seeing the ability to get safeties from a holding penalty and things like that, that’s amazing. So, I’m glad we got those guys on my team. It makes my job a lot easier, makes us a lot more confident on the back end knowing we could be real sticky and coverage cause those guys will get it.”
When we talked to Grant (Delpit) in West Virginia, he was talking about the fact that he doesn’t feel he’s reached his potential yet and that he’s got the bar set at great, and he’s really harping on this year. So I’m wondering about you. Where do you have your bar set for yourself and what are you aiming for this year?
“Yeah, I definitely don’t think I’m even close to the level that I can get to. But for me, it’s just coming out every day, just working. I kind of try to speak stuff into existence, but my stuff is just more going to come from me being out there playing. I don’t want to say too much. I just want to go out there and make some strides every year, but I definitely don’t think I’m close to my potential.”
How exciting is it to kind of see the mixing and matching that Schwartz is doing between the safeties and the corners and how he’s utilizing all of you guys?
“He’s doing an amazing job. I feel like we cross-train a lot of people where we can do a lot of things and being able to do that, I think you kind of mess up the defense with maybe you having MJ (Emerson) inside and then I’m outside, you can’t get a tail on us. So, I think with Schwartz having that multiple defense is amazing.”
I know we haven’t seen everything, but do you feel like there’s still more that you haven’t even seen that Jim might throw at you guys?
“Yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised. Yeah, I think he has so much stuff, but he said we’re one of the best groups of being able to get information and retain it and put it on tape. So, he definitely probably got some more stuff out there that we haven’t seen.”
Qre you pleased with what you think your role is going to be and how Jim is going to use you? Whether it’s outside, the combination of outside, inside?
“Yeah, I’m super pleased. I mean, I’m once again able to show my versatility when I am inside. Gladly, I won’t be. Last year, I kind of felt like more of a little bit of a linebacker, but I think my role is amazing. He’s expecting me to do a lot of things on the inside, so I’m super excited for it. I’m just trying to do whatever it takes for us to get to where we need to get to.”
How difficult are these receivers making your job on the defensive side and also making you guys better players?
“Yeah, I mean, these receivers are amazing. With Coop (Amari Cooper), Elijah (Moore), DPJ (Donovan Peoples-Jones), Ced (Tillman) – you guys see Austin (Watkins) out here playing like a number one somewhere too. We have so many guys that do so many different things. So, I feel like we’re prepared, like even going into the Eagles practice, I feel like our guys have put us in a position to get to that practice dominant. So, our guys are amazing and I’m definitely thankful for it.”
Do you feel like there are other defensive backs on this team that have shown they are as good in the spot as you have been?
“For sure. I think everybody – I feel like our, quote unquote, sixth corner would be a starter somewhere else. I feel like our room is that deep. You got Zo (Lorenzo Burns) out there. Zoe Burns is playing amazing. Caleb Bigger’s playing amazing. Cam Mitchell is playing amazing. We got guys literally that I feel like can easily step in if needed to play the slot, play outside. I feel our whole entire room is good enough to literally, if they weren’t in this room, they would be playing on another field.”
Coach (Ephraim) Banda talked about the importance of leveraging Schwartz’s defense. Is it different this year? How they’re teaching you leverage and the importance of that? Or is this something maybe you’re used to in previous years?
“It’s just more like, you must stay. If we get beat, say we’re supposed to be outside leverage and we get beat to the outside, oh, he’s going to give it to you, he’s going to let you have it. So, it’s just more of an emphasis this year, I would say. That’s always been a thing. Obviously in football, you try to stick to your leverage, but you can’t get beat to your leverage with Schwartz, he’ll get on you. So, it’s definitely more of a point of the emphasis.”
The defense was able to get two games in a row back-to-back safeties, everyone on the sideline putting the symbol up. You see that energy translating and do you see it maybe continuing to the regular season from the feedback you guys were able to get from those plays?
“Oh, for sure. I mean, when you got our two-deep and three-deep making plays like that, we’re super excited for them. And I think it’ll definitely translate over. You see the sideline is just so happy for those guys too. So, I feel like with this team, everyone wants everyone to succeed. And I feel like around the league that’s not the case everywhere. So, I definitely think that energy will definitely translate to the real game.”
I know when we’ve talked to Jim, he mentioned wanting you guys to lead the league in some intangible effort and passion and things like that. I guess what you think as players when he kind of puts that out there this early and when he got here and stuff like that?
“He has high expectations. He coaches us hard, but that’s because he has high expectations. So, when we set a standard for us as players and we’re not being to that standard, we expect our coaches to push us harder and harder. And with him, it’s just like he’s going to coach us hard because he doesn’t think we should be a top ten defense or top eight defense. We’re trying to be the best defense. So, we’re going to hold ourselves to that standard and he’s going to push us every single day.”
How do you lead the league in ‘badass-ery’?
“It’s just like, what he said is. when you got little guys like me going out there hidden, the D line has to follow suit. Like if I’m coming out there hidden, big guys got to be able to hit. When you got big guys out there in front, running to the ball, sprinting to the ball, that makes us feel like we got to sprint to the ball. But it’s more so like celebrating your brother’s successes. When someone makes a play, you should see everybody running over there to celebrate. And I think when you do that, then you’ll definitely see that you’re a family.”
Greg as a defender, they’re lining Elijah up in the backfield as a running back, what he’s able to do, what strain does that put on a defense as somebody who has to defend him and go against him in practice?
“Man, it’s crazy. I mean, I see him in the backfield sometimes, but sometimes I’m supposed to be to beat him in the field. Sometimes I have to guard him in the backfield. Sometimes he’ll take a handoff, times the motion out. Like, it’s just so much that he can do. And it’s definitely hard for us, but, I mean, I don’t have to play against him in a game, so it’s going to be hard for the other team. But yeah, I just love that he’s able to do so much. He can run the ball I’ve seen in preseason. Obviously, he’s one of the most elite route runners, so it definitely puts pressure on the defense.”
What makes him such a good route runner?
“First of all, his low center of gravity. He can get out. But then he’s also four-three fast. So, it’s like a guy who’s smaller, he’s shifty, it’s hard to get hands on him, but he’s super fast. He really could do everything. So, it’s definitely hard because a guy that can run any route in a route tree makes him very dangerous.”
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