CB Greg Newsome II (9.7.23)
The excitement of getting to play the Bengals Week One.
“Super excited. I mean, just for the first time to play in front of the fans at full-strength–home opener. We haven’t won a home opener in a long time too, so that’s another thing we’re looking forward to. But to go against the Bengals is definitely even more special. So super excited.”
What are your thoughts on just Joe Burrow in general? I know he’s coming up with calf strain, but just Joe and just the receivers. And how you guys usually match up against them?
“Yeah, first, starting with Joe, I mean, he’s arguably one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Could be the best, depending on who you ask. Great player, can do it all, can make every throw. He got the receivers, the three-headed monster receivers, super excited to play them at full strength too. That’s something that we’re definitely looking forward to. We feel like we match up very well with them all strength. I feel as our secondary and our pass rush, so we’re definitely super excited to get them full strength, too.”
When you say full strength, are you assuming Denzel (Ward) is going to be out there then?
“That’s for coach. I don’t know about what he’s doing, but I hope he’s out there. But that’s the coach question.”
What do you think it is with you guys being 5-1 against the Bengals, 4-1 against Joe Burrow? What’s the secret to that?
“I just think we have a good game plan always against them. And like I said, I feel like their strength is their receivers and I feel like one of our strengths is our corners and our secondary. So I think we match up very well with them.”
Greg, you talk about Joe being one of the elite quarterbacks in the league. What sets him apart? What puts him on that tier besides just kind of the physical traits?
“His poise. His decision making. He can throw the long balls. His accuracy is amazing. He really can do everything that you need a quarterback to do. So I feel like with him, he’s one of the elite because he can pretty much do it all.”
Does the talk back and forth between the receivers and DBs make the game more fun?
“For sure. We are all competitors. When you get a matchup like this early on, you’re just super excited. This is kind of what I feel like is how we go against our offense every day. Having Coop (Amari Cooper), Elijah (Moore), DPJ (Donovan Peoples-Jones), I feel like it’s kind of that same similar matchup. So we’re definitely super excited.”
(Jamar)Chase said, was it last summer that you guys talk more than any other TV group in the NFL? Do you wear that like, badge of honor? Is that something you embrace?
“For sure. I mean, at the end of the day, I’m just competitor. Whatever I can do out there, I play with a bunch of energy, a bunch of passion, but that’s fine, because we definitely talk but we’re going to back it up too.”
Does talk help you help with the energy? Is it getting in the other guy’s head? What’s kind of the motivation behind it?
“I kind of just do it just for passion, just for my guys, honestly. Guys seeing me out there playing with a bunch of energy, I feel like it arises the guys around me who are more mild-tempered guys. So I kind of talk–it is just what I’m used to, just the passion and just to bring guys along with me.”
Is there a little extra juice, do your eyes get a little wider when you line up and number one (Chase) is lined up across from you?
“Yeah, I would say that, but I would say all three of their receivers. I mean, arguably, they’re one of the best-receiving cores in the league. Getting the opportunity to go against any one of those guys is special for me and every single time I get a chance to go against one of them, my eyes definitely get wide. I’m ready to go.”
Greg, how are you looking forward to seeing how this whole defense comes together? You guys really haven’t played all together in a preseason game or anything. Are you very curious and anxious to see what you actually have?
“I’m super excited. Even in that preseason game, we didn’t have everybody because Myles (Garrett) didnt play. And I think we did a great job. But at the end of the day, all the work that we’ve been putting in since the summer, we got to put it all on display. So I’m super excited to see what we’re made of this first week.”
Is this first game a good test to see what it does look like, though as a complete group?
“For sure. I think this first game is definitely going to say a lot about how hard we’ve worked, how hard we’ve prepared for this game, and for this moment. So I’m definitely super excited.”
What about this team in particular has led you guys having so much success against the Bengals?
“Yeah, once again, I just honestly believe it’s that matchup piece. You know, in the NFL, you match up well with certain teams and things like that, and I think this is one of our premiere matchups. We take this game serious. We take every game serious. But I just think our matchup is in our favor, so we’re super excited for it.”
Jim Schwartz has talked a lot about getting those guys up front, rotated, keeping their legs fresh, but also you guys. On the back end, the same thing. How do you feel about that and how much fresher? Do you think that’s better as a player? Is that going to make you get in that rotation.
“We got guys, like I said, every single time I’m up here, we got guys that can go start on pretty much every other team in the NFL. With the rotation piece, I’m not too worried about it because we got guys that can come in and do the same thing that we all doing. So it’ll definitely keep guys fresh, keep guys mentally fresh and things like that. So I’m super excited to see what guys like Cam Mitchell and those guys can do out there. So I’m super excited.”
Because you guys play the Bengals twice a year. The fact that Jim is new at coordinator and his scheme is styled different than what you guys had a year ago, does that give you guys any kind of an edge because the Bengals haven’t seen you guys play in that system?
“Oh, for sure, definitely. Certain teams, you’re able to get a good grasp when your offensive coordinator and defensive coordinators come back, like (Kevin) Stefanski hit on the know, obviously they’re going to do curveballs that we haven’t seen, but you’re always going to go back to your bread and butter. I mean, when you haven’t put a lot of stuff on tape and things like that, we’re going to be able to do some things that they haven’t seen necessarily ever from us. So we’re definitely super excited to put that defense on display.”
And do you expect Joe to be any different with the calf strain and the fact that he didn’t get to practice a lot in training camp?
“No, Joe Burrow is one of those guys. I mean, it’s a few guys that probably doesn’t ever need to practice, really and can go out there and still be a top three, top one quarterback in the NFL. So no, he’ll definitely be full go and ready to go.”
Is it hard to believe that he’s 1-4 against the Browns?
“No, it’s not really hard to believe, like I keep saying, It’s just I feel like that matchup aspect. We match up very well with them, they play us tough, we play them tough, and you could just feel the energy every single time we play them. So definitely not super like the belief isn’t in awe that we’re 4-1 against them.”
How do you drink out the expectations going into the season? Maybe, like, externally, not a lot of national folks are talking about the Browns as a contender, but it feels like within this locker room, you guys feel like you are just where do you come out on the expectations and trying live up to them?
“Yeah, I mean, we like that we’re exactly where we’re supposed to be. You got to earn respect from the league, so we’re exactly where we want to be and exactly where we’re supposed to be. We’re going to prove it every single week, and it starts this week. We’re not too worried about the external stuff. We keep everything internal. We know the capabilities that we have, and we’re going to try to reach those every single game.”
Who would you say is the Bengals best trash talker?
“Honestly one of them really talk back to me, to be honest. Yeah, it’s a lot of one-sided. I kind of just be talking out there in general, so it’s kind of one sided, but yeah, they’ll say some here and there.”
Do you hang on to that stuff and look at it for motivation, or is it just kind of like in the back of your mind?
“Yeah, I keep receipts on everything. Any way you can get an edge, any single game to just elevate your game, even that 1% more. Definitely always keep receipts.”
Have you been able to add any receipts this week?
“No, I haven’t been able. I’ve been off a little bit on social media. I’m just ready to get, after week one.”
Does it add to that edge, getting to open up at home with fans against an opponent like the Bengals? Does that juice you guys up more?
“Oh, for sure. I always say when we play at home, it’s like we got a twelfth man on the field with us, so we’re super excited, like, they got to beat us and our fans, so we’re definitely super excited to start it off at home.”
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