Defensive Coordinator Mike Rutenberg (8.11.26)
Let’s start with all the interceptions the defense has had in camp. How do you feel about your defense’s ability to take the ball away so much?
“One of the keys to winning in this league is taking the ball away. But that fits into our style of defense, the ball is oxygen. Our intention is, no matter what, we want to finish on the ball, celebrate the interceptions, and everything we do is about finishing on the ball to help this team win.”
Mike, have you ever been at a camp where you’ve had 17 interceptions and haven’t played a game yet? Does that number mean anything to you?
“It just fits in with our style, as long as we’re attacking the ball and treating the ball like it’s oxygen, like we need it to live, we’re doing the right thing.”
Players have talked about disguise and how you’ve added that to the scheme. What’s your philosophy there, and how have the players adapted?
“The key is players. Players make every scheme, whether you’re disguised or not, cover three, cover one, it doesn’t matter, everybody runs similar skills. It’s about getting guys to understand what we’re trying to do, which they’ve done at the highest level, and giving players opportunities to be successful in whatever coverage or scheme we’re in.”
What’s the right balance between, this was the heaviest man-coverage team in the league by a long shot last year, making some of those tweaks you guys did well in Atlanta and leaning into what worked here last year?
“I can’t give away the secret sauce, can I? But again, it comes down to players understanding their job and finding their inches within the scheme. That’s what great players do, they prepare hard, they study hard, they anticipate and react. When they know they can take their shot, they take it. Otherwise, they play fundamentally sound football.”
With these disguises, is there more emphasis on communication in the secondary in that kind of scheme?
“Defense is always obnoxious communication. Loud defenses are great defenses. Soft defenses, that’s not our style. Loud, obnoxious defenses, no matter what we’re playing, is of the utmost importance. It’s not just the secondary, it’s the linebackers, it’s the front, it’s a collective 11, and it’s coaches and players communicating.”
You’ve had a number of guys at tackle off the field because of injuries. Has that been a concern?
“Anytime you’re in camp, you get bumps and bruises. We’re super happy with our entire group, our entire D-line group, our entire D-tackle group. I love the way our D-line works. They’re building on what we’ve done. We’ve had some new additions who’ve been great, and Jacques (Cesaire), Ralph (Street), LaRoy (Reynolds) and Shaq (Wilson) do an amazing job getting those guys playing hard. We go as the engine goes.”
Rutey, when you think about the family tree of defenses you grew up in, with (Jeff) Ulbrich and (Robert) Saleh, we know about the attacking front, but you can do a lot of different things on the back end. Who over the years influenced the way you look at the secondary?
“I’ve been so fortunate to be around some amazing people who have influenced me schematically, culturally and personally. Guys who’ve become great friends of mine. The guy who originally got me started in the secondary is DeWayne Walker, who coached here at one point, and he was my first secondary coach to really lead me into understanding secondary play. Along the way there have been other guys who’ve been great influences on me, secondary-wise, linebacker-wise and front-wise. But more importantly, those guys have influenced me culturally. Playing hard, having fun doing it, playing smart as hell, and choosing violence at all times.”
Rutey, what have you seen on and off the field, in the classroom and the meeting rooms of Jared Verse? What is he bringing for you guys?
“He’s a really unique person, because it’s awesome when you have new additions who jump right in and are welcomed by the original brotherhood and then build a bigger brotherhood. That’s what he’s done. That’s also a credit to the men in the D-line room and the entire defense welcoming him. And then him taking our leadership and our standard to his level, and everybody’s working together, it’s been super fun to see.”
How is he bringing guys together in a way that a new guy normally doesn’t this fast? What is it about him that lends itself to that?
“He approaches the game with a certain standard, and that’s non-negotiable for him. It fits right in with the standard of the guys who’ve been here and the culture of our defense. He keeps chipping away at that standard and bringing guys with him.”
Looking at the depth at cornerback, sometimes Tyson (Campbell) and Denzel (Ward) might get a blow. Who’s caught your eye in the depth spot and who are you keeping an eye on in the preseason game?
“It’s awesome when you have depth at backup positions, and we have that. We have multiple people competing for multiple spots, and that’s really exciting for a football team, because it shows development by the coaches and by the players. I’m excited to see all those guys continue to compete through this.”
Rutey, you have Mason Graham, what more does he have that he can unleash to take his game to the next level?
“Mason is one of those unique combinations of cerebral and tough, and it’s equal. He knows the game at the highest level, he prepares at the highest level, but then when he gets between the white lines, in his stance, it’s all heart, fist and violence, and he’s able to combine those to make plays. It’s really exciting to watch. I learn a lot from Mason.”
What have you seen from Easton (Mascarenas-Arnold), especially with Carson (Schwesinger) out, and it looks like he’s relaying your calls to the defense?
“Sure. Anytime a player has an opportunity to get on the grass, it’s exciting to see them succeed. He’s done an amazing job in the reps he’s getting, playing within our style of defense, communicating at a high level and doing his job. That’s all we ask of any player: whether it’s Easton or Carson, it doesn’t matter, as long as we’re all playing within the scheme, doing our job, playing our fundamentals, communicating loud and playing violently, and finishing on the ball, we’re all going to see the success we want to see. It’s a tribute to him trying to do that at the highest level. It’s awesome.”
Quincy Williams seems perfect for the kind of defense you’re describing. How is he?
“Quincy brings this infectious smile, the personality, the fist pump, and he’s continued to do that. He continues to bring people with him at every position, and that’s awesome to see. At the same time, he’s continuing to refine his game, and you can see that on the field with how fast he’s playing.”
Have guys who’ve been here before mentioned that Quincy Williams and Jared Verse are bringing a new intensity to this defense that maybe was needed?
“I don’t know what guys are saying, the locker room is a very sacred place. But from what I see, Quincy, Jared and all of our new additions, Kalia Davis, Jared’s a new Addition, Quincy as well, they’re all bringing their own unique part because we all have a common belief in what we’re trying to do.”
The defensive line seems to be living in the backfield in both pads and non-padded work, but you’re not hitting right now, so how is the defense measuring the would-be sacks and tackles for loss? Notching and celebrating them, what does that look like?
“We’re always going to go as the engine goes, and we’ve got all the right parts of the engine humming. It’s exciting to watch them jump out of their shoes, attack, disrupt, penetrate, set violent edges, and rush. When the pads come on, we’re going to find out, because that’s the true measure in football, the game we all love to play. But we’re extremely encouraged by how hard our D-line is playing. Anytime we have anything good on defense, we better be celebrating. It doesn’t matter what it is, even a scoop, we better be fired up and excited.”
What’s the difference between the skill set that makes a great man-coverage corner versus a zone-coverage corner?
“Corners are corners. Corners are going to cover, and we’ve got great cover corners.”
Rutey, what are your earliest memories of elite defense, even before you started coaching, and how has that shaped the way you view it now?
“I can’t necessarily say I had early memories of elite defenses before I started coaching. One of my fondest memories was joining DeWayne Walker at UCLA and watching him and that staff transform that defense into one of the better defenses in the nation. That was really fun. Granted, I was a volunteer intern, then a GA, so I had very little to do with it. But watching it, watching the culture take over, the fundamentals take over, guys understanding their job and doing it at a high level, communicating, taking their shots and then watching some of those players go on to the next level, some of whom are still playing or coaching now. That’s probably, coaching wise, my earliest coaching memory, and getting to do it with DeWayne was one of my great joys.”
Even though Carson established himself as a rookie, he has missed a lot of time. Does that concern you in his second camp?
“Carson prepares like some of the great ones, it’s unbelievable the way he prepares. The guy is on it. He’s constantly talking about what he sees, how he sees it, why we did something. He teaches me something new every day. It’s awesome just to be around him and hear how he sees the game, and when he’s ready to roll back, I can’t wait to watch him roll.”
I was going to ask you about Mike Hall Jr. He didn’t play much last year and dealt with injuries. How tough is it for him not to be out here, and what did you see from him before he stopped practicing?
“Love Mike Hall, love the person, love the energy he brings, along with all our defensive linemen. He was having a great camp, and he’ll continue to have a great camp. Excited for Mike, big time.”
I know you’ve talked about Jared a little bit, but the skirmish he had on Saturday with Spencer, what’s your philosophy on some of that stuff? Todd (Monken) mentioned how some of that comes with the territory. How much of that is a good thing and what does that do for you guys as a defense?
“To echo the coach’s words, we all want a competitive-a** team, and nobody wants fights or skirmishes that create penalties in a game. But defensively, I would say all defensive coaches would say we live on the edge and push the envelope as far as it goes. You’ve got to do that without being selfish, and while staying under control, because a penalty or something that hurts our team becomes a selfish act. But seeing our guys compete at the highest level and go hard against each other is only going to make our team better.”
Would you rather have a guy who goes too hard that way and you can dial it back than trying to instill that fire or dog in somebody?
“My son and I play the ‘would you rather’ game. His questions are harder. You want guys who are going to go as hard as humanly possible. That’s what defense is about, that’s what football is about, that’s what life is about. So, you want people who go as hard as humanly possible, but it always comes down to respecting each other and not doing anything selfish that could hurt the people we love and our football team.”
You’ve talked about Quincy, he calls the defensive line ‘the engine’, he barks and calls the offense ‘dog food.’ Can you talk about the defensive identity you’re building this season?
“I mean you better be able to answer this. Heart, mind, fist, and the ball is oxygen. Really, it’s our heart, our connection to each other, playing hard for each other and celebrating. And then it’s our mind, being on our jobs and executing. And then it’s the fist, we’re going to choose violence, and we’re all going to finish at the ball. He’s all about that, and that’s the competitive spirit he brings.”
How do you feel the players are responding to you as their defensive coordinator?
“It’s about them Mary Kay. They’re the ones between the white lines. It’s so fun watching them play within our style and scheme and watching them make plays. It’s a great joy for all of us. I hope they’re having fun doing it.”
As a first-time defensive coordinator calling plays from the sideline, you talk about how the first preseason game is beneficial for young players, but as a first-time DC play-caller. What are you looking forward to, and how can that first game be beneficial for you?
“I’m learning every day. It’s awesome. We’ve got a great mentor in Todd, an unbelievable defensive staff, and a great group of defensive players, and together we’re constantly learning. If a mistake happens – own it, fix it and keep it moving. If good stuff happens, celebrate it, embrace it and keep it moving.”
We’re not going to see you run out onto the field if there’s a turnover like in camp?
“Raheem (Morris) used to yell at me because sometimes I’d get a little too far out on the field, but once again, nobody can do anything to hurt the team. We’re going to be fired up when good things happen.”
You don’t sound like a first-time defensive coordinator. What’s that experience like, being at this level for the first time?
“Again, to be around great people you love, with a great coaching staff – when you get to do hard stuff and hopefully have success, it’s the greatest joy in the world, professionally. Don’t forget about my family, they’re the greatest joy. But professionally, that’s what it’s all about.”
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