LB Anthony Walker Jr. (11.8.23)
What has to change from the first game defensively against Baltimore?
“Not give up 28 points. Got to stop the run better. Obviously, that’s how we start every week, focusing on stopping the run. Be fundamentally sound and pass rush lanes and all that. Don’t let them get out the pocket and make a throw on the run. Yeah, just play overall better, team ball better.”
I know we talked with you guys a lot about eye candy before you played the 49ers. The Ravens did some of that too with (Zay) Flowers. Like looking back on that. How much of a teaching point did that become and what’s kind of key to combating some of that?
“Yeah, just staying focused on our keys. Don’t get distracted by what teams try to do–jet motion and all that stuff. We can’t let that distract us. We got to stay fundamentally sound and locked in on our keys as linebackers and safties especially, and then be ready to stop the run.”
How has Lamar (Jackson) elevated his game this season?
“I think he’s always been a good passer. Y’all not going to get me. He’s always been a good passer. Obviously, being a dual-threat quarterback, he’s been able to use his feet when he needs to get out of the pocket, make some big plays, throwing on the run and all that stuff. So, he’s always been a great quarterback to me. I’m biased, I’m from same area. So, he’s always been a good quarterback. Being able to make every throw and then being able to make use of his feet to be a dual-threat quarterback.”
When they spread out, they use a lot of the three receivers under this coordinator. Kind of loosens up the tackle box. Is that one of the reasons the running game is so effective?
“Yeah, for sure. When you’re able to have some dynamic receivers outside that kind of you got to put your attention to a little bit more. Like you said, it lightens up the box. That’s a huge part of their success. You’re able to outnumber in the run game and always when you add Lamar (Jackson), that’s playing eleven-on-eleven football, so that makes it a little tougher to defend.”
When you look at the film of that first game, are they easy corrections to make as you prepare to meet them again?
“We just got to execute better. Whether it’s corrections or just being, like I said, fundamentally sound and doing what we do better, that’s just what it has to be. We got to do a much better job this game than we did the first game.”
How much do you look forward to Baltimore’s tops in defensive scoring against the run? You guys are tops and yards and against the pass and stuff like that. I know you don’t play that defense, but just how much as a competitor do you look forward to a matchup like that when you’ve got two really good defenses squaring off at the same game?
“Yeah, we’re playing against their offense. I understand that. But in some aspects, we are playing against their defense. The way you win in football is having more points at the end of the game and our job is to hold them to lesser points than we have, and their defense job is the same thing. So it is in that aspect, our defense versus their defense.”
It’s only game eight, not nine. Sorry, but do you feel that the division title is on this game?
“It’s a big game because it’s the next game. Obviously, it just happens to be a division opponent and we want to win our division and it starts by winning division games, especially on the road.”
I know they didn’t have Odell (Beckham) the last time you guys played them. What does he add to that offense and that receiving core?
“Yeah, we all know what Odell is. You guys saw him for years. Just that dynamic, being able to catch the ball pretty much anywhere that is thrown to him, being able to stretch the field. So, we understand the matchup problem that he creates. But I feel like we have the best DBs in the game so it’ll be fun.”
The rookie running back (Keaton) Mitchell that they have and just what element is he bringing to the table?
“Yeah, another change of pace. They got a three-headed monster over there, sometimes four. So each back brings a different presence obviously, like I said, just fundamentals, technique, all that we do and it’s going to take all eleven of us to stop and run.
When you saw them in week four to now, how have you seen that Ravens offense evolve? Has it changed a lot?
“I think better execution by those guys. Early on they had a lot of just funny turnovers where just Lamar (Jackson) running into a running back or the ball getting snapped when he’s not ready, something like that. So, I think they’re executing a lot better. At the end of the day and also against us, a lot of receivers are out so they’re able to get those guys back. Like I said, that creates another element to their game where they’re able to spread out a little bit. But at the end of the day, we know the ball is going to be a number eight hands and he’s going to make plays to win the game and our job is to stop that.”
What does having four (Deshaun Watson) back do for everybody’s confidence?
“Yeah. You got your franchise quarterback. It means a lot more. Obviously, we have trust in any quarterback that we put back there. I thought PJ (Walker) did a good job. DTR (Dorian Thompson-Robinson) thrown into the fire really early, thought he did some things well. Some things just got to learn from. But there’s nothing better than having a franchise quarterback back there.”
The first game, you guys come out three and out twice. And then had the turnover in the short field. It seemed to jump start their offense. How do you guys as a defense, prevent that?
“Yeah, no, that’s just a mindset. We got to go back out there, anytime our offense or whatever, we’re put in a situation where we got to put the fire out, we got to be able to do that. We can’t worry about where the ball is spotted. We just got to go get a stop, and we got to do a better job doing that. And I think the guys are up to that challenge. We’ve done pretty well in that the last couple of weeks.”
Do you think bragging rights for best defense in the NFL right now is kind of on the line in this game? Both sides can claim some things defensively.
“Yeah, we’re not worried about that. We got to put the sh*t on tape every week, and this is another opportunity to do that. So that’s what our focus is. And it’s a week-by-week thing. We got to be ready to put it on tape every week, and we get another opportunity to do that. So that’s what we’re focused on.”
# # #
***Visit the Browns Media Center for materials provided by the Browns communications department, including media schedules, press releases, quotes, photos, media guides, rosters, depth charts and more.***