LB Sione Takitaki (11.22.23)
You’ve been around a long time and, you know, you’ve seen teams here that they get in those late game situations – It hasn’t gone the way it’s gone for you guys. How is that mindset? What goes into that mindset, where you flourished instead of folded down the stretch?
“Yeah, I feel like just the experience of being in that situation before, early on in the season, we were in those situations and we weren’t as clean as we wanted to be. Seahawks – obviously the 49ers could have gone kind of wrong too, but I feel like just getting that experience, being in those situations and learning from them and so when we were in that situation against those guys, we were able to execute, go out there, play fast, play our techniques.”
You don’t feel responsible for getting the offensive coordinator (Matt Canada) fired at Pittsburgh?
“Yeah, you know, how the business is, man. You know, we just kind of played our ball, man, and let those guys do their decisions, man, that’s really how it is.”
What do you see when you look at the Broncos? Kind of a slow start this season, but they started turning around. What do you see from them?
“Yeah, no, I see a really good team. They run the ball really well. Russell (Wilson) has definitely – the whole team I feel like these last four or five games, it’s kind of like a new team. Won their last four, tip our hats to those guys, the coaches and the players, for turning it around. But like I said, man, when they got a good running team. Russell does a great job with the ball, doesn’t really turn it over. So, we’re going to have to be queued in for all the stuff that they come with.”
When you talk about good running teams, what is it about you guys defensively that has allowed you to elevate the run game? Because for years here that was like top three thing you guys needed to do and you guys just always seemed to struggle against the run. But this year you guys have held your own.
“Yeah, I would say steam-wise. Obviously, like we’ve been talking about this whole year, just kind of that attack front that we have, letting those guys hit their spots. I say we have the best front four guys, man, in the league. So just letting those guys do everything, letting us behind and clean it up.”
Just with AWalk (Anthony Walker Jr.) going down? I mean, I know last year all the injuries you guys had, how equipped do you think you are to handle his absence? And I guess for yourself, do you feel any pressure at this point when one of those other guys in that room goes down or anything like that?
“Yeah, first of all, just sucks to see Walker go down, especially a leader captain on the team, just a guy that his presence is felt on and off the field, does everything right for us guys behind him. Definitely learned a lot from him, but yeah, been playing this game for a long time, so grateful. Obviously, I never want to see guys go down, but I’m ready to play. Kind of how it goes and the rest of the room feel the same way, you know what I mean?”
Having the number one defense job pretty much all year long, do you feel like there’s pressure that comes with that on a weekly basis?
“We don’t try to focus on it but obviously it’s there for us to kind of talk about, but no pressure, man. I feel like if we continue to stay locked in on our cues and what we have going for the week, we could just go out there and play ball, play free. But definitely, man, we read those things, we hear those things. It’s definitely cool to be in the position we are, but just keeping the main thing, the main thing is to win. So that’s kind of what keeps us locked in.”
What’s unique about Denver and do they remind you of anybody you’ve played so far this year?
“Yeah, Denver is a unique team. Obviously, they have the altitude stuff that they pride themselves on and playing those areas, but I’m trying to think really good running team, man. I feel like they started off slow, but these last five games, like I said, man, especially the last four of them winning, they definitely stepped it up. They do a lot of similar things to a lot of teams that we played, you know what I mean? I wouldn’t say they’re just so kind of like one team. You can nip pick some stuff that other teams that we played earlier in the week, earlier in the year, but not one specific team.”
Can you imagine being on a defense that gave up 70 points in a game and now they’re playing pretty good? What does that say about their defense?
“Yeah, like I said, that’s just testament to the coaches and players that are over there in the building really turning them around and playing good ball, four [game] winning streak, you know what I mean? That’s some good football here late. The best time to make a stretch for it, a run for it, so it’s good for them.”
What are you seeing from Russell during this hot streak and particularly like the fourth-quarter comeback?
“Yeah, he just protects the ball really well, you know what I mean? They won some close games these last few weeks and he’s just a guy that makes smart decisions with the ball and definitely going to just take what’s there for him. Lot of check downs. We just got to rally and just play our cues, play our game.”
You guys go against the offense in those two-minute drills and see what they’ve been doing all season long. For you guys, what have you seen from that offense? How much have they tackled that and made that a point of emphasis for them in practice? So they can execute in these game-winning drives.
“Our offense, right? Yeah, no, I’m really happy with those guys, man. DTR (Dorian Thompson-Robinson) definitely, man balled out that last drive kind of put us in position to win the game. Yeah, I just want to shed light on him. Obviously, he’s been getting – you know what I mean? You guys see his situation. Just really happy with them. Just a testament to the hard work, seeing them day in, day out, grinding at the tape, practice. But I would say just the hard work that they put in every day, going through their reads or keys and then kind of shows on game time. So just really happy with them.”
How do you prepare for that altitude out there?
“Yeah, it’s kind of one of those things where you just got to be in shape all year. No matter where you play, you’re going to be tired no matter what. So, staying in shape, that’s the thing. Hydration, doing all the right things leading up to it, but I would say no different than any other game. A little bit more altitude, but just being in shape, to be honest.”
You guys have been so good on third down. What has changed there and how much does Jim (Schwartz) focus on that?
“Yeah, no, I would say just scheming up teams really well. I don’t want to get too much into it, but I feel like Jim just calling a really good game, just knowing what offices are going to do and just being in the right position, to be honest.”
What’s Dalvin (Tomlinson) added to the front and then especially in the locker room?
“Yeah, those big guys, man. Like I said we got the best front pour, especially DT just coming over, being that stout middle guy that we need, especially in the run. And then the dude’s been getting sacks lately, man. A couple of weeks ago he got that three-sack game. Just really exciting. And then in the locker room, man, guys, a leader. I feel like we have a lot of leaders on the D line that we got this offseason, so I’m happy he’s on our team. Happy to play behind him.”
A lot of guys have talked about the bond you have as a team. Is the tightest Browns team you’ve been on?
“Yeah, obviously you build a relationship over the years, but definitely a lot of things, especially the Greenbrier going out there and smart things that the team did for us to kind of bond helps us out later on in the season. But yeah, man, this team has definitely been close, especially being resilient these last few games. Just kind of getting a little closer and pushing each other along.”
You guys are going to be staying out in LA. Do you have a hope that can be a similar kind of experience for you guys?
“Yeah, just staying locked in, obviously. It’s kind of weird that the first time we’re going to do this, like, two-week trip thing, but just everybody’s keeping the main thing the main thing. The main thing is there to work and keeping each other locked in.”
Are there any challenges to kind of going on a long road trip like this in the middle of the season? Like, you’re going to be away from home for nine days, you’re not going to be in your own bed. Is that challenging to do in the middle of a year?
“Yeah, a little different, but I think we’ll handle it well. We have a bunch of professionals on the team, and [the] main thing is to go out there and compete and win, so we’re going to keep that as the main goal.”
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