S Grant Delpit (9.28.23)
You have one of the only two turnovers the defense has had so far. What do you think is going on with that?
“We got to go get some. That’s a big emphasis. Turnover margin, winning that’s going to help us win a lot of games. So I could have jumped on the fumble. I didn’t know it was a fumble, but we could have had three turnovers. That’s my bad one of those.”
You stated early on back at the Greenbrier that you were striving for greatness. What are you doing each week differently to elevate your game because it looks like it’s working so far.
“That’s a good question. Of course I’m striving for greatness. I want to be the best. We want to be the best. As a group, I don’t think you can say any one thing. It’s just taking that extra time and listening to guys like Rodney (McLeod) that’s helping me out as seasoned vets, man, that’s just seeing everything and just helping us our really. And as a defense, we are playing with confidence. When individuals start playing with confidence, man, it’s going to be scary. So I’m just focused on myself being out there every play, which I’m doing and bringing guys with me.”
Does it feel like Jim (Schwartz) is using you any different than he has been in the past to kind of free you up at all?
“Maybe. I don’t know. I mean, you all could probably see through the three weeks of what we’re doing. You could probably put pieces together, but I could be used anywhere in the defense. And I think that he knows that. He’s put me around the ball a lot and I’m kind of making a few plays, but I’m going to continue to do that and line up wherever he wants me to.”
You guys have been so aggressive these first three weeks. Playing a little different style of quarterback this week, Lamar (Jackson), and just the elusiveness that he brings when he’s on the field. What do you guys have to adjust? Not so much maybe from an aggressive standpoint, just with what you try and do to keep him.
“Yeah, eight is a great player. We all know that. He’s explosive. That lightning in the bottle, man. We got to keep him contained. We got to limit his big plays. He’s going to make a few plays. Tip your hat to him and tell him good play and then come back and get on him the next one. I think our D line is going to do a great job of that. The second level is going to keep him where he needs to be and third level are going take care of some mistakes.”
What goes through your mind, though, like when you’re watching the film and you’re seeing him (Lamar Jackson), he’s got three guys on him and he’s breaking those tackles, what’s going through your mind when you’re watching that film and you see him breaking those tackles easily as he makes it look?
“Yeah, I mean, he’s a great player. Like I say, you got to tip your hat to him, but it’s not our first time playing him. We’re kind of familiar with his game, what the offense brings. It’s a new offense, so that’s something new. We’ll be alright, man. Going to do some field studying and get going.”
Would you rather see him (Lamar Jackson) run or throw?
“Good question. Whatever works best for us. I don’t know. I think either way it goes, we are going to have a good plan, man. So I’m not going to give you an answer on that.”
How about Odell (Beckham) coming back. If he plays games, what does Odell still do so well? What do you guys kind of have to worry about with him?
“Ankle? Yeah. So Odell is my dude, man. He’s a great dude. Love him to death. He’s been battling injuries, but he’s still like that. He still got routes, still can catch the ball. New offense for him, new quarterback and everything, but he’s still explosive. So if he comes back, he’s going to be on our radar for sure. Can’t pinpoint any certain thing that he does as we’re focusing on, but that’s another playmaker for them.”
We’ve heard from guys like Za’Darius (Smith) just talking about the freedom that they have on this defense. Is that something that you’ve noticed too, and do you feel like that’s led to this defense’s success so far?
“Yeah, I mean, he definitely moves them around and lets them do what they want to do up front. So if I was a lineman. I’d love to be in this defense because them guys, they play free, like you said, and when they playing free, they kind of plan to their strengths, so that helps them out and we cover for them.”
Do you have those conversations with Jim Schwartz, for you personally about that freedom and where your strengths are and everything?
“Well, he calls the shots. He calls the shots. I think he knows what I can do. He knows what we all can do. He’s done his homework and he’s been around the game for a while, so I don’t think it’s too much I could tell him, but if I see something or pointed out something that I like to do or disguise a certain way or do this and that, he’s going to for sure listen.”
For the first three games for the defense, how have you seen the communication and the in game adjustments play out for the success you guys have had?
“I think the communication has been better. I think that guys are playing fast. Everybody’s on the same page and the in-game adjustments have been on par so far. We got to keep it going, man. I don’t think it’s anything too crazy different, but I think that guys are just playing together and we have a certain connection that we can be on the same page every day.”
What’s it like to be around Za’Darius (Smith)?
“He’s a lot of energy, man. He’s always smiling, the loudest in the room. I don’t know how he do it. You got to be around him to know. He’s a great teammate, first1 of all. He’s got our back and he’s just known us for this short period of time, so he’s a great dude. He shows up on and off the field.”
A Walk (Anthony Walker), said he’s kind of gotten Myles (Garrett) to loosen up a little bit. Have you noticed that?
“Myles, always going to be, Myles’ loose, it’s what he do. But having a sparring partner like ZD on the other side, them dudes they get it done up front for sure.”
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