Saints Players (12.24.22)
Saints DE Carl Granderson:
On the last defensive drive of the game:
“It started off with practice throughout the week. We came in knowing we had to stop the run and that it was going to be cold, but it was a mindset that we came in ready to stop the run and have some fun. That last drive was leading up to the last drive the first, second, and third quarter. We came in, we had been holding them all game and we had to have a huge fourth-and-short. We stopped them to get a ball back to the offense.”
On the mindset of not wearing shirts during pregame warmups:
“It wasn’t really an idea. This wasn’t anything new for me. It is all a mindset. If you come in thinking it is going to be cold, it is going to be cold. I wanted to get out there and adjust to the weather and go with no shirt on. We had to warm our bodies up and get the mind ready to play the big game.”
On how not wearing shirts during the pregame helped the mindset of the Saints defense:
“Defensive mindset, it wasn’t even cold. I am not even going to lie it wasn’t even cold. My hands were cold, I will be honest about that, but it wasn’t cold. It was a hell of a game. The equipment staff did a wonderful job preparing us with the nice gear and that gear that we need for the cold. Shoutout to them.”
On the turnover and how it helped the Saints get rolling:
“That was very big. Like I said, it is a process. It started in practice. They haven’t come this season, but you never know when they are going to come. You just have to be ready and the next man has to take advantage of your opportunity.”
On getting motivated for the game and the locker room atmosphere pregame:
“That is a family. We are a family in the locker room. No one can ever get let down. We can’t point the finger. We are a family. We are one group. The offense and defense come together at the end of the day. The offense did a wonderful job of running the ball and getting us in field position, and we came as the defense and met them halfway. We have to stay united and keep going because you never know how the season is going to turn out.”
Saints TE Taysom Hill:
On playing in cold weather conditions:
“We talked about this being a game that would require a little more effort and a little more focus as we got ready to prepare for this game. I think going in with the right mindset where we knew we were not going to throw the ball a ton and to make sure that your expectation and your mindset was ready for a game like this. I thought as a team everyone handled it pretty well.”
On if there was an effort to get him going earlier in the game:
“I think that is a question for the guys upstairs. I don’t think that we necessarily had a plan, a goal or a mindset. I think my carries came when they came.”
On the Browns defense and how the Saints were able to find success in the second half:
“Look, in a game like this when you can line up and they know you are going to run the ball and you can still run it successfully, that is a good feeling as an offense. I felt like up front, receivers and everyone, they had the right mindset going into this game. Those guys won us a game and (Saints RB Alvin) Kamara and myself were beneficiaries of those guys doing everything they needed to do up front to allow us to run the ball.”
On Saints S Daniel Sorenson’s interception:
“It is huge. I think going into this game, as we talk about the right mindset and everything else, we knew that this was going to be a field position game, as well. Defensively, that is what they did. We put them in a bad situation early, and they gave it back to us. I felt like this win felt really good because it took everybody special teams, defensively and offensively. Everyone made plays when they needed to.”
On the Saints postseason chances and playing strong today:
“I think it starts with leadership from coaching staff, ownership and to players. I think that everyone has an expectation that we have not played as well as we would have liked to. We have not won as many games as we were planning to and hoping to, but that does not change the way that we prepare or the way that we go and play this game. At the end of the day, we are all prideful players, and we care about the pride that we put out on the field. Putting the Saints uniform on means something, and that is at the root of it.”
Saints RB Alvin Kamara:
On the Saints gameplan heading into today’s game in tough weather conditions:
“You come into a game like that knowing what the conditions were going to be, and obviously we came in like, ‘Okay we are going to run the ball, and when it permits, we are going to throw it.’ You use your common sense out there. It is not a big strategic thing where we talk about it all week. If the wind is in our favor, we are going to throw the ball. If not, we are going to run it.”
On how it felt to get his second rushing TD since Week 8:
“It is cool. I am happier about the win. Lower touchdown production this year for me, but I think the main goal is trying to get in the winning column. That is my main focus.”
On Saints TE Taysom Hill getting touches later in the game than some may have expected:
“I heard that question twice, and I think it was kind of the flow of the game. We had some calls that we wanted to call to give Taysom the ball, and we got it out of him a few times. I think how the game was flowing, that was how it went. We ended up giving him the ball, and he took advantage of his touches like he always does. Anytime we see him and we can get him going, that is something we take advantage of. I think he did well.”
On Saints S Daniel Sorenson’s interception:
“Shoutout to Dan. I don’t know who tipped it, but it fell in Dan’s hands. He got a little turn, and it looked like an offensive play. That was big just getting a takeaway because that kind of sparks us as an offense. When the defense does that, it is up to us to handle our part. That is all you can ask for.”
On the Saints playoff chances and the Saints battling in today’s game:
“We are not looking at playoff chances or playoff hopes. We are out here playing football. We have a job to do, and that is to win every Sunday, regardless of the elements and regardless of the circumstance. Whatever it is, whoever is hurt, who is up or who is down, we are coming out and trying to get a win however we can. That is kind of the flavor and the swag of this group. We are just trying to go out and find a way to win. We did that today, and we are going to keep trying to do that for the rest of the season. Wherever we end up is wherever we end up. I know for me and I know for the guys in there, the leaders and the captains, we are not looking at, ‘Oh, we have to make the playoffs.’ We are looking at getting this win, which we did today. Next week, we are going to try to get another win. The last week, we are going to try to get another win, and wherever the cards fall, they fall.”
# # #
***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.***