S Landon Collins
December 28, 2016
Q: How do you approach this game?
A: We are putting the pedal to the metal. We are playing it like a playoff game, treating it like a playoff game and coming out and firing on all cylinders. That is our mindset and we are trying to get the W.
Q: You have guys that are banged up. Are you surprised that they won’t get a week off to rest up?
A: That is for the coaches to decide. I don’t know. They make that decision, but at the same time they are going to be on the field, we expect the best from them, whatever they can give us.
Q: Do you feel that guys are dialed in to Washington and have been able to successfully block out the playoffs?
A: Definitely, because we already announced that we are already in the playoffs and our mindset is that we are in and now our mindset is on Washington and playing a great game against them because momentum is everything going into this playoff run.
Q: DeSean Jackson seems to be one of those guys where everyone knows about him, but he stills manages to get deep on opponents. What is it about him?
A: When I look at him, he kind of lulls guys to sleep. He doesn’t use his actual speed when he is running his routes and stuff like that and then when he knows he is about to go deep, he hits it and hits you while you are asleep basically, and he gets behind you and Kirk just has to throw it up and he will go get it.
Q: Washington has to win to get into the playoffs, so their intensity is going to be sky high. Do you think that you have to match that?
A: Definitely. We have to definitely match them and be more aggressive and assertive than they are because we need the momentum of going into this playoff run and momentum is everything. Going into a situation like this, it is a big key.
Q: Is that what happened on the touchdown that DeSean scored last time?
A: I don’t know. You have to ask DRC that one because how the routes came out, it just played out differently.
Q: What about Cousins makes him so effective downfield?
A: His receivers making big plays, making big catches and him keeping his eyes downfield and not worrying about the pass rush that is coming at his feet.
Q: Does he seem more confident the last couple times?
A: I feel like he is more sure, definitely confident, and he is trusting in his arm and trusting in his ability.
Q: When the Pro Bowl selections were announced, how special was it to not only hear that you were going, but that your teammate Janoris Jenkins was going as well?
A: Fantastic, man. It was a great feeling because we worked out tails off and it is one of our milestones and just to have that opportunity to be playing in the Pro Bowl, being selected to go to the Pro Bowl, it is a great opportunity.
Q: When is the last time you played dodgeball? That is one of the Pro Bowl activities.
A: Dodgeball? I couldn’t tell you. Maybe middle school. (Laughs)
Q: If you go to the Pro Bowl, then you have to sharpen up on that.
A: Alright, bet. I appreciate the heads up. (Laughs)
Q: Dodgeball is probably something that Odell would be pretty good at.
A: Yeah, he has the big hands and he can dodge the ball at the different speeds and angles. But I have quickness, too, so I can dodge his balls.
Q: Hopefully you guys will have another event to prepare for.
A: Correct, man. Hopefully we won’t have to go there, so we will try to do that, too. Like you said, it is the mindset right now.
Q: Justin Pugh said that this is a pretest for the playoffs. As a secondary, when you go up against these receivers and quarterback, how good of a test is it for you guys to go into the postseason?
A: It is a big test because when you go into the playoffs, you are going up against the best teams that won their divisions and having to play the Redskins, just knowing so, means that we have to have the mindset that we are playing one of the best teams and it is a playoff caliber team. We have to know that and have the mindset that we can’t let them make big plays on us.
Q: They are not afraid to throw the deep ball. They will test you deep.
A: Correct. They will test us deep and we know that and we as the safeties have to help the guys to make sure that those plays get shut down.
Q: Do you guys have to prove that you can win a big game on the road before you go to the playoffs?
A: I wouldn’t say that we have to prove it, but we just have to set a tempo and a mindset for ourselves where we know what we can do and how we need to play when we go on the road.
Q: Would it mean anything extra to you guys keeping a division rival out of the playoffs?
A: I would think so. You don’t want to keep playing the same team over and over. You just want to play them those two times that you have to play them and then keep it moving, I think.
Q: Did you guys think that you were going to be this good of a defense?
A: We didn’t know how good we were going to be. We just knew we were going to be good.
