LB Alec Ogletree
August 31, 2018
Conference Call
Q: When do you start evaluating Jacksonville film? Or have you already started?
A: I’ve done a little bit. But, we’ll definitely get more in-depth with it this up and coming week, for sure.
Q: How deep is the linebacker position on this team?
A: We’ve got a good group of guys here. Everyone has worked really hard to earn the right to be here. We’re looking to hopefully keep everybody, but things do happen. The guys that do remain, we’re definitely looking forward to put in the work to get ready for Week 1.
Q: Do you have a good handle on the identity of this defense after limited playing time in the preseason?
A: I know the type of defense that we want to be. We want to be a tough defense that stops the run and plays well in pass and apply a lot of pressure on the quarterback. But like you said, you have to go out there each and every Sunday and put it on film. But, that’s definitely the type of defense we want to be for sure.
Q: How close are you to being that?
A: We’re close. It’s a work in progress. Like I said, a lot of new faces. We’re coming together slowly but surely. We got a good group of guys that come to work every day and do the right things. This up and coming week will be a really big test of how close we are to be the defense that we want to be.
Q: Is it nice to start against Jacksonville, a team that’s going to emphasize the run?
A: That’s our first opponent. It doesn’t really matter if it’s them or if it’s somebody else. We play the Jags with this first game. They’re definitely a team that likes to run the ball. We’re going to pride ourselves on stopping the run each and every week. What better to start than with them.
Q: As a veteran, what’s today like for you on “cut day?”
A: Just come in and talk to some of the guys that may or may not be here. It can go either way. For the guys that won’t be here, I definitely try to let them know you never know what the reason as to why you’re not here. But, I make sure to tell them I appreciate the work that they did to help us get to the point we are now, and wish them good luck. For the guys that do stay, I try to make sure that they know that the bullets are about to be flying for real in the next week. It’s a bittersweet day. The last week is always, you close it one week away from the regular season and get ready to play. But like I said, you kind of build relationships with a lot of guys that may or may not be here.
Q: What did you learn about (RB) Saquon Barkley this summer?
A: He’s a guy that works really hard. He doesn’t really act like a rookie. He has his rookie things that he does. He’s a student of the game. He loves the game of football and he works really hard.
Q: What does Saquon Barkley bring to this team?
A: Like I said, he loves the game of football. He asks a lot of great questions. He’s always willing to learn. This game is much more mental than it is physical. The longer you stay in it, you kind of learn that over the years. But for him, he came in and showed signs of why he’s a great running back.
Q: What is (Defensive Coordinator) James Bettcher’s defense going to look like? What’s the key to his defense?
A: We’re going to be a tough defense that stops the run. Like I said, plays well in the pass game as well and applies a lot of pressure on the quarterback. We’re going to go into each and every week with that mindset of playing 60 minutes, and being aggressive, and stopping the run, and playing well in the pass, and applying pressure on the quarterback.
