NYG Postgame (vs. Bears) Transcripts: LB Alec Ogletree -- December 2, 2018
Q: Have you ever had two interceptions in a game before? What was it like to set the tone with that pick-six?
A: I’ve never had two interceptions in a game, but I have had an interception for a pick-six before. It was just a big play for us as a team. It definitely set the tempo for how the day was going to go and I was just happy to be in that position to make a play.
Q: What did you see on the second pick?
A: We were in a zone [defense]; I was reading the quarterback’s eyes and even though he didn’t see me coming, the running back was wide open, and I just kept working over and I was able to jump up and get my hand on it. I was definitely trying to score on that one too, but I didn’t have enough blockers at the time.
Q: Did you tell Odell [Beckham Jr.] that you could also catch one-handed?
A: No, I mean, he’s a guy that his hands are humongous, so for me, it’s kind of harder. It’s easier for him; he works on doing that, but I do my share.
Q: Do you plan on sitting in the receiver’s’ room this week?
A: You know, I told Coach [Shurmur] that if I get five [interceptions], he has to at least get one play (for me) on offense at some point during the season. Hopefully I can get one more and we’ll see how it goes from there.
Q: Alec, Coach [Shurmur] said that you are one of the guys who is changing the culture here, what are some of the things that you try to emphasize, particularly to the younger guys, in terms of mindset and approach?
A: Yeah, I mean, just to be a professional, prepare well and do the right things. It means taking what you have learned in the classroom to the field. Like I said, things are going to be tough sometimes and you have to be able to keep fighting there and keep standing there and do your job at the highest level that you can. When you do that, it definitely changes the culture around here and it gets guys around here to play well.
Q: There were a couple of times when you guys had potentially more interceptions because you busted across the field. It seems as if Chase Daniel had issues in reading coverages over the middle the field, is that something you guys keyed on coming into this ballgame?
A: Well, I mean, that’s why you study film; like I said, you learn the routes that they want to run and the type of offense that they are going to be, and when you match up and play as well as our DB’s did today, those things can happen. You get your hands on the ball, you can cause the fumbles and turnovers and stuff like that when you play well and do your job. We just went out there and played ball and played together today.
Q: The Bears scored the last ten points to force overtime. In overtime, was there a special message that you wanted the defense to hear or did you guys, when you came out there, said ‘We’re up three, now let’s end this?”
A: I mean, we’ve kind of been in that situation a little bit all year long where we haven’t been able to finish [games]. This game was big for us to go out there on defense and end the game the way we did. That’s big for a defense like us and just the whole team. We know that when we step out on the field, we go out there and give it our all and when you do that, the results are what you get. You can live with that.
Q: What do you think went wrong on that last 1:49 of regulation where the ten-point lead got away defensively and why were they able to tie it up?
A: I mean, nothing went wrong; they just made some good plays. They’re a good team, they’re one of the top teams in the league and they are definitely not going to just fold or hand it to us or lie down and not compete all the way to the end. Like I said, they came back at the end and did a great job of getting the ball to who they wanted to get it to and they were able to score, but our offense went out there in overtime and scored and got three points by kicking a field goal. The defense, like I said, we had our chance today to go out there and finish the game and I’m just proud of the guys for stepping up and finishing the game.
Q: What has this season been like for you so far?
A: It’s been a long season; it’s been a struggle. Of course we hate losing and wish our record was better than what it is, but we can’t go back and change that. All we can do is keep pushing forward and everyday is a new day and we just learn and continue to push the guys to keep believing and keep fighting and doing the right thing.
Q: Does Curtis Riley get a fine for dropping that interception?
A: Does he get a fine? He’s about to hit that weight room and get swole and do some push-ups and all kinds of stuff. He just went out there and misjudged it a little bit, but he’s a guy that has two picks already. We know he can catch the ball, but he definitely should’ve made that play for sure.
