Transcript: CB James Bradberry

CB James Bradberry

September 12, 2020

Q: Obviously, you’ve added a few new faces in the secondary just in the last couple of days. I’m curious what Logan Ryan has brought to the field, (Isaac) Yiadom, all these new faces. What have you seen from those guys?

A: Logan, he’s just a well-seasoned vet. He brought a lot of wisdom to this defense. He’s played in this defense before, so he’s talked to us about how they’re going to try to attack us and whatnot. He’s played Ben (Roethlisberger) and them before, quite a few times, so he’s brought a lot of knowledge to the defense.

Q: And then Ike?

A: He came over from the Broncos. You could tell just off his size, he brings a lot of size. He can run as well. He’s bringing overall athleticism to this defense.

Q: Are you a guy who likes to travel with the other team’s best receiver? Do you take a lot of pride in that? Do you prefer to do just whatever your assignment is? I know the last Giants top corner, Jackrabbit (Janoris Jenkins), wanted the number one receiver. He took a lot of pride in that. Is that how you feel or you’ll do whatever is asked?

A: I take a lot of pride in just getting the job done, whatever the coaches want me to do. Whatever assignment they give me at the beginning of the week, I just take pride in getting that job done Sunday, Monday, Thursday, whichever night we play on.

Q: If that means going into the slot, what’s your comfort level there?

A: I’m a football player. You have to be comfortable being uncomfortable, so wherever they want me to line up, I’m going to play ball.

Q: I’m wondering what’s the mindset when you’re playing a quarterback who’s coming back from a serious arm injury? Do you just automatically assume he’s going to be back to what he was beforehand? Do you say ‘ok, let’s see what he does early in the game’? How do you approach that?

A: We just need to approach him based off his history, his track record. Big Ben has a strong arm. He’s been in the game for 17 years, and I’m sure he’s had a few injuries that people don’t know about. He’s able to take care of his body. He’s going to make the checks at the line, he’s smart, he’s been around for a long time. Of course, he has that strong arm.

Q: You’ll be matched up a lot against JuJu (Smith-Schuster) Monday night. Talk about the challenges this guy presents to you?

A: JuJu’s a strong receiver. He has some size to him, has strong hands. He’s able to play through contested catches and whatnot. He makes strong catches at the point of attack. He has size so he’s able to go up and grab the ball on jump ball situations as well.

Q: Is there anybody that you can compare him to that you have played in the NFC South?

A: Not really. I don’t really like to make comparisons as far as receivers or any defensive player or offensive player at that fact. Everyone is different, everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses.

Q: On the whole, how deceptive is the Steelers passing game in terms of the routes they ask the receivers to run and the options that come off of those routes?

A: I wouldn’t necessarily say they’re deceptive. What you see is what you get. They’re an explosive offense that likes to take shots down the field based off the film that we’ve seen. Of course, they have same great receivers. You have JuJu, James Washington, they drafted Chase Claypool, he can run, he’s a big receiver. They also Diontae Johnson, a speedy guy that can get vertical down the field as well.

Q: The outside perception of you changed quite a bit with your contract this offseason. One of the higher paid cornerbacks in the league. Does that change anything for you in terms of pressure, expectations, how you work? Obviously, people are viewing you different than they were viewing you maybe last year.

A: I try not to pay attention to outside noise. Even when I was in Carolina, they put a lot of, I wouldn’t say pressure but they asked me to go out there and guard the number one receivers. I have been doing that for a while now. I just try to go about my own business and go out there every Sunday, Monday, or Thursday, whichever night we play. Try to play to the best of my ability, wherever it is. That’s all I can do, play to the best of my ability.

Q: From your experience, as a corner, you guys have brought in some new guys really late here. Isaac Yiadom, Ryan Lewis on the practice squad. How difficult is it to acclimate and contribute to a new defense like that? Is it a position where if you play enough man to man you can jump in and it doesn’t take too much as far as learning the system? Is it complicated and going to take some time?

A: I guess it just depends on what scheme and system you go into. I know Ryan for the most part and even Logan they played in the system before. They kind of know what’s going on once they get here. As a corner, especially playing outside, you’re going to play pretty much the same thing. The hardest thing to learn is the terminology. Quarters is quarters, cover two, cover three, man is going to be man. Cover three is going to be cover three for a corner outside. It’s not really hard to pick up, the hardest thing to pick up is the terminology. Once they pick up the terminology, I wouldn’t say it’s easy, but it’s easier to learn it after that.