NYG Postgame (vs. Cardinals) Transcripts: CB James Bradberry
December 13, 2020
Q: This team performed so well last week against a better opponent record-wise in Seattle on the road. With so much on the line, how do you explain this kind of performance at home and off a four-game winning streak?
A: I think it just came down to they performed better than us. We didn’t execute when we needed to and that’s usually the name of the game. You’ve got to execute and make plays, and we didn’t do enough today.
Q: When the defense is playing well, especially early, and the offense is struggling like that, does it get frustrating as the game goes along? What’s the general feeling of the players that are out there?
A: I mean, we always say, ‘If they don’t score, they don’t win.’ That’s our goal as a defense, we don’t worry about special teams or what the offense is doing, we just worry about what we can control.
Q: How do you think you guys did today against [Cardinals Wide Receiver] DeAndre Hopkins? What was it like to take on [Seahawks Wide Receiver] DK Metcalf and DeAndre, two of the top receivers in the league?
A: We didn’t do as good as last week containing DeAndre Hopkins today, but I still think he didn’t really wreck the game for us. We just had a few mistakes on him.
Q: How much pressure does it put on you guys as a defense when your offense isn’t scoring 30 points a game? Do you guys sense that at all, do you guys notice that? Do you feel like you almost have to play differently? I know you said your goal is to not give up any points, but does that change your mindset?
A: No pressure at all, that’s why they got us here on this defense, so that we can stop any offense that we go against. But we didn’t do that today, so we’ve got to correct our mistakes and try to do that next week.
Q: I know you guys have played this zone defense and it’s worked for the most part this season, but when you see Hopkins kind of get loose against other guys, is it frustrating at all that you can’t just man up and cover the other team’s number one receiver like you probably want to?
A: So, we’re going to see what we did tomorrow on film and then we’re going to correct those mistakes on those plays where he got loose and then we’re going to go from there.
Q: But personally, would you want to take that matchup more than maybe you’ve been able to because of the way the scheme has been?
A: I thought the call was good, whatever call we were in that play. Specifically, the over-up, it was a good call I felt like. He just made a a play, you know.
Q: What do you think [Cardinals Quarterback] Kyler Murray does especially well as a quarterback? And as a pass rush, when you kind of prioritize containing a guy who can run, does that give him more time to look downfield and force you to cover longer?
A: I think his strength is his mobility, being able to make plays when there’s no play there, being able to scramble around and draw time for the receivers to get open. I think that’s what he did well today. It’s definitely tough on our defensive line because he’s a fast, athletic guy. We’ve just got to figure out a way to contain him.
Q: You guys were kind of forced to defend a lot of short fields today. How did that affect the way you guys schemed that within the game?
A: As far as the scheme, that’s a defensive coordinator question. But, like I said, us as a defense, the leaders try to rally the troops together to make the play. Anytime you take the field, that’s our whole mindset, make plays and stop them from scoring.
