Linebacker Azeez Ojulari
August 15, 2021
Q: How was your first taste of the NFL last night?
A: It was great. Finally got the opportunity to go out and compete against a different team. It was just great. It was a learning curve for me just continuing to go out there and get better. It was phenomenal.
Q: One of the plays that jumped out at people was when you were able to shed off (Jets Offensive Tackle Mekhi) Becton and make the play. Can you take us through that?
A: They called a play and I just tried to play my technique the best that I can. He’s a big guy and I just tried to shed off of him and make a play. Just playing football.
Q: How important was that for you? I know the Giants expect a lot from you as a pass rusher, but to make a play like that, how important was that?
A: I feel like we go out there every single day and try to make plays on every single play no matter what it is, pass or run. We know we just try to bring our best every single down, every single play, so that’s what I’m just trying to do.
Q: Was Becton the biggest offensive lineman you’ve ever faced?
A: Yessir, he is. So far.
Q: I know you only had a few pass rush reps in there, but what did you take away from that in your first action against NFL competition?
A: I’d say it was a great competition for sure. It’s a different level. These players, their sets are different from college. Their sets are different, so I just got to get back to playbook and keep working and keep watching film and keep getting better.
Q: What do you mean by that? What is it about their sets that are different?
A: They’re quicker, faster, bigger, athletic, so it’s more different.
Q: What’s the adjustment that you think you have to make in order to be able to handle that?
A: I would say just keep watching film and knowing my opponent. That’s the main thing.
Q: You guys have obviously had a lot of guys on the sideline at your position. What’s it been like for you to get so many first-team reps? How helpful has that been the first couple weeks of camp?
A: I’m just trying to go out there and whatever (Head) Coach (Joe Judge) wants me to do, just keep going. Just playing ball to the best of ability, just learning from the older guys, learning from the vets at my position. Just trying to get better every day. Just taking my reps, taking advantage of them and just trying to get better.
Q: You had a lighter workload last week. Is that a situation where they’re just trying to manage how much you do?
A: I’m not sure. I’m just trying to just come in and do whatever the coaches want me to do. Whatever they want me to do, I’m all in, 100 percent, just ready for them and just ready to go and work.
Q: What have the veteran guys or the coaches told you about joint practices? That’s going to be something new to you. You don’t do that obviously in college going against another team in practice. Are you expecting that to be like a game?
A: I know it’s going to be competitive. To have the opportunity to go up against somebody else at practice is going to be good for us. Just go out there and compete and do our best and do what the coaches want us to do and just play football, play the game we love.
