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Monday Transcript: Linebacker Azeez Ojulari

Eric from BBI : Admin : 9/27/2021 7:11 pm
Linebacker Azeez Ojulari

Q: Obviously you were a second round pick and came from a big program, but did even you expect to have three sacks after three games?

A: I'm just doing whatever they want me to do. Playing my heart (out), playing my best, playing my heart out (out) there. Just whatever comes to me, make the plays that come my way. I'm just trying to do what I've got to do and do my part.

Q: When you had that strip sack at the end of the first half yesterday, obviously you guys as a defense have struggled in those two-minute, end of game situations. To make a big play like that in a big spot, do you have to turn the intensity up and the energy up? What are you doing in that moment when you know your defense needs a play to make sure you make it?

A: Yeah, just going back to your training. What you've been doing the last few months to get to this moment. Why not just go out there and make a play with your teammates? We just went back to our training and just went out there and executed.

Q: I'm hoping you can speak a little bit to how things changed for the defense when (Linebacker) Blake (Martinez) went down and (Linebacker) Tae Crowder took over the play calling. A young guy, he took over the communication, the headset. How did things go? How did Tae do? What kind of gut punch was losing Blake for the season, if you could talk about all that?

A: It was good. Tae came in, Tae is prepared. Everyone gets the coaching, so we're all prepared for the moment if someone goes down, the next man has to step up. We've just got to stay together as a defense. Going back to the training we've been doing, relying on the training we've been doing this whole time, so everyone is going to be prepared. The next man is prepared and ready to go. It sucks to lose Blake, but it's part of the game. Injuries are part of the game, so we've just got to keep going. I'm praying for him. He's going to be good for sure.

Q: When Tae was calling the plays and stuff, there were no miscommunications or anything? It kind of ran the same smoothly?

A: Yeah, it was good. It was all good.

Q: You came from a pretty good program. I think you lost four games in your last two years. How much of an adjustment is it to losing, being 0-3, and kind of everybody shaking their head?

A: I'd say we've just got to come in and work and fix the things we've got to fix. Just try to come back to the drawing board and look in the mirror and just come back ready to work and fix the things and try to change it next week. Just look yourself in the mirror and see what you can do to help yourself, fix it and come back ready to work for the next opponent.

Q: What happened on the last two series? You guys pretty much controlled them all game, and then they put two drives together and won the game.

A: Yeah, we didn't execute to the level we were supposed to get them off the field, so they took advantage of it and they capitalized with it and they scored.

Q: What do you think is working and what do you think maybe is not working as well as far as your pass rush? Obviously, it's working enough to get three stacks, but what are you finding so far in the NFL about bull rush, about going around the edge, about countermoves, about things you can do and things you still need to work on?

A: Everyone in this league is good and athletic. The tackles are bigger, stronger, faster. Everyone is athletic in this league and they can adjust to different things. You basically, really (have) to bring your A-game every single time. Every rep you get, every rush you get, you've got to bring your best out there.

Q: Have there been times in your young career that you made a move you thought was really good and it's like, 'Whoa, I didn't get anywhere with that one. Last year, I would have got a sack. This year, I was stuffed'?

A: Yeah, definitely. I definitely have.

Q: Is there anything specific you can remember?

A: No, nothing specific, but just these guys are good. These guys are vets I'm going against, some of them are vets. They've been prepared for it, they've seen everything. It's just going back and watching film, watching tape and trying to adjust off of it.
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