Outside Linebacker Azeez Ojulari
Q: How does it feel to be back out there?
A: It feels good to be back with the team doing what I do best – what I love to do, the game of football. It felt good to be back with the team working.
Q: What are your thoughts on the edge rushing group you guys have this year?
A: I feel like we've got a good group. Everybody likes to come in and compete every day. Come in, work hard, stay the course, keep the main thing the main thing. We try to push each other every single day. I feel like we're going to be good.
Q: Are you behind in your workload or anything like that?
A: I don't think so. I've been locked in since the jump. Even though I was on the side, I'm still locked in with the walk throughs, the play calls, the playbook and everything – the conditioning and everything. I'm still locked in. Just continue to get back into the flow of things with pads on and everything.
Q: What's your weight right now?
A: 254 or 255.
Q: Last year it was what, 245?
A: Last year it was 245, 249. Up and down.
Q: Why do you feel more comfortable at this weight?
A: I mean, I feel like it's not much of a difference to me to be honest. I'm still moving fast. Moving fluid and smooth. I feel good.
Q: How are you able to be so effective. I think it was 8.0 sacks last year as a rookie? When you look back at last season, what do you think?
A: I've put that in the past now. It's a new season. I'm trying to leave that in the past and just focus on what's in front of me day-by-day. Just keep grinding, trying to elevate and get better every day.
Q: What have you noticed about number five (Outside Linebacker Kayvon Thibodeux)?
A: I like the way that he works. He comes in every day and competes and works hard. Tries to push everyone. Just gets better every day. A head down guy, just coming in, trying to get better and compete.
Q: Can a guy like that help you on the other side?
A: Definitely, for sure – because we've got that same energy, same motor. We're definitely going to push each other and feed off of each other's energy and just get after people.
Q: There's been a lot of talk about having (Tackle Evan) Neal and (Tackle) Andrew (Thomas) as bookends on the offensive line. Can you and Kayvon be that on the defense do you think?
A: We are just going to get it done every day. We come in and compete. Do our job. Be where our feet are at. We are going to play hard no matter what. Dominate, try to dominate and just be us.
Q: What are your thoughts on your new defensive coordinator Wink (Martindale)?
A: I love him. He brings the energy every day. A competitive guy. He's got that swagger about him. He just loves the energy and loves competing. It's great playing for him.
Q: How do you see that swagger? What do you mean he's got that swagger about him? How so?
A: The way he comes in every day. He's just confident. He knows what he's doing. He knows what he's talking about, and you can see it in him every single day when he comes in the building.
Q: How hard was it to miss that time just to not be on the field with those guys? I know you got put on PUP right before camp.
A: You know, it was tough missing time. Any time you're missing time on the field it's like, 'dang.' It's what you do. You love the game, and you want to be out there. It's tough when you miss time, but it's God's plan. Taking it day-by-day trying to get back right. Get back to 100 percent.
Q: Were the guys happy to see you back out there today? What was the funniest thing or weirdest thing somebody said to welcome you?
A: Nothing crazy, you know. Just being back. I've been in red, so it's finally good to see me in white again. I feel good and happy to be back.
Q: Do you feel that the energy you guys have out there now is sort of what you had back at (The University of) Georgia?
A: Georgia's different. You know, the SEC. But we're in the league now so it's different. (Outside Linebacker Jihad Ward) Haddy's bringing the energy. Kayvon, it's just different. We feed off each other, and we're just ready to ball.
Q: Now that you're more experienced, how much better can you be than you were a year ago?
A: I'm just going to keep going, trying to work hard every day, trying to improve my game. Practice. What you do at practice turns out to what happens in a game. Just trying to lock in day-by-day. Just trying to improve my game day-by-day.
Q: Do you have goals for the season?
A: We just want to win it all. Just try to come in and compete; don't think about numbers. Just go game-by-game, make plays, do as you do to help the defense win, and help the team win.
Q: Do you think you're on track for Sunday or are you going to have to miss the game?
A: I don't know yet. I just leave that to the coaches. Go day-by-day and see what happens.
Q: So, they didn't make you carry helmets or anything like that?
A: (Laughs.) No, that was last year.
