Defensive Lineman Dexter Lawrence
Q: What was your reaction to captaincy?
A: It's been what, four years? It's an honor that I've earned the respect among my peers, my teammates. It's just a huge honor to be a representation of the team and voice for the players.
Q: What have you learned about the defense this summer that maybe you didn't know beforehand? Just being on the field and being able to actually execute.
A: I love the way we fight. Even if the offense is having a little better day than us, we finish strong. It's always promising. We are always holding each other accountable, communicating – over communicating at times – which is great. We are just showing good characteristics as a whole of being one and being a unit.
Q: What about scheme-wise from (Defensive Coordinator) Wink (Martindale) and what you are expected to do that maybe surprised you?
A: I'm not too surprised. He's been straight up, straight forward with me. I love the aggressive mindset he's building within the defense and within the players individually. He doesn't change, he's just going to shoot you straightforward. This is what we are going to do, and this is how we are going to do it and we all buy into it.
Q: Where do you feel like the pass rush is right now without (Outside Linebacker) Kayvon (Thibodeaux) or (Outside Linebacker) Azeez (Ojulari)?
A: I feel pretty confident in the next two guys that step up behind them. Rushing is, you're rushing as a whole unit. It's not just the ends - it's the front, it's the tackles, it's the DBs, the linebackers. It's all of us buying into a rush plan. We've got to put pressure, they've got to cover, things like that.
Q: Does a blitz-heavy scheme help when players go down because you know you are going to be sending five or six guys regularly anyway?
A: Blitzing, not blitzing, blitzing is going to work regardless of whoever is in there, I don't think that has to do with specific players. It's all about scheming (and) scheming up the offense.
