Outside Linebacker Azeez Ojulari
Q. On a day like this, does the heat bother you at all? It bothers me.
A: Yeah, I mean, it's great to be out there in the heat, get acclimated to it, working every day, pushing through it. Because starting September, the heat – it's hot out there, so we've got to get used to it and keep pushing through the hard days in camp – you've got to keep pushing.
Q. As part of your defense, what have you seen from (defensive tackle) Jordon Riley?
A: He's coming in head down working every day, focused, locked in. You've got big Dex (defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence II), (defensive lineman) Leo(nard Williams) in there grinding, helping him out, Nacho (defensive lineman Rakeem Nuñez-Roches), (defensive lineman) A'Shawn (Robinson), they're all working on him. He's pushing them every day and he's just improving every day, going hard and getting better.
Q. Do guys respect a guy that comes in kind of unheralded and ends up showing you something?
A: Yeah, if you're out there playing hard every day, you're going to gain some type of respect from your teammates, coaches, and everyone, putting it all on the line at practice. When you get an opportunity on Sunday, Saturday, whenever we play, it's just great to show what you've got.
Q. It seemed today that (defensive coordinator) Wink (Martindale) kind of lit a fire under you guys during that last session. What was going on?
A: We had a lot of plays during that last session that we just wanted to keep pushing through when it got hard for us and just wanted to keep going, just find a new energy, a new gear in you. Keep pushing, even though we're all tired, just got to keep pushing through. You never know, we might have a long drive in a game. We're just preparing ourselves for those moments that come.
Q. (Inaudible) in September?
A: Oh yeah, that too. For sure.
Q. Did (outside linebacker Kayvon) Thibodeaux give you any words because he got a sack, and you didn't?
A: Oh no, he (didn't) give me (any). We were just out there competing. We're trying to race to get there, and we're all trying to make a play out there and keep our conditioning and get our conditioning right.
Q. How much do you emphasize playing against the run as part of your game? Maybe Wink has told you perhaps that you could improve.
A: Yeah, it's big because I want to be an all-down player, coming out there and dominating whenever I'm out there. Just do my job to the best of my ability. Whatever I can do to set the edge, help the team, stop the run, tackle for losses, just making an impact out there.
Q. After a couple of weeks, what do you think of the defense?
A: We're still working. We can't wait to show everyone throughout the season what we've got and we're just going to keep our heads down and keep working. Sky's the limit, man. Just keep working.
Q. Are you looking forward to playing (Jets quarterback) Aaron Rodgers?
A: Yeah, I'm looking forward to playing all the quarterbacks. Every team. I can't wait. I can't wait this year. I can't wait to get out there and attack.
