Defensive Coordinator Wink Martindale
I hope everybody had a good Christmas. That was a tough outcome, but I was really proud of our competitive spirit and how we attacked each play. We have some things to work on, but we scored another defensive touchdown. That was a fun thing to see, a great thing to see, especially for (cornerback) Adoree' (Jackson). We got another great challenge, a completely different challenge, but another great offense that we are going to face this week here. We are going to need all the crowd and everybody else to help us with these guys because it's a different kind of animal we're facing this week. But, getting back to Philadelphia, I give them all the credit, they deserve it. They've done a great job in building their offense and they play well to it. It was a tough challenge and it's the same thing we are going to face this week with the Rams.
With that, I'll open it up to questions.
Q: What's the difference between the Rams 3-6 and the Rams 5-1?
A: I think that (Rams quarterback Matthew) Stafford is playing at a Hall of Fame-type level and each team, we've talked about it here, each team gels and they have gelled offensively. I think that Matthew is - I mean, he's making throws that you just sit there and go, 'wow.' From all different kind of arm angles, no looks, all those things you've heard about, you're seeing him do it and they're playing at a very high level. I think that the thing that (Rams head coach) Sean (McVay) has done is that they've made a commitment to the run game and changing their offensive line this year. Now, it's a two-headed monster that you have to deal with. So, they put you in a bind of what you want to try to do and how you're going try to do it, but Stafford is playing unreal. I mean, he's a great football player, but I think that he and (Ravens quarterback) Lamar (Jackson) should be up for the MVP candidate. That's the kind of year he's having, and they've scored over 30 points a game since you when you were talking about.
Q: What do you see when you watch - I know he's not your responsibility this week, but (Rams defensive lineman) Aaron Donald?
A: We'll see him in crossover tape. Like I said last week, I don't evaluate other people's defense. He's just an alien. There's no other - he's just unreal and it's down after down after down after down. He is one of the best. He'll go down as one of the best three techniques of all time. That's just me at a flash looking at him or if the Rams are playing and we're watching the game or something before we play or whatever. This offense is, I think there's once in a generational type talent, I think that's what Sean McVay is because he and (Dolphins head coach Mike) McDaniel and (49ers head coach) Kyle (Shanahan), who I have the utmost respect for, they have meetings, and he runs the meeting. I mean, what he does, he's so innovative in the run game and the passing game with the motions and with all the different things, you learn a lot about yourself watching them. He'll have us here if we're in this and he knows and he'll see how you're playing and that's why you always got to keep things moving with him because he's just so difficult to defend, especially (with) the way they run the football and the way Stafford's playing and those two receivers are unbelievable. It's like they went to a lab and created those two receivers for his offense with (wide receiver Cooper) Kupp and (wide receiver Puka) Nacua.
Q: How is Nacua different from the Kupp?
A: They have a lot of similarities. They have a lot of similarities. I guess he's just younger, that's the difference. I mean, there's a lot of similarities that they have together. They're the two best blocking wide receivers in the league and that's also helped the run game. I think that it just shows you that Sean and (tight end coach/passing game coordinator) Wes (Phillips), they get together and Sean says, 'this is a guy I want and here's how we'll use him,' with his system and it's a tough system to defend. It's one of the toughest to defend in the league.
Q: Did you study Puka at all during the draft process?
A: I didn't. I'm too busy with defense. I don't do the offensive guys.
Q: You said they are similar. How are they different?
A: Like I said, I think he's younger. They have the same skillset. They got great hands, they run great routes, they are great run-after-catch guys, they're physical when they block. It's like having tight ends out there playing wide receiver, that's how well they block. So, we got to work on getting off blocks and shedding blocks and things like that, just like you would if there's a tight end coming to block you.
Q: How does a guy like that last until the fifth round?
A: There are all kinds of stories like that, you know what I mean? That jumps out. I don't have that answer for you. Like I said, I don't watch any offensive guys. We will watch some of the top round guys if there's a tie or something. We've done that before, but offense and defense, there's guys like that.
Q: I know you always say it's not about you, It's about the whole defense. Now, the last two teams you've played, the Eagles with (center Jason) Kelce and then Stafford yesterday both praised you and the scheme and how you kind of attack offenses. When you hear other players talking about the difficulties of preparing for your defense, does that even ramp it up higher for you and your guys in your room to make sure you come up with a plan that challenges them?
A: No. I think that, first of all, it's a compliment to our players and their execution of the package. I just think I have the utmost respect for those guys, as you can tell. They studied the game just as much as we study the game, those type of players do. I think that's why they say what they say.
Q: Pam Oliver relayed a message during the broadcast, and you said something like 'you guys need to outplay other teams' offense and their defense.' I'm just curious as to what you meant by that.
A: No, what I said was this: we talked about competitive stamina. Dabs talked about that and I said, 'Here's the thing: we want to be the best unit on the field. We want to be better than their offense, their defense, their special teams. We want to be the best unit.' It's just like (outside linebacker) Kayvon (Thibodeaux) wants to be the best pass rusher in the game, just like (defensive lineman) Dex(ter) (Lawrence) wants to be the best inside rusher in the game. However people interpret it is how they interpret it, but I'm positive all the time with these guys and that's how I think you have to attack every game.
Q: Kayvon was kind of uncharacteristically quiet last week. Is that kind of just sort of an anomaly or what do you kind of see behind it?
A: Kayvon is playing a lot of plays and Kayvon is, like I always tell you guys, he's gonna be fine. A lot of the plays didn't come to him. We ask him to do a lot of different things and, like I said before, there's no ceiling with Kayvon. He plays the run just as effective as he rushes the passer and that's an anomaly right there. It was a physical game, and he played a lot of plays.
Q: What does it say about (linebacker) Bobby (Okereke) and (safety) X(avier) (McKinney) that they are part of a very small, select group that have played every single snap for your unit this year?
A: I think it's a tribute to them that they've taken care of their bodies. They've been fortunate without any injuries but how they've taken care of their bodies resting, working out, doing all the things you have to do to prepare to play every Sunday to get in a 60-play car accident basically is what it is. I think they're both playing really well.
