Defensive Lineman Dexter Lawrence II
October 9, 2024
Q: Did you feel you were getting doubled teamed or tripled teamed last Sunday?
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: …. And then watching tape, it shows up in pretty good double teams and triple teams. But like I said, it's just my world that I'm in now and I embrace it, and I accept it.
Q: How come you’re wearing shades?
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: Just to look cool.
Q: Can you talk about how it looked like they tweaked your role a little bit. They moved you outside a little bit more in this last game. I mean, did that make much of a difference for you?
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: Throughout the whole year, I've been moving around more this year. That's been the goal for the year. To try to help me get away from some doubles here and there and create some unbalances on the offensive line. That’s just been the goal all year.
Q: Do you get offended, or do you take it as a compliment when you're double and triple teamed?
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: I embrace it, and I tell them to double team me honestly (laughs). It’s my world and I'm just going through it and each week I'm getting better at going through it.
Q: We know obviously the loss of (outside linebacker) Kayvon (Thibodeaux) is obviously a big blow for the pass rush. How much confidence do you have in (outside linebacker) Azeez (Ojulari) that he can fill in that role and really help the pass rush too?
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: I have a lot of confidence in Azeez. He's been in the league for four years now. He's made a lot of plays in this league and for this team. I sent him a text message and told him it's his time. And this is your opportunity to go take over.
Q: How do you think it would affect your team not having Kayvon?
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: Just bringing that good pass rush off the edge is what we need. But like I said, I don't think is Azeez is a drop off. I think he's very capable of handling his own and he's done it for a while and now he just he gets more reps to go prove himself.
Q: What's the key to stopping the explosive weapons that the Bengals have in (wide receiver Ja’Marr) Chase and (wide receiver Tee) Higgins?
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: They're very explosive. I think honestly, it's being dominant up front. That's each week. That's the goal each week. We’ve got to attack this o-line, and we’ve got to make (Bengals quarterback Joe) Burrow uncomfortable in the pocket to disrupt some throws, create some overthrows and under throws. I think that's the biggest key.
Q: Do you know that you guys are leading the league in sacks…
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: Yeah, I did see that. That’s just kudos to the DBs, honestly, because they are getting in on the sacks and they are covering. So, it's just everybody working well together, and I think that's what a great team does.
Q: Also, number one in disruptions, total disruptions, according to a new study that just came out…
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: I didn't see that one.
Q: Yeah, that was Sharp football. They got that one out.
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: Look at that. (Laughs) We work hard and when you work hard, good results happen. That's what we're going to keep doing.
Q: But are you amazed though that you're five weeks into the season and sometimes with a new system, especially one that's completely opposite of what you play, sometimes it takes a little longer. Are you surprised?
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: It's hard to ask me that question. I don't really see a lot of stuff until the end of the season, the accomplishments. But right now, I've just got my head down and grinding. And that's my message to everybody else. You're going to be able to reap your benefits at the end. Right now, just grind each week. Right now, we’ve got Cincinnati. We’ve got to go create some more disruption.
Q: This is going to be a weird question, but as good as you are do you feel you can get even better?
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: Personally?
Q: Yeah...
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: I don't think I've scratched where I can be. I left some plays out there Sunday that I want back. Each week, I’ve just got to keep proving myself right and go to get it.
Q: Historically since you guys have since you've been here, the prime-time games, the Sunday night, Monday night have been tough for you guys. Does it add anything to this week?
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: I mean since I've been here, a lot of games have been tough for us. I don't think the timing of the game is what causes any losing or anything like that. It's just us coming out and showing that just playing on Sunday rather than – I understand that's the narrative and all that, but I think it's just showing up on that day and being ready to play.
Q: Did you play a lot more three-technique last game than you’ve been?
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: I think this whole year I've been playing a little bit more. It wasn't necessarily just the game plan last week. I've been moving around a lot each week. But last week we just attacked the plan well and we executed well. It helped.
Q: It helped you get a little more iso?
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: Yeah, it helped.
Q: It seemed like that three tech got you a lot of iso.
DEXTER LAWRENCE II: Yeah, I had some iso. I think just the way we attacked them, how we lined up the fronts, how we blitzed, how we did certain things, helped get that isolation rather than me moving out a little bit.
