Guard Jon Runyan Jr.
Q: We've been saying all season long that it's a long season and there's still a lot of games to play, but suddenly we're almost at the halfway point. Is there a sense in the locker room, 'Guys, we got to start doing it now?'
JON RUNYAN: Yeah, definitely. I don't think that sense has just started just because we lost our fifth game of the season. We've felt that way the past couple weeks and for whatever reason we haven't necessarily been getting the results we expected. I think the defense is playing really well and we got to do our part picking it up on offense and going out there scoring points and touchdowns. We understand that. We know that and that's our job is as an offensive go out there and score points. At the end of the day that's what it comes down to. It doesn't necessarily matter how it's going to look, as long as you're putting up points and the end result is what we want. That's all that matters going forward.
Q: Obviously there was eight sacks last week. Is that just (tackle) Andrew Thomas missing or is that just a lot of people made mistakes?
JON RUNYAN: I don't think it had much to do with AT (Andrew Thomas) not being out there. I think just the way the game that was going early, we had some trouble with protection, and I think that kind of hurt us in our pass game. From our perspective as an offensive lineman, I think it didn't help our quarterback. Him being down on the ground that many times in the first, second quarter is not really what he's used to so far this year. I think there's a lot of blame to put on us as the front five up there early on. Eventually we did settle later on, probably late second quarter. But, at that point it felt like the game started to slip too much. We got to do a better job establishing the run game, so we stay out of those passing situations. Giving up eight sacks, you're not going to win many games giving up eight sacks in this league. We understand that and we own that as offensive line. We got to work to be better, for sure. That's unacceptable in our offensive line room.
Q: What was your perspective of (defensive lineman) Dexter Lawrence as an opponent when you were with the (Green Bay) Packers? How did that change maybe in the summer in training camp? How did that change after watching him the first several games this year as a teammate?
JON RUNYAN: Dexter (Lawrence) has been a force in this league since he's come in, since day one. Every year looking over schedule, you're looking and thinking about all the guys you got coming up. I played the Giants twice with Dexter (Lawrence) as my opponent and that was always one of those games that you have circled knowing that you're going to get one of the best in the business and you're going to have to bring you're a-game when it comes to that. But coming here, being on this side, seeing him as more than just a player, as a teammate, as a person, he's phenomenal in all aspects. He just demands so much attention when he's out there on the football field. I think it would be not very smart to leave him on a one-on-one block with a center or guard and he requires a lot of attention and he's constantly getting double-teamed. You see how explosive he is and how good of a player he is. I think he's probably tops in the league in sacks and double teams acquired. It's just a really special player, really special person and I'm happy to have him over here and only have to go against him during the weekdays.
Q: All those things you said about him obviously are true, but did you think that he would be leading the league in sacks with nine? I mean he's an interior pass rusher. All that other stuff is right, but he's never had… He's on pace for 20-something sacks this year. Is that something that even someone like you who's gone against him looks at and says, 'I didn't know he was going have nine sacks after seven games.'
JON RUNYAN: No, I don't think anybody ever would suspect a nose tackle to be leading the league in sacks. Nine sacks is really impressive only through seven games, so far. For him to be doing what he's doing at such a high level, it's really fun knowing that the defense is going out there and playing well. We got to do our job on offense to compliment them and put up points so they can keep playing like that.
Q: You've talked about it several times, I know I've asked you this year, in terms of thinking back to last year for the team you were on and the idea of how you guys were able to come out of what people would consider an NFL abyss and make it all the way to the playoffs and really be playing well. How do you compartmentalize the emotions that you're dealing with on a weekly basis from the highs of winning games to losing games like you have the last two weeks. Versus the calendar and the idea of how the games just keep ticking off and like you said it's been around for a while this urgency. How do you kind of deal with that, the one versus the other?
JON RUNYAN: I hate to try to compare the two things but last year the team I was on we were 2-and-5 at this point of the year, as well, just like we are here. We're 2-and-5 going to Week 8 and a tough matchup Monday night in Pittsburgh. Both scenarios, last two seasons, it's definitely not where you want to be. But this doesn't mean that you're dead, the season's over. There's still a lot to play for. It only takes seven to eight wins to get a playoff spot in this league. I think we're definitely capable of doing that the rest of the way. It just comes back to taking it day by day and rallying around the guys in the locker room and making sure everybody keeps the faith. We have a lot of really strong veteran players, veteran presence in this locker room so I know that we're going to do our best to keep everybody, the younger guys, everybody else in high spirits. It doesn't matter what the record is. It only matters when we go out there and our mindset on Sundays, and this particular weekend on Monday, and going out there and doing our best to get the win. That's what it starts with: winning each practice and then that translating into winning every game going forward. It doesn't have to be every game, but we've got to string a couple together for sure.
Q: I'm just curious with the way you guys have struggled offensively and obviously protecting (quarterback) Daniel (Jones), what do you see in the Steelers defense and how difficult is that place to play in Pittsburgh?
JON RUNYAN: The Steelers I think have probably been one of the best examples of consistency in this league. They've been doing it very well, very solid for so long. Their defense hasn't changed in forever and they have the right guys, they have the right culture. They got playmakers all over the defense and that's what they pride themselves on over there in Pittsburgh. Everybody knows they got really good ends on both sides and they're big and strong in the interior. They got great support on the backside and linebackers are playing really well right now too. Tough, tough defense but it's going to be a great environment Monday night in Pittsburgh. I know Pittsburgh's a huge football city and Monday night fourth-quarter when they start playing their music and the towels start being waved it's going to be awesome environment. I'm looking forward to it. I'm sure it's going to be really loud. I feel like that's one of the environments that we thrive in. We've played in some tough environments so far already this year and I know the guys are going to be excited and geared up for this one.
Q: I know you don't want to make excuses for not having Andrew (Thomas) but, you guys played six straight games with the same five lineman taking every snap. First team reps in practice you're with the same guys. So, I was wondering, for you personally, what was that adjustment like last week being next to somebody different and do you think that by the end of that game you guys found something you can carry over into next week that you've settled in now with this new offensive line or are you anticipating that there might be more changes even this week?
JON RUNYAN: I've been fortunate enough to get some snaps playing next to (offensive lineman) Josh Ezeudu over OTAs and a little bit of training camp just mixing people around trying to feel everybody out and how everybody works together. But I don't anticipate any new changes. I think going out there for your first start of the year, first or second drive, having one blunder doesn't mean the season's over for anybody. Eight sacks is unacceptable and we know that as an offensive line. Definitely a lot of things we could do better and make Daniel (Jones) feel more comfortable back there and instill more confidence in our play callers. Not have to feel like we have to throw the ball so much and we can hand the ball off and gain three, four yards per carry. Going forward, we feel really comfortable with Josh (Ezeudu) out there. He did really well once he settled in after one of those drives. I feel like we held up relatively well later on in the game. But, at that point it's too late and we just got to start out the game way better than we did. I think it kind of rattled our quarterback which is our fault, not his fault at all, and the play calling which again I feel like goes back on us.
Q: What is your advice to a player like Josh (Ezeudu)? Like most young offensive linemen, I'm sure you had struggles early on in your career. What do you say to him about trying to learn that position on the fly and also at the same time trying to build his confidence?
JON RUNYAN: Josh (Ezeudu) is not young but he's a younger player. He's really talented. He's really smart. He knows this offense really well. He's been in it a really long time. There's honestly not much that he needs. I think for him it's just going out there and feeling comfortable and executing. To be honest, I didn't really have to say much. Even day one being in there it wasn't like, 'All right. Here we go new left tackle.' I felt all the confidence in the world in Josh (Ezeudu) to go out there and you know play well and I think he did. It's just going to get better each and every week. Obviously, it's tough to replace our starting left tackle and captain, AT (Andrew Thomas), but I feel like Josh (Ezeudu) is a great replacement and he's just going to get better every week. That's his mindset. He's always looking to improve on whatever it is. Whether it's in the weight room, anything with his body. He's always on top of the playbook. He's just a really good pro and I don't see anything necessarily glaring that's going to take away from his progress going forward.
Q: I know you're playing left guard and (Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker) T.J. Watt is on the other side, primarily. But is he a player that even though you're on the other side that you have to keep an eye on the whole time thinking, 'Maybe he moves.' Whatever he's doing, no matter what, it affects you and the line as a whole.
JON RUNYAN: For sure. T.J. (Watt) mainly plays over the right tackle, but they have shown to move him as one of those floaters in the middle of the defense. He can pick and choose whatever gap or whatever guy he wants to play against. So, that's something that you always have to be ready for. But I think going forward like he's one of the premier edge rushers in this league and if you're going to keep only two hands on him the whole game like he might get his. But I think our offense and our coaches are going to put in a great plan for him like most teams do when they go against him. Jermaine (Eluemunor) has played against him a couple of times and I know he's really confident going against him and it's going to be a great battle between two great players and I'm excited to watch it.
