Inside Linebacker Bobby Okereke
Q: Did you ever think in all your time in the NFL that a nose tackle could be leading the league in sacks?
BOBBY OKEREKE: When I became teammates with (defensive lineman) Dexter Lawrence, that made that vision a lot more clear.
Q: Even though, he never came close to leading the league in sacks. You watch him at every play, right? What are you seeing that is allowing him to have nine sacks and be ahead of all these EDGE rushers?
BOBBY OKEREKE: He's a physically dominant player. He has a great motor on the field. His mindset, his competitive mindset, is second to none. He takes advantage of his matchups.
Q: How does that help you on the second level? If he cleans up so much, how does that help you?
BOBBY OKEREKE: A lot. A lot of times they're double-teaming him. So, makes it 10 on 11 quick. There's got to be a free guy for doubling Dex(ter Lawrence). Then, from a pass rush standpoint, the quarterback has to get the ball out quickly. That can lead to more interceptions and more untimely throws. It just helps the defense out overall.
Q: Do you think he can lead the league in sacks? It's not halfway there yet.
BOBBY OKEREKE: He's on pace for it now (laughs). So, he's doing a great job.
Q: When I look at the stats from last week, the one thing that I shake my head about is the run defense. It was like 269 (yards). Is that an anomaly? Or were you guys just in a bad formation or what?
BOBBY OKEREKE: We're playing against a very good team, a very good offensive line, and a very good running back in Saquon Barkley. I feel like throughout the game, we did a decent job of stopping the run, especially in the first half. There were just a couple of explosive runs. I think four or five explosive runs really broke on us. Some of those two back fits, we weren't exact with. They had a really good scheme that we didn't adjust to. And it's a chess game and they beat us in those matchups.
Q: I believe, if I'm not mistaken, you're one of the few guys in the locker room that's played in Pittsburgh. I think you played them twice when you were with Indianapolis, I think.
BOBBY OKEREKE: Yep. I want to say earlier in my career.
Q: What's the difficulty of that place? Obviously, that team is… (Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike) Tomlin always has that team over .500 and in contention. But just in general, what's the difficulty of that? And for a team like yourselves that's going in there, kind of struggling a little bit, what's the challenge on Monday night?
BOBBY OKEREKE: They have a great history, a great culture in that organization, and a lot of pride. Their fans bring it every game. That black and yellow, you really feel it on game day. So, just understand you're going into a hostile environment. Understanding they want to play old school football: play great defense, run the football, and take care of it. So, like you said, we'll have a great challenge ahead of us. Got to create turnovers and got to stop the run.
Q: Is there an element to embracing that challenge? Does that bring a team maybe a little tighter going in there? Does that make any sense?
BOBBY OKEREKE: For sure. In a hostile environment, you have that 'Us versus the world,' mentality. Definitely a cohesive group is what's going to get us a win.
Q: One thing I meant to ask you was, are you reaching that point in the season where it's make-a-break time? It's seven games in, you're 2-and-5. Do you have to get on a run now?
BOBBY OKEREKE: I don't think you ever want to have that mindset, because when you start pressing that's when you can lose focus, get off your fundamentals and techniques, and take more risks on the field. We have to have a one-game-at-a-time approach and mentality. Monday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers is a great opportunity to go 1-and-0.
