Transcript: Defensive Lineman Dexter Lawrence

Defensive Lineman Dexter Lawrence

Q: As a leader of the defense, when (cornerback Deonte) Banks has a tough play like he did in that game. What do you say to the team?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: It's not acceptable. He knows it. We addressed it and that's the type of thing that. We don't accept it as a defense.

Q: How do you keep that from happening further, with other guys? Do you have to, as a captain, bring it up to the whole group?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: Just once. When you see it, you address it. I think that's the first time something like that happened. So, we addressed it and now everybody knows that's not acceptable.

Q: If you allow yourself to start thinking, we're almost halfway through the season, Defensive Player of the Year, all those kinds of things?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: Honestly, I don't know. My focus is winning, honestly. I'm going to keep doing what I can to help us win. That's what I'm showing every Sunday, and Thursday, or this week, Monday, that I go out there. That's the most important thing. If I play well, it gives my team the best chance to win and that's what I'm going to do.

Q: Is there anything you did different this offseason that translated into this or is it just kind of natural progression?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: I got married (laughs). I tell people I'm guided by the Lord, and it gives me the power to keep going. That's how I feel and that's what I believe. I don't want to let anybody down, so that's how I play the game.

Q: Do you watch guys like (Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker) T.J. (Watt)? He's on the other side, obviously. He's a perennial top defender, right. Can you take things from his game or appreciate things?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: You can appreciate it. He doesn't beat you with much. He has his platinum move that he's skillful at and he's crafted to the best and nobody can stop it. That's what you see him doing every week. He keeps the game simple for himself and that's what the great ones do.

Q: Can you learn from that?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: Yeah, you learn from that. You see that you don't need a whole bunch of things to help you win each week. You craft what you're good at and you keep making it until it's now second nature to you.

Q: Have you ever felt this unstoppable? College? High school?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: Definitely high school (laughs). Definitely high school. In college, I went through some injuries, and stuff like that. Then in the pros, you just have to learn the game. You have to learn who you are as a person, first and foremost, who you are as a player and then just learn the knowledge of the game. I think that's what I've been doing.

Q: Is there a specific pass-rush move that you do that winds up being the most satisfying to pull off?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: You always see the Instagram moves (laughs). The quick moves that win, but those barely win. This game is meant to be played dirty, and you got to play hard and dirty.

Q: You like the bull rush kind of thing?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: I wouldn't call it a bull rush. It's just getting them off balance a little bit.

Q: Do you name your rushes?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: No. Everybody has the same rushes. You got the long arms, the club rips, the arm overs. They all have the same names.

Q: Obviously the screening for the Wellington Mara documentary was last night. (President and Chief Executive Officer, Board Director) John (K.) Mara was there. He was speaking to us afterward and…

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: I didn't make that one.

Q: No, I know. But John was talking to a handful of us about what's going on this season, and he preached his support for (Head Coach) Dabs (Brian Daboll) and (Senior Vice President and General Manager) Joe (Schoen) and the importance of stability. For a guy who's a leader and a veteran, how important is that?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: I think it's important. It's hard to build a culture when you keep recycling and you have to keep starting over, keep starting over. I think they're doing a good job, you know, getting the right people in here. This is the best team I've probably been a part of since I've been here. We just got to find a way to get it done on Sunday. I respect Mr. Mara for saying that because they work hard, and they have the right people in here. We just got to show up as players and play.

Q: How tight knit is this locker room? Is it very close? With teams losing, people can start separating. How tight knit are you guys?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: The message is, why not? Why can't we not streak? Why can't we not go on a run? That's the belief factor that the leaders and the players have in here. I think we're close. I think, in times like this, you got to grow even closer and that's what we're doing. We're having good days at practice. We're coming out here competing. Having good days in the meeting and meeting extra. I don't think it's pulling us apart.

Q: You're the best defensive player on this team. When you watch film on Mondays, if you happen to see maybe a player or two maybe not giving that what you think is 100 percent, do you address that as a leader? Do you address that guy?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: Yes, it's addressed.

Q: It's addressed?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: It's addressed.

Q: Do you address those individuals or individuals and say, 'Hey, this is not what we do here.'?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: I think the best way is to do it with your whole unit. That's how we address it. I know what you're talking about. It's addressed and it's been addressed. We won't see anything like that, again.

Q: Is that the most important thing? That you don't see it again.

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: Yes. I think the biggest thing is not making the same mistake twice, making new mistakes and that's one.

Q: It was addressed this week?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: Yes.

Q: Given your style of play and the position you play, do you get excited going against a team like the Steelers that pride themselves on just trying to pound you and be physical?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: I was hoping it was going to be cold this weekend to add to the ambiance a little bit. But that's old-school football and that's what you play the game for, to get dirty and to get physical. I'm excited to go in there and compete. I know my guys are going to be ready, too.

Q: How much do you respect their defense?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: They're balling. They've got a lot of good players, too. The front is good, DBs and (line)backers. When you go into games like this, you compete against more than just the offense. It's a total game that you're competing against, and I think we're ready for the triumph. I'm excited.

Q: What do you make of T.J. Watt?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: He's elite. He'll be a Hall of Famer.

Q: What makes him elite?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: The way he attacks the game. He keeps it simple; I think. He doesn't wow you with too much. His plays are flashy, but he doesn't wow you with too many different moves or anything like that. He just knows how to play football, and I think that's the most important thing.

Q: In practice, do you want to give the offense, obviously, the best looks and everything like that? Is it hard to keep confident in a group when they continue not to score a lot of points?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: Not really, because when you watch the game, you see the movement of the ball. You see little mistakes that set us back on drives and I think that's the biggest thing. I don't think you get discouraged. If we didn't have the talent, then maybe. But we have the talent. I think that we're growing every week, and I think the guys are rallying behind each other even more now, more than ever. I think that's the most important thing.