How are you feeling about how the defense played today?
I think we played all right. I mean I don't think we played to our standard. And we could do make way more better plays and stuff like that. So, I just think we got to be better on defense for sure. But I think we played a decent game.
Why do you think you didn't play to the standard?
I mean we gave up too many points to be honest. We were letting the quarterback get outside, scramble around, we wasn't plastering and staying on our man, and they were able to create plays when they needed them. In the end, it boiled down to being a close game, so we've got to be better on defense for sure.
What have you been seeing on Nick Emmanwori lately? Just the way he's playing?
I mean he's doing everything we wanted him to do. It's really hard to describe. Like bro 6'4, rookie. He's big as (expletive). You know what I'm saying? So, it's like it's really nothing he can't do. So, our expectations for him are high and it's going to be high for however long he's going to be here.
The play he made on the third-and-long where Tyjae Spears reversed field and he chased him down, what do you think of the way he was there?
That's just a great effort play. I mean, he preaches that every day in the defensive meeting room like ways to the football. Always have your teammate back out there. So that's just a prime example of that, a way to get to the ball. When stuff happens, we got to get the ball down, give ourselves another shot.
He's being asked to wear so many different hats on this defense and they've been gradually adding. How have you seen him take to that sense, especially when he had several games that he missed with an injury that kind of stalled that progress a little bit?
I mean he takes it as a challenge, you know what I'm saying? He knows he's been asked a lot, so he's studied real well. He asks a lot of questions and after meetings and stuff, he can stay after, ask extra questions and stuff just to make sure he knows his assignments and stuff like that. So he is actually doing a lot, he's playing a lot of different positions. But when you are that size and you who you are, we're going to ask you to do that.
Have you seen that impact the secondary when you can have him play the slot and you can play the slot and you can do more mixing and matching and stuff and how that can make it muddied up for a quarterback?
I just give a testament to our coach (Mike) Macdonald right there. He's able to cook up some crazy stuff and he was able to put us in the best position to win. So, I just got to give my head ball coach a shout out on that.
You guys have been a little shorthanded in different positions on defense all season and then you're missing some linebackers today. Ty Okada gets hurt and guys just keep stepping up. What can you say about the depth of this defense?
It's just a testament to what we preach and how we practice and how everyone studies and takes it as a challenge, man. We always preach you never know what's going to happen in the game and it's always a next man up mentality. So, everyone prepares like they're going to be a starter. We always practice like everyone's a starter because you just never know when your number's going to be called, man, and that's a testament what we built around here.
Does Derick Hall own you a share of the sack on the blitz?
I don't want to even talk about it. I don't even know. I don't even think they credit me for a sack today.
You and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the same draft class, came up together and he just broke DK Metcalf's single season record for receiving yards. What do you think about what he did today and just what he's been doing all year?
I mean, like I said, probably a couple of weeks ago. I already knew he was going to be capable of doing stuff like this. I mean it's just hard to guard him, bro. When he gets open, he's just so efficient in what he does and then he's got a like a great catch radius. So I'm just a fan watching just like y'all when he's out there man. I be so happy and stuff like that because like I said, I remember a lot of people were saying stuff our rookie year, like he didn't put up the numbers and stuff and I'm like, 'Bro, trust you don't know what we got over here.' And then now he just able to shine a light on it. So, he's just doing his thing right now, man. Shout out to my brother. Keep doing your thing, man.
You're usually pretty good at calling out plays and stuff like that. Did you know you were going to get tried in the red zone there?
I mean we did, we (saw) the concept on film. I mean — he pump faked the curl route and then he threw the seven route, so I didn't know he was actually going to throw it. But I mean I just made a play that came to me.
It doesn't feels like you have been targeted a lot this year, does it feel good to get a chance like that to make plays on the ball?
I just try to make the plays that come to me, man. I don't really care about all that stuff. Like I said, we just play a style that nobody wants to play against. So no matter who makes the play, we celebrate them all.
Big picture, how do you think this team responded from LA?
I think we just responded well. I like I said, I just don't think we played to our standard today. I think we could have played a lot better on both sides of the ball. But I mean this is a great win and it's great to learn from a win instead of a loss. So, we just going to go back to the drawing board and see what we did wrong. And try to improve on that, man. Got to be better.
Whose idea was it to wear "Mob Ties" hoodies?
I'm going to keep that in house now. I can't even really put up anybody's name out there.
Why does the mob ties mantra fit with this team's identity?
We always just put the mission over anything else, no matter what it is, man. We try to get that W. So, no matter what happens or what the outcome may be. Stuff happens during the game, we know that. But just stay the course of the mission, don't default to anything else, just stay the course of the mission.
