Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Steve Avila talks about playing alongside quarterback Matthew Stafford while defensive end Braden Fiske speaks about the key to the defensive line's success.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, Steve, thanks for doing this today. What did you
think about your guys' work as a unit in the
run game yesterday.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Yeah, I think we did a pretty good job.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
I mean, I think it's a testament to just, you know,
how well we prepared, you know, during practice. You know,
we always try to practice, you know, to our our
game standard. And I feel like we did that this week.
And I feel like the game, you know, kind of
showed that.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Like I guess, like when you have someone like Kyen
who's running the way he was running yesterday, it seemed
like he was running like a little angry there in
the fourth quarter, Like, how does that kind of get
the unit as a whole moving.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Yeah, I mean, you know when you see guys fired
up like that, man, it always it always, you know,
uh gets us pumped up, you know, and just you know,
I feel like we all we have the tools, you know,
to get the things that we need to do done.
You know, you always hear that it starts up front,
you know, deal, and I feel like, you know, that's
that's very much true. So you know, when we see
(01:01):
people pop off, you know, it's cool to look at
the offensive line to see you know, you know the
things that we did, you know that were good.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
But yeah, man Kiren's run yesterday, We're amazing.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Got a couple of games in before the bye after
dealing with the ankle. But I'm curious, like how the
buye kind of helped you start feeling like if the
buye helps you start feeling a little bit, yeah, I did.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
I mean self, I'm so thankful that we have the boy.
I mean kind of like mid season, you know, that's
always the best. I know, a couple of teams have
it like week like fourteen or thirteen, that's like awful,
but always.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Having a mid season is amazing.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
I mean, you know, I mean I didn't play as
many games as everybody else, but you know, I feel
like I got that extra you know, resting, and I
feel like everybody else was well rested too. So it's
awesome that we were able to come out the buye
week and perform the way we did.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Thanks Steve, Yeah, Marry, hi Steve, thanks for doing this. Yeah,
So how easy or difficult is it to slide back
into the starting lineup and after being out as long
as you were? Is it like you pick up like
(02:09):
riding a bike, just you pick up where you left
off or is there an adjustment period.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Yeah, so I think it's awesome, you know, to learn
from past experiences. You know, my whole career before last year,
I have never ever ever gotten hurt. I've never missed
a game. I've never missed practice, And it's awesome, you know,
to have that experience that I had went through where
I had you know, ended up messing my knee up
(02:34):
and I had missed I think it was about eight games,
and I had to come back and go through that
process of coming back to practice, getting the physicality of
practice down. So it's cool to see that. You know,
you can't really control what happens in the game.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
You know.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Obviously the first game, I think it was like play eleven.
I freaking get rolled up and I'm like, oh, here
we go. But you know, I end up, you know,
obviously back. But to have to know what I needed
to do to prepare myself to come back are the
things that I like took from when I had first
got hurt from last year. So you know, I always
thank God for those, you know, opportunities. So it was
(03:15):
an easier process, you know coming back. Now, obviously it
was a different injury. But you know, I'm glad I
had a past experience to learn off of.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
And I imagined playing next to Alric and you know
experience center that that makes it a little bit easier
as well.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Yeah, yeah, it does, it does. I always seem a
familiar face man there. They're too awesome guy. I mean,
everybody on the offensive line is just a enjoy being
around those guys, and you know, they always know what
they're supposed to do and it's it's cool and I'm
you know, blessed to you know, have those guy next
to me.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
Thanks very much. Whytt Hey, Steve.
Speaker 5 (03:53):
Stafford has talked about, you know, just how nice it's
been to to be kind of clean this season and
how good of a job that you guys have done
of keeping him that way. What how much of the
of that success do you attribute to like the cohesion
of that group.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Yeah, I mean we always say it in an offensive
line room, like when we go we get to allow
Stafford to show his you know, potential. I think I
had looked at the statistics, which probably shouldn't matter to us,
but anyways, he's like he's thrown for as many touchdowns
he did last year and we're halfway through the season,
which I feel like is a good you know, testament
(04:31):
to you know, how well the offensive the whole offense
is doing. So it's kind of the same thing that
we were talking about with Kiren, like when we see
he's popping offense because of some of the things we're
doing up front. So it's always, uh cool, you know,
seeing that. And you know, we always tell ourselves, you know,
just give nine enough time to throw the ball and
it's going to get there.
Speaker 5 (04:48):
So and you've had some fun celebrations the last two games,
and uh, you know, is that something that you plan
to do before the game or is that just kind
of like your authentic like coming through it.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
So funny enough, the one that we had when we
played the Jaguars, I always tell people like that was
pure instinct. I didn't even think about doing that, But
I always tell people, I'm like, dude, no one cares
about offensive line, Like, so anytime that I have the
chance to do something, I'm gonna do it like I
want to, you know, be able to show a little
personality on the field, you know, because we don't really
(05:22):
get that many that many opportunities, you know, to do
so and that just falls in line with, you know,
having fun on the field.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
You know, we're on a stage where people are watching
us all.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Over the world, so you know, I want to do
something to have fun, you know while while I'm out
there playing.
Speaker 6 (05:38):
Love that.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Thanks Steve.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Yeah, and then we'll rap with Stu Hay.
Speaker 6 (05:44):
Steve, speaking of Matthew, just what it's like for you guys,
you know, as you're watching him play at the level
he's played at, not only across the last two games,
but just the level he's played really this entire season,
and what does that do for the rest of the team.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Yeah, I think it's crazy. I Mean all I've ever
known from NFL football being in the league is playing
with him, and I feel like I'm kinda what's the word,
uh not not stubborn, Like I'm just grateful for having
a quarterback like him, Like I couldn't imagine, you know,
being around like a rookie quarterback who doesn't know as
(06:21):
much as he does, because I know what that standard
is now and I know that there are people who
somewhat can you know, find out the game quickly, but
just having him back there like is just insane, just
to see how he operates and you know, obviously you've
seen the throws, like he gets the ball where it
needs to be, and you know, we know we have
a dude, you know, back there, so it's always specifically
(06:43):
for me, like I want to put my all into
you know, keeping him safe, you know, so we can
win games, so he can have a good season. So
it's awesome, you know, knowing that he's back there.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Thank you. Yeah, all right, thanks Steve. Awesome. So you
guys all right, cool, Gary, go ahead and get us started.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
I probably mute then, all right, hey, Braden, thanks for
doing this.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Yeah, you know it. I thought you guys might have
forgot about me.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
Well, I'm sure all of us wanted to catch up
with you. You know, you've had a season where you
were kind of involved on wreaking a lot of havoc
but not necessarily getting the statistical reward. How was it
to get that first sack last yesterday?
Speaker 7 (07:32):
Yeah, if you could tell either my reaction and the
reaction of the rest of the guys in the D line,
I think it was pretty damn good. You know, I
think itself going in the week nine and not having
one and you know, finally breaking that seal and uh yeah, no,
we got home felt good. Guys were happy, and now
it kind of feels all right that waits off the back.
(07:52):
We can we could just get rolling now and hopefully
hopefully these start coming in bunches.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
You know.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
What, how would you kind of describe you guys are
playing as a defense collectively.
Speaker 7 (08:04):
I think that's the key word is we are playing collectively.
I think, you know, just as a whole. You know,
we're playing eleven is one from the front end to
the back end. And I think, you know, we get
a lot of credit up front, but I don't think
a lot of enough credit is given to the guys
on the second and third level of our defense. Of
you know how they just bring it every day, you know,
the way they communicate, the way you know they come
down and fit the run, the way they you know,
(08:25):
they buy us more time. In the past game, I
mean it's been awesome. I mean even I mean Land
yesterday doing what he does, you know, coming up, coming
up with a huge play, punching the ball out. I
mean that's just that's just what our defense is about,
is causing havoc. And uh, you know, we put that
on display the last three weeks. I think of just
you know, playing sound, you know, tight football, even if
we've been putting some situations in the red zone where
(08:45):
we had to buckle up, and you know we've we've
come through, which has been been awesome.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Though we uh got a really good got a really
good group.
Speaker 4 (08:53):
What's been your experience, you know, what have you taken
away from your experience playing against the forty nine ers,
you know, the first season and a half of your
career and what what has to happen for you guys
to be effective on Sunday.
Speaker 7 (09:07):
Yeah, I think every game I've played in against Bortniners
has come down to the wire so far. But uh,
I think yeah, I mean every game it's been tight,
it's been physical. I feel every time we play them
it is just a physical game, which you know that
going into it of you know, just their approach. They
want to establish the run game and get things going
that way, and uh, I think that's that's kind of
what starts with this game coming up, is you know,
(09:28):
we got to establish it up front, and I think
we got off to a slow start, you know last
or the last time we played them this year, and
you know, we gotta we got to be able to
be more stout up front. You know, it starts with
us and then just as a whole, we just got
to bring it. You just got to play our style
of the ball and you know the way we go
into week preparation wise, I think we just got to
continue to build on that, and you know, I think
we got a good chance.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
You know, I like her. I roll with my guys
all the time.
Speaker 4 (09:50):
Well, thanks very much.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
You know what I've Aladham.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
Braden, you mentioned that feeling of breaking through like if
seems like for both you and Kobe this year there's
been a lot of pressures, but it seems like more
of the splash plays have been coming around the edges.
Like I'm curious what the message has been from the
coaching staff to you guys about, you know, staying persistent
(10:16):
but also like understanding you know there are those sack
assists and things like that where you guys are still
being productive even if it's not necessarily showing up in
the highlights.
Speaker 7 (10:25):
Uh yeah, I mean, as Sean would say, and stats
are for losers, which that's cool to an extent. You know,
It's it's nice to have a few numbers behind your name.
But uh, now, you know we've talked about it before
the season. You know, you just can't get frustrated. You know,
it's a long season. I mean, going into yesterday, I
remember telling me, so I ain't got ten games. You know,
it's kind of the back end of the seaton or
like the second half of the season of how what
(10:47):
are you going to make yourself up at this point?
And uh, you know, I just try to keep hunting
and try to treat every day is the same. You know,
continue to attack and continue to be consistent of my preparation.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
And you know, I'm not going to go into the
second half of.
Speaker 7 (10:57):
The season and all of a sudden change change up
my high a routine of Okay, now I got to
do this and that. You know, I'm just going to
continue to you know, press forward and do what I do.
I mean, I trust my process, and you know yesterday
was just one step forward of you know, where we're
trying to go and where I'm trying to go, And
you know, I think just continue to be consistent. I
think Kobe's in the same mindset of you know, just
got to continue to attack. Those numbers will come. He's
(11:19):
got to you know, continue to be consistent. I think
that's that's the key to key the whole process.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
You know, last year it seemed like the sacks were
very evenly distributed along that front inside outside, Like, is
there something schematically you guys are doing more in terms
of the way that you're being blocked that is leading
to maybe more of the pressure or not pressure, but
the results coming from the edge.
Speaker 7 (11:41):
Ah, yeah, not as much. You know, I think sometimes
just the way it shakes out. You know, when you
get your one on one opportunities, you got to win them.
And you know, we've seen different things from teams this year.
We're getting chipped a lot on the edge. You know,
they're trying to you know, go three for two on
the inside. I mean there's a lot of things that
teams are doing to you know, try to prevent them
and quick game, you see a lot of things, you know,
to try to get that ball off to prevent us
(12:01):
from getting home. Because you know, we do have a
good front. We were able to mix up a lot
of things and you know, get home with four. Sometimes
you know, we get sent a blisket home with five.
I mean, we have ways of doing it, but I
think sometimes just the way it shakes out with you know,
the way we played defensive. You know, guys are going
to get home in different ways. I mean, be why,
I mean, he's getting after that, and then I mean
I'm all about it.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
I'm for it. And you know, I think, you.
Speaker 7 (12:21):
Know saying with Jared Kobe, I mean, we all you know,
as long as long as that guy's on the ground,
we're getting off the field on third down, that's.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
All that matters.
Speaker 7 (12:27):
And I think the last three weeks, I think, you know,
we haven't given on more than ten.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
So I'm cool with that all day if that's what
it's going to lead to.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Yeah, and uh, I forgot my last one. You're good. Thanks,
Thanks Breaden.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Why I like it?
Speaker 5 (12:43):
Hey, Brandon, it seems like you guys have had a
lot of success with you know, like the stunts and
playing off each other on the defensive line. Has there
been any difference in the approach or the strategy to
those this season or is that success just kind of
a product of you guys understanding each other better?
Speaker 6 (12:59):
Uh?
Speaker 7 (13:00):
Yeah, I think I think that plays a lot of it,
of just understanding our rushes, our rust lanes, you know,
working off each other, which I don't think we can
improve on a lot, you know. I think that's you know,
sometimes you get so caught up and just your your
rust lane and you know, I want to win my
one on one that you kind of forget the group
effort of collapse in that pocket.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
And I think that's what it comes down to.
Speaker 7 (13:19):
I mean, we still have our set games that we
run and that you know that we like to call
in certain situations. But uh, you know, I think our
biggest strength is rushing off each other and you know,
finding our opportunities and knowing when you know, one of
us is a push cover, one of us has our
opportunity to go win, and you know, we just we
just feed off that and uh yeah, we just continue
trying to grow on that. But I don't think we've
changed too much from you know, schematically how we've done
(13:41):
things in the past. But we uh, I think at
the end of the day, it just hunting, you know,
when we're all, you know, got our eyes right, got
our technique right.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
I think you know, we're pretty good group up front.
Speaker 5 (13:52):
And how has Chris Shula been able to you know,
help you guys understand those opportunities and how to best
play off each other in certain situations.
Speaker 7 (14:00):
Yeah, I think that's been the really cool part of
you know, coming in last year, you know, being a
rookie and you know, as well as coach Oula being
you know, his first year coordinator, just seeing the growth
of know how he's been able to you know, build
and you know, put us in the best position based
on our strengths as a defense and as certain players
and certain situations. But I think it's been awesome and
(14:20):
you know, continue to grow from last year. I mean,
we hate to talk about Week two of last year
against the Cardinals. That was like the kind of like
the molding point of all right, you know, who are
we going to be at the defense? You know, where
are we going to make these changes? And I think
as the seams went on last year and then as
we built from early on in this season of just
how we're going to establish you know, stopping the run
and getting ourselves in a good you know second alongs
(14:42):
and third and longs and you know, getting our rushers
on the field. I think coach ou has been unbelievable
with the preparation and just putting.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Us in the right spots. For sure. Thank you.
Speaker 6 (14:51):
You know it, Hey Britain, was there anything to the
cleats who were wearing the other day? I mean it
looked like standard Jordan one cleats. But I saw you know,
merch joking about it, and obviously I think he reposted,
you know, design or something. I wasn't sure if there
was anything to that or not.
Speaker 7 (15:07):
But nothing crazy, uh I. I typically I've always wear
white cleats. That's something I've always done for a long time.
I love wearing white cleats. I wear white shoes. If
you know, you ask anybody in this building, they know
I wear my air Maaxes every day.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
But uh no, I just you know, I want to
change it up.
Speaker 7 (15:23):
You know, a guy went to college with Blake bosmat
Western Michigan. He he designs cleats and does he paints cleats,
and he had hit me up about doing my Uh
uh I forget the cleats for my cause my cleats
got I couldn't get it out. Uh And you know,
he showed me some other designs, you know, just different things.
And I think you can expect a few more throughout
(15:45):
the season and be changing up my cleat game. It'll
stay stay with the jordan Ones, but it'll be a
different cleek game going forward.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Be cool.
Speaker 6 (15:51):
Well, that was gonna be my next question. Since you
got the sack and the Jordan ones yesterday, you're gonna
definitely that going this week.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
You will one hundred percent seeing me in some cleet
that are not white this week.
Speaker 6 (16:02):
Thanks man, appreciate it, you know, And then.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
We'll wrap with Adam.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
I remembered you were dealing with the bleak earlier this year.
Obviously didn't keep you off the field too much, but like,
how much was that something you were kind of managing
and where are you with that now at this point
in the season.
Speaker 7 (16:19):
Uh, yeah, it's all good now. I was definitely pretty
annoying to deal with early on the season. I know,
those for a few weeks it was just frustrating of
you know, it's it's it's tough to know what you're
capable of, but being hindered by something that just you
don't feel like you can be your complete self on
the field with. But now we're all healed now, you know,
I'm feeling so much better, And yeah, I put that
(16:40):
in the past, but yeah, that definitely sucked. I don't
want to deal with that that again. That was that
It sucked.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Cool. Thanks Brandon, glad you're feeling better, and thanks for
doing this today.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Yeah, I appreciate you guys. Hopefully we could talk more
soon already, Thank you FIRS. Yeah, appreciate it.
Hey, Steve, thanks for doing this today. What did you
think about your guys' work as a unit in the
run game yesterday.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Yeah, I think we did a pretty good job.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
I mean, I think it's a testament to just, you know,
how well we prepared, you know, during practice. You know,
we always try to practice, you know, to our our
game standard. And I feel like we did that this week.
And I feel like the game, you know, kind of
showed that.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Like I guess, like when you have someone like Kyen
who's running the way he was running yesterday, it seemed
like he was running like a little angry there in
the fourth quarter, Like, how does that kind of get
the unit as a whole moving.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Yeah, I mean, you know when you see guys fired
up like that, man, it always it always, you know,
uh gets us pumped up, you know, and just you know,
I feel like we all we have the tools, you know,
to get the things that we need to do done.
You know, you always hear that it starts up front,
you know, deal, and I feel like, you know, that's
that's very much true. So you know, when we see
(01:01):
people pop off, you know, it's cool to look at
the offensive line to see you know, you know the
things that we did, you know that were good.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
But yeah, man Kiren's run yesterday, We're amazing.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Got a couple of games in before the bye after
dealing with the ankle. But I'm curious, like how the
buye kind of helped you start feeling like if the
buye helps you start feeling a little bit, yeah, I did.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
I mean self, I'm so thankful that we have the boy.
I mean kind of like mid season, you know, that's
always the best. I know, a couple of teams have
it like week like fourteen or thirteen, that's like awful,
but always.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Having a mid season is amazing.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
I mean, you know, I mean I didn't play as
many games as everybody else, but you know, I feel
like I got that extra you know, resting, and I
feel like everybody else was well rested too. So it's
awesome that we were able to come out the buye
week and perform the way we did.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Thanks Steve, Yeah, Marry, hi Steve, thanks for doing this. Yeah,
So how easy or difficult is it to slide back
into the starting lineup and after being out as long
as you were? Is it like you pick up like
(02:09):
riding a bike, just you pick up where you left
off or is there an adjustment period.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Yeah, so I think it's awesome, you know, to learn
from past experiences. You know, my whole career before last year,
I have never ever ever gotten hurt. I've never missed
a game. I've never missed practice, And it's awesome, you know,
to have that experience that I had went through where
I had you know, ended up messing my knee up
(02:34):
and I had missed I think it was about eight games,
and I had to come back and go through that
process of coming back to practice, getting the physicality of
practice down. So it's cool to see that. You know,
you can't really control what happens in the game.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
You know.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Obviously the first game, I think it was like play eleven.
I freaking get rolled up and I'm like, oh, here
we go. But you know, I end up, you know,
obviously back. But to have to know what I needed
to do to prepare myself to come back are the
things that I like took from when I had first
got hurt from last year. So you know, I always
thank God for those, you know, opportunities. So it was
(03:15):
an easier process, you know coming back. Now, obviously it
was a different injury. But you know, I'm glad I
had a past experience to learn off of.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
And I imagined playing next to Alric and you know
experience center that that makes it a little bit easier
as well.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Yeah, yeah, it does, it does. I always seem a
familiar face man there. They're too awesome guy. I mean,
everybody on the offensive line is just a enjoy being
around those guys, and you know, they always know what
they're supposed to do and it's it's cool and I'm
you know, blessed to you know, have those guy next
to me.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
Thanks very much. Whytt Hey, Steve.
Speaker 5 (03:53):
Stafford has talked about, you know, just how nice it's
been to to be kind of clean this season and
how good of a job that you guys have done
of keeping him that way. What how much of the
of that success do you attribute to like the cohesion
of that group.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Yeah, I mean we always say it in an offensive
line room, like when we go we get to allow
Stafford to show his you know, potential. I think I
had looked at the statistics, which probably shouldn't matter to us,
but anyways, he's like he's thrown for as many touchdowns
he did last year and we're halfway through the season,
which I feel like is a good you know, testament
(04:31):
to you know, how well the offensive the whole offense
is doing. So it's kind of the same thing that
we were talking about with Kiren, like when we see
he's popping offense because of some of the things we're
doing up front. So it's always, uh cool, you know,
seeing that. And you know, we always tell ourselves, you know,
just give nine enough time to throw the ball and
it's going to get there.
Speaker 5 (04:48):
So and you've had some fun celebrations the last two games,
and uh, you know, is that something that you plan
to do before the game or is that just kind
of like your authentic like coming through it.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
So funny enough, the one that we had when we
played the Jaguars, I always tell people like that was
pure instinct. I didn't even think about doing that, But
I always tell people, I'm like, dude, no one cares
about offensive line, Like, so anytime that I have the
chance to do something, I'm gonna do it like I
want to, you know, be able to show a little
personality on the field, you know, because we don't really
(05:22):
get that many that many opportunities, you know, to do
so and that just falls in line with, you know,
having fun on the field.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
You know, we're on a stage where people are watching
us all.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Over the world, so you know, I want to do
something to have fun, you know while while I'm out
there playing.
Speaker 6 (05:38):
Love that.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Thanks Steve.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Yeah, and then we'll rap with Stu Hay.
Speaker 6 (05:44):
Steve, speaking of Matthew, just what it's like for you guys,
you know, as you're watching him play at the level
he's played at, not only across the last two games,
but just the level he's played really this entire season,
and what does that do for the rest of the team.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Yeah, I think it's crazy. I Mean all I've ever
known from NFL football being in the league is playing
with him, and I feel like I'm kinda what's the word,
uh not not stubborn, Like I'm just grateful for having
a quarterback like him, Like I couldn't imagine, you know,
being around like a rookie quarterback who doesn't know as
(06:21):
much as he does, because I know what that standard
is now and I know that there are people who
somewhat can you know, find out the game quickly, but
just having him back there like is just insane, just
to see how he operates and you know, obviously you've
seen the throws, like he gets the ball where it
needs to be, and you know, we know we have
a dude, you know, back there, so it's always specifically
(06:43):
for me, like I want to put my all into
you know, keeping him safe, you know, so we can
win games, so he can have a good season. So
it's awesome, you know, knowing that he's back there.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Thank you. Yeah, all right, thanks Steve. Awesome. So you
guys all right, cool, Gary, go ahead and get us started.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
I probably mute then, all right, hey, Braden, thanks for
doing this.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Yeah, you know it. I thought you guys might have
forgot about me.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
Well, I'm sure all of us wanted to catch up
with you. You know, you've had a season where you
were kind of involved on wreaking a lot of havoc
but not necessarily getting the statistical reward. How was it
to get that first sack last yesterday?
Speaker 7 (07:32):
Yeah, if you could tell either my reaction and the
reaction of the rest of the guys in the D line,
I think it was pretty damn good. You know, I
think itself going in the week nine and not having
one and you know, finally breaking that seal and uh yeah, no,
we got home felt good. Guys were happy, and now
it kind of feels all right that waits off the back.
(07:52):
We can we could just get rolling now and hopefully
hopefully these start coming in bunches.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
You know.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
What, how would you kind of describe you guys are
playing as a defense collectively.
Speaker 7 (08:04):
I think that's the key word is we are playing collectively.
I think, you know, just as a whole. You know,
we're playing eleven is one from the front end to
the back end. And I think, you know, we get
a lot of credit up front, but I don't think
a lot of enough credit is given to the guys
on the second and third level of our defense. Of
you know how they just bring it every day, you know,
the way they communicate, the way you know they come
down and fit the run, the way they you know,
(08:25):
they buy us more time. In the past game, I
mean it's been awesome. I mean even I mean Land
yesterday doing what he does, you know, coming up, coming
up with a huge play, punching the ball out. I
mean that's just that's just what our defense is about,
is causing havoc. And uh, you know, we put that
on display the last three weeks. I think of just
you know, playing sound, you know, tight football, even if
we've been putting some situations in the red zone where
(08:45):
we had to buckle up, and you know we've we've
come through, which has been been awesome.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Though we uh got a really good got a really
good group.
Speaker 4 (08:53):
What's been your experience, you know, what have you taken
away from your experience playing against the forty nine ers,
you know, the first season and a half of your
career and what what has to happen for you guys
to be effective on Sunday.
Speaker 7 (09:07):
Yeah, I think every game I've played in against Bortniners
has come down to the wire so far. But uh,
I think yeah, I mean every game it's been tight,
it's been physical. I feel every time we play them
it is just a physical game, which you know that
going into it of you know, just their approach. They
want to establish the run game and get things going
that way, and uh, I think that's that's kind of
what starts with this game coming up, is you know,
(09:28):
we got to establish it up front, and I think
we got off to a slow start, you know last
or the last time we played them this year, and
you know, we gotta we got to be able to
be more stout up front. You know, it starts with
us and then just as a whole, we just got
to bring it. You just got to play our style
of the ball and you know the way we go
into week preparation wise, I think we just got to
continue to build on that, and you know, I think
we got a good chance.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
You know, I like her. I roll with my guys
all the time.
Speaker 4 (09:50):
Well, thanks very much.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
You know what I've Aladham.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
Braden, you mentioned that feeling of breaking through like if
seems like for both you and Kobe this year there's
been a lot of pressures, but it seems like more
of the splash plays have been coming around the edges.
Like I'm curious what the message has been from the
coaching staff to you guys about, you know, staying persistent
(10:16):
but also like understanding you know there are those sack
assists and things like that where you guys are still
being productive even if it's not necessarily showing up in
the highlights.
Speaker 7 (10:25):
Uh yeah, I mean, as Sean would say, and stats
are for losers, which that's cool to an extent. You know,
It's it's nice to have a few numbers behind your name.
But uh, now, you know we've talked about it before
the season. You know, you just can't get frustrated. You know,
it's a long season. I mean, going into yesterday, I
remember telling me, so I ain't got ten games. You know,
it's kind of the back end of the seaton or
like the second half of the season of how what
(10:47):
are you going to make yourself up at this point?
And uh, you know, I just try to keep hunting
and try to treat every day is the same. You know,
continue to attack and continue to be consistent of my preparation.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
And you know, I'm not going to go into the
second half of.
Speaker 7 (10:57):
The season and all of a sudden change change up
my high a routine of Okay, now I got to
do this and that. You know, I'm just going to
continue to you know, press forward and do what I do.
I mean, I trust my process, and you know yesterday
was just one step forward of you know, where we're
trying to go and where I'm trying to go, And
you know, I think just continue to be consistent. I
think Kobe's in the same mindset of you know, just
got to continue to attack. Those numbers will come. He's
(11:19):
got to you know, continue to be consistent. I think
that's that's the key to key the whole process.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
You know, last year it seemed like the sacks were
very evenly distributed along that front inside outside, Like, is
there something schematically you guys are doing more in terms
of the way that you're being blocked that is leading
to maybe more of the pressure or not pressure, but
the results coming from the edge.
Speaker 7 (11:41):
Ah, yeah, not as much. You know, I think sometimes
just the way it shakes out. You know, when you
get your one on one opportunities, you got to win them.
And you know, we've seen different things from teams this year.
We're getting chipped a lot on the edge. You know,
they're trying to you know, go three for two on
the inside. I mean there's a lot of things that
teams are doing to you know, try to prevent them
and quick game, you see a lot of things, you know,
to try to get that ball off to prevent us
(12:01):
from getting home. Because you know, we do have a
good front. We were able to mix up a lot
of things and you know, get home with four. Sometimes
you know, we get sent a blisket home with five.
I mean, we have ways of doing it, but I
think sometimes just the way it shakes out with you know,
the way we played defensive. You know, guys are going
to get home in different ways. I mean, be why,
I mean, he's getting after that, and then I mean
I'm all about it.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
I'm for it. And you know, I think, you.
Speaker 7 (12:21):
Know saying with Jared Kobe, I mean, we all you know,
as long as long as that guy's on the ground,
we're getting off the field on third down, that's.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
All that matters.
Speaker 7 (12:27):
And I think the last three weeks, I think, you know,
we haven't given on more than ten.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
So I'm cool with that all day if that's what
it's going to lead to.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Yeah, and uh, I forgot my last one. You're good. Thanks,
Thanks Breaden.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Why I like it?
Speaker 5 (12:43):
Hey, Brandon, it seems like you guys have had a
lot of success with you know, like the stunts and
playing off each other on the defensive line. Has there
been any difference in the approach or the strategy to
those this season or is that success just kind of
a product of you guys understanding each other better?
Speaker 6 (12:59):
Uh?
Speaker 7 (13:00):
Yeah, I think I think that plays a lot of it,
of just understanding our rushes, our rust lanes, you know,
working off each other, which I don't think we can
improve on a lot, you know. I think that's you know,
sometimes you get so caught up and just your your
rust lane and you know, I want to win my
one on one that you kind of forget the group
effort of collapse in that pocket.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
And I think that's what it comes down to.
Speaker 7 (13:19):
I mean, we still have our set games that we
run and that you know that we like to call
in certain situations. But uh, you know, I think our
biggest strength is rushing off each other and you know,
finding our opportunities and knowing when you know, one of
us is a push cover, one of us has our
opportunity to go win, and you know, we just we
just feed off that and uh yeah, we just continue
trying to grow on that. But I don't think we've
changed too much from you know, schematically how we've done
(13:41):
things in the past. But we uh, I think at
the end of the day, it just hunting, you know,
when we're all, you know, got our eyes right, got
our technique right.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
I think you know, we're pretty good group up front.
Speaker 5 (13:52):
And how has Chris Shula been able to you know,
help you guys understand those opportunities and how to best
play off each other in certain situations.
Speaker 7 (14:00):
Yeah, I think that's been the really cool part of
you know, coming in last year, you know, being a
rookie and you know, as well as coach Oula being
you know, his first year coordinator, just seeing the growth
of know how he's been able to you know, build
and you know, put us in the best position based
on our strengths as a defense and as certain players
and certain situations. But I think it's been awesome and
(14:20):
you know, continue to grow from last year. I mean,
we hate to talk about Week two of last year
against the Cardinals. That was like the kind of like
the molding point of all right, you know, who are
we going to be at the defense? You know, where
are we going to make these changes? And I think
as the seams went on last year and then as
we built from early on in this season of just
how we're going to establish you know, stopping the run
and getting ourselves in a good you know second alongs
(14:42):
and third and longs and you know, getting our rushers
on the field. I think coach ou has been unbelievable
with the preparation and just putting.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Us in the right spots. For sure. Thank you.
Speaker 6 (14:51):
You know it, Hey Britain, was there anything to the
cleats who were wearing the other day? I mean it
looked like standard Jordan one cleats. But I saw you know,
merch joking about it, and obviously I think he reposted,
you know, design or something. I wasn't sure if there
was anything to that or not.
Speaker 7 (15:07):
But nothing crazy, uh I. I typically I've always wear
white cleats. That's something I've always done for a long time.
I love wearing white cleats. I wear white shoes. If
you know, you ask anybody in this building, they know
I wear my air Maaxes every day.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
But uh no, I just you know, I want to
change it up.
Speaker 7 (15:23):
You know, a guy went to college with Blake bosmat
Western Michigan. He he designs cleats and does he paints cleats,
and he had hit me up about doing my Uh
uh I forget the cleats for my cause my cleats
got I couldn't get it out. Uh And you know,
he showed me some other designs, you know, just different things.
And I think you can expect a few more throughout
(15:45):
the season and be changing up my cleat game. It'll
stay stay with the jordan Ones, but it'll be a
different cleek game going forward.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Be cool.
Speaker 6 (15:51):
Well, that was gonna be my next question. Since you
got the sack and the Jordan ones yesterday, you're gonna
definitely that going this week.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
You will one hundred percent seeing me in some cleet
that are not white this week.
Speaker 6 (16:02):
Thanks man, appreciate it, you know, And then.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
We'll wrap with Adam.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
I remembered you were dealing with the bleak earlier this year.
Obviously didn't keep you off the field too much, but like,
how much was that something you were kind of managing
and where are you with that now at this point
in the season.
Speaker 7 (16:19):
Uh, yeah, it's all good now. I was definitely pretty
annoying to deal with early on the season. I know,
those for a few weeks it was just frustrating of
you know, it's it's it's tough to know what you're
capable of, but being hindered by something that just you
don't feel like you can be your complete self on
the field with. But now we're all healed now, you know,
I'm feeling so much better, And yeah, I put that
(16:40):
in the past, but yeah, that definitely sucked. I don't
want to deal with that that again. That was that
It sucked.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Cool. Thanks Brandon, glad you're feeling better, and thanks for
doing this today.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Yeah, I appreciate you guys. Hopefully we could talk more
soon already, Thank you FIRS. Yeah, appreciate it.
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