Ravens safety Ar'Darius Washington joins team insiders Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing to talk about how he handles his size disadvantage, the chip on his shoulder from the draft, his mentality after being named a starter, and more.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome into the lounge presented by DraftKings. We are thrilled
to sit down with safety Ardarius Washington and ours.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
I start here.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
So something jumped out to me on tape, and this
was from the Steelers game, all right, and they got
this big tight end Darnell Washington.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
He's like a foot taller than you probably.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
And like one hundred pounds heavier, and that dude's coming
down the middle of the field and you just step
right on up and you meet him right in the
middle of the field.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
I was like, that's impressive. Like I I would not
be willing to do that if I were in your shoes.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Can you can you talk about how you handle you know,
you're oftentimes the smallest guy on the field.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
How do you handle that? And from a mental and
physical standpoint.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
I really just don't think about it too much because
I've been a same size like pretty much my whole life.
Always been a small guy and stuff like that. So
I really just don't really think about it too much
and everything like that. But far as that specific play,
I was just like, bruh, it's out of me and him,
you know what I mean, Like it was between us
and the end zone.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
So I was like, you know where I'll put my
body on the line for it. So that's why I
was just like, yeah, I'm gonna make this play.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
But I was sitting there thinking like how I make it?
But I'm gonna get them down for sure.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
You got I think you went love you one of
the thighs a little bit smart man.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
More definitely is that.
Speaker 5 (01:22):
I'm curious like hearing your mindset on that, Like how
do you approach it knowing that there are oftentimes whatever,
the guys that are bigger than you, but you can't
let that like in that situation, it's you or him
and you have to be able to come up with
the play.
Speaker 6 (01:37):
How do you approach that on the field.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
I mean, it's just like it's not too many like
five nine to five eight guys you know, playing in
the league or whatever. I mean, So you just think
about it like, man, you can't be scared to mess
up regardless of whatever your size is or however big or
small or fast you It's it doesn't really matter. Like
we out there, we out there to compete out there
the place. So I just think, like, man, those six
six foot guys they get rain over called on whatever
(02:00):
it may be, you know what I mean. So I'm
just like I can't be afraid, you know what I'm saying.
Whatever's gonna happen. Whatever's going to happen. But so that's
kind of my mindset going to have.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
You always had a chip on your shoulder because even
when you were growing up, like you said, you you
were always one of the smaller guys. Right, And if
my kid were five foot eight and said I want
to be a NFL football player, I probably like look
at them and be like, I don't know if that's
in your future, you know what I mean. So, like
as you've gone through your career, youth football, college football,
(02:30):
all that thing, like, was that a chip on your
shoulder that hey, yeah I am smaller, but I'm gonna
I'm gonna still make it, you know what I mean?
Speaker 4 (02:37):
Oh yeah, most definitely.
Speaker 6 (02:38):
You know.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
It's just some things like for me, I always kept
on myself like I got something that you can't measure,
and that's hard, you know what I'm saying. So if
you had that heart and that compassion and to go
out there like play how you want to, damn you know,
everything else gonna take care of yourself.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
So that was the main thing.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
So like, I really don't get into it, but I
know how to play it to my advantages also, So
that's another thing that I know.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
I compete with the best.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Well you can get up there too, I'm but you
do have.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Some ups exactly, so you know, and I know that
by myself. So I just like one of them things.
You know, he's just a small guy. We're gonna throw
it up there and then I'll go up there and
get it.
Speaker 6 (03:12):
So where's that heart come from?
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Definitely probably my brothers, you know what I'm saying, them
being like toughening me up when I was younger and
everything like that because they was always bigger than me.
So it was just like for me, it's just growing up.
I got to have that heart for sure and that toughness.
Speaker 6 (03:25):
So how many brothers do you have? What's and where
are you in the packing order there?
Speaker 3 (03:28):
I have three brothers and one sister and I'm the baby.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Now we see where it's discovering. Bro.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
He told some Washington family stories that you're getting toughened up.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
Oh man, I'll just tell you one.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Uh, it's several Honestly, me and my brothers always far,
always competing and everything. But here I'll just tell you
one we was out in the back room just playing
around and everything like that, and then it kind of
got physical.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Men.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
My brother he's like a year older than me, and
so me and him was out there back in the backyard,
I mean back at the high I was playing in
the back room and so anyway, so like we just
started fighting and then my other brother he's just like
letting us fight, and so he had my shirt. One
of my brothers, he's grabbed my shirt and just kind
of got like the best of me. Then my brother's like,
(04:13):
my other brother was like, take your shirt off, take
your shirt off, and then let's see. And so took
my shirt off and then I got the best of it.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
So that's one of the stories.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
But we always fought growing up, you know what I mean,
But we love each other for sure.
Speaker 6 (04:26):
It was were they also football players, Like is that part.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
Of we played?
Speaker 3 (04:30):
We played like in the yard and everything, like in
the neighborhood and everything, But not really not really, they
really didn't.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
They chose a different route for sure.
Speaker 5 (04:36):
But you're the one that ends up making the baby
bro ends up making it to the NFL and were
you Were.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
You the smallest one in the family.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Smartest one.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Wow, my oldest brother he's small too, My oldest brother
he's pretty small, but definitely me.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Yeah, that's really cool.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
What you know, your your NFL career obviously kind of
got off to a tougher start with injuries the past
couple of years, and and you know you're already undrafted,
you know, and I know you were a highly touted,
undrafted guy, like a lot of teams wanted you. We
got you, but it did start off really tough for
those injuries.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
How did you grind through that from a mental standpoint?
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Man, definitely, family, family and prayer. That's like the main
thing and is always just believing in myself. I know,
like certain certain things like soon as I was like
getting up to the point where like I was about
to be playing.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
Or something like that, or injury it happened.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
So you know, sometime you want to question and be
like why now you know what I mean, But you
just got to keep that faith in yourself and knowing
that like whenever you get the opportunity to get your chance,
that you're going to prevail on the other side for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Yeah, it just is it just texting, call in Your
family was helping you.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
Yeah, definitely, it was like my mom, my sister. Mainly
my mom and my sister for.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Sure, and my brothers they tipped in too, but it
was mainly like my mom and my sister always calling me,
always checking on me, always texting me. And then also
just watching, like watching the Ravens play, you know what
I mean. So I'm like, I want to be back
out there. I want to be back out there. So
like that kept my hope alive.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
For sure. Your brother, your brother's piece of advice would
be take your shirt off.
Speaker 6 (05:57):
Yeah, take your shirt out on the field. So just
for listeners and for viewers.
Speaker 5 (06:04):
So you go undrafted in twenty twenty one, and then,
like Ryan mentioned this first two seasons dealing with injuries
and weren't on the field much, played more last year
and now obviously have really solidified yourself in the starting role.
What do you think is it that has allowed you
to stick with it over the course of those four
years when it was challenging and now be in this
position where you already starter and playing really well.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Really man, just wanted the opportunity, wanted to go out
there improve myself, you know what I mean. So I
want to go out there approve myself to the fans,
the players, the coaches and everything like that. So that
was like the main thing for me, you know what
I mean, going in practice and everything like that, you know,
doing it and then so now getting into the game.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
And doing it.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
So that that right there kept me motivated and wanted
to prove myself to that I can play in this
league for sure.
Speaker 5 (06:49):
Was there a moment this year where one of the
coaches came to you and said you're going to be
the starter?
Speaker 4 (06:53):
Yes, it was. It was.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
It was a moment that one of the coaches came
up to me and said that, And it was Pittsburgy week,
you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (06:59):
So it came up to me and told me, Now
so like previous weeks that I was like, I think
it was a Cleveland game. I started that game.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
It was kind of like a toss up in between,
so like I kind of like find out like game
day type, you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
But definitely it was Pittsburgh like they told.
Speaker 6 (07:16):
Me, And like, what's your thought?
Speaker 5 (07:18):
Knowing I know every guy says you prepare every week,
like you're the starter, and that's like the standard answer, right,
and there's probably truth in that, but there's also something
different like when you know and that you're going to
be the guy and that you're gonna be the starter
and that you've elevated yourself to that position. What did
you take away from that conversation of finding out that
you were going to be a starter?
Speaker 4 (07:36):
Did they believe in me? Did they trusted me?
Speaker 3 (07:38):
And so that was that was like the big thing
that I took away, And like me for myself, I
wanted to go out there and prove them right, you
know what I mean, and why they trusted me and
why they believe me. So like that's what like from
that conversation, I'll tell you, Okay, now they finally like
really give me my opportunity and they trusted me to
go out there and compete with the rest of the team.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
Guys out there with us.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
That's a big moment, especially for a guy who's gone
through what you've gone through in your.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Career, in your background.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Can you take us more inside that that moment when
you were told you're the guy?
Speaker 3 (08:06):
I mean for that it was like go out there
and show him why you know what I mean, why
I'm gonna be the starter and so that's kind of
what's my only mindset, you know. And the season not
over yet, so like I want to finish out strong,
and we got a long ways to go, you know
what I mean. So like during that moment, like I said,
I just want to show him, like why they told.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Me to be which coach told you that it was hard?
Speaker 4 (08:26):
Yeah, hards actually told Okay.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Like right before the practice, I think it was like
Friday practice or Thursday practice.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
Yeah, I think it was Friday practice. He came up
and told me, look you ready and don't be the guy.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
And I was like, yeah, that's also And just emotionally,
what was that moment, Like.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
Man, it felt great to finally, you know what I mean,
get that get that role, get that starting role, and
like him telling me that, it felt great. Man, it
meant a lot for sure.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Yeah, that's cool.
Speaker 5 (08:49):
And since you've gotten that role, you were playing well
and the defenses earlier in the year was a little
bit rocky as we know, and then you have solidify
things and I think that you being in there has
helped solidify things and that this defense has kind of
turned a corner. You said that when you found out
you're gonna be the start of your first thought is
I got to prove them right. Well, you've been proving
them right over the past several games.
Speaker 6 (09:10):
What does that.
Speaker 5 (09:11):
Mean to you to be playing at a high level
now that you've been giving this given this opportunity.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
I mean, it means a lot, you know what I mean.
We still got a long ways to go, But I
mean I don't think about it too much. I guess
after the season I reflect.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
More about it.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
But right now, we got a long ways to go,
you know what I'm saying, So that my main thing
is to stay focused and help the guys out. Like
I'm doing good right now, so now is to help
the other guys that's around me, you know what I'm saying,
lift them up to and help them do good.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Also, what do you think has enabled this defense to
turn things around? Other than you coming into the starting lineup?
What is it from communication or.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
The main thing?
Speaker 3 (09:44):
It's more so like communication and everybody getting on the
same page. We all thinking it's one you know what
I mean, it's no miscommunications and everyone taking the blame.
So like earlier on the year, we had some mishaps
and everything like that, you know what I'm saying. So
now we're taking responsibility of what we're doing wrong and
stuff like that and looking into that, you know what
I mean. So I feel like that was the big thing,
biggest thing for sure in communication and like want to
(10:06):
you know what I mean. I'm not saying that we
didn't want to at the beginning of the year, but
now like we really want to. We want we don't
want to be the Achilles Hill of the team or
why we don't go far, you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
So that was like one of them.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
You got an interception I think it was bo Nix's
first pass right that you that you picked off and
you kind of got that knack right for making plays
like that's always been one thing I've said about you
just watching you play practice it it's like a little
bit of Geno Stone, Like do you know had that
same kind of knack you were around the ball and
all that. Kyle Hounton got done telling us this week
that that's the next step for the defense. Right, It's like,
(10:38):
all right, we're not giving up the big plays like
world in here. Now, let's go take the ball away
exact how much do you kind of say, all right,
I'm going to be that guy.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
Oh man all the time, every game, even that practice,
you know what I'm saying. I had that mindset.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
So every game, every practice, I go in and like, yeah,
let's make it make a difference, you know what I mean.
That's how we're gonna make a different. Like you said,
we're not giving up the big play now, we got
to take that next step or taking the ball away,
and that's what we're like, we're not doing right now.
And so that's what we practice and that's what we
preach it. And so I want to be a part
of that definitely, and I know I can be, So
that's why I want to do.
Speaker 6 (11:10):
It's interesting.
Speaker 5 (11:11):
I'm curious for you as you if you go back
to your rookie year, your second year and like you're
dealing with the hard stuff, you're dealing with the injuries
and you want to play, did you question whether you
would make it to this point.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
I guess it was a little bit of a question there,
not really, honestly, Like I always seen myself as a
start and new one day when I got my opportunity
that I'll be in this position for sure. So I
guess I kind of questioned it a little bit, like
dealing with the injuries and everything like, because I was like, well,
like my injuries allowed me to get to that point
or anything like that before, just like my personal beliefs, Nah,
(11:47):
I kind of always see myself like getting to this
point for sure.
Speaker 5 (11:50):
Well, the Ravens have a long track record of undrafted
guys who have come here and had success and.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Or even seventh throwne picks like Gino at your position.
Speaker 5 (11:57):
Yeah, like you've had this example, players who late round picks,
undrafted players who'd come here and been successful. When you
go back to when you were thinking about the draft, happened.
So I want to go through the draft actually, like
what was your draft day weekend story?
Speaker 6 (12:11):
And then how did you ultimately land here?
Speaker 4 (12:12):
Oh? Man, draft d I had like my family and
my friends over and bro. That was tough.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
That was a tough moment, and so I honestly thought
I was gonna go pretty high, pretty high.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
I thought it was gonna go pretty high and doing
the draft. But after he.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Got about about the fifth round, I just went upstairs,
like all my family downstairs, I just went upstairs and
didn't even look at the draft. No more like I
stopped worrying about it, got off my phone. I was
just in my room by myself.
Speaker 4 (12:41):
You know what I'm saying it.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
I ain't gonna lie that. That sent me to a
dark place because I was like confused. I didn't know why.
And so that kind of was it. And then after
the draft was over, teams was calling me. You know,
when them come, I like, bro, I ain't trying to
talk right now. I talked to my age and like
we'll figure it out, you know, or whatever, and not honestly,
high end up doing so with how I chose to
(13:02):
end up going to the Ravens.
Speaker 4 (13:05):
Marlow end up calling, and Patrick Queen and I'm calling.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
They both called, of course the coaches called, but Patrick
called first.
Speaker 4 (13:13):
Yeah, Patrick Carr first.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
I talked to him for a little bit, and then uh,
I think Marlow called, Like right after that.
Speaker 4 (13:20):
Marlow called and then he was like we.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
Want to safety. He was like, man, I want you
to come here. I want you to come here and
be a safety over the top. They help us out
with this defense. And so that was that, and then
PQ called like I'll say, like five minutes late here, like, bro,
what's your decision, what you're gonna do. I want you
to come here, you know what I mean. And I
was like, all right, bro, I think I'm gonna come there,
you know what I mean. I was like, i'mna talk
to my agent. And we got the same agent also,
(13:45):
so I was like, I'm talked to Rick. You know
what I'm saying. Let him know I talked to him
about it and we'll see. And so end up calling
Rick and I was like, yeah, that's the team I
want to go with.
Speaker 6 (13:53):
You know what, did you have a relationship with those
two guys before Marlin?
Speaker 4 (13:57):
No, no relationship with Marlin but PQ.
Speaker 5 (13:59):
Yes, yes, okay, So like all of a sudden, you
don't know Marlin and he's blowing up your phone. Yeah,
and what are you thinking of that moment?
Speaker 3 (14:06):
I was confused. I'm like, bro, this is Marlin Humfer
calling me, you know what I mean? At the time, like, bro,
it's Marlin, Like you.
Speaker 4 (14:11):
Know, it's kind of like it was amazing feeling for sure,
you know what I mean? Him calling me? Definitely, I
was like kind of shocked.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
But did you have any other players from other teams?
Like is that a thing that happens? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (14:20):
I don't know, but nah, the other people that called
and I was just coaches, just coaches and stuff like
that calling. But far as players, no, he was. They
was the only like it was the only team that
had players call him.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
Now, the only problem with this story is that Marlin
does fancy himself a recruiter, like he actually thinks he
has an impact.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
So if we like say that he.
Speaker 5 (14:36):
Actually did exactly his recruiting works in this situation, he was.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
He was actually at the airport when he called me.
He was like, hey, man, I'm at the airport, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 6 (14:44):
So I'll pick you up right here. I'll wait for
you your bags.
Speaker 4 (14:48):
Yeah, he definitely called for sure.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Now you didn't have to change colors to purple.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
Purple exactly, So that wasn't bad at all.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Wardrobe says the sameat.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
So some of my t used to I was wearing
to hear, you know what I mean, like my purple
tights and I some gloves and everything like that.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
Yeah, and so I was still I was just wearing
to here.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
So definitely, do you still we talked about carrying kind
of chip from your size on your shoulder, that undrafted chip.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Does that ever? Go away.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Oh yeah, that's never gonna go away, you know what
I mean. I'm gonna kind of always have that that
edge about.
Speaker 4 (15:15):
Me, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
I was undrafted guy because I feel like they got
that wrong. So I'm always forever had that, you know me,
and I take that out with my plea.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Yeah, well it's.
Speaker 5 (15:24):
Kind of crazy because I was reading that like some places,
like I thought you might be a first round pick,
and so, like, you know, not to belabor the point here,
but like, was that was that if you're thinking, did
you think, yeah, exactly, how does that?
Speaker 6 (15:36):
How does that happen?
Speaker 2 (15:37):
Like you think, what's your best guess size?
Speaker 4 (15:40):
That's the only thing I could see.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
And then like my last year, I didn't have no interceptions,
but they wouldn't trying me anymore, so like I don't know,
that's I don't know that's something I could have seen,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
So that's why I was like kind of.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
Confused too, Like you said, it was some of them
had me at first round pick, you know what I mean.
So it's just like I don't know. That's the dark
place though for me. I was in dark place for
about I don't know about four months, probably about four months.
Even when I made a fifty three man roster, I
still was like upset about it, you know. I mean,
I was grateful, but I still was thinking about it.
Like I said, I'll fer every thing about it, you
(16:12):
know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (16:13):
So how'd you get it with my shoulder? For sure?
Speaker 6 (16:15):
How did you get over it once you got here.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
Making the fifty three man roster, you know what I mean?
So once I made the fifty three man roster, it
was just like, Okay, I can still play the game,
you know what I mean, regardless of where I went
in the draft or anything like that, I can still
do what I need to do, you know what I'm saying,
To play football, which is what I wanted to do ultimately,
was the opportunity. So once I realized that I can
(16:37):
still have that same opportunity even going undrafted, I kind
of like, you know what I mean, got past like
got it that dark place all set.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
I'm curious.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
I see the tattoo on your hand, which is very interesting.
It's like a globe tattoo.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Can you tell us the story behind it?
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Honestly, truth be told.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
I'll tell you the story, so y'all know who Tyry
Matthew is right, he's a Louisiana guy and everything like that.
And so honestly, that's kind of the backstory of that tattoo.
So like when I was about seventh grade, I was like,
that's what I want to be, like honestly, and so
I got it. I got this like one of my
first tattoos I got just like my freshman year of
high school, you know what I mean. So that's kind
of who I had out of my game after It's
(17:14):
one of the same tattoos he has.
Speaker 4 (17:16):
Action.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
Oh, he has the same tattoo.
Speaker 5 (17:18):
And you're a Louisiana guy. You grew up Louisiana and
he played at LSU.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Play at LSU and everything like that. So that's kind
of the whole story behind this tattoo.
Speaker 6 (17:25):
For sure, you got a little honey Badger in you.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
Oh yeah, most definitely.
Speaker 6 (17:27):
You move around, you can be a ballhawk like I
can see the similarity.
Speaker 4 (17:32):
Definitely, definitely, So that's kind of where that came from.
For sure.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
It's awesome and the last one for me just you know,
as as we get ready for this four game stretch
in the regular season, what's kind of your mindset is
this team tries to get on a roll and keep
it rolling in the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
I mean, just keep doing what we're doing and call
them turnovers. That's kind of like my mindset going into this.
Keep communicating and keep making plays and getting turnos, you know,
so the offense can get the roll in and get
to score more points.
Speaker 4 (17:59):
For sure.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
One of the best defenses if the defense that's not
out there. Yeah, so we make plays when we get turnose,
then we won't be out there as much for sure.
Speaker 5 (18:07):
And lastly for me is can you tell me the
confidence that this team has you sense like I felt
like the bye week was a reset needed it physically, mentally, everything.
But there's still confidence and optimism that this team can
still be a really good team. You're in a good
position and like all your goals are still in front
of you. Talk to me about the confidence that this
team has.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
I mean, we have our confidence never waivers, you know
what I mean. So and not say that because like
the games that we have lost and everything like that,
it was self inflicted and so we got away, we
got it trying to reset, refocus and everything like that.
Speaker 4 (18:39):
So now that we back, I feel like the confidence
never waiver.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
It's just that we know what we need to do
is not have those self inflicting wounds, and I feel
like we'll be all right.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Oh wait, I thought it one more question.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
Well, you have the locker next to Derrick Henry, which
is which is a great partnership. I mean, you don't
usually see the running back like that much bigger than
the safety next them. What's it like sitting next to
Derrick Henry? Can you share the insight about him with us?
Speaker 4 (19:05):
I ain't gonna share too much prior guy, so I
ain't gonna share too much. But no, that's my dude. Yeah,
you know what I'm saying. I got to know him.
You know what I'm saying with him being right next
to me and everything like that. But nah, he's cool.
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
It's amazing being next to a ninety nine player like that. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
it's amazing.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Definitely, if they sold Derrick Henry in a whole, would
you still approach him like you did?
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Darnel Washington? That's the question.
Speaker 4 (19:28):
I have no toys.
Speaker 6 (19:30):
That's his mentality right there.
Speaker 4 (19:32):
I have no toys, you know. So that's my little
big bro. I'm bigger than him.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
I love it well, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 5 (19:41):
If you're listening to the Launch podcast, we are coming
to you from the Sekiek Studio. We also want to
mention our partners with Draft Kings sports Book. They are
an official sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draft
Kings Sports Book. The Crown is yours. So I enjoyed
sitting down with Ardarius and just learning a little bit
about him. I think that his mentality comes out dudes
like fatas and optimism.
Speaker 6 (20:01):
It's a guy.
Speaker 5 (20:02):
Who has the deck stacked against him to a certain degree,
and it's been fun to see him play well this year.
I've always liked him. I agree with the Genostone comp
for him. I think that there's a lot of similarities there.
You just watch practice and you're like, this guy just
keeps making plays, and I think, honestly, that's how he
made the team coming out as an undrafted rookie.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
I think the Ardarius might be a little more athletic
than Gino. Like if you were to look at the
testing numbers and speed the leaping, I think he's got
a little bit more of that.
Speaker 5 (20:27):
I think he just the similar thing for me is
like they just are were consistently around the ball as
players who were correct fighting for roster spots.
Speaker 6 (20:34):
Yeah, this guy just keeps making plays.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
They've both got good instincts. I mean, that's what you
want from a safety, right, you got to be instinctual.
And it would not surprise me at all if Ardarius
had the career trajectory that Gino did. You know, Gino
didn't have as many injuries early in his career, so
he kind of had the benefit of he got more
snaps playing special teams for a long time. Ardarius has
just missed a fair amount of time. So you know,
if he's already playing this, well, think about when he
(20:58):
gets more plays under Belton, more reps. Right, that's just
going to make him a better and better player. And
I think that the skill, the skills are there, and
so yeah, I think he's a great story and he's
playing really well. He's an important part of this defense.
Speaker 5 (21:11):
Yeah, I think a big part of him, and you
mentioned it in the interview with him is a turnover
possibility to take away potential that he has and that
I do agree with the notion that like that's the
next step for this defense. I do think they've played
a lot better recently, and they've cleaned up a lot
of the issues that plagued them earlier this year.
Speaker 6 (21:29):
What's next is some of those takeaways.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Yeah, I definitely agree. I mean, the Ravens were one
of the league.
Speaker 1 (21:34):
Leaders in takeaways last season and it just hasn't been
the case yet this year. I mean, Marlon Humphrey, you know,
is among the league leaders.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
Not what I expect.
Speaker 5 (21:45):
He's been the exception to the rest of the defense,
and that he's has got five interceptions this year.
Speaker 6 (21:49):
He's been great in that regard, which is not typically
his game.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
Right exactly. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
I'd have to go back to our season prediction spot,
but I bet you neither of us had Marlon Humphrey
leading this team in interceptions, right. They just got to
get more, more guys, more guys getting their hands on
the ball. And I do think that now we've heard
that from Zach Orr, we heard Kyle Hamilton talk about it,
we heard oard Arius Washington. I think that that's the
message in the defensive meeting rooms is all right, like
(22:15):
we're playing better, we've shored things up. The next step
and really where the Ravens will be unstoppable. Is Look,
we know this offense is good, and the more chances
that we give this offense, once it catches fire, it
is combustible. And so if they can turn that ball
over one or two more, you know times a game,
(22:35):
that's going to change the calculus.
Speaker 6 (22:37):
Yeah, I'm with you one hundred percent.
Speaker 5 (22:39):
And I think that I think when you clean up
like the big issues then and then you're just playing better.
Now you're in better position and like you're not having
big players over the top, and you just I think
there will be kind of a It's kind of like
a running game that starts rolling downhill, you start picking
up some chunk plays. The same can be true for
the defense. Things up from a big picture standpoint, the
(23:01):
ball is not getting over your head. Now you're in
position to make more plays. Now just catch the ball
when you have.
Speaker 6 (23:06):
The chance to do that.
Speaker 5 (23:07):
And I think the Ravens will do that, and I
think that this weekend is obviously a possibility for them
to be able to do that. They're going into this
game against the Giants. Looks like Tommy DeVito is going
to be the starting quarterback for them. When we did
the podcast, earlier this.
Speaker 4 (23:20):
Week, get it ready.
Speaker 5 (23:22):
Yeah, it was Drew Locke we expected to be the quarterback,
but he's dealing with an injury. So it looks like
the Vito is going to be the guy who the
Ravens go up against. And the Ravens are big favorites
in this game. It's the They're the biggest favorite of
any team in the league this year, fifteen point favorite
going into this game. So it's a game you look
at it on paper, Ravens should win it. But and
(23:46):
so basically every player who talked to the media this
week was asked like, how do you avoid that letdown?
And I don't honestly think that's going to be an
issue for this team.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Yeah, I mean I think a they're really hungry coming
off the buy, you know, the not a loss during
a bye, especially for a team that's as talented as
the Ravens are, with the aspirations that they have, that
did not sit well with them, and so they are
very hungry to get back on a winning note starting
this week. And then I thought Kyle Hamilton said it, well, look,
(24:17):
you know we've lost games like this this season. We
lost to the Raiders in Week two in a game
that everybody thought we were going to win. You know,
you're coming off that Chiefs loss back home, it's the
home opener, and the Ravens dropped that one, and that
still hurts, right when you look at the standings. Had
they won that game, they'd be in a much better
position right now for the AFC North. And they lost,
(24:38):
you know, on the road in Cleveland, And now Cleveland's different,
that's a division opponent.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
That's that's different.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
But still the Ravens were heavily favored to win that
game as well, So like they've learned that lesson, And yeah,
I think that the Ravens have had the right mentality
all this week that it's about us. It's about playing
really good football on our end, and we're not going
to worry about and look at the mats and think that,
oh yeah, we got this game won.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (25:03):
It was kind of funny talking to Lamar Jackson this
week because after the game against Philly Man he was
hot on the press conference.
Speaker 6 (25:08):
During his press conference, you could you could tell he
still had that fire burning.
Speaker 5 (25:12):
And then he gets back after the buy and it's like,
heyst rejuvenated, how you feeling are? You know, get some
time to relax, and he's like, I'm still fired up,
Like I still that's that still irks me that we
didn't win that game and didn't play the way that
we thought we should have played. And he is he's
dialed in. And we've said it before, but this is
the time of the year where it's go time. Four
(25:33):
games left in the regular season, no time to waste.
Lamar Jackson as a leader in the quarterback of the
team really sets the tone. And I think he reiterated
that point again this week during his presser, and you
see it with him every single day, and I think
that that's just even gone to another level as we
get to this point.
Speaker 4 (25:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
I mean the offense the past three games of the
offense has not been as sharp as it what was
the previous month, month and a half. There's you know,
no no going around it. I think that this is
an important game for that unit to kind of start
to finish play some really good football. You know, they've
shot themselves in the foot with penalties in certain games.
It's been turnovers, it's just been missed opportunities things like that. Like,
(26:12):
I think that this is a real opportunity for the
offense to kind of restart that momentum where we saw
them in October when they were just putting up thirty,
you know, five points a game. And I think that
that they have an opportunity to get hot right now.
And it starts with Lamar Jackson.
Speaker 4 (26:31):
You know.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
I think that he obviously has been playing at a
very high level all season, but he even said it
it can it can be better for him, right and
he feels like, whatever, I don't have to play up
to that MVP standard that everybody's talking about and all
that stuff.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
I just need to be me.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
Well, being him is a really high level, and I
think that if he plays at that level. Yeah, this
offense can get very very hot down the stretch.
Speaker 6 (26:57):
It's a ninety level.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
It's a ninety I know over all level. That's correct.
Speaker 5 (27:01):
Yes, Lamar and Derek Henery get the ninety nine rating
in Madam, which Lamar was very excited about.
Speaker 6 (27:06):
By the way, he want to talk about that.
Speaker 5 (27:08):
He said it's overdue, so he's been waiting for that
one for a while. But in all honesty, so like Lamar,
the I guess the narrative around him at times is
put on your Superman cape and go make the place happen.
You're the most exciting player to watch in football. You
can do things nobody else can. So just go out
there and make that happen. And his point of like,
I don't, and he's correct in this. When he does it,
(27:29):
it's great, it's fun to watch, it's it's awesome. But
the point that he makes is, I'm not worried about
like I've got to go out there and play at
this MVP level. I gotta put on the Superman cape
and go crazy. I just need to be me, And
I do think that that is the right mentality to take.
I don't think he should put it all on himself
because the Ravens have pieces around him.
Speaker 6 (27:45):
Yeah, I think that there's more.
Speaker 5 (27:47):
I think he's got more weapons around him than he
hit maybe has ever had. And I just don't think
that it's all on him.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
I think that this is what superstars in any sport
deal with, Right, Michael Jordan, Right, how much do you
just say, you know what, give.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
Michael Jordan the ball and let him do what he does.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
But like those players, and MJ went through it in
his career, like when you learn how to lean on
your teammates at certain times, and that's when you become
even better, right, And like Lamar is at that level
of superstar, right, And like that's always been a conversation
around him and will continue to be is Like you know,
(28:26):
sometimes aft the AFC Championship game, like Lamar told us
on this very podcast, I felt like I could have
done more. There were times when I could have taken
off and run more and thrown on that cape some more.
And he regrets not doing that. At the same time,
you don't want him to feel like he has to
do that all the time. He needs to lean on
So it's a really difficult balance. Yeah, you know, I mean,
(28:47):
he's the best player on the field, and so you
want him to do his thing. But part of doing
his thing and making him so great is, yeah, trusting Safflowers,
Mark Andrews, all these guys Baitman to make those plays
around him.
Speaker 6 (28:59):
Yeah, it is this balance.
Speaker 5 (29:01):
Because after the game against the Eagles, there was conversation
and especially by headlines because of kind of the funny
element of it of his mom telling him you should
have taken off and run more. Yeah, and uh, and
so are there chances for him to do that maybe
we went through that last week actually, and I think
that there's that balance, and I actually think Lamar does
a pretty good job, really good job of knowing when
(29:25):
to take off and run. I think that like that
is a really good element of his game. Is the
knowledge that you don't see in like a stat sheet
that doesn't show up, is when to take off and
run or when to scramble to look down the field.
I think he does a really has a good feel
for that, And I think so and then getting.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
It's all going to be the best running quarterback of
all time. He's going to break Michael Vick's records. I
think he's pretty good at that.
Speaker 5 (29:44):
But but I just mean, like not just running, which
he's great at that, win making.
Speaker 6 (29:48):
Is completely really superior.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
And I think it's gotten even better over the years.
Speaker 6 (29:52):
I agree, and so I think that he does.
Speaker 5 (29:55):
So I think that all that is part of the
challenge in navigating, like how how much you you take
off and run, how much you look for plays to
develop and wait for something down the field. When do
you put on the Superman cape? When do you play
within like the structure of the offense, Like well, you
go back our football all that's just part of it.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
Yeah, putting on the super cape doesn't the Superman cape
doesn't mean that you're just running more. No, I just
mean like when you're when you're extending to play and
throwing a forty yard bomb because he escaped the sack miraculously,
that's the Superman. Yeah, and so like, yeah, I think
the whole like should Lamar run conversation to be honest,
like this week has been kind.
Speaker 6 (30:32):
Of Yeah, it's a little overblown.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
Yeah, I think so.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
Yeah, And I think, honestly, a more interesting conversation is like, yeah,
we want Lamar Jackson to lead us here down the stretch.
But oh, by the way, there's another guy in the
ninety nine Madden Club that also want to feed the
ball to right. Like we've talked all year about Derrick
Henry and how he gets Stronger's year goes on stronger
with the more carries he gets.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
Well, it's December.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
Over his career, he's had higher yards per carry in
December and January than he has the rest of the year.
And so how much do the Ravens feed the King,
I think is a bigger question.
Speaker 6 (31:10):
Yeah, I think that a lot. To answer your question,
how much a lot.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
Yeah, a big plate looking like my pizza plate.
Speaker 6 (31:18):
It's looking like your pizza plate for sure.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
One other guy who certainly gets plenty of plenty of
action is Mark Andrews, and he is closing in on
the franchise all time touchdown records combined receiving and rush
total touchdowns total touchdowns franchise history. Jamal Lewis has that
record right now and.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
Well with a seven, Mark actually has hide with.
Speaker 6 (31:39):
Both of them have it won more?
Speaker 5 (31:41):
And Mark sits atop that record book and that could
happen this week, but he's close.
Speaker 6 (31:45):
You talked to him this week, Daniel.
Speaker 1 (31:47):
I did, Yeah, so, uh, you know he I think
he feels he feels very grateful to be in this position.
As always, you know, he talks about, hey, it's my
teammates that have put me in this position, lamar and
all those things.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
You know, that's that's how Mark is.
Speaker 1 (31:59):
He's a team And he said, really, for me scoring touchdowns,
what's the best feeling is like just putting more more
points on the board for my teammates and like making
their work lamar, you know, making him look good by
making the place for him. That's how Mark looks at it,
but there's there's no doubt that that's why he plays
the game for that feeling, you know, to get in
(32:20):
the end zone. That that's the ultimate for him. And
I thought it was. It was fun this week talking
to different people about what's your favorite Mark Andrew's touchdown?
Speaker 2 (32:29):
Yeah, there's been a lot.
Speaker 6 (32:31):
Yeah it was forty seven of them.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
Yeah, that Eagles touchdown was pretty nice the head topper,
and Mark said his favorite was actually the Colts game
a couple of years ago when the Ravens storm from behind,
were big deficit in the second half twenty one points,
I think, and came back. Mark scored two touchdowns and
(32:53):
to two point conversions in the fourth quarter, including one
with less than a minute left to force overtime in
that game, in a game that the Ravens eventually won.
He said that was his favorite because his grandmother had
passed that week and he felt like she was with him,
So that was.
Speaker 2 (33:07):
That was one.
Speaker 1 (33:08):
But Lamar had a tough time picking his favorite. Isaiah
likely had a tough time picking his favorite, so it's
pretty awesome.
Speaker 5 (33:14):
Lamar is pretty funny talking about like his favorite Mark
Andrews stories. He's like, here's one that play the rookie
year against the Chargers. And here's another one that catch
you head against the Browns like you just get rattling
them off. And I think that that speaks to who
Mark is.
Speaker 1 (33:27):
I think what makes Mark such a prolific touchdown scorer
is a I mean, he's a big, big body in
the end zone, be great knack for getting open and
finding Lamar's eyes and finding passing lanes. And then c
as Isaiah likely put it, it's the one too. And
nobody's a bigger no out there than Mark Andrews. Yeah,
(33:49):
and sometimes when it and Jamal Lewis. I talked to
Jamal Lewis as well, and he said the same thing
down in the red zone near the end zone.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
It's strongest man wins and nobody wants it, and nobody's
gonna dog more than Mark Andrews.
Speaker 5 (34:03):
I guess, well, put I to think you said Nac
like his Mark's feel is as good Mark and Lamar.
Those two guys like the field they have for the game,
the spatial the body awareness, that type of stuff is
as good as anybody I've ever seen. And I think
that that is so underrated and it's been it's been
fun to watch those two guys and Mark has a
great feel for it. So maybe that happens on Sunday
(34:25):
at MetLife.
Speaker 1 (34:25):
Yeah, definitely, this is this is you know, as we said,
the Ravens are big, big favorites in this game, but
the Giants, they're not gonna go down without a fight,
for sure.
Speaker 2 (34:33):
They have some talented players on their side. Of my
league neighbors.
Speaker 1 (34:36):
You know, he's a very talented wide receiver that these
this defense is gonna have to contend with. I I'm
interested to watch the matchup between he and Nate Wiggins
rookie first round, your first rookie first rounders. I bet
that they're gonna meet a fair amount, so that'll be
one to watch. And then you know this Giant's defense,
their offense with Tyrone Tracy Junior, you know, he's been
kind of a sensation for then uh, he can kind
(34:56):
of get loose. So the Ravens gotta still win their
matchups to win this game. I expect that they will
and it'll be a fun when at Met Life.
Speaker 6 (35:03):
Awesome, Well, thank you so much for listening.
Speaker 5 (35:05):
We will be back with you after that game on
Sunday and our post game Reaction podcast.
Speaker 6 (35:10):
Make sure you're subscribed here.
Speaker 5 (35:11):
Also head over to the Ravens Press Past podcast feed
and subscribe there as well.
Speaker 6 (35:14):
Thanks for listening, we'll be back to you on Sunday.
Welcome into the lounge presented by DraftKings. We are thrilled
to sit down with safety Ardarius Washington and ours.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
I start here.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
So something jumped out to me on tape, and this
was from the Steelers game, all right, and they got
this big tight end Darnell Washington.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
He's like a foot taller than you probably.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
And like one hundred pounds heavier, and that dude's coming
down the middle of the field and you just step
right on up and you meet him right in the
middle of the field.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
I was like, that's impressive. Like I I would not
be willing to do that if I were in your shoes.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Can you can you talk about how you handle you know,
you're oftentimes the smallest guy on the field.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
How do you handle that? And from a mental and
physical standpoint.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
I really just don't think about it too much because
I've been a same size like pretty much my whole life.
Always been a small guy and stuff like that. So
I really just don't really think about it too much
and everything like that. But far as that specific play,
I was just like, bruh, it's out of me and him,
you know what I mean, Like it was between us
and the end zone.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
So I was like, you know where I'll put my
body on the line for it. So that's why I
was just like, yeah, I'm gonna make this play.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
But I was sitting there thinking like how I make it?
But I'm gonna get them down for sure.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
You got I think you went love you one of
the thighs a little bit smart man.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
More definitely is that.
Speaker 5 (01:22):
I'm curious like hearing your mindset on that, Like how
do you approach it knowing that there are oftentimes whatever,
the guys that are bigger than you, but you can't
let that like in that situation, it's you or him
and you have to be able to come up with
the play.
Speaker 6 (01:37):
How do you approach that on the field.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
I mean, it's just like it's not too many like
five nine to five eight guys you know, playing in
the league or whatever. I mean, So you just think
about it like, man, you can't be scared to mess
up regardless of whatever your size is or however big or
small or fast you It's it doesn't really matter. Like
we out there, we out there to compete out there
the place. So I just think, like, man, those six
six foot guys they get rain over called on whatever
(02:00):
it may be, you know what I mean. So I'm
just like I can't be afraid, you know what I'm saying.
Whatever's gonna happen. Whatever's going to happen. But so that's
kind of my mindset going to have.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
You always had a chip on your shoulder because even
when you were growing up, like you said, you you
were always one of the smaller guys. Right, And if
my kid were five foot eight and said I want
to be a NFL football player, I probably like look
at them and be like, I don't know if that's
in your future, you know what I mean. So, like
as you've gone through your career, youth football, college football,
(02:30):
all that thing, like, was that a chip on your
shoulder that hey, yeah I am smaller, but I'm gonna
I'm gonna still make it, you know what I mean?
Speaker 4 (02:37):
Oh yeah, most definitely.
Speaker 6 (02:38):
You know.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
It's just some things like for me, I always kept
on myself like I got something that you can't measure,
and that's hard, you know what I'm saying. So if
you had that heart and that compassion and to go
out there like play how you want to, damn you know,
everything else gonna take care of yourself.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
So that was the main thing.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
So like, I really don't get into it, but I
know how to play it to my advantages also, So
that's another thing that I know.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
I compete with the best.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Well you can get up there too, I'm but you
do have.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Some ups exactly, so you know, and I know that
by myself. So I just like one of them things.
You know, he's just a small guy. We're gonna throw
it up there and then I'll go up there and
get it.
Speaker 6 (03:12):
So where's that heart come from?
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Definitely probably my brothers, you know what I'm saying, them
being like toughening me up when I was younger and
everything like that because they was always bigger than me.
So it was just like for me, it's just growing up.
I got to have that heart for sure and that toughness.
Speaker 6 (03:25):
So how many brothers do you have? What's and where
are you in the packing order there?
Speaker 3 (03:28):
I have three brothers and one sister and I'm the baby.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Now we see where it's discovering. Bro.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
He told some Washington family stories that you're getting toughened up.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
Oh man, I'll just tell you one.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Uh, it's several Honestly, me and my brothers always far,
always competing and everything. But here I'll just tell you
one we was out in the back room just playing
around and everything like that, and then it kind of
got physical.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Men.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
My brother he's like a year older than me, and
so me and him was out there back in the backyard,
I mean back at the high I was playing in
the back room and so anyway, so like we just
started fighting and then my other brother he's just like
letting us fight, and so he had my shirt. One
of my brothers, he's grabbed my shirt and just kind
of got like the best of me. Then my brother's like,
(04:13):
my other brother was like, take your shirt off, take
your shirt off, and then let's see. And so took
my shirt off and then I got the best of it.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
So that's one of the stories.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
But we always fought growing up, you know what I mean,
But we love each other for sure.
Speaker 6 (04:26):
It was were they also football players, Like is that part.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
Of we played?
Speaker 3 (04:30):
We played like in the yard and everything, like in
the neighborhood and everything, But not really not really, they
really didn't.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
They chose a different route for sure.
Speaker 5 (04:36):
But you're the one that ends up making the baby
bro ends up making it to the NFL and were
you Were.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
You the smallest one in the family.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Smartest one.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Wow, my oldest brother he's small too, My oldest brother
he's pretty small, but definitely me.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Yeah, that's really cool.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
What you know, your your NFL career obviously kind of
got off to a tougher start with injuries the past
couple of years, and and you know you're already undrafted,
you know, and I know you were a highly touted,
undrafted guy, like a lot of teams wanted you. We
got you, but it did start off really tough for
those injuries.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
How did you grind through that from a mental standpoint?
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Man, definitely, family, family and prayer. That's like the main
thing and is always just believing in myself. I know,
like certain certain things like soon as I was like
getting up to the point where like I was about
to be playing.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
Or something like that, or injury it happened.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
So you know, sometime you want to question and be
like why now you know what I mean, But you
just got to keep that faith in yourself and knowing
that like whenever you get the opportunity to get your chance,
that you're going to prevail on the other side for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Yeah, it just is it just texting, call in Your
family was helping you.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
Yeah, definitely, it was like my mom, my sister. Mainly
my mom and my sister for.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Sure, and my brothers they tipped in too, but it
was mainly like my mom and my sister always calling me,
always checking on me, always texting me. And then also
just watching, like watching the Ravens play, you know what
I mean. So I'm like, I want to be back
out there. I want to be back out there. So
like that kept my hope alive.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
For sure. Your brother, your brother's piece of advice would
be take your shirt off.
Speaker 6 (05:57):
Yeah, take your shirt out on the field. So just
for listeners and for viewers.
Speaker 5 (06:04):
So you go undrafted in twenty twenty one, and then,
like Ryan mentioned this first two seasons dealing with injuries
and weren't on the field much, played more last year
and now obviously have really solidified yourself in the starting role.
What do you think is it that has allowed you
to stick with it over the course of those four
years when it was challenging and now be in this
position where you already starter and playing really well.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Really man, just wanted the opportunity, wanted to go out
there improve myself, you know what I mean. So I
want to go out there approve myself to the fans,
the players, the coaches and everything like that. So that
was like the main thing for me, you know what
I mean, going in practice and everything like that, you know,
doing it and then so now getting into the game.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
And doing it.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
So that that right there kept me motivated and wanted
to prove myself to that I can play in this
league for sure.
Speaker 5 (06:49):
Was there a moment this year where one of the
coaches came to you and said you're going to be
the starter?
Speaker 4 (06:53):
Yes, it was. It was.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
It was a moment that one of the coaches came
up to me and said that, And it was Pittsburgy week,
you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (06:59):
So it came up to me and told me, Now
so like previous weeks that I was like, I think
it was a Cleveland game. I started that game.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
It was kind of like a toss up in between,
so like I kind of like find out like game
day type, you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
But definitely it was Pittsburgh like they told.
Speaker 6 (07:16):
Me, And like, what's your thought?
Speaker 5 (07:18):
Knowing I know every guy says you prepare every week,
like you're the starter, and that's like the standard answer, right,
and there's probably truth in that, but there's also something
different like when you know and that you're going to
be the guy and that you're gonna be the starter
and that you've elevated yourself to that position. What did
you take away from that conversation of finding out that
you were going to be a starter?
Speaker 4 (07:36):
Did they believe in me? Did they trusted me?
Speaker 3 (07:38):
And so that was that was like the big thing
that I took away, And like me for myself, I
wanted to go out there and prove them right, you
know what I mean, and why they trusted me and
why they believe me. So like that's what like from
that conversation, I'll tell you, Okay, now they finally like
really give me my opportunity and they trusted me to
go out there and compete with the rest of the team.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
Guys out there with us.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
That's a big moment, especially for a guy who's gone
through what you've gone through in your.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Career, in your background.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Can you take us more inside that that moment when
you were told you're the guy?
Speaker 3 (08:06):
I mean for that it was like go out there
and show him why you know what I mean, why
I'm gonna be the starter and so that's kind of
what's my only mindset, you know. And the season not
over yet, so like I want to finish out strong,
and we got a long ways to go, you know
what I mean. So like during that moment, like I said,
I just want to show him, like why they told.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Me to be which coach told you that it was hard?
Speaker 4 (08:26):
Yeah, hards actually told Okay.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Like right before the practice, I think it was like
Friday practice or Thursday practice.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
Yeah, I think it was Friday practice. He came up
and told me, look you ready and don't be the guy.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
And I was like, yeah, that's also And just emotionally,
what was that moment, Like.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
Man, it felt great to finally, you know what I mean,
get that get that role, get that starting role, and
like him telling me that, it felt great. Man, it
meant a lot for sure.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Yeah, that's cool.
Speaker 5 (08:49):
And since you've gotten that role, you were playing well
and the defenses earlier in the year was a little
bit rocky as we know, and then you have solidify
things and I think that you being in there has
helped solidify things and that this defense has kind of
turned a corner. You said that when you found out
you're gonna be the start of your first thought is
I got to prove them right. Well, you've been proving
them right over the past several games.
Speaker 6 (09:10):
What does that.
Speaker 5 (09:11):
Mean to you to be playing at a high level
now that you've been giving this given this opportunity.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
I mean, it means a lot, you know what I mean.
We still got a long ways to go, But I
mean I don't think about it too much. I guess
after the season I reflect.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
More about it.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
But right now, we got a long ways to go,
you know what I'm saying, So that my main thing
is to stay focused and help the guys out. Like
I'm doing good right now, so now is to help
the other guys that's around me, you know what I'm saying,
lift them up to and help them do good.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Also, what do you think has enabled this defense to
turn things around? Other than you coming into the starting lineup?
What is it from communication or.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
The main thing?
Speaker 3 (09:44):
It's more so like communication and everybody getting on the
same page. We all thinking it's one you know what
I mean, it's no miscommunications and everyone taking the blame.
So like earlier on the year, we had some mishaps
and everything like that, you know what I'm saying. So
now we're taking responsibility of what we're doing wrong and
stuff like that and looking into that, you know what
I mean. So I feel like that was the big thing,
biggest thing for sure in communication and like want to
(10:06):
you know what I mean. I'm not saying that we
didn't want to at the beginning of the year, but
now like we really want to. We want we don't
want to be the Achilles Hill of the team or
why we don't go far, you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
So that was like one of them.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
You got an interception I think it was bo Nix's
first pass right that you that you picked off and
you kind of got that knack right for making plays
like that's always been one thing I've said about you
just watching you play practice it it's like a little
bit of Geno Stone, Like do you know had that
same kind of knack you were around the ball and
all that. Kyle Hounton got done telling us this week
that that's the next step for the defense. Right, It's like,
(10:38):
all right, we're not giving up the big plays like
world in here. Now, let's go take the ball away
exact how much do you kind of say, all right,
I'm going to be that guy.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
Oh man all the time, every game, even that practice,
you know what I'm saying. I had that mindset.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
So every game, every practice, I go in and like, yeah,
let's make it make a difference, you know what I mean.
That's how we're gonna make a different. Like you said,
we're not giving up the big play now, we got
to take that next step or taking the ball away,
and that's what we're like, we're not doing right now.
And so that's what we practice and that's what we
preach it. And so I want to be a part
of that definitely, and I know I can be, So
that's why I want to do.
Speaker 6 (11:10):
It's interesting.
Speaker 5 (11:11):
I'm curious for you as you if you go back
to your rookie year, your second year and like you're
dealing with the hard stuff, you're dealing with the injuries
and you want to play, did you question whether you
would make it to this point.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
I guess it was a little bit of a question there,
not really, honestly, Like I always seen myself as a
start and new one day when I got my opportunity
that I'll be in this position for sure. So I
guess I kind of questioned it a little bit, like
dealing with the injuries and everything like, because I was like, well,
like my injuries allowed me to get to that point
or anything like that before, just like my personal beliefs, Nah,
(11:47):
I kind of always see myself like getting to this
point for sure.
Speaker 5 (11:50):
Well, the Ravens have a long track record of undrafted
guys who have come here and had success and.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Or even seventh throwne picks like Gino at your position.
Speaker 5 (11:57):
Yeah, like you've had this example, players who late round picks,
undrafted players who'd come here and been successful. When you
go back to when you were thinking about the draft, happened.
So I want to go through the draft actually, like
what was your draft day weekend story?
Speaker 6 (12:11):
And then how did you ultimately land here?
Speaker 4 (12:12):
Oh? Man, draft d I had like my family and
my friends over and bro. That was tough.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
That was a tough moment, and so I honestly thought
I was gonna go pretty high, pretty high.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
I thought it was gonna go pretty high and doing
the draft. But after he.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Got about about the fifth round, I just went upstairs,
like all my family downstairs, I just went upstairs and
didn't even look at the draft. No more like I
stopped worrying about it, got off my phone. I was
just in my room by myself.
Speaker 4 (12:41):
You know what I'm saying it.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
I ain't gonna lie that. That sent me to a
dark place because I was like confused. I didn't know why.
And so that kind of was it. And then after
the draft was over, teams was calling me. You know,
when them come, I like, bro, I ain't trying to
talk right now. I talked to my age and like
we'll figure it out, you know, or whatever, and not honestly,
high end up doing so with how I chose to
(13:02):
end up going to the Ravens.
Speaker 4 (13:05):
Marlow end up calling, and Patrick Queen and I'm calling.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
They both called, of course the coaches called, but Patrick
called first.
Speaker 4 (13:13):
Yeah, Patrick Carr first.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
I talked to him for a little bit, and then uh,
I think Marlow called, Like right after that.
Speaker 4 (13:20):
Marlow called and then he was like we.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
Want to safety. He was like, man, I want you
to come here. I want you to come here and
be a safety over the top. They help us out
with this defense. And so that was that, and then
PQ called like I'll say, like five minutes late here, like, bro,
what's your decision, what you're gonna do. I want you
to come here, you know what I mean. And I
was like, all right, bro, I think I'm gonna come there,
you know what I mean. I was like, i'mna talk
to my agent. And we got the same agent also,
(13:45):
so I was like, I'm talked to Rick. You know
what I'm saying. Let him know I talked to him
about it and we'll see. And so end up calling
Rick and I was like, yeah, that's the team I
want to go with.
Speaker 6 (13:53):
You know what, did you have a relationship with those
two guys before Marlin?
Speaker 4 (13:57):
No, no relationship with Marlin but PQ.
Speaker 5 (13:59):
Yes, yes, okay, So like all of a sudden, you
don't know Marlin and he's blowing up your phone. Yeah,
and what are you thinking of that moment?
Speaker 3 (14:06):
I was confused. I'm like, bro, this is Marlin Humfer
calling me, you know what I mean? At the time, like, bro,
it's Marlin, Like you.
Speaker 4 (14:11):
Know, it's kind of like it was amazing feeling for sure,
you know what I mean? Him calling me? Definitely, I
was like kind of shocked.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
But did you have any other players from other teams?
Like is that a thing that happens? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (14:20):
I don't know, but nah, the other people that called
and I was just coaches, just coaches and stuff like
that calling. But far as players, no, he was. They
was the only like it was the only team that
had players call him.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
Now, the only problem with this story is that Marlin
does fancy himself a recruiter, like he actually thinks he
has an impact.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
So if we like say that he.
Speaker 5 (14:36):
Actually did exactly his recruiting works in this situation, he was.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
He was actually at the airport when he called me.
He was like, hey, man, I'm at the airport, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 6 (14:44):
So I'll pick you up right here. I'll wait for
you your bags.
Speaker 4 (14:48):
Yeah, he definitely called for sure.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Now you didn't have to change colors to purple.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
Purple exactly, So that wasn't bad at all.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Wardrobe says the sameat.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
So some of my t used to I was wearing
to hear, you know what I mean, like my purple
tights and I some gloves and everything like that.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
Yeah, and so I was still I was just wearing
to here.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
So definitely, do you still we talked about carrying kind
of chip from your size on your shoulder, that undrafted chip.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Does that ever? Go away.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Oh yeah, that's never gonna go away, you know what
I mean. I'm gonna kind of always have that that
edge about.
Speaker 4 (15:15):
Me, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
I was undrafted guy because I feel like they got
that wrong. So I'm always forever had that, you know me,
and I take that out with my plea.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Yeah, well it's.
Speaker 5 (15:24):
Kind of crazy because I was reading that like some places,
like I thought you might be a first round pick,
and so, like, you know, not to belabor the point here,
but like, was that was that if you're thinking, did
you think, yeah, exactly, how does that?
Speaker 6 (15:36):
How does that happen?
Speaker 2 (15:37):
Like you think, what's your best guess size?
Speaker 4 (15:40):
That's the only thing I could see.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
And then like my last year, I didn't have no interceptions,
but they wouldn't trying me anymore, so like I don't know,
that's I don't know that's something I could have seen,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
So that's why I was like kind of.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
Confused too, Like you said, it was some of them
had me at first round pick, you know what I mean.
So it's just like I don't know. That's the dark
place though for me. I was in dark place for
about I don't know about four months, probably about four months.
Even when I made a fifty three man roster, I
still was like upset about it, you know. I mean,
I was grateful, but I still was thinking about it.
Like I said, I'll fer every thing about it, you
(16:12):
know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (16:13):
So how'd you get it with my shoulder? For sure?
Speaker 6 (16:15):
How did you get over it once you got here.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
Making the fifty three man roster, you know what I mean?
So once I made the fifty three man roster, it
was just like, Okay, I can still play the game,
you know what I mean, regardless of where I went
in the draft or anything like that, I can still
do what I need to do, you know what I'm saying,
To play football, which is what I wanted to do ultimately,
was the opportunity. So once I realized that I can
(16:37):
still have that same opportunity even going undrafted, I kind
of like, you know what I mean, got past like
got it that dark place all set.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
I'm curious.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
I see the tattoo on your hand, which is very interesting.
It's like a globe tattoo.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Can you tell us the story behind it?
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Honestly, truth be told.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
I'll tell you the story, so y'all know who Tyry
Matthew is right, he's a Louisiana guy and everything like that.
And so honestly, that's kind of the backstory of that tattoo.
So like when I was about seventh grade, I was like,
that's what I want to be, like honestly, and so
I got it. I got this like one of my
first tattoos I got just like my freshman year of
high school, you know what I mean. So that's kind
of who I had out of my game after It's
(17:14):
one of the same tattoos he has.
Speaker 4 (17:16):
Action.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
Oh, he has the same tattoo.
Speaker 5 (17:18):
And you're a Louisiana guy. You grew up Louisiana and
he played at LSU.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Play at LSU and everything like that. So that's kind
of the whole story behind this tattoo.
Speaker 6 (17:25):
For sure, you got a little honey Badger in you.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
Oh yeah, most definitely.
Speaker 6 (17:27):
You move around, you can be a ballhawk like I
can see the similarity.
Speaker 4 (17:32):
Definitely, definitely, So that's kind of where that came from.
For sure.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
It's awesome and the last one for me just you know,
as as we get ready for this four game stretch
in the regular season, what's kind of your mindset is
this team tries to get on a roll and keep
it rolling in the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
I mean, just keep doing what we're doing and call
them turnovers. That's kind of like my mindset going into this.
Keep communicating and keep making plays and getting turnos, you know,
so the offense can get the roll in and get
to score more points.
Speaker 4 (17:59):
For sure.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
One of the best defenses if the defense that's not
out there. Yeah, so we make plays when we get turnose,
then we won't be out there as much for sure.
Speaker 5 (18:07):
And lastly for me is can you tell me the
confidence that this team has you sense like I felt
like the bye week was a reset needed it physically, mentally, everything.
But there's still confidence and optimism that this team can
still be a really good team. You're in a good
position and like all your goals are still in front
of you. Talk to me about the confidence that this
team has.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
I mean, we have our confidence never waivers, you know
what I mean. So and not say that because like
the games that we have lost and everything like that,
it was self inflicted and so we got away, we
got it trying to reset, refocus and everything like that.
Speaker 4 (18:39):
So now that we back, I feel like the confidence
never waiver.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
It's just that we know what we need to do
is not have those self inflicting wounds, and I feel
like we'll be all right.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Oh wait, I thought it one more question.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
Well, you have the locker next to Derrick Henry, which
is which is a great partnership. I mean, you don't
usually see the running back like that much bigger than
the safety next them. What's it like sitting next to
Derrick Henry? Can you share the insight about him with us?
Speaker 4 (19:05):
I ain't gonna share too much prior guy, so I
ain't gonna share too much. But no, that's my dude. Yeah,
you know what I'm saying. I got to know him.
You know what I'm saying with him being right next
to me and everything like that. But nah, he's cool.
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
It's amazing being next to a ninety nine player like that. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
it's amazing.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Definitely, if they sold Derrick Henry in a whole, would
you still approach him like you did?
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Darnel Washington? That's the question.
Speaker 4 (19:28):
I have no toys.
Speaker 6 (19:30):
That's his mentality right there.
Speaker 4 (19:32):
I have no toys, you know. So that's my little
big bro. I'm bigger than him.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
I love it well, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 5 (19:41):
If you're listening to the Launch podcast, we are coming
to you from the Sekiek Studio. We also want to
mention our partners with Draft Kings sports Book. They are
an official sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draft
Kings Sports Book. The Crown is yours. So I enjoyed
sitting down with Ardarius and just learning a little bit
about him. I think that his mentality comes out dudes
like fatas and optimism.
Speaker 6 (20:01):
It's a guy.
Speaker 5 (20:02):
Who has the deck stacked against him to a certain degree,
and it's been fun to see him play well this year.
I've always liked him. I agree with the Genostone comp
for him. I think that there's a lot of similarities there.
You just watch practice and you're like, this guy just
keeps making plays, and I think, honestly, that's how he
made the team coming out as an undrafted rookie.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
I think the Ardarius might be a little more athletic
than Gino. Like if you were to look at the
testing numbers and speed the leaping, I think he's got
a little bit more of that.
Speaker 5 (20:27):
I think he just the similar thing for me is
like they just are were consistently around the ball as
players who were correct fighting for roster spots.
Speaker 6 (20:34):
Yeah, this guy just keeps making plays.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
They've both got good instincts. I mean, that's what you
want from a safety, right, you got to be instinctual.
And it would not surprise me at all if Ardarius
had the career trajectory that Gino did. You know, Gino
didn't have as many injuries early in his career, so
he kind of had the benefit of he got more
snaps playing special teams for a long time. Ardarius has
just missed a fair amount of time. So you know,
if he's already playing this, well, think about when he
(20:58):
gets more plays under Belton, more reps. Right, that's just
going to make him a better and better player. And
I think that the skill, the skills are there, and
so yeah, I think he's a great story and he's
playing really well. He's an important part of this defense.
Speaker 5 (21:11):
Yeah, I think a big part of him, and you
mentioned it in the interview with him is a turnover
possibility to take away potential that he has and that
I do agree with the notion that like that's the
next step for this defense. I do think they've played
a lot better recently, and they've cleaned up a lot
of the issues that plagued them earlier this year.
Speaker 6 (21:29):
What's next is some of those takeaways.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Yeah, I definitely agree. I mean, the Ravens were one
of the league.
Speaker 1 (21:34):
Leaders in takeaways last season and it just hasn't been
the case yet this year. I mean, Marlon Humphrey, you know,
is among the league leaders.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
Not what I expect.
Speaker 5 (21:45):
He's been the exception to the rest of the defense,
and that he's has got five interceptions this year.
Speaker 6 (21:49):
He's been great in that regard, which is not typically
his game.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
Right exactly. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
I'd have to go back to our season prediction spot,
but I bet you neither of us had Marlon Humphrey
leading this team in interceptions, right. They just got to
get more, more guys, more guys getting their hands on
the ball. And I do think that now we've heard
that from Zach Orr, we heard Kyle Hamilton talk about it,
we heard oard Arius Washington. I think that that's the
message in the defensive meeting rooms is all right, like
(22:15):
we're playing better, we've shored things up. The next step
and really where the Ravens will be unstoppable. Is Look,
we know this offense is good, and the more chances
that we give this offense, once it catches fire, it
is combustible. And so if they can turn that ball
over one or two more, you know times a game,
(22:35):
that's going to change the calculus.
Speaker 6 (22:37):
Yeah, I'm with you one hundred percent.
Speaker 5 (22:39):
And I think that I think when you clean up
like the big issues then and then you're just playing better.
Now you're in better position and like you're not having
big players over the top, and you just I think
there will be kind of a It's kind of like
a running game that starts rolling downhill, you start picking
up some chunk plays. The same can be true for
the defense. Things up from a big picture standpoint, the
(23:01):
ball is not getting over your head. Now you're in
position to make more plays. Now just catch the ball
when you have.
Speaker 6 (23:06):
The chance to do that.
Speaker 5 (23:07):
And I think the Ravens will do that, and I
think that this weekend is obviously a possibility for them
to be able to do that. They're going into this
game against the Giants. Looks like Tommy DeVito is going
to be the starting quarterback for them. When we did
the podcast, earlier this.
Speaker 4 (23:20):
Week, get it ready.
Speaker 5 (23:22):
Yeah, it was Drew Locke we expected to be the quarterback,
but he's dealing with an injury. So it looks like
the Vito is going to be the guy who the
Ravens go up against. And the Ravens are big favorites
in this game. It's the They're the biggest favorite of
any team in the league this year, fifteen point favorite
going into this game. So it's a game you look
at it on paper, Ravens should win it. But and
(23:46):
so basically every player who talked to the media this
week was asked like, how do you avoid that letdown?
And I don't honestly think that's going to be an
issue for this team.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Yeah, I mean I think a they're really hungry coming
off the buy, you know, the not a loss during
a bye, especially for a team that's as talented as
the Ravens are, with the aspirations that they have, that
did not sit well with them, and so they are
very hungry to get back on a winning note starting
this week. And then I thought Kyle Hamilton said it, well, look,
(24:17):
you know we've lost games like this this season. We
lost to the Raiders in Week two in a game
that everybody thought we were going to win. You know,
you're coming off that Chiefs loss back home, it's the
home opener, and the Ravens dropped that one, and that
still hurts, right when you look at the standings. Had
they won that game, they'd be in a much better
position right now for the AFC North. And they lost,
(24:38):
you know, on the road in Cleveland, And now Cleveland's different,
that's a division opponent.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
That's that's different.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
But still the Ravens were heavily favored to win that
game as well, So like they've learned that lesson, And yeah,
I think that the Ravens have had the right mentality
all this week that it's about us. It's about playing
really good football on our end, and we're not going
to worry about and look at the mats and think that,
oh yeah, we got this game won.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (25:03):
It was kind of funny talking to Lamar Jackson this
week because after the game against Philly Man he was
hot on the press conference.
Speaker 6 (25:08):
During his press conference, you could you could tell he
still had that fire burning.
Speaker 5 (25:12):
And then he gets back after the buy and it's like,
heyst rejuvenated, how you feeling are? You know, get some
time to relax, and he's like, I'm still fired up,
Like I still that's that still irks me that we
didn't win that game and didn't play the way that
we thought we should have played. And he is he's
dialed in. And we've said it before, but this is
the time of the year where it's go time. Four
(25:33):
games left in the regular season, no time to waste.
Lamar Jackson as a leader in the quarterback of the
team really sets the tone. And I think he reiterated
that point again this week during his presser, and you
see it with him every single day, and I think
that that's just even gone to another level as we
get to this point.
Speaker 4 (25:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
I mean the offense the past three games of the
offense has not been as sharp as it what was
the previous month, month and a half. There's you know,
no no going around it. I think that this is
an important game for that unit to kind of start
to finish play some really good football. You know, they've
shot themselves in the foot with penalties in certain games.
It's been turnovers, it's just been missed opportunities things like that. Like,
(26:12):
I think that this is a real opportunity for the
offense to kind of restart that momentum where we saw
them in October when they were just putting up thirty,
you know, five points a game. And I think that
that they have an opportunity to get hot right now.
And it starts with Lamar Jackson.
Speaker 4 (26:31):
You know.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
I think that he obviously has been playing at a
very high level all season, but he even said it
it can it can be better for him, right and
he feels like, whatever, I don't have to play up
to that MVP standard that everybody's talking about and all
that stuff.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
I just need to be me.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
Well, being him is a really high level, and I
think that if he plays at that level. Yeah, this
offense can get very very hot down the stretch.
Speaker 6 (26:57):
It's a ninety level.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
It's a ninety I know over all level. That's correct.
Speaker 5 (27:01):
Yes, Lamar and Derek Henery get the ninety nine rating
in Madam, which Lamar was very excited about.
Speaker 6 (27:06):
By the way, he want to talk about that.
Speaker 5 (27:08):
He said it's overdue, so he's been waiting for that
one for a while. But in all honesty, so like Lamar,
the I guess the narrative around him at times is
put on your Superman cape and go make the place happen.
You're the most exciting player to watch in football. You
can do things nobody else can. So just go out
there and make that happen. And his point of like,
I don't, and he's correct in this. When he does it,
(27:29):
it's great, it's fun to watch, it's it's awesome. But
the point that he makes is, I'm not worried about
like I've got to go out there and play at
this MVP level. I gotta put on the Superman cape
and go crazy. I just need to be me, And
I do think that that is the right mentality to take.
I don't think he should put it all on himself
because the Ravens have pieces around him.
Speaker 6 (27:45):
Yeah, I think that there's more.
Speaker 5 (27:47):
I think he's got more weapons around him than he
hit maybe has ever had. And I just don't think
that it's all on him.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
I think that this is what superstars in any sport
deal with, Right, Michael Jordan, Right, how much do you
just say, you know what, give.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
Michael Jordan the ball and let him do what he does.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
But like those players, and MJ went through it in
his career, like when you learn how to lean on
your teammates at certain times, and that's when you become
even better, right, And like Lamar is at that level
of superstar, right, And like that's always been a conversation
around him and will continue to be is Like you know,
(28:26):
sometimes aft the AFC Championship game, like Lamar told us
on this very podcast, I felt like I could have
done more. There were times when I could have taken
off and run more and thrown on that cape some more.
And he regrets not doing that. At the same time,
you don't want him to feel like he has to
do that all the time. He needs to lean on
So it's a really difficult balance. Yeah, you know, I mean,
(28:47):
he's the best player on the field, and so you
want him to do his thing. But part of doing
his thing and making him so great is, yeah, trusting Safflowers,
Mark Andrews, all these guys Baitman to make those plays
around him.
Speaker 6 (28:59):
Yeah, it is this balance.
Speaker 5 (29:01):
Because after the game against the Eagles, there was conversation
and especially by headlines because of kind of the funny
element of it of his mom telling him you should
have taken off and run more. Yeah, and uh, and
so are there chances for him to do that maybe
we went through that last week actually, and I think
that there's that balance, and I actually think Lamar does
a pretty good job, really good job of knowing when
(29:25):
to take off and run. I think that like that
is a really good element of his game. Is the
knowledge that you don't see in like a stat sheet
that doesn't show up, is when to take off and
run or when to scramble to look down the field.
I think he does a really has a good feel
for that, And I think so and then getting.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
It's all going to be the best running quarterback of
all time. He's going to break Michael Vick's records. I
think he's pretty good at that.
Speaker 5 (29:44):
But but I just mean, like not just running, which
he's great at that, win making.
Speaker 6 (29:48):
Is completely really superior.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
And I think it's gotten even better over the years.
Speaker 6 (29:52):
I agree, and so I think that he does.
Speaker 5 (29:55):
So I think that all that is part of the
challenge in navigating, like how how much you you take
off and run, how much you look for plays to
develop and wait for something down the field. When do
you put on the Superman cape? When do you play
within like the structure of the offense, Like well, you
go back our football all that's just part of it.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
Yeah, putting on the super cape doesn't the Superman cape
doesn't mean that you're just running more. No, I just
mean like when you're when you're extending to play and
throwing a forty yard bomb because he escaped the sack miraculously,
that's the Superman. Yeah, and so like, yeah, I think
the whole like should Lamar run conversation to be honest,
like this week has been kind.
Speaker 6 (30:32):
Of Yeah, it's a little overblown.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
Yeah, I think so.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
Yeah, And I think, honestly, a more interesting conversation is like, yeah,
we want Lamar Jackson to lead us here down the stretch.
But oh, by the way, there's another guy in the
ninety nine Madden Club that also want to feed the
ball to right. Like we've talked all year about Derrick
Henry and how he gets Stronger's year goes on stronger
with the more carries he gets.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
Well, it's December.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
Over his career, he's had higher yards per carry in
December and January than he has the rest of the year.
And so how much do the Ravens feed the King,
I think is a bigger question.
Speaker 6 (31:10):
Yeah, I think that a lot. To answer your question,
how much a lot.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
Yeah, a big plate looking like my pizza plate.
Speaker 6 (31:18):
It's looking like your pizza plate for sure.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
One other guy who certainly gets plenty of plenty of
action is Mark Andrews, and he is closing in on
the franchise all time touchdown records combined receiving and rush
total touchdowns total touchdowns franchise history. Jamal Lewis has that
record right now and.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
Well with a seven, Mark actually has hide with.
Speaker 6 (31:39):
Both of them have it won more?
Speaker 5 (31:41):
And Mark sits atop that record book and that could
happen this week, but he's close.
Speaker 6 (31:45):
You talked to him this week, Daniel.
Speaker 1 (31:47):
I did, Yeah, so, uh, you know he I think
he feels he feels very grateful to be in this position.
As always, you know, he talks about, hey, it's my
teammates that have put me in this position, lamar and
all those things.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
You know, that's that's how Mark is.
Speaker 1 (31:59):
He's a team And he said, really, for me scoring touchdowns,
what's the best feeling is like just putting more more
points on the board for my teammates and like making
their work lamar, you know, making him look good by
making the place for him. That's how Mark looks at it,
but there's there's no doubt that that's why he plays
the game for that feeling, you know, to get in
(32:20):
the end zone. That that's the ultimate for him. And
I thought it was. It was fun this week talking
to different people about what's your favorite Mark Andrew's touchdown?
Speaker 2 (32:29):
Yeah, there's been a lot.
Speaker 6 (32:31):
Yeah it was forty seven of them.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
Yeah, that Eagles touchdown was pretty nice the head topper,
and Mark said his favorite was actually the Colts game
a couple of years ago when the Ravens storm from behind,
were big deficit in the second half twenty one points,
I think, and came back. Mark scored two touchdowns and
(32:53):
to two point conversions in the fourth quarter, including one
with less than a minute left to force overtime in
that game, in a game that the Ravens eventually won.
He said that was his favorite because his grandmother had
passed that week and he felt like she was with him,
So that was.
Speaker 2 (33:07):
That was one.
Speaker 1 (33:08):
But Lamar had a tough time picking his favorite. Isaiah
likely had a tough time picking his favorite, so it's
pretty awesome.
Speaker 5 (33:14):
Lamar is pretty funny talking about like his favorite Mark
Andrews stories. He's like, here's one that play the rookie
year against the Chargers. And here's another one that catch
you head against the Browns like you just get rattling
them off. And I think that that speaks to who
Mark is.
Speaker 1 (33:27):
I think what makes Mark such a prolific touchdown scorer
is a I mean, he's a big, big body in
the end zone, be great knack for getting open and
finding Lamar's eyes and finding passing lanes. And then c
as Isaiah likely put it, it's the one too. And
nobody's a bigger no out there than Mark Andrews. Yeah,
(33:49):
and sometimes when it and Jamal Lewis. I talked to
Jamal Lewis as well, and he said the same thing
down in the red zone near the end zone.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
It's strongest man wins and nobody wants it, and nobody's
gonna dog more than Mark Andrews.
Speaker 5 (34:03):
I guess, well, put I to think you said Nac
like his Mark's feel is as good Mark and Lamar.
Those two guys like the field they have for the game,
the spatial the body awareness, that type of stuff is
as good as anybody I've ever seen. And I think
that that is so underrated and it's been it's been
fun to watch those two guys and Mark has a
great feel for it. So maybe that happens on Sunday
(34:25):
at MetLife.
Speaker 1 (34:25):
Yeah, definitely, this is this is you know, as we said,
the Ravens are big, big favorites in this game, but
the Giants, they're not gonna go down without a fight,
for sure.
Speaker 2 (34:33):
They have some talented players on their side. Of my
league neighbors.
Speaker 1 (34:36):
You know, he's a very talented wide receiver that these
this defense is gonna have to contend with. I I'm
interested to watch the matchup between he and Nate Wiggins
rookie first round, your first rookie first rounders. I bet
that they're gonna meet a fair amount, so that'll be
one to watch. And then you know this Giant's defense,
their offense with Tyrone Tracy Junior, you know, he's been
kind of a sensation for then uh, he can kind
(34:56):
of get loose. So the Ravens gotta still win their
matchups to win this game. I expect that they will
and it'll be a fun when at Met Life.
Speaker 6 (35:03):
Awesome, Well, thank you so much for listening.
Speaker 5 (35:05):
We will be back with you after that game on
Sunday and our post game Reaction podcast.
Speaker 6 (35:10):
Make sure you're subscribed here.
Speaker 5 (35:11):
Also head over to the Ravens Press Past podcast feed
and subscribe there as well.
Speaker 6 (35:14):
Thanks for listening, we'll be back to you on Sunday.
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