WFT Quotes 9/30/20: Jack Del Rio

[Boone]

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September 30, 2020

Defensive Coordinator Jack Del Rio

On wearing a mask on the sideline:
“I haven’t seen anything from today, but it’s been the policy. The policy’s been in place. They’ve fined several
people. They’re making it very clear. So, we’re all trying to do the best we can.”

On if any Washington coaches were fined for not wearing a mask:
“No.”

On the differences facing Ravens QB Lamar Jackson and Cardinals QB Kyler Murray:
“Well, they’re both tremendous players. I think Lamar in particular is outstanding. The thing’s they’re doing
with him and playing to his strengths—they’ve done a great job with him. So, we’re geared up. They’ve got a
heck of a team. When you look at what the Ravens have put together, they’ve got a good team. [They’re a] very
deep, very talented roster. We’re getting prepared to go compete, but we acknowledge that the guys that can run
and throw, the dual threats, make it a little more challenging.”

On his takeaways from the Ravens-Chiefs game:
“Well, we put the tape together obviously. We watch all the games that we can. Certainly they would be a part
of that preparation. We’re going to do the things that we believe in for us. Tip of the hat to the things the Chiefs
were able to. But as far as the game plan discussions, there’s no way we’re going to get into that. They did a
nice job. Obviously [Chiefs QB] Patrick Mahomes is pretty good, too.”

On how the defensive line performed without DT Matt Ioannidis and DE Chase Young:
“Well, we kept fighting. It obviously would’ve been good to have those guys. They’re two really good players.
But, they went out and the next guys stepped up. We fought our way through it. I really liked the way the effort
was throughout. I thought the effort was outstanding. There were some things that we will continue to clean up
and grow from. We’re going to see a lot of the same plays this week in terms of some of the gap schemes and
some of the things they got to late. We’re going to have to play them better.”

On using Murray tape to prepare for Jackson:
“We don’t have to throw out everything that we do and believe in because we didn’t have a couple good
moments. It’s great tape to teach off of and learn from, and that’s really the way we approach it.”

On if the defensive line improved its aggressiveness:
“Yeah, I mean overall I just thought that the point [Head Coach Ron Rivera] made was as we were rushing
Kyler, that we weren’t cutting loose. Part of that is the understanding that the guy can get out. We have the
same type of understanding this week. Lamar can get out and he can be aggressive with his feet, but we have to
remain aggressive and we have to rush. We’ll have a plan. Hopefully we execute it a little bit better.”

On DT Tim Settle:
“I’m excited for him. He gets an opportunity. We think he’s a good player. He just happens to be stuck behind
three really talented guys. Obviously with Matt going down, he’s going to get a chance to play a little bit more.
It’s up to him to take advantage of it. But, I like the way he’s working. I’ve liked the way he’s worked at it the
whole way long. I’m excited for him to get this opportunity to get out there and play more.”

On LB Kevin Pierre-Louis defending Browns RB Kareem Hunt’s touchdown catch:
“He just didn’t—he backed up. It was a place where you don’t have room to back up. You need to sit there and
compete, and so that’s something that I think he’ll do better going forward.”

On scheming against pocket passers versus mobile quarterbacks:
“To me, there are new challenges each week. I don’t know if there’s ever an easy one. You’ve got to deal with
the issues and the strengths and the weaknesses of the different opponent. I think you look at the weakness on
the roster and how you match up with the offensive line, defensive line, how you look at linebackers, safeties,
with their backs and tight ends; their DBs, how you feel about them with your wideouts. You’re looking at all
these different things. I don’t know that we say: ‘Boy, we’ve got an easy week this week.’ It’s hard every week.
There are talented players and coaches throughout the league that you’re going to go up against each week. It’s
kind of understanding what the challenges are and really dialing in the specific challenges and how you need to
respond to the things they like to do. We’re getting our team prepared. At the end of the day, we want our guys
to be able to go out there confident and play fast and understand what they’re getting ready to face.”

On if he sees any weaknesses from Jackson:
“No. This guy’s tremendously talented. So, no. To me, I see strength. I see a guy that’s an incredible athlete, got
a great arm. He’s a threat to run it or throw it. He’s got a tremendous supporting cast around him. I think he’s
well-coached, and I think it’s a really good football team we’re getting ready to play.”

On Young’s game status:
“We’ll see how the week goes with Chase. To me, we’ve got time to make declarations. Early in the week
doesn’t serve anyone’s purpose. We’ll see how that goes as we progress through the week. Beyond that, you’re
getting the next guys up ready to go. Those guys are excited about getting opportunities. That’s what happens.
Those young guys get an opportunity, like a Tim Settle and same thing with [DE] James Smith-Williams and
[DE] Nate Orchard. Those guys obviously will get an opportunity to get on the field and get more playing time,
so they’ll be fired up for that if they’re called upon.”

On helping QB Dwayne Haskins Jr. block out outside noise:
“Those are things that are really in Coach [Rivera]’s corner right now. To sit and discuss methods and ways that
I did it—I just don’t know that that’s really appropriate at this position or in this position. I kind of refrain or
stay away from that if I could. Obviously, look you’re trying to support him. You’re trying to develop him. He
needs to play well and we need him to play well. So, I’m sure Coach is having those kind of discussions with
him.”

On keeping the defense energized:
“I think we need to understand that’s an opportunity to take a stand on defense and put the fire out. To me, we
need to look at it that way and not like: ‘Oh man, here we go,’ trying to find energy because we don’t have it. I
think we need to respond, come out and respond well. I’m looking for us to do that better as we face those kinds
of challenges.”

On what he will be looking for in guys stepping up on the defense:
“Just performance. We’re working hard at the preparation. We had our first practice of the week. There are
things that we’re asking them to do to give us a chance to perform at a high level defensively. We’ve got a high
standard of what we’re expecting defensively. That’s what I can speak to personally. There are certain things
they have to do if they’re in the game that we expect them to do so that we can play at a high level.”

On DE Montez Sweat’s progression:
“He really played well last week. I think he’s getting an understanding of D-line play, having his hand in the
dirt going forward a majority of the time and being disruptive—I think not just in the passing game, but in the
run game as well with some TFLs and setting an edge for the defense and doing some of the things he’s done a
nice job of. The arrow’s up. He’s improving. He’s understanding better and better what we’re asking him to do
and where he can help our defense by doing things and being disruptive. I think he’s continued to do that and
grow with that and he’s continued to develop.”