Defensive Alignment Quotes

I think I'm very good at reading coverage and knowing where I want to go with the ball before the ball is snapped.

A defensive coordinator is always going to try to throw you something different and get you out of your element, and I have to do better with the pass protection.

Plays are designed to attack certain coverages and schemes.

You can't be wrong in the three-tech position. I like that. It allows a lot of freedom.

Zones are easier just to throw out there and you don't have to really teach it.

I don't love playing zone all the time, because it does have an effect on your offense.

A little more movement of the defensive side of the ball, some rules that will be unnoticed, but a big rule will be allowing the jack linebacker to move out of the box sideline to sideline.

Installing a new offense is harder than a new defense. It just takes time.

There was a time when rival teams used a shift against me. They would put the second baseman on the shortstop's side of the bag, move the shortstop into the hole to his right, and have the third baseman hug the foul line. The idea was to build an infield wall against a known right-handed pull hitter.

I'd never switch to man-to-man unless we were able to play good man-to-man. Ever.

You have different schemes for different teams. Some teams blitz a lot, and some teams drop eight in coverage.

Big league defense is going to get outs most times.

I can't very well tell my batters don't hit it to him. Wherever they hit it, he's there anyway.

You watch the great quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Drew Brees and Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers. They all play so fast, but it's under control because they know what the defense is presenting to them before it happens. It allows them to anticipate things a little quicker, and that makes all the difference in the world.

If all you ever play with a cornerback in there is man to man, it is a disadvantage.

Tackling and playing well in space against any spread offense is very important.

You have to learn the playbook inside and out. You have to learn code words for each play. You have to learn defenses.

The defensive phase is about the team, so it's about balance.

It actually took me a year to learn how to play running back - to understand what they were doing defensively and then what our guys were doing every single play.

The game's just slowed down for me a little bit and I'm able to read the defenses and see how they're playing me.

Oftentimes, the post safety will eye me up pre-snap a lot of times and know where I am.

Playing the nickel is something I'm very, very comfortable doing and I enjoy doing, but also, I know what me playing the safety position means to the entire defense.

Having a good defensive line allows you to play better because it's less stressful in terms of defending.

I feel like I'm an inside guy, I feel like I'm a three-tech or nose tackle.

As an offensive lineman, having spatial awareness is key: understanding where the quarterback is going to be and understanding what the defensive end might do depending on the play we're running.