And we do ask a lot of our middle linebacker. |
Because Ray was so organized anyway, we just kind of plugged things in and we go. |
Because we dispersed the workload over all of the defensive coaches — everybody has picked up some slack — it has gone very, very smoothly. We all have a little increase, but it's not a whole lot. Because Ray was so organized anyway, we just kind of plugged things in and away we go. |
Before he was able to attend practice, he would stay in and watch film of our opponent and then would go over the practice film with us. He's very much hands-on. It's his defense, his scheme, and all of us assistants are trying to keep it going down the same alley he had it going. |
I was surprised at the number. Our front guys did a great job. |
I'm on the phone with Ray all the time. Ray is anxious as heck, but he's got to take care of himself. |
I'm sure he's not. He's anxious, but he has to take care of himself. |
If you don't stop the run, it's a drive-control device. |
If you'd ask most defensive coaches, they would say you need to take the run away. |
If you're just counting the stats that's probably accurate. But he's had a good year. He's a tone-setter. |
It's harder than heck without Ray. Because he's such a great leader with the players, No. 1. And, No. 2, he's such a fine defensive coach. |
It's Ray's game plan and we're just executing it, and I'm just here to make sure the film is organized and we get practice organized. |
They want to be good. They want to work at it. If you just mention, 'You guys need to watch extra film this week because this team is unique in their offense,' shoot, you'll see those two coming in all on their own. They've been very good for us. |
This is his defense. I'm not being humble or anything like that. This is Ray's defense. He is in there game-planning. This is Ray's scheme that we started the year with. Nothing has changed. |
We talk about ourselves and how we match up against these guys and playing our defense the way it's designed to be played. There are two components, pass rush and coverage, and you don't play scared or cautious but you play smart. |