Saints defensive coordinator Joe Woods meets with the media to talk about the challenges the Titans pose in Week 1.
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00:00 There's a whole new kind of defensive interior that's been built up here over
00:04 the course of the offseason.
00:05 About to go up against an offensive line that has a lot of changeover turnovers.
00:08 How do you feel about that matchup?
00:10 And the guys getting out of there?
00:11 >> It's definitely gonna be a physical game.
00:14 There's no secret what they do.
00:15 They wanna play smash mouth football.
00:17 Try to double team you off the ball.
00:20 I feel like our D line's built for that.
00:22 We're big up front, we're strong.
00:25 But it's definitely gonna be a game, it's gonna be one of the trenches.
00:28 >> Do you think Colin Saunders and Nathan Shepard's experience,
00:32 their chiefs playing against the Titans, helps in any way?
00:36 >> You would hope so.
00:38 Just because their offense has kind of stayed the same over the years, so
00:41 you know what you're gonna expect.
00:43 So they're fully aware they're gonna face a lot of double teams.
00:46 Obviously we're gonna do some things to try to help them in the long game.
00:50 But I think that experience would definitely help.
00:52 >> You saw David Cameron just a few years back, right?
00:56 >> Yes. >> What did you kind of remember
00:57 about that game, what kind of stands out about it?
00:59 >> That he's big, that he's physical.
01:01 The thing with him is that if you do everything right,
01:06 you control your gap, you get off blocks, you still gotta tackle.
01:10 That's what makes it hard.
01:12 He's a big man, but you have to have a plan in terms of how you're gonna tackle.
01:16 That you really wanna try to make a run east and west, so
01:18 he's not running downhill at you.
01:20 But he's very big, he's very strong.
01:23 It's definitely what we're gonna have our hands for.
01:25 >> Not just Derrick Henry, but what are the unique challenges of having to also
01:28 prepare for Taju Spears as well and some of their different running styles?
01:32 >> There's gonna be adjustments we're gonna have to make during the game.
01:34 I know the coordinator was there before, he's a past game coordinator.
01:37 But there's gonna be some wrinkles.
01:39 But they definitely have the one-two punch.
01:42 Got a chance to watch him in the preseason.
01:44 He has very good balance and body control, good vision.
01:48 He's also a threat out of the backfield, you see that as well.
01:51 But again, we're gonna have to adjust based on what they do and
01:53 how they try to use him.
01:55 >> What are some of the challenges that are presented when you have to prepare for
01:58 a Derrick Henry level run game and a DeAndre Hopkins level pass?
02:03 >> Tell me.
02:03 >> [LAUGH] >> I didn't sleep very well last night.
02:06 No, it definitely keeps you up.
02:08 And I think that's what they wanna do.
02:10 They wanna make you play defense, stop the run, and
02:13 then take advantage of one-on-ones through the play-action game.
02:18 He's new.
02:18 I know that the coordinator's familiar with him.
02:21 But there's gonna be an adjustment process in terms of where they're lining
02:24 him up, how they're gonna try to use him in different formations.
02:28 So during the course of the game, we're gonna have to figure that out.
02:31 >> Joe, what did Melanthi Taylor show you guys in the camp to make you comfortable
02:35 with him in the slot?
02:35 >> Through the course of my career, I've always trained multiple guys.
02:41 They're playing the slots.
02:42 I think the more versatility you have, the better off you are as a player.
02:46 And he's very confident.
02:47 He has a quick trigger.
02:49 I like his aggressiveness.
02:51 And there's mistakes he's gonna make, but
02:53 I think each week he's gonna continue to get better because of his mindset.
02:57 >> He was saying kind of similar things,
02:59 like he knows he's gonna have a little bit of a learning curve there.
03:02 >> Yeah. >> So is that something you'll have to
03:04 live with, just knowing that the ceiling is there for you?
03:06 >> Yeah, it's natural.
03:08 When you play corner, you play outside, you're used to having the sideline.
03:12 When you're in the slot, you hit the rim here, rim here, rim in front of you,
03:15 rim behind you.
03:16 So it's an adjustment, it's a feel thing.
03:18 It's just something that you get better at with reps.
03:20 [BLANK_AUDIO]
03:25 That's it.