Jordan Howden discusses making plays in his second start and relationship with Tyrann Mathieu
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00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:10 >> I guess the way the ball was placed,
00:15 I either had to just make a tackle or I was gonna have to put my shoulder to his
00:19 rib and that's pretty much what I did just last minute, just thinking about it.
00:24 And then the next thing you know, I come up, the ball's out, and
00:27 we're all celebrating on the sidelines.
00:29 >> You mentioned after your first game sort of the impact that an inch,
00:33 a step, a half a step can make.
00:35 Was that one of those plays that you were referencing that you wanted to
00:38 be to have that step to be there and be able to make that play?
00:43 >> Yeah, cuz as a post player, we always talk about read a certain releases from
00:48 number two and number one.
00:49 And once we get into our back foot, I read the quarterback and
00:53 then I just seen how much space there was between when he broke on his route.
00:58 So I kinda knew, plus he was staring, so I just broke on the ball, so
01:02 just made a play.
01:03 >> And just as a band of rookie,
01:04 what's it like just being a part of the defense that the pitchers shut out?
01:09 >> I think it's very exciting, it's fun, especially coming into a great defense.
01:15 Every year I know they've been top five and learning from the best.
01:18 Being with a bunch of older guys, we only have a few younger guys in there, and
01:22 just listening and learning from them.
01:24 I feel like each week has definitely helped me, like I said,
01:27 from one to two steps, it can help me make a play and eventually get picked.
01:32 >> One of those older guys is Tyron Matthew,
01:34 what does a pick six do as far as the momentum step for the defense?
01:38 >> Repeat that question.
01:39 >> One of the older guys, Tyron Matthew,
01:41 what does a pick six do as far as getting the momentum going for the defense?
01:45 >> Pretty much just being, okay, I'm next.
01:47 I need to get one now, cuz I know I'm one of the few guys in the room without
01:50 a pick now.
01:50 So my mentality's, okay, I gotta get one now.
01:54 I can't be the only one in the room without one, so
01:56 that's my mentality going into the next games.
01:58 >> Tyron said yesterday that you're gonna be a player that will contribute to this
02:02 organization for a long time.
02:04 I don't know if you heard him say that, but there it is.
02:06 What does it mean to have that trust in a guy of that stature?
02:10 >> It really means a lot.
02:11 That means he knows how serious I'm taking it, and just me coming up to him,
02:16 asking for advice, questions, okay, what should I do with this when I get this read?
02:22 Like I said, that's definitely helped me in my game and
02:25 going into the next week and the next week.
02:28 And then getting in with the coaches here early every day, and
02:31 you can just see the improvement that I have, and I can see that in myself as well.
02:36 >> Jordan, I know you're young in your career, but
02:39 how important was it to finish off with a shutout?
02:42 I know nobody would have looked at you guys strange if you'd have given up a late
02:45 touchdown or a late field goal, but how important was it to finish it out?
02:50 >> Especially in football here or any sport, it's hard to win.
02:53 So no matter if it was a blowout or a close game, we always celebrate our wins.
02:59 But for it to be a shutout and to come in somebody else's home really means how much
03:04 we put in throughout the week, especially at practice.
03:06 We emphasize what we do in practice is what we do in the game.
03:09 >> Do you have any shutouts in college, do you remember?
03:12 >> Yeah, probably like two or three.
03:16 I remember one, we played Colorado with like 30-0 or something like that.
03:19 I don't know if anything else.
03:21 >> Mostly against Green Bay, you were kind of playing that post player role.
03:28 Did your role expand a little bit more this time?
03:31 >> Different game plan, just different calls.
03:35 Certain times I'm down, sometimes I'm not.
03:38 It just depends on what we call and what the deal wants to do that week.
03:41 But like I said, I'm always open to know what I need to do for
03:46 if I'm down or in the post or if I'm in anything of that sort.
03:49 Even the nickel spots.
03:50 >> I know I saw you played CJ in college at some point.
03:55 >> Say again? >> Did you play CJ Stroud?
03:57 >> CJ Stroud?
03:57 Yes, 2021.
03:59 >> What kind of stands out about him?
04:02 >> It's the way he reads his reads and coverages and stuff like that.
04:06 Cuz I know when I first played him, it was his first game starting.
04:10 He had a couple bad reads, but as he started going off through the season,
04:12 you could just see how effective he is in the run.
04:16 Even when he scrambles, he actually knows how to run and
04:19 knows how to read coverages like I was saying.
04:21 He got us a couple times in coverages, so we just gotta be able to keep him in
04:26 the pocket and be able to make good coverages in the back.
04:30 >> How much have you seen him improve from 2021 to now?
04:35 >> Definitely a lot, especially going into 2022.
04:37 They had a phenomenal season.
04:39 You could just see his leadership, especially.
04:43 I know he really cares about his teammates and things of that sort.
04:48 And we're from the same area, not from San Diego, but he's in the IE, so
04:51 I kinda know of him a little bit, him and Bryson.
04:54 So just seeing him where we're at now, so I'm just proud of him.
04:58 >> Jordan, I know at the beginning of the season, most of us were kind of waiting
05:04 and anticipating that Marcus may be unavailable for a certain period of time.
05:09 Was that something that was discussed with you,
05:12 that you would be the guy to step in in that role, should that be the case?
05:15 Or was it just about being ready in case that happened?
05:18 >> No, we never talked about, okay, something does happen, you're going in.
05:22 It was just always be ready.
05:24 You never know what might happen, even if he didn't get suspended.
05:27 Somebody could get hurt in the game, and they gotta be able to trust you.
05:31 Like I said, with Tyron, being able to trust me in Double D,
05:33 knowing that I'll be able to do my job once I'm out there.
05:36 >> Okay.
05:36 Thank you.