Anthony Walker Media Availability November 8 2023
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SportsTranscript
00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:02 >> What has to change in the first game defensively against Baltimore?
00:08 >> Not give up 28 points, gotta stop the run better.
00:12 Obviously, that's how we start every week, focusing on stopping the run.
00:16 Be fundamentally sound and pass rush lanes and all that.
00:19 Don't let them get out of the pocket and make a throw in the run.
00:23 Yeah, just play overall better, team ball better.
00:26 >> We talked with you guys a lot about eye candy before you played the 49ers.
00:30 Ravens did some of that too with flowers.
00:32 Looking back on that, how much of a teaching point did that become?
00:35 And what's kinda key to combating some of that when they try it again?
00:38 >> Yeah, just stay focused on our keys.
00:40 Don't get distracted by what teams try to do, jet motion and all that stuff.
00:46 We can't let that distract us.
00:47 We gotta stay fundamentally sound and locked in on our keys as linebackers and
00:50 safety especially.
00:52 And then be ready to stop the run.
00:54 >> How has Lamar elevated his game this season?
00:58 >> I mean, I think he's always been a good passer.
01:01 Y'all not gonna get me.
01:02 He's always been a good passer.
01:04 Obviously, being a dual threat quarterback,
01:07 he's been able to use his feet when he needs to.
01:10 Get out of the pocket, make some big plays, throwing on the run and
01:14 all that stuff.
01:14 So he's always been a great quarterback to me.
01:18 I'm biased, I'm from the same area.
01:19 So he's always been a good quarterback, being able to make every throw.
01:24 And then being able to make use of his feet to be a dual threat quarterback.
01:28 >> The way they spread out their format, they use a lot of the three receivers
01:32 under this coordinator, kinda loosens up the tackle box.
01:36 So one of the reasons the running game is so effective.
01:40 >> Yeah, for sure.
01:40 When you're able to have some dynamic receivers outside,
01:44 you gotta put your attention to a little bit more.
01:47 Like you said, lightens up the box.
01:49 And that's a huge part of their success.
01:52 You're able to outnumber in the run game.
01:54 And always when you add Lamar, that's playing 11 on 11 football.
01:57 So that makes it a little tougher to defend.
02:00 >> How are you learning to film of that first game?
02:03 Are there easy corrections to make and to prepare for to meet them again?
02:07 >> We just gotta execute better.
02:11 Whether it's corrections or just being, like I said, fundamentally sound and
02:14 doing what we do better.
02:16 That's just what it has to be.
02:19 We gotta do a much better job this game than we did the first game.
02:22 >> How much do you look forward to Baltimore's tops and
02:25 defensive scoring against the run?
02:27 You guys are tops in yards and against the pass and stuff like that.
02:31 I know you don't play that defense, but just how much is a competitor?
02:35 Do you look forward to a matchup like that when you've got two really good
02:39 defensive squaring off in the same game?
02:40 >> Yeah, we're playing against their offense, we understand that.
02:42 But in some aspects, we are playing against their defense.
02:45 The way you win in football is having more points at the end of the game and
02:51 our job is to hold them to less points than we have.
02:55 And their defense job is the same thing.
02:57 So it is in that aspect, our defense versus their defense.
03:01 >> It's only a game like eight, not five, sorry.
03:06 But do you feel that the division titles are on the wrist on this game?
03:12 >> So it's a big game because it's the next game.
03:15 Obviously, it just happens to be a division opponent.
03:17 And we wanna win our division and
03:21 it starts by winning division games, especially on the road.
03:24 >> And if they didn't have Odell last time that you guys played them,
03:28 what does he add to that offense and that receiving?
03:31 >> Yeah, we all know what Odell is, you guys saw him for years.
03:33 Just that dynamic, being able to catch the ball pretty much anywhere that it's
03:39 thrown to him, being able to stretch the field.
03:42 So we understand the matchup problem that he creates.
03:46 But I feel like we have the best DBs in the game, so it'll be fun.
03:49 >> How do you see- >> I'm sorry, I was gonna ask-
03:51 >> Either one.
03:52 >> The rookie running back, Mitchell,
03:55 what does he bring to the table?
03:58 >> Yeah, another change of pace.
04:00 They got a three-headed monster over there, sometimes four.
04:03 So each back brings a different presence.
04:07 Obviously, like I said, just fundamentals, technique, all that we do.
04:11 And yeah, it's gonna take all 11 of us to stop them.
04:15 >> When you saw them in week four to now,
04:17 how have you seen that Ravens offense?
04:19 Has it changed a lot?
04:22 >> I mean, just more, I think better execution by those guys.
04:25 Early on, they had a lot of just funny turnovers where just Lamar running
04:29 into a running back or the ball getting snapped when he's not ready,
04:33 something like that.
04:33 So I think they're executing a lot better.
04:37 At the end of the day, and also against us, a lot of receivers are out, so
04:40 they're able to get those guys back.
04:42 Like I said, that creates another element to their game where they're able to spread
04:45 out a little bit.
04:46 But at the end of the day, we know the ball is gonna be a number.
04:48 [BLANK_AUDIO]
04:49 Win the game and our job is to stop that.
04:52 >> Hey, Mark, what does having four back do for everybody's confidence?
04:55 >> Yeah, you got your franchise quarterback, that just means a lot more.
05:00 Obviously, we have trust in any quarterback that we put back there.
05:03 I thought PJ did a good job, DTR, throwing into the fire really early.
05:08 Thought he did some things well, some things just gotta learn from.
05:12 But there's nothing better than having a franchise quarterback back there.
05:16 >> In the first game, you guys come out, three and out, three and out,
05:19 then have the turnover in the short field.
05:21 It seemed to jumpstart their offense.
05:23 They took off and then how do you guys as a defense prevent,
05:26 can't prevent the turnover, but how do you prevent that from taking the game over?
05:31 >> Yeah, no, that's just a mindset.
05:32 We gotta go back out there anytime our offense or whatever,
05:37 we put in a situation where we gotta put the fire out, we gotta be able to do that.
05:41 We can't worry about where the ball is spotted, we just gotta go get a stop.
05:44 And we gotta do a better job doing that.
05:46 And I think the guys are up to that challenge.
05:48 We've done that, we've done pretty well in that the last couple weeks.
05:51 >> Do you think bragging rights for best defense in the NFL right now is
05:54 gonna on the line in this game?
05:56 >> [LAUGH] >> Both sides can claim some things.
06:01 >> Yeah, we're not worried about that.
06:02 We gotta put the shit on tape every week.
06:05 And this is another opportunity to do that.
06:08 So that's what our focus is and it's a week by week thing.
06:11 We gotta be ready to put it on tape every week.
06:14 And we get another opportunity to do that.
06:15 So that's what we're focused on.
06:16 All good, appreciate it.