Deshaun Watson Says He Is Locked In On Preparing For Ravens Defense
Deshaun Watson Media Availability November 8 2023
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00:00 coming out, how was Monday, all that kind of stuff?
00:04 >> Monday was good, it was decent.
00:06 Came in, did my regular routine of recovery work and just focused on
00:11 making sure the body was all good, so it was a good day.
00:13 >> Sean, when you watch that Ravens defense,
00:17 what stands out from a player perspective and a scheme perspective?
00:22 >> They're very talented.
00:23 I mean, they know exactly what they wanna do.
00:24 A lot of guys played a lot of football.
00:27 Very depth, a lot of depth in that defense, and they make you earn everything.
00:32 So they coach very well, very great players, and
00:37 you gotta go out there and try to deserve each and every yard.
00:40 >> And Sean, there's a lot of talk this week about just the receiver involvement.
00:46 Omari's getting a lot of production, but
00:48 the guys behind him aren't getting a lot of production.
00:52 I know you just came back, but just from your perspective,
00:56 why do you think that there is such an imbalance so far this season,
01:01 but with how the production is kind of being distributed at that position?
01:06 >> I mean, I guess the biggest thing for me is the way the game flows.
01:13 But a more in-depth, detailed answer, I guess you gotta ask Kevin.
01:18 So for me, it's just really just trying to find the open guy,
01:23 depending on what the play call is in my reads, and
01:25 what the defense presents.
01:27 >> Hey, Sean, I know you face the Ravens defense, but
01:30 do you look at this game as a duel between you and Lamar?
01:34 >> Yeah, I mean, I don't play against Lamar, I play against the Ravens defense.
01:38 So I can't focus on, excuse me, what Lamar is doing on the opposite side, and
01:43 trying to do that.
01:44 I gotta focus on attacking his defense, cuz if I get worried about
01:49 another quarterback, then shit, I'm not gonna play well against the defense.
01:53 So I gotta focus on the two linebackers, and the edge rushers, and
01:57 the secondary, and what they wanna try to present with us.
02:00 So that's my main focus, is the Ravens defense, and
02:03 that's what I'm gonna be locked in on.
02:05 >> The shot after the game, you said you weren't particularly happy about 19 out
02:09 of 30, and a lot of those incompletions from shorter passes.
02:14 What do you think's going on with the shorter passes?
02:18 >> Just time.
02:19 >> Matter of time, just getting that back, or what?
02:21 >> No, I mean, it's nothing about getting anything back,
02:24 it's just connecting with the guys, that's pretty much it.
02:26 >> Deshaun, what do you appreciate most about Lamar?
02:31 >> The biggest thing is just his work ethic.
02:32 I mean, he comes in each and every day, he puts in his own time in the film work,
02:36 he puts his own time in his body, and just getting out there, and
02:40 just making sure that we all on the same page, no matter who's a quarterback.
02:42 So I think that's the biggest thing for me.
02:45 And then he just, he wants to help everybody else around him,
02:48 because he know that he's not a selfish guy, and
02:51 when his opportunities come, he take advantage of them.
02:53 >> Deshaun, even though you took some big hits in that game,
02:57 you made some big throws in that game, do you feel like you are going to be closer
03:02 to yourself in this game against the Ravens from just being another week out
03:06 from the original injury?
03:08 >> My biggest thing is just trying to be the best version I can be each and
03:13 every day.
03:14 I can't focus on Sunday right now, today is Wednesday,
03:17 I'm focused on just making sure that I'm staying healthy,
03:21 doing whatever I need to do game plan wise.
03:23 And then once I get out there and practice,
03:25 being able to try to execute the game plan.
03:26 So focusing on just trying to just be the best version I can be at the time that
03:32 presents me.
03:33 >> What kind of opportunity is this for you guys against a team on the road,
03:38 leading the division, something we're saying this might be the best team in the NFL?
03:42 What kind of chance is this for you guys in this game?
03:46 >> Another game to go one and all, that's the vision we have is focused on Baltimore
03:51 and that's it, we're not worried about the outside noise or
03:54 who's the best team in the league and things like that.
03:56 It's the NFL, everybody's good, and anybody can get beat any given day.
04:01 So our main focus is execution and mastering this game plan and
04:06 then once Sunday come, we gotta go out there and play.
04:08 >> The last play of the first quarter was a sack,
04:11 you kind of landed hard on your right shoulder.
04:14 Do you remember it, do you feel anything?
04:16 >> No, I don't remember anything.
04:17 >> It looked like a hard ball.
04:20 >> No, it's football, so that happens.
04:24 >> That's the problem, so I wondered if you felt it at all.
04:28 >> No.
04:29 >> You said after the game that you didn't feel like you're 100% yet.
04:33 Do you feel closer there just from Sunday to Wednesday?
04:36 >> No, I mean, every day it's a work in progress.
04:40 So is this a deal that I'm gonna continue to have to work and
04:45 focus on each and every day to make sure that I just try to get as strong as
04:49 possible and as healthy as possible as I possibly can.
04:52 >> Sean, not only does Baltimore create turnovers, they're scoring points.
04:56 Their defense is actually scoring points off those turnovers.
04:59 Just when you watch them on film, what makes them so good at doing that?
05:04 >> They're starting up front, they disrupt the front,
05:06 they make the quarterback hold it and make decisions that the quarterback probably
05:11 didn't want to or it's overthrows.
05:13 And they're doing a good job in the second area of capitalizing on that.
05:15 So you gotta give them credit for doing that and
05:19 they've been doing that very, very well.
05:20 So we gotta make sure that we stay locked in on our P's and Q's and
05:26 make sure that the ball is getting to our receiving stands and not the other side.
05:29 >> This is October.
05:30 >> Sean, you actually didn't play the first time against Baltimore, but
05:35 watching from the sideline, what did that vantage point,
05:38 what kind of perspective did that give you on what they do, what this defense is?
05:44 >> I mean, it's no different than what I've mentioned before.
05:46 It's a very active group, a team that is very good, a lot of depth.
05:52 And they wanna create turnovers to get the ball and number ace hands for them.
05:56 So that's the biggest thing that we gotta focus on is just one play at a time and
06:01 try to execute that one play.
06:02 >> Kevin has talked about how much attention Amare draws from the defense.
06:07 So how's he able to still be as productive consistently as he's been?
06:13 >> It's Amare, he just finds ways.
06:15 I think that's the biggest thing.
06:16 He just finds ways and
06:18 if we put him in a spot where he can make that play, he makes those plays.
06:21 >> Sean, obviously with Jed Wills right now dealing with an injury,
06:24 kinda puts more of a spotlight on James Hudson to plug a gap for you.
06:29 Can you talk about what you've seen in his work habits,
06:32 the way he practices that gives you guys confidence that he can slide right in?
06:37 >> Well, James is a guy, he's experienced.
06:39 He can move, he can play right side, he can play left side.
06:42 Hell, he can play guard if he wanted to.
06:44 He don't play at every position outside of center.
06:47 And he's a guy that understands his offense.
06:49 He's been here for a while, and he's motivated.
06:52 And he wants to get out there and prove that he can play at this, at the top level.
06:56 And he's just been working his tail off each and every day.
07:00 And he's getting with Coach Callahan and those guys and
07:03 making sure that he's locked in.
07:04 >> Sean, there's a few guys in the league that have the same skill set as you.
07:07 Amar is one of them.
07:09 What do you appreciate most about him?
07:11 >> I mean, he's just, he's electric.
07:13 He's exciting to watch.
07:15 He's a guy that any given play can make something happen.
07:18 Regardless if you think you have him set or
07:20 think you have him bonded up, he's gonna get out of it.
07:24 So you just gotta, it's fun to watch him.
07:26 It's fun to see him on the other side.
07:29 But we just gotta make sure that we try to contain him as much as possible.
07:34 Because you can't really contain him.
07:37 He's gonna get what he get.
07:38 But you just try to slow him down as much as you possibly can if you can.
07:42 >> [INAUDIBLE]
07:52 >> Yeah, I mean, each and every game,
07:53 each and every week is a new challenge.
07:56 But Sunday was a good day.
07:59 Sat once, which was on a design red zone play.
08:02 So it was a cover set.
08:03 Arizona did a good job with that one.
08:05 But yeah, we just gotta stay locked in on the protections and
08:09 making sure we go into the right guys and the ball's getting out right on time.
08:12 >> I'm sorry, how is Jadayvian playing for them?
08:14 And what do you have to worry about with Jadayvian?
08:17 >> I mean, he's another guy that's on our defense, very disruptive.
08:20 He's playing really, really well, playing very confident.
08:23 He looks healthy.
08:24 And when he's healthy and playing with confidence,
08:26 he's one of the best DNs in the league.
08:28 I've seen it on both sides, played against him before, and I played with him.
08:32 So I know exactly what type of person and player he is.
08:35 He's, in my eyes, one of the best disruptors in the NFL.
08:40 And you gotta make sure you're watching out for him.
08:42 >> Thank you.
08:44 >> Thank you.