Zach Carter on Comradery in Bengals' Locker Room, Preparing for Steelers without DJ Reader
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00:00 I feel like we know what we have in this room.
00:02 We got a lot of confident young guys ready to fill in.
00:05 The older guys, they always do a good job of making sure we're up to par.
00:10 So I mean, I feel like we ready for the challenge.
00:13 We ready to dominate.
00:15 >> What is it like for you as a defensive lineman when a team decides to kind of
00:19 switch quarterbacks right before the game that you're getting ready to play?
00:23 Like they switch from Trubisky to Rudolph.
00:26 >> I mean, it doesn't really matter because at the end of the day,
00:30 we gotta go against the old line to get to them.
00:33 So it doesn't really matter who's back there, a quarterback, but
00:36 we gotta win our one on one so we can get to the quarterback, whoever that quarterback.
00:41 >> Okay, that makes a lot of sense.
00:43 And obviously, they love to start fast.
00:45 It's kind of like a Mike Tomlin characteristic, I would think.
00:49 The biggest key for you guys to be able to stop them from achieving that goal of
00:53 starting the game fast.
00:55 >> Yeah, man, we gotta start fast.
00:57 I feel like we always play our biggest games when we start fast.
01:00 I don't know what they just put on my head, but I'm gonna keep talking.
01:03 I feel like we always play our best games when we start fast as a defense.
01:10 We just gotta come out with that energy that we know and that confidence and
01:14 that swag and continue to keep playing hard.
01:16 >> This is why I love interviewing.
01:19 >> [LAUGH] >> This describes our team perfectly.
01:25 >> [LAUGH] >> This describes our team perfectly.
01:29 This is why we got a special group, honestly.
01:32 Our group is special.
01:34 Our group is very special, as you can see.
01:38 So let's get to the next question.
01:42 These dudes are crazy, I'm sorry.
01:43 >> Damn.
01:45 >> I'm so sorry.
01:46 >> It's okay.
01:47 You guys are, you're relentless.
01:49 You always mess with each other so hard.
01:50 I love it.
01:52 How nice is though when you're grinding through such a long season to be able to
01:56 have the kind of camaraderie that you do with your fellow teammates on the defensive
02:00 line?
02:00 >> It makes it easy.
02:01 As the season starts to get long, I don't know how it is on other teams.
02:07 They might be like, man, it's three more weeks, four more weeks.
02:11 I enjoy coming to work every day, being around my guys.
02:14 I say that wholeheartedly because I feel like we got a special group.
02:19 Especially the defensive line.
02:21 Our group is really, it's probably the most special D line I've been on.
02:26 Everybody just had their own personalities and stuff.
02:29 But we gel well together though, that's the thing.
02:33 >> I feel like any guy who comes from a defensive line in the Bengals locker room,
02:36 you guys can definitely put on your resume that you are able to focus with the most
02:40 distractions possible around you.
02:43 Would you say that?
02:44 >> I know how to focus in any environment.
02:46 Obviously, they just put about ten things on my head.
02:50 I was still able to keep going, that's the question.
02:52 So there it is.
02:53 >> I mean, I was impressed by that.
02:54 I can't believe you just pulled that off.
02:56 I was entertained but also impressed.
02:58 Now my last question for you.
02:59 Are you a Christmas type of guy?
03:02 >> I am, my tree's set up right now at the house.
03:05 I didn't do it myself.
03:07 Mom helped me, but yeah, my tree's set up right now.
03:12 >> What color scheme did you go with?
03:15 >> Gold and silver ornaments.
03:17 I think it's kinda like, my mom always told me I'm a king.
03:23 So I think a king, I think a gold, silver, things like that.
03:28 >> Love that. Is there any food that you specifically look forward to on Christmas?
03:32 >> So my mom is from Louisiana.
03:35 So on Christmas we do a little different, we do Cajun style.
03:40 So my mom, she's making gumbo this year.
03:43 So she's done that a few times.
03:44 I don't know if you ever had gumbo or if anybody watching this or
03:48 is gonna be watching this ever had gumbo.
03:50 But gumbo is one of those dishes that if you go to Louisiana, you have to try.
03:55 And I can't wait.
03:57 Like after we get the dub on Saturday, I can't wait to enjoy this gumbo.
04:02 I just can't wait.
04:03 >> You get, I believe, a day off on Christmas Day with your family.
04:07 How nice is that gonna be?
04:10 How much of a break is that for you?
04:12 Even though it's only one day, you still get 24 hours with your family to
04:16 celebrate a holiday.
04:17 >> When you are on the grind, when you're on the grind in the NFL,
04:21 I'm thankful to get five hours, well, really, two hours.
04:27 But a day, that's like a weekend to me.
04:31 I get 24 hours, so yeah, I'm excited.
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