Guard Jon Runyan Jr.
Q: We've been saying all season long that it's a long season and there's still a lot of games to play, but suddenly we're almost at the halfway point. Is there a sense in the locker room, 'Guys, we got to start doing it now?'
JON RUNYAN: Yeah, definitely. I don't think that sense has just started just because we lost our fifth game of the season. We've felt that way the past couple weeks and for whatever reason we haven't necessarily been getting the results we expected. I think the defense is playing really well and we got to do our part picking it up on offense and going out there scoring points and touchdowns. We understand that. We know that and that's our job is as an offensive go out there and score points. At the end of the day that's what it comes down to. It doesn't necessarily matter how it's going to look, as long as you're putting up points and the end result is what we want. That's all that matters going forward.
Q: Obviously there was eight sacks last week. Is that just (tackle) Andrew Thomas missing or is that just a lot of people made mistakes?
JON RUNYAN: I don't think it had much to do with AT (Andrew Thomas) not being out there. I think just the way the game that was going early, we had some trouble with protection, and I think that kind of hurt us in our pass game. From our perspective as an offensive lineman, I think it didn't help our quarterback. Him being down on the ground that many times in the first, second quarter is not really what he's used to so far this year. I think there's a lot of blame to put on us as the front five up there early on. Eventually we did settle later on, probably late second quarter. But, at that point it felt like the game started to slip too much. We got to do a better job establishing the run game, so we stay out of those passing situations. Giving up eight sacks, you're not going to win many games giving up eight sacks in this league. We understand that and we own that as offensive line. We got to work to be better, for sure. That's unacceptable in our offensive line room.
Q: What was your perspective of (defensive lineman) Dexter Lawrence as an opponent when you were with the (Green Bay) Packers? How did that change maybe in the summer in training camp? How did that change after watching him the first several games this year as a teammate?
JON RUNYAN: Dexter (Lawrence) has been a force in this league since he's come in, since day one. Every year looking over schedule, you're looking and thinking about all the guys you got coming up. I played the Giants twice with Dexter (Lawrence) as my opponent and that was always one of those games that you have circled knowing that you're going to get one of the best in the business and you're going to have to bring you're a-game when it comes to that. But coming here, being on this side, seeing him as more than just a player, as a teammate, as a person, he's phenomenal in all aspects. He just demands so much attention when he's out there on the football field. I think it would be not very smart to leave him on a one-on-one block with a center or guard and he requires a lot of attention and he's constantly getting double-teamed. You see how explosive he is and how good of a player he is. I think he's probably tops in the league in sacks and double teams acquired. It's just a really special player, really special person and I'm happy to have him over here and only have to go against him during the weekdays.
Q: All those things you said about him obviously are true, but did you think that he would be leading the league in sacks with nine? I mean he's an interior pass rusher. All that other stuff is right, but he's never had… He's on pace for 20-something sacks this year. Is that something that even someone like you who's gone against him looks at and says, 'I didn't know he was going have nine sacks after seven games.'
JON RUNYAN: No, I don't think anybody ever would suspect a nose tackle to be leading the league in sacks. Nine sacks is really impressive only through seven games, so far. For him to be doing what he's doing at such a high level, it's really fun knowing that the defense is going out there and playing well. We got to do our job on offense to compliment them and put up points so they can keep playing like that.
Q: You've talked about it several times, I know I've asked you this year, in terms of thinking back to last year for the team you were on and the idea of how you guys were able to come out of what people would consider an NFL abyss and make it all the way to the playoffs and really be playing well. How do you compartmentalize the emotions that you're dealing with on a weekly basis from the highs of winning games to losing games like you have the last two weeks. Versus the calendar and the idea of how the games just keep ticking off and like you said it's been around for a while this urgency. How do you kind of deal with that, the one versus the other?
JON RUNYAN: I hate to try to compare the two things but last year the team I was on we were 2-and-5 at this point of the year, as well, just like we are here. We're 2-and-5 going to Week 8 and a tough matchup Monday night in Pittsburgh. Both scenarios, last two seasons, it's definitely not where you want to be. But this doesn't mean that you're dead, the season's over. There's still a lot to play for. It only takes seven to eight wins to get a playoff spot in this league. I think we're definitely capable of doing that the rest of the way. It just comes back to taking it day by day and rallying around the guys in the locker room and making sure everybody keeps the faith. We have a lot of really strong veteran players, veteran presence in this locker room so I know that we're going to do our best to keep everybody, the younger guys, everybody else in high spirits. It doesn't matter what the record is. It only matters when we go out there and our mindset on Sundays, and this particular weekend on Monday, and going out there and doing our best to get the win. That's what it starts with: winning each practice and then that translating into winning every game going forward. It doesn't have to be every game, but we've got to string a couple together for sure.
Q: I'm just curious with the way you guys have struggled offensively and obviously protecting (quarterback) Daniel (Jones), what do you see in the Steelers defense and how difficult is that place to play in Pittsburgh?
JON RUNYAN: The Steelers I think have probably been one of the best examples of consistency in this league. They've been doing it very well, very solid for so long. Their defense hasn't changed in forever and they have the right guys, they have the right culture. They got playmakers all over the defense and that's what they pride themselves on over there in Pittsburgh. Everybody knows they got really good ends on both sides and they're big and strong in the interior. They got great support on the backside and linebackers are playing really well right now too. Tough, tough defense but it's going to be a great environment Monday night in Pittsburgh. I know Pittsburgh's a huge football city and Monday night fourth-quarter when they start playing their music and the towels start being waved it's going to be awesome environment. I'm looking forward to it. I'm sure it's going to be really loud. I feel like that's one of the environments that we thrive in. We've played in some tough environments so far already this year and I know the guys are going to be excited and geared up for this one.
Q: I know you don't want to make excuses for not having Andrew (Thomas) but, you guys played six straight games with the same five lineman taking every snap. First team reps in practice you're with the same guys. So, I was wondering, for you personally, what was that adjustment like last week being next to somebody different and do you think that by the end of that game you guys found something you can carry over into next week that you've settled in now with this new offensive line or are you anticipating that there might be more changes even this week?
JON RUNYAN: I've been fortunate enough to get some snaps playing next to (offensive lineman) Josh Ezeudu over OTAs and a little bit of training camp just mixing people around trying to feel everybody out and how everybody works together. But I don't anticipate any new changes. I think going out there for your first start of the year, first or second drive, having one blunder doesn't mean the season's over for anybody. Eight sacks is unacceptable and we know that as an offensive line. Definitely a lot of things we could do better and make Daniel (Jones) feel more comfortable back there and instill more confidence in our play callers. Not have to feel like we have to throw the ball so much and we can hand the ball off and gain three, four yards per carry. Going forward, we feel really comfortable with Josh (Ezeudu) out there. He did really well once he settled in after one of those drives. I feel like we held up relatively well later on in the game. But, at that point it's too late and we just got to start out the game way better than we did. I think it kind of rattled our quarterback which is our fault, not his fault at all, and the play calling which again I feel like goes back on us.
Q: What is your advice to a player like Josh (Ezeudu)? Like most young offensive linemen, I'm sure you had struggles early on in your career. What do you say to him about trying to learn that position on the fly and also at the same time trying to build his confidence?
JON RUNYAN: Josh (Ezeudu) is not young but he's a younger player. He's really talented. He's really smart. He knows this offense really well. He's been in it a really long time. There's honestly not much that he needs. I think for him it's just going out there and feeling comfortable and executing. To be honest, I didn't really have to say much. Even day one being in there it wasn't like, 'All right. Here we go new left tackle.' I felt all the confidence in the world in Josh (Ezeudu) to go out there and you know play well and I think he did. It's just going to get better each and every week. Obviously, it's tough to replace our starting left tackle and captain, AT (Andrew Thomas), but I feel like Josh (Ezeudu) is a great replacement and he's just going to get better every week. That's his mindset. He's always looking to improve on whatever it is. Whether it's in the weight room, anything with his body. He's always on top of the playbook. He's just a really good pro and I don't see anything necessarily glaring that's going to take away from his progress going forward.
Q: I know you're playing left guard and (Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker) T.J. Watt is on the other side, primarily. But is he a player that even though you're on the other side that you have to keep an eye on the whole time thinking, 'Maybe he moves.' Whatever he's doing, no matter what, it affects you and the line as a whole.
JON RUNYAN: For sure. T.J. (Watt) mainly plays over the right tackle, but they have shown to move him as one of those floaters in the middle of the defense. He can pick and choose whatever gap or whatever guy he wants to play against. So, that's something that you always have to be ready for. But I think going forward like he's one of the premier edge rushers in this league and if you're going to keep only two hands on him the whole game like he might get his. But I think our offense and our coaches are going to put in a great plan for him like most teams do when they go against him. Jermaine (Eluemunor) has played against him a couple of times and I know he's really confident going against him and it's going to be a great battle between two great players and I'm excited to watch it.
Wide Receiver Darius Slayton
Q: You've obviously been in this league a long time, the idea of the roller coasters back and forth, up and down. Two weeks ago, you were on top of the world flying back from Seattle, and now two weeks later, it's, 'what's wrong, what happened, everything is falling apart.' You've gotten used to this, unfortunately, the ebbs and flows, but from your perspective, what have you seen, and how do you keep this and get this back rolling the right way?
DARIUS SLAYTON: Just taking it day by day. I think the most important thing is getting back to work this week at practice and executing in practice and building good habits and then allowing those habits to roll over into Sunday. You can't live in the past, what's happened has happened, we can't do anything about it, but what we can do is attack this week with a great mindset and go out there Sunday and play to the best of our ability.
Q: One thing (Head) Coach (Brian) Daboll said after the Eagles game the other day was that he thinks one of the reasons that (quarterback) Daniel Jones can create more explosive plays is that he has some guys around him that can create explosive plays, so I'm wondering just what do you guys as a receiving room think right now that you need to do better?
DARIUS SLAYTON: Make them when we get the chance. You don't control when your shots come, but you control how they go when you get them. I think that just from a receiver standpoint, all you can do is catch the ball when it comes your way and then try to do something with it when you get it in your hands. And like you said, we have a lot of capable guys on this team, and we just have to do a better job of doing that going forward.
Q: What goes into yards after the catch and trying to do more in space when you guys get the ball? What do you guys do in practice to work on that?
DARIUS SLAYTON: Yeah, I mean some of it is scheme. Certain routes are easier to catch and run with the ball than others. Mostly just starts as a receiver just attacking the ball and having a mindset that you're going to not just go down or not just catch and fall or not just catch and look to be conservative and having that attacking mindset as a wideout kind of helps you build that habit and then once you have that habit, it just starts to show up more and more.
Q: Do you have any theory or explanation as to why your team is so much better on the road than at home? Especially the offense?
DARIUS SLAYTON: Other than coincidence, I couldn't necessarily point to anything specific. It's just so happened this year that we've played better on the road than we have at home. Obviously, we want to play better at home. That's the fun part, is being able to play in front of your own fans and score and be able to celebrate with your 70,000-plus strong. But obviously, this week we're on the road again. So hopefully we do continue to play at a high level on the road that will bode well for us. But whenever it does come time for us to play at home again obviously, we plan and hope to put a better performance out there.
Q: You've been on the road for many games, and you've been at home. You know what the road entails, the hostile crowd, the waving towels, you can't hear on offense, all that stuff. Do you feel differently? At home, does some of that, the fans getting on their own team, does that pressure you? When you take the field at home, on the road, is there a difference that maybe weighs on you?
DARIUS SLAYTON: Me specifically?
Q: Yeah. I mean you can speak for yourself more than the team…
DARIUS SLAYTON: No, not really. I guess when you're on the road, the mindset is definitely different because it literally is just us and then fans have traveled to the game. So obviously, we're significantly outnumbered. It's more of 'a back against the wall' feeling when you're on the road. It kind of brings you together as a team in that mindset and just kind of building around that. And then obviously, when you have a home game, it's kind of like, 'we're at home, it's our people, our fans, we know they're going to be on our side.' It's definitely two different mindsets, but at the end of the day, none of that has anything to do with running, blocking, catching and tackling. At the end of the day, we have to do those things better if we want to win. That's kind of why I say it's a coincidence, because cheering or booing doesn't help you catch or throw any better, so that's what we've got to do to win.
Q: I don't believe you've played in Pittsburgh, if I'm not mistaken. It's historically a very difficult place for road teams to play. I'm curious what your impression is from what you know of it? Can you talk about their defense and how difficult they are to deal with?
DARIUS SLAYTON: Yeah, from what I've heard, it's an intense football environment, obviously very hostile. They're very passionate fans over there in Pittsburgh. That's what I've heard from all accounts and obviously on film their defense is very talented. They have a really good front. They've got talent and youth in the back end. They've got backers that fit aggressive, and I think probably for the past…before even some of y'all were born, the Steelers have lived up to a standard on defense and they've maintained that for a really long time, and they still hold that true. It's obviously going to take a physical four quarter game for us to be able to beat them.
Q: If you were to look at the Pittsburgh offense which you just did. Number-wise, they're very good against the run. I think they're second in scoring defense. They're 22nd in pass defense. Is it that simple that's where you attack?
DARIUS SLAYTON: Not necessarily. I mean you have run the ball in order to – you can't just go out there and throw the ball every play. Regardless of how bad a team against the pass or run, you have to do both. You have to be balanced. Like I said, they're a physical unit, they're a good unit. But obviously we've got to attack them in the ground and attack them in the air. Hitting people on the ground helps with the pass game, helps with pass protection and helps linebackers further up which allows for bigger passing lanes. So obviously, we're going to have to do a variety things to keep them off balance.
Inside Linebacker Bobby Okereke
Q: Did you ever think in all your time in the NFL that a nose tackle could be leading the league in sacks?
BOBBY OKEREKE: When I became teammates with (defensive lineman) Dexter Lawrence, that made that vision a lot more clear.
Q: Even though, he never came close to leading the league in sacks. You watch him at every play, right? What are you seeing that is allowing him to have nine sacks and be ahead of all these EDGE rushers?
BOBBY OKEREKE: He's a physically dominant player. He has a great motor on the field. His mindset, his competitive mindset, is second to none. He takes advantage of his matchups.
Q: How does that help you on the second level? If he cleans up so much, how does that help you?
BOBBY OKEREKE: A lot. A lot of times they're double-teaming him. So, makes it 10 on 11 quick. There's got to be a free guy for doubling Dex(ter Lawrence). Then, from a pass rush standpoint, the quarterback has to get the ball out quickly. That can lead to more interceptions and more untimely throws. It just helps the defense out overall.
Q: Do you think he can lead the league in sacks? It's not halfway there yet.
BOBBY OKEREKE: He's on pace for it now (laughs). So, he's doing a great job.
Q: When I look at the stats from last week, the one thing that I shake my head about is the run defense. It was like 269 (yards). Is that an anomaly? Or were you guys just in a bad formation or what?
BOBBY OKEREKE: We're playing against a very good team, a very good offensive line, and a very good running back in Saquon Barkley. I feel like throughout the game, we did a decent job of stopping the run, especially in the first half. There were just a couple of explosive runs. I think four or five explosive runs really broke on us. Some of those two back fits, we weren't exact with. They had a really good scheme that we didn't adjust to. And it's a chess game and they beat us in those matchups.
Q: I believe, if I'm not mistaken, you're one of the few guys in the locker room that's played in Pittsburgh. I think you played them twice when you were with Indianapolis, I think.
BOBBY OKEREKE: Yep. I want to say earlier in my career.
Q: What's the difficulty of that place? Obviously, that team is… (Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike) Tomlin always has that team over .500 and in contention. But just in general, what's the difficulty of that? And for a team like yourselves that's going in there, kind of struggling a little bit, what's the challenge on Monday night?
BOBBY OKEREKE: They have a great history, a great culture in that organization, and a lot of pride. Their fans bring it every game. That black and yellow, you really feel it on game day. So, just understand you're going into a hostile environment. Understanding they want to play old school football: play great defense, run the football, and take care of it. So, like you said, we'll have a great challenge ahead of us. Got to create turnovers and got to stop the run.
Q: Is there an element to embracing that challenge? Does that bring a team maybe a little tighter going in there? Does that make any sense?
BOBBY OKEREKE: For sure. In a hostile environment, you have that 'Us versus the world,' mentality. Definitely a cohesive group is what's going to get us a win.
Q: One thing I meant to ask you was, are you reaching that point in the season where it's make-a-break time? It's seven games in, you're 2-and-5. Do you have to get on a run now?
BOBBY OKEREKE: I don't think you ever want to have that mindset, because when you start pressing that's when you can lose focus, get off your fundamentals and techniques, and take more risks on the field. We have to have a one-game-at-a-time approach and mentality. Monday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers is a great opportunity to go 1-and-0.
