New Orleans Saints Defensive Tackle David Onyemata
Conference Call with New Orleans Media
Monday, October 7, 2019
I know we've made a lot of these pregame huddles the last couple of weeks, but was yesterdays a little bit different I guess when Drew (Brees) is added in and the emotions are different?
"Going out there, being in the moment, and just playing ball. Just going out there where things happen in the game. Like things happen during the season and certain things change over time, but the end result for us is just going out there, executing the game plan, and trusting the adjustments and everything and the coaches have made the week leading up to the game."
What is the defensive line's reaction when watching Marcus (Davenport) do some of the stuff he did when you're going back and watching it on film?
"We have seen him do it. It is just the consistency of doing it. He has done it during training camp, he has done it so many times. It is just going out there, being in the game, having the mindset to dominate the guy across the line from you. I do not think anything changes. At the end of the day, the mindset is to dominate the guy that you line up against."
What did it mean to see Sheldon (Rankins) get his first sack after coming back from that injury?
"It was massive. Before that even happened, the funny thing is I told him, 'you've got to get you one.' And just the fact that I was here most of the time during the offseason and I saw the grind that he put in to get back on the field. It's amazing just seeing him out there doing what he does."
What did you think about Carl (Granderson's) sack celebration?
"That wasn't the right one. He should've just left it at the first half of the celebration, but he did the worm. That's a tough one. I don't think anyone on the field was expecting that."
How has your run defense been so successful even though you've changed out Alex Okafor, Alex Anzalone you are playing without, Sheldon (Rankins) for a couple weeks, playing without Trey (Hendrickson). What is the common denominator that you guys continue to have so much success against the run?
"When we first came back during OTA's, mainly Ryan (Nielsen told us) the main thing was to stop the run and get more opportunities to rush the passer. I think all of us in that room take pride in stopping the run and rushing the passer, playing on both sides, just pay attention to details. If you watch the film, we practice every block we are going to get that week just so we could be know what to expect."
Is that an area where you think you've gotten a lot better over the last two years or do you think you've always taken that as one of your strengths?
"It's just playing both sides. Being better in both, the run and rushing the passer. That is just trying to just kind of play in both. You can be the one guy that's just in there to stop the run, but (I want to) just be an athlete and go out there and do both on and just be good at both, I guess."
When you go back to, three weeks ago, is there anything in particular you remember Sean (Payton saying) like a message that he tried to get across to his team when Drew Brees went out just to kind of keep everything together?
"It pretty much just came down to everyone doing their job, being fundamentally sound, and executing the gameplan. That's all it came down to."
