DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR RYAN NIELSEN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2024
(On what it’s been like to work with DE Josh Hines-Allen) “Yeah, it’s been really good. Totally
locked in on everything that we’re doing, bought into our style of play, our defense, what
we’re going to be about. He’s going out and he’s showing it on the field.”
(On what he makes of the secondary’s performance to start training camp and where he
sees progress) “One of our things, really at all position groups and the secondary, is talk to
our guys about winning every rep. That’s really important. Winning every rep. What does
that mean? You don’t have to make every play, but proper stance, proper eyes,
fundamentals, technique, scheme… Just win every rep. I think you’re seeing a group of guys
that have really taken to that. The coaching, [Defensive Backs Coach] Kris Richard,
[Defensive Assistant/Cornerbacks Coach] Cory Robinson and [Assistant Secondary
Coach/Defensive Analyst] Mike Gray have done a phenomenal job with that group. Just
teaching them the fundamentals and technique in order to have success. That’s another
part of it: the guys have really bought in on the fundamentals and technique that those guys
are teaching them. The scheme that we’re doing, there’s some checks and things like that.
Those guys are smart players back there, so the combination. We’re a one-day-at-a-time
group and today’s another day, so it’ll be another good challenge for that group. But they’ve
done a good job so far.”
(On what it means to have someone like CB Ronald Darby who has played on a number of
quality defenses) “Absolutely. He’s been a huge help to the younger players. He’s been a
great mentor to Tre [CB De’Antre Prince] and Jarrian [CB Jarrian Jones]. You see him talking
to them on the side and those guys are just soaking up all that knowledge. But he’s a savvy
vet. He’s made a lot of plays, been on a lot of good defenses, and so he understands what
that’s about. A lot of that is practice. He’s a really good practice player. That’s something
that you don’t know when you’re doing a free agent, about how good he is on the practice
field. He’s phenomenal on the practice field, and so those guys are seeing his work ethic
and how he does drills and his mindset and everything. Yeah, it’s absolutely a huge help.”
(On the benefit of having veteran guys that have been a part of playoff teams as mentors)
“Winners, right? I mean, that’s what you’re describing is winners. You want to get a
collection of winners on the same team and bring along some of the guys that maybe
haven’t been there before. You can learn a lot from how to win in this league. A lot of that is
those guys know execution. Don’t beat yourself. When you’re talking to them, just don’t
beat yourself. Just be in the right spot, align and adjust, fundamentals and technique, and
then finishing. Finishing the game. That’s where a lot of those—what you’re talking about,
those guys bring that. Finish the game. Don’t just—hey, if you’re up seven points with five
minutes, the game’s not over. Play all the way through the game and how to do that. Yeah,
it’s a huge thing. It’s something that you look for in scouting and player acquisition. We’ve
got some guys that have been there and done that before, and so they’re really helping with
the culture that we’re building.”
(On whether young players have to experience things for themselves to fully adjust to the
league) “Yeah, sure. I mean, you have to go through it, but there’s other guys that are going
to help lead them. Just follow these guys, and they know how to do it until you learn it on
your own. But a lot of that is coming together as a collective group, a defensive team, and
that’s a whole organizational thing that we’re talking about. How to win, how to be a winner
– you don’t win forever – and do it better than it’s ever done before. I mean, that’s kind of a
goal that you have: be a championship team and be the best team that ever was. If you
strive for that, and it’s always consistently pushing, a daily push for excellence, you
establish some of that mindset and culture that you want. That’s what we’re doing this
year.”
(On LB Devin Lloyd’s role in his defense and what he sees from Lloyd) “Yeah, and he had a
lot of plays last year, so there’s a lot on tape. We’ve done a good job evaluating kind of what
he did last year and his strengths, then through OTAs and what he’s doing right now, and
putting him in a couple of different positions to see really where he’s best in what we’re
doing here. Smart player. Works extremely hard at the game. You love his size, speed. He’s
a football player. He’s a football guy, a football junkie. So that combination has helped him,
and he can do, like what you said, a lot of different things: rush the passer, he’s a good
coverage player, man-to-man on backs, he’s a downhill football player in the box… A lot of
those things. We’ll continue to move him around a little bit, but he’s finding a home and
he’s having a pretty good camp so far.”
(On the next steps he’d like to see from DE Travon Walker) “Well, he had a pretty good year
last year and just to raise his game just that much more. Complete. Complete player.
What’s a complete player on the defensive line, right? Ability to stop the run, not be single-
blocked. One of the base rules of our defense is we never trade one-for-one. Consistently
get off the block, play a gap and a half, those type of things, which he is more than capable.
Then continue to develop as a pass rusher. A little bit more power, a little bit more of a plan,
getting off the countertype, get to level, counter back. Don’t just continue to run around.
Then for him, just the next step mentally, kind of become a little bit more of a leader. Really
good football player, fantastic person, but he can be more in that leadership role.
Leadership is action, not positioning. So, continuing to do it and the guys will say, ‘Hey,
great practice player, he shows up every day, same type of guy.’Continue to do those
things, just raise your game just a little bit more.”
(On if he’s surprised that the defensive coaches and players have quickly meshed so well)
“It’s a testament to the staff. Really the guys, the position coaches, they’ve done a great
job. Spent a lot of time together. The offseason was fantastic and just how the defense was
put together again. We got in there and everybody had their own ideas and we kind of built
this thing where everybody had input. Everybody had buy-in and everybody does a really
good job of coaching their position fundamentals and technique and that’s how the
scheme really works is each individual player, each individual coach doing his job. Those
guys have been fantastic and then the players have been really receptive: new
fundamentals, techniques, scheme-type things. When they’re bought in and they really like
what you’re doing and teaching them things like that, then what you’re seeing on the field
every day is, ‘Okay, what’s next, what else can I learn?’ Things like that. They’re really
energetic. But look, it’s a daily thing. We’ve got to continue to grow and it’s just about today.
So, we’re going to continue to push those things today. The effort and the energy and the
positivity, that’s just who we are, it’s who we’re going to be. Coach Pederson [Head Coach
Doug Pederson] talks about being positive, and that’s a lot from him as well. It’s just been a
good combination. We’ve just got to continue to do it.”
(On whether he thinks that the defense should be ahead of the offense in this stage of
camp) “Really, to be honest with you, we’re just concerned about us, our defense. We’ve
got good offense coaches. Press [Offensive Coordinator Press Taylor] does a great job;
Coach Pederson, he’s involved in both sides. Our offensive staff, they’re all over. Those
guys are in there and we have full confidence because we see them. They’re coaching, and
so we can focus on just us. So, that offense-defense thing – our job is defense and that’s
where we’re focused and helping our football team the best we can.”
(On what three words best describe LB Foyesade Oluokun) “Smart, tough, aggressive. Add
one more, if I could, phenomenal-effort player. He’s flying around as good as any player we
have on our defense right now. If you just watch his body work and you just watch him at
practice today, the way he finishes plays… He’s aggressively going to get the ball, punch-
outs. I mean, he’s had a really good career so far and you’re seeing that. It’s really cool to
watch him because he’s taken his role and kind of made it his. That’s what we try to do for
all the players is, ‘Hey, here’s fundamentals, technique, and make it yours.’ And that’s what
he’s doing. It’s really cool when the ball goes to the other side and he’s running 30 yards
down the field to go finish on the play. Like, yeah, that guy loves football. He’s given
everything he’s got for this football team.
(On how beneficial the extra reps are for DT Maason Smith and how helpful it is for him to
be mentored by DT Roy Robertson-Harris and DE Arik Armstead) “Sure. Part of being a
rookie is you have a little bit more time requirement in terms of meetings and
fundamentals. That’s helped him. The guys on the staff had done a really good job. One of
our things is equal reps for everybody, what you do with your reps, doesn’t matter who it’s
against. Those other guys that you mentioned, they’re good football players and they’re
mentoring him and how to do it, how to be a practice player, take care of your body and
things like that. The combination, it’s been really good for him. Today’s the first day of pads.
So, a rookie’s first day of pads, it’s going to be really interesting to see all these guys. It’s a
cool day. But just expect nothing but him going out there and doing the best he can.”
LINEBACKER FOYESADE OLUOKUN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2024
(On satisfaction with the defensive play through training camp) “I’ve been happy with the
way things are progressing. I think I’m very excited about the way the defense is shaping up
if we execute our plays the way we know how. So far, we’ve done a good job. Obviously,
when we have pads, you’ve got to take it to a whole new level with execution and
assignments and stuff. Don’t get outside of your body trying to make plays you’re not
supposed to. But if everybody’s doing their job, everybody’s on their assignments, we play
very good football. It’s very cool to see. It’s very cool to establish the fundamentals about
being assignment-sound and everything. We’ve got so many good athletes out there flying
to the ball. It’s very fun when we’re clicking.”
(On his fit in the defense playing as WILL) “I heard people talking about that little change –
MIKE, WILL and all that – and I felt like I played both positions before. I played the WILL my
first few years in the league, switched to the MIKE when [Former Atlanta Falcons Defensive
Coordinator] Dean Pees became my coordinator. I’m definitely confident in either one they
put me at. I want to do what’s best for the team at this point in my career. Selfishly, I like
playing WILL, I like playing MIKE, but I want to do what’s best for the team because I think if
we eat, everybody eats. I watched a lot of [Falcons linebacker] Lavonte David’s film when I
was early in my career. That’s a guy who played very efficiently at a very high level for a very
long time. Maybe doesn’t get the recognition that he always deserves, but I think he’s the
top-line, one of the top guys to look up to and follow, just the way that he plays. So, getting
back to that, I’m going to study a lot more the way he moves, and then when [New Orleans
Saints linebacker] Demario Davis used to play the WILL a little bit in that system, the same
system he brought over here. It’s definitely fun playing in space. I’ve got to get back to those
movements and stuff, but I know I can excel at it.”
(On if the new defensive scheme allows him to not think as much) “Definitely some thinking
pre-snap, just because it’s all new to us. You’ve got to think all the time on the football field,
but once we know our assignment, we’re going. I think that’s very fun, playing downhill. Just
get the footwork right, make sure it’s the right play. Downhill, fast flowing, it’s going to be
fun for us.”
(On his level of concern for personal accolades) “I don’t think I’m getting personal
accolades until the team gets their accolades. I mean, somebody read me my stats in the
past three years, and they look really good, but apparently, people don’t care about it. At
this point, wins are going to bring all of that. I’m over here trying to win, trying to do my job.
Really just trying to impress the new staff here. I know Coach Nielsen [Defensive
Coordinator Ryan Nielsen] is a pretty hard guy to impress. I’m trying to be the best for him,
because I think if I play well for him, he’s going to take my career to a whole new level. I
keep saying, ‘If the team wins, we all win.’ That’s all I’m focused on.”
(On the offense’s strong performance today after a strong defensive performance last
week) “That’s football. They get their chip on their shoulder without pads, us getting into
them a little bit. Obviously, they’re looking forward, but we’ve got to find a way to respond. I
think that’s what football is. How do you respond when you do get hit a little bit? Because
they’ve got pads on too, and they get paid to play. That’s something we’re going to respond
better for tomorrow. I think if you look at it, we’re going to go correct what we’re supposed
to correct. But also, as defensive players, you’re so geared up in just winning that one-on-
one battle, sometimes assignments go out the door. It’s a new system for us and
everything, we’re trying to get everything down, and finally, you get it all the way full speed.
That’s how it goes. But you’ve got to be re-locked back in and play assignment football, and
then dominate your one-on-one off of that.”
(On if there is good-natured conversation across the offensive and defensive players
regarding each other’s performance) “We switched our locker room around. So now,
offense and defense sit together. I’ll go in there, I’m sitting right next to CJ [QB C.J.
Beathard]. I’ll tell him about some plays that I think worked on us. And then I always go over
to Trav [RB Travis Etienne Jr.] and talk to him about stuff. I mean, we’re all competitors at
the end of the day and it all gets us better being able to joke around and compete like that.
It’s a war out there, but it’s all fun and games inside of the locker room. I think we have a
good team, good tight-knit team. Keep expanding on those relationships. It gets us all
better.”
(On arriving to training camp several days early) “Just getting in the flow of the defense. I
had a little orange jersey on for OTAs. Just being able to make the calls on my own, see
where I’m supposed to be fitting in while the offense is really running and stuff, not just like
that align and adjust period and stuff. Just kind of test myself out, make sure I get my feet
under me. I thought it was really cool, because then I got to understand how the defense
worked a little bit before the rest of the guys came, just being smart about it.”
(On if he feels ready to call the defense) “We’re all learning it together. I can call it. I just
repeat the words that I hear, and then I line up. I call it pretty well, I think. But yeah. It’s
cool.”
(On what improvement looks like for him this season) “Understanding where I fit, and then
understanding my leverages, and really trusting what I see. Trusting my teammates, where
they’re supposed to be at so I can really break on plays. I think later in my Atlanta career,
kind of early, I was a corrector. I’d kind of see where guys were and then fit, trying to save
them from having big plays. I wanted to be able to be the playmaker. But that’s the growth
of the defense. Everybody in their one-on-one, the assignments sound, everybody owning
their play, and then the plays that you’re supposed to make come to you.”
(On if he and his teammates’ grit is coming out) “I think confidence definitely comes with
success. You kind of feel your way around it that when you kind of find success, and it’s like,
‘Oh, this is my role on the team.’ I think people are finding that. Then you have more
confidence in whatever calls come next because we have success in the calls that we had
earlier. So, like you’re saying, you could say that ‘dog’ is coming out. I think everybody’s just
owning their job and then seeing that we can have success as a team through that.”
(On the importance of veteran leadership with playoff success to a young core) “Yeah, I
definitely like the guys they brought in just because of the attitude. They came in making
plays right away. Obviously the younger guys can look up to them and say, ‘How do you
guys do it,’ or see how they practice and all that. I mean, they are definitely hard workers.
Them coming in and implementing themselves to our culture and just our brotherhood here
has been kind of seamless. It’s really cool. They’re kind of accepting of us, and we’re
accepting of them. Having that kind of veteran, successful leadership definitely goes a long
way. And people look up to them too.”
(On veteran leadership being invaluable to the team) “Of course. You hit it right on the nose.
I mean, they’ve seen more than we’ve seen, probably because they’ve played longer, and
they’ve been successful. I’m sure they’ve had seasons where they weren’t as successful,
but they’ve been through it all, and they can give their input on when things might be going
awry. But I like seeing winners, and I like hearing from winners, so it’s been cool to have
them.”
(On LB Devin Lloyd’s impact in the middle on defense) “Oh, man, I’m just excited. It’s being
a better football player in general, I think. MIKE or WILL, wherever he gets put at, he’s going
to be good. But at MIKE, if he really embraces that role, like he was talking about, taking on
those blocks in the middle and stuff, using his hands. He just needs a little—two games
seeing himself doing well, it’s going to click. I think he just has so much potential. Not just
the football player he can be, but the kind of leader. He was like that in college: the top dog.
If he gets that aura about himself, I think he’s going to take off. A phenomenal,
phenomenal, dominant football player. I’m excited for him.”
(On Nielsen being tough to impress) “I think that’s just how he is, man. He’s not going to
make you feel good about yourself. I like that about him because he’s going to bring out the
best in me. I don’t like when people pat me on the back. I kind of like hearing people talk,
not poorly about me, but I have another gear to get, another step to take. It’s going to bring
out the best in me. I’m trying to do that. He wants the best out of me. That’s just how he is,
man. That’s who he is. I’m not trying to make him somebody he’s not and I hope he’s not
trying to make me somebody I’m not.”
(On if Nielsen’s coaching style ups the team’s intensity) “I really can’t talk for everybody. I
like it.”
