LINEBACKER FOYESADE OLUOKUN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
MONDAY, AUGUST 7, 2023
(On how practice went today) “I think the heat it what it is, I like the intensity that we brought all
practice. I think we wake up and get used to it, then we bounce back well. Come to the second half of
the practice, get in there and clean up whatever we messed up early. I think we respond to whatever
happened and finished off the practice pretty well.”
(On what he’s seen out of LB Devin Lloyd) “Good communication all the way across the board. We’re
just talking with each other back there, making sure our alignments are right. Right now, it’s training
camp, but just the way he’s moving; he’s a great athlete and everything. Being in the right spots is all we
can focus on during training camp and bring the right energy to every practice.”
(On LB Devin Lloyd having a clearer mind this season) “It seems like it. I mean, I’m not in his head.”
(On how a clear mind would help you on a football field) Just being able to calm down, being able to
focus on whatever task is at hand, this play now, instead of wondering about pleasing different people.
Be locked in, be where your feet are, have the confidence that you’re doing the right thing out there.
Then, just go play. It’s going to all flourish for him, just like you’re saying, it’s slowing down for him.
Especially with me, we’re just communicating. I’ll set him up, go make a play, we’re all hyped. He makes a
play, everybody makes a play.”
(On what’s been seen out of LB Ventrell Miller) “It’s been pretty good. Definitely eased him back since his
injury and stuff, number one is being healthy. He’s had some good flashes there. I know he’s a bright kid,
picked up the playbook pretty quickly, so I’m happy for him doing that and to see what he keeps doing as
training camp goes on.”
(On what’s been liked about the defense so far) “I like our communication right now. We still have a
whole bunch of plays out there, but for us, it’s about matching what we got so we can start expecting
what they got. Being able to just switch a blitz pattern or switch in coverage or something. Empty checks,
weird look checks, being able to be on the same page. That’s what’s really important at this point of the
season so we can play faster when the real season starts.”
(On Defensive Coordinator Mike Caldwell adding to the defensive playbook) “We’ve got to be able to
grow. If you’re not growing, you’re dying. I learned that in college. Whatever he feels like is a better look
for us to be staying successful out there, we put all of our trust in him. Being able to be multiple, but
being able to master what we put out onto the field I think is what’s most important. If he has new looks
for us, being able to master everything that’s new. Make it feel like it’s old, make it feel like we’re
comfortable with it and putting everybody in the right positions to make the play.”
(On importance of completing tackles this season) “I think on third downs, tackling is very paramount.
Being able to check the ball down and get in-depth, check the ball down and being able to own your
leverages and stuff. I feel like we start off, I was trying to get back used to it at this first part of the live
period. As the day went on, we got back. Understanding where our help is, understanding where our
leverage is at. That’s really important, just being able to get out on the field, you’ve got to be able to
tackle better. Then, it gives the ball back to our offense quicker, so tackling is important.”
(On how the pass rush looks so far) “Everybody is going to have their chance, it’s just about where and
when you get it. It’s going to be able to help the DB’s out being able to. We have a lot of pressures but
being able to finish that play, being able to keep your feet moving to the quarterback. When you’re one-
on-one, when you get the opportunity, you have to do that to help the DB’s out on the backend and get
off the field. Obviously, I just want to get better at third down and being able to rush and being able to
tackle all goes hand-in-hand. Get the ball out quick, or if he holds it, get to the quarterback and be able
to bring him down.”
(On where his goals reset for this season) “Reset? Win more games, do whatever I need to help the team
win. I could be a better tackler, I could be a better facilitator out there. I could break better for sure. I
could understand coverages better. All the lists are out there to see that people don’t see. It’s room for
me to grow, there’s definitely room for me to grow. Everyday I’m coming out here trying to improve my
game, trying to prove that I’m still growing in this league and becoming a better player, and that’s all I’m
focused on right now for the team.”
(On what’s been seen out of RB Tank Bigsby so far) “Explosive.”
(On if it’s going to take more than one person to bring down RB Tank Bigsby) “Me? I’m one guy.
Hopefully, I think he can run through a lot of arm tackles. I think he can catch well in the backfield and
hits the hole pretty well. Hopefully it takes more than one guy to bring him down. He’s cutting really well
in the backfield; I need to do better myself bringing him down one-on-one. But he’s a pretty good camp
so far. I’m impressed with what I’ve seen.”
(On expectations of playing in Saturday’s game) “Whatever they tell me, I’m doing. I like playing, getting
the field of a game again, being out there with my boys, communicating and stuff, getting that trust with
everybody. I understand that it’s a long season though, I am 28 now somehow, yeah that’s crazy. But I’m
ready, whatever or however many games it takes, I’m ready to do it. That’s why they brought me here,
playing football is what I do.”
(On connecting with S Antonio Johnson as they’re from the same area) “That’s a St. Louis kid. Me and
him clicked right away, he’s from east side St. Louis, good friends already. If he keeps balling like he’s
balling, understand his leverage out there, understanding his big communication part out there, so we
can all trust him out there. I think he’s a hell of a ballplayer, just keep taking those reps, mental reps and
everything. Whenever your name is called, whatever position they put you at, we got to trust like you
like you’re a one basically. A lot of potential in him, a lot of good ability in him, just growing as rookies
do, but we got a lot of confidence in him.”
