Greg Newsome Jan. 14 2024
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00:00 So what was your thought on how you guys did in the secondary?
00:05 >> I think we played our best game.
00:09 I don't think we played our worst game, but
00:11 we didn't play good enough to win the game.
00:13 So it's just a disappointing loss.
00:16 From everything we've been through this season to end that way is frustrating.
00:23 >> How do you think you played personally?
00:25 >> I didn't think I played too bad.
00:26 I could have played better.
00:28 Obviously, it was always seen the fix, but I don't think I played bad.
00:33 >> In terms of CJ, do you feel like you guys just faced in the playoffs,
00:37 the young quarterbacks, the team that you're going to play with over the next,
00:43 how many ever years?
00:45 >> For sure, yeah, we'll get a chance to definitely see him again in the post
00:49 season.
00:49 He's unbelievable.
00:51 What he was able to do with that franchise and just turn them completely around and
00:55 get to the second round of playoffs as a rookie is unbelievable.
00:58 So he's definitely someone that we're definitely gonna see later on.
01:02 >> How do you reconcile the bitterness from the loss yesterday with what you were
01:06 able to accomplish as a team in spite of all the teammates you lost and
01:11 all the adversity you faced?
01:12 >> Yeah, right now, it's hard to really focus on the good things right now,
01:20 just because we had goals of getting further.
01:23 So I mean, right now, obviously, we accomplished a lot as a team, but
01:27 we fell short of our goal.
01:29 So I think we did a good job with guys going down and people stepping up and
01:34 things like that.
01:34 But at the end of the day, we're not gonna be that one team with the trophy, I think.
01:39 >> I was just gonna say, I mean, knowing that, my expectation,
01:45 you guys had results, does this defense feel like it's unfinished business,
01:48 I guess, coming out of this season?
01:50 >> For sure.
01:51 You always gotta learn from things like this.
01:55 We're definitely gonna come into next season with another chip on our shoulder.
02:01 And I think we did a good job this season, but
02:03 we didn't show up in the biggest game.
02:07 So I think we're gonna learn from this moment, and
02:08 it's only gonna help us in the future.
02:10 >> I know we talked about this a lot during the year, but
02:12 how do you account for how dominant you were at home in the struggles on the road?
02:17 >> Yeah, I think it's just finding our own energy.
02:19 I feel like that's the biggest thing, it's an energy thing.
02:23 So just find ways to build our own energy, create our own energy, and
02:27 just stay in the moment.
02:29 I think that's the biggest thing.
02:30 It's easy at home when the crowd's on your side, when you go on the road,
02:34 it's only the man that you travel with and the people that come with you.
02:37 So I think it's just finding our own energy on the road.
02:41 >> Chris, yesterday we were talking about what they were doing systematically
02:44 against you guys, and we were talking about you guys just not being the best,
02:47 and how do you now correct that?
02:49 Maybe they put on tape that you had a couple issues for you guys,
02:52 how do you correct that going into next season?
02:54 >> Yeah, I think it's definitely on us.
02:56 I feel like a lot of the plays, if you really watched the game,
03:00 a lot of it was eye control, a lot of stuff like that.
03:03 It wasn't really their scheme just out-schemed us or just beat us.
03:08 I just feel like we didn't hone in on the little details, and
03:11 that's what we've been focusing on the whole time.
03:14 When you get to the playoffs, the margin for
03:16 error is even slimmer than the regular season.
03:19 You could lose a game and go to the next game and continue to build, but
03:22 in the playoffs, you don't have the opportunity to play a bad game or
03:26 have a bad snap.
03:27 So I think it was definitely things that we can correct.
03:31 >> Greg, this locker room is so close knit together, which is rare in pro sports,
03:37 considering how transient things can be, but
03:40 how do you carry that culture home right now?
03:44 >> I think when you lay a great structure,
03:48 I think it's easy to continue that culture.
03:52 The core guys will always be the core guys pretty much on the team.
03:56 Obviously, it'll be new faces, no team ever stays the same, but
03:59 I feel like those core guys were able to make a good locker room.
04:05 So I think it'll be easy to just incorporate people and
04:08 just teach them our ways.
04:09 And I feel like it won't be hard when you build something so
04:12 strong that we've built.
04:13 I feel like it'll be hard to tear down.
04:15 >> Greg, we talked so much about your role coming into this year.
04:18 Was it a lot different than it was last year?
04:21 And how do you think you kind of fit with what Coach Schwartz was trying to do?
04:26 >> Was it a lot different?
04:27 I would say so, just because we played a lot more man.
04:31 So that's my comfort zone.
04:33 I think Coach Schwartz did an unbelievable job in just putting me in positions to
04:38 succeed, just getting around the football a lot more this season.
04:41 Opportunities to play outside, opportunities to play inside,
04:44 opportunities to blitz, to get in the run fit.
04:47 So I think Coach Schwartz is an unbelievable coach.
04:50 I think he's the best defensive coordinator to just cater to the guy's
04:53 talents, and I feel like he did a great job with me this season.
04:57 >> So much of a linebacker?
04:59 >> Yeah, no, for sure.
05:00 I feel like I was, I mean, a man 95% of the time, so I feel great.
05:05 >> Do you guys feel like you're gonna really have to pick up your confidence
05:08 off the one you're sitting on?
05:10 Because look at the lineup, you're both quarterbacks.
05:12 It's gonna be a really, really tough lineup.
05:15 Joe Burrow is probably gonna be healthy this year,
05:17 you guys are facing it all this year.
05:19 So I guess you guys really are gonna dig deep and
05:24 find something extra, right?
05:27 >> Yeah, for sure, but at the end of the day, it all comes down to us.
05:31 No matter what quarterback, no matter if we're playing Tom Brady or
05:35 Joe Montana, at the end of the day, as long as we focus on our craft and
05:40 continue to grow as a segment, as a unit, as a team,
05:43 I feel like we'll be able to accomplish whatever.
05:45 We like challenges like that.
05:47 You see the schedule come out and see the quarterbacks that we're gonna have to face.
05:50 And I think we got the Cowboys, we got a lot of great quarterbacks.
05:54 But that's where legends are made, is in big moments like that.
05:58 So we definitely don't shy away from the moment.