Jessie Bates III & other Falcons on the upcoming Monday night matchup vs Buffalo | Atlanta Falcons

Jessie Bates III & other Falcons on the upcoming Monday night matchup vs Buffalo | Atlanta Falcons

how things been this week as y’all get ready for a big Monday night game against the Bills. Yeah, it’s another uh opportunity for us to go out there and show what we’re about. Um you know, it was nice to have a break um you know, early by week uh was definitely different, but being able to have some self some time to do self scout and um you know, look at how we what we have done the past four weeks um you know, individually as a whole as a whole group. Um, I think it was a really good week for us and uh just excited. You know, guys got fresh legs and um excited to see each other this week for sure. What uh what do you what what was your selfcouter or how did you assess how things are coming together with so many new moving parts? Yeah. Um it’s just stuff that you want to get better at. Um and it’s good that you know we got great coaches that are you know very honest with you know what you need to get better at. You know what are you doing well? Um, you know, for me, I just want to continue to be a leader uh for our defense and make sure, you know, we’re all on the same page and um just being honed in on our details is one of the biggest things. So, um, great great evaluation for sure last week. Jesse, it seems as though the Bills are, you know, really good team at kind of when the plate breaks down, receivers, you know, find ways to get uncovered, Josh Allen picks them up. Is are those fresh legs kind of coming off the bye-week? Do you think that’ll help you guys if the play is extended outside of the pocket a little bit more? Yeah, it’ll be a dog fight for sure. Um, you know, Josh Allen is, you know, one of the best quarterbacks in this league for a reason. Um, he does a really good job of playing on time and then being able to extend plays and not only extend plays but make them into explosive. So, uh, yeah, there’s a first part of the play where, uh, you see all the time where people are, you know, playing good coverage and then Josh rolls out and, you know, next thing you know, there’s a 80 yard touchdown. So, um, that’s something that we’ve been preaching about, you know, our rush and our coverage. We have to work together this week for sure. And they’re one of the best offenses in the league at just staying on the field and keeping drives going live. Um, you know, why do you believe that is? What have you seen from them that makes them so good at that? Yeah, they do a really good job of, you know, staying on track like you said. Um, they have a lot of, you know, third and ones and like fourth and ones and usually they go for it. Um, and when you got a quarterback like Josh Allen, you know, you can run a quarterback sneak, you know, it’s almost feels like a tush push how big he is. Um, but that’s how they extend drives and um, you know, it’s it’s tough as a defense. You’re just running chasing this guy around. you’re chasing routes, uh, you know, with the extended plays and then, um, you get to third and one, fourth and one, they want you to be exhausted. So, yeah, it it’ll be that type of game where, um, we should be exhausted in the locker room after the after this win. Um, just excited for the challenge though, for sure. And kind of feeding off of that a little bit, there’s been a lot of talk, you know, about Josh Allen and this offense, but they’re about to face the number one passing defense in the league right now with you guys. So, like where’s your confidence level at in this defensive group knowing that you’re more than capable of shutting down this offense? Yeah. Um, you know, like I said, I think we’ve shown what we can be um in this first four weeks and it’s not even close to, you know, being exactly where we want to be um as a whole. But, um, I like I like the way we’re going and um I mean, we’re number one defense for a reason. Um, and I’m excited to go against the number one offense. I’m sure it is in this league and it’ll be a great battle for us, a great challenge for, you know, both teams to, you know, see what we’re about. What has Devine Diablo done for this defense from your perspective, from your vantage point? Yeah. Um, Devine’s a a true pro. Um, you know, everything that he does, you know, on the field, off the field, it’s it’s not good just for our defense, but for our team. Um, for for guys to watch how he goes about his his weeks and his routine. Um, that’s what you look at as a as a professional. And, um, you know, week one, I remember he text me like, “How can I help you? How can I help you play faster? If there’s anything that comes up, shoot me a text, send me a video. Um, you know, what comes up if you’re ever watching film.” And that’s what type of stuff that makes you a really good defense when you got guys like that that’s that’s wanting to help other guys, not just his job do his job, but um, help other guys, help their job, make them make it easier for them. And then um obviously you guys see on the tape. I mean he’s taken away the dig windows. He’s he’s filling up the um you know in the run game he’s done a really good job of um you know sticking it up in there and just continuing to play physical. As a linebacker you usually hear a lot of guys talk about oh you got to fit the run, fit the run and Devon does a really good job of fitting the run and then also in play pass does a really good job of getting his depth. And um it’s good to see as a DB, as a uh as a safety, you don’t have to dive down on on digs when you got uh Divine Diablo. We always make fun of him. Uh he’s kind of like that car dealership uh thing that goes like that. That’s just how you know he’s his wingspan and just a big dude and uh like I said, he’s just even better person for sure. Do you see that during plays that discourage certain throws? Just his how much space he takes up there? Yeah, absolutely. um you know it it it shows in practice and then you get in the game it’s the same thing. Um he’s always in that window. Um so I can trust that he’s going to be there and it helps us play faster on the back end, helps the corners uh know they have some insulation in that dig window. So um yeah, he’s done he’s done a hell of a job for sure. Justin, this is our first chance to talk to you after uh Xavier was named NFL defensive rookie of the month. Was there anything that stands out to you the most maybe about his play or your partnership working with him from his first four games? Yeah. Um I’ve said it before that the the kid’s IQ is is on another level. Um the way he he’s very poised. U we’re very similar in our characteristics and you know how we go about ourselves. Um it’s it wasn’t very surprising to me honestly. Um, I knew what X was about, how rangy he was, and uh, just to see him continue to show it. Um, I remember being a rookie and just trying to give him as much game as I can and u, make him feel comfortable out there and um, at this point, shoot, they got to stop throwing at X, they can start throwing at me, you know. So, um, that’s just how it is and I’m excited for him and uh, if he can if he can do it one month, he can continue to do that and have, you know, a hell of a career in this league. So, I’m super proud of him um as a brother, as a teammate. Um that’s my that’s my young bull. That’s why I call him. So, I’m I’m excited for him. My uh my last one is a little bit of a nerdy one, but I I noticed um I look like Tai Johnson against New England kind of lined up in a little bit of an offset kind of like Josh Allen is on one hash, he’s on the other hash. I feel like I’ve noticed Van kind of in a similar from your perspective as a safety like what does that alignment do? Yeah. Um I think it really you know opens up you know what coverage you’re in and um I think our offense does it with Bejon very well when you got backs that can get out of the back field and and use him as a receiver. Um that’s what these offenses are doing now. Um it’s the almost the same thing as if the back was lined up in the back field, but he’s a little wide and he’s going to scat out, but instead they’re just lining him up out there. And uh like I said, sometimes that opens up, you know, holes to the twoman side now instead of it um you know, instead of him being in the back field or in pistol or whatever it is. Um I think that’s what these offenses are doing and um it it has its problems for sure that you got to deal with. Just can I ask you about music in the locker room? I warned you about this yesterday. Yeah. Yep. How does how does it work? Is it like is it is it a democratic process? Like who chooses what songs to play? Who chooses like the vibe of that day? How does that work? Yeah. Um you know, it varies. I think during OTAAS and stuff, they’re like rookies don’t touch the don’t touch the ox cord and stuff. Um but you know, it’s a little bit more looser. Um, when you’re going throughout the season, um, you know, whoever’s in there first, whoever puts on the music, I think that kind of sets the tone for the vibe for the day. Um, if somebody’s playing some type of slow music, then I’m there’s going to be guys going up there adding a queue, um, playing slow music. If there’s some, uh, some hype music, Y music, then it’s going to continue to be that. So, uh, that’s just, you know, the vibe of our locker room. I think we have a, you don’t know what you’re going to hear in there. Um, you might hear some slow R&B music, you might hear some rap, you might hear some country. Um, but I feel like we all do a good job of u respecting each other and what we want to hear and um but yeah, I would say Mooney is probably the best DJ for sure. Very very versatile. Okay. Yeah. Keep keeps everybody happy. Yeah, for sure. Who’s the worst? Probably Kobe Bryant. Yeah, Kobe. Oh, why? Uh, you know, it’s just the young cats. They just want to listen to the rah all day. Whether it’s 7 a.m., whether it’s noon, they want to listen to the same type of music. And I I can’t get down with that. So, what So, what does Kobe put on at 7 a.m. that you’re like, I can’t Yeah. You see, Young Boy Young Boy stuff. That’s what the younger guys are on. Yeah. Uh, hype music all day. Okay. It seems like Fridays is like kind of the day where the music a little bit louder. Things are a little bit looser. That’s by design. I know it’s this week it’s Saturday, but yeah, I would say Fridays you kind of throw on a feelood, like a Yeah. feel good song, you know, get the day going. Um I think Wednesday and Thursday is a big process day where people are kind of not really worried about, you know, we’re getting out of here early. Um we’re we’re kind of stuck in the grind. What are we doing with these installs? Honestly, there’s not a lot of time where we’re spending in the locker room together. Um, but Fridays I feel like we get a good amount of time before practice and um, you know, guys are just kind of vibing, want to turn up the music a little bit and getting closer to game day, so that always helps as well. You had said uh, a few weeks ago that James Pierce Jr. is not he’s a rookie, but he’s not afraid to grab the odds, make his changes. Is he the only rookie that does that? Is that okay with everybody else? Like how how does that hierarchy work? Yeah. Um, honestly, I think a lot of the older guys, they don’t have a lot of energy to just keep going up there. And it’s like Kobe and James Pierce, they like the same person every day. And no matter what time it is, they’re up there. Um, and you know, it’s good to just have music on hanging out in the locker room. So, yeah. Feel good to have AJ back out there up and running, you know, especially for this game. Yeah, we’ll see. Um, you know, he’s on the right track, I think. Uh hopefully we’ll have him out there um you know this week and obviously that’s one of our top dogs in the secondary and um but I I do think D Alfred has done a really good job of stepping in and um playing at a high level as well. How was your um by week? It was it was good. Um chance to chill a little bit. Got a chance to chill a little bit. Obviously go back watch film from around the league. Um those are things that we look at every week like you know common themes around the league. penalties, situational ball, and then obviously get the chance to spend time with the fam um at home and help out with the kids at school and stuff and help out at the elementary school and middle school. So, other than that, just been chilling, man. Getting ready to go. So, that that had to be uh um that’s a lot going on, special teams around the league right now. That had to be a lot of work. Oh, yeah. is each and every week DLED I uh we all watch film on themes around the league because it’s great for our players to learn from their peers from around the league whether it’s good situations average situations you know mid kids will say mid situations or negative situations being able to uh look at those situations the good the the so so the ugly and being able to learn from those things because eventually um on special teams there’s not a lot of plays per se in a lot of in the But every play is a situation. You’re able to learn from those. So when you do get those situations now, you’re able to understand your players understand the why and be able to go out there and execute. Uh getting Haj, will he be able to take on all his roles? It looks like he’s back now. We’ll see. I mean, had a good day of work yesterday. We’ll get on the field in a little bit, but we’ll see. But um you know, I do give a lot of credit to our guys uh two weeks ago. you know, DeMarco, Clark Phillips, you know, Natron, Mike Ford, he’s been doing a hell of a job. Those guys, a lot of those guys stepped in and it was and even David Sals jumping in on punt return. So, it was by committee. But again, give a lot of credit to, you know, Clark Phillips going out there and playing Gunner for us and being in a position where he could force a muff and then obviously Mike Ford has been doing his thing at the Gunner spot and playing the five on kickoff and showing up. So very very proud of those guys and our guys understand the next man mentality when it comes to every each and every week our dep charts and our roster is going to change on special teams. So our guys are pumped up and they’re ready to go and we have an exciting challenge this week versus Buffalo and uh Nron had a big return. I think the returners did better from the week before. Was is that accurate? Oh for sure. I mean, yeah, it’s just when you make the great decisions and you have urgency to get to the football, now you’re able to come alive with the football, DLED, and you know, big credit to those guys. Um, each and every week we’re working different situations, different kicks, different footballs, hang time, low hang time, ball on the ground, and you know, you talk about the Carolina game, it was two plays where the ball’s on the ground and we didn’t execute on that play. Um, but that doesn’t define how we play on special teams, how we play as a return unit. And you see with Natron, they tried to hit a a dirty ball to him. He caught it on the run and got vertical and did a great job with it. Unfortunately, we had to rekick. Um, still trying to figure out what that was about. But guys, next play mentality. Ray Ray went out there and he had a a good return. So, very proud of those guys playing that game. Um, and being clean with their blocks when it comes to playing the game penalty-free versus a physical Washington team. And how has uh their returners been Shakur and uh Samuel I guess Ty Johnson? So Ty Johnson and Samuel are the kickoff returners. Ty Johnson’s a physical runner. Had the pleasure of working with him for two years in Detroit when we drafted him out of Maryland. Physical returner. Does a good job running behind the shoulder pads, running his feet through contact and arm tackles. So population is going to be key when it comes to Tai Johnson. And then Samuel is a he’s been in the league for a while. He’s a lot of speed. if you give him vertical creases, he’ll take advantage of it. Um, so we got to do a great job versus him. Both those kickoff returners like you’re talking about. And then you talk about Shakir out of Boise State going into year four. He’s taken over that role as a palm returner. I know he has a huge role on offense. Um, if you give him space, he does a great job of catching it and getting vertical or even working to the sideline. So, we have to do a great job punting coverage, kicking coverage, working together so our guys could control field position. You talked about field position. Um, is that even more critical in a game like this against such a capable offense? Uh, every week I think will is is field position and sometimes you don’t even realize how big the field position is until you get like late in the game and you look back like, oh, this happened, this happened, this happened. But as a coverage unit, yes, we want to control field position. Let’s say we get into a punt situation. Well, just like the Raiders last year, if we’re punting and we’re in situations where obviously we want to gain first downs and extend drives as offense, but if we punt the ball around the logo, can we put them inside the 10 yard line? Because now that kind of limits the offensive playbook and then it opens up the defensive playbook and now allows us to put more stress on them as a team, as an opponent. So, those things are critical when it comes to that. Or as a coverage unit, you’re covering kicks on kickoff and with this play we’re talking about with the kickoff play with field position. Yeah, they’re this play is promoting better field position. Correct. But if there’s a penalty on that play with the return team, that hurts them. It’s half the distance usually or 10 or more yards from the goal line. So now you’re starting the ball at the 15, the 16. And now they have to gain more first downs. The more first downs they they gain, the closer they are to the touchdown. So it’s that game. So can we play violent with our hands? Can we get downfield and coverage, force penalties? That’s how we kind of um gauge our violence with our hands and block escapes. Can we force penalties as a coverage unit, especially on kickoff? Because we can force those penalties, force legal double teams, those those things. Now, they have to gain extra first downs as a team. But we’re just looking at population tackle and even too, will getting the ball out. Can we get the ball out versus return teams? If we could get the ball out, still a possession that’s going to help our team and help our unit. What is Felipe? What what about Felipe Franks’s first term with the team made you interested in bringing him back and what has he done for you this year? Well, Felipe, you know, you go back to 2021 when he’s playing quarterback. Um, I think when middle of the season, we started playing him on special teams and he actually helped our return units. Um, that year, especially with Avery Williams on kickoff return, he led some key blocks for us to get some decent returns as a return unit. But I just look at him as a football player. I know he played quarterback, but he’s a dude that is smart, plays with great effort, cares about his team, cares about his teammates, and he wants to do whatever he can to help the team win. And it doesn’t matter what position or positions that he plays. So, that was something that we saw early in 21 and him playing. I mean, he was out there on punt with the quarterback wristband on out there running our punt protection and blocking on kickoff return. 22 made that transition to tight end and he was a tone setter for our special teams unit. And then in 23 he was here but he got hurt. So I mean my feeling and how I feel about him as a player never changed from 22 23 till now. It was cool to see what he do do what he did in Carolina last year uh from across the sideline and he was an impactful player for them. So it was one of those deals that you know it was we’re very fortunate to get him back in the building and he’s been helping our team out tremendously. Josh Allen, what’s the what are the specific challenges there facing a guy like that? Uh very explosive guy. He can make plays with his legs and his arm. Uh hopefully we do a good job of keeping him in the pocket and uh we got to plaster it downfield. Uh the receivers like to make plays off the ball or off track as well. I feel like that’s their real offense is uh off track like when um Josh Allen starts scrambling and stuff. Anyways, but uh very great player and we got to be ready to play them. AJ said a lot of or not Jesse said the second play. You got to play the second play. How hard is that? I mean, not just physically, but mentally. Uh, like you said, not just physically, like, uh, we gonna be tired out there running around chasing these guys, but, uh, mentally as well. Uh, we just got to trust our D line and whoever’s behind the quarterback to go get them. Has this first four four games been about as good as you could have scripted it for how you have meshed with this group? Oh, yeah, man. I love this group. Uh, they made it easy for me, to be honest. Um, they brought they made football fun for me again. Uh, I’ve enjoyed myself here and I just appreciate all them guys and um obviously I just want to keep getting better. How have they done that? Uh just a brotherhood. Um they check on me all the time. They actually welcome me into the locker room. I was I wasn’t afraid to say hey to anybody, but I didn’t have to. They all came up to me saying what’s up, introduced themselves, and I just felt like family from dump. So, it definitely made a better experience for me. What about the way Brick is is coaching you makes you comfortable? Um he makes it hard for me actually. Um he doesn’t let me uh relax at all. um he he expects uh a game every day and I appreciate that 110% and um he brings the best out of me and I just want to keep doing that for him. A lot of new pieces on this in in this defense. Are you at any in any way surprised that it’s meshed together as quickly as it has? Uh I’m not surprised at all. Uh especially the way we work. We come to work every day. Um we talk to each other like brothers. We we even when somebody messes up, we are accountable for each other. like if Kaden messes up, I’m I’m gonna let him know. If I mess up, he’ll let me know and we’ll back each other up. So, uh I think the brotherhood is reason why we play so good. And Jesse said uh you talked to him about, hey, how can I make your job easier? How can I get this together? Where did that come from? And how’s that process been? I feel like um before the season started, I wanted to talk to Jess. Uh, I feel like as a linebacker, if I can make his job easier, the back end can make more plays. As well as the Dline, if they can make my job easier. It’s just all around like we’re all one one group, and I just want to uh be the best we can. And I feel like if we’re all on the same page, it’ll make life easier. What um you know, uh, as you all have blended together, um, you know, where where where can this go? Where can this go for? Uh honestly, we we dream big, you know. Obviously, uh we focus on one game at a time, though, and every every week we want to win. So, that’s the goal, and uh hopefully we continue to do that.

Jessie Bates III, Marquice Williams and Divine Deablo speak to the media ahead of the Monday night matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

0:00 – Jessie Bates III – S
11:13 – Marquice Williams – Special Teams
18:16 – Divine Deablo – LB

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