Roquan Smith: ‘We Got to Go Out and Impose Our Will’ | Baltimore Ravens

Roquan Smith: ‘We Got to Go Out and Impose Our Will’ | Baltimore Ravens

in those cities are looking really forward to to this game on Sunday as a person who’s going to be participating in this game. Kind of what’s what’s kind of your your anticipation right now? Yeah. No, very excited about the game. Uh know that it’s going to be a very physical game and I embrace the physicality. So, very excited about that and I know we are as well. Going to be a great matchup and excited about it. Is that what makes this rivalry the physicality? Yeah, I think I think this rivalry well before well before I was born cuz shoot the Ravens what 96. So yeah, it’s like you know it’s been going on for a while and you know there’s a I remember watching it like growing up as a kid even though in Georgia you would see you know the Ravens versus Steelers whether that was in the playoffs or whether that was in the regular season’s always been one of those matchups that you just know it’s going to always like be a tough physical game and like you know it’s always going to be chippy. So, you look forward to those matchups and I’m just excited about the opportunity, excited to be uh playing uh here and excited about the match up with these guys. John Harvaugh just said that there’s a chance our Darius uh rejoins you. Uh how much of a boost could he give you guys in the secondary? Yeah. Uh absolutely got a great deal of respect for AD the way he work uh day in and day out who he is as a person. So, if he is playing, you know, excited for him. If not, you know, I’m sure he will be uh one day whenever his time is. So, just focusing more on the things that I can control and that’s just how I go out and how I play and how I lead and how I command the defense. So, that’s my main focus and whoever is out there that’s up to the coaches history in Chicago. Uh what was your reaction when you saw Aaron Rogers uh sign with the Steelers and what’s it going to be like to go against him this? Yeah. No, uh got a great deal of respect for the guys. uh you don’t play what 20 plus years in this league uh if you’re not uh one of the most talented people that uh that’s played the game. So got a great deal of respect for him, but at the end of the day it’s more so about us and what we do. So we just have to go out impose our will and like play our brand of football and that’s what it’s just going to come down to and like got a great deal of respect but it’s not about that. You’re up on five games left and you and the Steelers are tied here. Do the players discuss kind of the big picture of those last five weeks and how important this is specifically in that stretch or is it totally focused on Sunday? Yeah, I will be uh it’ll be crazy for me to say if I don’t like you know, you don’t look forward at all, but like honestly it’s more so about the moment that we have right now and uh that was like a question I posed to the uh to the guys more so like you know what are you willing to do for the game? And uh I think that’s what it just like bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bo boils down to. And I think this is a perfect week for that. Like just hey, you know, we obviously get to play the game we love. Football is the reason we’re all here obviously out there on the field as well. And like just the type of connections and the things that football has brought us all into our lives. So just about like being prepared, giving everything you got and knowing that hey if someone told you you control your own destiny in life or just in anything like what would you what would you give up? And I’m sure a lot of people would like say heck yeah sign me up for that and like we’re in that position right now. So it’s more so about what you going to do with it and it’s not about talking about it. It’s about more so showing with your action. So that’s what it is. And at the end of the day, it starts with this game right here. And this forget everything from the past. It’s more so about this week. And this week, it’s the Pittsburgh Steelers. And obviously, we’re tied right now. So it’s it’s it’s a big matchup, but at the end of the day, it’s still the game of football and we just have to go out and play our brand brand of football. And if we do that, we’ll like our chances. when it to that point uh make it asking that question kind of building that message to the team. What prompted that in your mind? Is that you know being close in recent years is that experience like what was it in your mind? What prompted you to kind of kind of challenge that? Honestly, man, I was just sitting down. I was just thinking like it just popped up in my head cuz I I ask myself questions uh sometimes and I’m like what am I willing to give up sometime? I’m like what am I willing to give up? And like I think that’s different for each and every person uh because it’s like we’re all unique in our own way and like the chance of you being you is pretty crazy when you look at the uh numbers behind it. So, I think it was just something that was going through my head and I was like, something going through my head, I should maybe ask the guys. And I thought it went over very well and like it’s something that we tend to like lose sight of just because like, hey, we get to play this awesome game, this kid game for King’s Ransom and we get to just, you know, go see the world do crazy things and like meet amazing people and it’s all because of this game of football. That’s why all of you guys are here, too. And it’s like without football, none of this would be possible. And so when you really think about that, like so how are you willing in a sense to pay the game back or just like show your appreciation for the game? And I think that goes from a coaching staff to the players to to everyone because like everybody in this building like so you just want to think about it like that and it’s just like say hey and knowing that you’re not going to get it back and it’s about just taking advantage of like the time that we have doing this because we’re going to look back one day and be like man I remember that story I wrote on this when you’re not writing stories anymore or I remember this play I made when I’m not playing anymore. So like when you think think things like that man and just show your appreciation and it’s not about words, it’s more more so about showing it with your action. So I think that’s just like what it is and I thought it went over really well with the guys. Did you say that after the game or was that when you guys came back to work this week? Uh that was this week. Yeah. What was the reaction from guys and did anything stand out in that reaction to you? Well, it’s more it’s more about just like taking it all in. You don’t need a reaction like it was more so I don’t need action. I don’t need like words, reaction, anything like that. It’s about showing it and you show that when you play the the game of football throughout the week in practice as well as on the game in the game on Sunday. So, I think it boils down to that. It’s not about like just like looking for hurrah anything like that. It’s it’s more of the truth and you show me how you play the game and that’s I think that’s plain and simple. When you look at the ASC North, you know, you guys came into the season with a lot of expectations. So did Cincy, so did Pittsburgh. Is it surprising that you know here in week 14 six and six is first place in the AFC North man I think you you never you never envision six and six at this point like uh with the expectations but at the end of the day expectations are expectation and they don’t mean anything so it’s more so about what you go out and do and I think that’s that’s the biggest thing and but like at the end of the day if you told me week 14 at the beginning of the season you’ll be tied for first place you control your own destiny I’m signing myself up for that every day of the week and twice on Sundays. So like, and I’m sure each and every guy can attest to that in the locker room. And I think that’s what it’s more so about. Forget everything that’s happened because the only thing that matters right now is the moment. The moment that we’re in and the moment that we have and that’s what it is this week vers Pittsburgh, at Mnt Bank, whatever time it is, that’s what matters. uh and 14 as well. Uh but at the end of the day, we’re physical as well. You know, that’s what we pride ourselves on. So, it’s about physical meets physical. And who’s more physical? That’s what it boils down to. And that’s what it’s going to be at Mnt Bank Stadium. So, you know, if you love physicality, tune in. If you don’t, don’t tune in. And I’m all I’m all about it. Well, make sure I’ll make sure I’m ready and as I know I will be. Speaking of that physicality, what has Draymond Jones brought to this defense and how well has he fit into that mantra? Yeah. Uh great deal of respect for uh Dre, how he came in, how he’s adapted to the the style here. He’s been a physical player pretty much his whole career. Uh a big end for sure. And like just the way the guy worked, don’t say much, just come in, put his head down, and just eager to get better day in and day out. So, I’m just excited for more opportunities to go out to war with him and for him to uh be here and help us uh continue to win with Kim your line up real close to him in that box. You know, we see him around here and see color. What’s he like during the games? Like you hear him out there. What is Kyle Hamilton game, you know, in game action? He’s a dork. No, I’m kidding. But like No. No. Uh no, he’s he’s a really good dude, man. very very intelligent. Uh and like man, yeah, being able to just line up with that guy when he’s close to the box, man, it it takes a lot of pressure off everybody down there like Dlineman, linebackers, and everyone because he’s just as big as a linebacker, just as physical as a Dlineman, linebacker. So, like, man, he got all the intangibles and very smart as well. So, he see a lot of different things coming and obviously he’s a mismatch for receivers and most uh most tight ends as well that are trying to block him. So, like, yeah, I got a great deal of respect for him, the way he worked, who he is as a person, great family. So, I’m just grateful to uh be able to uh play with the guy, and I just know he’s just going to continue to keep climbing the ladder and continue to keep getting better.

Inside linebacker Roquan Smith on going up against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, facing Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers and more.

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