WEBVTT - Fred Warner: ‘Playing at Home is an Advantage’ | Press Pass

0:00:03.960 --> 0:00:11.840
<v Speaker 1>Just because I'm sure you can figure it out. Receivers

0:00:11.880 --> 0:00:13.240
<v Speaker 1>and TIFFs.

0:00:13.440 --> 0:00:18.840
<v Speaker 2>Uh there. Uh Ki was just talking about Juwan in practice,

0:00:19.160 --> 0:00:24.040
<v Speaker 2>you know, and just said the guy who were well,

0:00:24.200 --> 0:00:26.200
<v Speaker 2>just like how a guy like he had to tell

0:00:26.800 --> 0:00:29.240
<v Speaker 2>guys like that's just you know, how he blocks is not.

0:00:29.320 --> 0:00:30.240
<v Speaker 3>To do anything dirty.

0:00:32.080 --> 0:00:36.720
<v Speaker 2>What from a defensive perspective, are you like, buddy, it's practice,

0:00:36.840 --> 0:00:38.519
<v Speaker 2>you need to cal him down a little or do

0:00:38.520 --> 0:00:41.000
<v Speaker 2>you respect it because that's kind of your your tempo.

0:00:41.560 --> 0:00:42.919
<v Speaker 4>I mean, I don't know if I've ever seen him

0:00:42.960 --> 0:00:45.680
<v Speaker 4>dump anybody in the gatorade in practice, but I mean

0:00:45.720 --> 0:00:48.000
<v Speaker 4>that's just that's exactly who he is, throw and through.

0:00:49.479 --> 0:00:51.839
<v Speaker 4>He plays the He plays a game exactly the way

0:00:51.920 --> 0:00:54.800
<v Speaker 4>that that you wanted you wanted to be played, especially

0:00:54.840 --> 0:00:57.400
<v Speaker 4>at that position. I mean, I've said it before. I

0:00:57.400 --> 0:00:59.360
<v Speaker 4>think he's one of the best football players on our team.

0:00:59.520 --> 0:01:01.960
<v Speaker 4>Uh you know, he doesn't get all the you know,

0:01:02.120 --> 0:01:05.160
<v Speaker 4>the attention or the limelight, but you know he's gonna

0:01:05.160 --> 0:01:07.000
<v Speaker 4>be there in the clutch situations when you need him.

0:01:07.319 --> 0:01:09.200
<v Speaker 4>He's you know, steady eddy as it comes, you know,

0:01:09.319 --> 0:01:12.399
<v Speaker 4>obviously with the run game stuff and also in the

0:01:12.400 --> 0:01:15.720
<v Speaker 4>past game. He's just a very complete player, and I'm

0:01:15.720 --> 0:01:17.360
<v Speaker 4>really happy he's on our on our side.

0:01:18.640 --> 0:01:19.679
<v Speaker 1>Now compared to the guy.

0:01:21.680 --> 0:01:23.840
<v Speaker 4>A lot better, you know, not to say that he

0:01:23.920 --> 0:01:25.800
<v Speaker 4>wasn't good when when we played him back, you know,

0:01:25.800 --> 0:01:28.520
<v Speaker 4>when he was with the Rams, But I think he's

0:01:28.560 --> 0:01:30.000
<v Speaker 4>one of the best quarterbacks in the league right now

0:01:30.040 --> 0:01:31.440
<v Speaker 4>with the way that he's playing. You know, I think

0:01:31.440 --> 0:01:34.839
<v Speaker 4>he finished what top three in passing yards this season

0:01:35.520 --> 0:01:37.960
<v Speaker 4>and uh, you know, I think his just the delivery

0:01:37.959 --> 0:01:41.560
<v Speaker 4>of the football, his decisiveness. Obviously, with the amount of

0:01:41.560 --> 0:01:43.760
<v Speaker 4>playmakers that he has on that side, I think he's

0:01:43.800 --> 0:01:47.040
<v Speaker 4>the one, the one that's leading that group. Uh, and

0:01:47.440 --> 0:01:50.560
<v Speaker 4>he's the reason why they're at where they're at right now.

0:01:50.560 --> 0:01:52.200
<v Speaker 4>You know, you need your quarterback to be the leader

0:01:52.200 --> 0:01:54.840
<v Speaker 4>of the of the team and the offense and get

0:01:54.880 --> 0:01:56.440
<v Speaker 4>yourself in a position to be in a game like

0:01:56.480 --> 0:01:58.760
<v Speaker 4>this German.

0:01:58.440 --> 0:02:01.800
<v Speaker 1>And receiver Amara, what are your faults on that?

0:02:02.120 --> 0:02:03.520
<v Speaker 3>And how are you gonna cover here?

0:02:04.400 --> 0:02:05.240
<v Speaker 1>Yeah? I like him a lot.

0:02:05.320 --> 0:02:06.920
<v Speaker 4>I I love the way that he plays the game.

0:02:07.560 --> 0:02:09.600
<v Speaker 4>You know, I think I met him for the first

0:02:09.600 --> 0:02:11.240
<v Speaker 4>time or.

0:02:12.800 --> 0:02:14.200
<v Speaker 1>Was it last year at the Pro Bowl. I played

0:02:14.240 --> 0:02:15.320
<v Speaker 1>with his older brother.

0:02:16.560 --> 0:02:18.600
<v Speaker 4>Back in high school uh in LA when we did

0:02:18.639 --> 0:02:20.760
<v Speaker 4>seven on seven. I always remember seeing his little brother,

0:02:20.960 --> 0:02:23.079
<v Speaker 4>just a fiery little cat like who was really talented,

0:02:23.440 --> 0:02:25.440
<v Speaker 4>went to USC had a great career there, and now

0:02:25.520 --> 0:02:27.120
<v Speaker 4>being with the Lions, he has a.

0:02:27.160 --> 0:02:28.120
<v Speaker 1>Chip on his shoulder. You know.

0:02:28.200 --> 0:02:29.720
<v Speaker 4>I think he got drafted in the fifth round or

0:02:29.760 --> 0:02:32.760
<v Speaker 4>something like that, fourth round, and uh, you know he

0:02:32.800 --> 0:02:35.639
<v Speaker 4>took that personally and he's been able to assent himself

0:02:35.680 --> 0:02:39.400
<v Speaker 4>into the top tier of receivers receiver play in this league. Uh,

0:02:39.440 --> 0:02:42.799
<v Speaker 4>really early in his career. And so he does things

0:02:42.840 --> 0:02:44.280
<v Speaker 4>the right way. He could tell he plays hard, he

0:02:44.320 --> 0:02:47.720
<v Speaker 4>practices hard, does things the right way, and uh, he's

0:02:47.760 --> 0:02:49.280
<v Speaker 4>somebody that we're for sure gonna have to be aware

0:02:49.320 --> 0:02:50.880
<v Speaker 4>of when we play them.

0:02:51.280 --> 0:02:51.400
<v Speaker 3>Right.

0:02:51.440 --> 0:02:52.519
<v Speaker 1>What challenge.

0:02:55.400 --> 0:02:57.400
<v Speaker 4>Uh, I think it a lot of challenges. I think

0:02:57.520 --> 0:02:59.440
<v Speaker 4>it starts upfront with their offensive line. I think they

0:02:59.440 --> 0:03:01.360
<v Speaker 4>have one of the best offensive line groups in the league.

0:03:02.560 --> 0:03:06.079
<v Speaker 4>They have big guys who are athletic, who play with

0:03:06.120 --> 0:03:08.280
<v Speaker 4>the right mindset along with the rest of their team.

0:03:08.320 --> 0:03:11.600
<v Speaker 4>But then also you add the two headed monster with

0:03:11.720 --> 0:03:15.360
<v Speaker 4>at the running back that they have with Montgomery and Gibbs.

0:03:15.440 --> 0:03:16.920
<v Speaker 4>I think it's a one two punch. You got your

0:03:16.919 --> 0:03:20.600
<v Speaker 4>physical and you got your speed. Their quickness, you know,

0:03:20.680 --> 0:03:23.000
<v Speaker 4>and that's that's where the challenges present because they could

0:03:23.040 --> 0:03:25.240
<v Speaker 4>run downhill, they could hit you on the outside, so

0:03:25.280 --> 0:03:27.639
<v Speaker 4>we have to obviously cover all areas. Look at their

0:03:27.680 --> 0:03:29.840
<v Speaker 4>offense in general, do you see similarities to what you

0:03:29.880 --> 0:03:30.560
<v Speaker 4>guys run here?

0:03:30.639 --> 0:03:30.840
<v Speaker 3>Is there?

0:03:30.960 --> 0:03:32.280
<v Speaker 1>Is that possibly.

0:03:31.800 --> 0:03:36.000
<v Speaker 4>Helpful in terms of yeah, I do see similarities, you know,

0:03:36.120 --> 0:03:40.200
<v Speaker 4>just in terms of what they what they run, personnel,

0:03:40.360 --> 0:03:42.160
<v Speaker 4>what they're trying to do, a lot of different weapons,

0:03:42.960 --> 0:03:44.760
<v Speaker 4>trying to get ball, get the ball on everybody in

0:03:44.800 --> 0:03:46.880
<v Speaker 4>everybody's hand, to make sure that you can't just stop

0:03:46.920 --> 0:03:48.240
<v Speaker 4>one thing, like you got to make sure you cover

0:03:48.280 --> 0:03:48.920
<v Speaker 4>all your bases.

0:03:49.480 --> 0:03:51.920
<v Speaker 1>Your third NFC game in a row, Championship game in

0:03:51.960 --> 0:03:53.480
<v Speaker 1>a row, it will be the choice first.

0:03:53.520 --> 0:03:56.160
<v Speaker 2>What role does experience play on a game like Sundays.

0:03:57.480 --> 0:03:59.240
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, it could be used to our advantage.

0:03:59.240 --> 0:04:02.200
<v Speaker 4>But at the same time time, you know, my first

0:04:02.280 --> 0:04:05.080
<v Speaker 4>NFC Championship game back in nineteen was my first one.

0:04:05.160 --> 0:04:05.760
<v Speaker 1>It was at home.

0:04:05.800 --> 0:04:07.560
<v Speaker 4>I think that's more so the advantage is playing at

0:04:07.560 --> 0:04:10.360
<v Speaker 4>home in front of our fans, the faithful, uh, playing

0:04:10.360 --> 0:04:14.160
<v Speaker 4>on on our on our grass, knowing exactly you know,

0:04:14.200 --> 0:04:16.160
<v Speaker 4>the environment that we're playing in. I think that's that's

0:04:16.160 --> 0:04:18.400
<v Speaker 4>the advantage. I'm not I'm not really putting too much

0:04:18.400 --> 0:04:20.440
<v Speaker 4>into them being there for the NFC Championship game.

0:04:20.440 --> 0:04:21.880
<v Speaker 1>They proven they can win in the playoffs.

0:04:21.880 --> 0:04:24.560
<v Speaker 4>Now, back to back games at home for them, So

0:04:25.279 --> 0:04:27.920
<v Speaker 4>I think the advantage here is playing at home, right.

0:04:28.080 --> 0:04:31.080
<v Speaker 3>Being such a high scoring first quarter offense, you know

0:04:31.120 --> 0:04:32.600
<v Speaker 3>you guys always want to get the early stop.

0:04:32.640 --> 0:04:34.520
<v Speaker 2>But is that a bigger emphasis this week?

0:04:36.720 --> 0:04:37.120
<v Speaker 1>I wouldn't.

0:04:37.120 --> 0:04:39.600
<v Speaker 4>I wouldn't put too much emphasis on that. I think,

0:04:39.680 --> 0:04:41.159
<v Speaker 4>like you said, like you mentioned, I think that the

0:04:41.200 --> 0:04:43.520
<v Speaker 4>goal is always to get stops early, to gain that

0:04:43.560 --> 0:04:47.800
<v Speaker 4>momentum for our team. And knowing how explosive and how

0:04:47.800 --> 0:04:49.720
<v Speaker 4>explosive our offense is and how quick they can get

0:04:49.720 --> 0:04:51.359
<v Speaker 4>points on the board, the quicker we can get the

0:04:51.360 --> 0:04:53.279
<v Speaker 4>ball out of their offenses hands.

0:04:53.080 --> 0:04:55.599
<v Speaker 1>And into our offense. I think that that's the recipe

0:04:55.600 --> 0:04:58.839
<v Speaker 1>that we want. Reporter seems to play with like some

0:04:58.960 --> 0:05:01.480
<v Speaker 1>veteran trades, But he's rookie. What do you see when

0:05:01.520 --> 0:05:02.000
<v Speaker 1>you watch him?

0:05:02.640 --> 0:05:04.600
<v Speaker 4>I think you can say that about all the rookies. Honestly,

0:05:04.600 --> 0:05:07.320
<v Speaker 4>I think they're all out in the exact right way.

0:05:07.360 --> 0:05:12.839
<v Speaker 4>They obviously scouted and drafted guys that are made of

0:05:12.839 --> 0:05:15.440
<v Speaker 4>the right stuff. I really like Laport's game. I think,

0:05:15.960 --> 0:05:18.120
<v Speaker 4>uh in the past game, the fact that he's able

0:05:18.200 --> 0:05:21.360
<v Speaker 4>to be what top three, top two in the league,

0:05:21.360 --> 0:05:24.880
<v Speaker 4>and yards and uh savvy and his routes that you

0:05:24.920 --> 0:05:28.039
<v Speaker 4>don't really see in young tight ends. Great hands, you

0:05:28.080 --> 0:05:32.080
<v Speaker 4>can separate, can separate with the speed and quickness. Uh

0:05:32.200 --> 0:05:34.240
<v Speaker 4>you know, he he's he's got everything that you want

0:05:34.400 --> 0:05:35.440
<v Speaker 4>at the position.

0:05:36.279 --> 0:05:39.320
<v Speaker 3>Out there for this defense, for your defense to accomplish.

0:05:39.400 --> 0:05:42.240
<v Speaker 1>And what do you guys put on your plate to

0:05:42.360 --> 0:05:44.400
<v Speaker 1>do your part to get through to the next round.

0:05:45.080 --> 0:05:49.279
<v Speaker 4>Yeah, there's plenty. Uh, you know the time for hey guys,

0:05:49.360 --> 0:05:51.200
<v Speaker 4>let's get better. You know, let's get better this week.

0:05:51.240 --> 0:05:53.440
<v Speaker 4>Let's let's let's get better. Like like that's kind of

0:05:53.480 --> 0:05:55.159
<v Speaker 4>over with, Like you got to perform at your best

0:05:55.200 --> 0:05:57.440
<v Speaker 4>now when when your best is needed, it's it's time

0:05:57.480 --> 0:05:59.360
<v Speaker 4>to really put it out there and and and lead

0:05:59.360 --> 0:06:01.520
<v Speaker 4>from the front. If if we want to win this game,

0:06:01.560 --> 0:06:03.680
<v Speaker 4>I'm putting it all defensive hands. I'm saying that we

0:06:03.760 --> 0:06:05.320
<v Speaker 4>all we need to do is score three on offense

0:06:05.360 --> 0:06:06.880
<v Speaker 4>and we're we're gonna win it for us. You know,

0:06:06.920 --> 0:06:08.800
<v Speaker 4>that's the mindset that we got to go into this week.

0:06:09.400 --> 0:06:11.800
<v Speaker 4>We got to go into this week with and uh,

0:06:11.920 --> 0:06:13.440
<v Speaker 4>you know the time, like I said, the time for

0:06:14.120 --> 0:06:15.320
<v Speaker 4>I will, We'll get it right next week.

0:06:15.400 --> 0:06:15.919
<v Speaker 1>That's over with.

0:06:16.040 --> 0:06:17.400
<v Speaker 4>You know, we got to make sure we come out

0:06:17.760 --> 0:06:19.960
<v Speaker 4>guns of blazing. We gotta set the tone right away,

0:06:19.960 --> 0:06:21.839
<v Speaker 4>and we got to make sure we're coming out playing

0:06:21.880 --> 0:06:22.560
<v Speaker 4>our best football.

0:06:23.360 --> 0:06:24.320
<v Speaker 1>And then the rookies.

0:06:24.720 --> 0:06:27.440
<v Speaker 3>I was chuckling reading back about when you were a rookie,

0:06:27.520 --> 0:06:30.400
<v Speaker 3>and I think coach maybe the feedback that you were

0:06:30.400 --> 0:06:32.039
<v Speaker 3>a little too loud on the field, that you could

0:06:32.040 --> 0:06:36.080
<v Speaker 3>hear you from the sideline things, what other you know

0:06:36.320 --> 0:06:38.159
<v Speaker 3>things have you worked out with him over the years

0:06:38.160 --> 0:06:39.320
<v Speaker 3>and just can you talk about.

0:06:39.080 --> 0:06:40.039
<v Speaker 2>Your relationship with them?

0:06:41.200 --> 0:06:46.120
<v Speaker 4>Yeah, I just from that from that jump trying to

0:06:46.120 --> 0:06:48.960
<v Speaker 4>play mike linebacker from coming out of BYU, never playing

0:06:49.000 --> 0:06:51.440
<v Speaker 4>off the ball backer and never given calls before.

0:06:51.960 --> 0:06:52.880
<v Speaker 1>You know, I had a great.

0:06:52.720 --> 0:06:55.720
<v Speaker 4>Coach and Damiko Ryans, who obviously played the position at

0:06:55.720 --> 0:06:58.120
<v Speaker 4>a high level, was one of the best coaches out there.

0:06:58.160 --> 0:07:00.599
<v Speaker 4>And he he told me from from the start, like

0:07:00.640 --> 0:07:02.520
<v Speaker 4>he's like, you need to be demanding. You need to

0:07:03.040 --> 0:07:05.200
<v Speaker 4>uh say the calls with conviction when you're out there,

0:07:05.560 --> 0:07:08.120
<v Speaker 4>and uh, I took that and I ran with it obviously,

0:07:08.120 --> 0:07:11.320
<v Speaker 4>and I was screaming them. Uh, you know, but just

0:07:11.360 --> 0:07:14.760
<v Speaker 4>little things like that. I think I've learned so much

0:07:14.800 --> 0:07:16.680
<v Speaker 4>as as I've gone on, I'm still learning to this

0:07:16.720 --> 0:07:19.280
<v Speaker 4>to day and just trying to be the best player

0:07:19.320 --> 0:07:21.240
<v Speaker 4>I can for this team and and be the best

0:07:21.240 --> 0:07:21.840
<v Speaker 4>team that I can.

0:07:22.280 --> 0:07:24.680
<v Speaker 3>Remember self described to my best friend Brandon, and I

0:07:25.320 --> 0:07:27.760
<v Speaker 3>just came in and talked about how it's big to

0:07:27.760 --> 0:07:30.160
<v Speaker 3>get over the hump obviously last two years losing the

0:07:30.240 --> 0:07:32.720
<v Speaker 3>NFC Championship game. Would you say the defense has the

0:07:32.720 --> 0:07:34.560
<v Speaker 3>same mindset like trying to get over that hump that's

0:07:34.560 --> 0:07:35.280
<v Speaker 3>been an issue.

0:07:35.160 --> 0:07:42.720
<v Speaker 4>Last Yeah, I think, you know, the last two years

0:07:42.720 --> 0:07:45.960
<v Speaker 4>are I mean, every year is unique in itself. You

0:07:46.000 --> 0:07:49.160
<v Speaker 4>talk about last year and and uh in Philly, we

0:07:49.200 --> 0:07:51.480
<v Speaker 4>went into that game fully with full confidence, believing that

0:07:51.480 --> 0:07:53.840
<v Speaker 4>we were gonna win that game, and uh, you know,

0:07:53.920 --> 0:07:57.040
<v Speaker 4>Brod goes down, We lose our backup quarterback and didn't

0:07:57.040 --> 0:07:58.720
<v Speaker 4>have much of a shot. The year before that, nobody

0:07:58.720 --> 0:08:00.560
<v Speaker 4>gave us a chance. You know, we barely slipping into

0:08:00.560 --> 0:08:03.040
<v Speaker 4>the playoffs at the end of the year and then

0:08:03.400 --> 0:08:06.360
<v Speaker 4>have to play the Rams, who obviously went on to

0:08:06.400 --> 0:08:07.160
<v Speaker 4>win that Super Bowl.

0:08:07.280 --> 0:08:09.280
<v Speaker 1>That was a type tight battle all the way through.

0:08:09.320 --> 0:08:11.760
<v Speaker 4>It's just one or two plays in the game that

0:08:11.760 --> 0:08:13.360
<v Speaker 4>that win or lose you the game. At this point,

0:08:13.520 --> 0:08:16.160
<v Speaker 4>you know, it's the team that that plays the best

0:08:16.160 --> 0:08:19.560
<v Speaker 4>for three hours. And uh, you know, I even this

0:08:19.600 --> 0:08:22.360
<v Speaker 4>past uh Saturday will be the best team that played

0:08:22.360 --> 0:08:24.360
<v Speaker 4>for the those three hours. I mean, we made one

0:08:24.440 --> 0:08:26.480
<v Speaker 4>or two plays in the end to make it, to

0:08:26.520 --> 0:08:28.560
<v Speaker 4>make it happen, you know. And so I don't know

0:08:28.560 --> 0:08:30.080
<v Speaker 4>how this game is gonna go on Sunday. I know

0:08:30.120 --> 0:08:32.760
<v Speaker 4>we gotta we gotta play our best football, uh when

0:08:32.760 --> 0:08:35.400
<v Speaker 4>our best is needed, and whenever those one or two

0:08:35.400 --> 0:08:36.760
<v Speaker 4>plays come, you gotta make them.

0:08:36.920 --> 0:08:38.800
<v Speaker 1>But I know it's not the ultimate goal. But you

0:08:38.840 --> 0:08:41.000
<v Speaker 1>said throughout the season, I think you said it after

0:08:41.040 --> 0:08:41.400
<v Speaker 1>the game.

0:08:41.760 --> 0:08:44.319
<v Speaker 2>Once you lose last year's NFC championship, you can't just

0:08:44.320 --> 0:08:46.200
<v Speaker 2>snap your fingers to get back to the game. But

0:08:46.400 --> 0:08:48.680
<v Speaker 2>what is the sense of satisfaction, if there is any

0:08:48.800 --> 0:08:50.720
<v Speaker 2>just to be back here, one went away.

0:08:50.520 --> 0:08:52.920
<v Speaker 1>From going back to the Super Bowl. Yeah, it's crazy,

0:08:53.080 --> 0:08:54.520
<v Speaker 1>it's crazy to look at it, you know. I walk

0:08:54.559 --> 0:08:55.040
<v Speaker 1>up here, I.

0:08:54.960 --> 0:08:57.640
<v Speaker 4>See this this little uh, this little sheet behind me,

0:08:57.720 --> 0:09:00.000
<v Speaker 4>and I'm like I can. I can blink and our

0:09:00.080 --> 0:09:02.600
<v Speaker 4>remember getting up here, you know, getting ready for Philly,

0:09:02.640 --> 0:09:04.440
<v Speaker 4>seeing that same exact banner, and like the fact that

0:09:04.480 --> 0:09:04.840
<v Speaker 4>we're here.

0:09:05.880 --> 0:09:07.360
<v Speaker 1>You work so hard all season long.

0:09:07.440 --> 0:09:09.719
<v Speaker 4>We talked about it all season to be able to

0:09:09.720 --> 0:09:11.480
<v Speaker 4>put ourselves in a position where we could play the

0:09:11.559 --> 0:09:13.720
<v Speaker 4>NFC Championship game again and also do it at home.

0:09:14.240 --> 0:09:16.280
<v Speaker 4>You know how big that is for us, and we

0:09:16.320 --> 0:09:18.480
<v Speaker 4>did that. You know, we have that opportunity right now.

0:09:18.800 --> 0:09:20.320
<v Speaker 4>So how can you not sell out? How can you

0:09:20.320 --> 0:09:21.760
<v Speaker 4>not give your all to this thing? How can you

0:09:21.760 --> 0:09:23.920
<v Speaker 4>not make sure you're playing your best ball for three

0:09:23.960 --> 0:09:26.200
<v Speaker 4>hours on Sunday? You know, I know the type of

0:09:26.200 --> 0:09:27.960
<v Speaker 4>team we have, the type of players we have in talent.

0:09:28.080 --> 0:09:29.880
<v Speaker 4>I know if we play our best ball for three hours,

0:09:29.880 --> 0:09:31.120
<v Speaker 4>we'll get the job done.

0:09:32.200 --> 0:09:32.720
<v Speaker 1>Thanks guys,