Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr. speaks to the media post-practice

Duration: 6:24 1409 transcript words EN summary

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Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr. expressed his satisfaction with returning to the field after working hard in the training room, noting that it felt good to get his feet back under him. He emphasized the team's focus on studying tape and honing specific details following the opponent's high-scoring performance, aiming to play fast and challenge each other during matchups. Terrell highlighted the need to adapt to a young quarterback who had a strong debut, observing that Bryce is finding his groove and making better decisions as he settles into the role. He also noted the significant impact of the new offensive coordinator, Canal, who has helped build trust with the quarterback and allowed him to utilize his strengths both inside and outside the pocket effectively. The conversation shifted to Terrell's brother, Zarius, who made an emotional return from retirement to play for the team just three weeks after being off the couch. Terrell described the experience of playing alongside his brother as a major deal for both of them, valuing the opportunity to touch the field together without making it seem too big for his sibling. He praised Zarius's immediate impact, particularly his two sacks against A-Rod, and appreciated how he brought energy and "juice" to the defense with his celebrations. Terrell acknowledged that while Zarius grew up as a Falcons fan and had always wanted to play for the team, the support from the organization was crucial in helping him overcome his previous difficult situation before making this successful comeback. Terrell also discussed the stability provided by having the same defensive coordinator, Brick, for consecutive years, which has allowed the unit to function like a well-oiled machine or a flywheel. He explained that continuity enables the team to focus on small details and clean up issues from previous seasons, creating an environment where any player can plug right in without needing extensive adjustment time. This consistency fosters a family-oriented mentality where the group operates as a single unit bigger than individual players, ensuring that everyone is incorporated when they touch the field. The defense's ability to maintain high standards under this leadership has been instrumental in their preparation and overall performance throughout the season. Finally, Terrell addressed the concept of ownership within the team, agreeing that the defense naturally rises when facing adversity or injuries on other sides of the ball. He reinforced the "next man up" mentality that defines their culture, stating that regardless of who is playing or what happens offensively, the defense must hold its own and control what it can control. His philosophy centers on taking the ball away from the opponent and giving it to his offense to score points, emphasizing that they operate by controlling their own destiny rather than worrying about external factors. This mindset ensures that the team remains resilient and focused on winning games through collective effort and mutual support.

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And how did it feel to get back out there today? >> Felt good. Um been working hard in the training room and stuff like that to get out there. So it felt good getting my feet back with >> um the um how you looking at the matchups this week. Uh you know all had a you know Bryce threw for 448 last game. >> Um just watching tape you know what I'm saying? Um they did come off a big game, highscoring game. So, just making sure we um just hone in on the details and things like that so we can play fast, make sure we um just going over our things and uh going out there practicing at a high level, just challenging each other to go out there and compete when they match up. >> They've been drafting receivers, but the uh Kok kid kind of came out of nowhere in the last couple years. What have you seen his progression? >> Um solid. You know, he had a good game last week. Uh just a young guy just, you know, I see just just making plays. um he getting his chances at the ball and making the most of them. So, just got to uh watch him and just go out there and handle business. >> Bryce made his first start ever in the NFL against you guys. How have you seen his game progress over these last couple years? >> Uh yeah, Bryce too, good quarterback. Uh you know, of course, as the years go on, you just start to settle in. Um I feel like that's what he's doing, finding his groove and uh you know, just making the right decisions at times and you know, making the most out of them. He's made a big jump since Canal has come over, taken over for them. You know, what impact have you seen when you watch the tape him have on that offense? What have you seen, you know, kind of biggest imprint Canal has had on that offense as he's come over? >> Um, just building trust. I just feel like, um, that's, you know, with coaches and quarterbacks, you just want to build that trust and, uh, just allowing him to go out there and play, playing his abilities, his strengths inside the pocket, outside the pocket, and using his weapons the right way. Healthwise, how close to, you know, complete health are you healthwise? >> I'm pretty good. You know, just uh keep going out there in practice, keep getting treatment, get ready for the game. >> You feel good about playing? >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> You got a prediction on Auburn Florida this week? >> Say it again. >> Prediction on Auburn, Florida? >> Uh I don't. I used to be a Gator fan though. >> Go Gators. >> You saying that cuz I'm all Yeah, I I like Auburn with Cam, >> a little Westlake, you know, but go Gators. >> How how did it feel playing with uh your brother? >> Felt good, man. Just being able to see him out there just it's real. We here now. So, it's like just, you know, not making it making it too big for him. Just going out there just making plays. Just seeing them go out there and touching the field together for the first time. It was a big deal for both of us. Um know my f the fam proud. Uh, and you know, just want to give thanks to the man upstairs, man. We just in a blessing, blessed position to go out there and play with each other. >> Pretty cool stuff with Zarius. You know, comes in three weeks, you know, off the couch basically makes two sacks. This is going to be an emotional one for him. Grew up a Falcons fan. You know, mom always wanted him to play for the Falcons. What has it been like getting to know him? What can you expect that first moment running out of the tunnel playing in this stadium, you know, me and D? >> Was he? >> Yeah. >> You know, it's a big deal, man. He came in right away, made an impact. Uh know he came from uh out of his retirement. You know, he had a tough situation going on. So, we just the team just backed up, you know, and supported him. Um and he went out there and, you know, had had a solid game, got two sacks, and it felt good to see him get go out there and like you said, fresh off the couch and go out there and make plays against A-Rod. Um that that was that was cool to see. And then him, you know, with the celebrations and all that, that was that was hard. I like that. Just bringing the juice to the defense. So, we love that. >> Brick said that this defense loves the opportunity, the challenge of maybe having that mentality of people to be the greatest guys like even if the offensive is strong enough to have that challenge. What does it say about the mentality of this group and the trust that Brick has in you guys to be able to be the side of the ball that wants to try and put these games away? >> No, that's that's Brick, you know, he been holding us to that standard since he since he was here last year. Just being able to go out there and play free, play for each other, and um just have real meaning behind it. like it's it's bigger than you as an individual. We always try to incorporate everybody when we touch the field and it's it's bigger than ball. Like that's it's real family oriented how we get down and um you see that when we play. >> Maybe this a little bit overblown, but this is the first time in a while for you've had the same DC in backtoback years. >> Yeah, it's been a while. >> Yeah. How much how much has that just kind of paid off for you guys so far? >> It's great, man. Like anytime you can have a same coordinator come >> um Last time I had that was Dean Peas, I want to say my second year and third year. And uh just having the having the same coordinators is huge for the organization for the defense. Just being able to hone in on the little details and things that we weren't sure of last year or clean or being able to clean up and then just get better, you know, just add tweak what whatever we need and um just go out there and just keep stacking. And then next year had to, you know, just keep building on it. everybody. Then it start to turn to a a uh what's the word? The defense start to turn to like a what's it? >> I want to fill in the blank for you. Like a >> flywheel like a >> Yeah. Like Yeah. Like every you it's plug and play. Like whoever come in can just fit right in because that's just what we know what we've been doing over time. So that's it's perfect. >> Just the last one for me going back to what Reggie said about you guys want to be the reason you win the games. >> Mhm. when you go through a situation offense on the ball, figuring out quarterbacks, some guys getting injured, is, you know, do you sense it being a little bit more natural that the level of the defense rises and everything like that, there's more ownership, you know, to keep things afloat? >> Yeah. Um, that's football, man. Like one man down, next man up mentality. Um, I know defense that we live on that. So, it's like um whatever is going on inside any side of the ball or or specific player is next man up and we just got to hold our own when we take the field. Our job is to take the ball, give it to our offense or go score period. Whoever back there, however many points we score, don't score. Like we control what we control and then you know that's how that's how you got to operate.