Can you talk about what it’s like to prepare to go against a player like Conner Weigman?
Preparing for Conner Weigman is a little different than preparing for a true game-changing quarterback. The Saints have been dominating on the ground this season, and we know their offense is built around their running backs. Conner’s role is more about managing the game—he’s there to convert when the run game doesn’t get the job done on first and second down. That’s not to say he doesn’t have the ability to make plays, but let’s be honest, the Saints aren’t exactly asking him to put the team on his back. His job is to not mess things up and keep the chains moving when necessary.
For us, the key is making sure those 'necessary' moments happen a lot more often. If we can shut down their run game early, we put the ball in his hands and force him to be the one who has to beat us, and that’s exactly what we want. We’re not about to let their running backs dictate the pace—we’re going to make Weigman prove he can handle the game when everything isn't going according to plan. If he wants to be more than a glorified handoff specialist, well, he’s going to have to show it.
How do you see the competition level in the NFC South currently?
We're not out of it. The NFC South is still very much in play, no matter what the standings might suggest right now. Yeah, the Bucs got two early wins on us this season, and they’ve got a slight edge, but let’s be real—this isn’t some dominant, runaway division leader we’re talking about. They’ve got a couple of tough games coming up, and their margin for error is a lot thinner than they probably want to admit. Meanwhile, we’re right there in the mix, and we’re hoping to do enough down the stretch to sneak into that division championship conversation.
At the end of the day, the NFC as a whole is stacked, and getting into the playoffs won’t be easy for anyone. You’ve got teams like Washington and Minnesota running the show at the top, and then there’s this giant wildcard traffic jam with teams fighting for position. But the Bucs? They’re clinging to that #3 seed like a cat hanging from a tree branch, and we’ll see if they can hold on when things start getting real. We’ve got the Saints right there with us too, and we all know how that rivalry plays out when the pressure is on. It’s going to be a fight to the finish, but we love our chances. The Bucs might think they’ve got this division in the bag, but we’ll see how confident they are when they start hitting some actual resistance. This race is far from over.
The defense is playing really well right now. What do you think are biggest contributing factors to that?
The biggest factor in our defense’s success right now is that we’re dictating the game instead of reacting to it. We’re not waiting for offenses to make mistakes—we’re forcing them to make mistakes. That starts with preparation. The guys are putting in the work, studying tendencies, and understanding what offenses are trying to do before they even snap the ball. When you pair that with execution, it makes for a defense that plays fast, aggressive, and disruptive.
Another huge piece of the puzzle has been our pass rush. When you can get pressure with four, it changes everything. Quarterbacks aren’t comfortable, timing is thrown off, and suddenly, our secondary has more opportunities to make plays on the ball. And speaking of the secondary, they’ve been lights-out. We’re getting hands on passes, creating turnovers, and making sure offenses earn every yard they get. But beyond the X’s and O’s, it’s about attitude. This defense plays with a chip on its shoulder. They hear the talk, they know what’s at stake, and they’re taking it personally. That kind of mentality? It’s contagious, and it’s exactly what you need this time of year.
