Q. When you look at the explosives, lack of explosive, what did you like in that part of the game?
ADEN DURDE: I just think when you limit explosive it really comes to execution, you know, like the ability to execute, the ability communicate and understand what they're trying to attack. Taking away the deeper throw maybe or making sure they don't -- you're not in your gap, you're making a play, you're covering someone else.
Those are the areas, like tackles, those things create explosive when you miss those things. Last week we didn't and we played clean and it helped us a lot. Especially because what happens is suddenly you put yourselves in good third down situations.
Q. Two weeks in a row the run defense has been strong for you guys. What do you feel like helped you turn that corner?
ADEN DURDE: I just think as you're going through it, it's like it's the evolution of the defense, you know. Like there is a lot of things, new guys that have come in. They've helped.
But also like the guys up front, they're playing better. They're playing, their understanding of what we're trying to do and how we are trying to affect the game up front. Those things stacked on top of each other are just as you go, you should constantly improve.
They're the things we're seeing.
Q. You guys have been chasing this kind of performance all season. One thing after another after another. How gratifying is it and how fun is it to now start to dream about what you can build on from here and maybe unlock that you haven't been able to do before?
ADEN DURDE: I think those are dangerous things. I think like you keep looking at it and you keep looking at it objectively. There are things you need to fix. We had some third down losses we shouldn't have had.
If you look at the game, when those games go one way or the other, when you win, you might not see it but you need to see them. You need to see those things, and when things don't go as well you need to see the good things and how you evaluate those things.
So I think for us, keeping that balance. I think you just see a little bit more consistency. We've got to keep pushing that and keep growing it in practice and it's got to come out in the game.
Q. The third down losses, how big of a factor was not getting enough pressure on Purdy in those situations?
ADEN DURDE: Yeah, it was hard because they're protecting with seven guys, you know, six guys at a time. When you got four guys coming, it was just hard. Some of the game, the way they rush it, they got caught on edges. It does get frustrating sometimes; just got to keep going.
Q. Kyler Murray's interceptions are way down this year. Kind of what are you seeing from him? Seems like they're being really efficient on offense.
ADEN DURDE: Yeah, they are being really efficient. At times they remind me when those guys were at Philly. The way they stay in front of the sticks, get themselves manageable third downs, and they get in situations where they can run or pass on third down.
Kyler Murray can use his legs. They're doing a great job with. They play the right way.
Q. (Regarding the Cardinals.)
ADEN DURDE: Yeah, like I said, like coming from the NFC East they do some similar things. The way they play, the way they respect like looking after the football, staying in front of the sticks. They are doing a really good job and the outcome shows every week.
Q. Does McBride remind you of any other tight end that catches a lot of passes?
ADEN DURDE: No. He's just a very good player. Very good with the ball in his hands; good route runner. No, you have to respect his game.
Q. Tyrice Knight, his ability to shift blocks and recognize a play and equate that to how he's moving laterally, have you seen improvements in those three areas?
ADEN DURDE: Yeah, definitely. Like you think like linebackers are quite an instinctual position. If you think about it conceptually, you have to finish on the football. You have to play sideline to sideline, move forward, and your job is to finish on the football most every play.
So he had that coming in, but now you can see his growth and understanding of the system. He's allowing himself to put himself in positions to like make the play faster, get on and off blocks, show up on the football faster.
You're seeing that. Him playing next to EJ with EJ's experience is helping him a lot.
Q. How is Dre'Mont Jones doing?
ADEN DURDE: Yeah, I think like it's funny, Dre has played a long time in the NFL. Played three technique. Now like he came here and he was playing three technique and then when Leo came he moved to outside. We're using him outside and we use him inside as a rusher.
That's a growth, and I feel like Dre is one of those guys that is improving week by week. I thought he had a really good game against the 49ers. Saw him setting edges, rushing. I'm excited for him.
Q. What do you like about what Coby Bryant has done since he stepped into the starting role?
ADEN DURDE: I think Coby is a dog, the way he approaches the game. I thought like I said to you guys last week, the week before, I think his third level coming out of the breaks and making those tackles has really improved. I've seen it on his tape.
We have the ability to play, we call it redline to redline where he can come out of the post and make those plays near the sideline. Like I'm excited for him. He's doing a good job and he keeps improving. Communication is getting much better.
Q. When you've got a quarterback like Kyler Murray who can beat with you arm or with his legs, how do you emphasis getting after the quarterback but making sure he doesn't leak through and run for...
ADEN DURDE: A lot of it is about communication. A lot of it is about understanding what the man next to you is doing. I think when you're doing it right as a front, they should be doing that every week.
You know, like it changes and it changes for the guy that takes the snap and how you attack it if you're playing guys not (indiscernible) you might do it a different way.
How those four guys work in unison is a weekly thing. This week, obviously you answered the question in the question you asked. Everyone has to understand their rush lanes, understand how they penetrate and don't get too far.
Q. Have the power issues affected how guys have had to prepare this week at all?
ADEN DURDE: They always affect it, but I think you just have to embrace it. Like every week you're adapting to something and you just move forward. You just go.
Q. Seems Byron Murphy was getting a lot of snaps at nose in this game. Is that an area you feel he is best suited for or anything specific in that matchup that had him there?
ADEN DURDE: No. Just really like he shared some reps with Hank and they both had the ability to play nose. Byron can also play at three technique. Hank came in the league playing a three technique.
I just think sometimes we're in five down. Puts him in that position. Sometimes when we're in four down they can slide the front to put him in different positions.
His ability to be that versatile helps us mentally.
Q. Since you mentioned Hank, you've been around him a lot. Seeing that first interception, what did you think?
ADEN DURDE: How cool was that? It was about this high off the ground. (Laughter.)
Like to hear him say it's his 12th year in the league and that's his first interception. You there to see it. You saw it. I love the way -- it shows it on the screen when we have power, but when he catches the interception, runs to the end zone, nearly the whole defense runs with him. Those moments are why you coach.
Q. (Indiscernible.)
ADEN DURDE: Yeah, he went straight down. Yeah, he made a business decision. (Laughter.)
Q. (No microphone.)
ADEN DURDE: I think you see it. Like comes out, I think tackles in the game, I think he does a good job of playing off the guys in front of him.
He probably -- he thrived in that in LA, you know, playing off someone like Aaron Donald and people like that, they -- their instincts up front, they're not always where the piece of paper says they're meant to be, but they're making plays.
I saw it on his film when I watched his film, but he does it with the guys up front. He does a very good job leading them, like talking to them, making them understand what we need as a defense. No, I'm really excited for him. He's doing a good job.
Q. (No microphone.) Are you impressed by Hank?
ADEN DURDE: Yeah, you are, but like he's a very mature young man. You see that. He's got confidence inside and it comes out. I think that kind of a authentic confidence the guys buy into. He just wants to play. He's a dog.
Q. Julian mentioned that Jarran Reed and some of the other leaders talked about bringing so the LOB attack mentality to practice since before the Rams game. Have you noticed that? Have you seen a difference in the practicing from the players the last few weeks?
ADEN DURDE: Yeah, I think we try and make it that practice is most important. You talk about LOB, that is in the fabric of this place. I don't know if -- I've met the guys a couple times, but like that's stuff that like working for DQ and stuff like that, like I've grown coming in this league watching that.
Things like that don't just happen. They happen because people do it on a day-to-day basis, and Jarran sharing that experience -- and that's what you want, you know. That is how you become a team that is playing when the teams need to be playing at the end of the year, is by the way you practice, the way you go about your business, the way you communicate, the way you prepare.
So, no, it's great that he said that.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports