Q. How do you feel about your pal winning Rookie of the Week?
ERNEST JONES: Great, man. He deserved it. He balled out this past weekend. I'm excited for him. His career is just continuing to elevate. I'm happy for him.
Q. We've actually seen him grow into that role a little bit going back to training camp, but when you came in, what was your first indication that he had that ability and that skill set?
ERNEST JONES: I could just tell. He was able to just float to the ball. It was effortless. He just was able to be where the running back was going. Reminded me a lot of -- not saying I'm great at it, but just saying that I think I do it well as far as mimicking where the back is going. He does a great job with that. I seen that up front, and he wants it. You can tell he's in the playbook, asking all the right questions. He's going to be a hell of a player in this league.
Q. Is that ability his natural instinct or because he studies so much?
ERNEST JONES: I think it's natural. When it comes to that part of playing linebacker, that's all natural. You can't teach that.
Q. What stands out to you about Green Bay and their offense and Josh Jacobs?
ERNEST JONES: Yeah, Josh Jacobs stands out. He's their bell cow. He's toting the ball for them well. Love is back there getting the ball out, distributing it well. We've got a tough challenge ahead of us. But I believe in our scheme, our system. I believe in the players, and I believe we can go out there and be really good.
Q. What stands out about the explosive plays that they've been able to generate? It looks like every wide receiver has a play over 40 yards.
ERNEST JONES: Yeah, I think for us, from what I see there, it's just a lot of broken-down plays, DBs maybe not being in the right spots. Quarterback does a great job extending throws and getting out of the pocket. So they can be open.
So for us we've got to rush and cover well and eliminate those explosives that they do have.
Q. You talk about the instincts of a linebacker. At times it looks like linebackers are like running backs avoiding offensive linemen the way running backs are trying to avoid defenders. What are the similarities and differences between those two positions?
ERNEST JONES: I always say similar. I always say a really good linebacker could be a really good running back, too. Just basically it's just like we have to see where holes are at. We have to anticipate where they're going. You're basically a running back, just tackling them down. It's crazy how similar it is, how short space, how short area quickness you've got to have to get to those points. It's really similar in my eyes.
Q. Did the coaches have anything to say about your ball security on the return?
ERNEST JONES: Yeah, they did. They definitely did. Definitely want to get that in tighter. Nobody was around. No, I'm just kidding. Definitely will be better with that, though.
Q. You used the term "death zone" to describe the team's playoff mode right now, but some fans have picked up on that moniker to describe the defense. Do you like that?
ERNEST JONES: I love it. I love it. I love it. I love it. I don't know how much anything else I can say. I want our defense to be remembered. I thought the defense that I'm on and the players on our defensive side to really be remembered and know when you're playing Seattle you've got to handle the defense.
Q. How much do you know about the kind of lore of Packers games in Seattle with Golden Tate's big catch in the NFC Championship game?
ERNEST JONES: I'm learning. I'm learning this is a big one, not just because it's the next game, because it's the Packers, and there's some rivalry there. So I'm learning. Still kind of getting adjusted to that and what teams we don't like at all. (Laughter).
But I'm picking it up.
Q. When you talk about wanting the defense to be remembered and to be memorable, which defenses did you watch, whether it's growing up when you were in college that have always been memorable to you?
ERNEST JONES: I mean, can't go without saying Legion of Boom. Rightfully so; they were them guys. But I grew up, for me, my favorite player was Ray Lewis, so every defense he was a part of, I felt like he had a big way in how they played just because of his energy, the way he played, the way he led those guys.
Yeah, it would definitely have to be a lot of Baltimore for sure.
Q. Would it surprise you to know that Tyrice Knight also tried to model his game after Ray Lewis?
ERNEST JONES: Me too. I wouldn't be surprised at all. You can't -- you can't want to be a great linebacker and not want to be like one of the greatest. In my eyes he is.
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FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports