Q. How is the new defense?
BOBBY OKEREKE: It's good. It's fun.
Q. Why?
BOBBY OKEREKE: I get to play a little bit more coverage. The way Shane calls it we're going to be multiple. We'll be able to combat the offensive strengths, so we will have a good mix of everything.
Q. Deonte said last week it's a little less aggressive. How so?
BOBBY OKEREKE: I mean, coming from Wink's system where we're blitzing 40, 50% of time and playing zero coverage, an little less aggressive from that standpoint. From a run point we ill be aggressive, and obviously based on the down and distances situation, we'll play aggressive, too.
Q. How does it change your life with Burns here?
BOBBY OKEREKE: Makes my job a lot easier. Quarterback has to get the ball out quicker.
Q. How good do you think this defense could be this year? I know it's very early, but what's your overall feeling?
BOBBY OKEREKE: Yeah, no, it is early. I think we can be as good as we want to be. We have very talented pieces and we're just working every day to get better.
Q. (Plane interference.)
BOBBY OKEREKE: I like getting picks, like getting PBUs.
Q. You said the decision making in this defense has allowed to you play faster. What exactly do you mean by that's different than the last system?
BOBBY OKEREKE: Yeah, you know, Wink kind of wanted you to play hard and fast. You know, just play physical, downhill, figure it out.
Here it's a process of elimination. This guy goes vertical, you check two; if two does this, you check three. You put good it in buckets, and that's the process of decision making I was talking about.
Q. When you came here last year, new team and a new defense. From the beginning you were like, okay, I got to learn all this and the players. Now you know the players but it's another defense.
BOBBY OKEREKE: Yep.
Q. Has it been more on you to learn all this? You kind of want continuity; you don't have that. Has it been a lot more you need to do off the filed?
BOBBY OKEREKE: That's ideal. You're running the same system and over and over you get the feel for it. Year one in a system you always got to work the kinks out. There is new terminology.
Yeah, I think I'm just adding tools to my tool belt. The Wink Martindale style of defense, I have that in my tool belt; the Eberflus style of defense, I have that in my tool belt; the Gus Bradley style of defense, I got that in me tool belt, and now I'm learning Shane's. I think it's just making me that much better of a football player.
Q. Those tool belts mean much? You can use some of that, but it's now Shane's defense.
BOBBY OKEREKE: Yeah, but there is -- like when we blitz, there will be a lot of teachings from Wink I'll take and carry over. When we play cover three, there will be a lot of stuff I take over, quarters with Flus.
Yeah, that's my skillset.
Q. Nabers, what kind of impact do you think he can make as a rookie?
BOBBY OKEREKE: I think he can be very dynamic. He's been out there with the ones from day one, making big plays. I think he can be a very special player in this league.
Q. Because why?
BOBBY OKEREKE: He's athletic. You guys saw him on the podium. He has poise. Obviously record holder at LSU. He's going to have a great career.
Q. What's the vibe out there for a camp like this right now?
BOBBY OKEREKE: Everyone is excited. I think you've seen the back and forth. Offense made plays, defense made plays. It will be very competitive.
Q. You've been in this league long enough where you get a feel for a team. Your timeline now that you've been in this league, when do you start getting a feel for how good a team can be?
BOBBY OKEREKE: Probably towards the end of training camp, once the pads come on and you start hitting. You go through some joint practices and see how guys compete, what young guys can help you, how the leadership develops.
It's still very early in that process.
Q. (Plane interference.)
BOBBY OKEREKE: Yeah, I mean, there will always be the first of the season. Guys will be hurt, there will be ups and downs, whatever. But, yeah, we just try to stay process oriented and focus one day at a time.
Q. Bobby, what about the potential up front, being able to get to the quarterback? How do you see it?
BOBBY OKEREKE: I mean, I think it's a prolific front. You got Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux. Dex is a Pro Bowler. Brian has been Pro Bowler. Kayvon a tracking towards that.
Those guys can be as good as they want to be.
Q. You were around obviously Daniel last year and then he got hurt. He's limited but doing some stuff. What's your sense of him?
BOBBY OKEREKE: Yeah, no, he looks good. He's a good leader, heck of an arm, smart guy. Makes good decisions. I'm excited for him.
Q. Obviously hasn't been in any team stuff. Is that like another threshold for him and the defense also to kind of get him ready for a season?
BOBBY OKEREKE: For sure. Obviously got to get healthy. Go into training camp and go day by day.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports