Vikings locker room reacts after 16-10 win over Colts, 6-0 start

They were the people that have helped me along the way and allowed me to be the player I've become. But the guys have been on me about it for a while. They're like, when are you just going to go ahead and get 40? So it was fun. It was at a big moment in the game, which I've kind of always prided myself on playing, playing big when it matters most. So it was a good, it was good to steal the win. Can you walk us through that interception? Yeah, it was, it was, it was nothing exceptional. I was talking to Richard Sherman this week actually about getting interceptions, and he had a lot and I have a lot. And we both were like, they don't come around when you chase them. You just do your job. The opportunities will present themselves, and then you've got to be a ball player and make the play. And that was pretty much what happened there. Cash did a good job. He had like a crazy game, by the way. He did a good job getting depth and putting air on the ball. I thought he was about to tip it. I was like, please don't touch it. I think he already had four PBUs, so he didn't need a fifth. But, yeah, we just executed the play. Are you lost in your last year? Is that a weight you lifted? Not really. I mean, I've thought of every, probably the last, like, four seasons as my last year. So, you know, I just like playing. And I'm having fun with this group. I don't, like, I really, I just thought that was assumed from everybody like it was the last few years anyways. Like that's the same. Yeah. I mean, he's a factor in all phases of the game. He's getting sacks. He's awesome in the run game. He's a huge factor in the pass game. He erases a lot from that spot on the defense. Plus, he's the one that gets the play call. Dudes are yelling at him all game. What's the call? What's the call? What personnel? That's not the answer. So he's got so much going on for him to be able to then quiet that when the ball is snapped and play with a lot of intelligence and a lot of violence all at one time. He's playing lights out. Did you hear the Perry chant from the stadium? Yeah, I could hear it. I could hear something. I mean, I think especially last year we kind of covered what this fan base means to me and what being here has meant to me. So it's surreal whenever that many people are chanting your name, and I definitely don't take that for granted. Do you realize the game that Blake was having in the fall game? He always plays well. I mean, I didn't know his stats, but they flashed him up on the screen, and I was like, two sacks, four P's. I was like, what position is he playing? He's everywhere. So, yeah, that's – and I don't think he always gets the credit he deserves. It's, you know, more outside of this area. But he's one of the best doing it right now. I did – he's so fast. I was just trying to keep up with him. He's a freak show. He makes it a lot easier for us on the back end. What has allowed you guys to sustain this thing defensively? What's allowing us to? What has allowed, yeah. Um, you know, I think obviously Flo and the staff put together great plans every week. And then they've also kind of instilled a DNA in this group, just a play style. I think it starts with the guys up front and then, you know, trickles to the back end. So it's a mindset, it's a play style, it's physicality, it's joy, getting to the football, violence paired with um a very thoughtful scheme and a lot of um a lot of players that that know football can work with each other well how much did getting number 40 play a role in you wanting to come back i'd be lying if it didn't play anything into it that wasn't like the main factor but i ran into um Ronde Barber this off season playing some golf and we were supposed to be at like a function we ended up having beers for like four hours and just talking ball and stories and um just being around him and listening to like how much he like you could tell he's still like he loved it and we were talking about there's him and Charles Woodson were the only guys to have 40 picks they had more than 20 20 plus sacks he was like man go get it he's like what are you doing here playing golf go get it and i kind of left there and that was the start of me being like I'm definitely going to stay in shape. When was that? That was in June, probably. Falmouth Country Club outside of Portland, Maine. It was a good time. Kind of a tough course. They had a nice event up there. Did you know that when you got 40 you were going to slam it into the 40-yard line, or did you just do that because you got . . . Well, I dropped one against Green Bay on the 40, and all the guys were like, man, you could have had 40 on the 40. So they've been . . . I think I dropped another one in practice on the 40. been on me and I was like this is for them. I kind of looked at Isaiah and was like Did you notice the steps to that dance routine Josh was trying to get you to do? No, I didn't. He's got that. I'm just there with the guys. Thanks. Gary's going to give us a call and like I said, he's just going to give you the call for sure. Where's this defense right now? I feel good every week and maybe a little bit better. Where do you feel? I would definitely say right now, I want to say we're doing a great job obviously, but I just feel like we can do more Just, you know, we've got guys that obviously we've got to make those plays that come in your situation. But I just feel like we can definitely still do a better job, and obviously that's just the little details we've got to go back and practice. And like I said, we can take this thing to a whole other level if everyone just, you know, stay on course and just lock in. I know they were talking a little bit about Harry getting his 40th pick. Also the way Cash is playing. First Harry, unbelievable, huh? That's 40 picks. First of all, obviously he's the GOAT to me. I've always, since I've been here, I just love, you know, obviously his game and watching him since, you know, forever. But just to be his teammate, just to see how he, you know, how he does stuff, obviously communicating is the number one thing. But he kind of sees stuff a little bit earlier than, you know, other people. So he's just one of those guys that goes, sees the plays and makes them. But 40 picks, that's just, that's insane. And I got to catch up to him, though. You said some of you guys were on him to try to get it. Oh, definitely, we were. Obviously, every time he's in the, obviously when he's on the field, we're like, Harry, you got to go get another one. You got to go get another one. And, you know, he's not, he's just, you know, he's just ready for his moment, I would say. And I just know he's a playmaker. He's going to go get the job done. So we just believe in him. And 40 picks, like I said, that's insane. And sometimes Cash doesn't get the credit he deserves. That's what Hitman said. You know, I think he had eight total tackles, I mean, solo tackles, two sacks, four plays defended. Man, one of the guys on our defense for sure. Obviously, our communicator, one of our captains of our team. But we just know Cash is going to find the ball. And that's just, you know, he's been like that. I love watching him. I love being his teammate. But it just shows up at practice as well, flying to the ball, communicating, getting the plays down, even finishing on plays like that. So just to see him fly around like that, it's a good feeling for sure. That's just what we all have to do. Everyone gets to the ball, all 11 trust each other. I just feel like that's the thing about our group right now. We're just playing as a team, connection-wise, all that thing is just coming together. Thank you. That kind of record too. All the guys that have blocked for me these last few years, held, snapped. It's not just my record. It's more of a team thing. So very appreciative of those guys. When you approach a milestone like that, how do you handle it? You're like ice in your veins kind of guy anyway, but was that on your mind today? A little bit. It had been talked about earlier in the week. Tried not really to think about it, but it was kind of at the back of my mind. Technically, in my mind, it was a blocked field goal, so you didn't miss anything. How do you kind of register with that? Yeah, I think I'll have to look at it. I saw the still shot of it, and it looked like it was a little bit low. They didn't really get too much penetration. so it probably was on me but just try to move on from it. I know we had Greg Joseph in before the game and he was just admiring your game you know obviously he had the game winning kick in overtime against the Colts when he says he can't believe just the consistency that you can nail them from like 58 59 60 and beyond what makes it so special that that length is nothing to you it is like a layup. Yeah oh I appreciate him saying those things I don't think I've actually ever met Greg before so that means a lot but as far as just going out there and hitting them I think it's just trying to do my job honestly not think too much of it we rep it in practice and try to go out there and make it count yeah and just part of it I think this just the way my mind's wired what a what a dog I mean he comes to work every single day I mean I'm close with Cash so I love watching him ball out and you know like it doesn't surprise me with how he how he comes to work he's captain for a reason. It's fun to watch. It's just how much pride do you take in just a reliable target? Yeah, I mean, every single day I just try to come to work. I mean, it's and build that repertoire with him. And, you know, we work on stuff like that all the time. And for him to just be able to put up the ball and and expect me to go get it and make a play. That's that's that's kind of what we build ourselves on. We have a little miss in the end zone on the earlier in in the game, but you know, for him to continue to, you know, that's how you build that with the squad, is just to continue to make plays for him, move on, and do it. And then Gavin had that. National tight end day, baby. You gotta love it. Forgive me, I can't remember. No, I wasn't. That's, I mean, we were going fast, and we were sticking with personnel. We have a lot of mechanisms like that where we can, you know, continue to go fast based on different personnel, and we all gotta know our stuff, so I was just happy that he knew what to do and made it made a play it was uh it's fun to watch TJ you and Kyler is it more than just reps once you start getting in sync or is it just kind of like something that you can't really put into words like a feel kind of thing yeah it's hard um you know when you uh when you build relationships and chemistry i guess is um you know he trusts me where i feel space i feel zones i feel like you know where the defense is and and kind of where to sit and and find the voids and um and he sees that and and he's and he sits back there and he he feels that too and so as a quarterback you know you want somebody where you know you're not going to keep running to get covered or you're not going to keep doing this to to um you know to make it a hard harder throw so i just try to make easy throws for him and find zones and and and and see uh see what we're we're able to to to work so you know yeah that's something I pride myself in I've always have to be able to be on the same page with the quarterback and and you know I've had a lot in my career and but he's he's he's a great one and it's been a lot of fun to to be able to play with him and and how he sees the game and how he goes out there and attacks every Sunday so uh that was a weird look I mean it was uh they played they played man um but you know I that was that was a tough one for me I had hard inside leverage on the inside breaking route so I was like all right well and then he just kept following me and and Kyler took off I mean he's so fast uh there's so many times where yes sir there's so many times where um you know you you're going to do scramble and and then you know he's on you and you're like oh I should have blocked like or I should have you know I should have went deeper or whatever and uh but he's so fast so it's still kind of just getting in that rhythm with him but When he gets those legs moving, it's hard to stop him, and it's a good aspect to have as a dolphin. How is it for you to sit and witness and also be a teammate with someone like Harrison Smith with his 40th interception, one of the reasons he said he came back, not the reason, but one of them, and unfolding before your very eyes when you're working with him? You know, I have nothing but good things to say about Harry. You know, playing against him for four years, the competitor that he is and the relationships that he's built and in this you know when I was in Detroit he would always come up to me and talk to me and we built a relationship before I even got here and then when I got here you understand what kind of person he is and why he's been able to play so long you know to have a guy like that in our locker room a vet who's been around the league for so long seeing so many you know variables and and and things that this evolutions of the game is really cool and and to you know it's just another vet and and just have see him go out there and get his 40th is is is the best and to celebrate in here with him and you know he's the same person every day he has been since I've gotten here and I've heard nothing but that That's who he always has been, so it's super cool to watch him and to have him back. Besides the times he got hurt, knock on wood, but for the most part, if he's on the field, he's going to play well. That's a guy, when we brought him in for free agency a couple years ago, we knew he was going to be a key guy to build this team. Josh, we know that you've already addressed this. First, we'll talk Harry and then Blake Cashman having beast games, but you're with Harry. He finally gets 40 interceptions for his career. And you know him, Tutu. You guys have a close bond. But he said that it made a big difference, that it was important situationally and also to do it with you guys. Yeah, and Tutu knows how we feel about him. He knows how this organization, this fan base, everybody in Minnesota feels about him. And for him to finally get that milestone and for us to be there for the situation, I think everything just happened for a reason. And I'm just excited to go on this journey with him, be a part of this journey, and, you know, have everything fall into place for a guy like that. And then, Blake, he had two sacks, four plays defended, I think eight tackles, tackles for loss, two of those. Just Harry said sometimes he doesn't get the credit he deserves. What makes Cash so special in your group? He does a lot of the dirty work. And shout out to Cash Money, man. I think a lot of people don't realize how much he does for his defense, the communication, the getting people on, everything. He does everything. And then once the ball snaps, he's flying around. And for a guy to play as consistently as he does, I think any time he's on the field, he has stats like that. The only thing that can stop Cash is himself because when he's out there and he's going and he's playing the way he plays, he's unstoppable. And I think a lot of people are starting to notice that. I think our whole front seven is just playing balls out. So shout-out to them. Shout-out to Cash for being the one to lead the way today. And other than his one touchdown, you guys were really on. Jonathan Taylor, you guys take pride in stopping that. Yeah, we take pride in stopping the run. Obviously, that first drive, we got to knock that out. But we take pride in, you know, stopping the run. We take pride in playing against great running backs. And I personally believe Jonathan Taylor is top five running back in the league. So, you know, to play a guy like that and then for us to, you know, keep showing up quarter after quarter, play after play, really shows the strength of this defense. Six and 0 and coming out of the bye. I mean, how difficult is that in the NFL, and how much pride do you guys take in that at the start to the season? Yeah, you know, for you guys, you say 6-0, we say 1-0. You know, in this National Football League, nothing's guaranteed, so we got to treat every week in its own, and that's the motto. And we've been living by it week after week. And to be 6-0 in this National Football League, you know, going 1-0 this week, you know, having Tex coming up next week, I think puts us in a great position to, you know, keep building and putting what we did behind us and moving forward. Byron was talking about how you guys are just hungry every week you're constantly so critical of yourself which makes you better how do you guys keep that chip on your shoulder despite how well you're playing right now? Yeah shout out to Flo I think Flo is the main person in all of this you know never letting us settle never letting us get comfort you know he thinks a lot of people seek comfort is one of you know the worst things you can do so you know we try not to seek comfort at all we always try to figure out what's the next thing that can make us better and I think the the way you know the players are accountability wise being able to like talk to Murph like me being able to tell Murph all right I need you on this one or him to tell me I need you on this one you know same thing vice versa in all the other rooms I think that's the biggest part you know we hold each other accountable we have very very high standards and we try to meet those every day to visit with Cam he's I saw him before he said it was a very emotional day for him it was very emotional day we try not to bust out laughing at the coin toss when he went out there shout out to him for being captain for the first time i know he he uh he really takes pride in that so yeah it's a very emotional day um we're going to talk about it more once i you know actually get to talk to him you know i've been trying to stay away from him for the first couple weeks of the season knowing we where going to play but now that we we're done i can call him you know get some tips give him some tips you know how it goes uh we uh it's some TikTok some guy who does Uptown Downtown it's uh it's been going viral for the past couple weeks and we've been doing it in practice so we thought we'd show it out today he said he wasn't a part of it yeah he just wanted us to do it for him so we did it appreciate you brother you're the first player since Alex Brown did with the Bears in 2005 that had two sacks and four plays defended in one game and i was just scratching the surface of your game today how are you feeling did you know that uh no i did not know that uh i feel like every week there's always those interesting historic stat lines but uh honestly just really proud of the way this defense and offense special teams play today i feel like we've had a lot of just gritty football games where we've had to play tough play you know one more series keep throwing punches and just finish the game by any means necessary your teammates are saying you're the gritty one because you're the one communicating it seems like every you're everywhere today do you pride yourself on kind of being like that they're an easy group to work with a lot of good players on my side of the ball that understand what we're trying to accomplish and what their assignments are but it really all starts early in the week with our preparation and they're just they're focused ready to go so even before I have to give a call those guys are anticipating what it's going to be so it makes my job easy and love playing with with them because who doesn't want to play with a bunch of great football players that make your life easy. Say that again? I would say whenever you can be a player that you can spend time in the system now it being my third year and understanding not just what the scheme is but what Flo is trying to accomplish in each situation because we talk a lot about situational ball it just allows you to maybe play a step faster play with a little bit more confidence But like I said, I mean, we got a lot of good football players on our side of the ball that play at a high level consistently. So I know for opponent offenses, like that's a lot of different matchups they got to account for. So you never know whose game it's going to be. That's going to get a lot of opportunities to make plays. We talk about it every week. And today, like I was able to get a lot of opportunities and take advantage of them. But next week, it could be somebody else. A lot of your teammates said that you're one of the most underrated guys on the team. As long as I have the respect from my teammates and coaches, that's all that matters to me. I don't really care, honestly, about the stat lines. At the end of the day, I just want to win football games and chase the Super Bowl What about your game has opened up in the team? Have you discovered anything personally about what you weren't doing before and what you've been doing? Honestly, I would just say over the last three years being here and Flo's scheme, like just continuing to trust it more and more um trusting what the d-line is going to do trusting what our guys on the back end are going to do because i think when you first get here um you know it doesn't matter if you're a new player rookie like sometimes it looks crazy but um when you really trust the coaching you trust how the scheme can maybe limit offense menu and you understand that it allows you to anticipate what you can expect and when you can anticipate certain plays like I said earlier it allows you to be a step faster to the ball. Is that why you guys look so like free when you're playing? Yeah I mean there's a lot that's going into it a lot of communication I think people aren't aware of like you know when we're up on the line of scrimmage it doesn't if I'm with Eric Wilson or Van Ginkel or next to a safety like there's constant dialogue the entire time before that ball snapped um and that's really just to have reassurance that we're all on the same page but at the end of the day like we're playing with a lot of confidence but we're a hungry group and we're never satisfied I mean you could any fan anybody in the media anybody in this league can tell us how great we're playing, but like we just look at the plays we need to be better on because we know what's out in front of us and we know the opportunity that's there too. You mentioned that the communication here, you were saying that right before that, guys were screaming at you, what's the play that's called, but you're still able to play fast. What is that, those few seconds, like when you try to give guys what the call is, they're still- Well, it's always harder at home because of the environment our fans create, but as a defense, we try to use that to our advantage and we love the atmosphere here at the bank. But, you know, if offenses try to go quick on the ball or, you know, maybe we're having substitution lates or it's a loose huddle, you know, it's hard to echo the calls. I mean, I can think of a moment here in this game where they went on the ball and I gave the call, and I was probably as close to you as I am right now talking to Gink, And I couldn't even hear myself screaming because it was so loud. But, you know, we try to use hand signals to stay ahead of that to make it easier. But like I said, this group is pretty dialed in on, you know, what calls to expect in certain packages. So it does make it easier, but it can be a little chaotic at times. But in this defense, we love chaos. Watching Harry get his 40th, is that pretty cool? Yeah, I'm so happy for him. and I feel like that's a great milestone. In my book, Harry's one of one. He's been so great to this organization, and just the respect I feel like he commands here, and it goes so much farther than just on the football field, even as a leader, as a person. He's just a very valuable player and person to the Minnesota Vikings, and we are so happy he's back and he's here. You heard the stat line. And, like, within the flow of the game, did it feel like a different game for you or did it just feel like every other – like, did you know you were having a game? I wasn't thinking about that. Honestly, I was thinking about I wish I would have got the ball out. That's what I was thinking about. I was – like, maybe it looked like I think on the second batted ball on the third down, maybe it looked like I was celebrating. I was actually mad that I wasn't able to pick it off because if I did, I think that I would have walked into the end zone and gave our football team six points right there. So that's how I look at it. But, again, like when I talk about this defense, like, yeah, those are good plays, but they could have been great. And that's the mindset of this defense and everybody from coaches and players. I don't know. I feel like me to say I feel like I'm in a good spot. I feel like the defense is in a good spot. And, you know, we're just really taking it week by week. We're happy with the outcome today, But I know as we turn the page, there's going to be more for us out there to improve on and be better. Because as we know, as the season continues and you're an undefeated football team, you've got a target on your back. You're going to get everybody's best. And we have to keep rising to the occasion. And your Gophers got Floyd. That's right. Row the boat, baby.