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Interviews - TRANSCRIPT: INTERVIEW WITH BART SCOTT
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Posted On: 7/8/07
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Back on April 1 we had Bart Scott in studio with us for the second half of GAMETIME. In this the first of two parts, Bart discusses the hit on Ben Roethlisberger, the energy of M&T Bank Stadium and much more...
Tony Lombardi: Bart against the Steelers you delivered a shot heard around the world. Now as you are coming around that left edge, the offense’s right, Roethlisberger is looking to his left. Terrell Suggs jumps a route and Roethlisberger pulls the ball down again. Talk about what is going through your mind as you begin to zero in on Big Ben.
Bart Scott: I thought initially that he was coming around the corner. I took a little studder step because he was about to throw the ball and when he brought it back down I said, “I can’t believe this.” It’s gonna happen.
Dev Panchwagh: Even when the linemen and linebackers couldn’t get to the quarterback, they did a nice job of forcing the quarterback to pull it back down for most of the season.
BS: Sitting in the windows, understanding where the windows are and just by formation recognition understanding where the hot routes are going to go and where the weakness of the defense is. If you can understand where the weakness of your defense is, then you know how to protect and where the quarterback is going to go. So with that happening we knew we’d see a hot route and Terrell did a great job of sitting in the window. That’s the trust and accountability we have in each other and that’s what separates us from the rest.
TL: When you got up after delivering the shot to Roethlisberger, you turned your attention towards the fans in the end zone and you start screaming. You play with so much emotion, what comes out of you when you’re screaming? What do you say?
BS: I can’t repeat it. There was a lot of stuff going on but it’s nothing that the kids should hear. But when I turn to the crowd I always know where my mother is in the crowd.
TL: Does she come to every game?
BS: Every home game for sure. I keep her away from places like Cleveland and Philly. My auntie comes to every game too and she came to me a couple of years ago before I started playing and my first time playing against the Steelers she’s like, “You know what I want you to do if you get a sack against the Steelers? I want you to do a little bird.” And I’m like, “A little bird?” So she showed me and now every time I get a sack you notice I do a little bird.
TL: You look like Karate Kid out there.
BS: (Laughs) Well that’s to my Mother and my auntie. It’s corny but she likes it. I mean the first time she told me to do it I got to sacks. So if it is not broken don’t fix it.
I’m out there having fun because I know what it feels like not to play. I know what it feels like to watch so I’m the happiest man out there. My Mother told me when I was in high school, to enjoy being in high school because one day it’s going to be over with. So I apply that to every thing in my life. When I’m out on that field I’m enjoying every second of it because I know that one day it’s going to be over. This is a small part of my life but I’m trying to live in the moment and make it last as long as I can because I know what it’s like not to play and I know that this game ends for everybody and it’s going to be a sad day in my life. So I’m out there having fun and I don’t care. I play with no fear and I couldn’t care less about anything.
TL: Talk about the noise level at M&T Bank Stadium as compared to other stadiums you’ve played in then talk about how difficult it is for you to communicate particularly with your constantly morphing defense which really has no base set.
BS: Yeah, I couldn’t tell you if we had one.
TL: So tell us how you communicate…is it that you just know each other so well? How do you get it done and what does it sound like, a jet engine, a rock concert?
BS: It’s a combination of both. You hear it the best when you’re in one of the end zones. But we’ve been playing so long together, the core group of guys – of course you lose a guy here and there…but our defense has really been able to grow. Rex Ryan was under [Mike] Nolan and even before that. So the packages have evolved and grown and we don’t really have to say too much to each other to be able to communicate.
So the noise doesn’t bother us but it definitely affects the opposing offense because they can’t make their checks. All you need is for that one guy not to hear what happened. And that’s pretty much what happens on a lot of the sacks that we get. The tackle doesn’t hear that they’ve changed the protection when we move and they can’t make the adjustment. And so I think the crowd…we feed off that energy because it’s pure energy. You can feel it in your body because it’s so loud. It vibrates in your soul so you love to hear it and it’s a huge part of what we do and a huge reason why we are so successful.
TL: You mentioned that some players come and go but the core group for the most part has remained in tact. This year a core member has moved on – AD, a critical component of your defense and I know a good friend of yours. Talk about what Rex might do, perhaps even utilizing your skills in new ways to help offset the loss of AD.
BS: Jarret Johnson is a unique talent and he’s another of those guys that has been sitting and waiting to come out from behind the scenes and make his presence known. He’s a great athlete and he’s one of those guys that can do the same things. He can play outside, he can play nose guard, tackle, D-end…he’s one of those guys that can run. And I don’t know if a lot of people know this but I actually played safety in college. So I’m very comfortable covering tight ends and slot receivers because I had to do that. So I’m comfortable and I don’t panic in those situations. I think we can use a combination of things where I can cover the tight ends and we don’t always have to cover them with a safety and take Ed Reed and make him come down and cover some of the better tight ends. I’ll take that responsibility on and Jarret can take some of the blitzes that I do.
It can work. You know we have so much depth. There’s a lot of young guys that are waiting to come out. Even on the offensive line, they are quality players but we’ve yet to see them but they’re going to come out and step up big.
TL: Bart you’ve mentioned a few times about guys coming out from behind the scenes -- quality players that you see in practice that the fans and the media don’t see on Sundays. One of those guys that I’ve heard good things about and I guy we are often asked about is David Pittman. Here’s a guy that was not active for even one game last season despite being a third round pick. What have you seen from Pittman or any of the other young defenders?
BS: The case with Pittman is that he got hurt early in camp. An undrafted guy, Ronnie Prude, you saw glimpses of. He didn’t play much but he ended up with three picks and a touchdown. You know that was just a glimpse. We are so deep that in this day and age you can’t put up all our players. You can dress only 45 but you have 53 on the roster. So if you are down at another position you might not be able to put up a David Pittman or a Ronnie Prude.
Last year in the Tennessee game is another example. Ray is out and we’re starting Mike Smith who goes out on the first play of the game with a separated shoulder. Who is this guy Dennis Haley who came up with nine tackles? We are locked and loaded so we can just plug guys in and they understand the tempo of the game.
I’ll tell you what. If you are on the practice squad or on the look team or the first team or the first back up, if you are on the Ravens defense and they keep you on this roster, you can play some football. I can guarantee you that!
I remember Halloween Day, people saying, “Oh my God, Bart Scott starting and they’re playing the tough Steelers offense. They’re going to run the ball down their throat.”
They didn’t.
DP: What separates the Ravens is that they give these guys a chance knowing that they are talented. So when they have an opening due to a guy leaving for free agency or because of any injury, they get a chance. Like Bart Scott…Bart was able to play in that Tennessee game a few years back in 2002 because of an injury and he made some plays and had an interception in the end zone against Steve McNair.
BS: Yeah and Steve still has to sign that football too.
DP: But it's a system that works and they keep producing players when they’re given a chance.
BS: Will Demps, Kemo, Chad Williams, Randy Hymes. We’re talking all [undrafted] free agent guys. Guys that made a contribution and then went off and got good paydays somewhere else. And that’s the key to success with the Baltimore Ravens.
TL: Now Bart you almost went somewhere else. If memory serves me correctly you were visiting the Browns in Cleveland when your agent called to say that the Ravens came through with a number that would keep you in Baltimore.
BS: I wasn’t going anywhere. All I wanted was a free steak.
TL: You signed a three year deal and there are still two years remaining. As an observer of the team and fan of the team…I’ve even mentioned this to Eric DeCosta, that Bart is the kind of player you want to extend while he’s under contract. I’ve seen the Eagles make those moves and the Patriots make those moves. Are you open to extending your contract or do you prefer to see the contract through, roll the dice and see where the market is for a player like you when the contract ends?
BS: You know it’s just business. At the end of the day it’s just a business. But I made a conscious decision to [accept] less money and turn down a double digit in Cleveland because I really wanted to be here. I love the way they do things here and they have a great owner and I know it seem cliché-ish and a lot of people say that but players come here and they say, “Wow. If I had been here I would have added five years to my career. You guys treat with respect.”
It’s from the top to the bottom. It’s a great place to be so I was willing to take less money and be in that atmosphere because at the end of the day you have to be happy going in to work.
But to answer your other question, with the state of the Ravens right now – it’s Terrell’s turn. Terrell is coming up this year and it’s a big deal. You know I think one of the reasons we couldn’t sign Adalius is because you know with the nature of the business, you could lose a Terrell next year. I mean 40 sacks in 4 years…
TL: Do you guys talk about that amongst yourselves?
BS: All the time because it’s a business. It’s the nature of the business and as long as you understand it your feelings won’t be hurt. Your feelings can get hurt if you get personally involved but at the end of the day it’s all a business decision. We know that Terrell’s a great talent and he’s yet to scratch the surface.
TL: In my opinion, he became a complete player in 2006.
BS: Right, right…he’s become a run stopper, a pass defender and you know he’s a guy that can play with his hand in the dirt. You know me and Adalius get a lot of our sacks by blitzing. Terrell’s a guy that can put his hand in the dirt and they can rush four and [the other team] knows you’re rushing four and he can still beat his guy. He’s that great of a talent. I compare him to a [Dwight] Freeney and you can’t even say [Shawne] Merriman because he gets his by blitzing. Terrell’s a pure pass rusher.
DP: Merriman goes up against running backs and tight ends at times.
BS: Right and Terrell is in a traditional three point stance coming in off the edge. So you know it’s his turn and we’ll see when it’s my turn. You know like I always tease him, I came in with Anthony Weaver and Ed Reed. It would be funny if I stick around long enough to retire as a Raven. And that’s the funniest thing – an undrafted guy who starts his career and ends his career in the same place.
You know with all those guys that came in in 2002, there’s just me and Ed Reed left.
In Part 2 coming your way on Friday, Bart discusses the most important player on the Ravens defense, how rock, paper, scissors is incorporated into their defensive scheme and why opposing defenses should be concerned about the arrival of Willis McGahee.
Photo by Sabina Moran
Originally posted on May 16, 2007
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