Six games into his rookie season Coby Bryant has shown that he not only belongs in the NFL but is he is here to thrive and make an impact. Bryant is the first player since 2000 to force four fumbles in his first six games. In 2021 Bryant was named the Jim Thorpe Award winner the annual award given to college football’s best defensive back. For the Seahawks to find him available in this year’s draft in the fourth round 109th player overall was fortunate for the Seahawks and Bryant.
EARLY LESSON’S LEARNED
Bryant has played in every game this year and his lone start was in week four against the Detroit Lion when the Seahawks started with a nickel package. Early in the season, Bryant was tested and he struggled with his pass coverage techniques in how the NFL referees call holding penalties. Post-practice sessions with coaches and extra game film sessions have seen him become an integral part of the Seahawk’s nickel package.
PLENTY OF PLAYING TIME
The Seahawks have been playing the nickel package more each game. Last week against the Cardinals Bryant played 53 (75% defensive snaps and recorded eight sacks. Only Michael Jackson ( 60 snaps) and fellow rookie Tariq Woolen (71 snaps) played more snaps. Bryant spoke to the media Thursday and talked about his love for competition and the drive to improve each and every week.
(On how he mastered the craft of punching the ball out)
“Well, just being myself honestly and then having the opportunity to go after the ball. The ball is obviously big and the NFL in making plays. Like I said, it’s big. Whenever the opportunities present itself, that’s my opportunity.”
(On if he learned that skillset himself)
“Yeah. I guess I did it myself. The coaches give me praise for that, but ultimately my teammates put me in that position to make the opportunity.”
(On his method of stripping the football)
“It’s like you have to time it up perfectly. The ball carriers can sometimes be extremely vulnerable when they are about to go to the ground or when they don’t see you, I catch them when they don’t see me. That’s the perfect time to be able to punch and make a tackle at the same time because the tackle is just as important.”
(On if his technique of causing fumbles was used on Kyler Murray)
“Yeah. He didn’t see me, so like I said, that was just the perfect time to come across and how he was holding the ball, I felt like it was gold at that point.”
(On what opposing teams can do to prevent forced fumbles from him)
“No. I’m just going to keep working each week and keep making the plays that come to me even though I’m still going to get challenged. That’s the biggest thing for me being the competitor that I am, I want to get challenged. I want the ball thrown at me. I want to make tackles, that’s who I am. So, I look forward to that each week.”
(On how he feels about the development of his coverage)
“Just growing each week, working after practice with (DeShawn) Shead and Neiko (Thorpe) every day and Bo (Melton) as well; just getting releases or whatever the case may be and not just work on getting turnovers, but work on my coverage skills as well too.”
(On the biggest adjustment in playing nickel)
“Just the space. I’m getting more routes now and I’m dealing with faster guys as well versus on the outside when you are getting a handful of routes. But now, I’m getting more routes, ‘overs’ or whatever the case may be, but I like the challenge and I’m just going to keep on working.”
(On the competition between the rookies especially with him and Tariq Woolen)
“There is no competition between me and him. We are pushing each other. We make each other better, not just us two, but the whole defense as well. They push us and without those guys being the leaders that they are, we wouldn’t be in the position that we are today. So, I’m extremely thankful for those guys and for him.”
(On his first impressions of Tariq Woolen at training camp)
“Well, I saw him at the Senior Bowl and the Combine. So, I was pretty familiar with him at that point. I didn’t know he was that fast until the Combine, but he’s extremely talented and he’s a funny guy.”
(On his familiarity with Byron Maxwell)
“Yes. So, the older I got, the more I realized that’s what he was extremely good at, as well as covering. I’m extremely familiar with him.”
(On his reaction when Tariq Woolen ran down Taysom Hill in Week 5 versus the Saints)
“His speed is unreal. I’ve seen a lot of fast guys in my life, but he’s definitely the fastest, and the physical attributes that he has, he’s blessed. Like I said, he’s extremely talented, so it was special.”
(On his prep week and being placed in multiple positions)
“Just learning, my run gaps as well and not just covering, but my run gaps are as important as well too. So, knowing what gap I have to fit in and ultimately having to make the tackles that come to me and to play my game.”
(On the critiques that teams gave him in the pre-draft process)
“I guess people didn’t how fast I was, that was the biggest thing, you know my 40 (yard dash). Ultimately, I just told them my game film speaks for itself. The 40 time doesn’t always determine how fast you are. It’s about how you play. There’s a lot of guys who run 4.5, 4.6 (seconds), but play in the game at a 4.4, 4.3. So, that was the biggest thing.”
(On if he swapped tales with Sauce Gardner)
“Yeah, we talk a lot. I heard he’s doing extremely well as well. I expect that from him, and we cheer each other on from a distance too.”
(On if his experiences are similar to Sauce Gardner)
“Yes. Absolutely. Absolutely. He’s with a couple of guys that I know over there that’s pushing him as well too and like I said, I know he is going to do great.”
(On of they have a nickname for their defense)
“No, we haven’t thought of a name yet, but we just have to keep growing and keep getting better. There’s a lot of room for improvement, not just for me, but for everyone as a whole. Just got to keep working and keep getting better.”
(On Tariq Woolen thinking coach Clint Hurtt was coach Pete Carroll’s bodyguard)
“He heard me say that. He took that from me, so I’m going to make sure to bring that up when I see him. He definitely stole that from me.”
(On how he feels differently six games into the season)
“Extremely comfortable. Extremely comfortable. I can still get more comfortable each week versus the first game, I was a little nervous. I didn’t know if I was going to get in and then obviously, when I got in, I gave up a touchdown. Honestly, me being a rookie, that’s what rookies need to be; humbled and to learn from those experiences so when the next year’s rookies come in, I can give them that experience or that example. So, those days like that, you keep on growing and just keep getting better and trusting in myself.”
(On if it was easy to move on after giving up a touchdown in Week 1)
“Absolutely. Absolutely. Even the greatest give up touchdowns and that was the biggest thing about the leaders here. They never got on me about it. They encouraged me to keep working, keep getting better, things like that happen; just continuously growing and like I said, just keep getting better each week, learning from the mistakes, and honing in on the small details.”
(On his initial thought of him playing nickel)
“I remember it was probably towards the end of camp they mentioned it, but I was still playing outside. And then I remember the last week of camp or right before Pittsburgh actually, they told me that they were going to give me reps at nickel; mind you I didn’t really know too much. So, they just threw me out there just to see how much I knew, and they said, I did really well. So, the rest is history from there.”
(On if the footwork technique is different playing nickel)
“Not really a lot different, but it’s different as far as me being off, like I said more space. Ultimately, it’s still the same thing. I’m still a defensive back. Sometimes I can be in a run-fit more, but it’s all the same thing.”
(On if he was reluctant on giving the nickel position a shot)
“No. I told them absolutely. I’ll do it, whatever I can do to help the team. It doesn’t matter what it is.”
(On if his family has been able to see him play in-person)
“Yes. They actually came to the Detroit game. I had probably 20 people in Detroit because I’m from Cleveland. It’s not that far and they were excited to see me and vice versa.”
(On his family to coming to Seattle)
“Yes. Actually, my brother was just here last week, and I had a good game last week and I was happy to see him, and he was there with me throughout the week. We actually watched film together and everything, so it was exciting to see him there and to have a good game, as well and a win most importantly.”
(On what he has learned from Neiko Thorpe)
“Neiko (Thorpe) is a funny guy. He’s actually teaching me a lot, so I meet with him and (DeShawn) Shead every day. After we meet, I sit down with them for 30 minutes after practice. I do releases with those guys. They’re still young, so they’re still in shape so they help me out as much as they can, and they have been great and I’m extremely appreciative for those guys.”
(On if he has gone against traditional slot receivers when playing nickel)
“That’s actually how it is going to be last week versus this week. I’ll see a bigger slot. If Keenan Allen decides to play, I’ll see him. He’s a lot bigger than last week versus Rondale Moore. So, that’s the good thing about that.”
(On his feelings during the pre-draft discussions of him not being fast)
“Absolutely. Absolutely. Ultimately, it’s about proving to myself before I prove it to anyone else. I always had a chip on my shoulder, and it just adds more fuel to the fire.”
