Byron Murphy II On His Performance This Season: "I'm In A Flow State"

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

Byron, back in training camp, there was a lot of conversation from your teammates, and you said that you were expecting a big year. Given where we are in the season, how would you say that you were measuring up to your expectations?

Byron Murphy II (0:13)

I feel like I'm doing a great job. I feel like right now I'm in a great place.

I feel like I'm heading in the right direction to have a good year. So I just got to, you know, just keep doing me. Just keep working, you know, week in, week out. Just keep trying to get better, you know, keep trying to find, like Mike say, chasing edges. So instead of trying to find, you know, edges, chasing edges, you know, find little in my game or fix something, you know, just always trying to improve and get better. But I feel like I'm heading in the right direction.

SPEAKER_1 (0:50)

Now you've got a good sample size under your belt from this season. What is something that got unlocked for you? Like, what's one of those little nuggets that has made a huge difference?

Byron Murphy II (1:02)

I think really just, like, understanding the office is more.

I'd say that's one for sure. And then also, too, secondly, I say my confidence. Like, my confidence is like this year, this season, it's like, it's at the roof. It's like, I'm not thinking about nothing. Like, I'm just, I'm just playing. Like, and like the game just coming to me. Like, now I'm just, I'm just in a flow state to where, like, I could just be me, be who I am and just play my game.

SPEAKER_3 (1:31)

Byron, last week when DeMarcus Lawrence was talking about Red Zone, he kind of put it all on himself. He was, you know, saying they're running at my gap. I'm assuming for all you guys, you're looking at that. Like, that's obviously not fully the story, but what does it mean when a veteran guy wants to be the guy to step in front and kind of take that?

Byron Murphy II (1:47)

It means a lot. I mean, it just goes to show you, like, guys, like, they take a lot of ownership in their role, you know, especially, like, when it comes to dominating their box. Like, guys take a lot of pride in that, especially on this defense. Me, myself, as a person, I take my job, you know, very seriously.

So, you know, having a guy like that, you know, it's pretty cool to have. But, you know, we put it all on us, not just, you know, it ain't just law, you know. We put it all on the whole defense, you know, to improve and get better in the red zone. We did a great job of that, you know. This past Sunday, going 0-2 in the red zone, stopping them, you know, stopping them in the red zone, stopping them from scoring. So, you know, we just got to keep improving, keep improving at that, you know, and continue to do that week in, week out.

SPEAKER_4 (2:32)

You made a lot of initial impact on the run side of your game, and now you've grown in the pass rush. Are you finding it's challenging to do both, like, at equal levels?

Byron Murphy II (2:44)

No, I don't find it challenging at all. I mean, I always knew I could pass rush. I knew coming into the league, I knew I needed to take it to another level and improve my pass rushing.

As far as playing the run, it's like night and day. I can do that on any given Sunday, you know, whatever it is. But it's not a challenge to me at all. And I love pass rush. I love getting out the quarterback. I love third downs. I like playing the run. You know, a lot of guys, a lot of guys don't like pointer. I like doing both. So, you know, and I'm very good at both. So, you just got to, you know, continue to be me, continue to stay at it.

SPEAKER_5 (3:21)

The flow state that you mentioned, what is that, what's that like in the moment? How is that different from when you didn't necessarily feel that way?

Byron Murphy II (3:28)

I feel like, when I say flow state, I feel like when I made like that first, you know, that first play, or that first tackle, or when I get that, or I get a sack, it's like, I'm just, I'm in a mode, like in a mode to where, like, I feel like I just can't, I can't be stopped. Like, when I get that flow state, it's like, okay.