Chase Young says he doesn’t feel pressure but acknowledged the Washington Football Team needs to change things up after the defense’s slow start to the 2021 season.
In an interview on The Team 980’s Russell & Medhurst Monday, Young said the entire Washington locker room, even on a young team, down to a man, was ready to hold themselves accountable.
"I feel like everybody right now, we know what we have to change. Something has to change," Young told The Team 980. "Right now, everybody is real urgent. Holding each other accountable. At this point, it's no other way. It has to be every man on the roster holding each other accountable and working to one mission. That's where we're trying to be at right now."
Entering the season with high expectations, the criticism of the defense’s play from outside of Ashburn has been quite intense. However, Young says the team isn’t worried and doesn’t pay attention to the outside noise.
"We're definitely not worried. What people have to say, people are going to talk for the rest of eternity," Young said on Russell & Medhurst. "Right now, what we're trying to do is just lock in and focus on us and nothing outside. And just take another step that you have to take just to try to be the best you can be. Those are the steps we're taking."
After Sunday’s loss in Buffalo, head coach Ron Rivera said players needed to self-reflect and focus on maintaining their role in the defense, rather than hunting for big plays. On Tuesday, Young echoed that call for more trust and discipline from the defense.
"It just goes back to playing together and trusting each other," Young said. "If you do that, you don’t have those few mistakes that we've slipped up on."
When asked about the communication between defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and the team, Young said there is an excellent relationship between the staff and players.
“Coach Del Rio, that’s my guy,” Young told The Team 980. “If we see something in the game that he just can’t see because he’s not playing, he’s definitely listening and he’s taking heed to what the input that we’re giving him.
“He definitely makes changes and he tells us what he’s seeing and that we need to do better, as well. [There’s] definitely a common ground between player and coach and, I believe, Coach Del Rio, in terms of taking information, he has to be one of the best because he definitely takes it and applies it. And he’s just a great coach all around.”
Despite his slow start in the season, Young told Russell & Medhurst he is “not too worried” about his low sack total and is focused on putting himself in the best situations on the field.
"I'm really not too worried about what people have to say. I know what I do," Young said, adding his faith helps him, also. "I believe in myself and I'm always gonna bet on myself."
And playing well for his hometown team and competing for a Super Bowl is something Young has thought about since he was drafted No. 2 overall last year.
"You have to have a vision," Young told Russell & Medhurst. "If you're not playing this game for the Lombardi, then you shouldn't be playing. And, you know, that’s definitely the vision that we have, that I have, Coach Rivera has.
“[But] its a process. And right now we getting through that process and we working on tightening things up. And we’re gonna go out there and every Sunday, give it our best.”
Take an inside look into Chase Young's Virginia home base in partnership with USAA and ESPN.
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