Defense has been the backbone of our entire season. We can step up and stop people when we need to stop them.

At this point, we've got to show some backbone. You don't stop playing because things aren't going your way. As a team, you find out now if it has any character, any heart.

After the season, ... when you stop and look at the numbers and look at everything, I'm not going to lie and say it didn't surprise me [not to make the Pro Bowl]. After it was all over and I stopped to look at it. I said, 'Damn.' But I guess that goes to show that I'm still not respected, and people have formed a certain opinion about me. Now I'm a one-year wonder. That's why I keep working.

I think a lot of people have been spoiled because of Duke's success over the years. We've had a lot of talent since I've been here but that's not the case this year. We understand we have to be more mentally strong than we've been before.

This whole team through the entire season has been nothing but a cohesive unit. It's easy to say that when you're winning like we were in the first half. But I think the true colors show when you're scuffling a little bit. Everybody stuck together same as we did when we were winning.

One of the biggest challenges, acting-wise, has been charting a character's growth through the length of an entire season. On stage or in film, I'm able to see a character's journey from beginning to end in one story, but on 'Lost,' every episode opens a new chapter for Jin. It's a lot like real life, actually. You wake up every morning and never quite know what's going to happen. All I can say is that so far, it's been a really great ride.