HEAD COACH MIKE VRABEL
(on the performance of wide receiver Julio Jones)
Yeah, I thought OK. There’s a lot of things that we have to improve on, but I thought that he got through. There were some things that obviously we would have liked to get him the football more, but give their defense credit. I think that they played extremely hard, made it difficult for us. I thought there were some things there than just through Ryan (Tannehill) not having some time, whatever it may be, that allowed us, forced us to not be able to get the ball downfield.
(on if the four interceptions were what he was looking for in terms of getting more turnovers) Yeah, I mean, that’s a little better way to do it. Really proud of our defensive coaches, our defensive staff. This team moved the ball on us the last time we played. They have some talent. We understand that they’re a talented team offensively. (Laviska) Shenault has always played well against us, (James) Robinson has, the quarterback is talented. Really proud of the way that they played, obviously, and then coached.
(on if the defense takes pride in recording a shutout)
They do. It’s the first one we’ve had at home since 2000. I think that that was certainly something that they all wanted, and it was some guys that really — finishing off that game that hadn’t maybe had as much chance to play this season. It was good to see those guys out there contributing and being excited.
(on scoring a touchdown offensively and posting two sacks defensively on the opening possessions) Yeah, you know, teams have had a fast start against them previously. We thought that that would be important. We missed a kick, but again, that’s where we’ve got to fight through the fringe. We kind of stalled there a few times in that area, and that’ll be something that, again, we’ll continue to try to talk about. Take the ball from inside the 10 and get all the way down there and then just kind of stall. That’s unfortunate. You do all the hard work to get there and then we’re not able to continue that drive. A lot of good things today, a lot of things that we’ll have to get corrected, but I thought we — just from my view over there especially defensively, they looked like there was some speed.
(on what it’s like to be ahead and have regular players get to rest toward the end of the game) Yeah, they’re excited. They’re excited for these guys. They’re in meetings with them all day. They’re in practice with them, in the locker room with them all day. For other guys to go in there and get an opportunity to go in there and make plays to help their team, I know that means a lot. They support those guys, and they’re just as excited as everybody else is.
(on how much of the success was based on not turning the ball over)
Well, it always is. There’s no better indicator of success in this league than turnover margin. You say what you want. Look it up over 20 years. It’s real critical that we realize that that’s how we have to play. We have to be efficient when we throw the football. We have to be able to run it and we have to be able to stop it and affect their quarterback, and we did all three of those things today. Now, I think we’d all say that the run game needs to be better, but there were some cuts that we missed and then there were some blocks that we missed, but I thought guys were — especially we got down there, I think the best run that we had was down there in the red zone, being able to run it in. Looked like there was a really, really nice surge there, good push off the line of scrimmage. D’Onta (Foreman) put his foot in the ground, got downhill, and that’s hard to do, especially down in the red zone.
(on the confidence boost running back D’Onta Foreman provided with his rushing touchdown) Yeah, it’s huge. It’s hard. There’s not a lot of space when you throw it, so any time that you can run it in down there in tight quarters is a huge boost, and I think you saw the excitement that obviously we all had.
Nate (Davis)’s finish and somehow they throw his helmet off or it comes off or whatever, and I thought that that was a huge, just huge start to the game for us.
(on what led to the number of turnovers the defense tallied)
You put the guy (Trevor Lawrence) under pressure and he makes mistakes, and you can only throw it out of bounds so many times. I thought Buster (Skrine) had a fantastic play there in zone coverage being able to squeeze back and trying to hit one in there behind him. But it’s about the ability to be able to affect the quarterback and make them make bad decisions. I thought the empty execution with the pressure was
something that we had practiced all week, and I think that that’s a great example of something maybe not looking great on Wednesday or even Thursday and then continuing to work on it, coach it, explain it, rep it, and Jayon (Brown) executed that perfectly.
(on today’s game)
Yeah, I think first glance probably. I didn’t see guys diving around, jumping off the diving board, falling on the ground. So, yeah. I thought Elijah (Molden) did, and those guys – Harold (Landry), for example. You see some of those open-field tackles where that could be a lot of yards, where we gave up a lot the
last time we played these guys, and so I think those were just some instances that I can remember. Jayon (Brown) broke on a checkdown, Roby (Derick Roberson) came flying in with a really physical hit, Elijah (Molden) had another one. I’m sure I’m missing a ton, but they were flying around. Rashaan (Evans), felt him in the run game. I know they called the guy forward progress, but felt him trying to rip the ball, rake the ball out, and it looked like there was a speed today that was fun to watch.
(on if shutting down Jacksonville’s run game forced the Jaguars to play into their gameplan) I mean, I think we all anticipated them trying to run it with the success that they’ve had against us previously. They have good backs, obviously, (James) Robinson, a lot of respect for him, (Carlos) Hyde, (Laviska) Shenault had been back there some trying to run the football. For us, I thought that was the number one key defensively was to stop the run, including the quarterback run, including the RPOs.
(on the performance of safety Kevin Byard)
Certainly. Yeah, that was a well-timed call for them. We were in man coverage. Kevin (Byard) just helping us out, know what I mean? But that’s a great break out of the middle of the field and a good legal, physical hit to break that up.
(on missing the speed defensively in the pass protection game and if he saw it across the board) It did, yeah. I felt like you could just feel it down there. It felt like guys were moving around, flying. Again, it’s not perfect, but I felt like it was where it was maybe earlier, and I hope that the film will indicate that as well.
(on the sideline setting the tone for takeaways)
Yeah, Rashaan (Evans) had been working hard to get back and just hadn’t been able to go. But I think you saw him in there in the run game early. I saw him flying through, playing fast. I thought he did a nice job. Playing with their rat — there was a rat on that play, and they tipped the ball up, he was around it where he was supposed to be and made a play on it. Terrible return, but it was a nice interception, and then
obviously — they were excited to be able to both have interceptions. It was good.
(on cornerback Buster Skrine fitting in quickly)
He is a professional. I mean, he has been nothing but a consummate professional, coming in here, meeting. Play inside, played outside today. I’ve really enjoyed being around him. He’s been a really good addition to our football team. It was a really nice play today. Then we’ll just work on him down the field today or whatever happened today. But his professionalism I would say has been up there with anybody that I can remember that we’ve brought in midway through.
(on the performance of quarterback Ryan Tannehill)
We’ve got to take care of him. We do. He stands in there, and unfortunately he took too many hits, but he has a command of our offense and really comes up with some great plays. We’ve got to help him out in protection. I thought the screen would have been — the screen was a great pass to get it over the blitzer, but we weren’t able to hang on to it. He just leads our football team, and he is incredibly tough, and when we give him time and a clean pocket, we can complete some plays.
QUARTERBACK RYAN TANNEHILL
(on the defensive performance today)
It was huge. It was fun to watch those guys fly around and make plays, dominating the run game, stopping the run and attacking the football in the pass game and being aggressive, go getting it. When they’re flying around like that making plays, it’s a lot of fun.
(on having wide receiver Julio Jones back from injury)
Yeah, it was nice to get Julio (Jones) back, made some good plays for us early, one of the plays I’m thinking of is the out cut to the left, ran a really great route, was able to get the ball to him and kind of got us going on that drive. Thankful to get him back and hope to build up as we stack some games together.
(on if he feels today’s win was a confidence boost after losing the previous two games) Yeah, no doubt. I think we’ve kind of got back to our brand of football a little bit. Defense did a great job of making plays on the ball, and obviously shutout, they did everything good. Offensively we did some good things. Obviously have some things to clean up, but excited to get a win and get rolling in that right direction.
(on what stood out about the drives after turnovers where the offense couldn’t capitalize) Yeah, I think late in the game we’re basically in four-minute offense and basically the whole fourth quarter we were in four-minute. They’re playing basically cover zero, putting everybody in the box and we’re just trying to run and eat up the clock and hopefully get a first first down. When defense is getting turnovers you want to be able to get advantage of it and score, but kind of played the situation a little bit there, as well.
(on if using the tight end position more today was by design or more based on the looks from Jacksonville)
I think a little bit of both. Obviously we had some opportunities that were drawn up for the tight ends and got them the ball, and then there was a couple plays where they were just the guys open and made some plays. Thankful to get those guys going.
(on earning an early lead and if that helped make the team feel comfortable)
Well, defense was playing great. Felt really good about where we were at. Obviously wanted to score and wanted to extend that lead and get going a little bit more. I had a couple opportunities down in the red zone or high red, extended red, kicked field goals or attempted field goals. Want to be able to put those drives in the end zone. But excited for some steps that we took today and obviously hats off to the defense and the way they played.
(on if he feels more comfortable running for touchdowns now than he did earlier in his career or if he just has more opportunities to do that)
I don’t know. I’ve always liked to use my legs and try to keep the defense honest. Sometimes the coverage is good and protection is good, and that allows you to get outside the pocket. Sometimes you just feel a lane. Early drop-back, I think a third down early on, defense did a great job — I mean offensive line did a
great job and kind of split the defense, gave me a crease, I was able to get vertical and get a first down there. It’s always there, and hopefully we can continue to use it when we get those opportunities.
(on Head Coach Mike Vrabel saying he appreciates his toughness but that he’d like to see the offensive line protect better)
I think it all works together. It’s not just the O-line, whether receivers or myself. It all works together, and collectively we have to do a better job of being able to get open, get out, and protect me as well.
(on if he thinks opposing defenses have to play the Titans differently when wide receiver Julio Jones is on the field)
You’d have to ask the Jaguars, but I think so. I think if you don’t respect him, you don’t account for him, then he’s going to hurt you. Obviously had some plays that got us going today, and like I said, hope to build on it as we move forward.
(on today’s win)
Yeah, we took care of the ball today which I think was a big step in the right direction considering how a couple weeks before that had went. We’ll have to keep doing that and then clean up where we have things to clean up, take advantage of some opportunities in the pass game, scoring when we get drives going, finishing with points every drive, and then, yeah, the defense can keep playing like that, we’ll be in good shape.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE JEFFERY SIMMONS
(on today’s game)
I love it. What more can we ask for? Guys came out hungry today. Guys came out ready to compete. We talked about it. We’re going to have to create turnovers, we have to get to the quarterback, had to affect the quarterback, and the No. 1 thing was stop the run. We heard something from (Mike) Vrabel that they was able to push the power, when the O-line was able to push the power and run the football on us the last game, which they did, 180 some yards, but today they did a hell of a job. I think they had like eight rushing yards. That’s a hell of a defense. That’s the way we come, and that’s our identity, stop the run and earn the right to rush, and that’s what we did today.
(on how much of football can be letting your opponent make mistakes)
I mean, it’s December football. We don’t care what they did. All I know is that we had turnovers, we stopped the run, we affected the quarterback, and like I said, I don’t know what mistake they made, but I just know our defense had a hell of a game. We gave our offense the opportunity to get the ball in good field position, and our special teams play ran down, covered kicks, punts, whatever it may be. We all played clean football, put all phases together, offense, defense, special teams.
(on having linebacker Rashaan Evans back on the field)
Like I told him, I’m happy he’s back. He’s happy he’s back out there. You could tell just the energy, just the — when I saw him, he was just happy to be back out there, smile on his face. Like I said, it’s always great to play in front of a guy like that. Those linebackers, him and Jayon (Brown), they both had a turnover today, but like I said, I was just happy to see him out there. I know he was happy to be out there. Having linebackers like that, I always tell them I appreciate them because when I’m getting double teamed, they come down and get that double off me. Just having linebackers like that is great.
(on if the defense has the mindset of needing to pull more weight when the offense is missing numerous pieces like it has been)
We worry about what’s on defense. Of course we wish everybody was with us, but our job is to do what we did today. We want to try to go get a shutout no matter who’s on the field on offense. The only thing
we can worry about is stopping the run, affecting the quarterback and getting turnovers, and I think that’s just our motto and our identity, stopping the run, affecting the quarterback and getting turnovers.
(on how important it was to maintain the shutout)
We were on the sidelines saying, ‘Let’s keep it.’ At halftime we were gunning for it. We were like, ‘Let’s get this shutout.’ Congrats to Shane (Bowen), this is his first shutout as a D-coordinator, props to him, but we were saying at halftime, ‘Let’s keep it going. Why let up?’ They don’t have to score, and our defense did a hell of a job. Even when some of the starters got taken out, other guys went in and stepped up and stopped the run and stopped the pass. Buster (Skrine) got him a pick today. That’s what’s great about our defense that no matter who’s on the field, we all come in and we all come in with the right mindset that everyone is trying to make the plays.
(on today being the first home shutout since 2000 and the first overall shutout since 2018) That’s why I — I asked on the sideline, ‘Is this (Mike) Vrabel’s first shutout?’ But Vrabel said it in the locker room. What more can you ask for as a defense, coming in and getting a shutout, and at home?
(on battling through injuries but still preparing for today’s game)
Yeah, I thought a lot, just being able to get mental reps. Mental reps are always good as physical reps. I think probably almost more important than getting the mental reps is being able to see and hear a lot. One thing we talked about on defense, one thing we have to get better at is communication. Not all the way — not all about going out there, making contact with guys. I think that’s been our problem, not being able to communicate, and that’s the thing we pushed last week. You see something, communicate it to the next guy, communicate it so everyone will be on the same page. I think we did that last week, helped us out the two days we were in. Today we would just see things and talk about it.
SAFETY KEVIN BYARD
(on if getting turnovers was part of the gameplan)
Man, we had so much fun out there today. I mean, would I have liked to join the interception party? Absolutely, but I talk about it all the time, man, and if I get one pick, no picks, four interceptions, I don’t know how many sacks we had, but I think the stat I’m most proud about is – obviously we had the shutout, but eight yards rushing. I think seeing some quotes and stuff earlier in the week about Urban Meyer saying they feel like they were able to run the ball, so felt pretty good going into the game. Eight yards rushing, man. So, we went out there and handled our business, handled the keys that knew we were going to have to win, which was stopping the run.
(on how well he thinks the team did with having confidence and getting pressure) Well, it was really good, because I think earlier in the game we really started hitting Trevor Lawrence, got some good pressure. I think we had two sacks on the first drive. So like I said, just really proud of the guys, proud of the effort. And also proud when I obviously came out of the game late in the fourth quarter, guys were still flying around making plays. So like I said, just an exciting win. It’s going to be a really good time watching film tomorrow. Obviously we’re going to have some stuff to correct, but whenever you can get a shutout, man, it’s great.
(on the speed today and if he noticed teammates swarming to the ball)
Absolutely. I really felt like guys were flying around. Like I said, anytime you can get a shutout, you stop the run, I think we were really good tackling out there today. They hit a couple — they had one big play, one big pass play, but other than that, I think we did a really good job. The communication was great. Like I said, just proud of my team, proud of the effort that we went out there and played with today.
(on allowing the opponent to make mistakes)
Yeah, in a game like this, I just felt like even talking to the guys pregame, we’ve just got to go out there and handle our business. At the end of the day we know what kind of team we are, and I felt like the last two losses that we had we kind of got away from that a little bit. But, like you said, we’re stopping the run, going out there, not giving up big plays. We gave up a couple. They had a little cheap one at the end of the half. Like I said, guys were just flying around, doing what we needed to do. It wasn’t necessarily about Jacksonville Jaguars and their team. It was more about us doing what we need to do and playing to our strengths and who we are.
(on letting Jacksonville make errors)
Yeah, that’s the type of team we want to be. I mean, I know you guys heard (Mike) Vrabel talk about it before. We want to be the good team, the great team that takes advantage of other teams’ poor football, so I think we did that today.
(on at what point the team realized they could shut Jacksonville out)
Probably going into halftime, honestly. That’s something that we talked about leaving out of halftime, ‘Hey, let’s go get a goose egg.’ We talked about coming out there, dominating, flying around, getting to the ball, getting turnovers. And like you said, it’s just an exciting thing. I know we had a shutout in 2018 in New York, but to get a shutout at home I think (for the first time) since like 2000, so that’s a pretty impressive stat right there.
(on if the team knew late in the game that it would be the first home shutout since 2000) (Mike) Vrabel told us at the end of the game, but honestly on the sideline, we were just preaching, ‘Shutout, shutout.’ Every time we had to go back out on the field, if we had a turnover or whatever, let’s go out here and keep playing so we can get a shutout. That was the main motivation the second half.
(on the lessons learned about allowing Jacksonville to rush freely in the first matchup of the season) Yeah, we just knew that wasn’t us. I mean, giving up 190 yards — I think that’s what it was, 190 yards rushing. We knew they were going to be confident going into this game because they ran the ball so well. Like I said, I think the most impressive stat in this game other than the shutout was eight yards rushing. I might have to check that stat. I don’t remember the last time we gave up eight yards rushing. I think somebody said it was like back in the 60s, but that’s like the Oilers. I’m talking the modern-day Titans. So it’s pretty impressive honestly.
(on the importance of finishing this game dominantly like they started it)
That was the most impressive thing, and like I said, the motivation was to go out there and keep being us, keep flying around, but we really wanted to get a shutout today. Like I said, going into halftime we talked about the shutout. Still flying around in the second half, so every time we’re coming to the sideline we’re like, ‘Let’s get this shutout. Let’s make sure we preserve this shutout.’ I think guys really understood, and we just kept flying around, man, and making plays. Guys were trying to punch the ball out. We didn’t get one. I think we almost had one coming out of halftime. They didn’t give it to us, but guys just doing what we were coached to do. I think we just have to keep it going and keep stacking these wins.
(on losing two straight before the Bye and why today was more on-brand for Titans football) I mean, it could be a lot of different reasons. Obviously I think coming out of the Bye Week, guys were able to get away. Kind of came in refreshed, reenergized. Guys just wanted to have fun today, and that was the main thing. Go out there, have fun. Let’s not worry about all the talk that’s been going on throughout the week with this team, that team. Let’s worry about us, let’s go out here and play our brand of football, and I think we did that today.
(on center Ben Jones doing a cartwheel after scoring)
He did a cartwheel? I didn’t see it. Somebody’s got to send me the video. I’m pretty sure when I get out of here and get on Twitter I’ll see it, but that’s impressive. I definitely didn’t know he could do a cartwheel, but I definitely want to see it. I want to see his technique on there.
(on the play where two Jacksonville receivers nearly collided with one another) I was laughing, honestly. It was just, you know, end of the game when guys run into each other, you know, I don’t want to speak too much on it, but I was talking some trash a little bit to him. But it’s kind of one of those things, you know what I’m saying? I don’t know. Tough for them boys over there.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER HAROLD LANRDY III
(on the opening drive touchdown by the offense and how that helped the defense) We always have a great feeling going out on the field, especially when our offense gets a drive like they did and scores a touchdown. It is awesome. That is how we feel like we are supposed to start games and it was a big momentum shift.
(on if this performance is what the defense needed)
It was a great team win in all phases. We played complementary football and just all went out there and played together and picked up a big win. Like Coach (Mike Vrabel) has been saying, this is like a whole new season for us. We are just focusing on 1-0 each week and get ready to get back at it.
(on if the the four interceptions or the eight rushing yards allowed were more impressive) Shoot. Both of those are amazing numbers. It is always a focus for us to turn the ball over and those are big for us. Turnovers change games so those are big. It is also another thing to hold a team to seven or eight yards rushing. I just feel like we all played together, and everyone was flying around and making plays.
(on if the defense can ever smell blood in the water during this kind of game)
I just feel like coming in at halftime, we felt like we had a chance to hold them to no points and keep it at zero. We just went out there and I feel like our defense allowed us to finish this game and we were able to do that.
(on taking advantage of the mistakes made by the Jaguars)
I feel like a lot of football is letting them make mistakes. We have to make sure we capitalize on those mistakes. I feel like we were able to do that today.
(on getting a shutout)
I just feel like we were playing great team defense. Stuff like that happens when you play great team defense.
TIGHT END ANTHONY FIRKSER
(on his role in today’s win)
Pretty exciting. The team played well, the defense held it down, the offense was moving the ball. It felt good to get involved a little more.
(on the offensive performance today compared to the previous couple of games) That was one of our main points of emphasis. Taking care of the ball and making sure we weren’t putting our defense in bad situations, making sure we were moving the ball and scoring points when we got in the red zone.
(on the defense getting turnovers and giving the ball back to the offense)
For sure, they helped us a lot, giving us great field position and giving us that momentum. We just built it off each other and kept it going.
(on resting over the Bye and returning to play this week)
I think it definitely helped, getting people healthy and getting peoples’ minds right. It was a long stretch of games with two losses in a row. Kind of just reset as a team and get back to what we know, how to win football games.
(on the offense only scoring three points off of turnovers)
That’s something we have to take advantage of, and we’ll go back and look at the film to see where we could have made more plays or helped out our defense when they were helping us out. Making sure we are playing off each other.
(on what the Jaguars defense did to give the offense problems today)
They are big, physical and play fast. They were keyed into some of the things we were doing. We just had to stick to what we were doing, and make sure we are correcting on the sideline and keeping the ball moving.
(on the organization’s recent success over the past few seasons after securing another winning record with nine wins this year)
A lot of it has to do with (Coach Mike) Vrabel, the organization, and the guys he brings into the building. They expect a lot of us, push us, and make sure we are all working for each other, working as a team, working as one unit, and making sure we are a winning football team.
(on what the Titans have to do to get ready to face the Steelers in Pittsburgh)
We have to move on from this week and get ready to focus on that opponent. Break down the gameplan. Watch the film and know what we are going in for. It’s a tough place to play and they are always a good team and good organization, so it’s going to be a tough game.
TACKLE TAYLOR LEWAN
(on his thoughts about how the game went)
It was a good start. Still a lot of stuff we can do better, especially in the run game. We had (Ryan) Tannehill hit too many times. Coming back from a Bye, those guys play hard. Being in that situation before in 2014 and 2015, I know what those guys are going through. It is tough. They are in December, and it is a five-game season for them. Hats off to them for playing as hard as they did. We played good ball today. We did a good job of fighting through that 40-40 range.
(on if he felt like the team dominated the Jaguars)
It is the NFL. To say that is an inferior team that is not – they have talented guys over there, they have talented edge rushers. Our defense played a really good game. That team is going to be a giant in the future. I think Trevor Lawrence is a winner, he has been a winner since high school, and they are just in that phase that the Titans were in in 2014 and 2015. I expect them to be better next season and the year after that. They scrapped the whole day. There was no quit in them so hats off to them.
(on figuring out the run game without running back Derrick Henry)
I think we are figuring it out. Derrick (Henry) is Derrick (Henry). There is a reason why I am wearing his shoes, he is the king. Definitely was a big loss, but we have guys in there that can run the ball and they run the ball hard and they know what their skillsets are. I think Todd (Downing) did a good job of putting those guys in a position to be successful. As an offensive line, I think we left a lot of meat on the bone.
There were a lot of situations where we could have been better. That is how it always is. We will regroup, everyone is going to get healthy. I don’t know if guys got hurt this game but hopefully it was a relatively injury-free game and continue to play a Steelers team – you go into Heinz Field, they are a great defense.
Ben (Roethlisberger) is Ben (Roethlisberger) regardless of if it is his last year or whatever. He is a stud, and they have great offensive players. We have our hands full next week and we will get back on track with that on Wednesday.
(on what is what like to come back on the field after the defense caused so many turnovers) It was awesome. You would like to be more complementary. I think we got 16 yards on one turnover right in the middle of the field. We have to do better to play complementary football as an offense. It is great to see the defense have success like that. When we score on the first drive, it takes a lot off of them and when they get picks like that it takes a lot off of us. We have to do a better job of taking their turnovers and turning them into points. We will hopefully address that and continue to move forward.
(on guard Rodger Saffold III and his ability to play through pain)
Rodger (Saffold III) is a scrapper, man. I can’t say enough good things about Rodger Saffold (III). That is my boy. I love that guy. He is a great dude. He works extremely hard. Whatever he has got going on, whatever he is dealing with I have no doubt he will attack it 100 percent. I know what he is dealing with. I have had the thing he is dealing with before and it is a pain in the ass. It is one of those really nagging things. I know that he is going to attack it and I hope he feels a lot better come the end of this week.
(on what it means for the offense to have wide receiver Julio Jones back in the lineup) You would have to ask (Ryan) Tannehill that. I have never thrown a ball to Julio Jones, not even in pre practice, so I really don’t know. Julio Jones is Julio Jones. There is a reason why they called him ‘cheat code’ in Atlanta. Anytime when he is on the field, we are lucky to have him on this team.
(on if he feels the team is re-energized after the Bye Week)
I feel like we did play faster. In these situations when you haven’t watched the film or anything yet, you have to speak for yourself individually because you don’t know what happened. For me personally, I felt a whole lot better. At the beginning of the season, I had a little thing here and there and I missed a couple
games. It is nice to get a stretch in, get a Bye, get healthier and keep moving forward. Just continue to grow those things, that is important. It is a long season. The NFL decided to make it a little longer. It is one of those things where you really have to take care of your body especially in December and January.
(on clinching a sixth straight winning season)
I am extremely appreciative just to be on this football team. I think that you don’t find a lot of guys in the NFL that play for one team. To be here for eight years, I think only (Brett) Kern has been here longer than me at this point. I am extremely grateful of the Tennessee Titans. To be able to be a part of something in 2014 and 2015 and help change the culture of a team. I am not sitting here being like, ‘I changed the culture.’ To be able to help change the culture of this team along with Jon Robinson, along with (Mike) Vrabel, along with the guys they have brought in. Guys like Jeffery Simmons, Kevin Byard, Ryan Tannehill, Derrick Henry, A.J. (Brown). You have so many guys that have come with an attitude to help change the culture of this team. I am just really appreciative to be a part of that. It is something that when I am done and I hang up the cleats for the last time, I can be proud of that. Knowing that when you are in a relationship with this team, I am going to leave it in a better place than where I found it. I am really proud of that.
(on this being his 100th career game)
That is very cool. 100th game. I could have had it a few games ago. We have to make sure to keep these things rolling. 100 games is cool and a nice little steppingstone. Got guys like Ben Jones and Rodger
(Saffold III) who have played about 130 or 150 so you are still sitting there like, ‘I got more left in me. A lot more.’ It is a good deal.
(on center Ben Jones and his cartwheel celebration)
I didn’t see it. I have seen him do it in practice before. It is a lot of body moving up and down. That is a lot of man. It is very impressive.
WIDE RECEIVER JULIO JONES
(on today’s win)
Overall, it was a good team win. Offensively, defensively, and special teams, everybody came together and pitched in, and we were victorious today.
(on if he had any issues today coming back from an injury)
Just coming out of this game feeling the way I feel, I feel great. I didn’t have any setbacks. I didn’t feel it throughout the game or anything like that. Just building days and building games, so I’m very excited. Moving forward for myself, I’m good. I feel great. No tweaks. No nothing. I’m solid. I’m ready to go.
(on the importance of the offense not committing any turnovers today)
It was very important. I’ve been playing this game of football for a very long time, and if you turn the ball over, you can’t win games. You don’t put yourself in the best situation to win games. Defense did a great job for us out there, creating a bunch of turnovers for us. You know, we just held onto the ball and did what we needed to do. Everybody protected the football. That was one of our things this week, and moving forward, was all of us protecting the football.
(on how it felt to win today after losing two straight)
For me, I don’t look back. I don’t look back because I always look forward. It was a great team win today. We’ve got to enjoy this, and then get back to work either Monday or Wednesday.
(on the offense only scoring three points off of four turnovers)
Absolutely, you want to capitalize on different things. But at the end of the day, our defense just kept stepping up for us. We are a team together, and we’ll get it rolling, but it’s one game at a time. We did what we needed to do today to win.
(on having to sit out games waiting to heal)
Mostly for me, it was just focusing on how can I get back to help the team, and doing all the things I could do to be ready when it was time for me to come back to play. Training staff here, everybody, Vrabes (Head Coach Mike Vrabel), he was just like I need to show I could play and different things like that. But for me, it was just good. It was just easy. Lot of hard work though. It was easy, because that’s what I’m accustomed to doing to come back and make a run.
(on the play where he hopped off of the field)
I wasn’t hopping like there was an injury or anything like that. I wanted the ball. It wasn’t a hop like I was injured. I know I killed the safety, I had a safety on me, but unfortunately it didn’t work out. It is what it is. No tweaks or nothing. I am solid. I am ready to go.
RUNNING BACK D’ONTA FOREMAN
(on if he got hurt during the game)
Yeah, I got a little banged up on my arm, but I am all right.
(on how he felt the team ran the football)
I think we did good, the guys up front did good. Like I always say, take it one week at a time, get better and try to be productive when my number is called. That is how I approach it.
(on how well the defense played today and how that helped the offense)
It was great to see the defense make plays. Those guys balled out. Just getting back to the basics of doing what we do. Going out there and being physical, finishing, and playing our style of football. I feel like we did that today. There is still stuff we can clean up and still stuff we can build on. I think we went out there and put a complete team game together.
(on how important it was for the offense not to have any turnovers)
Very important. It was something that we talked about the last two weeks. It was something that we just want to be more aware about, protecting the ball and not having it loose from our body. Just going out there and running hard and finishing our runs. Today we protected the football and ran the ball pretty well.
(on how good the win feels after two straight losses)
It feels great. I think the team definitely needed that. We needed to get us another win and try to build on it. It is around that time right now where things are getting tight. We just have to find a way to win ballgames and go out there and try to make our push.
LINEBACKER RASHAAN EVANS
(on his first game back since being out with an injury)
It felt good, man. Been out for a long – felt like a year. Just to be out there with my teammates, be out there and just feel the energy, feel how these guys go out there and prepare and do all the little things that we normally do. That’s what I was missing, the little things. Being able to go to practice, being able to see my coach, being able to study film, being able to prepare for a game and then going out there and doing it all in one. It just feels good.
(on matching the defense’s energy after being out for some time)
No doubt. For me, being outside looking in and watching games when I was out, I definitely wanted to bring some type of energy, definitely wanted to try to bring that type of play to the defense. I knew these guys were going to do it anyway. To have everyone kind of coming back slowly but surely, we still have some guys that are coming back of IR and other things. If we can get everybody back, then these next four games, we got a good outcome coming up next.
(on how he physically feels after the Bye Week)
I feel good. It feels like a new season for me to be honest with you. It allowed me to get my ankle right, but also at the same time my shoulders, legs everything feels good. I am ready to play.
(on if he was saving his jacket for the Jaguars game)
You know what, I have been saving it this whole time. I am glad I was able to wear it for this game and get me a pick.
(on how important it was for the defense to get turnovers)
I think it was really important. As a defense, as a whole, we want to try to be the best in the nation or in the world if we can. For us to be able to go out there and individually do our job and do all the things we need to do, you saw what happened. Everyone is playing on one accord in all three phases, special teams, offense and defense and everyone is doing what they need to do, you get a big win, a shutout.
(on taking advantage of the Jaguars mistakes)
No doubt. At the end of the day, regardless of the record they are still a good team. They are pros. We respect those guys, those guys still played hard, but at the same time we are looking forward to next week.
LINEBACKER JAYON BROWN
(on the defense getting four turnovers today)
It was great. Coach (Mike Vrabel) challenged us to get the ball out. I had told you earlier this week that turnovers would come in bunches, and we got bunches today. It was a great week of practice. Great execution on our side of the ball today. When the plays came, guys made them. It was good and it helped out our offense a lot, and we got the win.
(on if the defense creating turnovers and making plays made today’s game fun) No doubt. Just challenging each other to make plays and have fun. It’s more fun when guys were balling. Guys were balling all over the field, and we made it happen.
(on both he and linebacker Rashaan Evans getting interceptions today)
That was cool. We were just saying, when was the last time two inside linebackers had interceptions in the same game?
(on coming off of a Bye to win today)
The Bye did what it needed to do. It got us away, refocused. Focused on our techniques and fundamentals throughout the week of practice.
