HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON
POSTGAME MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2023
Q. Was it important to get Trevor [QB Trevor Lawrence] moving more?
DOUG PEDERSON: I don’t think it was important to get him moving. I think it was part of our game plan.
I thought Trevor played extremely well. Obviously bounced back from last week and put together a good
performance, ran the ball. I think two rushing touchdowns today; right? Did a great job. Saw the field
extremely well. I thought offensively we protected him well. It was good to get Zay [WR Zay Jones] back
as well, but overall Trevor played really well today.
Q. You’re up 7-0, three minutes to go in the first quarter. Tennessee goes on a 13-play drive. They take
nine minutes off the clock. Final play you get the sack. What did that mean to not allow any points
during that juncture?
DOUG PEDERSON: That’s really big. It’s huge. It’s a lift for our team. It was great to see our defense do
that and get off the field. Obviously it was a lot of plays, and they just hung in there. Those things, they
kind of lift and energize your football team in moments like that. I thought, again, defense today again
played outstanding.
Q. We talked a lot about Ridley [WR Calvin Ridley]. Those two passes to him were almost perfect, but
how good was it to get him involved beyond maybe PIs and maybe creating for other people?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, I mean, it was good to get Calvin back in there and get him going again. I’ll have
to look at the film. Also the addition of Zay [WR Zay Jones] possibly could help that out a little bit, and
those are the things that we talked about. Yeah, it was good. Calvin played extremely well today. He
kind of let the game just unfold before his eyes and really just ran the routes that Press [Offensive
Coordinator Press Taylor] called. Trevor [QB Trevor Lawrence] did the rest, but it was really good to get
Calvin the type of game today that he’s capable of playing.
Q. Doug, what does it say about your team to kind of respond the way they did after what was such a
humiliating game last week to dominate the way you guys did today? What did you maybe learn
about your team?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, thanks for reminding me about last week. It just goes to show the resiliency of
our football team. We’ve only been together a short while, but this is a resilient group. They always
seem to work themselves back and fight their way back when they have a setback. They’ve done it. They
did it again today. Hats off to the leadership of the football team and really each man doing his job, and
that’s the type of football that we’re capable of playing.
Q. I know you said that last week that you were looking forward to coaching this team after that loss
last week. How do you feel that you and your staff responded?
DOUG PEDERSON: Well, sometimes it’s easier after a loss than it is a win. Really, we all had to kind of
soul-search a little bit. We all had to look in the mirror and see if there were things we could do
differently or I could help the team differently and how I message the football team and really just
wanted to keep things simple. I didn’t want to clutter their mind. Yeah, you get blown out in a game a
week ago, but when you really boil it down, it came down to the four giveaways and in the critical
situations that we did last week. We didn’t do that today. When you do that, you have better success.
Just finding moments to just I think just relate to the team and kind of bring them full circle. You know,
put it back on the leadership of the team and let them drive the team a little bit.
Q. Can you talk about the decision to go for it on fourth and down at their 40 in the opening drive of
the third, and Trevor’s [QB Trevor Lawrence] touchdown run two plays later? It seemed like you two
were just willing the offense to get into gear. You’d had enough of the stuttering and stopping and
starting of the field goals, and you weren’t going to have any more of it. Was that an accurate way to
describe it. You went for it fourth and fourth at their 40.
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, to keep that drive alive. That was just something I felt at that time just to kind
of keep because we were moving the ball. Felt good about it. Again, when I show confidence in the team
and they respond like that, it just breeds confidence in them. We were able to kind of do that a little bit
today on some of the fourth downs and sustain some of those drives, but that was a big one to really
kind of keep the foot on the gas a little bit offensively and just help our team with confidence.
Q. Did you get a sense in all your conversation with Trevor [QB Trevor Lawrence] that when he was
hurt with the knee and he wasn’t one hundred percent, that it kind of bothered him that he couldn’t
be out there playing at one hundred percent and doing a lot of the things that he did before? You
know, like the rollouts and stuff like that.
DOUG PEDERSON: Just take the name off the injury. It’s anybody. Anybody that’s injured. It bothers
people. It bothers you. That’s the thing I appreciate about this sport and about our team. Guys are going
to play a little sore. Guys are going to play a little beat up, but they do it because, one, they love their
teammates. They love the game, and they’re going to do everything they can to perform. It doesn’t
matter if it’s the quarterback or an outside backer. It’s just the willingness, the mental toughness the
physicality of that the players have, and they do it for their teammates.
Q. Doug, can you just talk a little bit about the performance of your offensive line? There were about
three or four passes today where Trevor [QB Trevor Lawrence] kind of needed extra second and a half
to get to other reads so that he could complete some passes. It just looked like the offensive line from
a pass pro standpoint had a good day.
DOUG PEDERSON: They did. They really did. I think a lot of it, too, stemmed from the fact that we stuck
with the run game, so it helped a little bit in the pass protection world. Again, it’s a prideful group, and
Walker getting back in there and kind of settling down and having more reps. It appeared like he played
better today, but as a group against a really good defensive front, they played so many five-man fronts
today. You’re creating all those one-on-one matchups, and our guys did a nice job of hanging in there
and battling. Trevor doesn’t make some of those down the field throws if they don’t give him that extra
time. They played well.
Q. Will the game plan moving forward be to try to give Ezra [OL Ezra Cleveland] a series here or there
like you did today?
DOUG PEDERSON: It’s possible. We’ll see how he did and keep him coming. I think it’s important that we
continue to develop him in our offense because you never know when we might need him full time. It’s
possible that we could continue to work that a little bit.
Q. Congrats on the victory. With the usage of [WR] Zay Jones, were you just trying to bring him back in
slowly, or were you wanting to use him a little more that you just couldn’t?
DOUG PEDERSON: That’s the thing that I’ve learned in this league that when players come back from
injury that you don’t bring them back slowly. They’re in for a reason, and you go full steam ahead. Zay
was ready to go, and he was a big part of this today. He played tough. He played physical. He made
some catches today, and just really I think just having his presence out there opened up some other
things for us, but I was proud of Zay. Again, one of the players that’s been injured, but got himself in a
position. He was healthy to go and did a nice job today.
Q. [DT] DaVon Hamilton scratched today. Is it a healthy scratch, or did he have a setback?
DOUG PEDERSON: It was a healthy scratch. Listen, I’m not going to get into all of it with him because he
and I and we’ve had some conversations with him and all of that, but it was healthy. I just want to make
sure that he is mentally and physically ready to go. As you guys know, we’re not going to put somebody
out there to risk anything further, and it was the decision by me to just hold him one week, see where
he’s at, and get him more practice time, get him more reps, get him back to where he was a year ago.
He’s missed a lot of times. You have to understand, he’s missed a lot of time. I think it’s definitely taken a toll a little bit, but he’s busted his tail to be in a position to help us. I think it’s going to be a week-to-
week decision, but he understands where we are, and he appreciated that, and we’ll see where he’s at again this woke.
Q. Can you talk about the defense’s performance, and obviously them getting that fumble, how big
was that to sort of get the ball rolling?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, the defense, they created the take-away early in the football game. Of course,
we have the special teams take-away late in the second half. Listen, I don’t think we talk enough about
the defense. They’re the ones that have kept us in the majority of our football games this season. They
did a nice job today. It’s one of the things we knew going in that we would have to slow down this run
game. I thought for the most part they did a nice job, controlled the line of scrimmage. They played fast.
They played fast today, and that was good to see. Our secondary was on point. They were in the right
position. We had a chance to grab a couple of balls. They’ll make those, but [Defensive Coordinator]
Mike Caldwell had a good plan for the guys. The coaches did a nice job preparing the players, and
they’re a big part of this today.
QUARTERBACK TREVOR LAWRENCE
POSTGAME MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2023
Q. How important was it for you to use your mobility today, and how did you feel on the roll-outs and
the scrambles scoring two touchdowns?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: I felt good. I think that definitely helped us out, me being able to move. In general,
that just helps you as an offense when I can escape when needed and extend plays. There was one on
fourth down where we decided to go for it; and because I was able to move and get out of the pocket,
[RB] D’Ernest [Johnson] did a good job working the sideline. We go the conversion. Big play there. Little
things like that happened throughout the game. When you can move and feel good and can do all that
stuff, it definitely gives you more options, and I think it was good for us today.
Q. How big of a day did WR Calvin Ridley have today, and did you know going in that he could have
that type of day today?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: Yeah. Honestly with the guys that we have and the plan every week, sometimes it’s
hard to tell who is going to have the big week, we got stuff for everybody. But the type of player [WR]
Calvin [Ridley] is, as you know, if we get the right look, the right situation for certain plays, you know
that he can really take advantage of them. You’re kind of I wouldn’t say hoping because typically we call
them at the right time and we get the right look, but you’re just hoping everything lines up. If it does,
like it did today for him, he had a great day. Just some great catches, great separation on some of his
routes. He did an awesome job. Some tough catches down the field. Just really helped open it up for us,
and everybody else did an awesome job too when their number was called. I think it was a full team
effort by everybody, but he definitely stepped up to the plate when his number was called, and he had a
great day.
Q. Can you talk about the offensive line and how much time you felt like you had? Then, also, getting
WR Zay Jones back. I know not necessarily — he had a big day, but just having him out there to help
the other guys and maybe take some of the pressure off WR Calvin Ridley and some of the other
weapons.
TREVOR LAWRENCE: Yeah, the offensive line did an awesome job. I thought protection was great. I
barely got touched in the pocket. Obviously on some scrambles, extended plays I did, but as far as in the
pocket, I mean, those guys did an awesome job protecting me all day, gave me time. The guys did a
great job getting down field, creating separation. When those things marry up, it’s going to be a good
day for us because you let those guys go time to get down the field, work their routes, and I thought we
did a great job taking advantage of the some of the looks that we had. Guys up front can’t speak enough
on how they did, the job they did, how well they played. That’s a really good front. It’s really hard to run
the ball against them. I thought we did an awesome job. Credit to [OC] Press [Taylor] too of just sticking
with the run, and those guys up front kept sticking with it, kept sticking with it. Obviously we had some no-gainers, some one-yard gainers, or maybe a yard loss, but we kept pounding it, and we were able to
spring a few, and that helped us with the play action and all that stuff as well. I thought it was a great
job really all the way around. Then having [WR] Zay [Jones] out, this I mean, it’s huge. I think he just
opens things up. His speed obviously is a threat down the field. He’s really smart. I just know where he’s
going to be. He does a great job making plays when his number is called. Obviously today we were kind
of getting him back, getting him back going. Like you said, it wasn’t anything crazy numbers-wise, but he
has a real affect on this team and the offense when he is playing. He brings a lot of energy. Just a guy
that plays the game the right way, and it’s great to have him back out there.
Q. The last few games when you weren’t able to move as well as you wanted, did that bother you,
frustrate you, annoy you just because you didn’t maybe feel whole, I guess, or complete?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: Yeah, this time of year no one feels amazing. You don’t feel like you did the first
day of training camp, so you’re always going to be dealing with things. But, yeah, it’s definitely a little
frustrating when you have things you feel like are limiting you to whatever extent that may be. Then just
from the confidence standpoint of having the confidence to move and take off and do all the things that
you — typically how you play the game. When you feel like maybe you can’t do some of that, it changes
how you play the game, and I think that’s maybe more of the frustrating part. So it felt good today to
just be able to cut it loose. Obviously still try to protect myself. Took some hits that I probably didn’t
need to take outside of the pocket that I probably could have got down running, but it felt good just to
go play and let the instincts take over when needed. That was I think a good thing today.
Q. You were pretty adamant last week that you had zero concern about this offense bouncing back.
How rewarding is it to actually bounce back after you said I got no concerns about us bouncing back?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: Yeah, it feels good. I wasn’t even thinking about that, but yeah, that was probably
the shortest answer I’ve ever given. That was D-Roc [ESPN Journalist, Michael DiRocco] that asked that, I
believe.
Q. He needs to be humbled sometimes.
TREVOR LAWRENCE: It was a good question. We need to as well sometimes. I thought it was great.
That’s one of the cleaner games offensively we’ve played. Really complementary offensively,
defensively, special teams. Seemed like we stayed on schedule, seemed like we kept them on their
heels. We did a great job of mixing up all the different shots, getting it out quick, movements, all that. It
was really good.
Q. On the first touchdown run, do you recognize that it’s Titans DT Jeffery Simmons coming at you.
Did you even notice that, or is it just too fast?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: [LT] Cam [Robinson] did a great job. He was blocking the end, and I was waiting on
the concept to develop, and I kind of start stepping to the left, and then I saw Cam kind of throw the guy
down. I just escaped, and then you see the D-lineman retracing from the inside. When I saw that outside
they were playing some version of man, so they were kind of all chasing those guys going inside. So you
have a free lane if you can get away from the big guys up there. He can move pretty good, though. He is
a good athlete, great player. I feel like I had the advantage there for sure.
Q. What do you feel it does for your confidence and more importantly, the confidence of the offensive
unit as a whole, when you have five or six deep ball completions and that doesn’t even count the PI
[pass interference] that WR Zay Jones drew down that right sideline?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: Yeah, I mean, that’s the name of the game is being explosive and efficient. You’ve
got to have you to have both. You can’t just be explosive and you can’t only be efficient to where you
don’t have any explosive plays. That is something that we try to create every week because we know
how important it is. You’ve got to have to have big plays. You’ve got to be able to get chunks on teams
and to get that momentum and to get rolling. You’ve got to be able to throw the ball down field, but
you’ve also got to be efficient and put yourself in good situations. You can’t get behind the sticks. You
can’t get third and longs all game. All those things are important too. So, you’ve got to find the best
ways to do those things. I thought today it seemed like when we called the shots, we hit them. Where
we got a PI [pass interference], like you said, and when we didn’t, we were efficient and got the ball in
play, took care of the ball. I guess no turnovers today, which was huge. That was something that we
needed to clean up more than anything was turning the ball over, and that was a good step in the right
direction.
Q. As much as you can take us behind the curtain, since you mentioned about Offensive Coordinator
Press Taylor sticking with the run, what were the conversations this week about making sure the
running backs were involved, as many as possible, getting you involved in the run game, and maybe
even convincing Press that the ball needed to be run more?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: I don’t think— He didn’t need any convincing. [OC] Press [Taylor] did a great job.
Every week you want to get the run game going, and you want to stick to it. Some weeks it makes it
more challenging. You look at last week and just how bad we played all the way around. It really makes
it hard because you’re in a hole. Then you feel like you need to throw it, and you’ve got to get chunks
and get back in the game. You know, it’s harder to do sometimes than it is to say, and obviously that’s
your plan—but I just think that all the guys really bought in this week. Tennessee gave us some issues
when we played them here at the end of [last season]. Offensively we didn’t really have a great day. We
didn’t run the ball great. I missed some big throws, missed some stuff downfield. They gave us some fits,
so I think we all took accountability of that and realized what we needed to do in the run game in order
to play better offensively against this group, because it’s like anything. If you can’t get the run game
going, it makes it hard to do anything else. That’s where it started. I thought the coaches and players, we
all did a great job of just buying in and making it a point.
Q. You shouldered a lot of blame last week and said it was one of your worst games ever. Today
you’re the first quarterback in team history to have two passing and rushing touchdowns in the same
game. Do you have pride in that? How do you feel about your own personal response from what
happened last week?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: It feels good. That’s it. I mean, really, that’s how I feel. I feel great about the work
that we put in. We work so hard during the week and [on] putting together a plan every week. On the
flip side to do what we did last week, that’s one of the worst feelings. Then this week when it does come
together and you play clean and you execute and you make the plays and you see guys just playing hard,
playing great, making these awesome catches, blocks, runs—It’s just fun to watch, and it’s fun to be a
part of. For myself, obviously, you like having success, and you like playing well. I feel like that’s what I should do every week. So, it feels good to do that again and get back on track, but you know, it’s short-
lived in this league. It doesn’t really matter. We’ve got to go play next Sunday and put together a great plan and go beat those guys because that’s a big game. They’re just so short-lived in this league, but I’m
definitely feeling great about what we did as a team today. It was a big game.
Q. There had been a narrative growing, former NFL cornerback Richard Sherman, I think 49ers DE Nick Bosa, and even Titans LB Arden Key all talking about “Trevor, make him play quarterback, right, take-
away his first read.”
TREVOR LAWRENCE: I’m not thinking about any of that stuff. I could care less what those guys say, to be
honest. That’s really my only response to that. It doesn’t matter. If those guys think I’m the best thing in
the world, it doesn’t matter either. So [it] doesn’t really matter. I love Arden [Key], former teammate—it
hurts that he said that, but no, I don’t care. It’s about how you perform on Sunday. It’s not about what
other people say, but if you want to change the narrative, then change the narrative and play better. So,
I think there are things that obviously I take accountability on. My main goal is to win, though. We’re
sitting at 7-3. We’re in a great spot. We’ve got to keep this energy and this attacking like we did today
every week. We’ve got to finish this season. We have seven games left. A big one next week with
Houston, playing really good football. All I care about is winning, so I don’t really care what people think
I can or can’t do.
Q. Why are you guys so good at bouncing back, changing the narrative after a game like last week? Is
it Doug [Head Coach Doug Pederson], what he does during the week, or is it kind of the self-run
leadership that you guys have in the locker room?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: I think it’s all those things. I think everyone is really synced up. We’re all on the
same page. Communication is really great after wins and losses. I think we’re really accountable and that
makes a difference. We don’t have guys that shift blame. We all understand everyone has a part in wins
and everyone has a part in losses. It’s never on one or a couple guys. I think that this team does a great
job of understanding that and has the right mindset in bouncing back after rough games. And we all just
shoulder some of that blame and just stick together. I think that’s something that we’ve done a great job
of. We’ve had some adversity going back the last couple of seasons, and we’ve been good at responding,
and we have to keep doing that. That’s what the good teams do, you know. It’s hard to go undefeated in
this league. There’s been, what, one team to do it. You’re going to have weeks where you don’t play
great, and you’ve got to find a way to be able to turn the ship and play better the next week.
WIDE RECEIVER CALVIN RIDLEY
POSTGAME MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2023
Q: You claimed that everybody would be fine. How did that feel?
CALVIN RIDLEY: It felt good, especially coming off last week. It felt good. We worked hard this week. We
got the win this week. 7-3, right?
Q: Is this what this offense is going to be like when Trevor [Lawrence] has the time to look down the
field? Because he had that time today.
CALVIN RIDLEY: We knew we are an explosive offense with explosive players. We know that we have a lot
of players that can make plays. Like I said, we just have to be in those moments and on the moment and
win, win no matter who we are playing against. We just got to do that.
Q: Do you take as much satisfaction out of drawing a PI (passing interference) that goes for 35 yards
than the catch?
CALVIN RIDLEY: No, I don’t like that. I want to make the play. I want to make the catch to get the yards. It
moves the ball for the team, but it doesn’t move it for team, so I want to catch it and move, you know
what I am saying? I want to make the competition.
Q: We have seen some need passes from Trevor [Lawrence]. How perfectly (thrown) were those two
touchdown grabs?
CALVIN RIDLEY: Honestly, the first one we practice it. I can show you the practice clip. It was the same
exact route, catch, look and that is how you play football. The next one, I thought [Christian] Kirk was
going to get it, but they left me. Usually, they take me, and they left me. Made a great throw and catch
for a touchdown.
Q: The play toward the end of half near the sideline. The big one. I bet you want more of those right?
More one-on-one opportunities to win?
CALVIN RIDLEY: They are giving me that, I am not going to lie. I am on it. They have been giving me that. I
just have to win, make the plays. Today, I made the plays and that I what I know I can do that all day and
all game. So, I just have to be on the moment, be where my feet are and make plays for my teammates
and this organization.
Q: Do you think you were going to have a big day?
CALVIN RIDLEY: Yes, I did. I knew today was going to be my day.
Q: How much of Zay’s [Jones] return help open things up for you?
CALVIN RIDLEY: Obviously, Kirk is a beast and Evan [Engram], but when we complete core, I mean, come
on. You know what I am saying? When we have our complete core, we are more comfortable. We
communicate better. Zay is one of the leaders in our room. It just helps the offense settle down and we
have a lot of options to more ourselves a part of the offensive style.
Q: Last year, those guys you just mentioned, seemed to hit a new level with Trevor, comfortability-
wise. Do you feel that you are about to hit there?
CALVIN RIDLEY: I am going to do whenever I can to help my coaches feel ok and help this team win
games and helps keep going. That is what I am about. It don’t matter. Winning games and I want to be
happy with my teammates.
Q: Is that a real thing though, comfortability-wise, you guys are new together. Does it just take time?
CALVIN RIDLEY: It takes time. Sometimes it takes three to four years. Just pop, pop, pop. I can promise
you we can pop. We can pop good. We can. We won, we are 7-3 and that is how I see it.
Q: You have a big one next week. How big is it?
CALVIN RIDLEY: It’s pretty big. The kicked our butt last time. We owe them. Divisional game. We need to
go in there and be the big brother day.
Q: You have been confident all year, but today is seemed like you were on a new level. Is it almost like
a weight off your chest a little bit thing. Like I have been going for a year and a half, but now I am
back?
CALVIN RIDLEY: No, I did that in camp. I just need to make the plays. Make everybody know, I know, that
is outside of this building that I am C-Rid. I am definitely confident in myself for sure.
Q: Does that matter to you what other people think?
CALVIN RIDLEY: No. I promise you. I wish you can feel my soul. I don’t care about you all that much. Not
you all, but work is my job. Sometimes my job is hard. I have a hard job, but I am confident in my ability
to play football. But I don’t care too much what people be talking about. I tell you that.
Q: You made your job look real easy today.
CALVIN RIDLEY: Man, I am happy. How about that? I am happy.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER JOSH ALLEN
POSTGAME MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2023
(On if today was a complete game for the team) “No, we gave up those two touchdowns. If we want to
be the defense we know we can be, we can’t allow that to happen at any cost, no matter the situation.
We have to respond through penalties, fourth down or whatever, we got to learn how to respond. We
stopped the run, created takeaways, we affected the passer I believe. They got a lot of quick game. It was
a little frustration, we’ll see these boys again.”
(On how important it was to win) “We needed a win like this. That’s what I said last week. When
everybody does their job and they just want to go out there and perform, we can beat any team in the
league. That’s the confidence that we have within ourselves, first and foremost. Next week is an even
bigger game than this week. It’s a great team and I know in the past that Texans and Jaguars don’t really
mix, but we’re going to go out there and handle business. It’s a great team, we’re excited to play them.”
(On if it feels good to be back on track as a team at home) “Of course. First and foremost, it’s always
good to win. To win by that, to see everybody go out there and have fun, when you look at the defensive
side, holding them to zero points for the first three quarters and they come back, do what they got to do.
Offensively, go down there and drive the field, get points from it. That was huge, to have Ridley [WR
Calvin Ridley] have a good game, I was waiting for that moment to happen. I knew he was capable of
doing that every week. To see him go out there and see him matchup better the other guy, it was just
great energy. Special teams was awesome, Ross [LS Ross Matiscik] has been making plays like that all
year. I’m not really surprised, but I love Ross and I want him to keep getting better.”
(On crowd noise while the team was on defense) “Man, like I said in Week 2, the crowd affects the way
we feel. When we go out there on first down and everybody is standing up and screaming, that affects us
and that gives us energy. You see they had a couple of false starts in there, that’s why it maters too. It’s
not only us that’s out there playing, it’s you guys and we appreciate everybody is at The Bank supporting
us. We want to continue to build this up for Monday night.”
(On what the team needs to do to be a strong team in the second half of the season) “We got to
continue to go. We’ve got to continue to stick to our moto first and foremost, we’ve got to keep
preparing the way we’ve been preparing, we’ve got to fly around in practice and we’ve got to take it one
day at a time. If we continue to do that, continue to be there for each other, we’ve got to go out there
and play. We continue to do that and we’ll be good.”
(On if it feels like a playoff game against Houston next week) “Of course. This felt like a playoff game. The
implications were a playoff game, next week is going to be the same. If we prepare the right way, we
know what type of game it’s going to be, we know what type of skill they have defensively and
offensively. We’re excited about it and we want to get going.”
HEAD COACH MIKE VRABEL
POSTGAME MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2023
MIKE VRABEL: Where he [QB Will Levis] had to step up and there were times where he got sacked. And
so whether he needed to get the ball out or had time — the red zone one, they brings six, so we’ve got
six to block six. They zeroed us out. Got on him pretty quick. So if you’re looking at that one specifically,
not good enough. Probably some other times where it was. So it’s always going to be a combination.
Q. What was the problem with the secondary? Looks like you guys would go zone. They were picking
that apart.
MIKE VRABEL: Sometimes you got to get on them, challenge them, cover them. Looking at Rogers’ [CB
Roger McCreary] third down, I thought he was over there square, challenging it. I didn’t necessarily see
the same thing that Aaron [G/C Aaron Brewer] saw over there. But he saw some restriction on third
down. And then maybe get a little gun shy. We got to get a little better effort from the safety over the
top, playing two-man, and they throw the ball deep. I’ve never seen that. That’s new for me around this
league, throw the ball vertical in two-man. So I guess that would be something, then just making sure
that we challenge when we need to challenge, that we’re playing with vision and break. When we have
those zone opportunities. And then making sure that you tie everything in. It’s never going to be about
the pressure and make sure that’s talked about, sometimes there’s pressure. We got to start combining
both of those. We have to combine what the coverage concept is and execution and knowing what we
can give up and knowing what we can’t in each coverage. When we play man coverage, not getting
picked on third and three when the running back leaves the back field, that should not be any surprise
that those things would happen on third and three in man coverage. So keep coaching it, keep repping it
and keep working.
Q. What’s one area where you feel like there’s some kind of steady improvement going on?
MIKE VRABEL: Again, when you lose it’s hard to identify those types of things. You look at some of these
plays that we hit. We hit a few plays offensively. It’s just the ability to sustain one guy here, one
pressure. You know, in the red zone, hit a couple plays that we liked. We just needed to get down there
more often. Like I said, defensively it seemed like it was one or two plays a drive and the penalties, one
of the keys to the game was winning the pre-snap matchup, whether that’s the shifting and the
motioning, the hard count that we knew that [QB] Trevor Lawrence was going to use. So those things,
those penalties cost us on third down. So there were some decent first and second down plays
defensively early on, but just not consistently enough and then turned the ball over. We give them field
position; we’ve done well in the red zone traditionally this year, but every week is a different week.
Q. They got 14 points off of those two turnovers. It seems like Brewer [G/C Aaron Brewer] has had
some issues with snaps here somewhat recently and then obviously punt return has been a consistent
issue with us.
MIKE VRABEL: Long snapper is a good player. Gotta account for him, which we did and got to the tackle.
We got the first down, and we know how critical taking care of the ball is, and whether it was close to
him being down or not, they raked it out of there, so that was one. Then the snaps, he has to snap 100 a
day instead of the 50 that we snap right now. We can’t operate under center the entire game, that’s
probably not going to be a possibility. We better get it figured out and making sure that everybody is on
the same page and where the ball is coming, needs to be there. The quarterback has got to help him out
just like the quarterback throws a ball that’s imperfect, like to see the receivers try to help him out. Not
saying that that’s Will’s [QB Will Levis] responsibility. But when things like that happen, hopefully other
guys can catch the ball, get on it when it’s on the ground. We let one mistake turn into a couple more.
Frustrating to give up 14 points off turnovers. We’re not in a position to do that.
Q. How much of his [QB Will Levis] ability to run the ball hurt you again today?
MIKE VRABEL: Well, I mean I think that it’s always going to be a factor. I thought we had some runs that
we liked and we were probably close on some and had some good positive gains. Then, just the
efficiency and the volume and the ability to create and run more plays, run 40 plays and think that we’re
going to beat anybody, that’s not going to be possible. That’s not fair to the defense and that’s not fair
to the players on offense who if we can make a play and then we can counter balance that with another
play and then comes back to somebody else, and then Derrick [RB Derrick Henry] gets touches and Tyjae
[RB Tyjae Spears] and Hop [WR DeAndre Hopkins] and Nick [WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine] and the
receivers and the shot to Chris [WR Chris Moore] or Chig [TE Chig Okonkwo] and everybody starts to get
some plays that complement each other, but when you run 40 plays, it’s not going to be enough.
Q. Is Jeff [DT Jeffery Simmons] lobbying maybe for that play awhile on a tough day?
MIKE VRABEL: No. Jeff just does his job, comes to work every day, tries to do his job, tries to help lead
this football team. He’s frustrated like everybody else. It was a play that we’ve liked, a play that we’ve
repped. Tim [Offensive Coordinator Tim Kelly] felt comfortable calling it and then they executed it.
Q. Do you think job security is at issue or going to be?
MIKE VRABEL: I don’t try to concern myself with that. I really am focused on these players. I hurt for
them. I played 14 years, won some games, won some championships. I am frustrated for the players. I’m
disappointed for the players. I want them to have success. I know how hard they work. I know they put
into it, so that’s what my focus is. My focus is on coaching this team, on trying to get these guys to
understand that there’s a fine line in this league of winning and losing. Finding a way to get a win. That’s
what I’m focused on. I’ll let you guys fire me each week or not fire me. I apologize. I appreciate your
question, I do. I will always understand that. We have to improve and we have to win. Those are things
that we have to do.
Q. Why can’t they get better results?
MIKE VRABEL: Sometimes we do have some results, and it doesn’t translate into victories because of
some of the mistakes. I have to do a great job of trying to continue to show us the things that we did
well, the things that are minor mistakes and then the ones that get us beat. Those will be the things that
we always do and start to complement each other, start to play better field position and try to create
some turnovers on defense and take care of the football. Win the kicking game each week and be able
to flip fields when we have to with Stoney [P Ryan Stonehouse] and get the first down and all those
things that we’ve done that we have to get back to.
Q. You guys have focused so much of your time here on week to week. When your situation is what it
is now and the goal is seemingly getting harder and harder to get to the playoffs or win the division.
Can you continue to focus on the week to week or how do you keep them centered inside that locker
room?
MIKE VRABEL: That’ll be something we’ll have to figure out here real quick. Stay consistent. Like I said,
that it is what I’ve tried to always do here, stay consistent and figure out who we got. That’ll change this
week based on injuries and everything else. And put a game plan together, coach them, teach them.
And I think the consistency in the end is going to work. I know it. This sucks right now. Nobody wants to
be where we’re at, not me, not anybody. But we are. We put ourselves in this position. So we’ll get
ourselves out.
Q. Do you see that wearing on guys at all? You said it sucks. Like is that wearing on guys in the locker
room at all? Does it wear on you?
MIKE VRABEL: I don’t know. You’ll have a chance to talk to them. No. I’m going to come to work. I’m
going to get up. I’m going to sleep five hours like I do, and I’m going to come with a resolve. I’m going to
be thankful — this week, with Thanksgiving, I’m going to be thankful for this opportunity that I have to
coach. I’m going to be thankful for my family. I’m thankful for this team, and I’m going to coach the hell
out of them like I do every week. And I love Romeo Crennel, not only was he my position coach, I got to
coach with him, and he always used to say it’s a great life if you don’t let it beat you down. And we’re
not going to let it beat us down but we’re going to get back to work. And you can still be frustrated and
upset and disappointed, but I’m also going to be thankful and hopeful for the opportunity that I get to
coach this football team. Thank you.
QUARTERBACK WILL LEVIS
POSTGAME MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2023
Q. Will, I guess just the overall frustration leaving here today, when you guys had to dig out of a hole?
WILL LEVIS: Just not executing on the keys we talked about all week. It’s been the same theme, which is
being efficient on first and second and coming out and starting strong. And (I’ve) gotta look internally
what I can do myself better. We all gotta look internally, but we also gotta look at the guy next to us and
do what we can to help the dudes next to us and come together as a team right now. But it’s frustrating.
Q. In these moments, how important is it for you guys to not press beyond like trying to do what it is
that’s within your control?
WILL LEVIS: Yeah. We made that point towards the end there. Like, we’re still playing our style of ball,
even when you’re in that position there, it’s easy to think that you gotta force something or you gotta
try to make something happen. We talk about wanting to make a play, somebody’s gotta step up making
a play. By being aggressive, but being not reckless with decisions and with the ball in our hands.
Q. Do you feel like there’s something since you’ve taken over that’s gotten like at least incrementally
better over that period of time with the offense or is that part of the struggle that there’s not
something?
WILL LEVIS: I mean, we definitely had some more improvement over the last few weeks. We thought we
did some great things in practice to put us in a good spot to execute today, but we just didn’t do it, and
that’s what it comes down to, is just going out there and executing the game plan, and too many
mistakes that put us in bad position.
Q. At the risk of sounding redundant, is that really where the disconnect is coming? You guys feel
good about it in practice and then it just doesn’t manifest in the game?
WILL LEVIS: Yeah, like that’s the worst when you have a good week of practice and then you can’t let it
transition into Sunday. I feel like that’s the case both these last couple weeks. Like I feel like we had two
really good solid weeks of practice, and the focus just wasn’t there come gameday. So gotta figure out
how to fix that. Leadership, we gotta step up and figure out what we can do. But, yeah, it’s
disheartening for sure.
Q. When you say focus, what do you mean? Is it stuff that’s being mistaken in the plays or how would
you define that?
WILL LEVIS: Operationally. And I’d say — what’s the word? Just being fast in and out of the huddle and
not having everyone freak out and just being able to understand, like today, the looks we saw, a lot of
them were looks that we’d practiced against and being able to recognize it quickly, getting us in position
to where we can get the protection set so we can get all of our guys out. Too many instances where
either I could help us in protection or just guys not locked in on the snap count, which has been, again, a
reoccurring theme here the past few weeks, which just can’t happen.
Q. You mentioned being fast out of the huddle. Is that something, like do you have to spit the play out
faster? Does it have to get to you faster? What will make that better?
WILL LEVIS: I think just urgency all around. Just getting guys after second down right back into the
huddle as fast as possible so that we can utilize cadence. Too many times where we were trying to but
we weren’t able to get out of the huddle fast enough, so we couldn’t use that cadence to get us the
protection change or whatever look we wanted to get. So it’s just me this week emphasizing again to the
guys how fast we need to be in and out of there after second down.
Q. When you have a game get out of hand like this and you know you guys are struggling, what do you
say to the rest of the team, the offense specifically, to keep them going?
WILL LEVIS: Just keep being us, play our style of ball, and we were preaching that towards the end there.
Didn’t matter what the score was, we were going to execute the game plan and execute the play. Like I
said, situationally can’t affect how we’re going to be playing ball. We gotta just play our game and just
lock in one play at a time, because when we do that and we string drives together, good things happen.
But we can’t have an explosive play down there and can’t bobble the snap and then when that happens,
like that can just change the game just like that. So understand how just important all these little things
are.
Q. It’s hard to celebrate plays after a loss. Did you ever think you’d throw a touchdown pass to Jeffery
Simmons?
WILL LEVIS: No, I mean, we’ve had that play up in the playbook for a couple weeks. It was nice to get it
off, and happy for him to get his first tuddy (touchdown).
Q. You guys talked all the time about flushing losses by the time Monday comes around. Is that
getting tougher to do as they kind of pile up?
WILL LEVIS: No. I mean, I think that, for professionals, I think we all have a good mindset of just moving
on and learning from the mistakes. And I’ve been proud of how we’ve attacked each and every week
these past couple of weeks, regardless of how that previous game went. It just sucks that we have that
great week and we’re not able to let it transition into Sunday. So just gotta put it all together, have
seven days instead of just six.
