COLTS HEAD COACH FRANK REICH
Opening Statement:
“Okay, just a couple notes on injuries – ended the game with (Marlon) Mack had a hand injury, (Rock) Ya-Sin had an ankle injury, (Mo) Alie-Cox had a thumb injury and (Shakial) Taylor had an ankle injury. Great win, I mean great win. We needed that one after a two-game losing streak. We felt it all week (that) there was good preparation. There was an intensity and focus that I think we have all the time, but there seemed to be a little something extra this week and we talked all week about it’s going to start upfront on both sides of the ball – run the ball, stop the run and then win the turnover battle. That was really the keys for us and then play smart football as far as penalties and we were able to do all that. We were coming in here against a really good team. I mean to run the ball the way we did against those guys was crazy and I mean to stop that running back – (it) was a really good effort by our team and (they’re) a very good team and very well-coached team. So I’m really proud of our guys. I mean to have two hundred-yard rushers against that team, I was in early watching extra film this morning on this defense and honestly as I was watching their defensive line, their front and how they were stopping the run – I mean I just can’t say enough about how we ran the ball today and defensively how we stopped the run game. They got a couple early and then we did a really good job after that. So (it was) a great all-around effort.”
You’ve seen Marlon Mack do this. With Jonathan Williams, what have you seen lead up to this?
“It’s funny, Chris (Ballard) and I have – it’s hard for me to really even explain how many times we’ve sat in my office and said, ‘Did you see those runs Jonathan (Williams) had today on scout team?’ You can tell he’s got great vision, quickness, speed and acceleration. We’ve been wanting to get him an opportunity for a while. We feel really good about all of the running backs that we have. I mean we feel like we’re really – that’s a strength and I was really happy for Jonathan. He’s waited patiently, he’s really worked hard and did a great job.”
With all of the injuries at wideout, did you have a feeling that you would have to rely on that group today a little bit more running?
“There’s no doubt. We just felt like we really needed to get the run game back on track. I said something to Quenton (Nelson) earlier in the week. He just always has it, but I don’t know. I just didn’t want to be in his row this week. He just had something special going on this week and all those guys upfront played great.”
Can you walk us through the Quenton Nelson goal-line carry?
“I thought he was going to dive over (laughing). I think he’s a really good left guard. I think we’ll keep him there. No, we joked about it. Of course Quenton (Nelson), he’s all apologetic he didn’t get it in. We’ve been running that play since five or six weeks now, but we got that in there. That’s Jacksonville’s defense, they’re pretty good down there. They’re pretty stout. I thought it was a good opportunity to try to get that one in, but give them credit and then I just can’t – the play that Jacoby (Brissett) made right on the fourth down play was a big play. (It) just gave us momentum – to go down there and not get anything would’ve really hurt. Jacoby just single-handedly made an incredible play.”
Frank, you said you thought or knew you needed to run the ball well. Did you think it would be 264 yards?
“I mean I don’t think you’d ever expect to run for that many yards in an NFL game – just defenses are too good and that defense is (good). I’ve got so much respect for that defense. I’m just telling you, I was telling Nick Sirianni – I got over here this morning and I said, ‘Man, I know we’re going to run the ball. We’re going to stay committed to our guys who’ve had a great week in practice. This is a good defensive front.’ So again, I can’t give our players enough credit for how well they’ve played.”
How important was it to put a team away? You guys have won a lot of close games this year, but how key is that?
“Yeah, I think – very important, very important on all fronts. We talked about execution and consistency and in order to put a team away, that’s what you need and we did that today.”
Do you know yet if Marlon Mack fractured his hand?
“No. No information yet.”
How challenging will it be having these injuries on a short week?
“Yeah, I mean we all know that Thursday night schedules are challenging physically for the players and what they go through. So every team kind of does the same thing. It’s really all walk-thru. There is no full-speed stuff. So we’ll have a lot of walk-thru stuff, a lot of mental reps and then try to get guys as healthy as possible.”
How big was that third-and-19 to Jonathan Williams kind of early in that second half?
“That was actually really funny because Nyheim (Hines) was supposed to be in for that and there was a miscommunication. It doesn’t really matter how it happened and Jonathan’s (Williams) was out there for the play. As coaches we’re talking about, ‘Jonathan’s never run this play. I’m not sure he knows what to do.’ This was truly just a Nyheim play and then he ripped that off. That was pretty funny.”
COLTS QUARTERBACK JACOBY BRISSETT
You’ve been one of the biggest fans of the running game. What did you think of the performance out there today?
“It was a great job. I think our o-line and really our offensive group as a whole took pride in that today. When we installed our run game this week, the main thing was just execution and I think we did that in all phases of our run game. It opened up some of the passing plays, but I think our guys did a great job of taking control of the line of scrimmage.”
Jonathan Williams – we haven’t seen too much of him, but obviously we saw a lot of him today. What have you seen in practice that gave you the idea that he had this?
“Exactly that. He comes in and he works hard. He’s always ready. Every time we’re doing things he’s always eavesdropping, but I guess it paid off today. He did a heck of a job running the ball and understanding the runs that we had. For a guy that probably didn’t get as many reps as Marlon Mack would or Nyheim Hines would and things like that, I think he understood the runs and made some great situational plays, going down, staying in bounds, keeping the clock rolling and not taking any unforced errors. He did a great job in protection and he gets rewarded like he did today.”
What was going through your mind on the touchdown pass? What did you see out there?
“I saw one of my guys looking at me, and I threw it and Marcus Johnson made a great play. It was surprising that they did what they did. Marcus wasn’t supposed to be over there, but he made a heck of a play and it boosted us.”
Marcus Johnson said you built a rapport with him a little bit last year.
“No question. He was doing scout team at times and stuff like that so I definitely had the opportunity to throw some to him. But I don’t want to take away any of the credit for what he’s done. He just got back with us – what, two weeks, three weeks (ago)? He’s made strides every day. He’s understood the plan. He’s failed in practice and corrected himself. That’s tough and that’s really what you want to see in this league and on your team. He’s doing a heck of a job.”
How disappointed were you that Quenton Nelson didn’t get that touchdown?
“Man, I almost cried because that celebration was pretty cool. I hope that still can be nominated as one of the best celebrations because I don’t know how they picked him up (laughing). I honestly knew he didn’t get in because I kind of was dropped behind and I was like, ‘Dang Q (Quenton Nelson), put the ball in the other hand.’”
Do you want to give it to him again on fourth down?
“Hopefully. Hopefully he gets in this time (laughing).”
How’s the knee feeling?
“Ready to go.”
