Postgame – Dolphins
Head Coach Mike McDaniel (transcribed by Jacksonville Jaguars)
COACH MCDANIEL: The collection of the two NFLPA representatives, Doug [Pederson] and myself made the right call in that the two teams agreed that football shouldn’t be played anymore tonight. And without a shadow of a doubt, I know that was the right call. So, I’m proud of the collective group for doing the right thing. Our guys are hurting but relieved.
What’s the process from here? I assume he’ll [WR Daewood Davis] stay here overnight. Is that correct?
COACH MCDANIEL: I believe that’s protocol. There was a lot of individual players that I was attending to. So, I haven’t crossed that T with Kyle [Johnston] yet, our head trainer. But that will come in the looming moments.
How would you describe the atmosphere around the team, how shaken his teammates must have been?
COACH MCDANIEL: The emotional roller coaster was real just because there was a lot of guys in the game, including himself, that people — really his teammates were pumped for, to be in the game and get opportunities to make plays. And there’s not really a playbook for things of that nature. You could see in the collective faces of both teams their mind wasn’t on playing football at all. So (I) thought it was inappropriate to play football.
You decided to play the starters today. What did you see with the offense with Tua [QB Tua Tuagovailoa]?
COACH MCDANIEL: You know, I saw some good and some bad. Overall, I thought as a unit there were some good things. There were some individual shortcomings that you hate to see for that group because they don’t get the whole game to make it right. But I think I was happy with the intent, but overall, you try to score on every drive. So, that wasn’t the case. We have some good tape to learn from.
On the fumbled snap in the first drive and if that has been an issue during training camp?
COACH MCDANIEL: It’s something that you have corrected because it doesn’t matter what anyone does on the play if that’s the case. Since the last preseason game, every first play of practice has been in the shotgun to try to give him reps at that because he’s obviously — you know, there’s like 600, 700 shotgun snaps in the season — so he obviously executes it well. But it’s just something that he’s working through. And I think that the silver lining, it’s better that that happens in the preseason, but it’s a non-negotiable correction.
Can we some other injury updates on players? We saw Elijah Campbell [DB Elijah Campbell] carted off and Salvon [RB Salvon Ahmed] take a shot to the head and didn’t come back in. Do you have any updates on them?
COACH MCDANIEL: With regard to Salvon, he cleared the neurological test after the game, but he’ll be getting more tests tomorrow. And I’ll actually get some feedback on Elijah tomorrow as well.
What did you see on that final play?
COACH MCDANIEL: You know I didn’t really see it at all. Since it was a catch/PBU point of attack, I took my eyes immediately down to the call sheet probably before he went to the ground because I was planning on going it on 4th-and-2. And then I actually heard someone say he wasn’t moving. So that’s when I immediately ran out there. So, I didn’t see any of the impact on the ground at all.
We obviously saw you and Doug [Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson] and Christian [DT Christian Wilkins] out there conversing over what to do. Was the league also consulted?
COACH MCDANIEL: Yeah, they’re talking to us through the headset of the referee. And we brought the PA (player’s association) reps out there and mutually agreed, both teams mutually agreed to end the game at that point, which we made the league aware of.
What can you tell us about Daewood [WR Daewood Davis] as a person?
COACH MCDANIEL: He’s a great — he’s a great spirit, first and foremost. He had a rookie show — not a rookie show, in one of the offensive meetings early on in camp, he did, you know, a rookie event. And you could see the rest of the — he kind of sang a little song and then told a story — and you could see the rest of the offense from that point on really — he’s magnetic. He’s got a cool personality to him. And guys really saw that from then on. The receivers already knew it. But from then on, he was a guy that his teammates really root for. That tells you everything about a human being because you can’t, in a locker room of individuals that spend so much time together, there’s no hiding the good things and the bad things. Really who you are is really put out there, and he’s a popular guy amongst our team because of how he works. And I’ve had such a pleasure in his development process and was excited for a couple of opportunities he was going to get. But more than anything we’re just hoping for a full recovery and have had some good news and hope to have some even better news moving forward.
Might not know too much about the similar situation in Cincinnati last year. After this moment, what did you say to the team? Can you share what you said?
COACH MCDANIEL: I just wanted to make sure that the guys knew that there’s no right way to feel. And we all sign up for the sport. (We) love the sport and it’s conflicting when you see one of your brothers go down in that fashion. And I just wanted to make sure that they knew that there is no way to feel, but to make sure to tell your loved ones you love them and not take your teammates and your relationships with them for granted at all because that’s what you lean on. You just don’t want people to internalize things and express it to each other. I basically told them to lean on teammates and gave them an update. But there’s nothing right to say or feel.
Is it your understanding he’ll stay here tonight or is it too early?
COACH MCDANIEL: That’s my assumption, but I have not verified that yet. Things were moving pretty fast and furious.
QB Tua Tagovailoa (transcribed by Jacksonville Jaguars)
Can you go over what happened out there?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I think there were a lot of things that happened out there on the field tonight that weren’t expected. For Daewood [WR Daewood Davis], I don’t think he woke up this morning understanding that there are repercussions playing this sport that this was going to happen. I don’t think anyone wakes up thinking things like that’s going to happen. There were a lot of things that happened out there on the field for not just Daewood, but there were other guys as well. Our prayers, our thoughts are with a lot of those guys that sacrifice a lot, day in and day out. And it was just tough to see.
I assume it would have been very hard if not possible to continue playing for your teammates?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Yeah, I think it would have been extremely hard for the guys to have gone out and continued to play. The kind of person Daewood [WR Daewood Davis] is, a lot of guys respect him. He’s very well respected in the locker room. He’s a great player. He’s a great teammate. He’s a great person. Just would have been hard to have gone back out after seeing something like that.
Did you see the entire play and what did you think, if so?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I’d seen the entire play. I just didn’t see if there was a second person that hit him. I’d just seen it was a pass breakup and I didn’t think anything of it. And when Daewood [WR Daewood Davis] was on the floor and he didn’t move, that was very concerning. So prayers go out to him, his family, his friends, everyone watching, thinking of him.
What about the mood in the locker room? Can you lend any insight on how that was?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Yeah, it’s tough for everyone. It’s tough for everyone in there to witness something like that and come in and talk about how the game went. It’s just too tough. Like I said, the kind of person that Daewood [WR Daewood Davis] is, he’s very well respected in the locker room. The guys like him. Guys sort of tailor to who he is as a person. It’s hard to explain when you’re not in the locker room day in and day out. But it’s just not something you like seeing.
Could you explain a little bit as far as like the bond you all will embrace from this moment just to move forward and grow from this?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Yeah, I think the bond continues to grow for all those guys in the locker room. When something like this happens, sometimes it does bring guys closer because it’s more than just football. It’s about life, it’s about the person, it’s about the guys in the locker room who they are outside the locker room. We’re all human, too. We go out there for the entertainment of those people watching and sometimes things happen unfortunately like that.
A minute ago when Mike McDaniel [Head Coach Mike McDaniel] was out here, he talked about Daewood [WR Daewood Davis] sort of putting on, telling a story, and singing a song for the team. Were you there for that and how did that make the team kind of rally around him?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I was there for all of it. I was there also when they had the rookie show. It was probably the best rookie show I’ve ever seen. I’ve only been here for four years, but it’s the best rookie show I’ve ever seen. Definitely way better than my rookie show that we had. But it was good. They all did good. It was funny. But there’s many things that you can talk about that are good about Daewood [WR Daewood Davis], but that’s not to outshine the guys that have put in the work out there out on the field, given the opportunities and the chances they’ve had to put their work on film.
WR Tyreek Hill (transcribed by Jacksonville)
I’m sure it’s been a hard night to get through. How would you describe your emotions right now?
Well, obviously this is a weird situation for the whole team. It’s very unfortunate. Nobody ever wants to feel the way we feel, especially Daewood [WR Daewood Davis], he was in the same receiver room as me. It sucks just seeing a young player go through something like that, or anybody in general, in this league, just going through something like that, trying to make a living, trying to make this team, trying to live out their childhood dream, it sucks. I always put myself in that position.
Sharing the room with him, knowing him better than we do, what do you know about him? What can you tell us?
I can say this about Daewood [WR Daewood Davis]; each and every day he has the same attitude, same mindset, and that’s to get better and that’s to help this team win games. He’s a full ball of energy, all fast guys are. I feel like I can speak for the whole room when I say all of us enjoy being around Daewood. He’s in a situation that we don’t wish upon anybody in this league. It’s not fun for the sport.
I think you might have been one of the first players to go out onto the field. Could you describe what’s going through your head at that time?
I really don’t know, but my first thing was I just wanted to make sure he was moving, because where we were all standing at, we didn’t have a good view and we only could see his feet. None of his body was moving. It was like, ‘Okay, what’s going on?’ I got to get out there. Even if they stop me, I have to at least get a closer look. I turned around and the whole team was coming. There was no way from them stopping us to check up on our brother to make sure he’s all right because I feel the trainers, they’re going to give you certain information. They’re going to give you its and bits of what’s going on. I just had to see it for my own eyes. He’s in good spirits right now and I saw that. Shaking his head and stuff like that, breathing. So once we saw that, everybody was, like, relax.
So you were able to actually see him move while he was out on the field?
Yeah, he moved his head. The trainer was talking to him as they were driving off. He was like shaking his head and stuff like that.
Daewood [WR Daewood Davis], was he on your side of the roster?
Yes, Daewood was on my team. So, yeah, he was one of my selections.
What will tomorrow be like? I guess it probably depends on how Daewood [WR Daewood Davis] is going, but can you project or take a guess?
I really can’t predict, but I’m sure everybody’s going to continue to rally around Daewood, support him. Even with whatever happens with this team, guys are still going to reach out and stuff to him, make sure his family is alright. That just shows you what kind of team this is. I know I am, because as a leader of our room, I feel that’s my responsibility. I feel like I got go check on my brother.
Head Coach Mike McDaniel on CBS Miami (Half-time)
(One of the last times we get to see the ones versus ones in the preseason here. What’d you like about the progress they’ve made so far?) – “Really, you just need reps. We still have two weeks until the regular season so it’s important that guys get out there and communicate. There’s plenty of opportunities to get better. They’ll thrive in that. They’ve been working hard for that opportunity. I was happy with the way they committed to the assignments.”
(I certainly hope RB Salvon Ahmed is okay. He took a big shot, but it seems like every time he touches the ball here in the preseason he does something big. What have you liked about his camp so far?) – “I was on another team with him as an undrafted rookie. You see him now. It doesn’t surprise me. He has an abundance of talent, but what he’s really done is honed in on his skills and focused on what he isn’t good at and he’s become good at it. It’s been awesome to watch.”
DT Zach Sieler on CBS Miami Broadcast (First Qtr)
(First of all, you’ve got to like the way the defense responded on the last drive. Long drive, get that pop at the endzone. What were you guys saying on the bench after?) – “It’s awesome. It’s great to be able to get that ball out there at the end and get the ball. You don’t want to let them drive like that on us. You don’t want to let them drive that that on us. We’ve got to correct some things, make them correct it on the bench. But it was a great play by those guys and good to get the ball back.”
(All offseason we’ve heard about the front seven, you’re right there in the middle of all of that, how good they can be. Is this team as good as advertised in that area?) – “I’ll tell you what, we love playing with each other. All camp we’ve been growing the bond between each other. (Bradley) Chubb and Jaelan (Phillips) on the outside, me, ‘Rae’ (Raekwon Davis), Christian (Wilkins) on the inside. (Jerome) Baker and David Long now, an addition this offseason. It’s been great playing with these guys and learning how to play off each other.”
(DT Raekwon Davis said the other day at practice, he thinks he’s about to have his best year yet. How is he looking from your spot?) – “I couldn’t agree more. He’s been awesome. My wife went to college with him and she said he looks like a different man.”
(So the wife approves?) – “I wouldn’t say that. She likes ‘Rae’ (Raekwon Davis), but she said he looks pretty good out there.”
(I know you guys open the season against the Los Angeles Chargers, probably want a little payback after last year. Are you guys looking forward to having a couple weeks to prepare for them?) – “It’s going to be nice. It’s a great team, great quarterback, great o-line. Can’t wait to go against them, take it out there and show them what we’ve got this year.”
WR Tyreek Hill on CBS Miami Broadcast (3rd Qtr)
(Before the season started you mentioned 2,000 yards. High expectations for yourself obviously. Where did you come up with that number?) – “I don’t know. I just feel like 2,000 is the magic number for every receiver and growing up, I’ve always wanted to play football and I’ve idolized guys, had guys as role models like Randy Moss, Chris Carter, Jerry Rice of course, Torry Holt. Those guys. And told be able to break the receiving record in a season would be awesome. Especially coming from a small-town kid because I came from nothing so it would be an honor.”
(QB Tua Tagovailoa talked to them yesterday and he mentioned that he thinks you guys have a lot of deep threats on this team. My instant reaction to that was, I bet that’s going to help WR Tyreek Hill get a few more balls. How explosive is this wide receiver room this season?) – “Man, I can’t even explain it sometimes. When we go in and watch film, it’s crazy just to see the dynamic playmakers that we’ve got on this offense. Not only in the receiving room, but it’s in the running backs room, it’s in the tight end room and it’s even in the o-linemen room, too. Those guys are explosive, too, so I’m excited about this year. It’s going to be a fun year for the Dolphins. Fins fans, you better lace up and get the popcorn ready. It’s going to be fun.”
(That first catch you made today, QB Tua Tagovailoa did a little spin move before getting you the ball.) – “That was sweet, right?”
(In Year 2, does it just feel like you guys are ready to unleash a different side of this offense?) – “Oh yeah, for sure. Year 2 is the year it’s all going to come together. We had a chance to go back and really get an understanding of this offense. I’ve been saying all offseason, like Year 1 was just a blur. We were just out there basically running, but Year 2, everyone fully has an understanding of the offense.”
HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON
Jaguars POSTGAME MEDIA AVAILABILITY VS. MIAMI DOLPHINS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 2023
Q. Can you take us through the mechanics and the conversations you had with Mike McDaniel
[Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel] and the officials?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, obviously after the hit, and you just – as a head coach you start looking
at your team, you start looking at your team, you start looking at body language and kind of
where guys are mentally. After the amount of time that had passed, then Mike [Dolphins Head
Coach Mike McDaniel] and I got together and talked about suspending the game, just from
where it was. We had to get our player reps involved, obviously New York involved, and it was
the right thing to do at that time. This game is all about player safety. I know it’s a preseason
game and some guys are fighting for spots and all of that, but at the same time, we want to
make sure that everybody is 100 percent.
Q. Offensively twelve first downs on your first two possessions. How were you guys able to
get in such a rhythm so quickly tonight? What did you see?
DOUG PEDERSON: It was just something that we had talked about all week. Just with the
starters, knowing that they were going to play, just being in the right frame of mind, how to —
we talked about starting fast. We didn’t start fast against the Cowboys a couple weeks ago, so
we wanted to come out and do that and we did, and unfortunately the turnover Tank [RB Tank
Bigsby] will learn from that. Something we have to eliminate, obviously, in the red zone, but
[I’m] pleased with the way the offense executed those first two drives.
Q. Did you plan to play them through a half and then they looked good for two series and
then you said, ‘Okay, that’s it?’
DOUG PEDERSON: Yes, yeah.
Q. This game concludes Calvin Ridley’s [WR Calvin Ridley] first preseason back in the league.
Could you talk about what you saw from him over the last few weeks? He had that one catch
today that looked like Calvin Ridley.
DOUG PEDERSON: I mean, he’s embraced sort of this second chance, this opportunity. He’s
done an outstanding job of coming in and picking up the system, blending with the guys. And
really, again, just embracing the opportunity. He understands, obviously, where he’s been and
what he’s been through, and he just appreciates every moment that he can be out there on the
grass. He did some really nice things early in the football game and it was really good to see.
Q. How pleased were you to see Trevor Lawrence [QB Trevor Lawrence] distribute the ball to
multiple receivers?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, I mean, obviously, that’s what you hope [and] anticipate –to spread the
ball around. I think everybody but Evan [WR Evan Engram] was able to get a catch in those first
two drives. But it’s what you want. Christian [WR Christian Kirk] came up with a big fourth down
for us there and kept the drive alive. And obviously we talked about Zay [WR Zay Jones] and
Calvin [WR Calvin Ridley] – and T.J. [RB Travis Etienne Jr.] and Tank [RB Tank Bigsby] ran hard.
Give credit to the offensive line, too, for the way they protected, the way they blocked. Just
well-executed by the first unit.
Q. Can you talk about the next three days? You’ve got some tough decisions to make with the
cuts. The backups have looked awfully good all three preseason games. Do you start talking to
some of these guys tomorrow, or will you wait until Tuesday to make the final cuts?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, you know, I feel like our young guys have played extremely well, and
they’ve really embraced their opportunities and made the most of their opportunities when
they had chances in these three preseason games. My hats off to them for how they attacked
Training Camp, and yeah, you’re right, this is a tough time of the year for 32 clubs. You’ve got to
get down to 53, and you disrupt the lives of so many players and so many athletes. But we’ve
got a chance tomorrow, actually, to get through the tape. We have a family barbecue lunch
planned tomorrow for everybody on the football side, players, coaches, everybody, and we’re
going to enjoy that and we’re going to get through tomorrow. And then start making some
tough decisions Monday and Tuesday.
Q. Walker Litle [OL Walker Litle] didn’t play today for precautionary reasons. Is that
something to be concerned about long term?
DOUG PEDERSON: No, it’s just something that he kind of tweaked his right groin in practice the
other day, and we warmed him up the last couple of days, actually worked him out before the
game. And just felt like in the best interest of him and our team and him being the starting left
tackle, I didn’t want to risk it and set him back or set our offense back. So just precautionarily
kept him out.
Q. Was Ventrell Miller [LB Ventrell Miller] was ruled out eventually?
DOUG PEDERSON: We’ll see later tonight and have probably a better update for you tomorrow
and at least have a statement for you tomorrow on Ventrell.
Q. Your starting offense, 164 yards on the first two possessions–operated very clean, except
for the fumble in the red zone. Trevor [QB Trevor Lawrence] used every single one of his
weapons on both drives. Can you talk about how you felt the first team offense looked?
DOUG PEDERSON: Obviously, I thought they came out in the right frame of mind, knowing that
they were playing in this football game, so they’ve had, obviously, time to prepare for it. They
attacked it the right way. That’s what we wanted to see as an offense. That’s what I wanted to
see was just the execution. It started up front with the offensive line. I felt like we were playing
on their side of the ball, on their side of the line of scrimmage for those first couple of drives.
Both T.J. [RB Travis Etienne Jr.] and Tank [RB Tank Bigsby] did a nice job in the run game, Trevor
[QB Trevor Lawrence] as you mentioned dispersing the football. A fourth down conversion in
there, not many third downs, which is obviously good. But I thought overall this was a really
good result for them, being the last preseason game, getting ready for the regular season.
Q. You talked a few weeks ago to us about RB Travis Etienne Jr. and wanting him to run in a
little bit different style and more squared shoulders and things like that. Obviously, he was
very productive tonight. Have you seen that pay off in training camp for him?
DOUG PEDERSON: I have. You really saw it tonight. We talk about keeping the shoulders square
and just keep throwing jabs, keep throwing punches. Two yards, three yards, two yards, one
yards, two yards, three yards, and eventually those turn into eight yards and 10 yards and 12
yards. It’s got to be a consistency, and we’ve seen that throughout the course of the spring and
obviously training camp with him. He did a nice job with that tonight, and again, he’s maturing
and really, I think, embracing his opportunity, as well.
Q. OLB Travon Walker had four tackles tonight. What kind of camp has he had? I don’t know
how much he might have caught your eye tonight.
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, Travon has really attacked this training camp. He came into the right
frame of mind several weeks ago, and he knew he had to develop obviously pass rush, and we
know what he can do seeing the edge. I think tonight was just a good way for him to kind of
finish camp and sort of catapult him into the regular season. So, [I’m] pleased where he’s at,
pleased where the defense is at, obviously. I know the young guys created some takeaways
today, and our defense stopped when they had to in the red zone, kept them to field goals,
which was good, and [I’m] pleased with the whole unit.
Q. The two preseasons you’ve had here, now this one coming to an end. Last year was much
about establishing culture, establishing your staff and everything. This year everything is
pretty much installed and it seems like the results have been a lot smoother, especially on the
offensive side of the ball.
DOUG PEDERSON: It has, and it’s the right guys in the locker room, quite frankly. A lot of guys
returning from last year, they know how I like to operate when it comes to practices and training
camp. I make it as difficult as I can, on them, during training camp. They embraced it, and they
did a nice job. Very proud of everybody in training camp. It’s the leadership in the locker room
that really shows up in year two. I feel like that as the head coach, I don’t necessarily have to
motivate these players. They can motivate themselves now. And that’s a good sign, that they
can take that upon themselves, and I’ve seen it throughout training camp. The things they say
and they’re talking about things– just a really good way to kind of end our training camp. We
shall have one more week, but really the way they finished sets us up for the regular season.
Q. Last look at OL Cam Robinson before his suspension, game reps anyway. How did he play
tonight, early impressions? You wanted to play him a lot, I’m assuming?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, that was the goal coming into camp was to give him a lot of reps, let
him play, because we know the suspension is coming. He really rebounded from the Detroit
game. I didn’t think he played his best in Detroit. He knew that, and he bounced back tonight.
Obviously, a tough situation because it was a late – kind of a late decision to go with him as a
starter, but he really embraced it. [I] thought he did a nice job, very consistent, and really the
Cam [OL Cam Robinson] of old that we all know he can be, he showed up tonight.
QUARTERBACK TREVOR LAWRENCE
POSTGAME MEDIA AVAILABILITY VS. MIAMI DOLPHINS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 2023
Q. 12 first downs on your first two drives tonight. How were you able to get in such a great
rhythm so quickly?
Yeah, first, I just want to send out thoughts and prayers to Daewood Davis [WR Daewood Davis].
Obviously it’s not anything you want to see, and just would appreciate that from everybody
else, too. It’s a tough scene, a game we all love and play, and to see a guy go down like that, I
know we’re all thinking about him, so just wanted to say that before we start. Yeah, what was
your question again?
Q. Just about finding a rhythm so quickly tonight, was there anything you can put your finger
on as to why you guys were able to get 12 first downs on the first two drives? You guys almost
didn’t even face a third down.
Yeah, I think it’s a combination of a lot of things. I thought we changed it up, showed a lot of
different looks. I think we had a good plan going in. We had a good scheme this week and took
advantage of some stuff that they were giving us, and guys on the outside did a great job. Really
where it starts is running the ball. We ran the ball great. I don’t think in those first two drives we
had any runs really less than three yards. I’d have to look that up. We ran the ball great, and
when you can do that and you can get them on their heels and you can run the ball, it really
opens everything else up. The movement passes, the drop back, all that. When thinking about
the run and stopping the run, that opens everything else up, and that helped us a lot, and then
our guys on the outside made plays. That catch that Calvin [WR Calvin Ridley] made, Zay [WR
Zay Jones] had a couple nice plays, Christian [WR Christian Kirk] had a big play on fourth down.
Like I said, the running backs did a great job. It was really a complete day for the offense and
even beyond those first two drives the other guys played great. We hit a couple shots. I thought
C.J. [QB C.J. Beathard] and Nate [QB Nathan Rourke] played really well. The receivers made
some big plays. Still ran the ball down the stretch the rest of the game, so it was really good to
see.
Q. Could you talk a little bit about the balance on those first two drives? You used every single
one of your weapons, 24 plays, 164 yards. Is that pretty much how you want it to look where
everybody gets involved, it’s not just relying on one or two guys?
Yeah, that’s ideal, obviously, when you game plan and you go into a game, obviously there’s
matchups you might want to take advantage of, but ideally you kind of spread the wealth. You
get everybody involved. You use all the guys that we have, because we have so many
playmakers, and it doesn’t always go that way, as we know, in the season. Things can turn out
differently in games. You just do whatever you can to win. But today it worked that way, and
that’s always good when it does. It was good to get everybody involved, and I think the guys
played great.
Q. You talked a lot over the last several months about building that relationship with Calvin
[WR Calvin Ridley] and starting to get more comfortable with him and then you go, and the
blitz is coming, and you find him. Just through camp, through all of the time spent with him
how confident are you in that relationship as you guys enter week one in a few weeks?
Really comfortable and confident. Me and Zay [WR Zay Jones] were talking on the sideline,
we’re in a really good spot, I think. We really attacked training camp. We got better on both
sides of the ball, special teams, really you name every position. But as we all know, it’s a long
season and we’ve got to keep getting better and we’ve got to keep staying hungry and just keep
making the improvements that we’ve made up until this point, but I love where we’re at. I love
the relationship me and Calvin [WR Calvin Ridley] have. I think that chemistry is becoming really
strong, and he’s doing a great job. He’s worked super hard. Those of you guys that have
watched practice, the guy works really, really hard, and he deserves it. So I’m happy for him,
happy that things are going well, and I’m just excited, excited to have him out there, excited to
have Zay [WR Zay Jones], Christian [WR Christian Kirk], Evan [TE Evan Engram], Travis [RB Travis
Etienne Jr.]. You can just go on and on and one, but he’s doing a great job.
Q. Can you talk about Luke Farrell? You got him involved early tonight. He’s more known for
pass blocking than protection, but you got him involved in the receiving game.
Yeah, Luke [TE Luke Farrell] is a great player. We came in together. He’s just really versatile. He
can do a lot of different things. He’s a great blocker, run, pass game, you name it, whichever
one. And then in the passing game he’s really smart. I think he’s really smart in knowing
coverages and zone coverage, knowing where to sit, where to post up. He just does a great job,
and you saw some of that tonight, and did a nice job after the catch, too, was able to get vertical
and get some extra yards. That’s a huge part of this game is yards after catch. If you can get the
ball in space to your guys quick and let them make plays, that helps us a lot, and our guys did a
great job of that.
Q. Not that you’re not confident, but was it important to have a couple of good drives early
with the emphasis on starting fast this year?
Definitely. You look back at our season last year, that was definitely a weaker spot for us is
starting games slow and having to play lights out in the second half because we started slow
and put our defense in a bind. That’s a big improvement. Obviously, we’ve got to carry that over
in two weeks when we play, but yeah, that was awesome to see. Then, even in Dallas the first
game, again, had the turnover and started slow there. To be able to make those improvements
and just stay on schedule, it was like every play we were able to keep it second and five, second
and two, whatever it was. We were never behind the chains really, and that was huge.
Q. Following up on that, can you put your finger on why you guys have been able to start
faster or why tonight and then just throughout the training camp and everything you guys
were able to start faster? I know you guys are still playing the regular season, but it seems like
that’s not only a point of emphasis but actually being executed?
Yeah, there’s a lot of different factors. Obviously last year happens where we just don’t execute.
Maybe I miss a throw, miss a block, whatever it is. Different things happen on different drives
that can stall you or a penalty or whatever, and tonight we just played cleaner. We didn’t have
many penalties, especially in those first two drives. I thought the guys were really locked in, and
it’s all about attacking from that first snap and really setting the tone. I think that that’s the
mindset that we’ve been trying to instill since OTAs, and it’s obviously working, and we’ve just
got to keep pressing that emphasis.
Q. Does that sort of speak to the maturity of the offense? You guys are all year three for you,
year seven for other players? Does it speak to how mature you are within this offense?
Yeah, I think it shows just how well we work together, and also that we’re willing to work on the
things that we might not have been great at last year. I think that says a lot about a unit, and I’ve
seen that on both sides of the ball, just us knowing kind of what we didn’t do great last year and
putting such an emphasis on it this off-season and it’s paying off. You’ve got to give credit to
Coach Pederson [Head Coach Doug Pederson] and Press [Offensive Coordinator Press Taylor]
and Mike [Defensive Coordinator Mike Caldwell] and all the offensive coaches that have helped
push that along, and we’ve done a great job.
Q. Do you like the way a young guy like Tank [RB Tank Bigsby] bounced back after the fumble,
the mistake there?
Yeah, it’s great. Great for him to learn from that now when the games don’t count. That’s what I
told him, we’ve all been there, we’ve all done that, and he gets in that situation in the regular
season and gets down there close to the goal line, he’s going to think about that and he’s going
to keep the ball tight. It’s all a learning experience, and a young player, he’s a great player, and
he’s going to help us a lot. Things like that just guys learn from, and he will. He’s that type of
guy. I told him, I was like, I’ve been there before, but all of mine unfortunately counted in the
regular season. But no, he’s going to learn from it, and yeah, it’s great to see him bounce back.
That guy runs really hard, and it’s cool to watch him.
