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Jay Ajayi – November 7, 2016 Download PDF version

Monday, November 7, 2016

Running Back Jay Ajayi

(Obviously, the New York Jets game yesterday with the No. 1 [rushing] defense, but obviously you guys kind of ‘poo poo’d’ on that yourself personally. You had a decent game towards the end. Kind of wore them down.”– “Yes, we were going against a great challenge. We knew they were going to be good up front and so it was just kind of about staying persistent with the running game and trying to be steady throughout all four quarters.”

(How have you been handling all this recent success for yourself? I mean, 500-plus yards rushing…) – “Yes, I think I’ve just been the same me. And that’s kind of what I’ve been focusing just week in, week out – just come in ready to work (and) just being consistent making plays.”

(This started when the offensive line got healthy, the projected five starters suddenly started playing. Is the quality of blocks you got in front of you and also from the receivers down field as well, can you talk about that?) – “Yes, having those guys, the fab five out there, I feel confident every time behind those guys. I know they’re going to create creases and then it’s just about hitting it hard and breaking tackles.”

(To go up against a physical New York Jets defensive front like this and still go over 100 yards, what does it say about your guys’ rushing attack and the offensive linemen up there?) – “I think that we were able to go against a good front and we were able to rush for over 100 yards. I think that you have to respect that. I think we had a good day on the ground and we were able to do a lot of good things on offense.”

(After the first 200-yard game, we asked you, ‘Hey are you hopeful you might get a thousand?’ Now, you’re expecting to get a thousand yards right?) – “I mean we’re still taking it week by week. Hopefully that occurs in these next coming weeks, but it’s been good for the production that we’ve had on the ground. Myself, I’m definitely proud of what we’ve accomplished. At the same time though, we’re not sitting on any of that stuff and we’re just trying to just keep pushing forward.”

(What does it say about the faith the coaching staff and Head Coach Adam Gase have in the running game? It was a little bit of a rough first half and you just kept pounding away against the top-ranked rush defense.) – “Throughout the week (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase kind of made it clear that we are going against the No. 1 rush defense. At the same time though, it’s going to be a four-quarter game. He’s still going to trust the running game and allow us to still get in a rhythm because he told us it might not be how it’s been with the 200-yard games, where we’re having a lot of good runs early and we’ll just have to fight and just kind of chip away, and it became that kind of game yesterday. And we were able to do that.”

(Strength vs strength.) – “Yes, definitely.”

(What is the challenge of being on the field for say 70 or 80 percent of the time?) – “I don’t think it’s really a challenge. I think it’s just being out there and that’s the opportunity I’ve been given now, is to be out on the field a lot more. It’s just about preparation, making sure that you know what you’re doing out there, and then just executing the plays.”

(This team hasn’t had a whole lot of success going west. What was the deal with the San Diego game last year? What’d you learn from that? And how do you get over the hump going west?)  – “I think we’re a whole different team this year than we were last year. And I think that we’re excited about this opportunity to go out to California for a two-week period. We know the challenge of what’s in front of us, that it’s not going to be easy traveling coast-to-coast; but we’re excited about our opponent this weekend and it should be fun.”

(How would you say your body feels right now?) – “I feel good. I came in like I usually do and did some of my regeneration stuff. So it’s starting to feel better so that by Wednesday’s practice I’ll be good to go.”

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