Kenyan Drake – October 13, 2019 (Postgame)
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Sunday, October 13, 2019
Postgame – Washington
RB Kenyan Drake (transcribed by Anthony Gutierrez)
(How did you feel about the comeback that the team had in the second half?) – “We are a resilient bunch so, the situation that we had in the game when we were down by ‘X’ amount of points – everyone kind of knows the woes we have had in the second half throughout the season, so for us to come back and give our team something to make sure that we put ourselves in a position to win; that’s all you can ask for, to continue to improve on a week-to-week basis.”
(What do you think about Head Coach Brian Flores’ decision to go for two?) – “I respect it. I love it. I want to be in the situation to win the game each and every time. We know he has the utmost faith in his offense and the ability to go out there and call a play, run it, and execute it and make a play. I personally did not hold my bargain of the deal. That’s what we do as professional athletes in this game. This world, this league, it’s all about what have you done for me lately. As a professional in any aspect, you are expected to perform and hold your job up to the utmost of your ability. I did all I could out in that game. Everybody from a team standpoint, we went out there and did our best and just fell short.”
(On the two-point conversion.) – “Like I said, I have to hold my end of the bargain up. Everyone has their job to do, their 1/11th, and my job is to catch the ball and get in the end zone. Regardless of what the situation was, I have to make sure that I hold my end of the bargain up and make the play that needs to be made, especially when (Head) Coach (Brian Flores) puts us in that situation to go and get the win.”
Mike Gesicki – October 13, 2019 (Postgame)
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Sunday, October 13, 2019
Postgame – Washington
TE Mike Gesicki (transcribed by Katharine Bohlmann)
(A big catch in a big moment. What did you see on that play going up, rising up on that ball?) – “That is just a play we have been repping a lot in two-minute situations. The o-line did a great job giving ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) some time to step up in the pocket and make a play. I appreciate him giving me a shot and for letting me go up and get it.”
(To go up and get the ball and be trusted in that moment, what is that like?) – “Yeah, it is great. That is kind of what I envision myself in this offense. That is kind of the role that I see myself having in this offense. When the ball is in the air, you’ve got to go up and make (the play). There were a couple of plays out there today, some of them got batted down and things like that; but just knowing that the coaches, the quarterbacks, and the system is kind of trusting me to go make the play, that is kind of a big feeling for me just because it has been a while.”
(What kind of lift did QB Ryan Fitzpatrick provide at the end of the game?) – “Honestly, I think Josh (Rosen) has done a great job with our team the past couple of weeks and kind of giving us a spark as well. When ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) got in there today, he is a good leader for us. So, when he got in there, we all rallied up behind him. He came in there with some energy. He kind of knows the ins and outs and the X’s and the O’s and he kind of knew what to expect and who to throw the ball to and that kind of stuff. So, he did a great job and I am happy for him.”
G/T Jesse Davis – October 13, 2019 (Postgame)
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Sunday, October 13, 2019
Postgame – Washington
G/T Jesse Davis (transcribed by Ken Mendonça)
(The pass protection in the first half was not so good; the second half, a lot better. What happened there?) – “I don’t know. I was wondering that myself as I walked off (the field). Unfortunately, Josh (Rosen) did get hit a lot and that starts with us. I think when we went up-tempo on them, the game changed a bit for them. I think we put some stuff together and ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) did a great job coming in; but we have to clean that up. We can’t get our quarterback touched.”
(What is your reaction when you’re going on the field and you’re going for the 2-point conversion? Typically it’s a kick and you play for overtime. What were you thinking?) – “I was like, ’Hell, yeah let’s do this.’ I don’t want to play overtime. (laughter) I think it was a good call. I think we’ve got to be aggressive doing that. What do we have to lose? You go for it. If you kick (and go to) overtime, you string it out and maybe end up in the same situation. I like the call.”
(The lift that QB Ryan Fitzpatrick provided you guys when he came in was pretty obvious to us. Could you feel it on the field, too?) – “I think at the time we were playing so fast, we’re just communicating and then everything was just a blur to us. It was the next play, next play. I think ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) did a good job coming in and doing what he did. It was encouraging for us to move the ball and get the ball around to everybody. ‘Mike G’ (Mike Gesicki) made a good catch up the middle. I remember that was awesome. For us, we were working in a good concert together, which was nice.”
DeVante Parker – October 13, 2019 (Postgame)
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Sunday, October 13, 2019
Postgame – Washington
WR DeVante Parker
(Just to be this close to a win and for it to fall away so quickly, what’s it like?) – “It’s really frustrating to be that close and not punch it in. We’ve just got to execute that.”
(Was it an encouraging thing that you guys in the fourth quarter got a couple drives, a couple scores despite the outcome?) – “Yeah, it was a good thing we kept moving the ball; but at the end, we didn’t win. That’s all that matter.”
(A lot of pressure put on QB Josh Rosen early going in, what were you seeing on the field?) – “Like we all do, we’ve just got to take one play at a time. If something bad happens, move on to the next one. That’s it.”
Mark Walton – October 13, 2019 (Postgame)
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Sunday, October 13, 2019
Postgame – Washington
RB Mark Walton (transcribed by Ken Mendonça)
(What did it mean for you to be able to get the opportunity that you got today and just with this team now?) – “I’m just thankful and blessed. I’m grateful for the opportunity. I’m just trying to go out and not make this bigger than what it is. I’m just trying to go out there and do my job as I’ve been doing throughout the whole week, so I can translate it to games. I’m just doing my job.”
(How did it feel to be so close and go for two, the highs of being there and going for the two and not getting it – just the high and the low of that?) – “We’re just trying to win a game. We’re just trying to get something going over here. We went for two. We could have went for a field goal and went to overtime, but we’re trying to win the game. It just came up short, but I like the way everybody came out and competed and worked hard, and pushed through the final quarter and started fighting back. I think we’re just moving step by step and we just have to keep going.”
(Is it encouraging to you that the coaches believed in you to give you some work today?) – “Like I say, I try to go out there on the practice field and do my job each and every day, and I think that’s translating to the field and it gives the coaches more energy to try to put me out there and see what I can do. Practices translate to the game, so that’s what I’ve been trying to do on a week to week basis. It’s just showing up.”
Josh Rosen – October 13, 2019 (Postgame)
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Sunday, October 13, 2019
Postgame – Washington
QB Josh Rosen
(In terms of the first-half sacks, what were some of the issues there that were going on?) – “(It was) a couple of things. That was kind of the frustrating part. It was just something new on every play. I made plenty of mistakes throughout the game; but it’s like if all 11 could make one mistake on one play and then get it over with and then move forward, (it would be better). I couldn’t speak to details, but there were a couple of things here and there.”
(Who told you about the change of the quarterback position?) – “’Flo’ (Head Coach Brian Flores). I came off the field and he told me about it.”
(What were your thoughts?) – “I was disappointed, but I understood the situation. I mean it obviously was a smart decision given how the game almost ended. ‘Flo’s’ (Head Coach Brian Flores) job first and foremost is to win football games and I respect the decision, and it’s my job to not put him in that position.”
(Did you see anything different standing on the sidelines that was happening that was different than the three quarters that you played in the game where there was a lot of pressure and seemed like there was a lot of duress that you had to deal with?) – “I mean it was a different kind of game when ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) went in, so they were running a little more two-minute. (We had) a little bit lighter personnel on our behalf, so it was a different game; but, yeah, definitely some different looks given the circumstances.”
(I know it didn’t go the way you wanted personally, but the team was very competitive today. Do you get any good feeling about that at all coming away from this game?) – “Yeah. I mean I think as a team, this is a step in the right direction. Personally, I may not say the same; but I mean, that’s just sort of take it on the chin and continue to improve. It was obviously a disappointment for me, but we almost came close to our first team win, which is awesome regardless of who is behind center. I’m a Dolphin first and foremost and that was good; but I mean I’ve definitely got to get better personally.”
(Head Coach Brian Flores said earlier that week that you were kind of settled in at quarterback, but then made a change three quarters in. Did you feel like that was kind of different than what you thought the situation was going to be?) – “It’s not really in my thought process. I’m trying to worry about who the Mike (linebacker) is, who I’m throwing the ball to and stuff. Regardless, it’s above my pay grade.”
Ryan Fitzpatrick – October 13, 2019
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Sunday, October 13, 2019
Postgame – Washington
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
(So what was the feeling in the huddle when you were going for that last drive and then going for two?) – “It was fun. I mean that whole fourth quarter was fun just to be out there. I think there was a lot of confidence on that last drive. There were some things that – we had a timeout. We had to get up there and clock it once. Some guys made some nice plays, and then DeVante (Parker) on the touchdown – a big catch. That’s the kind of stuff – that’s why I still like being out there and playing this game. That’s the kind of stuff that you love, and I was happy that we decided to go for two. That was the right move, and I wish we would have got in there.”
(When did you I guess feel…?) – “When did you feel it, you know? (laughter). I mean (Head Coach Brian) Flores just tapped me on the shoulders and said, ‘Hey, you’re going in.’ I said, ‘Okay.’ I went and got a ball and took a few throws on the sideline and was ready to go out there. I thought the guys, when I got in there, it was just a good feeling in the huddle. Guys played hard for me…”
(Do you think you have to say anything to QB Josh Rosen, I guess, after this – given that he got benched?) – “We’re constantly talking, whether it’s on the sideline or in the locker room after. We spend a lot of time together, so I’ve been in every situation you can imagine multiple times. I know that for him, maybe he hasn’t experienced as many of these situations as I have, but you just put your head down, work hard and go from there.”
(For this football team to have that opportunity at the end of the game to win and not get it done, what was the emotion like in the locker room coming in?) – “I think each guy feels their own independent feelings and different – there’s a lot of frustration in there. I’m disappointed that we didn’t get it in. I think obviously we all wanted it. We all had confidence in the play. It just felt like when we scored – when DeVante (Parker) made that catch – it felt like that was the right move for us at that time. And going for the win, we didn’t get it.”
(What do you think a fourth quarter like that will do for you guys the rest of the season?) – “I have no clue. I’m not sure where we go from here. I just – whatever my role is, I’m going to try to do it to the best of my ability.”
(Why wasn’t it the right call in terms of that pass to RB Kenyan Drake? In your opinion, because you see all those 2-point situations. Why was that the right call?) – “To go for it? Or the actual play.”
(The actual play.) – “Yeah. There’s a million different things like the play design and everything else that we could talk about; but I felt like the aggressiveness – I felt like giving arguably our best guy the ball and giving him a chance to win it for us, those are the types of situations that I think everybody on the team wants to be in. Kenyan (Drake) is one of our best playmakers.”
(And it just didn’t work? There were three defenders there but you think it could have worked if he’d caught the ball?) – “I think it gave him a chance. Whether – Was he going to walk in the end zone? No. He wasn’t going to walk into the end zone. He would have had to do something significant and special; but that’s what we think of him, so we wanted to give him the chance to do it.”
(And you clearly like the aggressive approach?) – “Yeah, I love the fact that we went for it.”
(So I recognize it is professional football and there are no moral victories and so forth, but you walk away from the stadium today having played a game where you were competitive to the final play basically, and you scored in the second half and you had a chance to win. Does that feel any better than what has happened the previous four games?) – “Again, I think you have to individually ask everybody about that; but what I told you guys when I first got here, I enjoy playing football. I enjoy being out there. And did we want to win, do we want to win every game? Yes. We haven’t done it yet. But to put yourself in those competitive situations and to have a chance at the end of the game, that’s a much – moral victory, whatever, I don’t know if we believe in those; but it’s much more fun to be involved in a game like that than one when you look up and you’re losing by 40-plus points. So in that regard, if that’s what you’re getting at, then yeah. It was much more fun to be a part of that game.”
Brian Flores – October 13, 2019 (Postgame)
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Sunday, October 13, 2019
Postgame – Washington
Head Coach Brian Flores
(Tell us about the 2-point conversion, the thought of going for two versus one?) – “We were trying to win the game, pretty much. We talked about it. We felt good about the play. It’s something we worked on all week. We thought we had an opportunity to win the game, and that was the thought process there. They made a good play. They were ready to go on it; but we’re going to try to win the game in that situation with the amount of time left.”
(I noticed C Daniel Kilgore was out for that 2-point conversion and C/G Evan Boehm was at center, and G Shaq Calhoun was at right guard, I believe. Did that influence the play call at all?) – “No. We still felt good about it. I mean we’ve actually repped that with that group in there, and I don’t think that’s what it was. They played good defense on the play, and (we) couldn’t make the catch. I think – it wasn’t a QB-center exchange or – like, the ball was outside. It’s not the right guard or the center in that situation.”
(Do you think RB Kenyan Drake would have got in if he’d have caught it?) – “No. It looked like they played it pretty well. Drake would have had to make a pretty spectacular play, break a tackle – which he’d been doing a good job breaking tackles all day. I think obviously the first part of it is a good throw (and) a good catch. If you don’t have that, then the rest of it is a moot point.”
(Was it a spur-of-the-moment decision?) – “No. We were going for two all the way. We were thinking two-point at the 10-minute mark.”
(You made the change to QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. At what point did you start consider that – putting him in at the beginning of the fourth quarter? What time did you start thinking about that?) – “I felt like we needed a spark. We were down 17-3 at that point. The defense actually made a good stop to keep it to a two-score game or 14-point game. We just felt like that was the right move in that moment, the way we were going offensively. We had to get a spark going. We had to get something going. We tried to make a couple plays in the kicking game. We just felt like we needed a spark, and this team fought hard. I mean they didn’t – there’s no issue with effort. There’s no issue with trying to go out here and get a win. We just came up short at the end.”
(Was it early on in the game with QB Josh Rosen in, the five sacks; it seemed like he was under duress almost from the outset.) – “It took us a while to kind of get that under control. I think we made some adjustments at halftime. The protection was better in the second half. Obviously that played a role in the issues we had from a pass standpoint, but it wasn’t just the protection. It’s a good defense. It was hard to get the run game going, and they’ve got good rushers. I think as the game wore on, we kind of got a better feel for how they were rushing. The protection was better. We had better execution overall in the pass game, and we had more production.”
(Last week you said that the quarterback competition was settled. Is it unsettled now?) – “I think Josh (Rosen) has done a good job. I think today he wasn’t having a good day, and I think we’re always going to do what we feel is best for the team and today that was ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) going in in the fourth quarter. Josh is the starter, I would say. But as this thing – as we continue to move along – there’s always competition. I mean I think everyone needs to feel that. I need to feel that. The players need to feel that. I think we know ‘Fitz’ was ready to go in today. I think he played well. I think everyone could see that. We need players who are ready to go in and play; but as far as starting, not starting – I think today, it was just a move we felt like we needed to make. It’s no different than if a back’s not going, we put another back in or if a receiver is not going, we put another receiver in. I know it’s ‘the’ position and I understand that, but I think we’ll – Josh will continue to be the starter, and, again, if we feel like we need a spark and ‘Fitz’ has to go in, we’ll continue to do that.”
(You started RB Mark Walton. Was that because of his production, or was it something with the other backs that you didn’t see?) – “I think Mark’s (Walton) been playing well. I think all the backs are playing good football. We just wanted to see Mark, and I thought he went out there and made some plays in the run game and in the pass game. He missed a protection early to block that he normally makes. I would say in pass protection, he’s been one of the guys I feel most confident in from a pass protection standpoint; but all of those guys, we have confidence in them all. (Kalen) Ballage goes in on the goal line and (Kenyan) Drake made a lot of plays. We got the ball to those guys a lot today; so starter, non-starter, they were all in there and were all somewhat productive.”
(How did QB Josh Rosen react when you told him that…?) – “He was disappointed as he should be, as any competitor would be; but at the end of the day he was excited for ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) and excited for this team as we started to come back and creep our way back into the game and give ourselves a shot to win at the end.”
(That two-point conversion play, is that something you guys have been holding for that situation or did you see something and called that?) – “Yeah, I mean it’s something we’ve run a lot in practice and felt good about it. (We) just didn’t execute it. They made a good play as well.”
