Brian Flores – September 13, 2021
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Monday, September 13, 2021
Head Coach Brian Flores
(I’m wondering whether you have any indication if DT Raekwon Davis’ injury might be long term or if we are looking at a day-to-day deal?) – “It’s still early. We are still doing tests. We will probably have more information later on today and in the coming days. Raekwon is a tough kid. He’s eager to get back out there so we will take it one day at a time. We’re still kind of running some tests. We don’t have any final results there.”
(With DT Raekwon Davis, could he have gone back yesterday or would it just have been too risky health-wise?) – “We held him out so that’s the decision we made. We are running tests now. Look, nothing is more important than the health of a player. That’s the approach we will take and that’s the approach we took with him yesterday. We held him out, which kind of lets you know we didn’t want to put him back in there.”
(Is T Austin Jackson your starting left tackle moving forward or did T Liam Eichenberg do enough things yesterday to where that’s now an open competition moving forward?) – “Liam did a nice job yesterday. That was obviously a tough environment against a team that shows a lot of different fronts and gave him a lot of different looks. I thought he played well. But yeah, Austin is our left tackle.”
(Nobody hangs a banner for 1-0 starts. I get that of course; but can it be a nice emotional boost when you guys look at the standings and see that you’re alone on top? After all the work you guys put in all spring and all summer, to get at least some sort of little payoff and that good feeling, can that permeate a little bit and be a nice little booster going into Week 2?) – “The guys are excited that we won the game. But now it’s about – and look, you celebrate and you’re happy about it but then we have to turn the page and move on to our next opponent, which is another big game against a very good team. That’s the approach. I think there was definitely excitement but there are tough games on the horizon so we have to get prepared for that.”
(The two touchdown drives both happened the first time you touched the ball – the first one the first time you touched the ball in the first half and the second one the first time you touched the ball in the second half. I’m wondering if there is any reason that the offense was clicking so well the first time they possess the ball?) – “I think we try to execute on every drive. It just so happens in this particular game it happened on our first drive of the game and to open the second half. I think we need to do a better job executing in between. I know we are going through those corrections right now. I don’t think there’s any real correlation. We try to move the ball and be productive on every drive. It just so happens it happened in those instances.”
(A win is hard to come by in the NFL, but how much better is it a teaching tool or opportunity when you can have a tough game that you pull off and there’s a lot of correctable things that you can show them on film?) – “There’s always corrections in every game. It’s always nice to make those corrections after a win but definitely a lot of corrections that we ae making now. If we make them, we’ll be better for them. That’s where our focus is right now.”
(If I could look a little bit ahead to Buffalo, you get WR William Fuller V back this week. What impact does his speed have on this offense?) – “We didn’t have Will last week. He missed some time in training camp. We really only had him for, I would say, a handful of practices. We’ll work him in and see how to best utilize him in the offense and see how things go during practice this week. I think we got a lot of guys in that room. We will see how practice goes this week and take it from there.”
(I wanted to ask you about the stretch in the second quarter there with LB Elandon Roberts, the miss call there on the touchdown, and the stretch at the end of the second quarter. How do you feel your poise was as a coach, as a team, to close out that half and tie things up when some calls didn’t go your way?) – “That’s kind of how the game goes. Just move on to the next play and try to take it one play at a time. There are ebbs and flows in every game. A good call, bad call from the officials. That happens. You just try to move on and try to have a good play on the next snap. Make a good call on the next snap and put guys in position to have success. The end of the second quarter was a lot of ebbs and flows there. They took the lead, we had a good two minute drive and tied it up. We were able to get the ball back in the second half and take the lead again. It was a back and forth game, a tough game. That’s how games are in this league. I think our team showed some resiliency and some mental toughness, and we need that.”
(I wanted to get your thoughts on the running game. RB Myles Gaskin was out there for most of the game. RB Malcolm Brown came in late as well and was able to provide important first down opportunities for you guys. Can you share your thoughts on that after watching the video?) – “I thought specifically at the end of the game, when we needed some first downs running the football, to run the clock out, it was good to see us finish the game with the ball. They knew we were going to run it, we knew we were going to run it, and we were able to pick up a couple of first downs there, so that’s always good. I thought Myles ran hard. I thought Salvon (Ahmed) ran hard. I thought Malcolm ran hard. I think there is a lot to build on there, we can block it better, we can run a little bit better. We’re making those corrections now and we’ve got to put it into action on the field when we get out there on Wednesday.”
(The first opportunity, obviously T Austin Jackson not being there, but how would you assess how the offensive line performed in their debut this year?) – “Like every position, there is a lot of improvement that needs to be made. The first game – the first 60-minute ball game for everyone on the offensive line, and defensive line and really the entire team. I think improvement is the big mantra or coaching point right now across the board at all positions. We make the necessary improvements and we’ll get better. That’s where our focus is right now.”
(I asked you a little earlier about WR Will Fuller and you mentioned you haven’t seen him a lot with practices. Have you seen enough of him to know where maybe he will fit when you put him in there, just given the lack of time out there?) – “He’s got a lot of film from his time in Houston. We’ve had him all spring. We have an idea where we will want to play him, but we’ve got to practice. We’ve got to get timing. We can put people on the page as far as drawing something up; but getting timing with the quarterback, getting timing in the running game, getting timing from that standpoint, those are things you have to practice. We need to get more of that. I think we’ll get that this week.”
(This is the first regular season game, Co-Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends George Godsey and Co-Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs Eric Studesville kind of called and ran this offense. How would you evaluate how the offense looked against a live defense that mattered?) – “I thought we moved the ball effectively on some drives and on other drives we didn’t. I think they’ve got a good defense. They played well. They made some plays, we made some plays. They won some matchups, we won some matchups. It was a tough ball game in a tough environment. I thought our operation was clean as far as dealing with crowd noise, getting in and out of the huddle and things of that nature. Eric and George did a nice job of getting the guys prepared and putting guys in positions to make some plays.”
Jason McCourty – September 12, 2021 (Postgame)
Sunday, September 12, 2021
Postgame – New England
DB Jason McCourty
(What did you see on that long pass breakup?) – “Yeah that’s a ‘we’re going after him’ right there. When a quarterback fades back, he’s fading back because he has to get rid of the ball before that last rusher who’s unblocked gets to him so you know when he does that, he’s going to loft one up. It’s just trying to figure out what direction he’s going to loft it up. Old guy just had to show I can still run a little bit, was able to make the play. (laughter)”
(Can I ask you what do you think your 40 time would be just on that run?) – “I can still run. I may not be able to change directions like I used to like this guy over here but straight forward I can still go.”
(You’ve been on the other side of this before. How hard is it to come and win in this building?) – “It’s hard to win no matter where you’re at. This is my 13th year. I’ve had years where I was 0-16, 2-14 and 3-13. It doesn’t matter where you play in this league; it’s hard to win in the NFL. Those are lessons that our young guys will learn. For the rookies coming from college, it’s different and it doesn’t matter who you’re playing or what their record is. Any given Sunday you come out here, it is going to be a challenge and it is going to be a 60-minute ball game to be able to come out victorious.”
(What stood out for you facing QB Mac Jones tonight?) – “He didn’t really make any mistakes. He was poised. Even watching him in the huddle getting guys in, yelling, commanding. A lot of what he looked like in the preseason is how he came out and performed. He gave his team a chance to win. He didn’t really make many mistakes, didn’t throw any errant passes really. He is a poised young guy. It was fun to see him and Tua (Tagovailoa) obviously college teammates being on opposite sidelines and it is always a lot more fun when you come out with the win.”
(Three 14 play drives but none of them were a touchdown… You couldn’t get off on third down but you didn’t give up a lot of points.) – “Huge. Red zone, third down; those are game-winning plays and when you are to able to get off the field on third down in the red zone, it’s a four-point play. It changes the chance of a touchdown to a field goal and that’s huge just to keep us in the game and continue to give our offense a chance. Obviously there are going to a lot of things we are going to need to correct on those long drives, but being able to bend but not break in that red zone is huge and it continues to give us a chance as the game goes on.”
(What did you see on the fumble? I assume you were in on the play. What did you see on that play?) – “Xavien Howard being one of our best players and making a play. He gets paid a lot of money because he is that good (laughter). He was able to show up big for us in that moment and that is what we expect of him at practice, out here in the game. We expect him to make plays. It has been a lot of fun learning from him and being around him. Great, great guy so I am going to bring him to the stage next (laughter).”
Liam Eichenberg – September 12, 2021 (Postgame)
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Sunday, September 12, 2021
Postgame – New England
T Liam Eichenberg
(When you said that the left side was easier for you, how did you feel in this first start being at left tackle?) – “Yeah, I though it went all right. Obviously, there was some mistakes – two penalties, I was on the ground a little bit and just overall there are a lot of things I need to clean up. But went out there, we got the win and that’s the most important thing. But it was great. It was great to be out there with the team, especially the offensive line. It was a good experience.”
(It’s a tough ask for any player especially a rookie making his NFL debut, switch positions three days before the game and then go and start and play 60 snaps. What was your week like getting ready for this and how did you feel like you handled the moment?) – “Like I was saying earlier in the week, I was kind of bouncing around playing on the right side and the left side so there’s part of me that thought I’d maybe end up starting at left tackle for this game, but it’s wherever the team needs me. We have a lot of great players and a lot of guys that aren’t selfish. For me, it’s just getting out there and just playing wherever they need me to be to help this team win.”
(When did you learn for sure that you would be starting today?) – “This morning.”
Tua Tagovailoa – September 12, 2021 (Postgame)
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Sunday, September 12, 2021
Postgame – New England
QB Tua Tagovailoa
(Can you just assess your performance today, how it went?) – “I think offensively we started out the way we wanted to. We started out fast – getting on the ball, trying to force communication on the defensive side. I think we played complementary football, but to an extent we didn’t take advantage of a lot of the opportunities the defense gave us with a lot of the turnovers, but I thought overall there is a lot things we need to clean up offensively. I think the defense gave us a lot of opportunities and we just got to make use of those.”
(I’m curious how many of the plays on the opening drive were scripted?) – “I wouldn’t say our opening plays are scripted, but it’s more so we kind of know and understand how the game is going to be as far as our personnel being in there and what to expect as far as their defensive personnel being out there, and you can kind of gauge what plays are about to come into the headset.”
(Was that the same to start the second half? Those were your two TD drives.) – “Yeah, you know, it’s all about making adjustments, and that’s what we tried to do the second half. Obviously we got to execute a lot better, and for me, taking care of the ball. That’s big.”
(Were you trying to throw the ball away on that pick?) – “Yeah, I was trying to throw the ball away, but unfortunately that’s not what happened.”
(What was it like going against Patriots QB Mac Jones? Obviously not facing him. You’re facing the defense but just knowing he was on the other side.) – “I was happy for him. It being his first real game with a crowd like this, I mean, I thought he made some really good throws. And their execution on third down I think was really good, and Mac looks like he fits perfectly into their offense and their system so I was happy for him.”
(On how much the defense boosted the offense by forcing field goals on long drives) – “I mean, I think that’s winning football on the defensive side. Like I said, I think we’ve got to do a better job at making use of the opportunities that we get offensively. You know, and I would say kind of giving the defense some rest as well by either running the ball, getting RPOs, getting first downs, and kind of having long drives so they can get their rest. And then to that point, playing complementary football.”
(How did WR Jaylen Waddle affect today’s game?) – “I don’t think it was just Jaylen. I think it was a lot of the guys out there on the field – DeVante Parker – and a lot of the things that you guys probably don’t look at. You know, in Jaylen’s first touchdown you have Durham (Smythe) and Mike (Gesicki) on one side and they’re picking pretty much for Jaylen and that play wasn’t possible without those guys. I think the line did pretty good, too, today, up front. Obviously there are some things that we’ve got to clean up and that’s what tomorrow is for us.”
(What’s the luxury of having CB Xavien Howard on your side when things aren’t going great offensively he steps up and helps you out?) – “Yeah, and I don’t think it’s just ‘X,’ but having ‘X’ is definitely really fun because you know something or anything can happen. But it’s really everyone on the defense, you know, that helps with the turnovers. And that was just ‘X.’ That was just ‘X,’ so yeah.”
(TE Hunter Long is from up in this area. He comes back home, played high school and college ball here and gets a win with you guys. What’s your impression of him so far and was it a special moment to come home and get a win?) – “I think Hunter has done a great job. Although he hasn’t been getting catches, he does what he’s asked. That’s what you expect and that’s what you want, especially for a rookie, someone that’s just willing to go out there and do whatever he needs to do for the team.”
(You’ve got a guy right here who played for the Patriots, Head Coach Brian Flores, so many connections. What’s extra special about kind of doing it for these guys?) – “I think these guys will be the first to tell that you it’s not about them. You know, it’s just about the collective work and effort that we’ve all put in as a team going against each other. Our defense kind of emulates the Patriots’ defense, so we have the luxury of going against these guys, and them making it hard for us to move the ball, to run the ball, whatever it may be. But it is special for them because they’ve obviously come from this organization so it’s a good win.”
Elandon Roberts – September 12, 2021 (Postgame)
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Sunday, September 12, 2021
Postgame – New England
LB Elandon Roberts
(For starters what more can you do on that roughing the passer call?) – “(Laughter) They called it. We’ll look at it on film. What did y’all think?”
(I thought you fell down.) “I thought the same thing (laughter). Hey, he threw the flag, I ain’t going to say much because I really don’t know the rules and I don’t want to get fined (laughter).”
(Is there some double meaning with the hat?) – “I just like how it looked.”
(This defense last year had 20 turnovers – it was of course one of the big reasons you guys went 10-6. Is that kind of magic back? Timely plays and bend don’t break and all that?) – “I don’t feel like it’s magic. Magic is kind of up in the air. We just practice it day in and day out. We talk about it day in and day out. Man, we can be just joking in the locker room and guys like, ‘I’m going to punch one out today.’ It’s just embedded in our defense and even our team. It’s just a true testament of taking it from the practice field, the lunch room and the meeting room because guys can walk around with a football and a defensive guy will just punch it out just trying to be funny. We can’t help ourselves because when we see ball, we want to punch it out. I think it’s just translating to the football field and we are just going to keep working hard on it. Hopefully we can keep that same trend like we had last year.”
(They had those three 14-play drives. Honestly now, were you guys getting a little gassed at the end at all being on the field so much?) – “That’s how football is. In practice you try to simulate it but when the game time comes, it is what it is. But this early in the season you can’t say our team is in the best condition that we are because every day after practice we are going to condition and stuff like that. You can’t be in a point that you are the best conditioned team. You got to keep working on it. And deep in those drives our conditioning showed up and we were able to string some things together.”
(You played in your first meaningful football game since your injury. Did you take a moment? I’m sure there was a lot of hard work that went into getting back on the field and to come out with the win I’m sure was special.) – “Oh yeah, it was a lot. When I got injured, it was a lot of stuff that flashed in my mind. I tip my hat off to the Dolphins organization and Coach (Brian) Flores because they trusted me and trusted that I would do everything with my trainers and my doctor wanted me to do to make sure that I was ready to go Week 1. And I sacrificed a lot, but it was all worth it. It was worth it because I was able to be here for my team. The win is great, but being out there with the team feeling that joy, being out there on the field and stuff like that; that was the biggest thing to me. And being able to get the win is great but each week we look to be 1-0. So we are going to enjoy this win but tomorrow we are going to turn the page and flip to Buffalo.”
(How does it feel to start off your captaincy with a big divisional road win?) – “It’s alright. ‘Captain’ is just a label. It’s about going out there all 53, well 48 that’s active, including coaches and being able to string one drive at a time together. I feel like we as a team played a 60-minute game and that’s just the NFL. It’s going to be like that week in and week out. We are just going to go to the film, make the corrections from this game and come back as a team and get ready for Buffalo.”
Xavien Howard – September 12, 2021 (Postgame)
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Sunday, September 12, 2021
Postgame – New England
CB Xavien Howard
(Can you take us through the play and I think I know which play I mean?) – “I don’t. Which one (laughter)?”
(The fumble recovery.) – “Oh man I knew they were going to try and run the ball in the red zone. And putting everything on the line and just punching the ball out, really.”
(You have got a knack of stepping up when the team needs it the most. It felt like the danger zone for you guys – the way they were moving the ball and in the red zone and all the turnovers. Did you put it on yourself like I’m commit the play?) – “Like I said, every game I feel like I have to make something happen for the team and give the ball to the offense. My mindset was get the ball out, you know. We needed it and it was crucial so I made it happen.”
(What was your impression of QB Mac Jones in his first career start?) – “Like ‘J-Mac’ (Jason McCourty) said; he was poised. He didn’t make many mistakes like that and like I said he put his team in a position to win.”
(What makes you so good at just always being around the ball? It seems like you’re just always there.) – “The coaches – they put us in positions to make plays on the ball. During offseason, training camp – we focused on getting the ball and that’s the only thing that really matters.”
(What’s the mindset and the approach when you’re involved in a game and it doesn’t seem like you’re being targeted much at all?) – “I try to be poised and take it one play at a time because I feel like they try to lull me to sleep and try to make something happen. Just like I said, finding the ball, being around the ball. That’s my main thing.”
(I’ve been around going to Patriots games and left with not such a great feeling. What’s it feel like leaving with a win from New England?) – “It feels great. It feels great. Just take it one day at a time and just keep on going, keep getting better.”
(What’s more fun, an interception or a fumble recovery like that?) – “A win (laughter).”
Brian Flores – September 12, 2021 (Postgame)
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Sunday, September 12, 2021
Postgame – New England
Head Coach Brian Flores (transcribed by the New England Patriots)
(Opening statement) – “Feels good to win. Credit to the players, our coaching staff, offensively, defensively, in the kicking game. Tough game. We knew it was going to be a tough game coming up here in this environment against a good, well-coached team. We just battled, and we knew we were going to have to battle. I think our guys did that and we were able to come out with a win, so it always feels good. A lot of corrections we have to make obviously, but it’s good to get a win.”
(What is it about Xavien Howard that at the most important part of the game he made a play for you guys?) – “I mean, look, he’s a great player, and we needed a play there and he was able to knock it off of him, recovered it. Obviously a huge play in the game and allowed us to get the ball back. But then we turn around and that’s the complementary football that we talked about. Offense goes in there, gets a first down against a good defense, we’re able to run it out and end the game with the ball.”
(What went into the decision to start Liam Eichenberg at left tackle with Austin Jackson?) – “Just playing – trying to play the best five guys. You know, Liam has done a good job throughout camp, played multiple positions. We just wanted to start the best five guys.”
(How would you assess his performance?) – “I mean, without watching the film it’s hard to say whether he played well or didn’t. Look, there’s a lot of corrections to make from the game I’m sure, but I think Liam fought – actually I know that. I didn’t watch the film but I know he fought his butt off, and I’m sure there are some corrections to make really for him and everyone on our team. It’s good to make those corrections with a win.”
(Can you talk about the defense’s resilience today?) – “We tried to take it one play at a time. That’s the mentality our team has. Good play, bad play, just move on to the next play. A lot of corrections to make defensively. They were able to kind of make some plays, keep drives going, pick up third downs. We would have them in some second and longer situations, a penalty or, man, there is one where we get a sack but there was a penalty on it. Felt like every time we got a chance to get off the field they made a play or we had a mistake. That’s what happens in a division game against good teams. They make plays, too. We knew that. We talked about this being a 60-minute ballgame, and that’s exactly what it was. We talked about playing one play at a time, and we were able to do that and find success at the end.”
(You guys tried a lot of pressure up the middle on Mac Jones and he hung in there.) – “I thought he did a really nice job. I thought he did a really nice job. Got the ball out, was able to kind of move their offense, pick up first downs, drive them down field. Yeah, I thought he did a very nice job.”
(What about Tua, how do you assess his play?) – “Again, like everybody, there are some corrections we got to make. Thought he threw the ball well. Made some big throws and was a good run to get us started, and a fast start to start his first series. Ran it in. I thought he made a lot of good plays, a lot of big throws that we needed. That third down to start the second half was a big throw. We needed it. Good throw, good catch by DeVante [Parker]. So like everybody, players, coaches, I know we’ll make corrections and try to improve and get better like we talk about every day.”
(What did you see on the interception Tua threw? He was obviously under a lot of pressure there.) – “Yeah, I mean, look, like everyone on our team, there are corrections to make. There are corrections for me to make as well. But as a team we’re going to stick together. We’re going to support one another. We’re not going to point fingers or do anything like that. Tua has done a lot of good things for us in the preseason and he did a lot of good things today.”
(How did you prepare for Mac Jones in his first pro game? I know you said he said some nice things, but what was it like going against him?) – “Yeah, I mean, he played well. He moved the ball. Made the throws he needed to make. Made good decisions. I thought he played well. I thought we could have done some better things defensively. We’ll make those corrections. But he played well.”
(Hunter Long was in on the first play and the last play. What do you think of him so far as a rookie?) – “Tough, smart, competitive, works hard. It’s important to him. He’s made a lot of improvement over the course of training camp. Good to get in a game and get a feel for a regular season game. Obviously played in the preseason. Good young player, somebody that we’re excited to help develop. Again, like everybody, we just got to try and continue to make improvements on a daily basis and just try to get better.”
(Was the Jacoby Brissett offensive package you ran today something you had in mind when you signed him or something you developed over the course of the last few months?) – “I mean, look, if we want to get one yard we try to put our best players in there. It showed up in the game. You know, when we needed a yard, we put him in there. Got two short-yardage plays, and we just try to put our players in position to have success and our team to have success. He’s done it before in the past, so we used him today and it helped us.”
(What does today’s game mean about your team that you were able to find a way to win?) – “I mean, that’s every team in the league. There is never been a perfect game played. That’s just never happened. So there is always corrections to make, always things you can improve on, especially early in the year trying to find the things you do well. I mean, there is a little bit of trial and error at this point in the year. I think that’s every team. I think every coach is going to get up there and say there is a lot of corrections we need to make. We’re no different. Our guys work hard and have throughout the preseason. It’s important to them to make the corrections, and we’re going to have to do that this week starting tomorrow when we review the game. You know, look, our guys, we got a good group. They work hard. They’ll trying to make the corrections and then next week we’ll play and there will be more corrections to make.”
(But just how the team found a way to win.) – “Take it one play at a time. That’s what we try to do. Pick each other up and support one another, and it feels good to get a win however you get it.”
Jaylen Waddle – September 12, 2021 (Postgame)
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Sunday, September 12, 2021
Postgame – New England
WR Jaylen Waddle
(The first offensive play of the game went to you, how did it feel to get that first catch out of the way right off the bat?) – “I think it went great. I think it was just something that I’m glad I can say I just got out of the way. I didn’t want to make it ongoing so it was pretty good.”
(Are you the type of player who like some guys need to get hit first to get into game mode?) – “Most definitely. All my nerves and stuff be gone by the time the first play go. Get hit and it’s like back to reality.”
(Scoring a touchdown in your first NFL game, what’s it like?) – “It was great. It was a great play call. I think my teammates did good just helping me get open. It was a great call.”
(QB Tua Tagovailoa talked about all the guys that impacted that touchdown. There were a lot of people. We see you with the ball, but there were a lot of guys that made that happen. Is that kind of what you felt as well?) – “Most definitely, most definitely. It was kind of a play that we kind of drew up. I’m just happy that we were able to score, go ahead. It was a good play.”
(Do you still have the ball?) – “I gave it to my mom actually, after the game.”
(Did you know that first play was coming to you? Either when it’s called or this week when they put it in?) – “Nah, it wasn’t just drawn up like throw the ball there. I think Tua did a good job of just knowing where the coverage was and it was just the right play.”
(Describe the feeling; it’s your first NFL game, you catch your first touchdown and you get a road win, what does it feel like to be you in this moment?) – “It’s great. Every win is going to be great. But first one in a big game, it was a great atmosphere and playing against guys you know on the other side so it was great.”
(What was going through your mind when you were in the locker room prior to a regular season NFL game for the first time? What were you thinking about?) – “Jut going over all the plays, going over the gameplan just trying to do everything right. Get a routine and just go about it.”
(Have you heard WR DeVonta Smith got a touchdown?) – “I actually saw. I saw before so I was keeping tabs on ‘Smitty’ (DeVonta Smith). I love watching ‘Smitty’ play.”
(How about what you said before, what was it like playing in a game with so many other Alabama players – obviously QB Tua Tagovailoa and Patriots QB Mac Jones at quarterback?) – “It was great. I think both of them did really good for their teams. It was great just knowing guys on the other side. It was pretty cool.”
