Adam Gase – September 16, 2018 (Postgame)
Download PDF version
Sunday, September 16, 2018
Postgame – New York Jets
Head Coach Adam Gase (transcribed by New York Jets)
(On if he felt good about the team’s performance going into halftime) – “Yeah, we felt things were going good momentum wise. We were hoping for a stop when we started the second half, and we didn’t do a very good job there. We have a fumble on the first play, and then really, getting the turnover, that kind of helped at least stop things for a second, but we just have to do a better job of being consistent and putting drives together.”
(On the defense playing aggressive in the second half) – “I thought the guys did a good job of executing the game plan. We wanted to stop the run, try to make it a one-dimensional game. Forty two rushing yards, that’s a good start for us. We got the turnovers we needed when we needed them, and then we had opportunities where they were kind of creeping into the red zone, and at least holding them to long field goals, which is important for those guys, giving them an opportunity to possibly miss it.”
(On Frank Gore moving up to fourth on the NFL’s all-time rushing list as well as converting on a crucial third down late in the game) – “It was a good job. Our guys did a good job running off the ball. We had a shot called there. We were going to try to end it right there, and Ryan (Tannehill) got a little bit of pressure, stepped up, found a way to get the ball out. Frank made a great catch and had the awareness to not only get the first down but then to get down to finish the game.”
(On Matt Haack giving the Dolphins great field position throughout the game) – “Yeah, we were trying to make them drive the length of the field, and that was one thing — if we had to flip field position, that was going to be a success. We’d like to finish a couple of those drives differently on offense, but I think if our defense keeps playing like that, we are going to get more opportunities and we’ll find a way to get in the end zone.”
(On evaluating Ryan Tannehill’s performance today) – “I thought he did a lot of good things. There’s a lot of things we have to clean up. Having him back, it’s nice to be able to do some of the things we do where he runs the ball and has big plays in critical situations.”
(On if the Dolphins performance today reflected what he envisioned this team would look like) – “Yeah. What we’re doing out there is close to what we’re looking to do, and we just have to do a few things better. We have to be a little cleaner in practice, which will carry over to Sunday, and next week we have to have a better week.”
(On if today’s performance was encouraging and feels like a start toward becoming the team he envisions) – “It started for us in April, it’s just nobody else realized that, so we’ll just keep getting better and keep surprising people.”
(On what he saw in his team during the last offensive drive to close out the game) – “They had the attitude of they were not going to let them get the ball back. We felt good about what we had ready to go for that series. It was good chatter on the sideline. Guys were ready to go and knew what to do to execute. They knew what was coming. It’s tough when you play that team, because it’s hard to run the ball, and Todd (Bowles’) defenses are always like that. We seem to stick with it and find a way to get some yards when we need them.”
(On what he saw from the Dolphins defensive backs) – “I thought those guys did a good job. They were aggressive, they were trying to contact receivers at the line of scrimmage, they were trying to make windows tight. I thought the safeties were moving all over the place. That’s what we want them to do. We want those guys to be active, and when they get an opportunity to make plays — as long as we make those plays, then that’s going to be game changing for us.”
(On Albert Wilson doing a bit of everything today and if it will be a challenge for defenses moving forward to figure out Wilson’s role) – “Yeah, we are going to try to make it hard. It could just be a regular (play), lining up. That’s what happens when you have a plan for a guy when you sign him as a free agent.”
(On how it feels to be 2-0) – “On to the next one.”
(On his thoughts about the offensive line today) – “I thought they did a good job. They were tight. That’s a tight room and those guys figured out a way to get it done. I thought they did a good job, especially on that touchdown pass before the end of the half. They had great protection there, and then Ryan did a good job of finding (TE A.J. Derby) in basically a scramble drill almost, even though he stayed in the pocket. Those guys got guys covered up for the most part. A couple things didn’t go the way that we needed them to go, but we’ll get better from here.”
(On the blocking looking perfect on Kenyan Drake’s touchdown run) – “Yeah, that’s what that play is. There’s going to be nine, 10 guys almost in the box, and he did a great job, (Mike) Gesicki did a great job of staying on his guy and Kenyan got skinny and found a way to get in there.”
(On how the offensive line reacted to Josh Sitton being placed on injured reserve) – “I think they were probably down early. He was kind of letting them know that it was a little worse than what we originally thought. He’s been good about it. He’s been around, he’s been making sure that he’s staying with those guys, talking to them. He’s kind of that old school guy that those guys look up to and they look to when they have questions on what’s going on with the defense. Even today on the sideline, he just brings a good energy to that group and those guys like him. I’m glad he’s sticking around.”
(On if the offensive line had full support for Ted Larsen entering today’s game) – “Oh yeah. That whole group, there’s three or four guys that are just old school — they don’t say much, and they grind every day. They complain, but you never hear them say it, but you kind of hear about it, but it’s a good room.”
(On how he would classify Tannehill’s runs at the end of the game and if Tannehill is thought of as an athletic QB that can make those runs) – “Yeah, that’s just zone read. That’s all it is. He does a good job, he knows how to read it. He’s a pretty good athlete — he played wide receiver in college for a little bit, so he’s not afraid to get out there and mix it up. It’s not really something ideal, sometimes we wanted him to get down probably a little sooner, but in the critical parts of the game where that’s an option, you can see what can be the result.”
(On if he held his breath at all when Tannehill went down a bit awkwardly and limped) – “Yeah, that was weird. I think it was on one of the sacks where his knee kind of hit the turf. I’ve seen that go the other way a couple of times where it’s not good, and I was just trying to figure out what was going on, but he was alright.”
(On if Gore deserves today’s game ball because he is now fourth on the NFL’s all-time rushing list or due to his key third down conversion) – “You can take your pick, either one. I’m happy about both of them.”
