Ja’Wuan James – October 23, 2017
Monday, October 23, 2017
T Ja’Wuan James
(Head Coach Adam Gase was talking about when the backup quarterback comes in – whether it’s QB Matt Moore or whoever – there’s more of a sense of urgency that you guys play with. Do you feel that in the huddle, that initial rush right away?) – “I feel everybody is still playing the same way. Matt just comes in with a different level – I don’t know if (it is) energy or presence – because he’s a second quarterback, so he knows he has to bring that. I feel like he does a good job of getting everybody to where they need to go and getting a boost of confidence to everybody, just by how he is.”
(Is it tough to put a finger on what’s different about him, because stats, they were the same yesterday? Is it different to put a finger on how different QB Jay Cutler is compared to QB Matt Moore?) – “They just have two different personalities, one; but I think they’re both great quarterbacks in their own right. Like I said, they’re two different personalities in how they approach it.”
(How tough is a turnaround like this, especially going on the road?) – “We’ll see. It’s really quick. We’re going to shorten things up this week. I feel like the coaches are going to take care of us this week, but it’s our job as professionals to get ready to perform on Thursday.”
(Did you get a chance to enjoy this win as much as the other ones, because of the quick turnaround?) – “No, it’s very short lived. Any win or loss is 24 hours to dwell on it or celebrate it. It’s over now. Now we’re on to our next opponent.”
(When you have the same formation that you’re running and teams kind of get a grasp for it, out of that formation they kind of know what’s going to happen; but when you have to play a call that comes in and you want to break tendency, what are you hoping for and how does that affect the offense?) – “Honestly, with the o-line, like I said before, we don’t do too much with formations and all that. That’s more (Head Coach Adam) Gase and really whatever he calls, we’ve got to execute. I do know just seeing on film, if somebody puts something out there you don’t know, they don’t know what to expect, so you can hit them over the head with it. As the game goes on, they might get on to the formation or get onto the thing; but as an o-lineman, you’re responsible for your guy.”
(How important is it to occasionally break that tendency?) – “It’s good because you saw the Falcons game, we did some different stuff and it helped. This game, we showed them some different stuff too (and) it helped. Like I said, it’s whatever he (Head Coach Adam Gase) calls.”
(How would you describe the challenge for the offensive line when you’ve got guys leaving the game because of injuries and guys coming in?) – “It’s tough (with) different guys that have to play that might’ve not been playing the whole time, or this guy is playing next to this guy now and he doesn’t really know. It’s our job to get it done, wherever they put everybody. I feel like guys did a good job of responding, once we all got settled in on who was going to be where, and then we finished the game.”
(As an o-lineman, how much do you appreciate a guy like G/T Jesse Davis, who so far this year has played left guard, right tackle, left tackle?) – “Big time. Jesse, the thing about him (is) he never complains. He’s just happy to be playing ball no matter where he’s at. That’s the encouraging thing you see from him. Every time he comes in the huddle with an attitude and he brings it.”
(What does it say about QB Matt Moore’s ability just to click and be playing, because obviously he doesn’t practice much during the week before and really probably hasn’t done much since training camp?) – “It just shows you what he did last year. He came in and took over like nothing happened. He’s a guy that has been here for years and he knows football and he knows the game. I think Matt could be a starting quarterback anywhere, and I feel like a lot of people think that, too. So, it’s good that we have two quarterbacks like that.”
(The fact that QB Matt Moore led you guys down the stretch to the playoffs last year, is that something you can bank going forward, that level of confidence?) – “We’re going to be confident regardless. Like I said, how he carries himself, how he makes you feel empowered. He throws confidence in the huddle to guys. The energy he brings and really his confidence spreads to everybody else.”
(What’s QB Matt Moore’s personality like?) – “Like I said, he’s, to me, a gunslinger. He’s just out there to have fun and ball. Anything can happen when Matt is out there. He’s going to throw the ball downfield and give somebody a chance. He’s going to put you in the right situations. As o-lineman, and I think everybody in that huddle, appreciates that.”
(What has experience taught you about preparing for Thursday night games?) – “That you’ve got to get your recovery, especially today, coming off the game. It was a physical game versus the Jets, so you’ve got to make sure you’re getting sleep at night, hydrating and doing everything you’ve got to do.”
(Is that ice tubs?) – “That was yesterday. We got to get in the ice tub. We got a good lift in today and a run. Next is whatever is on the schedule.”
(How many people were in the ice tub yesterday?) – “Almost half the team. I feel like we were waiting in line yesterday. (laughter)
