Emmanuel Ogbah – October 21, 2021
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Thursday, October 21, 2021
DE Emmanuel Ogbah
(We saw you had pretty good joint practices when the Falcons were here a few weeks back. How can that kind of benefit you seeing these guys on the game day field?) – “They’re a different team. They improve every week. They do a lot of good things and we’ve just got to do a good job stopping the run, rushing the passer well this week. We’re definitely going to use some film during joint practices, but they’re a different team now so we’ll see.”
(I’m assuming – I guess I’ll bring it up – we saw that there was a Twitter exchange that was sent to you and you posted it and it became public and the student was reprimanded or is in the process of being reprimanded. One, how did that tweet impact you and two, when you shared it with the world, what did you hope would be the end result?) – “When I first saw the DM – it was actually on Instagram – when I saw the DM, it was definitely after a tough loss and seeing that pissed me off. It’s not the first time I’ve gotten messages like that, but I just wanted to show the world that you can’t do that. We’re all human. You can’t come at a person like that, especially I know you can’t come to my face like that, so I just wanted to show the world you can’t do that and then I realized I didn’t want it to be a distraction for this team, so that’s the only reason why I deleted the tweet. I just wanted to show those keyboard warriors, you can’t really do that. We’re still humans at the end of the day.”
(Do you think we’re making progress or regressing in that direction as a society?) – “I don’t know what to say about that. I know I strive to be a better human every day and I just hope the world strives to be better as a society because we’re all the same. We all bleed the same, we’re just different colors. That’s all.”
(Do you think social media platforms should do more because we’ve seen not only in American football but in football – for example, Premier League players have been receiving a lot of abuse online also. Do you think social media platforms need to do more?) – “I think we just need to stand together as one. If you see your friend or somebody you know doing that, say something. Don’t just ignore it just because that’s your buddy or your family member. Just say something about it because it affects everybody.”
(From a defensive standpoint, obviously you’re one of the veteran players on this team and you were one of the top players last year. What do you guys say to kind of stop the bleeding and get this thing headed in the right direction?) – “I mean we’re almost right there. We’re almost right there. We’ve just got to keep pushing and we’re going to turn it around. I know it’s going to take some work, but we’re going to do the best we can to turn this thing around because if you watch the games, we’re always in there. We’re almost winning games, but we just need that something just to get us there.”
(Did you feel that the effort that you guys put making Jacksonville go backwards, was that moment that was going to turn it for you guys?) – “I mean it’s a football game. It’s a matter of inches. We thought we did something and they came out and kicked a 54-yarder, so who would have known. But like I said, we’ve got to keep fighting every week. Can’t give up. I love the fight of this team.”
(There was a lot of talk before the season about how you’ve got to start fast, you’ve got to start fast, and how you’ve kind of learned your lesson from last year and how the slow start costs you in the end. Where do you think you are six games into the season? At what point does it become like almost too late to turn things around? Where’s the sense of urgency?) – “I mean we’ve still got 11 games left so it’s not too late. We can still turn this thing around. Like I said, come to practice every day ready to work. Just got to push each other at practice. You’ve got to be better every day. You’ve got to go watch extra film. Just got to be the best you can be for yourself to just help the team win.”
(Some people maybe in this room even operate better under a deadline or their back against the ball. At 1-5, it seems like y’all’s back is against the wall. Do you think you’re the type of team that can wake up in that circumstance?) – “Yes. All we can do is fight forward now. We’ve already got our backs against the wall so all we can do is move forward.”
Nik Needham – October 21, 2021
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Thursday, October 21, 2021
CB Nik Needham
(How beneficial – obviously we’ve seen CB Byron Jones and CB Xavien Howard back at practice the past two days. How beneficial would it be to get them back especially against a skilled group of receivers on like Falcons TE Kyle Pitts and Falcons WR Calvin Ridley on the other side?) – “It would be great because ‘X’ and Byron are some of the best in the league at what they do. To have that presence and veteran presence back out there would be great. Definitely this week. Like you said, they have some explosive receivers. Just to handle them, that will be good.”
(The way that they move Falcons TE Kyle Pitts around, do you think there’s any chance that you might have to matchup on him?) – “I’m not sure. If it comes up there on the ball and I happen to be in there and we call a man call and Pitts is right there, then I might be on him but there’s no matchup plans for me to be on him. Like I said, we’ll see if it happens in the game.”
(You aren’t a tight end lock down corner?) – “(laughter) I’ve guarded tight ends before. I believe I can guard tight ends and lock them down. If I’m in that position, I’m going to do my best and do that.”
(How do you think you guys held up without CB Xavien Howard and CB Byron Jones last game? You, CB Justin Coleman and CB Noah Igbinoghene?) – “I think we did pretty well, guys stepped up and competed. We’ve just got to go out there and do it again this week with whoever is out there. We don’t know who’s going to be out there but whoever’s out there, we got to go out there and handle business.”
(How would you describe the mood of the players this week?) – “It’s tough being on a five-game losing streak. We’re not about to sit here and just sit here and mope and cry around. I think we’ve been on each other’s ass a little more and just trying to up the tempo and the urgency a little more because we have to do whatever we need to do to get a W this weekend. You can see that in practice today. People were more on each other’s asses trying to make sure everybody gets everything right.”
(You’ve been very transparent about some of your struggles that rookie season when you had the ups and downs. How would you compare that personal, individual adversity, to when your team is struggling right now on a five-game losing streak?) – “I guess you could take the same mindset as a team, see what you did wrong and then work even harder. Even when things are tough, you don’t want to just, ‘Alright, I’m going to just give up.’ You’ve got to do extra work, extra film or whatever you need to do. Get out to practice a little earlier. Because all the little things add up and can help make one big play that you want to make on the weekend. We all do that little stuff and get out there a little earlier, stay a little later after practice and we all take that mindset. I feel like that can benefit the team as well.”
Zach Sieler – October 21, 2021
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Thursday, October 21, 2021
DT Zach Sieler
(I remember last year the team was at the top or near the top in turnovers. Obviously you got a few big plays in the last game with the fumble and the LB Jerome Baker tackle. Specifically about turnovers, how do you feel the emphasis has been and the success rate this year compared to last year?) – “I think the emphasis is still there. It’s still a goal of the defense every week. We strive to get turnovers. We’ve just got to keep working it and keep getting better and when the opportunity presents itself, make the most of it.”
(What role do you feel turnovers played in the tremendous success you guys had overall last season?) – “It always helps. It helps the ebbs and flows of the game. You shut the offense down, you get a turnover, that is no score. That’s a huge play. We’ve just got to keep working to get those plays and get more of them.”
(At any point did you consider picking that ball up and trying to go the other way?) – “No. I didn’t know who was around. I just knew the ball was on the ground and I wanted to make sure I covered it up and get the ball back to the offense.”
(I wanted to ask you about leadership. You’ve been here now for three seasons. You’ve seen the ebbs and flows – actually you showed up late in 2019. I think they were winning when you showed up. You weren’t here for the 0-7 start. How much are leaders responsible for stepping up and speaking up to not have all of the burden on the coaching staff for what’s going on?) – “The coaches can only do so much and they are doing all they can to coach us and motivate us and do that. At the end of the day, it comes down to the peers in the locker room, the leaders in the locker room. We’ve just got to make sure we step up and really focus on what we need to focus on – the task at hand each week. We’ve got to keep just honing in on that.”
(I’m curious because Head Coach Brian Flores and the coaches say we practice well every week and then it doesn’t translate to the game. What is the missing thing?) – “I think we’ve just got to keep our heads together and keep working together as a team, and just focus on that. That’s where we need to come together and start turning this around.”
(If I can go back to the fumble recovery real quick. Did anybody give you a hard time on the sideline for not picking it up and running with it?) – “Not during the game. But as soon as I got into the locker room, my fiancé called me and asked me why I didn’t pick it up. (laughter) But other than that, no. She was getting after me. (laughter)”
(How would you describe the mood of the players this week?) – “I think we’ve had good energy. I think we came back from London and I think we bounced back from that good. The guys are getting sleep. We’re starting to come back and adapt to this time zone again. It’s been a good week of energy in practice.”
(How challenging is it to have a game right after the London game?) – “I think the biggest thing is getting back on your schedule. I know for me, my eating schedule was all messed up. I’m just forcing myself to wake up usually when I would’ve woken up beforehand, and not sleeping in or sleeping in and not staying up late. However that works.”
(Back to DT Christian Wilkins on that big play. It seems he’s progressing each year of his career. What have you seen from him this year that makes him more productive in his third season?) – “He’s worked on his technique a lot. I’m sure you guys see that and see how his progression is with his hands, his feet and his vision and reading the offensive players. That’s something I think has been a huge thing for him this year. He’s been doing really well at that.”
(Do you guys work on that together during practice?) – “Yeah, we do. We work on that all the time.”
(Was Defensive Line Coach Austin Clark a guy that worked with you individually some last year? Or was that not his focus to help some of the line play, the pass rushers and things? Who helped you when you got here?) – “When I first got here it was Marion Hobby. He was here. Then last year it was Hobby and Clark. It was really 50/50. They both gave their input and gave their technique and helped coach us. They did a great job together.”
(I’m curious about Defensive Line Coach Austin Clark. What about his approach is helpful to the guys?) – “He does a really good job of explaining techniques and what exactly he wants. There is not a lot of gray area. You see this, this is how he wants it point blank. He’s very good at that and he’s very good at getting to different players and teaching different players how different players play. Every guy plays different. I’m going to play different than Raekwon (Davis) and Raekwon is going to play different than Christian (Wilkins) and so forth.”
(I think the Dolphins were 2-1 in the three games you played at the end of the 2019 season. What do you remember about the team you joined at the end of the season?) – “I think just coming together as a team and really working together on the team camaraderie. I know we had that last year and I think we’re getting that this year.”
Liam Eichenberg – October 21, 2021
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Thursday, October 21, 2021
T Liam Eichenberg
(As an offensive lineman, how do you approach and what needs to happen better to make a short-yardage play successful?) – “I think on that final play, I should have taken into consideration where Josh Allen was. I’ll put that on me. I should have told the guard a man-3 tech and then I should have helped the tight end. Just kind of understanding where those players are that can affect games, especially in crucial moments like that. I should have maybe made a certain call to kind of help the tight end out which, in turn, would have helped the running back out. It’s definitely something I can learn from moving forward.”
(What about in general? Not just on that play but in general, what needs to happen to make short-yardage situations successful?) – “I think it just comes down to communication. Just kind of like what I was talking about. It just goes back to everybody being on the same page. If Austin (Jackson) says something to me, I need to communicate it out. Especially in those moments when it’s loud and you can’t really hear well, you need to put an emphasis on communication. That’s kind of what we’ve been talking about this week and that’s something we’re going to continue to work on as the season goes on.”
(What signs of progress have you seen that gives you confidence that the offensive line is going to keep getting better?) – “I think we’re improving every week. Obviously it’s not enough though. It’s a group of guys that come in here every single week working hard. It’s not a lack of hard work. It’s just kind of those fine details that we need to continue to perfect. That’s kind of the emphasis that I’m focusing on and a lot of guys in our room. We’re getting to the point where it’s not acceptable to make that small mistake. I think when you strive for perfection, you’ll eventually keep getting better and better.”
(How much pride did you guys take in not allowing a sack?) – “Yeah, I mean there are still pressures. It’s definitely – I think it’s the first time this season so it’s somewhere to start. But obviously we can continue to get better and better. This week, we’re just kind of focused on this week. One week at a time. It’s about winning this game.”
(Were you impressed with QB Tua Tagovailoa’s ability to avoid pressure with those pressures?) – “Yeah, I thought he did a good job of stepping up. I think he reads the field very – I mean, I have no idea about the quarterback position. Let’s be honest. (laughter) I could get up here and tell you he made all the reads correctly but – I think he did a good job. Especially coming back, his first game back. I think he did a good job in the pocket. (laughter)”
(You might not be a quarterback expert in terms of technique and all of that stuff, but you do have a sense of QB Tua Tagovailoa’s presence, his personality, his demeanor and how he seems to be feeling. What is your sense about all of that stuff this week?) – “I think he’s got a good amount of energy to him and I think that’s needed. He’s a great leader. He’s a guy who demands respect and he pushes me and pushes a lot of guys. It’s definitely great having him back. But that whole quarterback room – Jacoby (Brissett) does the same thing. It’s kind of how that room is. But definitely having him back, his second week now, it’s great to see him out there and have him behind me.”
(Did you get a sense this week in the huddle that maybe QB Tua Tagovailoa wants to do more since he’s back and he played with some pain last week in London?) – “Yeah, I think regardless of how you feel, you obviously want to play as well as you can and keep moving in that direction. Whoever is behind me, I’m going to support. I’m going to do the best I can. At the end of the day, I need to play better. I need to strive for that perfection that we kind of talk about. Every single day I’m out there, I’m working to get better.”
(On the fourth-and-1 call, you talked about some corrections you made. Is that something you can make within the game and adjust to it then? Or is that something that you see on tape on Monday?) – “It’s kind of just based on personnel. It kind of depends on – it’s tough because you have your assignments and you have specific things you need to do based on alignments and stuff like that. Kind of like what I was saying with a guy like him, maybe I should have taken different footwork and maybe made a different call. That is kind of something that you talk about after the game.”
(Obviously there’s a lot of QB Deshaun Watson talk out there. QB Tua Tagovailoa is a mature man who understands the business of the league. Do you see any of that impacting him or impacting the team’s focus?) – “No, I don’t think so. I really don’t go on Twitter, to be honest with you. You just brought it up. Some of us have probably heard about it but as of right now – it’s just a distraction at the end of the day. The most important thing this week is we’re playing the Falcons and we need a win. I think that’s everybody’s thought right now is to focus on the Falcons.”
Malcolm Brown – October 21, 2021
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Wednesday, October 20, 2021
RB Malcolm Brown
(In these situations when you’re on a five-game losing streak, how much do you feel as a veteran that you have to speak up or you have to say something?) – “That’s a good question. I feel like for me personally, I guess, I’m not a guy that’s ever going to start doing the whole yelling and screaming thing and we’re on a losing streak or whatever. I think that comes from within the locker room. Yeah, us older guys definitely – I’m learning that too because I’ve always been kind of on the back end of things and never been the vet on the team and stuff like that. I think it comes from within the locker room and really just encouraging guys. I feel like the yelling and screaming and all of that type of stuff, for me I don’t think that helps me. I feel like encouragement is where it comes because we’re already losing. We already feel bad. Why come in and do the whole yelling and cussing and screaming, ‘We got to do this, we got to do that’ (thing). For me personally, I’m more of a guy that will be encouraging this entire season, win or lose.”
(When you’re a running back and your team averages the least amount of carries in the league, which you guys do, do you take that personally?) – “I think we do need to run the ball more. I think I saw even a comment where ‘Flo’ (Brian Flores) said the same thing. That’s something that, to be honest, is totally out of my control. Whatever plays are called, when we’re out there in that huddle, it’s my job to execute whatever is called and whatever my job is on that play.”
(When the team called your number in a critical fourth-and-1 situation near the end of the last game, I was curious what was going through your mind when you knew you were about to get the ball?) – “Get the first down. I knew the situation. It was one yard. We need to definitely as a team get better. I feel like I’m definitely the type of guy to where I need to find a way to get that done no matter the circumstances. But yeah, when they called it, I had full confidence in everybody. If they call that in the same situation again, I’ll still have full confidence in everybody and in myself to get it done.”
(In general, what do you feel like is the key for the short-yardage run to be a successful play?) – “Just pure heart and will. I think it just comes down to a mentality. I feel like you get into certain formations, certain plays, certain situations. There are times where the whole stadium may know you’re about to run the ball and you’ve got to get it done.”
(Going back to the whole notion of the five-game streak and all, throughout your career going back to even college and high school, have you experienced something like this before? And is there anything that stands out as possibly a path towards snapping out of it that you could maybe take away and implement here?) – “Right off the top of my head, I can’t really think of a major one key to that. I just know from looking at us, looking at the film, looking at the team – obviously I only like to speak for offense and there’s a lot of little stuff that we can correct. A lot of little stuff that people sitting on the couch watching the game may not even see or may not know about. But in this room and in this building, we know about it and we have to get those type of things fixed.”
(How was QB Tua Tagovailoa this week in the huddle? Upbeat? He played hurt last Sunday. Just upbeat and ready to go? You mentioned the five-game losing skid and never been through that, but to get this thing turned around?) – “Yeah. Even when he came in last week and played, we had full confidence in him. He definitely was. He was upbeat and ready to go throughout the whole week.”
(We saw a few times in the game that you were kind of mugged up in the A-gap pre-snap for pass protection. I was just curious how that changes your role in pass protection compared to when you are kind of riding sidecar next to the quarterback in the shotgun.) – “For me, it’s a little bit easier. Some downs obviously it’s going to be a passing down, so whether I’m up there or back near the quarterback, everybody knows it’s going to be a pass. But for me, if my responsibility comes, it’s really getting to him before he gets a full head of steam. Sometimes it’s tough. If he’s mugged up in the A-gap, he’s essentially four to five yards closer. So for me to be able to just meet him right there and just kind of stop before he even gets his momentum going, it’s a little bit easier sometimes in my personal opinion.”
(When you were talking about your leadership style and how you’re not one to stand up in the locker room and start yelling and screaming, it sounded as if you were also saying that you haven’t heard anybody else on the team going through that. That it’s been more on the encouragement side than on the yelling and screaming side this week. Am I reading that accurately?) – “Not really. (laughter) That’s some guys’ personality. I was more so speaking for myself. I’m not really a guy who – I’ve before in the past stood up and spoke in front of the team, whatever team I’m on. I’ve done that type of stuff. But when it comes to the whole outburst and start yelling and screaming stuff, it kind of takes a lot for me to get to that certain type of point. I feel like it doesn’t always have to be that to get your point across. That’s always been my thing. I feel like I’ve gotten plenty of good points across in the past, whether it be here or on a past team, without doing the whole yelling and screaming thing.”
(From your personal experience as a player, who is the best player leader that you’ve been around and why?) – “Man, that’s tough. I could probably name multiple people. You’re making it hard on me. (laughter) I think that comes with guys that you know have had success at a high level for a long time. So when you – and really just older guys that have been around the NFL for a long time. They may not even have a ton of experience. Guys like Andrew Whitworth come to mind. J-Mac (Jason McCourty) comes to mind. E-Rob (Elandon Roberts) comes to mind. Aqib Talib comes to mind. Guys that have had success and been in this league for a long time.
(On sustained success) – “Somewhat. Maybe somewhat. But I can’t sit here and say a second or third-year guy can come in. If he gets that vibe from the team, he’ll get that respect too.”
(You said you’re not the one that’s being vocal, yelling and screaming. But some guys are. I guess the natural thing is who are some of those guys and what are they saying?) – “(laughter) Nah, man. We aren’t going to get into that. (laughter) It just depends on personality. It depends on who the person is. You can get your point across any way you want to.”
Mike Gesicki – October 20, 2021
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Wednesday, October 20, 2021
TE Mike Gesicki
(You had a really good game on Sunday and it seemed like you were able to really find the pockets in zone coverage. I know we talk a lot about a quarterback deciphering man versus zone. But as a tight end or receiver really, what’s the pre-snap recognition like for you in terms of finding the pockets?) – “For me, just understanding different tendencies in the defense. Who is going to be on you if it’s man? Trying to understand how they disguise different things and then while you’re running the route is the most basic way. If somebody is following you or are they not following you? Pre-snap you can kind of get a good idea and then post-snap you’re going to know immediately. That’s the biggest thing. Zone coverage, really getting depths in routes, understanding spacing. And then man coverage, being able to win.”
(What’s it like now getting more time with QB Tua Tagovailoa since he’s been gone…?) – “Yeah, it’s good. It’s been great. Tua has obviously been here now. I’ve gotten plenty of work with him since the day we drafted him. I feel like chemistry is there and all of that kind of stuff, so nothing new with that. It’s obviously good to have him back and good for him to get reps and that kind of thing.”
(I believe you spent time with TE Kyle Pitts at the Tight End University this summer and then he was here for the joint practices. I was wondering what your impressions are of him from one tight end to another?) – “Obviously extremely talented and very versatile in what he can do. I think he’s shown that. I know that he had a big game in London a week before. He’s obviously very talented and he’s definitely a matchup for them to utilize. I think week in and week out, there are a lot of talented guys out there, and he’s obviously one of them.”
(Did you interact with TE Kyle Pitts at all at Tight End U and did he pick your brain?) – “He didn’t ask me anything. There were a lot of other guys to talk to other then Mike Gesicki. (laughter) But he was there. He’s a good kid. I talked to him a little bit. I’m happy for him. He had a good start to his career. I wish him the best and all of that.”
(What kind of progress are you making on your hurdling game? You got caught in the air a little bit.) – “I will not quit the hurdling game. If there is an opportunity, which there probably wasn’t an opportunity on that one. (laughter) It is what it is. Get the ball in your hands and try to make a play. That is all that was.”
(Coaches tell you anything when you got back to the sideline after that play?) – “Nothing. Nothing.”
(Is it almost worse when the don’t say anything?) – “(laughter) No. You saw me. I get up, I go nuts, I run around the field and act like we just won the Super Bowl. That’s just the way I play and how I act. Just having fun out there. I’m not really worried about it.”
(Your celebrations when you get a first down, and the enthusiasm. Do you find that to be infectious with the guys?) – “You try to go out there and have fun, and you see the guys having fun out there. That’s why we do what we do, honestly. We put in a lot of work, we put in a lot of time, a lot of extra work that nobody really sees. You go out there and make a play, go enjoy yourself, go have fun. And then the next play mentality, be ready to go and do it again. That’s the way I play and the way I carry myself. I like to have fun.”
(I think you missed only one game in your pro career. I don’t remember if you had a similar track record at Penn State. What do you attribute to your ability to stay on the field?) – “A lot of it’s probably luck, honestly. It’s a physical game. You could get rolled up on the wrong way or be in the wrong place at the wrong time. But also, you try to put in a lot of work into your body and the weight room, stretching and tubs, and everything and anything that you can do to stay durable and stay out there. You always hear everybody say, ‘your best ability is your availability.’ If you can be out there making plays, it’s better than not. That’s what I try to do. Some guys are not as lucky, but it’s just the way the game goes.”
Myles Gaskin – October 20, 2021
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Wednesday, October 20, 2021
RB Myles Gaskin
(Head Coach Brian Flores told us today that the team needs to run the ball more. What do you think when you hear that?) – “Just take that as a challenge for the running back room and when we get our opportunities, do well with them and excel. When you hear that from the coach, it just motivates you.”
(You’re somebody who’s always had good hands out of the backfield, but you seem to be fighting the ball a little bit on Sunday. Anything you can put your finger on? Or does that mean more time on the JUGS this week?) – “More time on the JUGS. Just got to have a better mindset. I had a hard day, had a rough day. Not catching the ball, a lot of drops. Just got to keep working on it, focus on it, don’t take the little things for granted about catching the ball and all that type of stuff. Not trying to worry about making a play after you catch the ball, just have to lock in on catching the ball.”
(Why do you think the team has not had the consistency in the run game that you would like to have?) – “I’m not sure. Just kind of the way the games have gone. We’ve been in different situations at different times and with those types of situations, you have to do other things. We like our RPO. I think Tua (Tagovailoa), I think Jacoby (Brissett) was really good at it. Just making those decisions because if there is another guy in the box, you’re just setting yourself up for failure sometimes at times. But when you can hit Mike (Gesicki), Jaylen (Waddle) and guys like that out in space, that’s a great thing to have.”
(What are you seeing out of defenses? Are they showing the run game any respect for you guys or are they not?) – “Yeah, definitely. I think every team respects every other team’s run game, sometimes a little bit more. I wouldn’t say that they don’t respect our run game at all.”
Brandon Jones – October 20, 2021
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Wednesday, October 20, 2021
S Brandon Jones
(I was curious about the last play of the last game prior to the field goal. After the game, Head Coach Brian Flores said that it could have been played a little tighter – the defense that was called. And Defensive Coordinator Josh Boyer talked about how he could have made some coaching points that might have helped on that play. What if anything – it’s a bang-bang play but what, if anything, could you or would you have done differently?) – “I think I just would have paid attention to the situation that we were in. Obviously with three, I don’t know how many seconds they had on the clock left but it was definitely a learning experience for me and I think did I have to touch him right then and there, could I have waited and maybe the one second that ran off the clock. It is what it is at this point. Like I said, it’s just a learning experience for me and just taking what happened and learn from it at the end of the day.”
(What was the experience like as far as you guys landed at like 2:30 Monday morning, which means you probably got to bed around 4:30 or something like that. Just getting your body clock right again and then coming back to work, what have the last couple of days been like for you?) – “That was tough. The biggest thing for me is that I usually don’t sleep on planes, but I had to force myself especially with a nine-hour flight back, being sore and tired after the game. I kind of forced myself to get an hour or two of sleep. I usually wake up really early so it didn’t really affect my clock that much. I got home at like 3:30 or something like that and had wake up early, come in and take care of my body and stuff. I think it was tough. I think the flight there was actually a little bit rougher to me because I had to force myself to get sleep because we had walkthroughs and meetings and stuff the next morning when we landed. That was definitely the hardest thing but overall, it was an awesome experience and I’m glad I got to be a part of that.”
(Is it kind of a good thing in a weird way that – I know you guys want to fix this and get back out there – that you don’t have to sit around for a bye with a losing streak on you? I know after the trip that everyone would like a few days off, sure. But is it a good thing in a weird way that you guys get back out there?) – “Oh yeah, especially for us. I think we’re just all at this point super hungry and ready to just get a win, especially just based off of the work we put in, the amount of time we put into this and just how much we care and love each other as players. And how much we respect the coaching staff and know that they put us in the best position that they can. At the end of the day, we just have to do a better job of executing. Once we can put that together, I think we can definitely string some wins together.”
(What was your perspective of CB Noah Igbinoghene’s play?) – “Noah played good, especially just him being a little up and down. He definitely did well. I think it was cool for me just to sit out there and see all the younger guys, a lot of the younger DBs out there being able to play and just build our communication and our overall learning and knowing how each other play. I think that’s always cool. I think for the most part, he did a really good job of holding his own and making plays when he could.”
