Ryan Fitzpatrick – November 10, 2019 (Postgame)
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Sunday, November 10, 2019
Postgame – Indianapolis
(What’s it like to see this team rally from the season start to where you are now with two straight wins?) – “It’s been awesome. It is so much fun to be in the locker room when you’re winning and for what we went through in the beginning of the year and that attitude that everyone had and what we touched on last week even after that win, it makes it so much sweeter to go in and celebrate with this group of guys. We all know what we’ve faced all year and what we’ve worked through. Just a different way to win today, but another great team win. I thought the defense played really, really well today.”
(Could you talk about the job that Brian Flores and the coaches have done in raising you guys up from that start against Baltimore to today?) – “I think the coaches deserve a lot of credit and I think the players deserve a lot of credit, too – that whole building just for sticking together. His message has been clear to us the whole time. He hasn’t wavered in what he expects out of us. And again, this is stuff we touched on last week a little bit. But the guys knowing each other know and playing with each other for a couple of weeks and getting practices in and everything’s getting better and better. We’re jelling a little bit more as a team. I think the coaches deserve a lot of credit and I think the players deserve a lot of credit too for going out there, putting work in and not being discouraged by the start.”
(You took a helmet to helmet hit, are you okay?) – “It’s funny, because I took a helmet to helmet and looked and saw a flag and it ended up being a holding call against us. So I wasn’t really happy about that. As a quarterback or even as a guy who has played this game for a long time, I understand why they have the spotters and I understand why they call down. That’s for us, that’s to protect us. For me, it was frustrating because I was on the bench for five minutes. We were off the field and I had sat on the bench for five minutes going over plays and whatever else. It wasn’t until I went back into the game that it was called down to check on me. If they want to check on me, I get it 100 percent. I know why it’s in place, but there was a five-minute gap where I was sitting there doing nothing and they didn’t need me on the field, where I could have been checked. Then also, I just sat in the blue tent for what seemed like 10 minutes, but it was probably one minute, without anybody in there checking me in a very key moment of the game. So, I guess I understand why they do it, I like that they do it, but the timing of it was off and that was difficult for me to understand.”
(All that time is when the game is being potentially decided.) – “It was a huge series in the game for us. We’re going up to the line to start our first play of that possession and they got called from above and I had to come out.”
(Did they tell you that you were exhibiting any symptoms?) – “No idea. I know I got hit facemask to facemask, got up right away and felt fine. Again, I understand the process of it. I just think if they’re going to do it, it’s got to be right away, or it’s got to be when I’m sitting on the bench for five minutes because that was a big part of the game for us.”
(The way it started, and it’s a young football team with guys coming and going. Then all of a sudden over the last five weeks, you’ve got some traction, you’ve won two games. How did that all occur? How did that team that started against the Ravens Week 1, become this football team right now?) – “Well, we’ve just continued to come together. Getting more familiar with each other and then, we touched upon it a little bit, but in practice there’s been such a shift of the way that we’ve worked and the excitement that we’ve had and the confidence that we’re gaining. Even in a couple of those games that we didn’t pull out, Buffalo, end of the Washington game, Pittsburgh, you could see this team gaining confidence. Today was a great example of learning how to in a little bit because the last two games we’ve won in different ways.”
(You had some games where you had some leads and then didn’t hold them in the second half, now you’re doing it. Is this team learning how to win football games?) – “I think so. I think it’s a process. But I think today was a great example of that. The defense really stepping up, the offense playing well early, sputtering and then doing what we had to do at the end when we needed to do it. I thought it was a good team win and different from last week’s win.”
(You and this franchise are in an odd situation. You want to win games and you want to keep getting better, and then there’s the other side of moving forward and the draft next year. Do you feel that? I’m sure you hear it and you know it but is that a strange balancing act for you guys?) – “Not for us. We’re competitors and we want to go out there and play. It’s amazing every week, there’s another obstacle to jump over. Losing Preston (Williams) was huge and losing Mark Walton to his suspension was huge. We had guys on offense who were really starting to come along and produce for us and then all of a sudden, they aren’t out there anymore. So Kalen Ballage comes in and steps up. In the receiver room, we’re going to have guys continue to step up. It’s just amazing, as you go from week to week, it seems like there continues to be more obstacles and hurdles for us to go over and this team is finding a way to do it. I’m really proud of our guys for that.”
(The touchdown run in the second quarter, can you tell us about what you saw develop there?) – “That was, I thought, a well-designed play for us versus the defense that they had. They did a nice job defending it. I stepped up, and our three receivers that were on the right were all running routes that were leading them either to the middle or left side of the field. So, when I stepped up, I saw a lot of daylight. I was surprised I got all the way to the end zone but I made it. So I still have a little bit of quickness I guess.”
Brian Flores – November 10, 2019 (Postgame)
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Sunday, November 10, 2019
Postgame – Indianapolis
(As spoken for the Miami Dolphins, are the Miami Dolphins happy they won today?) – “Yeah. There is an excited group in there (the locker room). Tough game against a really good opponent. They’re a really tough coached team. A lot of good players. On the road. Tough environment. It’s hard to win on the road in this league. I’m proud of this team – I really am. There were some plays that we came back from. Some adversity we dealt with that earlier in the year would have been hard but now these guys are tough mentally, physically, they trust the process and we were able to overcome some. But that’s what you get is adversity in every game and I think we are learning how to do that and we’re doing that by sticking together and taking it one play at the time. I’m proud of this team.”
(The effort by the defense coming up with the three takeaways, coming and stepping up big for you and this was one of those defensive games where it was close all the way through and you had to just grind it out and your guys got the best of them.) – “Credit to the players. They went out there and executed and our coaching staff you know, Pat Graham, Josh (Boyer), T.O. (Tony Oden), Hobbs (Marion Hobby), Robbie (Rob Leonard) – work extremely hard to get these guys ready. To put these guys in position to make some plays and we got some today. Created some turnovers. Those are always big in the game. We played a tough, physical game. We tackled and I think even when they drove the ball a little, we just stuck together and took it one play at a time and made the plays we needed to win.”
(You have stacked together about five games in a row, winning the last two. Do you just feel this team coming together and that momentum just building for you?) – “Yeah, I think that’s something I felt, like you said, for the last four or five weeks and we are starting to come together across the board. From a communications standpoint, an execution standpoint, a practice standpoint, from a confidence standpoint. I think being able to overcome adversity is part of playing in the National Football League and we had a lot of that early in the year and we are starting to do that at a high level now.”
(Once again Ryan Fitzpatrick is able to get this offense going just enough and comes and takes a touchdown. Takes the ball in himself for the touchdown and just the things he has been doing since you put him in the fourth quarter against Washington game.) – “Yeah, Fitz has been leading the way and a tough, gritty performance. Not perfect obviously. There has never been a perfect game played so I love that he just comes right back in on a scoring drive and I was just very happy with Fitz’s (performance).”
(What happened there with his concussion protocol?) – “You know they called down and once they call down, it’s out of everyone’s hands and I had to take him out of the game.”
(But they didn’t call down until he went back on the field?) – “They called down when they called down. I’m not on the phones there.”
(CB Nik Needham and S Steven Parker have been in and out of the lineup. Both of them had interceptions. Needham had a big game. How have you decided whose going in week to week in this secondary? Is it just practice and who is practicing good?) – “Yes, it’s practice. It’s walkthroughs. We watched the tape last week and there are a lot of things. No one has set guys in the building, so I think our coaches are doing a job these guys ready and. Josh (Boyer), T.O. (Tony Oden), really all the coaches are doing a good job getting these guys ready and we just put the guys on the field that help this team win games. Those two guys in particular helped us a lot today and made two big plays in the game. One really in the red zone and Nik’s interception that put us up one – that’s a huge play of the game. Like we talked about, those winning moments and some of those as a team.”
(You have won two in a row and as you process through this, can you see the team improving from here?) – “That’s the goal. I told them that when we first met. I try to improve every day and again if this team is a reflection of me, we are going to improve every day at everything – blocking, tackling, study habits, preparation, walkthrough, practice, third down, red area, run game. We are going to try and improve every day.”
(What are you seeing in WR DeVante Parker and TE Mike Gesicki that have allowed them to become such a big part of your offense right now?) – “They are two talented guys – we will start right there. There is a toughness and grit in both of those guys, and we are seeing it on a weekly basis. We need that. Getting that from those two guys in particular, I think our offensive staff is putting them in position to have some success. George (Godsey) has done a really good job with the tight ends and Karl (Dorrell) with the receiving group. Just one foot in front of the other on a daily basis and that process, that commitment to the process is just the fruits of their labor.”
(It was well documented that you guys had a lot of scouts at the LSU-Alabama game. Only 13 teams didn’t attend and 19 teams were there. It’s no secret you guys are putting resources to next year. How much does this team feed off this and what everyone is talking about next year? What about this year?) – “I think if you are not motivated to play in this league, you will not be in this league long. I have been here for a long time and if you are not motivated on a daily basis, you won’t be around long – that’s players, that’s coaches, that’s personalities. I don’t know if we need extra motivation. It’s the National Football League.”
(That fourth down stop that gave you guys the victory, can you take me through that play and the emotions leading up to the victory?) – “It’s the winning play. It’s a four-point game. They’re in the red zone. It’s a good offense with good skill players. They go to (Eric) Ebron, who is one of the best tight ends in the league and low and behold we stopped him short. It’s a winning play and I’m just so proud of this team. The way they stick together. The way they fight. They played and overcame adversity. Went on the road and played in a tough environment. That’s what it takes to win in this league. To come to Indy and win, you have to be a physically and mentally tough team.”
Brian Flores – November 8, 2019
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Friday, November 8, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores
(Are you are optimistic about getting C Daniel Kilgore back on Sunday? Do you think C/G Evan Boehm has done enough where starting at guard would be the ideal path for him based on his body of work at center?) – “We’ll see on Kilgore. That will be – no decision has been made there yet. He’s been able to practice this week and that’s good but whether or not we feel like he’s ready to play a 60-minute ball game, we still have to make a decision on that. Boehm is a little banged up as well. We’ll see how this thing goes. We’ve had guys in and out of the lineup all year. We’ll put the best group out we can on Sunday.”
(T Julién Davenport since he’s returned, what have you seen from him?) – “He’s really done a good job and really worked hard to get back. Obviously he has to get into playing condition, playing shape. When you are off for that amount of time, from a technique and fundamental standpoint – footwork, hand placement, just getting into your pass sets and your run technique – you’ve just got to get back into that. This has been a good week for him. He’s looked – physically, he’s looked good. Hopefully he just continues to get better and improve his technique. Hopefully we’ll have him out there soon.”
(Is T Julién Davenport cross-training playing both tackle spots or do you still have him at right?) – “He plays left, he plays right, he plays guard, we make him snap. Tight end. We just move him around.”
(We’ve seen probably the last three weeks that you’ve moved the walkthrough to Thursday. What was the thought process behind that and is it to get a desired result?) – “Look, every team is a little bit different. Last week we had the Monday night game so that was a Wednesday walkthrough. This week it was Thursday. It just really depends on how the week is going, injuries that you’ve got, from an install standpoint what you want to – you can probably do – let’s call it you get more looks, more plays with a walkthrough. There are a lot of things that go into it. Some weeks we walk through, some weeks we don’t. It just really depends on the week, the team, how the team is doing health-wise and the opponent that week.”
(Is this something that you’ve taken from New England? How did this come about?) – “Walkthroughs? I think every team in some form or fashion has walkthrough practices or lighter practices. It’s something that I’ve done in the past, for sure; but it’s something I did in college (too). I think every team…”
(I meant moving the day from Friday to an earlier part in the week.) – “From Friday?”
(Walkthroughs have usually been on Friday.) – “Where?”
(Here.) – “Oh. Is that the case? I don’t think that’s the case everywhere. I’ve never had a Friday walkthrough so I can’t speak to that. Maybe that works and I could see some merit to that as well, but we’ll probably do it earlier in the week – either Wednesday or Thursday – when you’ve got the early down and the third down. Red zone, that’s a pretty significant part or area, so I probably would move it earlier in the week if we were going to (do that). I feel like you need to practice that. You need to practice it all but to each their own. For us it’s Wednesday or Thursday and I think it’s from a physical standpoint, from a mental standpoint, it just depends on the week and the opponent as well.”
(Last Sunday, the three guys you signed last week – CB Xavier Crawford, CB Ken Crawley and TE Clive Walford – all got offensive or defensive snaps. The three you signed this week, obviously two are very young players – WR Gary Jennings and RB De’Lance Turner – and CB Marcus Sherels. Do you think it would be less likely that they’d have a role on offense or defense? Any feel for those three on how they’ve done?) – “It’s tough to get guys ready in three or four days. I think our coaches have done a good job of trying to do that. They will be small roles if they get in there, but we’ve got to inactive guys too. We’ll see how this goes. I could see a couple of those guys being active. I could see all three being down. We’re still kind of piecing that together.”
(Do you want WR Jakeem Grant to handle punt returns as well or would the preference be CB Marcus Sherels potentially in that role as WR Preston Williams had morphed into that role?) – “I think Jakeem is as explosive of a player in the return game as there is in the league. We’d like to have him back there. Sherels has done a good job over the course of his career, as well. So it’s good to have depth at that position. It’s a very important position and I feel good to have two guys that we feel confident in back there.”
(How have the receivers performed trying to fill that void of WR Preston Williams this week in practice?) – “I think they’ve all had their specific roles. Each guy knows that they’re going to have to step up to fill Preston’s shoes. Look, these are competitive guys and I think they’re fired up about the opportunity. I’m confident in all of them as I am in our tight ends, our backs, our line, our quarterback, the entire team. I think we’ve had an okay week of practice and hopefully we can take that into the game.”
Daniel Kilgore – November 7, 2019
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Thursday, November 7, 2019
C Daniel Kilgore
(What’s this road back been like for you?) – “It’s been good. I took some time off obviously with a little knee issue and I’m working hand-in-hand with Troy Maurer, the (assistant athletic) trainer. It was good. It allowed my knee to heal and rest my body. It’s good. (I’ve had) a good past couple of weeks of practice getting back in the groove of things. I’m feeling pretty good.”
(Head Coach Brian Flores says you’re close to being ready to go this week. How do you feel about being ready?) – “Yeah, I feel like I’m close. Again, it’s just getting back into the groove of practice and doing the football stuff. You can work out and run as much as you can, but you’re not really in football shape until you go out and play football. I feel pretty good, though.”
(With this offensive line, obviously there has been so much change and mixing and matching and patching. Do you feel like you guys are starting to get some continuity now?) – “Yeah. I think the guys have done a really good job the past couple of weeks. We can get better at everything but we’ve definitely gotten closer. You can see we’re in games, we really are. We’re not perfect by any means, but things are getting better on a weekly base.”
(Why do you think the line has been able to do so well protecting QB Ryan Fitzpatrick despite all of the change that you’ve had?) – “Again, I think it’s the reps and working together. They’re having a lot of changes. Guys are having to step up due to injuries or guys are switching roles. So just during the week, going over what our opponent is doing and what they are trying to accomplish. The guys are dong a really good job preparing throughout the week and preparing, and Ryan is doing a good job of getting the ball out and putting us in the right spot too.”
Gary Jennings – November 7, 2019
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Thursday, November 7, 2019
WR Gary Jennings
(On moving here from Seattle.) – “It’s a long trip, but I wouldn’t say a ‘whirlwind,’ so to speak. I’ve been pretty even-headed, level-headed, and I’m just ready to go here.”
(We talked to Head Coach Brian Flores earlier and he said that you had paid them a visit prior the draft, so you had already worked out for them. To be familiar with the coaching staff again, is that…?) – “Yeah, it’s pretty cool to have built a prior relationship in that pre-draft process. They’re a great staff. I can’t wait to see what they have to come.”
(What’s it like to be an early draft pick and then have a team that selects you waive you and then another team claim you?) – “Honestly to me, everything has a reason. Everything works out in its own way. I’m just happy to be where I am now.”
(What do you remember from that pre-draft meeting? Some of the feedback you got or some of the interactions with the staff.) – “I know they were really high on me and that’s why they took a chance on me again.”
(What do you view as your strengths? What do you bring to the field, to the position?) – “I’m a playmaker. I’m smart and heady. I bring very great camaraderie and I’m a great teammate as well.”
(Anything you feel that you need to work on the most or where you could maybe improve?) – “In all aspects. When you start getting complacent, that’s when you regress so (I am) always looking to get better in all aspects.”
(How long do you think it’s going to take you to learn a playbook?) – “I’m trying to get it down as fast as possible. That’s the key.”
Brian Flores – November 7, 2019
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Thursday, November 7, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores
(Can you explain the thinking behind not activating CB Cordrea Tankersley yesterday?) – “We didn’t think he was ready to go. He’s obviously coming off the injury. He’s made a lot of progress; but at the end of the day, we just felt he wasn’t quite ready and it wasn’t in the best interest of him or this team.”
(On game day, how do you handle the different personalities? I saw a funny moment in the last game where LB Jerome Baker was kind of dancing, he got you smiling and he was all “hey, I got Coach smiling.” Other guys have their headphones and are totally focused – how do you handle that or is that…?) – “It’s football. There’s different personalities. I deal with different guys on, really every day. From the coaching staff to the players to the trainers to – I like dealing with different personalities. I like dealing with different people. It’s part of the job. It’s also something I enjoy. ‘Bake’ (Jerome Baker) tries to get a smile out of me every once in a while. I faked a smile for him in that situation (laughter) just to kind of keep it going. I do what I’ve got to do to get my guys ready to play.”
(What can you tell us about the new receiver you brought in yesterday – WR Gary Jennings?) – “Gary – we brought him in for a 30-visit in the spring and we really – we liked him. We liked him as a player, we liked him as a person. We thought he had some speed, some size, some athleticism. He’s a young guy we wanted to work with. Obviously we weren’t able to draft him – Seattle took him; but when he was available, we felt like this would be a good young player to bring into the building and try to help develop.”
(Have you had to talk to RB Kalen Ballage about the opportunity that he has now or is that one of those things that it should be obvious so you just kind of let it go?) – “I talk to players pretty much every day. Kalen knows he’s a big part of this team. He’ll have some more opportunities this week. He knows that. It’s not something I’ve got to – I don’t have to get him going or try to – he doesn’t need any extra motivation. He’s a motivated kid. He’s someone who – he’s very eager. He wants this. It’s important to him. I don’t think he needs any extra motivation from me.”
(Where is C Daniel Kilgore on the road back and the same thing with DE Avery Moss?) – “Both guys are working their way back. Both got into practice yesterday and (are) making a lot of progress. We think we’ll be close this week. Hopefully we see both of them.”
(Is that something where you just have to wait for the medical clearance or you just see them practicing at a higher level?) – “(It is) a little bit of both. Obviously we’re constantly watching them. They’re cleared to practice and then you’ve just got to see how much of a hindrance the injury is. Are they back to full speed? Can they go into a game at a higher level in an aggressive and physical game and be productive? There’s a lot that goes into it. From a medically cleared (standpoint) – yeah. Are they all-the-way ready to go? We need to see that in practice.”
(Is there a player on the team that you see some of Boston College Brian Flores in or a player who you strived to be?) – “I hope not. (laughter) I hope not. No, there’s no guys like that. But yeah, there’s a lot of tough guys. I think I was tough and I was smart to get guys lined up. We’ve got a few guys like that, but they’re much more talented than I was. I’m coaching. I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.”
Brian Flores – November 6, 2019 (Conference Call)
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Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores Conference Call with Indianapolis Media
(Just to start off, what were your impressions of Colts QB Jacoby Brissett during his stint in New England?) – “I thought he was – he’s a great kid. I loved spending time with him. He’s smart. He’s got great leadership. He’s got a presence about him where guys rallied behind him pretty quickly early in his career. I was very impressed with Jacoby and I’m not surprised at all that he’s playing the way he is.”
(Kind of sticking with the theme with quarterbacks – what stood out about Colts QB Brian Hoyer when he was in New England with you and why do you think he’s had such a successful career as a backup for so long?) – “Hoyer is as smart as they come at the quarterback position. (He) understands defense, has been in a few different systems and understands different ways to protect, to schematically put together different concepts. This guy’s very, very bright. He’s another guy who, he and I would go back and forth, talk about defense, talk about offense, talk about protections, talk about route concepts – again, another impressive guy.”
(When it comes to the Colts offensive line, there’s been a lot of talk about it with C/G Quenton Nelson, C Ryan Kelly and T Anthony Castonzo; but more specifically, what are you seeing from Anthony Castonzo this year and how do you think he’s been throughout his career as a left tackle?) – “He’s a B.C. (Boston College) guy so I’m a big fan. (laughter) We’ll start right there. He’s been a very good player for – I feel like it was yesterday he just came into the league, but he’s been around for a while now. (He’s a) good player, good left tackle, very good in pass protection, hard to get around him, does a good job in the run game as well. He can pull. I want to say he caught a touchdown against – he’s caught a couple touchdowns, too. I like him. He’s got a lot of energy (and) a lot of enthusiasm. As a Boston College Eagle, I’m a fan.”
(You had some nice things to say about CB Kenny Moore II earlier today. What did you see from him during that 2017 offseason that you guys spent together in New England?) – “I was a big fan of him then out of Valdosta (State). Actually our corners coach Josh Boyer spent a lot of time with him, worked him out, really took a liking to him; but Kenny is first and foremost, he’s tough. He’s smart. Football is important to him. (Kenny is) disciplined. He can take coaching. He’ll tackle. There’s a lot to like about him. Again, another guy (I am) not surprised at all that he’s had the success that he’s had, but there’s a humility about him where I know none of this is going to go to his head. You can compliment him. It won’t go to his head. He’ll just keep putting his head down and working hard and trying to make himself a better player. He’s just a good overall kid – well he’s not a kid anymore, he’s a grown man now. I’m just proud to see the way he’s developed and I’m always happy for guys like that to have success wherever it is in the league. I kind of felt like he was going to have success wherever he went. I’m not surprised at all.”
Patrick Laird – November 6, 2019
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Wednesday, November 6, 2019
RB Patrick Laird
(Obviously you’re looking at the very strong possibility of getting some work on offense. How exciting is that for you?) – “Yeah, it’s exciting; but I’m treating this week like every week this season – just come in, prepare, learn the game plan and try to execute in practice.”
(What have been the challenges the last couple weeks? You lose RB Kenyan Drake, now RB Mark Walton is gone, a new player is here – what have been the challenges for your group specifically?) – “I don’t think there’s been many challenges. I think everyone has just come in, learned the game plan that week and practiced hard and just try to execute on Sundays.”
(How antsy have you been to get some work on offense?) – “I haven’t focused on whether I get reps or not on Sundays. I just come in every week, prepare the same and make sure when I get the opportunity on a Sunday I’m ready to go.”
(How did you feel about your performance in the exhibition games?) – “Like the preseason?”
(Yeah, you led the team in rushing back then.) – “I felt solid about my preseason performance and the coaches had good feedback for me. We have a lot of good running backs on this team, but like I said, every week I’ve just come in, prepared; so if I ever do get an opportunity then I’m ready to go.”
(You have gotten a big role on special teams in the first half of the season. How do you feel that’s gone?) – “I love doing whatever I can to help the team win. If you’re a rookie in this league and you want to play, special teams is sometimes the best opportunity you have. I’ve loved playing on special teams. I didn’t play in the first game, but every other game I’ve been starting special teams and I love that role on this team and I’ll do it for as long as I can.”
