Tony Lippett – November 14, 2016
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Monday, November 14, 2016
Cornerback Tony Lippett
(How satisfying was it not only getting your first career interception, but following it up with another one to seal the win?)– “It was pretty good, (my) first career interception. It is also good, us coming together and helping each other out, coming out that game with a victory. (They) have a great quarterback. They have a great offense. They score a lot of points. So, for us to finish the drill at the end of the day, that was always the goal.”
(What was it like to go through that game where it was so many penalties, and it looks like things are going against you guys and then four fourth quarter interceptions?) – “Sometimes it can get frustrating with the penalties and stuff like that, but you just have to just brush it off and move on to the next play. And that’s what we just try to do, we try to preach every time after a penalty in the huddle, ‘Move on to the next play, because you don’t want that to linger on to the next one.’”
(Do you think the penalties are a technique issue? What are the coaches saying as far as diagnosing those?) – “We have to play better technique and compete. At the end of the day, I’m just out there trying to compete. The refs are going to call what they call and anything like that. I’m just out there trying to compete and play hard and try to make plays when they come my way.”
(What has this year been like for you guys in the secondary? There are so many young players out there getting their first crack of NFL action. How tough has it been to stay positive and keeping things steady?) – “It’s pretty tough, but we all talk a lot. We watch film together a lot, and we always try to make sure we’re on the same page and make sure we’re seeing the same things. So, that helps us a lot – watching film together and talking more every play, communicating more and basically trying to make sure we’re on the same page at all times.”
(With this secondary, you guys got off to a slow start from an interception standpoint. What’s it like to see it come in bunches now?)– “It’s pretty good. It’s pretty good for us to get our hands on a couple football, especially from a Hall of Fame quarterback, which is Philip Rivers. It’s pretty good. We just basically are going to keep continuing it rolling and try to make plays when they come our way.”
(Where do you feel you’ve made the most progress from last year to this year?) – “I’d probably say being more patient and really understanding what the offense is trying to do, really understanding how our defense works and how every phase of our defense is basically helping each other. I’m understanding that a little bit more, and I still have a lot of understanding to do, so that’s what I try to do in practice, and hopefully it transfers over to the game.”
(When you talk about trying to learn and understand the concepts, what started that learning process? What helped you guys finally get it?)– “We always watch film, but knowing where our other defenders are going to be on defense can help you. You knowing where your help is at helps you. That’s what we just try to preach – knowing where your help is at, knowing where everybody is going to be at and knowing what you can give up and what you can’t give up in certain coverages.”
(I’ve seen you run receiver routes in pregame. I think I’ve seen you do it earlier too, not exactly sure, but I’ve never asked you about it. Just curious to why you do that in pregame?) – “I’m just warming up. One week I just started doing it. Me and ‘Max’ (Byron Maxwell) just started doing it and whatever. I was basically warming up. That was my way of warming up.”
(Do you remember which game it was?) – “I actually think it was the Cincinnati game. I saw them out there throwing the ball, and I jumped in for a couple of routes. and I said, ‘Alright, I’m just going to just keep doing it.’”
(Does that make you long for your wide receiver days at Michigan State?)– “A little bit. It’s basically just me loosening up. I don’t really think about when I’m running routes and how I’m running them. (I am) trying to get my legs right, get my hands right.”
(Do you feel like it has helped with your ball skills at all? You got your hands on the ball yesterday, obviously, and finished plays.) – “It definitely helps with my ball skills. Catching the ball as much as you can is always going to help you no matter if it’s from the quarterback, or it’s from the jugs or it’s you playing catch with a coach or somebody like that. Catching the ball and actually seeing it, it always helps you.”
(Can you describe how far you think you’ve come as far as your progression to being a starting cornerback in the NFL?) – “I have a lot of room to go, and that’s what I’m focused on. I’m not focused on where I’ve been or how far I’ve come. It’s not about that. It’s about grinding every day and persevering through everything, and that’s what I try to do. I don’t try to focus on that.”
(Do you see a light at the end of the road there?)– “No, it’s not a light, because if it’s a light, it means it’s ending. I don’t really want to see a light. I just want to go, so that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Earl Mitchell – November 14, 2016
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Monday, November 14, 2016
Defensive Tackle Earl Mitchell
(Did you surprise yourself at all with your conditioning and ability to play as many snaps as you did?) – “No. Not really. I was just so excited to be back out there. I’ve been preparing this entire time and just knowing that I had an opportunity to be back out there with my teammates eventually, coming off of IR; so yes, I just pretty much stayed in shape. I made sure I stayed in-tune with all the readings and everything I could do to be ready to come back.”
(By all accounts you played well. Was there any rustiness as far as you could tell?) – “I mean I’m definitely sore today. I knew the scheme. I sat in the meetings. I got a lot of mental reps. I feel like a seven-year veteran now, but it is what it is.”
(Is there anything that was not up to your standards or anything that you’re still hoping kind of comes back this week?) – “Yes, I mean I definitely could have played with a little better technique. We just got through watching the film and there was some … I’ve just got to really get back into things and just being more sound. My technique was … I’ve got to be (better).”
(What exactly did you do to stay in game shape while you were out for so long?) – “I mean just a lot of core work. I figured out I was having maybe some back issues here and there. I started having chiro problems because of that, so I decided to just kind of take off some weight and just really get in the weight room a little bit more and just conditioning whenever I could. I think that helped me out a bunch.”
(How frustrating was it to continue to try to come back from that calf and before you just decided rest it?) – “Yes, it was. It was frustrating, especially not being able to obviously play and be out there with my teammates; but just having it happen last year and then it happened again. So you know it was just one of those things. I just didn’t want it to happen again.”
(Was the anticipation for your pregame more intense maybe than previous games that you hadn’t played in so long?) – “Maybe. It’s been a long eight weeks. I got an opportunity to talk to my teammates before the game and tell them I pretty much went through every emotion possible throughout the entire time and it all hit me kind of at once, a couple of days ago. I was so excited to be back out there. I’m just glad that I took advantage of that opportunity to be out there.”
(It didn’t look like you were too tentative. Early on you knocked a guy all the way back into the backfield. You weren’t tentative at all.) – “I just kind of went for it right there. I mean we were on the goal line. You know you’ve got to get grimy down there.”
(The technique was good on that play.) – “I just went. I just went for it.”
(Were you a little tentative, knowing that a calf you really don’t know until you get out there and you test it for real?) – “You’re right. Calves are funny like that. You never know. But you never know until you actually go after it. Plus, you’re at the goal line. You don’t want to start taking steps backward right there trying to protect yourself.”
(What was it like watching your defensive line – you guys are still 30th against the run – struggle without you?) – “It was tough sitting at home watching that. Then a lot of plays, it would be crazy, because we’d be so consistent up front and then it would be one play here, one play there that would get out of the gate. I know we have the ability to be much better, but it’s (about) remaining consistent at all times.”
(How do you tighten the screws on this defense?) – “Everybody staying focused and really just doing your job. Sometimes, players can try to take games in their own hands, but I think when we remain consistent and knowing our own job, we do well.”
(What was the message from Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph when he got the whole defense together on the sideline there for a minute?) – “That was it. It’s exactly what I said. He was like, ‘Don’t do you. Do us, and we’re going to be just fine.’ He does a good job of keeping us level-headed and not panicking. He does a good job of keeping us calm and calling the plays.”
(What’s it like to have a coach like that, that can do that to a team and put everybody together on the same page like that?) – “It’s great. You feed off that, and you want to respond well to that when they’re keeping their cool. It shows that they’re calm, and everybody can communicate on the sideline and talk amongst each other.”
(What’s this extended field trip like? I know it’s a business trip, but you guys got, I guess, 36 hours off?) – “It’s good. Me personally, I’m going to be professional about it, but you just won a big game and a lot of guys want to go out and have fun. There are some things that you can do; you just have to be smart. But it’s nice to be out here. It’s an exciting time.”
Adam Gase – November 14, 2016
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Monday, November 14, 2016
Head Coach Adam Gase
(How did DT Earl Mitchell grade out this first game?) – “I think for the most part he did a good job. I know the one thing we could count on was just the energy level. I think a lot of us were just surprised at the fact that his conditioning was really, really, really good. Sometimes when you get in those games, the anxiety shoots up and you can lock up because you’re so excited to get out there and you fatigue yourself; but it didn’t happen with him. When you have a veteran guy like that, he’s going to know his assignment. He’s kind of been in this situation before. He came out there and did exactly what we needed him to do.”
(Do you think fresh legs played this factor in helping him kind of have that boost? He hadn’t played since Week 1.) – “Yes, I’m sure that was … I mean this late in the season, he’s at a different level than everybody else as far as that goes. Guys are out there playing with banged up bodies, heavy legs and it’s like getting a brand new player out there flying around, completely healthy.”
(What do you think was the difference in terms of the run defense that you guys have had? You’ve struggled most of the season. This was one of the hottest backs in the NFL and you contained him to 70 yards.) – “I think the guys did a good job as far as the fits were really good. I thought the fact that we were swarming as well as we were, and guys were doing a good job, even in the times that he shook free, guys got him down. That’s the key. It could have been worse than what it was, and guys did a good job as far as when there was some one-on-one matchups, we got him to the ground.”
(The team is now 5-4, a four-game winning streak, what do you tell the players to keep them focused on the one game at a time angle?) – “We’ve been really focused on ignoring any kind of success and resetting on that Wednesday. That’s really been our biggest thing. We have our process. We know how we want to go about our business. We make a big focus on no one’s going to care if we lose the next one. Our biggest thing is focusing on that week and we know we’ve got a big challenge ahead of us this coming week, staying on the West Coast the entire week and making sure everybody does everything right.”
(What are the challenges of being out here, being away from your normal routine and your normal place?) – “I think once we get to Wednesday, we’re fine. Today’s our normal Monday. Tuesday, they have tomorrow off. They have tomorrow off and then just tonight, guys (need to be) making right decisions. We’re trying to treat this as though we were in Miami. We just need guys to just make sure they’re doing things right.”
(And as far as getting treatment and…?) – “Everything’s the same. Everything is set up the same. It’s really easier for them right now being their room’s right there and they come over here. We see a lot more guys than what we normally see because once they leave the building in Miami, you don’t see them. Here, guys just keep popping back and forth because there’s really nothing else for them to do except hang out and do football things.”
(QB Ryan Tannehill has now gone four games without a turnover. What, if anything in particular, is he doing particularly well lately?) – “I think it’s just been a combination of the entire group. I think he’s done a good job of decision making. We really feel like we’re in a decent group as far as what we’re doing from week to week. Receivers and him are on the same page, along with the tight ends. I think the protection, you know the line has done a really good job as far as keeping him fairly protected. I know he takes some shots but there are a couple of times where he knows he’s going to get hit because he’s holding onto it. He’s trying to take a shot down the field. But for the most part, I think they’ve gotten into a pretty good groove. They’re playing well together right now.”
(How refreshing was it to see WR DeVante Parker have sort of a breakout game and play up to his talent level?) – “That was big for us because we needed it bad, because the other two guys were banged up and they gave us everything they had. Jarvis (Landry) played well and Kenny (Stills) made some big plays and just having ‘11’ (DeVante Parker) out there, being able to go. You could feel that during the week that he was different than what he had been. Getting him out there and knowing that he was going to make some plays this game, it makes life a lot easier when all three of those guys play together because it’s hard to take just one of them away. You’ve got to account for all three.”
(What do you guys know about T Branden Albert?) – “We’re still going through a little bit of a medical process to figure out what exactly is going to happen as far as the exact diagnosis, what can we do as far as moving forward, are we going to be able to get him back this week? We have to go through some stuff still.”
(Have you ruled out some worse case scenarios? T Branden Albert said yesterday there’s nothing broken.) – “I have not. Everything’s out there right now for us. Obviously he’s very swollen right now so we have to just kind of see how this week progresses.”
(Were you comfortable with T Branden Albert playing with a brace?) – “Yes, I mean, when I saw him come back, I was … Once he said he can go … When you’re a guy that has his kind of experience, if he couldn’t go then he wouldn’t go. If he said, ‘I can’t function,’ he wouldn’t go out there. When he said that he was ready to go, I felt good about it.”
(Last night, you said the DBs just have to play the next play. But now you’ve had a day to look at the issues – the pass interference and holding calls – is it a technique thing that needs to be worked out or what’s your diagnosis on that?) – “I think we’ve just got to do a better job as far as when we’re in coverage, we just have to do the best job we can to not be as ‘hands-y’ as what we’ve been, and we have to trust our technique a lot of the times. I think if we do that, that’s going to help us. I think it’s tough sometimes when you’re playing a couple of the guys that we went against yesterday who were very savvy with their route-running and a quarterback that throws the ball very early a lot of the time to where you turn around and all of a sudden the ball’s on the receiver. You guys saw a couple of times where he throws a stop route, the ball’s in the air, the receivers are not even close to turning around. So it makes it tough sometimes when you go against a good quarterback that has really good timing. So we’ll make some strides there. I have a lot of faith in (Defensive Backs Coach) Lou (Anarumo), ‘V.J.’ (Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph) and (Assistant Defensive Backs Coach) Daronte Jones to get some things cleaned up. That’s part of our deal. They did a good job. They turned the ball over. There are a lot of positives.”
(What did you see from Laremy Tunsil in terms of how he handled the challenge of going for left guard to left tackle?) – “He seemed good. He seemed good. I said something to him last night and he just gave me a look of … when he has to bounce back and forth, I think he likes being in one spot and not have to keep moving around, but he did a good job. It’s tough. It’s tough for him. When you’re a rookie and you kind of get in one spot and you feel comfortable and have to bounce back out, it’s not as easy as you’d think.”
(If T Branden Albert could come back and play yesterday, why wouldn’t he be able to play [moving forward]?) – “Well it’s just … Right now we’re going through the stages of having the hand specialist look at it just to make sure there’s no further damage can be done. If it’s anything that … there’s all these little steps you have to go through just to make sure we’re not hurting him for future or affecting his long-term career or anything like that. We have to go through all those little steps just to make sure that we handle everything the right way. So if he can go, it’s for the entire … the rest of the season.”
(The word ‘playoffs,’ is that sort of taboo around this resort right now?) – “I mean, I’ve never really been one to talk about it in my career. I’ve always just worried about the week that we’re involved in. I think if you do things right enough times then you get opportunities to keep playing. That’s how I look at it. Usually, more times than not, when you talk about it, that’s when it doesn’t happen.”
(You guys have been dealt a series of misfortunes, that a lot of them … most of them out of your control. What do you point to as the reason why you guys are able to go from 1-4 to now 5-4?) – “I think there are a lot of guys that just stuck with what we’ve been talking about since the beginning –really in the spring, just kind of the next man up mentality. Our older guys need to step up and lead. I think that’s been a big difference. I’ve seen a lot of veteran players take control of our team. I’ve seen some guys that maybe we did not think they were going to be huge contributors, just take leadership-type roles and all of a sudden now they’re involved and in positions to where they’re making plays and starting. It’s been great to see guys step forward and make plays and lead.”
(Specifically as it applies to your secondary as well, I don’t know if you’ve had one guy who has made it through the season without any injuries or playing-type issues, like CB Byron Maxwell had. How is that unit coming together?) – “I think they’re pretty tight. Obviously, when you lose the leader of that room, that’s tough. The fact that Reshad (Jones) has been around all the time and constantly talking to those guys; they’re very tight. They’ve been through a lot of adversity as a group, so I think they play off each other and they know, ‘What’s our next situation? What’s something that we can do to improve?’ They’re constantly working to try to get better.”
(What’s it like from a morale standpoint that they’ve had so many droughts? CB Bobby McCain last week gets his first interception, now CB Tony Lippett gets his first interception. They say it comes in waves, but is that much of a confidence builder?) – “It’s funny, we had actually talked about this about three or four weeks ago. We were talking about protecting the ball – and we had done a good job in that area – and the defense kept talking about turnovers. I heard a lot of players actually say that they were going to come in bunches. They worked on it in practice. We kept getting hands on balls in practice (with) scout team. You might not think it’s a big deal, but it’s one of those things where confidence starts going up and you get a couple one game and then all of a sudden it keeps coming.”
(Aside from the fact that he seems to be getting more opportunities, can you enlighten us as to why DE Cameron Wake seems to be playing better?) – “I don’t know if he’s playing better. The opportunity is obviously – when you’re trying to be smart earlier in the year … Obviously, he looks like he’s full-go, for sure, now. He has really made it tough on every (offensive) tackle he has gone against. The way he’s coming off the ball and how physical he’s playing, he is really … He has been impressive to watch. For a guy that has been playing as long as he has, he’s playing with great energy. You can see the passion for the game and the passion he has for this team (by) the way he plays.”
(Is DE Cameron Wake healthier now than he was earlier?) – “I think it’s just the whole coming off of injury last year, and then we were trying to progress (with) him. I feel like he is closer to whatever 100 percent can be in the NFL than what he was probably earlier in the year.”
(I know in preseason and training camp, you talked about it’ll take a while to get to know the team. Are you at a point now where you feel like you know everybody and know what they can do and know what you want them to do and they know you?) – “I think we’re pretty close to knowing each other as well as you can – coaches and players and front office and all those things, the whole building – knowing everybody’s tendencies. You kind of know what guys are psychopathic and crazy. (laughter) It’s probably with the coaching staff as well. (laughter) Everybody does know each other better. It’s easier to go to work, because you know what to expect, you know how to play off each other. With our players, it has really gotten to a point where we know what guys do really well and what maybe we stay away from certain guys.”
(This has nothing to do with today, but you’ve been a head coach for nine games. Play calling – a lot of guys that become head coaches abandon play calling. Are you comfortable … Are you happy with how it’s all working out?) – “That’s going to be a hard one for me to ever give up. I enjoy it.”
(Can you point to a specific moment, practice or game where you felt things really started to click, or has it been totally gradual?) – “I think that Pittsburgh week, we felt something different. I felt like the defense was really playing well. Offensively, we were struggling, obviously. But that week felt different. Especially at the end of the week, you felt there was some confidence there that we were going to play well.”
(How do you describe QB Ryan Tannehill’s toughness, and how much of an asset is it to have at that particular position?) – “I think what he does is rare. You don’t see too many guys taking some of the shots he takes and bounce back up. He’s as tough as they come. To be able to regroup and stand in there again, it has been really amazing to watch. The throw he made to Kenny (Stills) yesterday, I have no idea how he completed that, because I don’t know how he saw him, for one. And then he put it … Kenny never breaks stride. The pass he threw to DeVante (Parker) there with three minutes left, he never even saw him.”
(What was San Diego able to do against the run that other teams…) – “It’s a tough front. The movement that they have up front makes it very difficult. It’s one thing when you’re playing the Jets – they’re stout. It’s tough to move those guys off the ball. This group, they move around and start stunting, and they’re getting into different gaps. You have to be really … You’ve got to be on it. There were a few times where we had some things we had to clean up. It was a tough front. They played with great energy level. I think (Melvin) Ingram is playing about as well as I’ve ever seen him play. He was so disruptive yesterday. Going against him as many times as at least I have being in this division (with Denver), I don’t know if I ever remember him playing this well against the run and pass.”
(Have teams adjusted to you guys running the ball – defenses? There were some times it looked like on one of QB Ryan Tannehill’s deep passes there were 10 guys in the box it seemed like.) – “That’s how it feels like every time I’ve gone against (Chargers Defensive Coordinator John) Pagano, no matter if I was in Denver or here. I always feel like you never know where anything is coming from, because he does a good job of disguising things. There were a couple times where they had some things where I think the safeties were trying to figure out where they needed to be, and they held some looks late to make it tough.”
(DE Mario Williams. What is his [status]? ) – “We’re day-to-day right now, so we need to figure out what it’s going to be the rest of the week.”
Branden Albert – November 13, 2016 (Postgame)
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Sunday, November 13, 2016
Postgame – at San Diego
Miami Dolphins Tackle Branden Albert (transcribed by the San Diego Chargers)
On what happened to him during the game:
“Fifty-four got me pretty good today. He got me on the bull rush and I caught myself and when I looked at my wrist, I knew something wasn’t right. I went to the sideline and cut my tape off and it was out of place. They were messing with it and trying to pop it back into place. I got some x-rays and it was back in place. I had to go back out there.”
On how important it was for him to finish the game:
“I had to. It was early in the game so I had to finish the game.”
On how tough it was to play through the pain from his wrist:
“It was pretty tough but like I said, I had to help my team and pride wouldn’t let me go out like that.”
On what winning four in a row says about the team:
“I think we are starting to show success in all three phases of the game. Everyone is feeding off of each other. The defense really stepped up today and we got the win.”
Kenny Stills – November 13, 2016 (Postgame)
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Sunday, November 13, 2016
Postgame – at San Diego
Miami Dolphins Wide Receiver Kenny Stills (transcribed by the San Diego Chargers)
On what he said to Tannehill after his touchdown:
“I went over to him and just told him thank you for trusting me.”
On what he saw on the play:
“It’s something that we practice all the time. Like I said, Ryan (Tannehill) just put a lot of trust and faith in me and threw that ball up there.”
Dominique Jones – November 13, 2016 (Postgame)
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Sunday, November 13, 2016
Postgame – at San Diego
Miami Dolphins Tight End Dominique Jones (transcribed by the San Diego Chargers)
On winning four in a row:
“Defense came through in the end for us. We struggled a little bit all day on offense, but DaVante (Parker) made a couple big plays down the stretch, Kiko (Alonso) got a pick and Lip (Tony Lippett) got a couple picks and sealed the victory.”
On what it feels like to be back in San Diego:
“It’s great. It’s always good to come back home. Good to come back home and play in front of my hometown friends.”
On if he still has the shoes he wore for the game:
“I do; a little Tony Gwynn tribute, 619 IPA Tony Gwynn. I just felt like coming back home, it was good to honor him. I know he just passed when I wasn’t home so I felt coming back home, it was a good time to honor him and being able come home and do that.”
Ndamukong Suh – November 13, 2016 (Postgame)
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Sunday, November 13, 2016
Postgame – at San Diego
Miami Dolphins Defensive Tackle Ndamukong Suh (transcribed by the San Diego Chargers)
On Kiko Alonso’s interception:
“I honestly don’t remember. I just came back in turned around and [Alonso] got the pick. [I was thinking] just go find a block.”
On penalties in tonight’s game:
“Yeah, very unfortunate but that’s part of the game. Seems like we were getting quite a bit of [penalties]. Like I said its part of the game. Just got to push through it no matter what the situation is whether it was our fault or not. We got to line up and get ready for the next play.”
On what the defense is becoming:
“At the end of the day it’s an ultimate team game. So were going to have some games where we perform on both sides of the ball and special teams. We’re a complete unit all together. If one of your brothers happens to make a mistake, the rest of us are there to pick them up. Being put in touch situations, it is what it is. We’re going to go out there and make the most of it. If were backed up we got to make sure we hold them to a field goal or get a turnover.”
On whether the team is getting better and better:
“I think if you watch the first eight games of the season, it’s really been big plays that hurt us. When we don’t play assignment-sound football that’s when we struggle. We’re starting to eliminate those things and eliminate the big plays. Obviously if we could play consistent football and improve stopping people in the run game and making them one dimensional. We’ve got an amazing group up front I think we’re gelling, getting more comfortable with each other, we know how to rush and last couple games we’ve been able to get the quarterback down there.”
On the momentum of the team:
“Yeah obviously today we can look back in the mirror and see a four-game winning streak but like [Coach Gase] said on Wednesday we’re 0-0. We’ve got zero wins against the team we’re going against, obviously we got to go up to [Los Angeles], take care of business, and hopefully get on the plane and look back and be 5-and -0.”
Byron Maxwell – November 13, 2016 (Postgame)
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Sunday, November 13, 2016
Postgame – at San Diego
Miami Dolphins Cornerback Byron Maxwell (transcribed by the San Diego Chargers)
On what he thought about the secondary’s day overall:
“We battled. That is the key word. We battled and we never gave up. We fought to the end so I am proud of my guys, proud of the defense, proud of this team and how we played today. Not everything went right but we kept our head down and kept pushing through.”
On the penalties that were called during today’s game:
“Yeah. You had to go back and look at it, I can’t judge and say it was a bad call or anything. I don’t know for sure yet now though.”
On the pressure that their defense put on Philip Rivers:
“That is what we do, we put pressure on the quarterback. Our defensive line is if not the best in the league, one of the best in the league. We have a lot of guys up there that are proven in this league and they bring it. I enjoy playing behind them.”
On if he had to characterize the secondary’s day, how he would characterize it:
“We made plays. We made plays when it counted. That is all that matters in this league, and we got the W.”
