Transcripts

Search Transcripts
Reshad Jones – September 17, 2018 Download PDF version

Monday, September 17, 2018

S Reshad Jones

(Coming into the season, WR Jakeem Grant said it best that you guys are all you’ve got. People doubted but you guys are shutting them up and everyone is starting to drink the Kool-Aid a little bit.) – “Most definitely. This team is battle-tested. We’ve been through a lot. Like last year, the first game (we had a) hurricane and couldn’t play the first game. The first game this year was the longest game in NFL history. This team is battle-tested. We’ve got resilient guys in this locker room and a great coaching staff. You just try to keep stacking these Ws.”

(You being a defensive leader, what would your approach be if one of your cornerbacks decided to retire at halftime and leave you hanging.) – “Football is brutal. Everybody’s got personal things, on and off the field that they go through. I’d have to see what’s up with the individual first and then go from there; but it would be tough for your boys to walk out on you on game day, at halftime. I don’t know how to feel about it, honestly.”

(You guys have done a great job making an emphasis on forcing turnovers. How did that emphasis on creating turnovers come about and how do you think you’re doing so far through two games?) – “We know the importance of it. The percentage of winning increases a lot when you create turnovers, when you get those turnovers and you give your offense the ball back to go score points. Coach stresses it. We know the importance of it and we’ve got to continue to get those turnovers to help this team win.”

Can you sense a momentum swing in the game when you are able to force a turnover and then when you’re able to punch it home on offense?) – “Most definitely. I don’t know the exact numbers but percentage-wise, one turnovers to two turnovers, (your chances to win) increases a lot – getting those turnovers. We definitely can feel it.”

(That play with Jets TE Chris Herndon near the end zone, Head Coach Adam Gase was talking about the effort with you and CB Bobby McCain. He loved the call by Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke but he said the effort … Speaking of momentum, how much can that carry into the second half, stopping them just before halftime?) – “I think it was a huge play. Those guys were getting the ball back coming out of the half. If they would have scored right there, that probably would have changed the whole game. I think that one play was huge.”

(Did you guys have a discussion in the huddle before that last play in the half reminding you that if you tackled those guys in bounds, the clock would run out?) – “That was sort of the defensive call that we were in. We wanted to keep everything in front of us, don’t let anybody get in the end zone and tackle the man before the end zone. We did kind of discuss it and we knew the situation.”

(You and S T.J. McDonald are pretty much the same guy. Do you have little personal, individual things you have, like I want to get a bigger hit on whoever today? Because you both like to hit.) – “Not really. We just try to set a presence. We want guys to know we’re back here or whatever. We’re both versatile safeties. We’re interchangeable. We both can do the same things; but I like going to get the ball. I can lay the boom, too, when needed; but I like getting the ball. I like creating those turnovers.”

(Things you’d point to as to why your pass defense is better and your pass rating against is so much better than last year as a team. Is it S Minkah Fitzpatrick? Is it CB Bobby McCain and CB Xavien Howard improving? What things would you point to?) – “I think it’s a total team effort. I think we’ve got one of the best front sevens in football. I think we’ve got a chance to be one of the best secondaries in all of football. I’ve got to give credit to those guys up front. They’re playing lights out – the d-tackles, d-ends. Those guys are getting to the quarterback and they’re just making our job easy. We’re just doing our job back there covering guys and let those guys get to the quarterback. It’s a total team effort.”

(From a back-end standpoint, how much has S Minkah Fitzpatrick helped?) – “Minkah is good. He comes from a winning program. He loves ball. He loves asking questions. He’s been playing solid in the slot. I think he played a lot of nickel at Alabama, so he’s been thriving at that position. He’s definitely brought a spark to the room.”

(You’ve definitely flashed over the last two games – two picks and then a big hit right before the half yesterday. What has allowed to maybe stand out a little bit more so far into this season as opposed to last year?) – “My preparation. Preparation meets opportunity. I prepare. I work my butt off. Hard work and dedication throughout the offseason, I break down film, and I’ve played a lot of ball in this league. My main focus is to be consistent, continue to do what I’m doing and do whatever it takes to help this team win football games.”

Search Transcripts

Weekly Archives