Ryan Tannehill – September 16, 2018 (Postgame)
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Sunday, September 16 2018
Postgame – New York Jets
QB Ryan Tannehill (transcribed by New York Jets)
(On the difference between the second half and the first half) – “We just didn’t string enough together offensively. We had plenty of opportunities. We had good play calls and we had too many mistakes all the way around. I think every group had their mistakes and it starts with me. We have to clean those things up. We can’t come out and play like that in the second half. We have too much talent and to much opportunity to leave that much out there on the field. We have to give credit to the defense. They did a good job, but offensively we didn’t take advantage of the looks and opportunities that we had. I’m proud of our guys. I’m proud of the way we played when it came down to it at the end when we needed to get something going, it seemed like they were chipping away and chipping away and they got it within eight with about six minutes left. We needed to do something. We needed to move the ball, run the timeout, and get points whatever it may be. We were able to do that. Guys really hung in there, stuck together and got it done.”
(On the 3rd-and- 19 play) – “Frank Gore did a good job of buying time and getting open there. He was actually in protection there at first. If he goes out free, then he’s supposed to be on the other side. But he went across, possibly in protection and they brought up pressure there. Kenny [Stills] was primary. I didn’t feel like he was getting open due to the contact near the line of scrimmage, had a decent pocket there and was able to move around there a little bit. Frank made one heck of a catch there down low. I was off balance and the ball really just went straight down on me. Frank did an amazing job of scooping that thing. It was really an amazing catch and getting that first down.”
(On the impact of that play) – “That play was huge. We needed to make a play on 3rd-and-18. I think the ball was on the 44 yard line. We needed to get 10 yards at a minimum to have a shot at the field goal. Frank really came up big for us right there.”
(On the options he has with his wide receivers) – “We have a lot of speed with our wide receivers. We have Albert Wilson and Jakeem [Grant]: the versatility they have, to be able to run the reverses, to put Albert in the backfield, to go four wide receivers and a tight end, and then bring him back and use him as a running back. He has great vision. He’s great with the ball in his hands. It really opens up a big package for us and helps us keep that pressure on the defense.”
(On his concern about his knee after falling awkwardly) – “I tweaked my right ankle a little bit. It’s not a big deal. It’s part of game. I just had to walk it off.”
(On what went right during the first half) – “The defense played really well for us. They got those turnovers for us and gave us great field position. We played complementary football. Its something we talked about a lot – to take advantage of those situations. When they give us good field position, we have to get that thing in the end zone. We were able to do that early, and I think it was a big factor in the game. We felt great coming into halftime and had a good plan going into the second half. But we had too many mistakes all the way around. We had tons of opportunities and its nothing drastic, but little mistakes here and there will kill drives. We have to be able to eliminate those and string drives together.”
(On his decision to run the football during a zone read toward the end of the game) – “It was just a zone read. I’m reading the defensive end. They weren’t covering zero and loaded up the box and were trying to stop me. So felt the defense close a little big, thought I could get the edge and get it.”
(On if the first play of the game was a called run) – “No, that was actually a bootleg pass. They just did a good job of holding on to Danny Amendola on the back side there. He was supposed to keep coming across there. I don’t know exactly what happened. He got hung up, came around and there was no one there. So I just ran.”
(On his emotion on the final play of the game) – “I was fired up. At that point we had he game in hand. I was proud of our guys and the way we battled through. Things were going well for us up until that point in the second half. But we knew we needed it and found a way to string that drive together to keep the chains moving and run the clock out. It’s an emotional game. You get a divisional win on the road. There’s a lot of emotion there. It’s a lot of fun.”
(On losing Josh Sitton and the impact of his replacement Ted Larsen) – “Losing Sitton was tough. He’s a veteran guy and I have so much respect for him. He’s such a good player, who plays at extremely high level. He elevates the play of the guys up front and its tough to replace a guy like that. Ted Larsen came in. He’s another guy who played a lot of football for us. He played for us last year and really did a good job. He stepped in and did a great job for us.”
(On the creativity during the last two games) – “We have a variety of personnel we can use. We have a lot of talent in a lot of different areas. If we can switch things up and keep the pressure on the defense and keep them guessing. We can use Albert as a running back, go five wide and keep them guessing as a defense. That way they can’t just run out there and play how they want. They kinda have to adjust to you. That’s something we’re going to look to do for the rest of the year.”
(On being 2-0 and having not played their best football yet) – “There’s a long road in front of us and a big opportunity. We’re able to fight through it and get wins. That’s what you’re here for: to get those wins. When we finally get this thing going and get clicking, the onus is on us to find a way, as an offense, to put drives together. I think the defense is doing a good job. They’re getting turnovers and getting the ball in our hands. You can’t ask for anything more from the defense. I’m really happy with the way they’re playing. I’m proud of those guys. But as an offense, we have to turn our level of play up.”
