Head Coach Jim Tomsula
Press Conference – October 18, 2015
San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens
Opening comments:
"Injury report, [RB] Carlos [Hyde], the foot got a little sore there. That's nothing, no secret. We just decided to take it easy on him there and get the other guys some reps, we had them up. So, we'll just continue to stay on top of that. [WR Anquan] Boldin, he fell, a guy fell on his leg, he tightened up, didn't want to take a chance there. And, [S Eric] Reid got the wind knocked out of him, went back in. So, that's it for the injuries. Obviously, very happy with a win and the guys played hard, played all the way through the game. I thought both teams did. Baltimore Ravens, much respect to them and the way they play and the way they're coached. So, questions?"
At the end of the game it looked like there was confusion about who was supposed to be in the game. Did you consider taking a timeout before the Baltimore Ravens QB Joe Flacco's last pass?
"Yeah, there was confusion with getting the young guy on. We weren't sure with Eric Reid, so we ended up with an extra DB there. So, yeah, that's what that confusion was about."
What do you think about just your team's ability to close things out? I mean, you took a pretty good lead there, but had to hold on for dear life. What's your feeling on what you--?
"Well, obviously we want to get that lead and we want to keep it. We don't need to be giving things back. But, the Ravens played hard. But, when we have a lead we want to make sure we keep it where it is."
Did you feel that QB Colin Kaepernick played with a little more confidence today than he has in recent weeks?
"No. I think he played well. He's the same guy everyday with me."
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On your first offensive drive it seemed to be the plan to get the ball in the hands of all the receivers at some point. Is that part of the deal or just the way that --?
"Well, it was the reads. We were calling the plays and come off of that and get to the next guy."
What has it been about Kaepernick playing and you guys running more play with him under center that have seemed to have gotten the offense going the past couple weeks?
"Well, game plan wise is where we've gone with that, and just the whole timing with the offensive line and the offense. It's just been game plan."
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Obviously, Baltimore Ravens CB Shareece Wright was in a tough spot having just gotten to the Ravens. Did you guys want to test him to see how up to speed he was?
"I'm not going to get into those things. But, a lot of respect to Shareece. He's a fine person."
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Do you have mixed feelings about your pass defense, just they were able to hold firm at the end, but they still gave up a ton of yards just like they have been every week?
"Obviously, it's been noted. I've not shied away from that. We're working on that. We are improving."
LB NaVorro Bowman came off the field a little slowly. He was getting worked on his neck and his shoulder. Did he get a stinger?
"Ma'am, I don't know anything about that."
After WR Quinton Patton's catch, you ran a play right away to prevent the challenge, was, who was screaming on the sideline about that? Somebody there was--.
"Well, we were trying to get play off. I wasn't sure. I couldn't tell from the angle I was at. We wanted to hurry up and go."
Was it you yelling or was it--?
"Yeah, well, it's the guys upstairs too, that are looking at everything."
Does this win mean that your team is getting better?
"Yes. We're measured by wins and losses. So, getting one in the left hand column is very important. These guys come to work every day, they do. They work and I see them getting better. We have to get better on gameday, so we did that today. It's a good team. It's a good group of guys that are willing to earn it."
Felt like the offense was a little more diversified, the FB Bruce Millers of the world. Was that by design or was it just things that opened up as the game progressed?
"Well, it's game plan and the reads off the play."
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You guys obviously lost four in a row. Does a win like this, have you already sensed what it can do for a team's psyche?
"Every time you win it's a really good thing. That's my answer there. Winning is a good thing."
Scrambled back in the game and you guys were really in need of a play and you catch Boldin down field on a real tough catch. How big, for a guy like him especially, to step up and his toughness and what he represents from the team, is that the kind of thing you guys just kind of expect from him?
"Yeah, that's Anquan. He's done that for how many years? I thought it was an excellent throw and obviously just an awesome catch. But, that's Anquan and he finds it. The play kind of broke down and he found the chute there and boom."
That was one of the themes of the day, just the explosive plays that you guys didn't have earlier in the season. What was different today versus the first few weeks in terms of being able to get those?
"Well, again, when they're going to cover-1 and cover-0, those plays open up and take your shot."
It can be overlooked, but in a game like this how important to have someone like K Phil Dawson who you can just rely on?
"Phil is never overlooked in my eyes. Phil Dawson's the one with the wind in the game and all those things in the fourth quarter, and kicking the field goal when they are kicking a field goal down on that side. That's Phil Dawson every week. Phil Dawson is my age."
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QB Colin Kaepernick
Press Conference – October 18, 2015
San Francisco 49ers
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You got those completions in early right off the bat, a couple short ones and then the longer one. Did you feel the rhythm from the get-go?
"Yeah. We had opportunities and we took advantage of them. [FB] Bruce [Miller] made some great plays. Our offensive line came out strong."
You guys did attack Baltimore Ravens CB Shareece Wright down the field, especially on the stop-and-go with WR Torrey Smith. Was that something after weeks if not months of throwing against him, you felt like that was something that could present itself?
"Well, that wasn't that we just had drawn up for him. We were going to run that regardless. We trust Torrey's ability to make those plays down the field. I mean, once again, our offensive line did a great job with protection and Torrey made a great play."
It's apparent these past, this game and then the second half against the Giants, you've been under center just so much more than you were the first five games. How did that change come about with offensive coordinator Geep Chryst and this offense? What's the benefit to you that you like about it?
"It's part of our game plan. It's what we're doing to try to win."
Are you building on that momentum that you started last week? Does this feel like a continuation?
"I think our team is building. We're gradually picking up momentum. We're playing better and better. It's something that we have to continue."
I know you don't spend much time thinking about what other people are saying about you, but there's been so much talk. Every quarterback, seemingly every retired quarterback in football's had an opinion about you. Do you look forward to maybe a couple weeks where there isn't that much discussion about your play?
"I mean, people can talk all they want. It doesn't affect how I go about my business."
Where do you think you are, just, how are you playing right now?
"I think we're a 2-4 football team that needs to get some more wins."
The Ravens have given up a lot of chunk plays this season. Coming into this game, watching film, do you feel that was something you were going to be able to take advantage of today?
"We actually thought we'd have more success with the intermediate routes. The huge play to Bruce and the one to Torrey, I mean, plays we had drawn up, plays we thought we could take advantage of, but both just great plays by those two."
I noticed on the first drive you got the ball in Torrey's and WR Anquan Boldin's hands, almost right away. Was that part of the game of the deal too, to try to get some rhythm going or what was that about?
"It was part of the game plan to try and help us win."
On that last drive, when you completed the pass to WR Quinton Patton, you were able to get the quick snap off to keep them from challenging. Did you have to make a call there? How did you get everybody aligned in time?
"Yeah. It's something we go over. If there's something that we feel is questionable, we're going to snap the ball and make sure we get that play."
Do you feel like you're at a turning point in the season now, with these games so close together? If you can get a win against Seattle on Thursday and really build on that momentum you were talking about, you can change the way this season goes?
"Yeah, we can, most definitely. We need this win Thursday."
On the touchdown pass to Patton, it looked like you looked right, short, you looked left. What option was Patton on that throw?
"I mean, he's really number three, but on that play we were trying to get the ball to [TE] Vernon [Davis]. They had two people jump out there and take it away. Start scrambling left, came back, he did a great job working the scramble drill and getting open late."
You saw the DB slip or did he slip after you threw it there?
"No, I saw the DB slip but it was going up regardless."
You guys did make more plays off the scramble drill than you had in the past. Anything you can kind of point to why that was?
"Our receivers were doing a great job. Anquan kept running on the one, we had a huge play off of that. We had the touchdown on Quinton's. Our receivers are working. They're working hard to make sure that we're doing everything we can to make plays. And that also a huge praise to the offensive line, because they are giving us time to allow those scramble drills to happen. So, they're doing a great job up front."
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A lot more quarterback rollouts called today. Is that something you feel comfortable with going forward or is that something you saw on film this week that you'd like to incorporate?
"Once again, it was a part of our game plan. Something we thought we could take advantage of. It's a complement to our running game."
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Anquan said being a former teammate with Shareece Wright definitely made a difference in today's game plan. As the game was unfolding, playing against him, did you echo those sentiments?
"I think being around any player, you pick up on their tendencies. You pick up on what you can take advantage of. There were a couple things we thought we could take advantage of, and we did."
Anquan's never really had blazing speed but it seems like the past few games, you've been able to hit him on longer passes down field. What about his game makes him good at making those catches despite maybe not having the best speed?
"Very strong hands and just a competitive nature. You put the ball up 99 times out of a 100, he's going to come down with it. That gives you great confidence as a quarterback to put one up and give him that opportunity."
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CB Kenneth Acker
Postgame Quotes – October 18, 2015
San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens
You got victimized by the old veteran Baltimore Ravens WR Steve Smith, who pushed off and got away with it. Most guys don't get away with it.
"It's up to the refs. I feel like I was in a good position. At the moment of truth, I just didn't get the call. I talked to him after it. We're actually with the same agency, so we kind of laughed about it. He told me I was too young to get that call."
What about the overall play? You got a gift interception, you guys rose up at the end of a game unlike a week ago when you got nailed at the end of the game.
"The gift as you talk about, those are some of the most nervous ones to catch because the ball is kind of hanging for a while. I just wanted to put the offense in the best position that I could, so I tried to make a play afterwards. Unfortunately, I didn't make it to the end zone but I got pretty far, so I feel like it was a good return."
An excellent game for your secondary considering there wasn't much push and pressure up front on Baltimore QB Joe Flacco, another Super Bowl quarterback. It seems like you've had a run of these guys.
"It seems like the whole league is turning into elites. We just take every week and see what we can put up against the team we're going against. I feel like the coaches put us in a good position this week to win the game, and we went out there and executed."
It looks like your confidence is growing as you get more opportunities and play on.
"Yeah, definitely. Every week, I take it as another week to get better. It's a gruesome season, so this is my first time actually going through the whole thing and we're not even half way through it and I'm already feeling it. I think it's something that I'm getting used to and it's really something that, like everybody says, it just comes with the years. I can't wait to see what my next game looks like."
That last play of the game you got knocked down by CB Tramaine Brock and others. Just a few days ago you lose on the last play of the game.
"When the whole game was going on at the end there I was kind of like, 'Oh my god, this is looking last week'. I think as we sat there on the sideline as a defense; we just all looked at each other and had the same look in our eyes like 'No, not again'. So we went out there and coach made some great calls. Of course, they're going to get something because you can't stop everything in those types of situations, but I think he put us in a perfect position to be around the 50 yard line, and then the jump ball is the jump ball. It's whatever happens."
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S Antoine Bethea
Postgame Quotes – October 18, 2015
San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens
No sacks of Baltimore QB Joe Flacco, but there was only one deep ball completed. Talk about CB Tramaine Brock's coverage on those third downs in the end zone on Baltimore WR Steve Smith, because they have playmakers as well.
"Brock, he's playing well. We've got to win our one-on-one matches. That's what we preach in the meeting room, winning our one-on-one matches. Brock did a good job. We've just got to continue to build on it."
Going back to the last drive of the game, did you learn anything from last week in New York?
"Of course, keep them out of the end zone. At the end of the day that's what it's all about, keeping them out of the end zone. Last week it was definitely a sour feeling giving up that last play, so this week it was definitely a better outcome."
What's the biggest step this defense takes now, knowing it's a short week and facing Seattle on Thursday?
"Enjoy this for the next hour and then prepare for Seattle. It's a divisional game, regardless of their record they're a solid team, a good team, so we're just trying to get two in a row."
Did you let it creep into your mind on that last drive like, "Oh uh, here we go again" or do you just lose last week as the experience to not let that happen again?
"Exactly. You'd be a fool not to say last week didn't creep into our minds but that's a way we can bounce back. We bounced back and didn't let them score, and did a great job of that."
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WR Anquan Boldin
Postgame Quotes – October 18, 2015
San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens
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Did you feel like you guys were able to continue the momentum you started to build last week against the Giants?
"Yeah. I felt like we did. I felt like we had another good week of practice. Had a good game plan. Had some things we saw on film that we wanted to attack. We were able to do that. Still don't think we played our best game, but made enough plays to win."
A lot of plays with 20-or-more yards in this game. The average completion was more than 20 yards. Is that kind of the personality you see this offense having when you get going? QB Colin Kaepernick's skills and the way you guys play.
"That was one of the things that we saw on film. Their secondary was banged up, so we definitely wanted to take advantage of that. I felt like we were able to do that today."
You guy's start off with a short pass to you, you go reverse field. There's a throw downfield to FB Bruce Miller. Obviously, the touchdown to WR Torrey Smith. Could you guys just feel Kaepernick was in a rhythm? Were you getting him in a rhythm early?
"Yeah. We wanted to get him in a rhythm early. Like I said, we saw some things on film that we felt like we could take advantage of. Early on, we wanted to get the ball out of Kap's hands, just let guys have one-on-one situations where we can make plays. Kap did a great job of seeing the field, giving guys opportunities. Guys made plays when we had to."
Head coach Jim Tomsula's mentioned, obviously, the quarterback's the most important position, but he doesn't want him to feel like the weight of the world is on his shoulder. Have you ever noticed that and is it different now with Kaepernick?
"As far as?"
In feeling too much burden maybe?
"I don't think so. He's still having fun. I mean, everything is still light at practice. I don't see him bearing any weight and that's a good thing."
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Do you feel that with this win, the team has turned a corner?
"I hope so. You know, but, it's one game. We feel like, as a team, if we come out and play the way we're capable of playing, we'll be ok. Today, we were able to finish. Last week, we weren't. So, obviously, we're happy about that today. We'll see where this takes us."
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Tomsula and Torrey Smith both mentioned that play you made towards the end of the game, down the field when the offense was stalling a little bit. They were coming back. They look to you to make those kind of plays. You've been in this league for a while, do you look at yourself that way too? Like, it's time for me to step up and make plays.
"Anytime I have an opportunity, I feel like it's my job to make a play. I'm not just here for nothing. Definitely, in critical times, I feel like the team looks to me as one of the guys that needs to make a play. Step up and make a play at that time. So, I've always felt that way."
Were you the main option on that throw or second or third?
"No, it was actually a scramble. Kap did a great job of getting outside the pocket and making something happen. That's the thing about having a quarterback like him, even when things don't go the way that you want it to, as far as play design, he's able to get outside the pocket and make things happen. That could be with his legs or his arm."
Did you break it left knowing he was moving left?
"Well, my route was going that way and seeing him scramble outside the pocket, we have scramble rules."
How are you physically?
"I'm good."
What happened on the play?
"I fell on top of the ball. Knocked the wind out of myself so, I'm ok."
As you said, it's one game, but it seems like there is kind of a consensus when talking to the guys in the locker room that this team can get better as the season wears on. Is this maybe an indication of that?
"I think everybody feels that way. I mean, if you come out to our practice and see the way guys are flying around and the way that guys are motivated and playing, I mean, I definitely feel like everybody in the locker room feels that way. So, we're just going to continue to prepare in the way that we normally do and we'll see where that takes us."
You guys scored a couple touchdowns against Baltimore Ravens CB Shareece Wright. Was practicing against him any factor--?
"Definitely. I mean, when you have a guy on your team for that long, you get to see him every day in practice, you understand his weaknesses as well as his strengths. So, that was one of the things that we wanted to attack today."
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RB Carlos Hyde
Postgame Quotes – October 18, 2015
San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens
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Are you concerned with how it's going to be going forward for you, managing the pain?
"No, I'm not concerned. I think I'll be alright."
You scared a lot of people going down there without any contact. Did you just turn the ankle again?
"Yeah, I just put too much pressure, too much weight on it. It hurts when I put too much weight on it."
Did you go down just to avoid any further--?
"No, it just shocked me how bad it hurt when I tried to put too much weight on it and I just went down."
You're a workhorse guy and not one to sit it out. Are you going to be ready to strap it on again in a few days time?
"Oh yeah, definitely. Division game. Definitely."
What about this one today. You had to do the dirty work and then Colin did the pretty work and it all added up.
"Hey, we won today. I'll do whatever I got to do to help this team win."
Looking at the win today and if you get one Thursday, do you feel that the whole season has flipped compared to where you guys were?
"It'll definitely help us. Getting back to back wins and getting a division win. It'll definitely help us. We can carry that momentum and keep it going."
Can you cut on the ankle like you want to?
"No, not quite."
So you're playing on one good leg?
"Yeah, something like that."
Are you concerned with games so close together that you're going to make it worse?
"No. I didn't make it worse today. I came out fine. I mean, how it was before. I think I'll be alright. You know, get more treatment on it this week so maybe I'll be able to go Thursday. I think I'll be alright."
Carlos, did you just grab on that one play?
"I just put too much pressure on it. You know, tried to cut and it was just too much weight on it. It was just too painful."
On a short week, is that a concern that you're not going to be able to put the amount of weight on it?
"Hopefully my coaches will let me sit out again, stay off of it, and let it heal so I can be able to go Thursday."
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FB Bruce Miller
Postgame Quotes – October 18, 2015
San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens
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The last couple weeks you're getting a lot more run and you're obviously a bigger part of the game plan.
"Yeah, I like to see that. We try to give them different looks and mix up the personnels. Today my number was called a little bit more. I just want to play well and contribute."
Both of these teams were 1-4. Did you guys feel that sense of urgency from both sides at the beginning of this game?
"I did, yes. There was some desperation in there. That was a tough football game. We knew it was going to be and we both needed wins. We were able to tough it out."
I thought 49ers WR Anquan Boldin stepped up as one of the leaders on this team, not just with how he's played the last couple weeks but also with some of the things he says, trying to keep guys together. Talk to us about Boldin and what he means in that room to the rest of those guys.
"You can't even measure what he means to our football team. Like you said, the leadership and the way that he plays on that football field, you just have the utmost respect for the way he carries himself. We're glad to have him."
Were you featured on some of those plays? Were you the primary on some of those?
"On the two I caught early, they were quick throws – three-step drops – where I was available and Colin was able to find me. Never the primary read; he just got through there and found the open guy."
On the 52-yard play?
"I was the number one."
WR Quinton Patton
Postgame Quotes – October 18, 2015
San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens
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It was only a matter of time before that first NFL touchdown was going to come, huh?
"I just run these routes, man. The ball comes my way when the ball comes my way."
Take us through that play.
"Audibled the play and just ran my route. That's it."
It seems like you've always had a good chemistry with 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick, particularly in training camp practices when a play breaks down. Now getting to see it on the field must be gratifying for you.
"Yeah, it feels good for it to come all together. It just feels good to get another win."
Not just another win. This was a money game, right?
"You're 1-4. You just have to play one game at a time. We could only win one game today and this was the game we were in."
How much momentum do you get from this win going into a short week against Seattle on Thursday?
"It's a lot of momentum. You always get momentum after a big win like this. But hey, on to the next."
WR Torrey Smith
Postgame Quotes – October 18, 2015
San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens
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Was that just a straight go route on that touchdown, and was it you all the way?
"That was a double move. I was able to beat him. I had to keep my feet, and make sure you're going to expect contact. And I was able to beat him. [QB Colin Kaepernick] Kap threw it. I was able to catch it and then I was in the end zone."
To pull off a play like that pretty early in the game, what does it do for the offense's confidence?
"It helps a lot when you have a big play. Take a little bit of pressure off in the beginning. Get a quick touchdown. Get Kap's confidence going, the O-line's confidence going and it's a different vibe when you have stuff like that happen early in the game."
On Baltimore Ravens CB Shareece Wright:
"We knew he was going to be playing. We were going to test whoever was out there. We weren't shying away from anyone. You can't just target one guy because eventually they're going to try to help out. We felt like we had good matchups all the way across the board, and we wanted to try to take advantage of it."
Kaepernick had FB Bruce Miller on a couple others in the pass game. Did you guys know he was hot early?
"Anytime you get simple completions going, it's going to lead to a more confident quarterback, a more confident offense. We were able to get going and get some big plays. Anytime you see a fullback running down the sideline wide open, you know that was a great play call and great design by [Offensive Coordinator] Geep [Chryst]. And we were able to execute. I thought I was getting the ball on it. I told [FB] Bruce [Miller], I was joking with him, that that's your play, but I would've scored. He did a great job."
Is it the momentum from the last game or is it a separate thing?
"You want to see it's definitely momentum from the last game. Anything positive we can get, we have to keep it going right now and take it one game at a time. We can't really spend too much time being happy about this because we have a tough defense coming in here on Thursday. So, we have to get our mind right for that one."
On the Baltimore Ravens injuries:
"Even if they weren't banged up, I'm confident in my abilities, [WR] Anquan's [Boldin] confident in his abilities and our receivers as a whole, tight ends as well. Everyone's confident that we can go out there against the best and perform. We just have to do it. And our offensive line did a great job of protecting, because if it's not for the big guys, you aren't going to be able to see us running down the field or Kap standing upright. So, credit goes to them. They've been playing great as of late, and they've been working their tails off. So, I'm happy for them more so than anyone else."
Were you expecting that much single coverage on the outside?
"Yeah, it's the Ravens. They're going to trust themselves. They have guys that can do it. They're going to get pressure up front. So, we definitely expected that."
Anything special at all about playing against your old team or you just thought, we're 1-4, we've got to get a win?
"I've said all week it really wasn't a big deal. I still feel that way even when the game is over with. It was cool to see a lot of people that mean a lot to me, both on and off the field. It was special to see them. It was weird to look across and know that I was competing against them. But, I'm all in out west. That doesn't change how special my time was there or how much the people in that organization mean to me. But, I have a job to do out here, and I'm thankful for the 49ers bringing me in and that I can be a part of it."
I asked a million questions of you and other people about how Kap's doing and what your confidence level is with Kap. Have you noticed any difference in his demeanor that past week or so?
"He's just being himself. I don't think there's really anything special about it. Smiling, joking, having a good time, just having fun. That's really the biggest thing. You just have to have fun and relax sometimes. He's been having fun and we've been able to make plays. So, hopefully we can continue to have fun. It's fun for him."
We talked about how you have a good defense coming in, Thursday, with the Seahawks. Do you guys look at this, figuring if you get a win here and a win Thursday you can really flip the season and you're right back in the middle of the NFC West race?
"Yeah, I think you definitely take it one game at a time. You understand what's at stake, but the more you win the better position you're going to be in. So, we just have to figure out a way to win the next game. We can't really look too far ahead, and we aren't in any position to even think about doing that with our record. So, we're going to continue to work hard, do what we've been doing and be ready to go."
Did you expect that long ball early in the game? Was that part of the game plan?
"We knew we were going to take some shots. We haven't really been able to take as many as we would have liked. But, we knew it was coming. Geep was dialing it up and I'm just glad we were able to make it count."
You were expecting that early on?
"If it's on me, I'm going to tell them to call it the first play of the game, but it doesn't work like that."
They're playing WR Anquan Boldin late. They were kind of scrambling back in the game. You guys were in need of another big play. Is that the kind of play you look for him to make when the game is up for grabs?
"Yeah, definitely. Anytime the ball's up and Anquan has a chance at it, you got to believe that he's going to come down with it. And, that was a tough play. [CB] Jimmy [Smith] was all over him. It was a tough play by Anquan and it was key. If he doesn't make that play, we probably don't move down the field. We were kind of stalling a little bit. That was a big play for us, gave us a little spark and we needed it. It was already tough, coming down to the wire. I was on the sideline, heart racing, seeing [QB] Joe [Flacco] with that much time, because I know what it's like to be on the other side of that. You give him any bit of time, he can put the points up. And, they were very confident in that. But, I'm just glad that we were able to pull it out. Our defense got the job done at the end, and we were able to get a win."
LB Michael Wilhoite
Postgame Quotes – October 18, 2014
San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens
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Opening comments:
"I knew that they like quick routes on third down. I looked over to the sideline, saw it was third and three. I knew it was going to hit really quick so I didn't get too much depth and was just ready to break on the ball."
For the second week in a row it came down to the defense at the end. Do you let it creep into your mind at all what happened last week? Do you learn from that? How does that work facing that situation again?
"Well you hope we learn from it. That's life, right? You go through things and you learn from them. I think this season and these first few games has been a big learning curve for this whole team. You know, we're young and we're growing. I think T-Mac [Thomas McGaughey Jr.] said it best, our special teams coach, that a five year old has to get to five years old. I think for us, we're just growing and we're going to continue to get better and we just have to keep learning from our mistakes and have a series of small wins and let the rest handle itself."
G/T Alex Boone said this was a must-win. Do you agree?
"You know, I think every game is a must win. You know what I mean? You can say it's a must win but at the end of the day you have to go out there and play four quarters. It's 60 minutes of football. Whether it's a must win or not you still have to play the game and you have to play good. Today we went out there, we executed well and came out with the 'W.'"
You said you hope you learn from what happened in New York. What specifically did you learn?
"The toughest part is learning to stay composed and for everybody to learn to be on-point all the time, 100 percent of the time. I think that the little mistakes last game that was killing us up until the end of the game, was where we corrected ourselves and made the improvement and grew. Last game I think they were on the twenty or shorter and it made them force a deeper throw, basically a hail mary, and then it's a jump ball. So I think leading up to that play is where we have to get better, and we did."
There are a lot of guys in this locker room that feel like this team can get better as the season progresses. Do you feel that way?
"Of course. If we didn't feel that way, why are we here, what are we doing here? I think our coaches are hard at work every day. The players are coming in working hard. And that's all we can do. We just have to be going by our daily activity the same. You got to lift on Tuesday, Wednesday, you got to get your recovery, you got to study the film, pay attention in meetings in practice and then you go out there on Sundays, or Thursdays coming up and you play your best ball."
Nothing usual, a week coming up, but you get a win over the Seahawks on Thursday and all of the sudden you guys are right back in the middle of it.
"Yeah, and that's something that we have known all along; that it's a long season. You know, we're only 0-1 in the division and that's what's important. It's a big game Thursday. I know they're going to come in here ready to win a game. I think they lost today, so I'm sure they are going to come in here hot like they always are and we'll try to match it."
