 Well, we did a nice job of staying efficient, right? We played these guys last year Had probably 13 or 14 what we would call get back on track down in distances second and nine plus first and 15 We had four of them yesterday The fourth one being you know the second and 12 at the end of the game where we ended up punting on third and ten So just pointing to the efficiency and you can see that when we're able to get into drives As opposed to getting into a drive having a second and five having a false start making it second and ten Not mavin a positive play third and ten and then it's just really Tough from there Had the sacks, you know a lot of those We're on third down and those longer yardages, you know ones on a screen Ryan knows he is good We got to find a place to get rid of the football at the you know Heels of the running back or heels of the linemen with the running back somewhere near there, so You know one they they had a pressure we need to you know kind of block whoever shows and one guy drop one guy came The the TEs, you know the games, right? That's something right that's gonna have to continue to get improvement you know our ability to work with the guy next to us whether that be on the offensive line and Coverage in the secondary like that that is something that we're gonna continue to focus on It's hard communication with the guy next to us who we're working with But that that's something that showed up But there was also some some really good place some really good pockets that allowed us to to throw the ball downfield We were efficient in the run game, you know, so it's easy to point, you know to those And we don't we don't want those we can't have those obviously, you know Don't want to get the quarterback hit don't want bad things to happen when he does get hit It's all about getting into the plays and drives and being able to allow some of those Personnel groups to complement each other, right? You go in with a package and you know just trying to continue to expand on some of those things and You know getting guys the touches and the carries and the throws that they need and still trying to Take care of the football and doing all that. I thought that the there was a good flow We're able to run the football. We worked Some some tempo we hit a big play we got on the ball You know got a lot of our stuff run and still think it you know, there's can be a lot better Execution and try to limit some of the mistakes I guess carries and snap counts and all that did that play out kind of Ideally for you as far as how they both just want them both to be productive and we know that you know Derek's gonna have to get his touches and You know Taj a can clearly help us as well You know so Whether it's too little too much. You know, I mean I sat in here before Derek rushed for 2,000 yards and he was getting to Too many times. I don't know what to tell you You guys are chuckling you're the ones that asked the questions We're gonna block for him one day, I promise you and he's gonna gain 30 40 50 yards, I'm not sure but I Every time you think he's gonna get tackled he burst through for another five or six yards and so You know again, you got good vision good balance, you know good play strength Well executed call there Justin helped Timmy out there and over time that first drive. He said hey, I want want this play. I think we got him set up for it Her Justin talking to Timmy Timmy let off the drive get a good seal block Drey got around and you know got us, you know some great yardage there to get us across the 50 and eventually kick that that field goal so They both are gonna help us and You know, we got to make sure that we're continuing to get both of those guys the ball You give up 300 yards passing, but they're also It's gonna be better on first and second down Corey it just got it, you know We had this the one, you know over our head, you know and empty Had a seam ball on cover three which You know if it's cover three and it's two by two, you know, we have to know like Take away the seam and if they hit us with something else, you know, then they hit us with something else But we got to make sure that that's taken care of You know, they had another seam to a big long tight end with you know three missed tackles I mean we only had eight missed tackles three of them were on one play It just continues to be defensively Just a small handful of plays that if you could have back could be really cool We get down there. They're going fast Somebody makes a check Somebody whether they should or shouldn't not everybody gets it and it's an easy. It's an easy, you know Touchdown so some of the keys that we talked about you can see them, you know play out right in front of our eyes and When we when we nail them and the players execute it, you know goes well I mentioned yesterday that Kiers ten yards on the punt return was it was a good Addition to give them give you the field position needed on the field goal drive at the end How's he done and how important is it that he's been able to fill two roles for you doing both the kickoff Well, great example of complimentary football there and overtime, you know, three and out You know fourth and ten which now allows us to to go with a seven-man, you know Lighter box double one of the gunners all week We knew how important just simply catching these punts from Scott was going to be an Unbelievable hang time the Sun you saw that like that was I told the team I said you guys are more than welcome to you know apply for that job on Sunday And so that was a huge part of the game plan was a you know Kiers just coming up and catching those punts with guys and traffic right there in front of them This opportunity presented itself with not a great kick, but good Good job on the hold up and and ten yards it now We don't have to get offensively when we need to go down there and kick a field goal So just a great example of complimentary football Three and out fourth and ten ten yards on a on a punt return and then the offense doing what they needed and then the kicking unit Going out there and doing what they need to do to win a football game What is the kick on third now is it what avoid a hold holding maybe Wondering about the rain trying to wait out the rain and they started coming harder I'm like is it gonna get harder is it gonna stop or everybody how long is this gonna last and That's kind of why we just said Let's kick it, you know, they were all down and letting 11 guys to lie scrimmage. I just nothing good could come of it Outside the numbers a lot was that a plan or was that what they were dictating to you just curious if that was kind of in in the moment or Throughout the game I Mean I think the account the 70 yard or the trail in outside the numbers he ran down to numbers. We threw it down the field End of the game we threw it outside the numbers the Hopkins basically to win the game So those are two examples that again when we did throw it out there. I worked out pretty well for us But defense we all three of your sacks came up there down how big was that for you guys Well, again again with the key to plan the the chargers and a team with you know an offense that they have Was simply to get the drive stopped whether that was third or then fourth down We know that they would have an ability to go for it on fourth down We did not get it stopped on fourth down But we did you know at least get it stopped two or the five times in the red zone So part of getting a drive stopped against these guys this week was on third and fourth down and in the red zone And I think that the guys understood that that when they got down there At least we were able to to make them kick field goals on on three of those opportunities That kind of a Message to drive home. Well, those are all you know, I mean, I think all on third down, right that whether we The the sack, you know, I mean whether we converted or not It did the sack is what everybody's gonna look at and whether we had guys open whether we had guys coming free in a Pass rush certainly the one on on the fourth down did have that But it's it's all about getting open Quicker snapping down in zone quarterback knowing where he wants to go protection holding up like Yeah, it's easy just to sit there and say the protection It has to be better on third down when we know that they're in a you know Pass rush mode. We're expecting pressure or we're expecting games and and that's what you get on third down I guess Plug in somebody that maybe hadn't been out there. Well, I would say that Sometimes Saturday afternoon, you know probably became aware of that The staff I mean we're it's on the players, you know, I mean the staff was we'll just Make sure that the next guy's ready and they'd practiced and X when I started with him And you know give a lot of credit to Dylan to be able to jump in there You know being out eight and a half months, it's it's impressive feat For him to play over 50 snaps that he did and and play him fairly well So again, the concern is about Peter and in his health and you know, the staff will be fine He did have a procedure so he'll be and we'll keep you updated on when he'll be back out there Obviously score points after that Coincidence did he make a huge difference up front? Well, he had some good blocks. I mean, I just you know, I I probably overlooked his first play in there But you know talking to to to Haas said he drove his guy six or seven yards whenever it was his first play in there So I didn't have a chance to go back and look at it after after meeting with the coaches just So I'll take his word for it until I go you know back and watch the tape, but again, it wasn't without mistake But I think there was probably more good plays in bad plays The 60 yarders with the five, you know four or five hang time I mean We'll see if we can get them 60 Outside the numbers a little bit more hang time, but you know, we got it either way we're gonna We're gonna bang them and we're gonna cover them like we're gonna get guys like we should have guys that go down there and find a football 44-yard net average Against a really good returner Yeah, I mean I'm not sure what you're working here Space yeah, no way to risk it kicking off down there in New Orleans to and then hooker made a play and caused a fumble so I Don't I don't know. I think stony backed up. I think he Again, maybe we can move the ball over a little bit. We got to cover The best as we can we've been through this. We're gonna have to cover more ground Cover longer than you think, you know It's a race to 50 yards And yeah, I mean there's a risk in anything that you do But we should be able to cover those kicks Especially when we get single-pressed Well, yeah, you're gonna have to throw the ball down a field you're gonna have to be able to create some X plays and Not have to churn them out. So we'll have to continue to throw them and Trust our receivers to get separation and if not go up and make the foot go up and make a play on the ball And give him an opportunity. So that Those are two huge plays. I mean trailing. I don't think trailing just had a bigger play for us I mean, I'm sure he has but The where the situation was In the game, you know, needing a spark needing a huge play to come back and answer Yeah, I mean I thought trade competed, you know, I thought he battled I think they had the one early third down They kind of you know went down there bodied them up pushed them off whatever you want to call it But remain competitive. They challenged him down the field. He had some PBUs. He competed So, you know, I had the DPI where they you know, big ball, you know jumped up and You know big boredom, but he competed at no issues with his competitiveness and he actually You know had some PBUs down the field when they did challenge him Mike was Mike was good. Mike was solid would would like to see him come out with that Interception and go and make it a play, you know, but some of these guys haven't played a lot of football, you know, so Over the long it's been, you know, Elijah You know, Mike hasn't played a ton tray, you know, these great opportunities for these guys Had a 15-yard gain and an average two yards of carry I don't mean that's we gotta stop the pass a little better Mike, I know it's just Monday, but are you hoping to have Fulton and Hooker back this week? We'll see where they are, you know heading into Wednesday, but I would say hopeful at this point in time But just being Monday, you know Monty's got to pass through the the protocol And then we'll see where Christian's at You got the Guardian caps that you said the statistical balance shows that they work Is it time to explore using something like that in games for some guys who've had issues if they can protect them more I'm all for exploring whatever is best for the player and their Health and safety now and in the long term that that's what I'm for Yeah, an unbelievable attitude demeanor really just impressed by how he's been able to handle all this and you know, saw him again here this morning rehabbing You know been through a lot and but by all accounts You know doing well just working hard to get back and you know Obviously dealing with everything that he's having to deal with outside of football and his own personal health, so Appreciate you asking about him Looks great physically, you know just waiting for you know things to progress here with it with the back and His rehab Practice all week like Deandre was last week. How much do you have to be convinced when he Tests it out that he's good to go and he can give you what you need despite not being able to practice Well, I think hop would be one of those players where you've kind of You know trust his judgment, you know, I haven't been with him in the past and Tim being with him You know did some stuff with him on Saturday and You know when we needed him. He was there. You know, I know that the production Statistically isn't going to stick out but three to four catches for a first down huge huge conversions and then the the one there at the end that that really put us in the field goal range Pretty good about what you've done the first two weeks in that regard and specifically yesterday It seemed like you got a lot of help from like Roger McCreary coming up and KB coming up Yeah, well KB had you know, I mean, he you know, he had one of his better tackling games was really had a huge Stop there on tar down and some of the coverage is that you play dictate that You know the nickel or somebody has to kind of has to trigger in there from from off of the slot Whether you're you know in split safety defense. So those guys were willing did did trigger You know, like I said didn't have a ton of missed tackles had had eight, you know, and three were on one place So guys were getting there. They were limiting limiting the yards After contact especially the one there with KB On third down and four Well Probably inconsistent, you know a couple false starts yesterday, but you know, Jake had some some some nice catches Done well at times and again, you know tough matchup yesterday at times with with Khalil Mack But I would say that Inconsistent, you know, just looking for a little better consistency and you know, maybe just knowing who who we're trying to block You know and how they may jump around and our ability to keep our eyes up and adjust to that Know in the play style of them. So But I'm confident in that group and I know that they'll they'll work hard and we'll we'll continue to work them all in there We'll get a jump on them, I think we'll get a jump on them. We'll have to do that You know, and then we'll watch shout tonight goes and certainly they got off to a good start Last week and then we'll see Where they're out tonight. It'd be a huge challenge on the road like it always is Against a talented football team Like Jim Coming against you how much insight does he have into how you say protect and what can he bring to attacking your Philosophy well, I would say that that's a lot of that is different a lot of that has been changed and you know, but Jim's You know been around a long time is Really good football coach. So I'm sure he'll have a great plan and Ways to put their players in the best position Tonight where you're the team you're playing next is playing on the night you're off Do you guys watch it as a team as a staff? Do you watch it individually? I think it'll probably be sure our players will watch I'm not sure what they're doing. We're not Doing anything formal coaches may You know sit in there and watch will also probably be getting ready trying to you know game plan or take a look at first and second down or whatever it may be and you know Have it on it. It's tough to really get you know, you can get some things live But hopefully we'll just get our prep work in and then you know, see where the film is in the morning Well, I mean just haven't talked with those you know those men you see how young they are and just you know really appreciated what they did for our city and You know, they just You know called to action, you know being able not to not the waiver not to flinch and we all say hey If we're never in that position, but rarely are we ever in that position and their ability to to go in there and save countless lives and You know try to comprehend how Your training their training specific training is to the first, you know an active shooter is to bypass Individuals like that. That's crazy for me to even try to Understand and they even talked about it like this is on I could just doesn't seem right But I know that I have to this is what I have to do for for everybody else And so, you know, we're thankful that they They showed courage and bravery and Anything that we can do as an organization to recognize them and honor them. I'm excited to do Thanks guys. Have a good day. Yeah, definitely Every game there's definitely stuff we want to correct and stuff, but it's a lot easier after a win. Just Get in here everybody. I mean obviously that was a huge huge win huge momentum for us going into next week So trying to keep that rolling But it makes all the bumps and bruises you got in the game all the things you got that you might have messed up It it feels a little bit better when you win. So yeah vibes are definitely better I was the process been for you, you know going from a undrafted guy last year to now a starter and a pretty good defense Yeah, that's some ever since I got here. I feel like Coach Rayball these preaches it doesn't matter how you got here. It's about what you do when you get here So it's been a journey obviously last year getting cut Being on the practice squad then finally getting an opportunity to get into play and then this year in a completely different role So just trying to keep the same process that I had since I got here just kind of get better every day put my head down keep working and Starting to start to try to take it to the next level. So it feels good though Last week I mean that's something we hang our hat on around here trying to stop the run I mean that that's the where it all starts on defense and we got a really good front Jeff and tear and Harold and Arden didn't go all those guys out front. They they do an awesome job They're super super talented up there super physical and it's something that people got to worry about and allows us as linebackers So to flow over the top make some plays and Yeah, that's something that we always always going to be first and foremost, but it's something that we take a lot of pride in I mean a lot of most teams when they come into a game they want to establish the run so the play actions can Can play off of that but yeah, we try to take that away early so that way they got to do something different but Yeah, definitely some that especially early on the game if you can stop the run You can kind of put them into a position where they're gonna throw it a lot more in our our guys up front Like we said are really good and getting given them the opportunity to go rush can Can definitely help a lot if we stop the run early Speed on the field and yesterday there was one play in particular where you chased down the running back in the Down by the arm. What's the challenge for you when you go against those teams that put a lot of speedy players out there? Yeah, they're they're fat They have a lot of team speed and they also go fast with the tempo So it's definitely a challenge and they they're trying to get their guys out in space point a lot of the numbers games with the RPO's We either hinted it off or thrown it out on the perimeter. It's just about trusting your leverage Trusting the guys around you to be where they're supposed to be and just running and trying to make plays out there But when it's numbers like that guys are gonna have to run sideline the sideline. We're gonna have to swarm So yeah, just in those games, we just got to make sure everybody's running to the ball and not expecting someone else to make the play Yeah, it's been awesome getting to work with his ease ever since he's gotten here He's been just a great veteran presence for us kind of as a leader showing us the way And also just kind of the standard that he's been a part of over in San Francisco with especially at line Backer play they've been kind of in the tops at linebacker play in the league for several years now so kind of bringing over that mentality and Just kind of getting to learn a lot from him about how they do things how he approaches things his mindset has been awesome It's helped me out a lot for sure So much the emphasis was just get off the field when you can how do you guys heighten that when it's third down What do you guys do to make sure that sort of thing happens? I mean, that's something that every game like obviously There's good players on both sides of the ball and they're gonna make plays So we try to talk about no matter if it's good play bad play We got to play the next play no matter what happened can't go back and change it We just got to get off the field a lot of this league comes down to third down in red zone Who can execute on offense and defense so that's something we try to take a lot of pride in and Just find a way to get the drive stop no matter what happens They yesterday they hit a couple big plays But we buckle down and find a way to get off the field in the end So that's something that we definitely worked on a lot One week two of a season How much did you see on Sunday that you weren't necessarily prepared for or wasn't expecting to see? I mean that's kind of how it goes every every week teams are gonna put in a couple new wrinkles They're gonna see something from a different game that they liked and Stuff that's worked against us will usually continue to show up until we until we get it stopped So always gonna be some of that but that's where you just got to kind of go back to the fundamentals go back to your rules and Film study can help you out a lot with what they like to do and stuff But you got to be able to get through those plays where it's something that you maybe have never seen by just trusting your rules Trusting your fundamentals You've kind of missed your transactions early, but to get cut I guess that then the last August and now here you are a year later team starting inside back I mean what kind of went through your mind when you? At the start of September last year and how'd you get to the point that you are today? Yeah, it was crazy definitely after training camp got sent home I drove back to Texas and then a week later They were calling me back to come back out on the practice squad and when I got back out here I just kind of said I'm gonna make the most of this opportunity they gave me a second chance and Just kind kind of just took the mindset of I got to get better every day You got a fight to earn it every day and I still kind of have that's the same mindset I'm trying to have right now everybody's trying to earn their job every day. Nothing's guaranteed in this league So just make the most of every opportunity you get every time you get to step on the field Yeah, I think a lot of it is Understanding of schemes, especially what we want to do But then also how offenses are gonna try to attack us especially when we're in different zone coverages We play a lot of different types of coverages match coverages man zone like vision and break coverage So just kind of knowing every Coverage what where they're gonna try to hurt us and kind of where the vulnerabilities are because you can't cover everything So if we can kind of just be aware of what teams like to attack us in when we're in certain coverages and kind of Help us defend that a little bit better. It'll definitely help Yeah, definitely excited to watch that game kind of just as a casual way to kind of get a jumpstart on the film Study before you really dive into it. It'll be good to watch them tonight for sure Yeah, definitely he's been doing it at a really high level for a few years now And they definitely are gonna come in and try to establish the runs like we said talking about before I gotta be a huge emphasis especially early He's never saying anything about that I mean I knew that that was his number and it's just the number That was assigned to me when I got here and I like it. I mean, yeah, we'll roll with it You know getting away But they're also kind of we got a reset because we got to get the next one this Sunday Yeah, absolutely definitely after a game. We always talk about you got 24 hours whether you win or you lost this league's moving on It doesn't matter what we did last week or what happened to us two weeks ago that Has no bearing on how we're gonna play next week. So we kind of after today. We just come in Get your body right and watch the film and make the corrections But when don't you go home today? It's on to the next week. What happened last week's over and we got to get ready to play again No, I mean, I haven't really been been doctor too much anymore. It's just give you I don't know what happened I guess I'm not practicing anymore But it's yeah, thanks guys. Yeah, man It's just knowing that it's just nice knowing that we can you know have guys, you know Who can win deep and you know, we can take shots like that because obviously that helps up a lot of stuff Especially with the run game loosening up the box stuff like that Yes, it's huge seeing those type of plays happen Yeah, man, it was just how to fight through it got a shot to the ribs like the fifth play the game You know just came back to how to fight through it throughout the game to finish Yeah, just like a rib protector Maturity level how much has changed for you maybe in year two as far as dealing with the ups and downs maybe of plays maybe games For me, it's always just trying to you know get back to center You know whether you have a good game bad game bad play good play It's always just each play, you know trying to come back to center trying to like get that refocus So, you know, you can play level-headed. You don't play too high You don't want to play too low because that's when you know mistakes are happening I think it's just just one play at a time, you know We just made a made a big play trailing made a big play and then that kind of just you know Just open up, you know, everybody's confidence from then on like, you know, let's go like let's let's let's cut it loose And let's you know guard on their finishes game Yeah, I said we only played two weeks, so yeah, I say yesterday. Yeah, it was definitely, you know a glimpse of what we can do Moving pieces of new pieces to this offense is it maybe a good sign that things of to come potentially Yeah, I think so there's just a lot of you know pieces on our offense that can you know make make a play You know, there's there's so many guys on offense that can make a place So we're just finding ways, you know to get us all the ball and just you know Give us all touches so we can go out there, you know and just you know make plays Yeah, man, just the defense seeing different guys, you know get the ball, you know, everybody and we all have different skillset Like, you know, Taijai is different from Derek, you know, I'm different from Wiley, you know different guys You know just touch it in different ways, you know, just keeps the defense on their toes Making sure they have to defend everybody and you know have to worry about everybody on the field You know all at all times Well, when I get my targets, I'm trying to do the most but Yeah, man, you just got to you just got to wait for your number to be called and then when when your number does get called You know, you got to be ready for that opportunity and then make it happen Yeah, you just got to I say that you just refocus on every play you just got to you know remain focus on that moment You know catch the ball first when it comes to you then run, you know You just just don't look to a head because obviously that's when mistakes happen Oh, it was really good as I miss what we all expected we all knew it was gonna happen We didn't see it any other way, but it's real good to you know see him go out there and make a lot of great passes and lead us You know about the Browns so far, but how do you think that would you watch I guess tonight live? Yeah I think they're they got a lot of blitz in their team a lot of blitzes and then they obviously have you know good addressers It's my scare so be a good challenge A couple minutes ago Vrabel said the tight end group as a whole that he just thought it's been a little bit inconsistent What do you think you guys can do more consistently as a group? Just eliminate our unforced errors and then just with our landmarks in the run game just our combos things like that It was a bit of a challenge for you guys with Khalil Mack yesterday Just how do you guys feel like as a tight end room you handle those addressers they had? It was a bit of a battle our game, you know, we won some you know, we lost some you know They're great players on their edge, you know getting with the Chargers you respect them I think we we took the fight to them and we did a good job