TITANS VS TEXANS
Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020
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(on the negatives to correct and the identity of the team's defense)
Oh well, the negatives? I think I will have to go back and watch the tape. Mostly on third down, we've got just got to get off the field on third down, no ex-plays. The good stuff? I think we're just staying together, playing together, running to the ball, everybody getting out there. So, whenever you do mess up, everybody is flying to the ball and may correct each other. I think if we stay together, sticking together, we keep playing good ball.
(on playing his former team and what was it about Head Coach Mike Vrabel that drove him to want to keep playing and do his best)
Man, he's always in the game, you know? What you see from him is what you are gonna get 24/7, during the week, during gameday. He's a high-intensity guy. You know, he tries to get out there and work with you. He's always in the game and keeps your energy level up. It's a contagious thing around the locker room and around the team.
(on what type of qualities quarterback Ryan Tannehill possess in terms of being a leader)
He just goes on the field delivering, man. I think he'll make every pass on the field if you give him time in the pocket. He's a leader. He's always in the building early and staying late. You can see that. That comes from wanting to be one of the best quarterbacks in the league, I think. If you keep staying at it – he's surprising me. I was just telling boys, man, he keeps getting better and better every week he's been out here on the field. It's good. It's fun to watch.
(on what he has learned about running back Derrick Henry since he became his teammate)
I mean, he kind of reminds me of myself. He just like to have fun. Me and him talk an awful lot since I've been here. We actually communicate a lot. I just like to watch him run the ball, you know? I'm a big fan of his. Especially when we were in the division you're not a real big fan, but when you get over here and meet the guy, get to know him, I think I became one of his biggest fans since I've been here. I just like to see him play. He's an exciting player to watch. You never know what's gonna happen – you step up, he runs through you, breakaway speed. He's got the whole total package and I've got to give hats off to the whole offensive line up front. They contribute to his game. It comes from those guys, the way they work at practice and execute in the game.
(on if fatigue due tothe short week was the cause of play going sideways in the second half)
No. I just think those guys came out and made some plays. That's a great quarterback on their side like I said. They're going to make some plays, it's the National Football League. You've just got stay in it as a defense and stay together. I think we've been doing that week in week out, and that's the reason why we are 5-0 now.
(on where he ranks this game in his career)
Oh, it's up there. Going to overtime and winning in overtime in the style we did, watching him come down there and truck the ball down the field. Derrick Henry. It was pretty exciting. I was telling them, 'I don't think we're gonna have to go out there on defense because Derrick Henry.' They're gonna run the ball down their throat. I already called it on the sideline, but it's exciting to watch like I said. To see those guys go out there, execute plays that we have worked on in practice, start at practice, and for them to go out there execute the game plays, to see that it's working on the field is a big motivator to the team and to the reason why we go practice and keep guys locked in.
(on how he's being used by Head Coach Mike Vrabel and seeing his teammates on defense)
Like you said it, they fly to the ball. No matter if you mess up or nothing. If one man messes up, the other guy is making you correct. We communicate well. We fly around together. We've got each other's back. It's been like that since I got here. I seen that the first couple days when I got here, how they play at practice, and I said, 'We're gonna have a good team if we can mess up and you won't even hardly know because we run so hard to the ball.' We're competitive. We compete. That's when you know you've got a good defense – when everyone shows up just to compete.
