QUARTERBACK MASON RUDOLPH
How bad did you guys need the win today?
Bad. Feels great. Just the celebration in the locker room and just good to lift guys spirits. We all needed that and got to keep stacking them, but we're going to enjoy this one.
Why did you guys need it so bad? It seems like the consensus from everybody is that this was a big, emotional win.
Every win is big in this league. We lost three in a row. And at home in front of our fans, just needed it. Needed to turn the tide and make work a little more uplifting and happy. So, it's going to be a good week. Get guys some rest tomorrow and get back at it Tuesday.
What was the conversation going into overtime knowing you were going to receive the ball first?
Yeah, just talking with Cally (Coach Brian Callahan) about opening plays and how to move the ball. Do you like this? Do you like that? We've had a good a good line of communication, as long as I've been playing and he's open to my input and I appreciate that. Cal (Calvin Ridley) made a couple of huge catches on the third down in between two defenders and strong catches. We ran the ball well, offensive line, and controlled the ball. Corey Levin came in there and did a great job. Talk about the guy that signed the middle of training camp. He's been here, on and off the roster, on and off the practice squad, and he stepped up huge today when we needed them the most.
Brian Callahan said that you came to him before overtime and said, just call the plays and we're going to score. Is that how you remember that conversation?
Yeah, I just said, because I could feel myself like after their touchdown on fourth down, like, hey, let's have a reset. Flush it and it's a new game. And so, I just kind of wanted to voice that to him and say, hey, listen, it's a new game. We're going to go win this one. Don't worry about the past.
What's the challenge in doing that with the rotating offensive line? Trying to just incorporate different receivers the past couple weeks, have you experienced that in your previous stops? Has that kind of been a new challenge for you?
We've rotated quite a bit, and guys have stepped up and I thought I was pretty darn well protected today. Those guys did an awesome job, not only running the ball, opening up the holes for Tony (Pollard) and Julius (Chestnut), but protecting me. I think we had one sack; you guys correct me if I'm wrong, but so it was awesome. You had Dan Brunskill playing right guard and had Corey Levin played center and JO (John Ojukwu) and Leroy (Watson IV) playing right tackle. You know, they all did good.
Brian Callahan, when talking about the win, got choked up. Throughout the week did it feel like the preparation was different?
He puts his heart and soul in this and everything's a first time for him and it's—I can only imagine what he's got to juggle with calling plays and doing a good job at it. Calling plays and being present for the defense situational on both sides of the ball. He needs to have a cold one to night to enjoy himself, to take the edge off because it's a lot. I mean, I know there's—plenty of coaches to do that week in, week out. And I think he's done a great job. But it did mean more.
What was the emotional roller coaster like for this when they score late and how much can you not get caught up in that as a quarterback?
I just told the guys before went out, 'Mental toughness right here. That's all that counts.' We're going to overcome this and we'll do it together and forget everything that's happened. And it's hard to do as human beings. But I thought we all went out there with one goal in mind and moved the ball, ran the clock. I couldn't be prouder of the guys.
For a win like this, is it relieving for you and maybe the staff? Does it put any confidence in you guys?
Yeah, huge. I mean, we've been in close games. That's been the story this year. We've been in close games and had a penalty here, stalled a drive or could've had a turnover or special teams miscue, or an interception on my part. We overcame the couple of small mistakes we had. We fought through. Overtime wins, I've been a part of an overtime tie, two ties. So that was awesome, just the mental fortitude it takes and guys will remember that and that's a great experience.
What happened between you and Coach Callahan after you threw the fourth quarter touchdown?
Those are plays we talked about all week. And we talked about that play a lot. Where we'd like it, what yard line. And we were both confident in it and Nick Westbrook(-Ikhine), just crafty, sneaky peeling out of the back of the end zone. It's a great scheme and I've been very impressed with the red zone schemes that he's got in his repertoire.
That scheme in this offense seems like it's gotten better and better with over the last couple of weeks with the operation of it. Was that something that you felt like has really clicked over the past couple weeks?
I think it's a combination, I'd say. First year in this offense, there have been growing pains, but you start to kind of whittle it down to what's our bread and butter? What we do well? Quick game, drop back, empty, play action, red zone, third down. What do we like? What did we rep this week? What do the guys feel comfortable with? And that takes some time. And I think, across the board, we made plays, and I think we're starting to zone in on what we're good at and trying to run those plays more often.
Tony Pollard didn't practice all week. What's the confidence like for this team and for you to be able to hand the balls to a guy like that, especially in overtime?
He is the one of the toughest guys I've ever played with. And such a great countenance and a positive light that he brings to the locker room. He's in there early before anyone else working on his body. I told him, I said, I think Saturday morning. Tony was in the locker room and I said, "Tony, my grandfather called this morning, said, 'Hey, is Pollard playing?'" And I said, "So, are you playing?" And he said I'm playing. So that was a good, good, pleasant surprise.
