QUARTERBACK WILL LEVIS
With your performance mechanics wise, what changed today?
A series of unfortunate events. Four of those last five possessions, like the turnovers, you're rarely not going to get pulled when you turn the ball over four times. So, I mean, I understand that. I got to watch the tape and see how it all went down. I kind of already know how a couple of them happened, and the last one was definitely the most disappointing just because it's a look that I was ready for and that I was ready to launch, and the guy made a good play. And yeah, it sucks. It wasn't my day.
Do you think you undo the goodwill or good impression you're making with the coaches when you hit maybe a downturn with a decision or two last week and with a game like this?
I'm just going to try to do my best to play the position the best that I can.
What did Coach Brian Callahan say to you when he pulled you?
It was Bo (Hardegree). I didn't get to talk to Brian (Callahan). He just told me, you turned the ball over four times, man. That's what happens. And there was no fight, and I just understood it and it sucks. I was there for Mason (Rudolph) and the guys and just tried to be the best teammate that I could for the rest of the game.
On the decision for the future, Coach Callahan mentioned you pulling through. How do you do that after a performance like this?
I'm not afraid, and I know who I am as a player. I know what I'm capable of. I felt like the ball was coming out of my hand well, and there's things we could do at all positions to help us out in a couple of those turnovers. But there is nothing discouraging about it. It was just one of those days. And now I'm going to keep swinging, that's for sure.
Can you walk us through what went on with the first pick? Who you were going for, and what happened on that one?
Tyler (Boyd), he's working his sail route. He gets kind of jammed, didn't get as much depth and the guy on Nick (Westbrook-Ikhin) was able to fall off of him and get underneath the window. It's man coverage. I'm just trying to see the separation with and Tyler and his man, it doesn't get quite as depth and that allowed the corner to be able to fall off of Nick, which I didn't feel. So yeah, just got to be better. Like I said, across the board.
Have you felt this season like you're still having to make your case to keep your job?
I can't think that way. I think earlier in the year, like after the first few games, I got my head spinning and thinking about that and I was able to kind of bring myself back to base and remind just myself who I am and bring the confidence back to my mind. I'm just going to fight every day for this team until I can't anymore and it's not my decision in that respect. So, I just kind of control what I can.
How do you maintain your confidence when you have a day like did?
Like I said, I just remind myself who I am and know that what happened is fixable. And some of those things you just can't control. And it also helps to think about the good performances and the good stuff that you put on tape and just knowing that you can be that player and just got to be it more consistently. So, keep reminding myself that and just done a good job I think keeping my mental right since that tough start.
What did the guys say to you on the sideline and when you go back in the locker room to keep your head up? Did you hear some of that postgame?
For sure. It's kind of a weird feeling when guys are trying to be consoling of you and you're like, 'I don't wanna hear that, man'. I'm like, 'Whatever'. But it was good to hear from just some guys on the team and people in our organization come in and talking to me and just making sure that I keep my head up and that it's not something that's going to affect me further. So, I appreciated that. And I know that I'm going to come back tomorrow the same person and keep swinging.
Were you targeting Chig Okonkwo on the last interception?
It was man coverage. We ran a play-action shot with the blazer over the top, like a deep post and the high cross. And I got to read that post safety, and I thought that he was deep enough to be able to drive it on Chig (Okonkwo) and on my timing and just kind of just as soon as hands came off the ball, he drove for the ball and made a really good play. So, in hindsight, take a second hitch and launch it over the top. But at the end of the day, I just got to see the depth of the safety if he can make a play or not. And I wish I would have thrown it through to Nick (Westbrook-Ikhine)
What was going through your mind in those moments as you were watching the game after being benched?
I don't really remember what I was doing specifically or if I was doing that or whatever. I was just trying to be there for my teammates and however I could help the offense to succeed and drive down the field. And they did a good job in that situation. We were forced to start passing the ball a lot more and driving the ball down, guys making plays. Tyjae (Spears) bringing this juice back. That was awesome, but I wasn't focused on anything other than the game.
