For you guys today, seeing a rookie like Will Levis come in and do what he did, how much confidence does that just give the offense overall?
He was playing out of his mind. It was good to see, because he works so hard. And I could tell he was locked in all week, throughout the week, through practice. He was all excited. To see it come together for him and the offense and us being able to finish drives and makes some explosive plays.
What was his command like in the huddle?
He was calm, cool and collected. He took charge when he needed to, was voicing what we need to do better and echoing what the coaches were giving him and then he was saying it to us. Did a great job, and I'm so glad he had a great game today.
What did you say to him maybe before, and if you didn't get a chance, what'd you say after?
During the week, I just told him to play his game, let the game come to him. You wait so long to get this opportunity and to play at this level, let it all come natural, go play your game just like you were at Kentucky and the same when you were in high school. Just got out there and be yourself.
Are days like today what you were imagining when you were lobbying Hop to come here back in the summer?
Definitely. It was good to see him get out there and go crazy and have one of those games. I knew it was coming sooner or later.
What does it do when you guys are able to put the ball vertically down the field? And what does that do for you in the rushing attack?
Will (Levis) was throwing it and I know teams will be on alert, because he can throw it. He has a great ball and I always thought there ever since I seen him come here and throw the ball. I think it will open things up and a lot of guys will able to get opportunities and excited for his opportunity as well.
How much did this team need to win this game to kind of change the conversation around it?
It felt great to get back in the win column. We just gotta get back to work and keep it going. We gotta quick turn around against a good team in Pittsburgh. Build off the positives, work on things we need to get better at. But enjoy this, then focus on Pittsburgh tomorrow.
You can get back to level pretty quickly in a short turnaround week, what would that mean and say about you guys?
Positive. Great to get the win column today and let that momentum carry over to Pittsburgh. It going to be a tough place to play. They got a good defense and got guys on the offensive side that can make plays as well. But, this is a great game to build confidence on, to go in there and play our style of football and do what we do best to go try to win.
Did you see any of the former Oilers here this weekend? Was it cool for that to happen and to get a win in front of those guys?
Yeah, it was cool seeing everybody come out, wearing those jerseys and then seeing the guys who wore them, everybody on the sidelines just kind of got that feel. Arden (Key) was playing a lot of old school music so it was a good vibe in the locker room and it you just felt like everything was going in the direction of us playing the way our style of football, going out there and getting the win. It was a great day to get a win in those uniforms.
What kind of old school music did you have on?
He had all types. I think he had some Ronald Isley on. It was so many. Even the coaches, they came in there vibing and laughing. They were talking about memories and all types of stuff. I was like 'Y'all feeling good, ain't it?' Everybody was happy today in the locker room.
Some of the guys spoke about Malik Willis when he went out there. What's your input? Well, I was in the game and we were going forward. So I was like 'What are they booing about?' And I'm looking around and until I seen Malik (Willis) go out and then Will (Levis) come in and I realize they were booing Malik (Willis). I mean, he's a part of the team. He was drafted here. He's worked as hard as he can to make it to this point and he'll do anything he can to help this organization win. He's a great teammate. He works his tail off each and every day to be ready to come in and make plays. And that's all he's trying to do. I understand the fans are frustrated when we lose and it's not going the way we all planned, but we're all frustrated, and nobody wants to win more than we do as players because we're the ones out there trying to do the best we can to showcase and go out there and win games and have the fans in it. We're all a family. It doesn't help being booed when you're just trying to go in there and make a play. And I'm sure, since a kid, it's been his dream to come play in the NFL and for this organization, I just feel like that ain't needed, for somebody to just come in and to help us win. Malik's a great kid, a great person and he'd do anything to help this organization win.
The feedback that we've been getting from fans, though, is that they weren't booing him necessarily, but booing the decision.
What decision? Because he got four yards on that play, that's positive.
To take Will (Levis) out and put him in is kind of what the other side is saying.
Will (Levis) wasn't done. I think Coach (Mike Vrabel) put it out there they both were going to play so I think everybody should have been anticipating that, either way it goes. I feel like on that play, it was a positive play and Malik (Willis) got what he could on that play. I just feel like there was no need of booing. Now, if we were getting whooped and they were just going crazy on us, we weren't doing anything, then I understand that. But we were winning before everything was positive.
Can't the fans be upset at his previous play, where he couldn't handle the snap and couldn't fall on it?
Everybody's entitled to how they want to feel, but at the same time, everything's going in the great way. There's no need of booing. We understand that they're frustrated, and we want to do everything we can to get this thing going in the right way. Like I said before, Malik (Willis) wants to win just as bad as anybody on this team and this organization and the fan base as well.
What's this week been like for you?
Obviously, you see all this stuff, people texting and there's a lot going on. He say, she say. But at the end of the day, I'm a grown man and I got a job to do, and that's come to work and do my job and that's what I'm always going to be focused on until I'm told something differently. I got a child at home that I got to feed and that's what my main focus is, coming in to do my job the best way I know I can and helping this team win. Until something else happens, that's my main focus.
Regarding the reports from yesterday, has Ran Carthon or anyone from the front office told you they don't want to trade you?
I've talked to him, we had talks and feel like everything is going in a positive direction. I understand my position and the lifespan of it is not too long and I'm getting older, I ain't getting no younger. But at the end of the day, I know it's a business. I understand that. Like Coach (Mike Vrabel) said earlier this week, we know what we signed up for and sometimes the business is not what you always want. But it's a business. At the end of the day, I'm a Titan. I'm happy to be a Titan and do whatever I can to help his organization continue to win and hopefully, keep going further and further and do what we can to possibly get a championship this year.
What is your position? I'm guessing you'd prefer to stay here?
Yeah. I never said I wanted to leave. I've been firm in what I say I'm to work, and it never came out that I want to leave and go anywhere else.
