Looked like it was hard to get too much going in the run game today. Were they doing some things, penetrating, so-forth to slow the running game down?
Yeah, it was tough sledding today. They were the better team on each side of the ball today. They did a great job. They had a great plan. They stopped the run effectively, and we didn't do well enough on our side.
Asked him (Mike Vrabel) about continuing to go to you on first downs despite the fact that things weren't going well. He said in the past we've had success even if things were going well early, we've broken one. Did you feel like one was coming? And do you think that's a good rationale to keep doing it when it's not working?
I mean, like he said, in the past, we've had times where we weren't having success early, and then once we stuck to it, it eventually would pop for us. And I felt like it would have, but it just didn't today. I know they try to switch it up every now and then, run to pass on first down. If any changes need be, I'm sure they will look at that to switch it up and give ourselves a better chance on those downs to be able to have success. But like he said, in the past, we've had success when it wasn't early, but we end up finding it. And being able to string some plays together and get drives going and be able to run the ball effectively. But today, that was not the case.
How does that process work? Like the communication with you, Coach (Justin) Outten and Coach (Tim) Kelly, just in seeing things and going back to it or changing stuff in game?
I think we just review the drives after each and every drive to go over what happened and what we're seeing, Tim (Kelly) and JO (Justin Outten) talk, and it's just about us being effective and being able to make the plays go. We weren't great today as a whole, and I need to be better as well. But they just are the better team today and credit goes to them, seems like they had an answer for everything.
What was the frustration level like for you guys on the field? You had an early drive and put up points but just really could never get into sync throughout the day?
Yeah, it's very frustrating. You have success and you want to continue that, and it's just not going the way you want it to. All you can just do is review it, watch the film, learn from it and move on. But at the end of the day, just wasn't good enough on our side of the ball to be able to win. We got to be better.
It's just a little bit of a different, disappointing feeling to be eliminated from the playoffs with still three games to go?
Yeah. I mean, we felt like we had a chance to—we being close to slipping in and if we kept winning, if we won out. It's tough knowing there's three left. Definitely leaves a sour taste in your mouth. But at the end of the day, we've got three games left. We are going to try to do the best that we can to go win those and end the season on a positive note.
How do you stay motivated when there isn't a playoffs to play for?
I mean, it's football. I mean, it's fun. Something that we've been playing since we were kids. If you don't get ready for the next game or you are not excited to play, then I don't know what to tell you. That's just what it is. You can't do nothing about it. We're out of the playoffs. but we still got three games left. Still got to go out there and play and put your best foot forward. I ain't laying down, I'm sure nobody else is trying to lay down. But at the end of the day, that is just what it is right now.
Inconsistency; you will a game where things are going well and then a couple where they don't. How frustrating has been each week to just kind of lack that consistency?
Yeah, I put a lot on myself. I feel like I could be better and do a lot of things better. But at the end of the day, this is what it is. I'm always going continue to work hard and work to continue to improve. Never going point the finger and never going to blame anybody else. If anything, I'm gonna criticize myself first if I do not anybody else, and that's just what it is this year. I seen a quote from a guy from the Detroit Pistons when he said that, 'You work hard for something, you might not get the reward right away. But you've just got to keep working and believe that it will eventually happen.' And that's what I'll continue to do. Continue to work hard and do the best that I can each and every day I step on the field. And when I'm away from it, just continuing to work and knowing that, eventually what I want to happen, will happen.
When you sit in there and take your time getting dressed before you come in here, knowing there are two just more home games and you don't know what the future is. Do you ever stop and just and I know you try to stay in the moment, but do you stop and just think like, 'Man, it could be over?'
Yeah, definitely today you had that feeling. We had a hope of kind of slipping in there. And then being eliminated, knowing its three games left. I've been here my whole career. I definitely want to go out strong, which isn't the case. Just trying to give it my all these last three games and leave it all on the field.
You never had a game since you've become a starter that you did get over 10 yards, at least. You had nine today. Hearing that, I see you reacting, how does that make you feel?
Definitely tough, man. Definitely tough. I don't really have no words. Just wasn't good enough. Yeah, tough.
