(on his thoughts about how the game went)
It was a good start. Still a lot of stuff we can do better, especially in the run game. We had (Ryan) Tannehill hit too many times. Coming back from a Bye, those guys play hard. Being in that situation before in 2014 and 2015, I know what those guys are going through. It is tough. They are in December, and it is a five-game season for them. Hats off to them for playing as hard as they did. We played good ball today. We did a good job of fighting through that 40-40 range.
(on if he felt like the team dominated the Jaguars)
It is the NFL. To say that is an inferior team that is not – they have talented guys over there, they have talented edge rushers. Our defense played a really good game. That team is going to be a giant in the future. I think Trevor Lawrence is a winner, he has been a winner since high school, and they are just in that phase that the Titans were in in 2014 and 2015. I expect them to be better next season and the year after that. They scrapped the whole day. There was no quit in them so hats off to them.
(on figuring out the run game without running back Derrick Henry)
I think we are figuring it out. Derrick (Henry) is Derrick (Henry). There is a reason why I am wearing his shoes, he is the king. Definitely was a big loss, but we have guys in there that can run the ball and they run the ball hard and they know what their skillsets are. I think Todd (Downing) did a good job of putting those guys in a position to be successful. As an offensive line, I think we left a lot of meat on the bone. There were a lot of situations where we could have been better. That is how it always is. We will regroup, everyone is going to get healthy. I don't know if guys got hurt this game but hopefully it was a relatively injury-free game and continue to play a Steelers team – you go into Heinz Field, they are a great defense. Ben (Roethlisberger) is Ben (Roethlisberger) regardless of if it is his last year or whatever. He is a stud, and they have great offensive players. We have our hands full next week and we will get back on track with that on Wednesday.
(on what is what like to come back on the field after the defense caused so many turnovers)
It was awesome. You would like to be more complementary. I think we got 16 yards on one turnover right in the middle of the field. We have to do better to play complementary football as an offense. It is great to see the defense have success like that. When we score on the first drive, it takes a lot off of them and when they get picks like that it takes a lot off of us. We have to do a better job of taking their turnovers and turning them into points. We will hopefully address that and continue to move forward.
(on guard Rodger Saffold III and his ability to play through pain)
Rodger (Saffold III) is a scrapper, man. I can't say enough good things about Rodger Saffold (III). That is my boy. I love that guy. He is a great dude. He works extremely hard. Whatever he has got going on, whatever he is dealing with I have no doubt he will attack it 100 percent. I know what he is dealing with. I have had the thing he is dealing with before and it is a pain in the ass. It is one of those really nagging things. I know that he is going to attack it and I hope he feels a lot better come the end of this week.
(on what it means for the offense to have wide receiver Julio Jones back in the lineup)
You would have to ask (Ryan) Tannehill that. I have never thrown a ball to Julio Jones, not even in pre-practice, so I really don't know. Julio Jones is Julio Jones. There is a reason why they called him 'cheat code' in Atlanta. Anytime when he is on the field, we are lucky to have him on this team.
(on if he feels the team is re-energized after the Bye Week)
I feel like we did play faster. In these situations when you haven't watched the film or anything yet, you have to speak for yourself individually because you don't know what happened. For me personally, I felt a whole lot better. At the beginning of the season, I had a little thing here and there and I missed a couple games. It is nice to get a stretch in, get a Bye, get healthier and keep moving forward. Just continue to grow those things, that is important. It is a long season. The NFL decided to make it a little longer. It is one of those things where you really have to take care of your body especially in December and January.
(on clinching a sixth straight winning season)
I am extremely appreciative just to be on this football team. I think that you don't find a lot of guys in the NFL that play for one team. To be here for eight years, I think only (Brett) Kern has been here longer than me at this point. I am extremely grateful of the Tennessee Titans. To be able to be a part of something in 2014 and 2015 and help change the culture of a team. I am not sitting here being like, 'I changed the culture.' To be able to help change the culture of this team along with Jon Robinson, along with (Mike) Vrabel, along with the guys they have brought in. Guys like Jeffery Simmons, Kevin Byard, Ryan Tannehill, Derrick Henry, A.J. (Brown). You have so many guys that have come with an attitude to help change the culture of this team. I am just really appreciative to be a part of that. It is something that when I am done and I hang up the cleats for the last time, I can be proud of that. Knowing that when you are in a relationship with this team, I am going to leave it in a better place than where I found it. I am really proud of that.
(on this being his 100th career game)
That is very cool. 100th game. I could have had it a few games ago. We have to make sure to keep these things rolling. 100 games is cool and a nice little steppingstone. Got guys like Ben Jones and Rodger (Saffold III) who have played about 130 or 150 so you are still sitting there like, 'I got more left in me. A lot more.' It is a good deal.
(on center Ben Jones and his cartwheel celebration)
I didn't see it. I have seen him do it in practice before. It is a lot of body moving up and down. That is a lot of man. It is very impressive.
