DEFENSIVE TACKLE JEFFERY SIMMONS
What were they doing well in the second half to kind of get some of the big chunk plays?
Making plays. We didn't make enough. We gave them too many opportunities to make plays. And a quarterback like that, he knows where he's going with the ball. I mean, he was able to crease us on a couple of runs. They made a play, and we'll look at it on tape. I really don't know exactly what may happen, especially when you're in the heat of the moment. But we'll see tomorrow.
What was the feeling like for you guys, leading through half time, and then see things kind of get away from you there?
The feeling we came in, and get ready to go back out, and say 'Let's come back in here with a victory.' And that didn't happen. So, I mean it sucks when you are up like that, and you got some momentum to where you come out, we've got to do the things that stop getting us beat. I mean, talking about penalties. We're talking about turnovers. They didn't turn the ball over in the second half. We have got to do a better job of doing the things that help us win football games in this league. These last two weeks, we haven't done that.
What do you feel like is happening, especially in the fourth quarter, because I think like 23, or 20, of your 53 points, the defense has given up, have come in the 4th quarter. In your opinion, what's happening?
We've got to do a better job at finishing. That's what it is. We've got to be able to—we know that a lot of games in this league are won in the fourth quarter. How we go about our business and everybody has got to do their job. That's when it's crunch time, especially as a team. They are down, or whatever it may be. We have to stay locked in, and at the end of the day, everybody has to do their job, and learn how to finish fourth quarters. I mean, that's pretty much what it's been, and we got to do a better in fourth quarter.
What'd you say about needing a more consistent rush?
A couple of times that we had solid rushes, it's not like we weren't trying to affect the quarterback. Once we go back and watch the tape.—like I said, that's a veteran quarterback, a Hall of Fame quarterback, that knows where he wanted to go with the ball. Even on the interception, the ball was out so fast, and Cody (Barton) made a hell of a play on that. He knows where he wants to go with the ball. We just keep doing what we've being coached to do. Affect the middle of the pocket when playing against a quarterback like that. At the end of the day, everybody needs to be better. I mean, the pass rush should be better, stopping the run could be better. At the end of the day it's just everybody's got to do their job.
What'd you say to the ref, when you were pleading your case on the penalty and they picked it up?
I mean, first of all, I lead with hands. I mean they picked it up for a reason. As I beat the guy, he was still blocking me, and pushing me in the back. That's an emphasis. I mean, if he's blocking me, I know that for one, I'm going low on the quarterback, they are going to call that. At the same time, if I get pushed or whatever it may be. Thanks for the other ref, that saw it, that I was actually getting blocked, from that right side of the line of scrimmage. I'm glad that they were able to pick that up.
What's the thing you focus on going into next week?
Come back ready to work. We start off with the Colts. That's just how we could turn the season around, by winning a big game in our division, against the Colts. We know that's going to be a tough one for us, back at home. And it's always tough playing against them guys. Got to come in with a mindset that we need to go 1-0. I know, that's the mindset and hopefully, that's the message. We are still in this thing, two games. Do we want to be 0-2? No, but the goal and the message should be, let's go 1-0 this week.
