Opening Statement:
"Okay, you know, very disappointed. You got to give credit to the (Tennessee) Titans. They won the game, so they made more plays than we did in the end, but just disappointed. Some of the things that happened that game, we expect more from our run defense. You know, the giveaways there, that's not about who we are. We got to protect the ball. We had a punt blocked, and obviously not getting either the two-point plays really off is frustrating. So that's on all of us. We own it, can't hide from it. It's all of us. It's offense, defense, special teams. It's players and coaches, we'll own it. It's frustrating, but we will move on together. That's what we'll do. With that, I'll take any questions."
Just, I know Shedeur (Sanders) had the pretty bad interception but overall, what about the sort of moxie that he showed in bringing...?
"Yeah, he fought throughout the game, which we knew he would. Obviously with any young player, Mary Kay (Cabot), there's gonna be ups and downs, and I thought there were some really, really, really good moments. He'll keep learning from some of the plays that he wants back, but some really good moments."
What was supposed to happen on that last two-point conversion?
"Yeah, not going to get into all the specifics, Jeff (Schudel), but obviously did not go as we thought it would."
Did you make that call or did Tommy (Rees)?
"Yeah, I make every call."
Shedeur has a hot hand, why would you take him off the play?
"Yeah, again, it's a two-point play. Didn't come through on our first two-point play, got to the second two-point play, we didn't come through. But that's on me."
Was that play call yours or Tommy's?
"I'm responsible for all of it."
Kevin, on the first one, I guess what prompted wanting to go for it in that scenario?
"Yeah, it's a scenario that we talked about a lot. That's something that when you're down 14, feel good about the decision there - didn't come through."
You mentioned the run defense, what did you see has been the biggest issue?
"Yeah, we just, we have to look at it. That's not what we're built to do. It's not what we're about. We'll look at all of it again. It's things that we'll make sure we point it out and fix it. But, give them credit, but that's something that we hang our hat on."
Kevin, another special teams blunder - how do you keep believing in Bubba (Ventrone)?
"Yeah, I'm not going to get into that type of stuff, Jeff (Schudel), we have to play better. We have to coach better. But that's just bottom line."
Ethan (Pocic), was it an Achilles?
"Yes."
Is it torn?
"You don't know till you get the testing but didn't look good."
And Ced (Cedric Tillman), concussion?
"Yes."
Kevin, is this the kind of game where, I mean, just how do you explain all the mistakes just across the board from so many different phases of your game against a 1-11 football team?
"Yeah, I think you go into any game versus anybody, Mary Kay, you have to play your best. You have to execute in the time when it's time to execute. It's our job as coaches to put our guys in position, and we came up short, bottom line."
Is the reason you didn't use Shedeur on the two-point play was because he fumbled the first one?
"No."
How soon did you know that you were going to go Wildcat for that two-point conversion drive?
"Yeah, during the week, you talk about two-point plays in total, plays that you like in those moments. And obviously the first one, we didn't get off exactly how we wanted to. Second one didn't get off how we wanted to."
But as the drive was going down, did you already have it in mind that you were going to that specific play?
"Yes."
How did you guys come to the decision not kick on that first one?
"Yeah, it's something that we've done in the past. I know you see it around the league, the idea being you get the two you know what you're doing at the at the next one, but something we've done before."
I know you talk about the rookies playing up and down, but on that interception, it's as simple as when a play goes on that long, throw it out of bounds?
"Yeah, but he'll learn from that. Again, young players, you learn from every turn that's out there. There's some great stuff that you can coach off of. I thought some of his pocket movement was outstanding. Some really, really good throws, especially late in the drive, I thought he was really good there. But always going to learn from our mistakes."
How important was it to get that one to Jerry (Jeudy) especially after last week when he had some frustration? "Yeah, obviously, you know, I thought it was a really good decision by Shedeur to get through his progression there - get to Jerry on that end cut. Felt good about that play, really throughout the game. Ran that play earlier, got it to Harold (Fannin Jr.). Second play, second time, got it to Shedeur. Shedeur got it to Jerry. Did a really nice job moving in the pocket."
Did Shedeur check in to the first touchdown pass to David (Njoku)? It looked like he made some kinda call at the line of scrimmage.
"No."
Kevin, it looked like you were trying to kick away from (Chimere) Dike all day, touchback. Is that tough when that's not your style? But it's kind of gotten to the point where...
"Yeah, I think every game you go into it, Scott (Petrak), with what do we need to do to try to win this game. And what are the decisions you have to make in order to do that."
Can you just give them credit, I guess, for the game play for keeping Myles (Garrett) from getting that sack record and doing a nice job with Cam Ward?
"Yeah, I think, obviously, I give all the credit to Tennessee for that win. They deserved it. Every team goes into playing
us with a game plan for Myles, that's no different."
