I'm just really happy for our team. I thought it was a complete game in every phase. To take the ball away three times, to get that pick-six by Jaire (Alexander), to get eight sacks. That was a big-time defensive performance. Offensively, did enough to get the win. I think our specialists made some big time plays like Daniel Whelan, he's a hell of a kicker man. He's a hell of a punter, I should say.
Obviously, it is great for like guys like (Brayden) Narveseon to come back her and perform well. And also, Malik (Willis). I cannot say enough about him and just the job he's done to be able to lead our offense and be productive and he made some big time plays throughout the course of the game. Obviously, some plays with his legs were huge, and then also plays in the passing game. Some of those third down-and-long to make some of those completions down the field. Obviously, on that first drive to hit Christian (Watson), then there was big one later on in the game in the second quarter where he hit Romeo (Doubs) over the middle. That was just a huge play in the game.
Our O line is continuing to battle and do a great job up front. There's a lot to clean up, obviously with penalties. And then our wideouts and the guys on the perimeter, I don't think many wideouts are going to want to go into a game thinking we are going to run as much as we have, but they continue to block and battle and make key contributions to this football team.
What was going through your mind in airing it out on the third-and-six of the opening drive?
Well, we had a quick game called and basically we had a Can play and he didn't like leverage, so he canned it and gave Christian (Watson) a chance to go up and make a play. And that was great to see for Christian because that was a critical—I mean, every possession is critical. But just to be able to start out like that, I thought gave our team, our offense a whole lot of confidence.
Malik Willis said that a new opportunity has really helped in kind of putting up career numbers on the field. How have you seen that perspective for him?
I think any time—maybe a change of scenery can be good for some guys. And I just cannot articulate the job that he's done in a short period of time. People can't fathom that. I promise you guys don't get it. I know you think you got it, but you don't get it. What he's been able to do is—I've never seen something like this. So, hats off to him. Hats off to everybody around him. The guys rallying having his back. I think Tom Clements does a great job. And I would be remiss to say Conner Lewis, Sean Mannion. Just the help they've given him, the support. Jordan Love's been instrumental as well, just giving him the tips and hanging right by his side and helping him out all along the way.
He hasn't turned it over. How much did you stress for him not to turnover the ball?
That is the number one job at quarterback to take care of the football. He's done a great job and not putting it in harm's way. And quite frankly, that's allowed us and given us confidence to open some of the things up. To come out and throw a pass on the first play of the game, anticipating they would be geared up for a run, and to get that big explosion play to (Jayden) J Reed, I thought really set us up
How do you see Malik Willis' perspective of playing for a new team?
That's the goal to try to make 8's job as easy as possible, just like he does for us. So, I think going forward, I felt like we played off each other really well today. And I think we had a kind of a good rhythm of the amount of drives that we were getting. And I was fortunate because Coach gave me the opportunity to kind of have my own drives today and rather than just kind of just subbing in. So I'm very thankful for that and having a bunch of guys around me that trust me. So going forward, I'm just hoping to do more of the same and contribute anywhere.
What do you do in a ball meeting?
We have a meeting about the ball. We stress the importance of the ball.
That's weekly?
That is weekly.
When is that during the week?
It depends, either Thursdays or Fridays.
When was it this week?
It was on Thursday.
When did you know that you Mailk Willis would be the starter today?
I'm not going to get into the details of that.
He wouldn't say it but the first drive, marching down the field, how do you feel that set the tone of the game for Malik Willis?
100 percent. I think it just gives everybody more confidence in what you're doing. For him to make some critical passes on that drive certainly gave me more confidence that we can open up a little bit more than we have been. And I know, realize, in the second half we kind of took the air out of the ball a little bit, but I thought our defense was playing so well. I thought it would be silly. So, I just was trying to manage the game from that perspective.
It's a long season but what does going 2-0 without your quarterback, your starter, what does that do for your team?
I think that can galvanize our team and we needed everybody. I don't want to say it because I'm a firm believer that you don't rise to the level of competition you sink to level your preparation. These guys prepare the right way. They come to work the right way each and every day with a great attitude to go out and have some tough practices. And quite frankly, they haven't all been pretty. We had a Thursday practice that was probably one of the worst that we've had in my time here. But as long as you're learning from it, you can take a negative and make it a positive. And that's the thing is you've got to get mistakes corrected. And nobody panicked. I know like a lot of times coaches, we probably—we do put a lot of value on that, but we made the necessary corrections. I thought Friday's practice was a lot cleaner. Saturday, we came out and said, I know it's a walk through, but you just want to see mentally that everybody's on and they did a great job. So, I'm really happy for our guys and proud of their effort.
You mentioned how we don't get it. We see Malik Willis making plays but obviously there's a lot more that goes into it. What is he doing so well from your eye that is unusual for a guy this amount of time coming in?
He's getting the ball. He's reading the plays the right way. He's making some off scheduled plays with his legs that were very critical. He can't do it without the people around him. I think our O-line is battling and they're doing a great job. Our tight ends, our receivers, our backs are running hard. It takes all 11, and many times as a quarterback, you get too much blame when you lose and too much credit when you win. But I just thought all in all, what a great team effort. And it wouldn't have been possible without the efforts of our defense as well. We can't lose sight of that.
With the defense humming and their offensive line is struggling. Was there the smell of blood in water smell in there for you?
That's why we kind of took the air out of the ball a little bit. The thought just the way we were flying around, getting after the quarterback, putting pressure on him, hitting him, that's tough on the quarterback. And we got guys in the back end that have great ball skills, and I think that was pretty evident.
You've changed up some things with the quarterback in the run game. Is there anything that you've picked up from this that will carry over when Jordan Love back?
I think you're always learning. If you're not, you're dying. So, there's a lot to learn from these experiences. I do think that just having the ability to be balanced puts a little bit more stress on the defense and just our ability to, I think today, just come out throwing the football and making some critical third downs, it keeps them off balance I'd say.
What were your thoughts on the job Emanuel Wilson today?
Yeah, that was awesome. He was so excited he handed the ball back to the official. What a job by Josh Jacobs going out and getting that ball for E (Emanuel Wilson). But that was great. It was a great job. We hit a screen to a pressure, which is something we're always trying to dial up. We just hit the call at the right time. But I thought he was running. He continues to get better and better and better. So, I think he's got the skills and we've said that from day one. We've noticed it. It's a matter of going out there and doing it. And I think his approach to practice has given him more opportunities for the game.
You talked about Brayden Narveson and Malik Willis coming back to Nashville. Does it mean anything to you?
They all mean something to me. It certainly does. To come back here where, it was a short time. There were some great moments and there where were some not so great moments, obviously. I mean, we didn't get into playoffs that year. We lost a game at the end of the season to get in the playoffs. To leave here with a win today definitely feels good.
What does it say about the defense when the sacks and the takeaways, it's just like so many different guys involved?
I just think we have a lot of depth and we're rolling guys, and you guys can see that. A lot of guys are getting snaps, and I think that's to the benefit of our team. We're going to stay healthy, hopefully, and stay fresher longer.
