HEAD COACH MIKE VRABEL
Well, three straight road wins, fourth straight overall. How does it feel that your team is able to pull that off, especially coming here?
Yeah, I think an emotional game, emotional stretch for us, something that this team and organization hasn't done, and it's done a lot. Again, that doesn't do anything, but, again, the grind of coming back and getting prepared and staying in the game—we played really well in the second half—that's what I'm really proud of. Sometimes you don't always know how these games are going to go, and we certainly have to start faster, but really proud of the way that we played. Giving up three points in the last two halves of football. Offensively, really if we don't beat ourselves it's been a good product and was that same way today. I love the fact we're finishing with the football. Special teams unfortunately with a penalty, but we had some good kick coverage, some inconsistent kick coverage. Again, some good ones and bad ones, and that's where it's been. But in the end, I felt like we did enough, so excited for these guys.
What did it mean to you to come back, even the team, you know what I mean, the whole emotion of the day?
First of all, congratulations. 25 years. We appreciate what you've done. I went back and I looked, and you had a highlight video and I was in it and I looked a lot younger and I didn't have sleeves. You know, probably should've had some sleeves on back then. But congratulations. Thanks for covering us and this town for as long as you have. Yeah, we moved on. Again, there were a lot of guys over there and a lot of people on the support staff that helped us do some decent things. But you kind of move on, and this is a whole different challenge and I'm excited of where I'm at. I appreciate the support of our fans to come down here, and be excited, and be into the football game. We got to continue to give them things to cheer about, and to travel and come back and play really well at home. So that's what I'm proud of. I'm happy for the players to have a little bit of momentum and to continue to build it throughout the week.
The chant of your name late in the game, you think that's your people, people here?
I didn't get that many tickets. I don't know. That's neither here nor there. I'm happy for our players. I think these guys were figuring out how to win, they were figuring out how to practice. I guess it's humbling to have these people, whoever that is, cheer for us, whether that's the Patriots, or Drake Maye, or me or anybody else.
Mike, can you talk about the work of Rhamondre Stevenson?
Again, it's not just the running back. Again, we say the running back doesn't do a good job and we got to run it better, but we got to block better. I felt like there were some running lanes and when there weren't, we were able to take it downhill and be able to push some piles. We had some double-digit runs. We had some dirty runs. It was great to see us finish there at the end. So I think it's always a combination. We took care of the football, and that's really the formula. They made a mistake there that we were able to capitalize on.
You mentioned the turnovers again this week. What's working so well?
Practice. Awareness. Just everybody else helping. But, again, it's good to see us doing the technique and the details that are important for those types of things. We're not putting the ball in harm's way and guys are going and making plays and quarterback throws it in tight windows.
What stood out about Drake Maye's game most for you?
I think there is an athleticism to him that's really, really cool. I think he's really accurate from all different spots, whether it's in the pocket, off platform. He really has done a nice job so far spreading the football around. But there is an accuracy to him that has been really good for us.
How do you describe his growth? From your perspective, what would you say about the way he's grown?
There is a lot of demand there from Josh (McDaniels) and myself and I think he's responded to that as far as the leadership that he's had to show this offense. Kept talking about he wants to earn it. Well, I told him that he's earned it. I think he doesn't like something in practice, then he gets it fixed. If he wants a better Friday practice, he talks about it before we go out there on Friday. I think those guys respond to him and the things that he says and the way that he operates.
Drake Maye leaves the field do you talk to him about sliding?
No. I just wait for the doctor to tell me how he's doing. Get the next guy in there, which is Dobbsy (Joshua Dobbs) and get a play in there. Then when the trainers tell me he's okay, then we put him back in there and we'll talk to him about protecting himself and being smart. But I think he has tried to do that for the most part.
Second week in a row you got that score around halftime. How critical is that?
Very. Ending with the football in our hands. Defensively it was good that we didn't give up anything cheap there with 45 seconds. Great job taking a shot and having it be there and Drake (Maye) putting a great ball. Kayshon (Boutte) making a hell of a catch to secure it, getting both feet in. So, any time you can do and double them up, a lot of positives involved. Hopefully that continues to be a trend.
To see the players where you had the seven and a half minute drive and then come right out and come up with the strip sack, how pleasing is that complementary football right there?
Well, and then again, whether that's the way we covered the kickoff, right? (Christian) Elliss going down there and covering at the 20. A lot momentum there, guys running on to the field excited, leads to a play. I thought a really cool play was the second down. (Robert) Spillane makes a tackle, forces it to third-and-one, Zak (Kuhr) dialed up a great call, (Kyle) Dugger covers the guy to the flat, Craig (Woodson) covers the guy on the hide and Milt (Milton Williams) gets a sack and forces them to punt. That's the idea of some team defense and complementary football.
Your players said it was imperative that you leave here with the W. You've got guys talking about how they have a passion for blocking. They just love the team camaraderie that you've built. As a head coach here, when did you know that guys were buying what you were selling? At what point in the season?
Probably after the Vegas game and us going on to the road to Miami and having a difficult environment to play in the heat, in the back-and-forth. I felt like that told us a lot about who we were. Just kind of dipped our toe in the water the first game. I was really proud of what they did in practice and going down there. I think that really showed them. It's always been a tough place for us to play. So, I think that was really important for us and that created a lot of positive momentum. We didn't get discouraged when we had a bunch of turnovers. But had a chance against Pittsburgh and played some pretty decent football and we've played good enough to win.
Mike, obviously you've seen Cam Ward on tape prior to that. What were your impressions of him?
Early on it was pretty good. I think decisiveness, accuracy. They did a nice job early on. Glad our guys settled down.
