I'll start off. Great team win. We tried to be relentless and disciplined for 60 minutes this week; that was the focus. I thought our guys came out and did that. I thought our offensive line did a hell of a job protecting, giving up no sacks, the defense getting four. We talked about starting the game fast. Kenny Moore getting a pick six at the start, couldn't have started any better than that. Shout out to the guys, the coaching staff, everybody involved. It takes everybody in this league to do their jobs at a high level, to go out and execute. It was just a great team win for us on the road.
Injury updates: Alec Pierce got a concussion and Kenny Moore had a calf.
Just talk about Jonathan Taylor's performance and that run that kind of sealed it. It was a special day for him.
Yeah, it was awesome. Three touchdowns on the ground. The offensive line paved the way for him. That big-time run there at the end, that was the old-school iso play. I know I talked to you guys a little bit about that during the week. I said, we put in an old-school iso. It was a hell of a job up front. (Tyler) Warren leading, and then obviously the 28 (Jonathan Taylor) breaking the tackles and getting through there for the big run, it was fun. It was like old-school smashmouth football.
How good does it feel when you put something in like that? You talk about it all week and then you see it come together in that fashion?
Yeah, it was awesome. It's a credit to Jim Bob (Cooter) and the offensive line coach and assistant offensive line coach and Tommy (Manning) our tight end coach, those guys coming up with that deal. It was awesome. It takes everybody, like I said, everyone doing their job at a high level, one thing at a time.
Talk about Tyler Warren, that play, that block, and do you think that defined what he brings to your team?
Yeah, he's just an old school throwback freaking baller. The toughness, the grittiness that he plays with, it's awesome. He's a blue-collar player, do anything for the team, and just does the job at a high level.
With Jonathan Taylor, you guys kind of struggled with the run early on. Is that why you just keep pounding away, because that play might be coming eventually?
Yeah, we threw it a little bit there early. I thought Daniel (Jones) was very efficient there throwing it. What did he have, 113 QB rating — had 18 of 25. He was efficient throwing it. Obviously mixed it in with the run there, too, and the offensive line, starts up front with those guys and them doing their jobs. Hell of a team win.
How big is Daniel Jones' ability to avoid sacks?
It's huge. That third down right there around midfield was big because we were kind of on the edge of field-goal range, and obviously we're trying to get it there and they brought some pressure there for him to get out of there and scramble for the first down was a huge play for us there. I think he's just seeing it really well. He's seeing it really well, getting us in and out of the right plays, delivering the ball with accuracy. He's playing really good right now.
You said throw to score, run to win. That's kind of what it looks like, right?
Yeah, a little bit. Sometimes that's how it goes, you know what I mean? Every game can be different, but our guys are protecting up front, our wideouts are making plays, everyone is getting involved. Take it one week at a time. But excited about where we're at right now as a football team.
With that sort of balance, whatever you want to call it, how much more difficult is it for teams to defend you?
Yeah, absolutely. You've got a guy that's the signal caller back there that studies his tail off, looks at tape all day every day, grinding, looking at different things, knowing the checks, understanding what we're trying to get done offensively, getting us in and out of the right plays, that stuff pays huge dividends in this league because there's a lot going on. Obviously, this is one of the toughest positions in all of sports to play, and he's doing it right now as good as it gets.
Has this team exceeded your expectations so far?
No, I felt really good. Obviously when you go into a season, obviously there's the outside noise, but in our locker room, our guys knew what we had and the way we went about our business all through training camp and offseason, and it's about going out and executing and playing together for one another. Our guys are doing that right now, and we've got to continue to do that. Like I said, it's a one day at a time, it's a week-to-week league, and we've got to stay disciplined in our approach.
Week 3 in the NFL sometimes is like that week of trap games. For you guys to preach focus and discipline all week and then to go out and win by 21, what does that say about this team?
That they're locked in. I think it's our first road test. We knew there was going to be some noise early, handling the noise, the communication up front. I thought it was great. I thought the defense played great. They were aggressive there, trying to get the quarterback off his spot. He's a talented player. You can see it. I think he's going to be a hell of a football player in this league. There was some stuff where they were going tempo that he looked really good. I thought our guys handled everything really good. It's a good team.
Efficiency sounds boring, but no turnovers so far this year. Daniel Jones, 9.1 per attempt today. The rushing average. How are you so efficient?
Like I said, I think it's our guys. It's our players, and it's our coaches. But it starts with the players. This league is all about the players, always has been, always will be, and those guys are grinding away, putting in the time, putting in the work during the week, practicing at a high level, and you've got to practice hard. That's what it comes down to. It starts with practice, starts in the meeting rooms, and those guys have been locked in. Even the walk-throughs, they're locked in in those walk-throughs. Those are a mess around deal when we walk through in the morning before practice. They've been doing a hell of a job with it, all three phases. Like I said week-to-week league, got to continue it.
You talked about Xs and Os with Daniel Jones, but from a mentality standpoint, knowing everything about his career, when did you know, okay, he can handle the pressure of being the guy, win or lose, if that makes sense?
Yeah, I think early on, first couple weeks he was here from a mental standpoint, just having those conversations, and he's been around it. He knows what this league is all about. He's going to work his tail off and give this team everything he's got, no matter what happens on that field. He's going to go back to work, and like I said, he's been playing at a super high level right now. Offensive line has been protecting. Defense has been playing great. Lou (Anarumo) has done a hell of a job. Just got to keep it going.
What did you think of Rigoberto Shanchez's one punt today?
Yeah, I was kind of pissed about it, to be honest. He got some work in today finally. Yeah, we were on the headsets, like crap, we punted. Shoot. Because we thought we had the penalty, so we're like, we've still got it going, and then we had the punt there. But it was a hell of a punt, got them backed up.
Not that you needed it today, but when you hear the home fans booing, is there a blood-in-the-water mentality there?
No, I don't know. Look, I'll say this: I've got a lot of respect for (Brian) Callahan. I think he's a hell of a football coach, and I think those guys play hard and they play tough.
