Jeff (Simmons) says he told you not to be a Grinch after this. How did you react to that, and how was this win in your eyes?
It's a good win, just because it was the first time we played good enough, complementary, all three phases. Defense, I think they kept us in the game the entirety, part of it, especially when we had our three-and-outs, but it was a good team win.
You weren't on the team the last time that they won a game at home. Have you guys as a rookie class felt kind of the weight of that this season?
No, we didn't feel the weight of it. We just want to win every game. We got to be able to establish a home atmosphere by winning games. So, the biggest thing is us how can we go 1-0 each and every week and try to continue to play complementary football.
How much did that opening drive in the second half to go down, and you get a couple of deeper shots, and you guys score and take the lead. How much of that set the tone for the whole second half?
I wouldn't say more setting the tone. I just think we continued to play high-level football, both sides. Everybody doing their job. And it's still going to be some stuff to clean up offensively and defensively just from little miscues. But I think we all just have the right mindset each and every play. Trying to be efficient on both sides of the ball and continue to keep the clock running, continue to score points.
The running game and Tony Pollard's emergence over these last three games, how much has that made it a little easier for you in the pass game when it's time to throw the ball?
It was made very easy. Tony (Pollard), he's one of the most unselfish people out there. And for him to continue to let his presence be felt when things are good, when things that are bad, I mean it's why we're starting to trend upwards. The O-line, I think they do a good job, the run game each and every week. We've just got to continue to play complementary football, help the defense out, and continue to be balanced on offense.
You, Elic (Ayomanor), (Chimere) Dike, Gunnar (Helm), are so instrumental in this, how significant is it that the young guys are kind of doing it together, experiencing winning together?
It's fun, especially when we all contribute. A lot of our work pays off, and I think the biggest thing for us as rookies is we just want to win football games. We all don't care about how we win, it's just we all have the will to win.
Would you say this was your most efficient game of the season?
I would say so, especially from just a continuing-to-stay-above-the-chain standpoint. I think in the pass game and run game, we were able to get what we wanted out of it. And I think that's why we were able to have one of our more productive days on offense.
With the comfort level and confidence that you seem to be playing in the pocket, is there a different level that you're reaching as far as feeling the flow of the game and just being able to function?
There is a different flow, because I think as a quarterback, if you can manipulate a lot of stuff, a lot of things will go your way, but you got to continue to play on schedule and on time of how the drive is going, you got continue to emphasize what's going in that drive—what's going good in that drive whether it's pass or run game, and you just got to continue have a next play mentality. You're going to have bad plays, but if you have the right mindset each and every down, you'll take care of a lot.
Is there anything other than reps that help you unlock that comfort level?
Just continue to watch a lot of film, knowing what a DC (defensive coordinator) wants to call here, knowing our best matchups, especially on third down, so just continue to watch film with my guys. Coaches have been helping me out a lot.
Where do you think you have improved the most as a team and how good does it feel to be kind of ending this year with some momentum?
I think the biggest thing that we've improved, just as a whole, with just our mindset, attacking each and every day, whether it's a walk-through, a jog-through, or actually in practice or in a game. Each and every rep, we have to have the right mindset that it's going to be a touchdown rep offensively, defensively having to be game-stopping rep. The more that we can emphasize the little things, the things that's going to win us games, we'll continue to go in the right direction.
When did that mindset flip as a team?
That's always been the mindset the whole time. But I think the switch flip is when we just got going. It's hard to—when you never get going and then try to get going, I think that's one of the hardest things to do. But once you get going, and you see what good football is supposed to look like, I think that real time switch just flips each and every day.
On a play that Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce pretty much made famous, which is a little mid tight end shovel pass. How good did it feel to be able to execute that play against that team?
I'm just glad we called it. I mean, all that crazy stuff, that's me every play. So, I think Bo (Hardegree) and Nick (Holz) and Stock (Luke Stocker), tight ends coach, I think they did an unbelievable job with the play. They let us freelance a little bit and I'm glad Chig (Okonkwo) got a gusto.
Cam, how difficult has this whole season been for you, just as somebody who wasn't used to probably not having success playing football? And do you feel like now that you're almost kind of on the other side of it, that you are going to be a lot better for what you went through this year?
Yeah, I think I've been better each and every week. Whether it's one thing or whether it's a major thing. And I've had stops where I didn't have good football, whether it was the team as a whole or just me individually. So, I know how to handle tough situations. And just the team that they have around me, the guys that we have in our locker room, we're able to handle those situations. So, I think just going forward, I just continue to control what I can control, lead my teammates, be a great team player and try to win games. I think everything else will take care of itself.
What's the most important thing for you for the final two games of this season?
To win games and continue to put up a lot of points on offense. We pride ourselves on scoring the football and we have to make an emphasis on that every drive. Every drive has to end with points, but then the more we can score the football, the defense continues to do what they're doing, the wins will stack on.
Van Jefferson is a veteran wide receiver on his team. He mentioned that he talked to you and gave you advice and things like that. How has his advice been critical to your development and your process on the field?
I think the best part of having Van J(efferson) is he can see it from a different point of view than I can. Not only the years he's played, where he's lined up because they don't see everything I see when I'm dropping back, and I can't see what they're seeing while they're running. So, he's able to let me know just certain leverages that a DB's playing, helps me with my ball placement, and when things get rough, he always stays in the right mindset. He never gets too high, never gets too low. And I know he's always there to make a play for us.
Are you excited to see Miami get the win yesterday?
Yes, sir. They got some stuff to clean up as well, man, but I mean for them boys to get the get they first ever CFP (College Football Playoff) win in the program history, something I wish I could have did, but I know the guys in that locker room they got us and I plan on them going out there and beating Ohio State.
