Q. What kind of progress did you see in the passing game, seemed like Jalen was getting the ball down the field as well and making some plays vertically that he had not made the first couple games?
BRIAN JOHNSON: Yeah, you see those guys continue to get better, each and every week, and you know that's what this thing is about ultimately is continually trying to find ways to improve. But you know, we've still got a ways to go. You know, by no means are we a finished product in terms of what we want to be. So you know for us that goal is to find that consistency to be able to go out there and do it at a really high level week-in and week-out.
Q. On the fourth and two, the play before that, the third and two, what made you make that call and what did you think about it after -- after the fact?
BRIAN JOHNSON: Yeah, I think, you know, the biggest thing is sometimes if you're playing without getting like too specific, but if you're playing in four-down football, sometimes you can try to hit a shot on the third down. You know, I think it's very similar to that thought process, ten or 15 years ago, second is one, you know, a lot of people second and one sometimes would be like, oh, maybe we can take a shot on second and one.
For us, we have a lot of confidence in all of our players, every play on that list that we can call throughout the course of a game and credit to Tampa Bay. They did a great job of playing defense against us in that set.
Q. The red zone -- when you went back and you looked back at the red zone, what was your assessment?
BRIAN JOHNSON: Yeah, I think, ultimately, you know it all starts with us as coaches. Our job is to put those guys in the best spots possible each and every play.
But you know, you do leave that game with a feeling of, we left a lot of meat on the bone in terms of points and ultimately that's what it's about is us being able to score points. And when you look at it out of the four opportunities, the four scoring opportunities to score one touchdown is -- is unacceptable, and you know we know we have to be better. We have to put it in better spots. We have to execute better. And it takes all of us. It takes all of us to go and do that and -- and do it at a really high level week-in and week-out.
But you know, you come back and you watch that tape and you see kind of how some of those series unfolded, really unfortunate that we didn't finish like we wanted to.
Q. Aside from the quarterbacks -- the runs in the red zone, is that something defenses are doing?
BRIAN JOHNSON: No, you know, nothing that they are doing. Sometimes I think the read takes you to a certain place and there have been some read plays where he's had to give the ball and not pull it. So you know, I think each game is its own individual entity and there's always that cat-and-mouse and kind of the ebbs and flow of how each game unfolds. I think just moving forward, like when you start to put plans in and things of that nature, you always just try to give yourself the best opportunity to score six.
Q. Fewer zone calls for two or three games --
BRIAN JOHNSON: Compared to?
Q. Compared to what you had with Jalen.
BRIAN JOHNSON: No, I don't think so. There's been different reads, you know, probably a different emphasis defensively of how to play some of those reads.
But I think when you talk about the zone read game, there is some gray in some of those reads in terms of how defenses, you know, try to play it, you know, within their structure.
So you know, for something for us, that's obviously a huge part of what we do and we have to continue to emphasize it and make sure we are utilizing it at the right times.
Q. We saw the wrinkle off the other sneak look. What's that process like playing off a play that you guys run so well?
BRIAN JOHNSON: Well, you're always trying to find unique ways to complement things that you do and things that you do a bunch. So you know, any time that we can, you know, we can find these unique ways to complement what we are doing offensively, you know, that marries certain formations or that marries certain schemes, you want to try to do that to make sure you are keeping the defense honest and protect -- and protect your main plays.
So you know, that's what that was about. Unfortunately it didn't work, so we've got to go back to the drawing board and find something else.
Q. Was it going to work?
BRIAN JOHNSON: What's that.
Q. Is it going to work?
BRIAN JOHNSON: I don't know. You know, so those are things where you try, you know, you try something new and something created and unfortunately, you know, to credit Tampa Bay, they did a great job of defending it.
Q. Talking to Dallas yesterday, mentioned you guys did see some exotic looks over these first three weeks because of the coordinators. For lack of a better term, he expects that to slow down, more traditional. Do you agree with that?
BRIAN JOHNSON: Yeah, I think, you know, credit to obviously the first three defenses that we played this season, I think, you know, each -- each one of those teams presented a very unique challenge and you know this great players and great staffs and they put together plans to try to stop what we do well, and you know, credit to our guys for being resilient and finding the way to continue to battle, continue to find a way to have some production and ultimately win those football games.
So you know, I think for us, I think the biggest point is that each game is really its own independent entity. You know, going -- going into each game, you know, teams are going to have specific plans and it's our job to be able to figure out what that is, be able to adjust to it properly and put our guys in the best position possible to go win.
Q. How do you guys emphasize those plays -- (off mic). What was the difference? What led to that?
BRIAN JOHNSON: You know, I think our guys did a great job of making plays, both down the field and turning some, you know, shorter catches into explosive plays.
I think when you have dynamic players like AJ and Dallas and Smitty and those guys, like there was a couple hitches that AJ called in the corner, missed a tackle and he was able to turn two of those into explosive plays. But there was also some plays in the drop back game where we hit a big eight cut versus a drop-in coverage. Some of those things are just a matter of us executing at a high level and getting our guys in position to where they can do things with the ball in their hands and space.
Q. Is the strength of Washington's defense their four first round draft choices?
BRIAN JOHNSON: Yeah, I think so. Obviously that front four is as good as anybody in the NFL when you talk about Jonathan Allen and Payne and Swift and Chase Young, all of those guys, they can wreak havoc. You know, I think that's something that obviously is going to be a huge focal point for us in the game is that matchup.
So we have to do a great job of trying to put our guys in the best possible, and you know, I know everybody is excited to get going on Sunday.
Q. Over 160 last week, but the first week in the season -- against the run, what is the reality --
BRIAN JOHNSON: Well, I think they have excellent players. You know, particularly inside, and the two defensive tackles are guys that can create havoc, that can get knocked back, that create, you know, tackles for loss and they also can rush the passer. You know, it is definitely a very, very unique front that has a great skill set, and it will be a challenge for us to go out there and play, Sunday, but I know our guys, how competitive they are, and I know everybody is looking forward to that challenge.
Q. Two big plays on the same drive, how important is it to develop that third receiver, whether it's him or Quez, just to keep defenses honest?
BRIAN JOHNSON: I think, you know, I think it's very important in terms of that all five skill players can contribute to the offense in a meaningful way. You know, whether that's in the run game, the pass game, making -- making big catches, drawing coverage sometimes is a part of that. But if you have all five position players available at your disposal and those guys have the ability to make those type of plays, I think it makes it really hard for you to defend.
Q. Talked to Nick yesterday about motion. This offense doesn't use a ton of it. Is there something behind that philosophy?
BRIAN JOHNSON: Yeah, I think Nick's mentioned this before, but with motion, for us, when we do use motion, there has to be a specific reason for it. I think that's just different philosophies in terms of what you see throughout the course of every level of football. Some people motion just to motion. Some people motion to get specific things set for their offense. But for us, I think that's something that we have kind of done the past three years.
Q. Stood in the pocket on that touchdown pass what dictates from your perspective whether he should stay or extend the play --
BRIAN JOHNSON: You know, I think the one thing that I've always preached to Jalen that each play is independent. I think once you get to that mindset, especially at the quarterback position, is it requires a ton of instinct, a ton of feel to understand like what the game needs at that moment and you know, the play that he made on a 34-yard touchdown pass to sit in there and really wait for OZ to clear across was as good of a play that I've seen him make here in three years. So you can see that growth, that development, in terms of how he's being able to utilize different parts of his game to make plays.
Q. Is that a play -- in the pocket --
BRIAN JOHNSON: Yeah, I've seen him stay in the pocket before, and you've seen plays where he's gotten out and made explosive plays on the perimeter, and you've seen plays like that where he's gotten out and threw the ball away. So you've kind of gotten all three results from it.
For me, it's like, you know, we're looking at him in a vacuum in terms of like treating them all independently and not based on the result, you know, what you see, trusting the process of how you are maneuvering the pocket and being able to have your eyes and feet in concert at all times.
Q. What is it about that play that elevated to that spot in your mind where it's one of the best he's made or the best?
BRIAN JOHNSON: I think because the throw -- because he did get hit at the end of the throw. To be able to throw that ball like while getting hit, while standing there and getting the hit, I think that was a really impressive play.
Q. Chris Simms has made a play on the Tush-Push -- for people to hit Jalen Hurts, and your thoughts on maybe people taking shots at him to try to stop that play in some way?
BRIAN JOHNSON: Yeah, you know, I don't know this whole Tush-Push thing has been like a huge controversy but I don't -- I really have no thoughts on the play or people's opinions on the play. I think ultimately, the bottom line is we try to put our players in the best position possible, and you know, that play has been an advantage for us. It has been a weapon for us over the course of the last year and a half, and we know it will be a focal point for defenses try to take that away. But what other people comment on it, has no difference or no bearing or effect on how we operate.
Q. The controversy on that play, as a former quarterback, is there something the quarterback can do to make it easier for the offensive lineman to convert and easier for everybody? Do you have to have a feel at that position to convert the sneak?
BRIAN JOHNSON: Yeah, for sure. I mean, you look at just in the history of -- people have been running quarterback sneak for a really long time, and you just go back throughout the history of the league, a couple come to mind. I remember as a young teenager watching Tom Brady run it against the Ravens on a huge fourth down conversion. I remember at one point of my career that, play was called Brady. When we were in Florida, we used to call quarterback sneak Brady because we saw him do a bunch.
That play has been run for probably as long as the game's been around. Fortunately for us, we have a great group of guys who can execute at a high level.
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