JESSE DAVIS: : You know where to start and then go over corrections and then meet with the coaches, but biggest thing is don't be pointing fingers at people. We all -- everybody makes mistakes and what not, but this is time, and that's how we're going to treat it.
Q: Do you have an explanation for why --
JESSE DAVIS: : It's things like penalty -- presnap penalties or penalties in general, things like that. You know, it could be one little mistake, and, you know, can all go to hell, but, you know, I just got to focus on getting myself better and getting the guys next to me better, but it's frustrating, that's for sure.
MODERATOR: That it?
BRIAN FLORES: Hi, guys.
Q: Can you figure out a rhyme or reason why the offense struggled --
BRIAN FLORES: I think we played bad across the board. Offensively, defensively, in the kicking game, drops, penalties, turnovers. I mean, we played poorly really across the board, so we got a lot we got to fix, a lot of things we got to correct. Offensively, I mean, just couldn't get anything going. Got it going a little bit late, but, you know, too late, and it's not enough, so we got to do a better job earlier in the game, which we've talked about, but we're not -- we're still not able to do it.
Q: Brian, I know it's four games -- (Inaudible). Are the necessary tools inside the room or do you have to go outside whether that's switching offensive coordinator personnel to get in offense going?
BRIAN FLORES: I think we have to take a look at everything. We will take a look at everything, but I would say it's really, you know, across the board. Offense, defense, special teams starts with me, coaching. I go the to do a better job. I know I say that every week. I don't want to come up here and say that every week, but, you know, I got to do a better job of figuring out a way to help us play better than that, but we also have to -- we got to play better, and we're out there taking turns and making mistakes in all three phases, and, you know, it's not enough. It's not good enough.
Q: Coach, what is the biggest disconnect right now?
BRIAN FLORES: I mean, that's -- I think we -- it's a tough question. I think we've -- I think this is a hard-working team. I think they compete. They prepare the right way. It's not -- it's not manifesting itself on Sundays right now. For long enough periods of time we are inconsistent. We can't string plays together. When we do string plays together, there's a penalty or a drop that sets us back or a penalty defensively and then, you know, instead of being off the field, we're back on the field or a penalty, you know, on the kicking game instead of getting the ball, we give it back to them. I mean, there's a lot of things that aren't connected. We got to play complimentary football in this league. We have not been able to do that, and a lot of it is, you know, basic fundamentals, watching the ball, you know, keeping your hands down and away from the face mask area or the face area. I mean, things that are correctible that have been correctible, and we need to correct.
Q: Brian, can you -- did you -- did you consider going -- (Inaudible) --
BRIAN FLORES: No.
Q: How would you describe what --
BRIAN FLORES: I thought he did some good things late. I thought offensively we had some drops that killed drives. We had some penalties that killed drives. We missed some opportunities early to put some points on the board, and then we couldn't -- we're inconsistent. That's probably the best term to use right now across the board. We're inconsistent. So --
Q: For the second week in a row you got caught on the offensive end. You were throwing the ball down the field, short passes for the first three quarters. Is it Jacoby -- (Inaudible).
BRIAN FLORES: You're right. I mean, I think -- try to take a methodical approach early. We did have some shot plays early. They covered them. We had to check them down, and, you know, we weren't able to push it down the field as much as we wanted to early in the game, and then obviously late when you got to push it down field and you are trying to create plays or make plays, we got a couple, but we also had the fumble where we're trying to push the ball down field. That didn't work in our favor.
Q: Right. Could it have ever helped to force the issue? Like you said, you want to take what the defense gives you and play --
Could it do anything positive for you to force that issue, push the ball down the field and try to establish that earlier?
BRIAN FLORES: Potentially. I mean, I think -- I know early on there was definitely some shot plays there that ended up getting checked down. We need to do more of it. I think as you're trying to call a game, you feel like there's some situations where you're going to get a first down, and then you're going to take a shot. We had drops and penalties in those instances. There's a lot that goes into this that probably don't -- you guys probably wouldn't know, but, you know, that definitely showed up. Hey, you know, we should get a first down on this. It's there. We got it. It's dropped. It's a different -- now it's a different -- we have to go into a different mode.
Q: (Inaudible).
BRIAN FLORES: Well, Will was out. Obviously, I know you guys got that. Probably have more information tomorrow, but, you know, significant enough that he was out for today and probably have more of -- we'll run some tests. We ran some tests. We'll run some more tests and have a better understanding of what happened there. Byron wasn't able to come back. Again, that's another one we're going to -- right after the game, you know, we'll run some tests. I know he was trying to get back out there. We saw him running around a little bit. He just didn't feel like he could really go handle a nine ball, handle the things you have to handle at that position.
Q: Brian, before you came out, we heard Jess Davis describe the locker room as probably not somewhere you want to be right now. Given that and given these two bad losses, how much of your job now is getting players to believe this he can perform so much better?
BRIAN FLORES: I think our players believe that. I think you can't play in this league if you don't have confidence so, I know -- they know that they can play better than we're playing. I think we know that we can eliminate some drops and eliminate some of the penalties that are, you know, not that hard to correct. It's just a little bit more concentration, a little bit more attention to detail. They know that. We've talked about it. That's not showing up on game day, but I think right now it's about that. It's about, you know, watching the ball and staying on side. It's about kicking the ball on the field of play. It's about, you know, keeping your hands away from the face mask area. It's about catching the football. It's about those things, which I think if we just do a little bit more of that, we would -- we would feel better. We would have better results.
Q: What went into the decision there, I think it was the first quarter, to take the delay of game penalty instead of a field goal?
BRIAN FLORES: We wanted to pin them deep, which we ended up doing. 50 -- I forget what the score was. I think it was 3-0, maybe. I thought we were playing decent defensively. I think it was like a 55 or 56-yarder. You know, I think it's a tough decision. Look, I have a lot of confidence in Jason that he would make that kick, but we wanted to play field position right there, and I think we ended up putting them on the 1 yard line, and I think we got the ball back. I'm not sure. I got to go back and watch it, but just, you know, that's kind of one of those you could kick it. If you kick it, you don't get it, and then you give them good field position, or do we want to play a field position game and try to play defense. We were doing some good things defensively at that point, is just felt like that was the best for the team.
Q: Did you say the lack of consistency or of all the things that went wrong, is that maybe a lack of focus in some players or maybe lack of talent at some positions?
BRIAN FLORES: I think it's a lack of focus, a lack of concentration, a lack of attention to detail, a lack of -- I think it's all those things, and that starts with me, and getting these guys to understand how important those little things are, the little things are important in this game. They're very important. The details are important in this game, and if you don't get them right, then you'll have a false start penalty when you don't need them, you'll have a drop when you don't need them, and those are momentum-shifting plays that if you don't make them and they do, you don't get the result you want, so that's what we have to do. We got to focus on those little things, those details, and play a smarter, more disciplined football game because we're not -- we're not doing that right now. We're not doing that. That starts with me. Thanks, guys.
Q: Looking sharp.
CHRISTIAN WILKINS: Appreciate it.
Q: What's the feel like? Describe the emotion in the locker room right now.
CHRISTIAN WILKINS: I would just say we're all disappointed because we worked so hard. We're a tight team. We all like each other. You know, we've been building since the offseason. We know we've got a good group, so it's just a little disappointing because we know we're better than what we have been doing, so, I mean -- that's not to say -- it doesn't mean we haven't always played well enough to win, but, you know, we're not getting the results we want, so we just have to figure out some things and then go from there.
Q: What needs to change?
CHRISTIAN WILKINS: Biggest thing is through all this, through the ups, through the downs, it's a long season, we just got to stay together. That's just what it's going to need to be. You know, when things are tough, when we're losing, stay together. When we're winning or kicking butt, stay together. That's just the biggest thing. Like I said earlier, we got a lot of guys who are talented and a lot of guys who care about each other and care about this team and want to do well for our city, for each other, for our family. Like, we got guys who care, so weigh just got to figure some things out.
Q: You guys talked a lot about last week about everybody being disciplined from a defensive standpoint. Did you feel like you guys got that across today?
CHRISTIAN WILKINS: I don't really know. You know, I just know we were out there competing. We were fighting hard. You know, you got to look at the tape to truly understand and see what went wrong or what went well, what didn't work or whatever, so I truly can't answer that, but I just know, like I said -- like I keep saying, we got a lot of the guys who care and are willing to compete and willing to fight. Got to go back through the film for that.
Q: Jacoby, how do you explain the struggles in the first half and then the last two drives --
JACOBY BRISSETT: It for sure is frustrating, and it's all on us, and we're putting our defense in bad situations and things of that nature, but it's frustrating, you know, and we just have to find a way to stop the bleeding and focus and concentrate and, you know, really just start to really take it one play at a time and repeat that cycle over and over again.
Q: Is there anything in particular that seems to be killing the drive for you guys?
JACOBY BRISSETT: It's really us. It's really us. It's our execution in those critical moments accidents and all of us being on the sage page at once. At times we are on the same page, and we execute, and there are teams that we're not and we get put behind the 8 ball and things like that. We just got to find a way to really, you know, zero in on our task, and it starts from play one of the game, and we can't wait until those minutes at the end of the game to really start going.
Q: Jacoby, it's easy for us in the box and the fans at home to say why aren't they pushing the ball down field, but from your perspective -- we heard Brian say there are opportunities to do so in the game, but from your perspective, what keeps you from destroying to push the ball down the field?
JACOBY BRISSETT: There are definitely opportunities. Sometimes when we called them, they really just push back and they forced us to throw the ball underneath. I think towards -- we started find ways or tried to, but it will come. Whenever they come, they'll start coming in bunches because we have the guys to push the ball down the field.
Q: Those two touchdowns -- sorry. Those two touchdown drives, Devante had a huge role. Does that give you, you know -- what does that do for your chemistry with him moving forward?
JACOBY BRISSETT: Just from last week, last week when we got in those situations, you know, I overthrew him a couple of times, and then this week we hit him because we get that experience, we get to talk about it, we get to practice it and then we come out and then he has, like you said, a big role, and he makes big catches.
Q: Jacoby, to that end, for both Parker and Gesicki it seems like they're getting more involved third quarter, fourth quarter, and are teams trying to take those two guys out?
JACOBY BRISSETT: At points, yeah. They know when certain spots that we like to target these guys, but, you know, it doesn't matter. They're still good players. We just got to find a way to get these guys the ball more often. Got to do a better job of that, and keep getting better.
Q: Jacoby, how are you doing and have you had a chance -- are you getting a chance now with the two games you start and lose, and obviously the Buffalo game you played most of the game. How disappointing is that? How will you take that looking out going forward?
JACOBY BRISSETT: Obviously, it's frustrating. You never want to go out in a game and lose. Nobody goes out and says, hey, I'm okay if we lose. You just keep building. , and you keep finding ways to get better. The Devante Parker situation, for example. The week before, we don't mitt it, and this week we hit a couple (Hit). You keep finding those things to push forward and keep getting better at, and then once they start all forming together, piece by piece at a time, then you have something.
Q: Jacoby, what was going through your mind when the ball came out on that fumble play?
JACOBY BRISSETT: I was trying not to get sacked and trying to get the ball out, and Grover just got me at the right time.
Q: Jacoby, late in the second quarter, the Colts had the ball on fourth and one, and they went for it from their own 27, willing to risk giving you guys the ball on their 27. Did you take note of that? Was that sort of a personal affront?
JACOBY BRISSETT: For sure. Definitely. And, you know, yeah, I mean, it's Frank's MO. He is not scared to do it. Definitely as an offense you say, hey, it's borderline disrespectful, honestly, because they think they can stop you and not get the it. Yeah, I mean, it's part of the game
Q: Is there a simple answer for what is wrong with the running game?
JACOBY BRISSETT: No, it's never simple. But it's never that complicated. You know, you just go the to keep finding ways to do what we're good at in the run game, and I think we are getting better. You know, when we start to hit some of our down hill runs, we popped a couple, but, yeah, I think we're getting better in the run game. We just got to get better at everything, you know?
MODERATOR: Question.
Q: Jacoby, how do you find consistency as an offense especially starting next week?
JACOBY BRISSETT: I think Phil did a good job of just telling us to look in the mirror and that's where it's going to start at because it's going to start from within, and that's where it always starts, and then you go out there in practice and show why you are going to line up and going to dust it off, put the pads on -- back on and get ready to go back to work.
Thank you.
Q: Happy birthday.
MIKE GESICKI: Thank you.
Q: What was difference between the two scoring drives? Seemed like you were a lot more involved in the offense. Was it -- giving you that revamped type defense or not?
MIKE GESICKI: I don't know. I can't put a finger on it. You just have to go out there and make the most of the opportunities when they present themselves, and that's kind of what it was there. Had a couple of opportunities to make a play, and I was able to do so.
Q: (Inaudible).
MIKE GESICKI: Just got to keep doing what we're doing. We just got to keep believing and trusting our coaches, trusting that they're putting us in a position to be successful, and go out and execute. It's little things, man. It goes back to how you do anything and how you do everything. In practice, working out, getting here on game day, going out and making plays. I mean, everything equates to the big picture. Just got to keep going, man. We got another 13 football games ahead of us, so we're going to stick together and that's really all that we can do.
Q: Mike, I know that the starting quarterback is out, but in general, do you feel like there's enough talent in that offensive room to produce at a higher rate?
MIKE GESICKI: Yeah, absolutely. I think we have a lot of talent. Jacoby is a starting quarterback in this league as well, so you can't -- it's not put on any position group or, you know, so on or so forth. This is a game of football, and so they're getting paid to go out and make plays and so are we. They made a couple more than us today, and that's really all it is. We're going to go back and watch the film. I'm sure a lot of guys will go back and watch it tonight and get back in there tomorrow as a team and get ready for Tampa Bay next week.
Q: Brian was out here a few minutes ago and explained blamed lack of focus, concentration, attention to detail, things like that. What are you seeing in practice here? Is it crisp enough?
MIKE GESICKI: We got good players that are making plays in practice, and we got good players that are making plays in games. Just got to string it together more consistently and really it's just -- we're just one play away. You know, you got that one play on offense that will kind of spark us. Our defense is playing tremendous, and we got to be able to go out and compliment them, and I think that you saw that little bit in the fourth quarter. One big play, man. Everybody -- it just wakes it up. Defense and then, you know, they're staying on the field and getting on the ball and go no huddle. They get tired. We make a couple more plays. It's just -- it is what it is, so, like I said, you know, we're going to get back together as a team tomorrow, watch the film and learn from it. We're moving on.
Q: (Inaudible).
EMMANUEL OGBAH: I appreciate that.
Q: How much onus do you provide -- (Inaudible) -- so they can make some plays --
EMMANUEL OGBAH: As a defensive line, we have to do a better job of stopping that run. The run killed us today. We just got to play better complimentary football, all phases. We just have to go back and watch film, see what we messed up on, and just bring it all out next week, so --
Q: Is it communication that you think is the piece that's missing?
EMMANUEL OGBAH: I don't know. We have to go back and watch film and see what we were lacking out there.
MODERATOR: Anything else?
Q: Do you feel like you got appropriate pressure?
EMMANUEL OGBAH: We have to do better as a defense, rushing them. We have to watch film and see where we messed up on. We left money out there on the table, so have to did a better job rushing, so --
Q: Is this a reminder there's no such thing as a quote unquote get right games on paper. Nelson and quarterback and -- (Inaudible).
EMMANUEL OGBAH: The Colts are a good team. On paper they were 0-3, but they were close in every game they played this year. Like I said, we got to be prepared better, got to just play a good complimentary football in all phases, so --
Q: (Inaudible).
EMMANUEL OGBAH: It's a team sport. When the offense is down, we have to pick them up. When the defense is down they have to pick us up. Special teams down, we have to pick them up too. Just got to play good complimentary football. That's it.
Q: Emmanuel, can you speak a bit about the development of Phillips and how that development is going to hopefully overall help the line, especially when you have Raekwon Davis back. What's the future?
EMMANUEL OGBAH: Can you repeat that question?
Q: With Jaelan Phillips and his progression in getting Davis back in a couple of weeks, how do you see the future of the defensive line this season?
EMMANUEL OGBAH: Got too take it Juan game at a time. That starts with practice. Do better at practice, do better in the game, so --
Thank you.
Q: (Inaudible) -- what was your reaction there?
ERIC ROWE: It was at myself. Just -- I mean, you know, good coverage. I didn't make the play, and that's one thing that we've been preaching on all week is these 50-50 balls and we're not coming down with them, and that was one of our key points going in the game and just frustrated that I didn't come down with it.
Q: How would you describe the atmosphere after the game?
ERIC ROWE: The atmosphere, you know, everyone is, you know, frustrated and more at ourselves because we know we're a better team. We're making, you know, just mistakes that you can't make to win a game in this league, so, you know, the atmosphere is -- it's not -- no one has their head down, but, you know, we all need -- we all know what needs to happen.
Q: You're fortunate enough to have been here for the 2019 season. You saw last year's ten-win season. You saw the turn-around in 2019 season. What is missing in this team?
ERIC ROWE: Right now we're making mistakes. We're making mistakes that you can't make. Penalties, stuff that we can control that if you make just enough. It's already tough enough to win a game in this league. When you are making just costly penalties and maybe substitution errors, little stuff like that, it just makes it that much harder to win, and right now that's just -- we just need to get cleaned up.
Q: How do you eliminate those things? What's the process to make sure that doesn't happen?
ERIC ROWE: It's just a mentality thing. Obviously it starts in practice, starts during the week. You know, really it's not even a talent thing. It's everyone getting their mind right for it.
Q: Coach Flores has been here, and it has been one of the most penalized teams. Today Coach Flores mentioned penalties on the other guys. What's been the difference this season with penalties being such an issue?
ERIC ROWE: It's just like I just said. It's just a mentality thing. We all just need to just tighten up and just kind of get those mistakes out the way. It's nothing with talent. It's nothing with coaching. It's nothing with scheme. It's nothing with the other team. It's just us and our mindset that we just need to get it right.
Q: When you said that winning the 50-50 balls is a point of emphasis, was that for the defense specifically this week, or is that a team thing? Was that a team --
ERIC ROWE: I mean, obviously, you want to win them on offense too, right, but specifically for defense, you know, our kind of one of our downfalls right now is we're not winning the 50-50 balls. They're throwing it deep on us, and we're right there in coverage, and we're just not coming down with them. That was just a key emphasis. That's why I was just so frustrated.
Q: How big of a challenge is facing this team right now given all you have to fix and the fact that next Sunday you'll be in Tampa and you are playing the Buccaneers?
ERIC ROWE: It don't matter who we're playing. It doesn't matter because in the NFL it's already tough to win. Every team is good, and then when you are playing, you know -- we're making mistakes like that, we're just making it 100 times harder on ourselves, so, you know, it can be the Bucs, it can be, I don't know, the Giants. It don't matter. We just need to kind of fix ourselves first.
Appreciate it.
MODERATOR: You guys, that's it for today.
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