Tennessee Titans Media Conference

Sunday, December 12, 2021

Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Ryan Tannehill

Postgame Press Conference


Titans 20, Jaguars 0

Q. What can you say about the defense's performance today?

RYAN TANNEHILL: It was huge. It was fun to watch those guys fly around and make plays, dominating the run game, stopping the run and attacking the football in the pass game and being aggressive, go getting it. When they're flying around like that making plays, it's a lot of fun.

Q. (Indiscernible) how much did it help having those two guys?

RYAN TANNEHILL: Yeah, it was nice to get Julio back, made some good plays for us early, one of the plays I'm thinking of is the out cut to the left, ran a really great route, was able to get the ball to him and kind of got us going on that drive. Thankful to get him back and hope to build up as we stack some games together.

Q. Did you feel like you kind of regained a little bit of confidence, kind of got back to the groove the way you guys were playing before the two-game losing streak?

RYAN TANNEHILL: Yeah, no doubt. I think we've kind of got back to our brand of football a little bit. Defense did a great job of making plays on the ball, and obviously shutout, they did everything good. Offensively we did some good things. Obviously have some things to clean up, but excited to get a win and get rolling in that right direction.

Q. I know there's probably not any one thing that was preventing you guys from capitalizing on the turnovers more, but what stood out about those drives?

RYAN TANNEHILL: Yeah, I think late in the game we're basically in four-minute offense and basically the whole fourth quarter we were in four-minute. They're playing basically cover zero, putting everybody in the box and we're just trying to run and eat up the clock and hopefully get a first 1st downs. When defense is getting turnovers you want to be able to get advantage of it and score, but kind of played the situation a little bit there, as well.

Q. Tight ends were more involved today; was that by design or more what the defense was giving you?

RYAN TANNEHILL: I think a little bit of both. Obviously we had some opportunities that were drawn up for the tight ends and got them the ball, and then there was a couple plays where they were just the guys open and made some plays.

Thankful to get those guys going.

Q. You got the early lead; did you ever feel like threatened at any point or were you pretty comfortable out there?

RYAN TANNEHILL: Well, defense was playing great. Felt really good about where we were at. Obviously wanted to score and wanted to extend that lead and get going a little bit more. I had a couple opportunities down in the red zone or high red, extended red, kicked field goals or attempted field goals. Want to be able to put those drives in the end zone. But excited for some steps that we took today and obviously hats off to the defense and the way they played.

Q. You ran another one in today; are you feeling more comfortable doing that than you did early in your career or just more opportunities?

RYAN TANNEHILL: I don't know. I've always liked to use my legs and try to keep the defense honest. Sometimes the coverage is good and protection is good, and that allows you to get outside the pocket. Sometimes you just feel a lane.

Early drop-back, I think a 3rd down early on, defense did a great job -- I mean offensive line did a great job and kind of split the defense, gave me a crease, I was able to get vertical and get a 1st down there. It's always there, and hopefully we can continue to use it when we get those opportunities.

Q. Vrabel said that the O-line's job was protecting you, he appreciates how tough you are but they've got to try to do a better job of keeping you from getting hit. What's your reaction to that?

RYAN TANNEHILL: I think it all works together. It's not just the O-line, whether receivers or myself. It all works together, and collectively we have to do a better job of being able to get open, get out and protect me, as well.

Q. You talked about having Julio back, but when you have him or AJ, do you think the defense has to respect that, having Julio on the field, they have to play you guys differently because they have to know where he is?

RYAN TANNEHILL: You'd have to ask the Jaguars, but I think so. I think if you don't respect him, you don't account for him, then he's going to hurt you. Obviously had some plays that got us going today, and like I said, hope to build on it as we move forward.

Q. (Indiscernible).

RYAN TANNEHILL: Yeah, we took care of the ball today which I think was a big step in the right direction considering how a couple weeks before that had went. We'll have to keep doing that and then clean up where we have things to clean up, take advantage of some opportunities in the pass game, scoring when we get drives going, finishing with points every drive, and then, yeah, the defense can keep playing like that, we'll be in good shape.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
115466-1-1002 2021-12-12 22:00:00 GMT

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