Q. Justin, how would you assess your first game, and could you describe what happened on the two fumble exchanges?
JUSTIN FIELDS: Yeah, I think overall, I think we ran the ball well, moved the ball well. I think, just a summary of the game, we were just shooting ourselves in the foot, fumbled snaps, I think all three phases. We could definitely be better on that part.
I think the snapping part, we've just got to be on the same page. I will put that on me to just be on the same page and know who's in at center, know how to adjust and what I need to do next in the game.
Q. Did you get the chance to look at the incompletion of Van Jefferson?
JUSTIN FIELDS: Yeah, I thought he was inbounds. I'm not going to lie.
Q. Was Freiermuth open in the middle?
JUSTIN FIELDS: I think the defender did a good job undercutting him. It would have had to have been a perfectly placed ball, but no.
Q. But you think Van got it?
JUSTIN FIELDS: I think Van was in.
Q. You started out 5 for 5. How do you feel about your rhythm coming out?
JUSTIN FIELDS: I feel like I was in a good rhythm. Like I said, I think we were moving the ball well. Just the fumbled snaps, things like that, they can kill a whole drive. I think the overall rhythm of things, we were in and out of the huddle fast and felt good overall.
Q. From what you learned about this offense having the last few weeks of practice and now in the game, how do you feel like it helps you and supports you as a quarterback?
JUSTIN FIELDS: I feel like Arthur is good at game planning to every player on offense, our strengths. As long as we're playing to our strengths, doing what everybody does well, getting them the ball on certain concepts, certain routes, and of course running the ball is always going to be a big part of who we are. As long as we do that and execute like we know how to execute, I think we'll be great.
Q. What do you think worked out better on that third drive, especially when Zach Frazier went in at center?
JUSTIN FIELDS: I just don't think -- there wasn't any fumbled snaps. Like I said, it's hard to put a drive together when you have a fumbled snap and you're second and 13 and you're behind the sticks. Like I said, just the self-inflicted wounds are the only things that hurt us, especially when I was in the game.
Q. Do you feel like you learned anything about this offense getting in some live game reps?
JUSTIN FIELDS: You can kind of get a feel on what Arthur's thinking, how he goes about the game, how he just communicates with you on the sideline and stuff like that. So that was good. Just being with them and kind of having a real in game experience with them.
Of course all the coaches and stuff like that, like Tom and stuff like that, just the whole process of everything, just kind of getting used to everything. But I think the overall process went well. Just the logistics of everything went well.
Q. You're saying, as an opponent, you noticed Arthur is a little fiery on the sideline. Was he different today than he has been at training camp?
JUSTIN FIELDS: I think he's in a different role now, so of course he's not going to step on anybody's toes. Again, this is the preseason. You never know what can happen as the season moves along.
Q. What is some of the feedback that you think you got from him or anybody else about your rhythm, especially early on when you were able to connect on several early throws?
JUSTIN FIELDS: I mean, nothing crazy. I think that's what is expected at the end of the day. Just moving the ball, getting completions, and not making any dumb decisions or errant throws and just being smart with it.
Q. Regarding the feedback, how about what you and Russ talked about on the sideline?
JUSTIN FIELDS: Yeah, he was just there encouraging me, and we were just kind of looking at the iPads after every drive. He was being a great teammate today.
Q. Justin, what are your takeaways from this one?
JUSTIN FIELDS: Like I said, just can't shoot ourselves in the foot. Have to do the routine things routinely. Q-C exchange. Like I said, I think that's the thing that stopped us when we weren't driving the ball well. It's not a good feeling when you're second and 13, second and 14. It's hard to score like that.
Q. Do you feel that some receivers are more comfortable with certain routes in terms of do you feel more comfortable throwing in certain routes to certain receivers?
JUSTIN FIELDS: Most definitely. I think our receiving group is versatile. I think a lot of people can do a lot of things, so it's great for our offense. It makes our offense more complex when we're able to put guys at different spots, and they can run the same concepts or different routes or stuff like that.
It's just great having a versatile group of receivers that can do a lot of things.
Q. What's the focus moving forward, just specifically with one more week left in the trip?
JUSTIN FIELDS: I think just tighten up the details. Like I said, I think we're focusing on just controlling what we can control and not shooting ourselves in the foot. It's just a repetitive thing. As long as we do that, put ourselves in great field position and do the routine things routinely, I think we'll be great because other than that, like I said before, just move the ball well. I think we executed well, ran the ball well.
When we were doing the routine things routinely, of course the ball was moving downfield. So just do that.
Q. Was there a common thread in the QB-Center exchange? Did you see something different, or did the same thing happen?
JUSTIN FIELDS: I think it's the same thing. We're going to do some work this week and make sure it doesn't happen again.
Q. I know it's just a preseason game, but what did it feel like being announced as the starter? New crowd, new uniform, all of those things. Did it feel surreal at all?
JUSTIN FIELDS: It was cool. I think our uniforms are really cool. I like the black and yellow, black and gold. It was awesome to put the new threads on, get in a new stadium, get a new feel. It was awesome.
Q. Any impressions of the rookie linemen in front of you suiting up for their first NFL game?
JUSTIN FIELDS: Yeah, I mean, the biggest thing is with the younger guys, it's their first NFL game. You try to talk to them before the game, try to get a sense of how they're feeling, and try to comfort them.
Troy actually asked me a couple of days ago if I was nervous my first NFL game, and I said of course. If you're not nervous -- I think nerves come. You can be two, three years in the league, and first game still comes, and you still might have a little nerves in you.
Like I think after a few plays, first few plays you're in there, it just goes back to playing football. I think those guys are just doing a great job growing and learning. Of course they're just going to get better as time goes along.
Q. You had a couple completions to George tonight, and you obviously had a connection with him in Latrobe. What has led to you two developing that chemistry?
JUSTIN FIELDS: I think just reps. Like I said, I got an opportunity to run with the ones. So just me and him gaining that connection back and just getting on the same page. But of course he's a great receiver, especially with the ball in his hands. You just want to give him the ball, and he'll make sure he gets some yards after the catch.
So he did, he showed that today. I'm excited to see what he does next week.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports