Browns 23, Jaguars 13
Q. Can you talk about the approach of the defensive line tonight in their first group together since you were rebuilt?
JOSH ALLEN: First and foremost, man, our goal every time we go out and take the field is to stop the run. That's our mindset because we can't rush the passer, we can't get pressure, we can't do what we need to do unless we stop the run. That's the easiest thing to do in the NFL, and if a team is real efficient a team should do that. Our mindset was to come in this game to stop the run. We didn't know who was going to play. We was ready for whoever, and we just got to stop the run and get better week in, week out.
Q. Screen defense, it looked like they got a couple of decent screen passes on you guys. How do you fix it?
JOSH ALLEN: I don't know, run to the ball. You know, it's just one of those gimmick plays that's all about your eyes and just leverage. You know, just got to run to the ball, play with that, remember what we're coached, and we'll get it fixed. That's not a hard fix.
Q. What are your feelings, disappointed that it didn't go better or first preseason game, all these new faces, everything, and so --
JOSH ALLEN: I mean, first and foremost, we play to win. I don't care -- like for ones, twos, threes, fours, I don't care. Our mindset is to go out there and win, and we didn't win. That kind of hurts everybody, just to have that pride. We have a pride to us that we just don't want to lose, and just to come out and lose hurts, but I know this team, and I know we're going to be good, and we're going to keep fighting. That's what it is.
Q. Did you feel like with all the new guys you communicated pretty well on defense?
JOSH ALLEN: Yeah, communication was something that we did not worry about just coming in because I know we communicate throughout practice, and I know it's going to carry on today. Communication-wise up front, back end, like it was -- I feel like we did what we needed to do, and I feel like we can always get better and improve, but it's definitely a great start, and we just need to keep improving week in.
Q. What have you seen from DaVon Hamilton?
JOSH ALLEN: Oh, man. DaVon has the capabilities of being the best nose tackle in the whole NFL. We tell him that. Everybody tells him that. I truly believe in -- like I said, everybody truly believes that he can be the best nose tackle, and I think he is. But as long as he believes that, as long as he goes out there and does his job, he's going to be the best.
Q. You've seen a number of guys shipped out the last couple years; what's that like when a guy gets traded right before in training camp like Joe did the other day?
JOSH ALLEN: It's football. You know, it's the national football league. The more you play in this league, the more stuff you're going to see, as y'all probably know in your profession.
You just can't take anything for granted. Luckily Joe went to a team that needed him most. That's a blessing. But for a lot of other people, it doesn't happen like that. You know, I hope Joe and his family transition well, and I wish him nothing but the best, and any other guy who's about to go -- these first cuts, I feel like we bust -- I feel like everybody on this team through training camp busts their butt to be on this team, but we can't have everybody on this team. But I think they keep working, somebody is going to pick them up.
Q. What would you say about the depth at that position, the inside linebacker spot?
JOSH ALLEN: The inside linebacker spot? We're deep. I feel like we have a good group in the middle. I feel like we just keep playing downhill, play the run, and just do -- they do linebacker things, I feel like we're going to be straight, so really not worried about that.
Q. K'Lavon Chaisson stayed on the field a little bit longer than the rest of y'all did. What kind of progress have you seen from him especially in this new season?
JOSH ALLEN: I mean, from what I've seen, I saw him get a lot of good rushes in when they were -- like when the Browns actually started to drop-back pass, and he was getting a lot of good rushes, so now he's starting to learn how to capitalize with those and set his moves up, so just seeing the growth from year one to year two is definitely a big improvement, and like I said, I can't wait to really just rush with him and just go all out. It's going to be a fun year to watch us two plus Smoot. Smoot is somebody that's definitely grown, and I can't wait to rush with him.
Q. How would you assess the pressure you put on the quarterback as a unit tonight?
JOSH ALLEN: Tonight? Presently? I mean --
Q. As on outside lineman playing a new scheme, did you like the pressure you put on him? Do you feel you have to improve that? How are you feeling after this game?
JOSH ALLEN: I mean, when we put ourselves in a position to rush the passer, I feel like we're going to live up to -- we're going to have that opportunity. But from when I was out there, I feel like for when it was more quick passes and -- know what I'm saying, so the best we can do is just really push the pocket and get our hands up so we might get tips and passes.
But later in the season, once we play more and more, we get in more and more situations and more and more different types of plays, that's when you can come back to me on that one.
Q. This loss in the preseason, it doesn't generally correlate or indicate how a team will do in the regular season, but for a team that hasn't won in 16 games, how much do you guys feel like you desperately need a win, especially the guys from last year, even if it is preseason?
JOSH ALLEN: Yeah, I mean, last year was last year. I mean, you're not going to get another answer. We have a whole new coaching staff. We have whole new faces as you can tell on the defensive side, all new faces that has not played in a Jaguars' uniform before, who's playing in a winning culture, who's playing on teams that have been successful on defense, and so now they're bringing that here, and I feel like as soon as we play together and as soon as we like really connect on the way of like, okay, I know what you're about to do next. I feel like we're about to be a tough defense. I feel like we're going to be a tough team. I feel like this is going to make us stronger because we know we need to fix. It's not like anybody is out-talenting us. It's not like we just got blown out.
We're going to be straight. We're going to go back to work on Monday -- well, we're going to watch film Monday, get rejuv Monday, come back -- what's today, Saturday? Come back Monday, be ready to practice, you know what I'm saying? That's what I'm looking forward to. I'm looking forward to seeing how people are going to respond, and we're ready for the next challenge when that comes.
Q. What was Coach Meyer's message after the game? This was his first time in the NFL; he's used to winning. What was his message afterwards?
JOSH ALLEN: Come to work. Like you said, he's not used to that. That makes me want to play even harder. Like I want to win for myself and my team but also this whole coaching staff, for him, because that's the trust that he puts in us, and that's the trust that we need to give back to him. He basically told us to come back to work. He went up to guys individually to talk to them, see how their head was at, and everybody I talked to I know we're locked in. It's the only way to improve every week, and just come back stronger.
Q. What did you think about CJ Henderson's play tonight, and what have you tried to do if anything to try to help him get back to feeling like he's an important part of this team?
JOSH ALLEN: I mean, he is an important part of this team. He's been out -- he was out for I don't know how long, but I know he was out for a long time, and when he came back, he came back slow. Not slow in play-wise but just like he has to get back into the swing of things. We've been weeks in in training camp, and he comes back in the thick of things.
For him just to go out there and make plays like that, I feel like we have a heck of a talented corner, and I feel like it's just going to make our job a lot easier, him, Shaq -- yeah.
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