Broncos 23, Jaguars 13
Q. This week coming up is going to be a big one for the leaders; now what?
SHAQUILL GRIFFIN: Same mission still applies. We've got to stick with it. We've got to continue to believe, have faith. The main thing is we can't point no fingers. We've got to make sure we all stick with each other because we've still got a long season left. The main thing I don't want guys to do is start giving up now, you know.
The main focus is stay in it, continue to believe. I've got to be able to trust you guys on offense, I got to be able to trust everybody on the defense, I got to be able to trust everybody on the special teams that I know you're going to have my back from first quarter to the end of the fourth. I don't need no waver. We might bend but we never break, and that's the main message.
I came in after the game, as soon as we came in the locker room, I went around the whole locker room saying to the ones who had their head down, stay in it, continue to believe, because once it turn around, once it clicks, I need everybody on board. That's my message going around the locker room, and I'm going to stick by it.
Q. So you sense that this kind of a start can lead to that, so you're trying to be proactive?
SHAQUILL GRIFFIN: Oh, most definitely. I feel like for defense-wise, I felt like we made a huge step from game 1 to game 2 when it comes to communication, getting the call out on time, being able to play fast.
The main thing now is let's get the turnovers and make the plays we need to make. We've got to do better with that. We've got to start getting the ball more in practice so that it can turn over into the game. I feel like we did better with sticking with our job.
Coach Cullen did an amazing job making sure the calls -- I feel like his play call was amazing this game. I made sure I told him that right after the game, that was perfect, every situation was great. Now let's build off of it, let's continue to build off that, let's continue to get this defense together. We've just got to start getting turnovers, continue to help the offense out.
Q. Was it frustrating to you, you almost had a pick there and kind of -- going from the Houston game you also had -- also this close to getting one, too?
SHAQUILL GRIFFIN: Yeah, so a tad bit frustrating. I don't know what happened. When I punch the ball up I try to be gentle, I try to make sure it lay in my hands, and as soon as I hit the ground it just bounced up. And then I had another one -- I think the ball is mad at me (laughter). I'm going to go grab a football and take it over, lay with it, talk to it, pray with it, figure out something because something ain't right because usually if it's going to touch my hands I've got to keep it. But like I said, I've got to start doing more in practice, catching the ball in practice, get used to it, so when footballs is in the air I know they're mine. That's something I've got to focus on and do better with.
Q. Have you seen the replay of that?
SHAQUILL GRIFFIN: Actually just seen it maybe a couple seconds ago and it was still frustrating (laughter.)
Q. (Indiscernible) catching balls off your back?
SHAQUILL GRIFFIN: Whatever it takes. They'd better put a mat down or something so when I fall -- I've got to do something. I'm going to figure it out.
Q. Shaq, throughout the game the defense definitely kept you in it. How do you use that to keep the heads up in the locker room?
SHAQUILL GRIFFIN: The main thing is, like I said, the defense is focus on the defense. If we can do that, you've got our quarterback Trevor, understand, we've got your back no matter what; do whatever it takes to get the offense together. The receivers, we got your back; do whatever it takes to get this offense going. And the defense, focus on defense. Focus on doing your job. Let's make the plays we need to make. Let's work on getting turnovers because we still have room to grow. We still have to get better. Let's focus on us, focus on us, just the defense. Whatever your job is, be great at that. You can't be great at your job if you're figuring out what the offense is doing. That's not what they got you here for. Focus on your job, focus on what you need to do and let's get better at it.
Q. What does it do for your job knowing that you pretty much always have either a rookie or second-year guy you haven't played on the offensive side?
SHAQUILL GRIFFIN: Yeah, you know, I make them feel comfortable. Understand it's the same game plan. It might be different guys, but you're here for a reason. We brought you here for a reason, so you must be good, you must be elite. Keep it that way.
You've got to have that type of respect and confidence for yourself. You're not here for no reason. My main thing is how can I slow this game down for them. Talk to them. Let them know what could possibly happen. You know, we got a turnover. Okay, you could get possibly a shot, could be a fade; be ready for it. Slow this game down for you now, so my main thing is throughout each play we talk, and every now he'll walk over and we'll have a little conversation. Sometimes we might have a conversation about nothing, but it gets you to calm down because in that game when it moves so fast, you're starting to overthink. You start overthinking, you can't do that. My main thing is making them feel comfortable because I know how I was my rookie year playing against -- playing with Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor. Yeah, I was a nerve wreck. Every now and then you come by, you got this; watch out for this play; if you see this, this might happen. Okay, cool. Then they calm down a little bit.
Same thing, same thing that I was taught, doing the same thing here. I walked up to them today, I said, I'm proud of you. A lot of stuff went down, CJ Henderson went down, you stepped up in a big way, but we're going to need you like that. We're going to need that. It don't matter how many plays, how many snaps we take, we're going to need you. I'm really proud of him, and we've got to continue to move forward and get better.
Q. Do you feel like you need to say something to Lambo? Encourage him? How do you deal with that situation with a kicker?
SHAQUILL GRIFFIN: When it comes to encouraging Lambo, he's just got to understand that he knows -- I went up to him today. He knows I've got his back. I feel like there's nothing more that I can say because he knows his job. So it's no reason for me to be like, oh, man, you -- you know your job. You know why you're here. Whatever you need to do, fix it. I don't have to yell at you or motivate you to do more. If you want to be great, go be great. Go fix it.
It's nothing more to be said. As a leader I got your back. Prove us right, the reason why we have you here. There's nothing else to be said. He knows what he needs to do to get better, and he knows what he needs to do to make sure he makes these kicks, so there's nothing more to be said. He knows I got his back.
DraftScripts by ASAP Sports
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports