Jaguars 26, Chiefs 13
Q. Doug, obviously get the big return from Parker Washington. Can you describe that for us and how pleasing was it to see the touchdown from Trevor to Etienne?
DOUG PEDERSON: With the returns, it was all new obviously. Things we've been working on. Just a really good, really good return by Parker. There were also some good blocks on that play.
He ran tough. Physical run. It was a great way to really start our offense and get the game rolling for us.
Then Trevor to Etienne, on the play, just a nice one-on-one matchup. It was an angle route by Etienne. He just did a great job setting up the backer, a good throw.
Q. How encouraging was it for you to see so much production from guys that are either considered backups or newcomers to the squad?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, I mean, it is pleasing. It goes back to our message back in April. I talked about development. I think that's what you're seeing out there in practice. It's what I'm seeing anyway. Then tonight with so many guys playing in this game, there wasn't really a dropoff.
Sometimes when you get out of that first, second unit, sometimes there's a letdown or a dropoff with play. I didn't see that tonight. Our guys played fast, they played hard. Were there mistakes? Sure, there were mistakes, MAs, things like that we can clean up this week.
I think top to bottom, the guys played, credit to them, fast and they played physical.
Q. Could you talk specifically about Tank Bigsby, what he was able to do tonight, how hard he ran.
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, we know that Tank is a physical downhill runner. Quite honestly, the kickoff return is a lot like a zone run play. It's a downhill-type play. He's built for that. It was exciting to see him not only in the return game but also offensively get some carries and do the things we know he's capable of doing.
But again, it's also giving him the opportunity to do it, right, in practice and in the game tonight.
Q. It was the fourth defensive play, like a hockey shift. Five guys came on the field, then the rotation and the substitution. Have you ever seen a defense off the top of your head that substituted as much as your team did tonight in the first half with solid production?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yes, I have seen it. It's the reason the guys can stay fresh not only throughout the game, but they stay fresh throughout the course of the season. It was our team in Philly with Jim Schwartz as the coordinator.
When you have eight guys on your roster and you can consistently rotate and keep those guys fresh the entire game, it helps. It helps on third down when they're fresh and can get after the passer.
It's just something that Ryan obviously believes in. I believe in it. Listen, it's coordinated. It's not just you go pick five guys. It's well organized and well coordinated.
Credit to the defensive staff and the players for getting in and out.
Q. Talk to us a little bit about your quarterback play, what you were hoping to see. Did you see what you wanted to see out of them for an opener?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, I did. All three of 'em played good. They played smart. I don't think there was a turnover there with those guys.
Trevor played smart. Obviously the throw to Etienne. Then C.J. comes in and make some really nice down-the-field throws, in the face of adversity, too. Getting hit on the roughing the passer. For Mac to come in and do what he's capable of doing...
It's a great room. It's a great room. We're blessed and fortunate to have three veteran players in that room. It was exciting to watch all three play.
Q. Can you take us through the touchback argument.
DOUG PEDERSON: No, I can't. We'll be here a while (smiling).
I'm just glad honestly they went to review. The ball landed in the end zone. Now by rule it's still a live ball. Last year it would have been dead, right, the ball comes out to the, what, 25 or whatever it was last year. Now the ball's live.
So the ball was in the end zone, came out to about the half yard line. The returner was in the end zone but pulled the ball back into the end zone when he took a knee.
Safety (smiling). That's the rule. It's a safety.
Q. Did you know that immediately?
DOUG PEDERSON: Well, Heath was yelling at me and Zach and the guys upstairs were kind of in my ear about it when I was talking to the officials about it...
My point to the officials was, You got to review it at least, give us an opportunity to review it. Not me, I couldn't, but let the officials review it. They got together. They collaborated on it. Obviously went to review. That was the right rule.
Q. You expect a lot of confusion like that until this thing kind of sorts itself out?
DOUG PEDERSON: I don't know if it's going to be much confusion on it. I think it's a good coaching point for all teams, to really coach our returners in that situation. It's definitely going to be on the coach's video that's going to come out this week.
It's really a good teaching moment for everybody, us included, for our returners. It's just a great way to learn that rule and to learn the game of football.
Q. Not a lot ever is put into pre-season results. Do you feel like maybe you needed this to gain some momentum after the way last year ended?
DOUG PEDERSON: No, not necessarily. I just wanted our guys to execute and play hard, play fast. I felt like they did that today. It's a new season, new faces. Some old faces out there.
For us internally, it's just a different feel, a different team, a whole different year. It's not anything about last year. It's just about getting better and moving forward.
Q. (Question on the kicking game.)
DOUG PEDERSON: It just shows the leg strength that Cam has, the reason we drafted him. He definitely had some wind in his back on that one before half there. He works hard. He works hard in practice at it. You can see, he's not a big guy, but he's got a really strong and powerful leg.
I went into this game thinking I wanted to get him some opportunities to kick under this type of pressure, this kind of stage. He performed extremely well.
I mean, he was amped up now to start the game. He saw those kickoffs go through the end zone, and he was excited, which rightfully so.
He'll learn from it. But he had a good night.
Q. Can you talk about Brian's big catch. What does it say to you to see the team go as crazy as they did for him?
DOUG PEDERSON: Well, obviously when you draft a guy first this year, the type of receiver, really the type of person. He's very capable obviously of making those types of plays. Just an excellent play.
I think you see the excitement from the entire team. Same thing when Christian Braswell, even though it was ruled down, you saw the excitement there, as well, some of the other big plays that were made.
We just got to keep Brian coming. He's going to be a big part of our offense.
Q. Did you mention anything to Trevor after he took the sack on a fourth down instead of trying to get the ball downfield?
DOUG PEDERSON: No, not really. It would have been too long for a field goal anyway because the wind was in our face. That one didn't hurt us as much. Didn't really feel like that was worthy of a conversation at that time.
Q. Parker Washington, not only did he have the big kickoff, we've heard teammates raving about him, but what we saw tonight is what you expect going into year two?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah. It's just the growth and development. Just like Tank. Both guys are having really good camp right now.
Parker has worked extremely hard. He worked during the off-season and obviously now in camp to put himself in this position. It's showing on the field, right? It obviously showed today.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports