Q. How do you guys kind of move past that performance? I was asking Billy, there's going to be some growing pains with a first year staff, quarterback in his third start?
JUSTIN SHORTER: Absolutely. I would say definitely taking a loss is hard thing for everyone. I couldn't even sleep last night. It's a new week. I feel like our main goal is to go 1-0 each week. We weren't able to get that done last week.
In order to have success you have to fail as well, so we were able to go back and watch the film and really see all the mistakes we made. Those are like the simple stuff we could've fixed up.
I'd say we just went back to the drawing board, and now we're going to focus on this next game going 1-0. That's the goal every week.
Q. At some point maybe one or two things that you feel you guys really need to make strides?
JUSTIN SHORTER: I'd say really we can look at all aspects of the game, literally like every aspect. We can go in there, and you can watch the film, and you can see, okay, there's a small mistake we made here. We've got a missed assignment here. I could have gotten open and read the coverage better there.
It's just small stuff. We just really need to go back and go in practice and work hard and just really come together. Whenever we're all coming together, we just play so much better.
Q. Anthony brought up the term "losing confidence" on Saturday in terms of as the game went on. As a veteran, how do you try to restore his confidence this week?
JUSTIN SHORTER: I would definitely say confidence is built in reputation, so I'd say in practice, you know, going out there every day and really giving it your all in practice even though we did lose last week, just really focusing on a brand new week and trying to go 1-0 every day and trying to win every day in practice, every rep going hard, because I get to go up against Jason Marshall every single day at practice and Devin Moore. They make me ten times better, 50 times better.
So it's just really taking it rep by rep and just going as hard as you possibly can.
Q. Why did the passing game struggle on Saturday?
JUSTIN SHORTER: I would say we were just kind of maybe off a little bit. But I'd say it's a brand new week again. We're focused on this next game. 1-0, that's the goal each week. We're just going to go out there and hopefully be able to put up huge numbers this week. That's the goal to really come back off of last week.
Q. Coach talked about earning the right to win. What does that mean to you?
JUSTIN SHORTER: I would say earning the right to win, that starts in practice. Just literally doing everything that you possibly can, being in this building as much as you possibly can.
I try to live in here honestly. We've got this brand new locker room. I can go and sleep in there, wake up, and really give full effort to the team and really try to communicate and get everyone together so that way we can just play as one.
Q. Anthony often throws a fastball even on shorter or intermediate routes. As receivers, how can you guys adjust to that?
JUSTIN SHORTER: I'd say it's just second nature. You've got to see the ball and just react to it. It's simple.
I would say that also starts in practice, just reps. Reps on reps on reps; that's how you build confidence. Game time you don't even think, and the ball is in your hand.
Q. Anthony was clearly distraught afterwards. What as a veteran was your message to him? What did you see from him in terms of a response?
JUSTIN SHORTER: I would say definitely all of us, I feel like it just wasn't him. We win as a team and we lose as a team. Everyone, we were in the locker room trying to help each other out, talk each other up, and stay positive.
That's a big thing, because teams can lose games and just go down in the hole, but you can also lose and come back next week and be 50 times better.
It's just one loss. There's a lot of championship teams with one loss, so we're just going to come back next week and try to put up huge numbers and really win.
Q. What does it say about Anthony that he was so accountable after the game?
JUSTIN SHORTER: That's the kind of guy he is. He's a leader, hard worker, and he's obviously a special talent, as you guys have seen. He's a very impressive quarterback. He makes some throws in practice and games and I'm like, wow.
He's obviously out there running the ball. He can jump over people. I'd definitely say he's definitely a very smart, very humble, humble kid for the spot that he's in now.
Q. What do you think so far of Trevor this season? When did you realize that he was going to have a chance to make an impact?
JUSTIN SHORTER: He is a different character. He's a different, different person. I would say, definitely, when he first got here for workouts over the summer, just watching him run and really seeing how he cuts and stuff like that, I was like, okay, this is going to be special. When we finally got there in camp, he puts the pads on, and that proves to everyone he's that guy.
Q. When you say character, what do you mean?
JUSTIN SHORTER: He's just funny. He loves everyone that he's around. He'll walk in a room and pick up everyone around. Everyone is going to know that he's in that room, which is what everyone needs, I feel like.
Q. You said Devin Moore was someone you go against that made you better. What have you seen out of him?
JUSTIN SHORTER: I always call him Mr. Patient because he's very, very patient. We go one-on-ones every day, going out there seven-on-seven, and I'm just so thankful I'm able to go up against DBs to that caliber because it just makes me honestly better.
Q. What's Ricky brought to the receiver room?
JUSTIN SHORTER: I love Ricky, man. That's my brother. He's been here for a short amount of time, but he's very, very talented. He's probably one of the best receivers I've ever seen, just what he can do. And his work ethic speaks for itself.
That just adds on to everything else. I can't wait to really see when he really gets open and do his thing.
Q. You said one of the best receivers you've ever seen. What qualities? Can you give a couple of them?
JUSTIN SHORTER: I'd say he has every aspect that you would want in a receiver. Speed, he can beat you quick, beat you deep. He could jump over you, catch the ball, make three people miss and score a touchdown. He's going to be screaming afterwards, jumping up, celebrating with everyone.
I feel like that's the kind of guy he is, and you can see that in the game. He's making those crazy catches. You see the speed. He blocks too. Great blocker. Great, great blocker. He had some key blocks last game. It's just good to see him really put that work in.
He's a cool guy to be able to play with.
Q. When you talk about the patience of Devin, does that mean he's not jumping at your first move, and you have to get deeper in the route before you commit?
JUSTIN SHORTER: I'll never forget my first time going one-on-one with him when he first got in. I like did a little move on him, and he didn't do nothing, just stood there. So I was like, okay, I know how to play against him. I just get out and go. I just call him patient because, if you see him in games and people run slants on him, he just sits there and holds tight. So I feel like that's a good trait for defensive back to have.
Q. Ricky goes to the facility every day, hundred catches with the jugs gun. Has that rubbed off on everybody? Everybody coming in early and doing that too?
JUSTIN SHORTER: I would say definitely the culture here has changed drastically. I feel like now you can go down to the indoor facility. I was just down there. I think I saw eight guys down there, linemen, running backs running, doing drills, linemen snapping balls, kids over there catching jugs.
I think I saw Bowman, Daejon Reynolds, and I was just down there catching, playing a little bit. It's just work, so I feel like it's definitely rubbing off, and we're going to be a great team.
Q. You said the whole culture. Everything in the building has changed about everybody from last year.
JUSTIN SHORTER: I'd say definitely there's more of a hunger to be great. I feel like we know what to do, like step by step to take that. That's thanks to Coach Napier and his new coaching staff.
Obviously having this brand new place is definitely helping us a lot to keep us motivated and really have us work hard.
Q. How is the human jugs machine, your mom?
JUSTIN SHORTER: Amazing. Still throws me every single day. We caught earlier today, and then tonight I'm going to catch again because I feel like I didn't do everything I could last game to help us win, so...
Q. I love hearing it every time, so what's the process?
JUSTIN SHORTER: 250 balls every single day, probably more because we use tennis balls now. I go in there, we go to a field outside -- like today we were outside. It's hot outside, so I want to be able to sweat, get a good workout in.
I'll be tired afterwards, and she'll be sweating too. It's a good workout for both of us.
It gets me better. She has a cannon now. She can really zip.
Q. She is throwing the tennis balls to you now?
JUSTIN SHORTER: Oh, yeah, everything. She does everything. She really helps me out.
Q. I knew she was throwing the balls; I didn't know she was throwing the tennis balls.
JUSTIN SHORTER: Yeah, my dad, when I was younger, he used to throw to me all the time when I was younger. Now his shoulder is starting to get a little messed up, so she took over, and she has a cannon.
Q. What's her pitch count?
JUSTIN SHORTER: She can dial it up. I ain't going to lie.
Q. What's her name again?
JUSTIN SHORTER: Paula Shorter. She looks just like me.
Q. What are your thoughts on how things have gone for you guys offensively and from an operational standpoint? It's one thing to practice in a new system, but it's another to actually play. You've seen it for two games now. What are your thoughts on how everything is going to go?
JUSTIN SHORTER: I would say definitely I love how we prepare, and I love the play calls when we're in the game. I don't have a problem blocking for the running backs. We have all those running backs back there are great. We have a quarterback who can run it, and all the wideouts can go deep and really take the top off.
I really say we use all aspects in your offense. I feel like this is the third game. We'll be able to start to master it even more and run and run and run and throw it deep. It's really just reps. It all starts in practice, you know. Getting more consistent.
Q. How much is blocking a focus for the receivers in the off-season?
JUSTIN SHORTER: I would say just as important as catching the ball honestly. Every day Coach Casey has us doing some kind of blocking drill. He's out there with his cleats on trying to make a move on us like a real game. It definitely helps us out a lot in the game because you definitely see it carry over.
Q. I know we only asked you about Ricky, but Bowman got a target in the game. What have you seen on him?
JUSTIN SHORTER: He's like a jackrabbit. He's like every time he touches the ground, he has the ball. He's just super fast, super quick guy, great hands, confident. I can't wait to really see him get more time out there so he can really show everyone what he can do too.
When the ball's in his hand, like every time at practice, whenever he catches the ball, he scores. Not blinking, and he sprints towards the end zone. That's the kind of guy he is.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports