Indianapolis Colts Media Conference

Sunday, October 16, 2022

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Coach Doug Pederson

Visitors Postgame Press Conference


Jaguars 27, Colts 34

Q. Defense was too tired weren't able to get to Matt Ryan on that last...

DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, I mean, look, this is one of the things we talk about a lot, is the finish, right? Credit them. Their game plan today obviously was not to huddle as much and try to play a little tempo and get the ball out quickly. You know, try to eliminate some of your pass rush that way.

Did a good job with that. Our guys battled for 60 minutes. We just got to find a time, a place, a play somewhere that we can win these games. You know, it's obviously an opportunity to do that, and our guys will be better. We'll be better for it as we go.

Great opportunities to teach.

Q. You guys had some penalties on third downs. Extended drives. Couple pass interference penalties.

DOUG PEDERSON: Again, self-inflicted. I think they were six for six on third down in the second half I believe. You know, whether by penalty or by catch, we've just got to evaluate the tape and see if, as coaches, we're doing the right thing and be hard and critical on ourselves and try to put our players in position.

But at the same time, we understand that those mistakes can extend drives.

Q. How encouraged were you that when you needed it from Trevor... (regarding go-ahead touchdown._

DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, I thought that was not only by him, but I think the offense. You know, it was really good to see for us to go down and get that touchdown, you know, to go-ahead score there.

Put a lot on Trevor and he made some big throws, and just good to see. Something we can learn from with him and keep building. You know, just continue to work at it, but that was good to see.

Q. Outside of the last drive did you like his decision making?

DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, for the most part he did some really nice things.

There were some quick sacks on him. We got edged a little bit and there were some quick sacks that got us on some first downs, put us in some second and long situations.

Some of those we were able to overcome, but we just didn't do enough. There is more out there that we can get, and we just got to find a way to do that.

Q. How much are you still trying to figure out where you guys are? (Indiscernible.)

DOUG PEDERSON: I mean, I think it's both. We keep talking about it's about us, and focusing on our jobs and what do, players and coaches. We're all in this thing together. We're going to learn from it and fix it.

But this team, one thing I like about this team is there is no quit in these guys. They battle for 60 minutes. They don't shut it down at all. They play hard. They play fast.

Like I told them after the game, we're going to end up -- whenever that is, whether it's true time or what, we're going to come out ahead on most of these as we go.

Q. How much did back-to-back big weeks for Travis Etienne, can you talk about his growth and even bigger roles for him going forward?

DOUG PEDERSON: I thought Travis, you know, did a really nice job for us today. Some nice explosive runs in there. Offensive line did a nice job. You know, he's getting better. He's getting better within the offense and what we're asking him to do.

I thought even James had some good runs in there and got JaMycal going. I thought over all offensive line opened up some -- the receivers blocked safeties, linebackers from time to time, which is asked of them. I thought the run game was good.

You know, we've just got to find a way to finish.

Q. Colts were very effective in crossing routes. A lot of man to man coverage. How much did you anticipate you'll see more of that going forward?

DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, I mean, yeah, that's one thing about this league, is until you stop something, you're going to continue to see it. We've got to evaluate the tape obviously, making sure we're doing the right things as coaches to put our players in position to win those battles.

But, yeah, it's something we'll look at tonight on the way home.

Q. The option on fourth down, was that something you...

DOUG PEDERSON: We've had that play in and we were -- listen, we were rolling at that time and felt comfortable and confident that we were going to pick that up. Credit to them. They did a nice job stopping that one.

You know, just something we got to evaluate and look at the decision, the play, all of it as we go forward.

Q. Were you expecting them to go over the top? One of the things that Shaq said is that he had been playing -- kind of guarding the inside most of the time. There was also maybe DPIs on both sides. Were you expecting them to go over the top like that?

DOUG PEDERSON: You know, I think in that situation they were already in field goal range for that kicker. You know, it's just an opportunity there for them to -- whether they obviously complete it for the score or get the DPI, whatever it might be, the risk-reward there kind of favors offense in situations like that, because, you know, with the time and on fourth down they have the opportunity to kick the field goal.

So kind of expect it in those situations. Just credit them. They made the play.

Q. Last week you said it was a pissed off team in the locker room. What did you get a sense this week? Demoralized?

DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, hurting obviously. They battled. Again, it's an opportunity to get better this week and learn from the film, coaches and players. Just get back to work. Nobody is going to, as we say, feel sorry for us. We just have to keep grinding and keep going.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
126066-2-1041 2022-10-16 20:52:00 GMT

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