Jets Postgame Quotes (Week Five)
Head Coach Robert Saleh
Video: Here
On the play of Jets RB Breece Hall…
He was awesome. He’s an explosive player. When we drafted him, it was because we needed a homerun hitter on this team, and he did that. He had a couple of homeruns today.
On the Jets first play on defense (Sauce Gardner corner blitz)…
I’ll keep it in house just based on thought process, but it was something that we wanted to do.
(follow-up) On how much of a lift it gave the team…
It did what we all knew it was going to do. (I’m not saying we knew we would get a) safety. We got an explosive play out of it. You don’t want to live that dangerously all the time, but we felt we could get an explosive play and it worked out.
On the Jets play in the fourth quarter the last two weeks…
If you go back to preseason, it’s been our best quarter. We’ve got a great mindset. We have a young group that does not flinch. We get stronger as we go. Especially with a young group, the more they see, the faster they get, so when you get to the fourth quarter with such a young group who is not veteran-like and you get to see…. it’s everything I talked about. When all the cards are on the table and everyone knows what the heck is going on, can you step up and rise to the occasion? With a young group, that’s what you’re hoping for. It was fun to watch – offense (and) defense. Great complimentary football. Special teams. When that fourth quarter turned and all the cards are on the table and everyone is all in, to see our guys elevate another step…I feel like that’s been happening since preseason.
On the thought process behind blitzing Gardner…
It’s a little bit of everything. It’s a little bit of everything. Whenever you pressure, you’re trying to create an explosive play. But, on the flip side, if it doesn’t work, it could be an explosive play for them, too. It was just one of those deals where we felt like it would be low-risk based on what we saw in film study. It worked out.
On the play of Gardner today…
All of our rookies…our young guys are doing such a good job. He had a really nice day. I think we held those two big receivers to minimal yards. Granted, losing Teddy (Bridgewater) hurts them. I thought it was awesome to hold those guys down the way we did.
On the development of the rookie class this season…
It’s still going to be a roller-coaster, but I think it’s clear to anyone who watches our tape that we have a really cool nucleus of young men that are only going to get better as time goes. It has a chance to be a really explosive group. Obviously, this is just one game. We have to go Lambeau Field and I’m sure they’re going to be pissed off next week. The challenges for this group do not stop, but it’s fun to watch them play, especially when they play so free. There are still a lot of things that they have to get corrected that the naked eye won’t see but we’ll see in the all-22’s. We like where they’re at.
On how important is was to end their AFC East losing streak…
It’s awesome. You always want to win your division games. Double-digit wins are hard to come by in this league. It was just a really good complimentary football game in all three phases. Takeaways. The offense turning those takeaways into points. Defense standing up after the fourth down. When we didn’t get it on fourth down, the defense held them to a three-and-out and a punt. Again, no flinch. All three phases did such a good job. Hopefully, it’s the first of many.
On Hall’s 79-yard catch-and-run…
It was awesome. He is only going to get better, too. Him and Michael (Carter) make a heck of a duo.
On what using Carter and Hall in the backfield together does to opposing defenses…
You have to identify what it is. There are a lot of things that you have to account for. You can run the ball, throw the ball. You can get the ball out to one of them out on the perimeter. There’s just a lot of things we can do with that grouping. It’s been a productive group for us.
On the play of Jets QB Zach Wilson…
I thought he was good. We didn’t turn the ball over. I thought he made big throws when he needed to make them. I thought our run game really picked up, especially in the second quarter. I thought he did exactly what he needed to do to win a football game.
On the thought process having Alijah Vera-Tucker at right tackle…
I felt like (Nate) Herbig did such a good job last week. I love his mentality and how he approaches the game. He’s nasty. He’s everything you want in an offensive lineman. He probably smells bad, too. I’m just kidding Herbie. It’s more of a testament to Herbie and forcing his way onto the football field and playing our best five. The testament and the credit goes to AVT. Who knows? Maybe we’ll try him at quarterback next week (laughs).
On the first drive of the fourth quarter which resulted in a touchdown…
When the fourth quarter turned, it just felt like we went up a notch in all three phases. Offense finishing drives, defense getting the ball, offense turning the turnovers into points, and the defense finishing at the end of the game (and) keeping them out of the endzone. It was an emphatic fourth-quarter finish. Like I said, something I feel like we’ve been doing since preseason. When you look at all three of our preseason wins – and I know they don’t count – but the mindset counts and the way we trigger in the fourth quarter and get things done. Really pumped for the group and, hopefully, it’s just one of many.
On the Jets pass interference penalties…
I don’t know. I have to go back and watch them. Just looking out, I’m not sure what more our guys can do with regards to looking back for the ball and trying to make a play for it. It’s part of what they are great at, too. That’s one of the things they are great at. They get you on your heels with all of their speed and take their shots. Then, they’re 50-50 balls and are hoping for either PI, incomplete, or a completion –one of the three. Eventually we are going to make teams pay for throwing it up.
On Jets injuries…
Braxton (Berrios) got the wind knocked out of him, so he’s fine. 52 (Jermaine Johnson) is dealing with an ankle. We’ll evaluate him tomorrow.
On the way Carter compliments Hall…
I think they complement each other. Sometimes, the rook has to make way for the vet. It could be timing. That would probably be more of a question for Mike (LaFleur) on Thursday.
Zach Wilson
Video: Here
On what it’s like having a running back like Breece Hall…
Yeah, he’s done a great job of getting better each and every week. You can see his explosiveness, his power when you get him in space. I think the guys up front did a great job for him today, giving him some windows. He made the first guy miss. Michael Carter did the same thing. It’s really cool getting him on the edge. I’m sitting there kind of watching, I’ve got the best view in the back. Those guys are doing a great job.
On if he was expecting Hall to be wide open on his 79-yard reception…
That’s what you put the play in for, you hope it’s going to look like that, and so it was cool that we had a look like that. They were in man and I think they just kind of lost him there. Great execution up front, getting him the ball and then you can see how fast he is once he gets into space and how explosive he is, how hard he is to bring down. I get excited when I see him with that much room because he’s going to be running for a while.
On winning with five rushing touchdowns and 40 points…
Yeah, it feels good as a quarterback when you get to hand the ball off and the guys up front are doing their job and the receivers are getting dirty, coming down and making their blocks and then the running backs are running hard and moving the ball. I think it’s always a good thing as a quarterback to have that.
On how important it was to stop the team’s AFC East losing streak…
Yeah, that was huge, and I think we don’t even really look at the streak because, like you said, I wasn’t here, a lot of these guys weren’t here. It doesn’t have a lot to do with a lot of guys in this room and coaching staff and everything, so we’re focused on ourselves, building this legacy, and us learning and improving every single week.
On if they’re gaining momentum…
Yeah, I’d say so. I’d say the expectation is changing. We expected to come in here and win and we’re expected to win, be shocked when we don’t. That’s how the mindset needs to be for everybody.
On how Hall has gotten better since the start of the season…
Yeah, just comfortable with the NFL game, learning how to be an NFL running back. I think he’s starting to find the mix between putting a little move on somebody and then when nothing’s really there, let me just put my shoulder down and see how much I can get and live to see the next down. He’s doing a great job with that and he’s a threat out of the backfield for sure.
On the feeling around the team being above .500…
Yeah, it’s exciting, but we also understand how long this season is and how many games we’ve got left. So, it’s stacking these days up and moving on to the next one.
Duane Brown
Video: Here
On the juice Breece Hall gives the offense…
Breece is a special back, man. He just does a lot for us up front. When you have someone like that, that can continue to churn out those yards. Especially when the defense knows you want to run a ball and you continue to do it consistently, it’s a great feeling.
On if Breece’s performance inspires the offensive line…
Absolutely, that definitely inspires us, we love it. Most defenses don’t want to be a part of a game like that, being able to run the ball consistently. For us up front, just boosts our morale. We’re doing whatever job we have to, run or pass, but when you’re able to run the ball like that, we love it.
On taking control of the game in the 2nd half…
Yeah, I think that was the message I had and was the message a lot of people had to each other. We’ve been a part of some really close games, comeback games, we don’t have to keep it like that. When you get up on teams, being able to have that mentality, just putting your foot on the gas and pull away, it’s a great feeling, especially at home. It’s our first win at home. First division game, first win at home, it’s a great feeling for us.
Michael Carter
On the performance of the offensive line…
It was really cool to have DB (Duane Brown) back on the field. As a guy who’s played this long, it’s just easy to feel him when he speaks. Just being able to have some push like that is really cool. Also, the other guys up front, no discredit to them but Alijah Vera-Tucker’s a pro bowler. It doesn’t get more simple than that. For him to go play left guard, then go play left tackle and have really good game, then for him to come play right tackle next week, you can’t name another guard that’s doing that, maybe ever. I think if he doesn’t go to the pro bowl this year, the NFL is rigged.
On if today was the embodiment of what a one-two punch does to the back field…
Yeah, I think so. I think that to be able to go back and forth with Breece (Hall), he’s a really good back, he can run, he’s strong and breaks tackles, he can catch. So, yeah man it’s really cool to just go back and forth and then at the end of the game, it’s still healthy.
On breaking the losing streak in the division…
I think it’s good. We lost to everybody last year, so it’s always good to get a dub, whoever it’s against, but especially in the division because those are the most important games.
John Franklin-Myers
On the credit the defense deserves for containing WR Tyreek Hill…
All credit to the secondary. It goes hand-in-hand, pass rush does not go without the secondary, giving them that attention. During the sack, you see the secondary held up, either mine or Q’s (Quinnen Williams) sack, secondary held up on that too, so props up to those guys, playing their tails off. With that Sauce (Gardner) interception, he’s been locking people up all season, so credit to him and DJ (Reed), you have Kwon (Alexander) manning the deep half, and J White (Jordan Whitehead) the other half, and those are some great players.
Sauce Gardner
Video: Here
On getting his first interception…
It was a blessing. I think you all were in the locker room earlier this week and I was like, ‘I’m the only one who doesn’t have one.’ I think God heard me. I know he heard me, for sure. He answered my prayers.
On his first experience going against Tyreek Hill…
I felt like I did pretty good. I got the same challenge as everybody else going against Tyreek. He’s fast. He’s a fast receiver, so I got to be able to keep up. It’s that simple.
On what this rookie class has been like together…
We’ve been great. All throughout the week, we always talk. We got a group chat, we say that we got to set the tone, we got to change the culture. I feel like we did it. It’s what the coaches want, to change the culture. I think we’re doing a very good job. Before the game started, for some reason, me, Breece (Hall), Jermaine (Johnson), Garrett (Wilson), Mike (Micheal Clemons), we all huddled up and we just talked about how we’re about to dominate the game.
Breece Hall
Video: Here
On if he wished the football field was 99 yard instead of 100…
Today, I just had to learn to fight for that extra yard. It was all built up for the last touchdown. We were just out there balling, making plays. The coaches put us in a good position to execute and make really good plays for the team and that’s what we did.
On if the long pass was planned or a surprise…
No, we were kind of expecting it to be open, it was kind of a schemed-up play, so I wasn’t really surprised but for a second I thought Zach (Wilson) wasn’t going throw it because he was going through his progressions while I was like, ‘Alright Zach, come on, come on before they catch up.’
On dragging some defenders with him on that play…
Yeah, the coaches just always tell me to do the little things right and my natural ability will take over and that stems back to college. Today I just ran the right route, sold it to the linebacker, got behind him, and caught the ball and just let my natural ability take over.
Sheldon Rankins
On today’s performance…
You had no say so, you had no input, you had no doing in what previous teams did and how they performed and all that. So, everything we do going forward, everything we did on Sunday, down there, down there in out, four quarters, it’s about establishing who we are, who we want to be known for and what we want to do going forward.
On Quinnen’s (Williams) moves with the ball…
Obviously, you want to see a big man get into the endzone, see a big dance or something. But, a close second is launching another human being into the ground and that’s a very close second. I had the pleasure of, you know, when things like that happen, they kind of happen in slow motion. I just see him pick it up and I’m like, ‘Oh, there’s grass, he’s going to score,’ and then I see Tyreek (Hill). In my head, I’m like, ‘Tyreek’s probably going to try and chomp him low or something,’ but no, he just ran right into Quinnen’s arm. He extended his arm and when he did, Tyreek was gone. So, that was slow motion for me. It was one of those, ‘I’m running to the ball, I got to get a block, alright, come on.’ Like I said, if you can’t get into the end zone, close second is launching another human being into the turf.
D.J. Reed
On how the defense was able to have success against that explosive offense…
Yeah, I thought our game plan was really good. Shoutout to (Robert) Saleh and Coach B (Jeff Ulbrich) just with the game plan that we had. They have obviously dynamic football players in Tyreek Hill and (Jaylen) Waddle and even their tight end, he’s explosive, he makes great catches. We had our hands full this game and I thought we did a great job overall with the defense.
On how the DBs were able to execute today…
Yeah, I just think that we wanted the challenge. Sauce (Gardner) has been saying all week, “We’re dishing out crazy work.” That was the whole week motto. We got to line up with them. We’re not going to just give you anything. If you catch something, you got to earn it and I feel like that’s what we did today.
On what it means for this team to beat the number one team in the division…
Yeah, it definitely, I think, was a statement game just with how we finished. We really didn’t care about the score, it was more so about playing the whole game out because we had a hard week of practice, so we wanted to showcase what we can do on offense, defense and special teams. It definitely is a confidence booster though, to have two wins in a row or something like that, second quarter, it’s the fifth game, 1-0. So, that’s how we look at it by quarters. We’re just on to the next game. We’re going to celebrate today and get back to work.
Alijah Vera-Tucker
Video: Here
On moving to right tackle this week…
It was kind of like the same process. They came to me earlier in the week, and said, “We need you at right tackle now,” and I said the same thing. At the end of the day, it was my decision. So, I sat over there to go practice at it. It felt good for the first time being over there, so I just did my thing, helping my teammates and everything. Then I came out here and got the dub with the team.
On If he ever played right tackle in his career…
Nah, I never played right tackle before.
On how much different it is playing right tackle…
Yeah, it was very different. The pressure I saw just being at right guard probably helped me out a little bit being on that right side. Shoot, just had to switch my stance up a little bit, talk to my teammates like (George) Fant, he gave me some advice. I even talked to my boy Money Mitch, Max Mitchell, but yeah it turned out good.
Quinnen Williams
Video: Here
On how he felt he played…
I don’t really know, I got to watch the film. I was just trying to execute and play my heart out trying to win a division game, one of our few that I’ve won. I’m just trying to do the best I can do to win a football game.
On getting the division win…
Just winning in general feels good man. We haven’t won previously, in previous years, that many games, and it’s early to have, we’ve been winning. But to go out there and execute, you can see the hard work that we’ve put in, you see the guys that Joe Douglas and everybody else brought in, the communications skills that we have. And the different things that we do up front in the defensive moments and on offense and special teams, when we can communicate and execute at a high level.
On the Dolphins’ high powered offense…
Just execute, that’s the biggest thing. They still have a high powered offense, they still got some great individuals on their side. They still have amazing speed core, as Raheem Mostert, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, they still got some amazing guys over there. But, we did a great job at executing, communicating and playing 110 percent each and every down.