Jets Postgame Quotes (Week Two)
Head Coach Robert Saleh
Video: Here
Real quick, injury-wise, Tony Adams is dealing with a hamstring. Michael Carter could have come back in, but we held him out, and Quincy’s being evaluated for a knee [injury].
On what he thought of the offensive performance
“I don’t know if we gave them much of a chance. Defensively, we just couldn’t get off the field on third down today. [We] had our opportunities. Give them credit. They were efficient. They were ahead of the chains. And when we did catch them in third long situations, they were still able to capitalize. We had a PI in the end zone. We had a third and 12 to start the second half, I believe, that just allowed them to keep the drive going, and we’re we’re racking up plays. I think we saw almost 90 of them today. Yeah, you’re going to run out of gas. We just give ourselves a chance defensively to get off the field, give our offense a chance to get any kind of rhythm going.”
On the injury front, are you guys concerned with Quincy?
“I’m not sure. He’s just being evaluated. I have no idea.”
On how he thinks Zach Wilson played overall.
“Up until we had to force it, I thought he did a really nice job. He hit that strike route to Garrett for that big touchdown. I thought he did a really nice job at the end of half, moving the chains, getting some points. It just, like I said, that team, when you have to get into a drop-back game consistently with those guys it’s not going to be pretty.”
On how Zach Wilson handled being under duress as much as he was and on if he has concerns as to why it was happening.
“I thought he did a nice job. You know there was a, obviously late in the game had to force the ball to make something happen, and obviously it didn’t go our way. There was a miscommunication on one of his interceptions between him and the back. But you know they’ve got a hell of a front. They did a good job with applying pressure and like I said, he did a really nice job in the pocket extending plays, scrambling. He had a couple of nice off-schedule plays. Just wasn’t good enough. Before the half, shoot, I think he has a touchdown if he doesn’t get his elbow hit. So goes it.”
On why the running game couldn’t get going before the score got out of hand.
“I mean they were single high, stacking the box. Daring us to throw the football. And like I said, we had a couple of thirdand-one opportunities. We just couldn’t convert it to be able to get ourselves a chance to run the football. And then defensively, we just couldn’t get off the field. They had the ball for, I think, 42 minutes, and we had it for 18. You can’t get anything going if you don’t have the ball that much.”
On why they had so much trouble with CeeDee Lamb.
“Heck of a player. I’ve got to go look at the tape on that one. I know he caught us on a double move early in the game. They did a really nice shot from an efficiency standpoint, just, I think I averaged 4 – 6 a play. They did a really nice job in that regard in terms of just taking what we gave them. They were efficient in transition getting up field, and like I said, they stayed ahead of the chains. And we just couldn’t get off the field on third down.”
On what stands out beyond Zach Wilson’s box score (44% completion percentage) to make him say there’s not a concern or not an issue.
“Like I said in that first half, I thought he did a good job. I mean it was 18-10 and a halftime. We had the ball. We just couldn’t get anything going. They were creating negative plays in the run game that put us in longer situations. I thought I thought he was doing a really nice job moving the ball. Like I said, when you get in the fourth quarter where they can just tee off. I mean, shoot, they’ve got Micha just all over the place.”
On how the offensive line played.
“There’s things that I’m a little disappointed in the run game, with all of the negative plays that were created. When you play a team like that, you have to be efficient. You have to stay ahead of the chains. You have to get the third-and-five, so the ball can get out of your hands quickly, but obviously we’ve got a lot to improve.”
On why he didn’t put in a certain package for Mecole Hardman to get him in earlier in the game. With his speed, maybe he could break one.
“Something to look at. Like I said, we never got a chance to get anything going and dig into the playcaller’s bag.”
On if he had a sense that the Cowboys were selling out to stop the run.
“They had a loaded box. A lot of single, high safety five-man fronts and all that stuff. They did a good job.”
On the defense after Dak started 13 of 13.
“It’s really disappointing. I think they were 50% on third down. Sauce had a chance, we had a couple of chances at an interception. One of them would have been a pick six. Probably would have changed the entire outlook of the entire game. Again, give them credit. They made the plays, we didn’t. Sauce got the ball out on one, they recovered it. There were a lot of opportunities in that first half that to kind of change the outlook and just kind of rattle their cages a little bit with big plays and we just never – we did not make a single play, especially in the second half.”
On how he avoids having a 20-point loss snowball into something worse after they rallied back following Aaron Rodgers’ loss.
“It won’t snowball. It’s not going to snowball. Dallas played a really freaking good game, and that’s a good football team, too. They played They played, I feel, about as good as you could. So hats off to them, but like I said, when you can’t get off the field on third down, you’re adding plays to your legs, and eventually you’re going to run out of gas. And I felt like that’s what kind of happened to us, especially on defense.”
On if he was disappointed on the offense not being able to convert on third down (They were 1 of 10).
“Yeah, it was the same thing. We couldn’t convert. We couldn’t stop them. Like I said, that situational piece of the game where defense not being able to get off, offense can’t extend drives. It is detrimental, obviously.”
QB Zach Wilson
Video: Here
On the game…
“It’s tough, man. I thought I was seeing it well for the first three quarters of the game, but we kept getting stopped. There’s always going to be things we can keep cleaning up. But I thought I was seeing it well, at least for the first three quarters. I think when we watch this film, we’ll be able to keep pushing forward on some stuff.”
On 1-for-10 on third downs…
“Not good. Not good. I want to say that the biggest thing was not being in third and manageable. It’s not putting us in a good position to play for third and short. I think that’s where you’ve got to be in this league to be successful to keep drives alive and score. I think those guys did a good job converting. You saw what it did to our defense. You get tired when you’re on the field that long. We can’t go three-and-out. We can’t do that them. We’ve got to give them a break and have got to sustain drives.”
On the Garrett touchdown play…
“Those guys were obviously stacking the box, playing a lot of those five down fronts. It was one that we wanted to get to. Good play pass. The guys held up well. He ran a great route and obviously did the rest. That was a good play call by (Coach Hackett).”
On facing a loaded box…
“That’s what is tough. It wasn’t even necessarily, I think, that they were doing it to stop the run. Their pass rush is tough too. I think we had a good plan. I liked the plan we had this week to take some stress off of (the offensive line). We’re going to go back and watch this film to see how we can slow them down, run the ball better and of course, throw the ball better too.”
On the play when he got his arm hit…
“I was so frustrated. We called a great play. The situation was the ball has to get out of bounds so we can at least get a field goal. Garrett was my safe throw away and as I got to the top of my drop, he was open and I was going to rip it to him at the front of the pylon. Somebody, I don’t know who it was, got a piece of the ball. It’s unfortunate because in games like that, those are the ones you need to connect on…I think the ball was hit out of the back of my hand.”
On the Dallas pass rush…
“Those guys did a good job. You have to give them credit. I thought we had a good game plan as far as trying to help those guys up front. We’re going to go back and watch, see if I can help in the pocket, see if I can get the ball out quicker. You’ve got to give those guys credit. They did a good job and made it tough on us.”
On not being able to run…
“That’s part of the game. Part of me is that we need to take that on in the passing game. We need to help to open that up for the running game. We’re going to go back watch that on film as well. When you have that many guys in the box with a d-line like they have, it’s tough. We’re going to figure that out.”
On if there are any lessons today…
“Yeah, just keep going. This team, we have a lot of grit and no one is going to quit. Of course, I would like to take some of those throws back. That’s just everybody just trying to get us back into it. We’re trying as an offense to go. I’ve got to be smart with the ball. I would say one play at a time.”
On knowing he was starting today…
“It was nice having a week to prepare. I thought I knew the scheme well. I thought I was seeing it well and getting through my progressions and reads. It’s going to be something where we watch the film and see why we just couldn’t get over the hump to keep some drives established and going. We’re going to learn how to get better.”
On being able to move forward…
“I feel like I’m seeing it well. I really do. It’s really unfortunate to show that as an offense. We’ve got to be better. I need to be better. But we are right there. So, it’s long season. We’re going to watch this film and see how we can improve. Everyone trusts and believes in each other. Everyone loves each other. We’re excited for the challenge.”
RB Breece Hall
On why the running game struggled tonight…
“I only got four touches. That’s why we struggled. But it is what it is. I think we just got down early today and kind of just abandoned the run. I feel like, with any team, that kind of stuff happens. That’s just how it is, you feel like you have to get back in the game. It just slips away. So that’s just what it was.”
On if it is hard to get going when you are limited to only a handful of carries…
“I could do something with it whenever I touch it. It’s just, they had a good D-Line today and our O-Line had its hands full and everything. I feel like we just didn’t get going today. We abandoned the run early, so that’s just what it was.”
On whether the Cowboys were stacking the box…
“Every team stacks the box against us. They still have to stop it.”
On Micah Parsons and his impact on the game…
“He’s the best defensive player in the NFL, so obviously he’s a difference maker. It was just tough sledding for us today. I feel like we could have helped Zach (Wilson) out some more. Backs, O-Line, receivers, everybody, I feel like we all could have helped Zach out some more. I feel like those last two picks weren’t on him, he was just trying to make a play, trying to get us going, get something going. Maybe the first one, he probably could have thrown it away, made a better decision. But the last two were just him trying to make a play, so I don’t feel like that was on him at all.”
TE Tyler Conklin
On 1-10 on third down and why they couldn’t get it going…
“I think the only common thread was probably just not executing. We were in situations where it was third-and-short, thirdand- one and you have to find a way to get a first down there. We didn’t. We get a fake punt and we are in another thirdand-short. We just have to execute. That’s really what it comes down to. The plays were fine, we just have to execute.”
On how Zach Wilson played today…
“I think the big thing is, at the end of the game and you are looking at the result of all three picks, I really think, we are third-and-10, we are in a bad situation. We are trying to fight and make something happen. I think the whole game, you see that Zach is a completely different player, in my opinion. Going through his reads, seeing the pocket, they have a good D-Line, they create a lot of pressure. We have complete trust and faith in him. We are here for him. We appreciate him. We love him. I think that is what it comes down to, is that have his back no matter what.”
On how hard it is to operate as an offense when you are getting pressured like they were from Micah Parsons tonight…
“It is tough. He’s a hell of a player. You go into a game, you have to have your eye out for him. We had stuff for him. They do a good job … of creating matchups for him and creating 1-on-1’s. To me, he’s a hell of a player.”
On if he thought they would run the ball better than they did today…
“After we go and we run the ball really well last week, we come in and think that we will get in big personnel and run the ball. We obviously didn’t run it great today, for multiple reasons. I like to think as an offense, we always think we can run the ball. It’s just your scheme versus their scheme. Us versus them. As a man, you always think you can win your match up and run the ball. I think as a unit we would like to have run it a lot better.”
G Alijah Vera-Tucker
On the run game and what Dallas was doing…
“I think they were just filling the gaps. They were playing well early on and we just couldn’t get it going. It was just one of those things where it’s one block away from getting a five or 10-yard run. It just wasn’t there. Unfortunately, we were forced to pass the ball the rest of the game.”
On how the team avoids a spiraling after this loss…
“It’s just football. You are going to take some L’s, you are going to take some W’s as well. Today, we took an L. Offense didn’t play as well as we should have today. We take credit for that. We acknowledge that. We have to come in tomorrow and look at the film, evaluate it, and get better and move along to the Patriots.”
CB Sauce Gardner
On why Dak Prescott started 13-13 to begin the game…
“I don’t really know, honestly. We have to make plays. I have to make the plays cause I’m not getting too many opportunities to make plays on the ball but the ones I get I got to make the play; like the pick that I dropped. I was thinking about scoring and staying inbounds more than catching the ball. So, I know what I have to do. I got to help the defense. It ain’t got to be a blame game, we just got to keep working.”
On playing not as expected with Aaron Rogers out…
“It was really unexpected. We got to make plays, on offense, defense and special teams, we all got to make plays.
On the Dallas Cowboys offensive scheme…
“I’m not sure; I can’t even tell you. I know they got to establish the run game. We played man and I don’t think they had any big, huge explosive plays especially not on me, or D.J. [Reed]. Yeah so, I don’t really know.”
On maybe changing the game with a possible pick-6…
“Yeah in the moment definitely, cause they scored that drive. You know I can’t predict what would have been in the second half or anything like that but yeah.”
On whether the Cowboys did anything unexpected on offense…
“Nah, I don’t think so. I think they were doing what we saw on tape, it was just executing.”
On the frustration with personal goals this season…
“Not really. I know I am going to have my opportunities even if it’s not a lot, because I just played 89 plays. That’s probably the most I’ve ever played. We just got to dominate.”
On satisfaction for first two weeks in the season…
“I dropped a pick today, of course I didn’t like that but for me, personally, it was pretty solid. You know 89 plays, I don’t think I gave up that many yards today, I know I missed a couple of tackles, I got to make those.
On coach Salah’s comments on third down struggles…
“I know a lot of times he called man on third downs, but I don’t know what they were doing because I was keyed in on my man. It’s not all about me but, I’m just saying, I don’t know what they were completing because I was just coming off my man. I was just keyed on my man so I don’t really know.”
DL Quinnen Williams
On what problems the Cowboys presented…
“They really had a great scheme, they ran the ball well, threw the ball well. We got to look in the mirror and watch film and get better every day.”
On problems getting the Cowboys offense off the field…
“They were just getting the ball out really fast, they had a great scheme, a great game and we got to look at the film and get better.”