Jets Post-Game Quotes & Video
Head Coach Adam Gase
Opening Statement…
I’ll just start with the injuries: Quinnen (Williams) ended up leaving the game at the end with a hamstring. We’ll see where that is when we get back. With Sam (Darnold), all indications right now, it seems that he’s OK. Obviously with what happened a few weeks back, we’ll be doubling back on that and making sure that he is OK. We’ll keep a close eye on that one. As far as the game goes, we knew what kind of game we had to play. We did a lot of what we talked about early in the game, with the time of possession, getting first downs – first down, second down, first down. We had some big conversions on some fourth downs. We ended up giving up a fake punt, that gives them an extra possession which was not what we needed to do. Then, we had a blocked field goal but were still able to go into halftime 21-9, but when you play these guys, you can’t trade touchdowns or kick field goals. There are a lot of things we have to do better. We have to execute better. We have to play a better game, especially against that team right there.
Brian Costello, New York Post: For the second week in a row, the offense did some good things in the first half and then really had nothing happening in the second. Is that a lack of adjustments? The other team making better adjustments? What is happening in these second halves?
I felt that we were in some different positions. We had a couple of drops on the first two drives which, our margin of error was very slim. We were in third-and-longer; in the first half, we were in third and five-or-less quite a bit. We found ourselves in third-and-seven plus in the second half. That’s where you definitely don’t want to live against these guys. To have a chance to convert, you have to stay third-and-five or less. You get those two guys, Chris (Jones) and Frank Clark going, they’re tough to block. We’ll go back and study the film and look at it. We’ll see what happened. When we were going through stuff, there was nothing they were doing different in the second half than the first half.
Connor Hughes, The Athletic: Is it demoralizing that you go from moving the ball so well in the first half to the second half where, there are times that nothing works.
I’m sure when we go watch this, we’ll find some mistakes that were little things here and there that we were doing in the first half that maybe we didn’t do in the second half. It’s hard to say right now just coming off the field. We’ll really have to look at the film first.
Rich Cimini, ESPN: (Patrick) Mahomes with the five touchdown passes. We all know how good he is, but how disappointed are you in the defense?
I thought the defense, there were some really good drives where we got them off the field. We had them off the field and we let up a fake punt. We just knew what kind of game it was going to be. We knew it was going to be a game where, if we gave up yards, that wasn’t our worry. We wanted to make them drive the length of the field. We wanted to try and avoid explosive plays. We gave up a couple, though. We were just trying to shorten the game as much as possible. We were trying to box them a little bit. It’s easy to say and harder to do.
Connor Hughes, The Athletic: I think you have only four passing touchdowns through the midway point of the season. Why have you not been able to find those explosive plays to get the ball in the endzone through the air?
We’re trying to get the ball to (Denzel) Mims a little bit. Some of the plays that we were going to try to go to him down the field didn’t materialize the way that we were hoping. You have to be able to run by guys.
Brian Costello, New York Post: You get a play to (Chris) Herndon and he fumbles the ball. Are you just kind of scratching your head right now with Chris?
We just have to figure out what happened. It looked like he had it and then there were some bodies around him. When I saw the replay, for some reason, it got loose a little bit when he got hit the first time and then it came out. We’ll kind of see where he’s at tomorrow.
Connor Hughes, The Athletic: With Chris and some the struggles he’s having, is it getting to the point where you have to put him on the bench?
We’re playing all those guys. Right now, we’re trying to play as many guys as possible and just who comes to the forefront here and starts making some plays for us. Right now, if you are active on Sunday, we need to get you out there and see if you can get something going for us.
Rich Cimini, ESPN: It may seem rather obvious, but at 0-8 at the midpoint, what kind of emotion does that stir in you? It that embarrassing? Is it angering? What can be salvaged the rest of the way?
It’s obviously not where we wanted to be. I’m just like everybody else from the aspect of, I’m doing this job to win, not to go out there and get my face stomped in. Just like all the rest of these guys in the locker room. We’ll go back to work on Monday. We’ll get things corrected and then, when we start practice again, I expect that same energy. That’s what I’ve seen week-in and week-out for the last two years, guys coming to work and trying to find a way to flip things. We have a division opponent next and we have to prepare the right way. We know what kind of matchup we’re going to have.
Shara Taylor, NBC: Do you think the team lost confidence right after blocked field goal before halftime?
I didn’t feel that way. I think guys were pissed. We felt like we were at least going to steal three there and then come back out with the ball and see what happened after that. The chatter in the locker room was good. Guys felt like there was a lot of good things that we took out of that first half. We just needed to continue doing it and find a way to get into the endzone when we’re in the red zone.
Connor Hughes, The Athletic: Do you believe this team has enough out there to win football games?
When we get starters healthy, which we should have some guys coming back, that’s always going to help stretch the field a little bit. Right now, we’re limited on guys we can stretch the field right now when we have a couple dudes banged up. We have to try to get some more chuck plays and explosive plays and the same things you guys are asking me about. I’d love to see this starting wideout group actually play together, see where that would go.
Brian Costello, New York Post: How do you think Sam played? When he did take that hit in the fourth quarter, what was the communication like? Did you talk to him personally? What were you told there?
We were all trying to see what was going on there. He was like, “I’m fine. I’m fine,” he was telling the other guys around him. I thought he was seeing the defense well, especially early. He knew where to go with the ball. He was decisive. He was trying to get rid of it quick and trying to get our offensive line in a rhythm. I thought he did some good things. There were a couple of plays I’m sure we’ll go back and look, and he’ll look at and want to say, “God, I wish I had done that.” When we go to the second half and got down, things are happening a lot faster because that rush, they’re not worried about the run game anymore. They’re coming after the quarterback.
Connor Hughes, The Athletic: With Sam, Adam, he came back out and finished the Denver game, and the next day was when you found out that he would be out a couple of weeks. Are you worried that could be the same thing here on this coming Monday?
We’ll see when we get back, but that wasn’t something that I was told I should be worried about.
Sam Darnold
Video: Here
Connor Hughes, The Athletic: Sam, how does the shoulder feel? Obviously, it looked like you took a pretty good hit there late.
Yeah, it’s fine. It’s fine. It was not a great decision by me. It was third-and-forever and I tried to run for it. I’ve got to get down, man. It’s not a great decision, but it is feeling fine.
Brian Costello, New York Post: Sam, it’s another week where the offense looked like it was moving pretty well in the first half and then nothing was happening for you guys in the second half. What did you see? I know you probably have to watch the film, but what did you see different from first to second half with you guys?
Yeah, I mean, the first couple drives (of the second half) were three-and-out, which, obviously, isn’t ideal and then we kind of got a rhythm going. The fumble killed us, just momentum wise and being able to get down the field. I think for us we were on a good drive there and I think if we, hopefully, score seven there it’s a different ballgame. But instead they get the turnover and they go down and score a touchdown. It’s something you can’t do against a good Kansas City team. Yeah, we’ve just got to play better in the second half.
Rich Cimini, ESPN: Sam, I know you said the shoulder’s fine, but when you came up initially it looked like it was uncomfortable there for a moment, so that’s why, being the same shoulder, people are going to wonder whether it was an aggravation of it. What makes you so comfortable that it wasn’t an aggravation of it?
I mean, I was able to get up and throw. Yeah. I mean, it’ll be okay. We’ll see tomorrow, I guess.
Connor Hughes, The Athletic: Sam, why do you think you guys as an offense have had trouble in the passing game getting the ball into the end zone. I think it’s four touchdowns as a team through the air through this point this year or something like that.
Yeah, just not executing well enough. For me, I’ve got to get the ball to the open guy and get it out in a timely manner. Our guys have got to get open against man. I’ve got to do a good job of seeing zone and reacting to it and finding open areas in the zones. So, yeah, when we get down there we’ve just got to play better, obviously. I feel like I can do a lot more to be able to put us in better situations and score some touchdowns.
Bruce Beck, WNBC: Sam, how do you maintain positivity through this difficult stretch?
Yeah, just got to take it one day at a time. We’ve got a tough New England game coming up here on Monday night, so, obviously, we’re going to learn from this game, watch some tape tonight and tomorrow and learn from it, grow from it, and I think for us it’s just the emphasis is on getting better every day. No matter what the results are, obviously everyone wants to win, that’s why we’re in this business, that’s why we’re professional football players, we got here by winning football games. For us, we’ve just got to put ours heads down and go back to work. I feel like if we do that we can win this game and worry about the next when it’s up, but we’ve just got to put our heads down and go to work.
Shara Taylor, New York Beacon: Do you think you were running more in today’s game?
Yeah, I thought there were some times where I pulled it down and had some good opportunities to run and throw on the move. So, yeah, it’s kind of a reaction deal when the pocket breaks down or anything like that.
Connor Hughes, The Athletic: Sam, have defenses been doing anything different to you specifically this year as opposed to your first two in the league?
No, what teams are doing is they’re playing us man, they’re occasionally playing some zone, but they’re playing us man and they’re bringing pressure.
Andy Vasquez, The Record: You guys have had some success going down the field but you haven’t been able to do it often. Why do you think the biggest reason for that is?
Yeah, I’ve got to put in better spots for our guys to go up and make the catch. Yeah, that’s really it.
Brian Costello, New York Post: It looked like after Chris (Herndon’s) fumble you ran over to him and gave him words of encouragement. You guys have been tight since you came in together. He’s having a tough season. How are you trying to help him through this?
Yeah, Chris is a warrior. He’s a great dude who’s going to get through anything. So, I have confidence in him and the whole team has confidence in him and we know what kind of player he is. So, again, I know he has confidence in himself and there’s no one more upset than him when he makes mistakes. So, we’re just going to keep, obviously, encouraging each other and taking it one day at a time.
Otis Livingston, WCBS: Sam, you had about four total years in the second half last week, something like 63 this week. Why is it so difficult for you guys to pick up yards, get a drive going, and get points on the board?
It’s just we’ve got to find a rhythm somehow. For me, I’ve got to do a better job of getting the ball out when I can and making the most of our opportunities.
Jennifer Williams, FOX New York: Sam, you had three long drives end in field goals. Do you think if one of those had been a touchdown it would have helped to build more momentum early on, especially against a team like the Chiefs?
I mean, yeah, if one of those drives is a touchdown—you can play the what-if game all day long if you want—but they weren’t, they were field goals and obviously we’ve got to do a better job of finishing in the red zone.
Otis Livingston, WCBS: Going into this game you guys were about 20-point underdogs. First of all, do you guys listen to that kind of stuff, and if so, does it make you mad to know that that’s one of the most disrespectful point spreads ever?
Yeah, it is what it is. They beat us by more than 20 today, so obviously we do look at it to a certain point, yeah. We do think that we’re a better team than that but we’re not playing like it and we have to be better and we have to execute better. Everyone’s just got to do their job better and that’s really it.
Pierre Desir
Video: Here
George Fant
Video: Here