We Have to Continue to Build Off This | Press Conference

We Have to Continue to Build Off This | Press Conference

Uh obviously just really exciting to get a win. Um to show that kind of fight in a game where we had to claw our way back into it was was everything that we needed to see from our football team. We’ve been waiting to see for a couple of weeks now. The ability to to make the plays when it mattered uh to help us win a game. And those guys fought like crazy tonight. It was superb effort all the way around. awesome to see um you know I think just the the resilience of the team uh the fight that they show when when the way things have gone for us early on this year uh to to come in and fight the way they fought and even when it didn’t look good in the first half we we kept battling and that’s all that’s all that we ask of those guys and they did a great job I think individually some individual efforts um you know Jeff Simmons continues to play at at what I think is you know potentially a defensive player of the year level I mean he’s been phenomenal uh in every game he’s played I thought legius has sneeed effort uh on that short yardage ball that got I mean it was cuz he was there chasing it down. Uh that’s incredible effort to make a play and you know sometimes you got to have things go your way a little bit and that was great to see have happen. Um I think Cam made big plays when we needed them to and and both the both tight ends Gunnar and SH and Calvin uh when we needed the plays to be made they made them and I think that’s that’s the critical part. That’s what we’ve been searching for for the first month of the season is guys making plays when uh they need to make the play. So, really proud of the team, really proud of the fight. Um, and it’s good to get a win. And now it’s just just one. We’re going to try to keep rolling and keep stacking, but uh proud of proud of what we showed today. Trouble trouble dialing in for a good game. And obviously when you guys took over, he he found it. Yeah. I I think he he just had some he had some struggles early um and and fought his way through it, which I think is what you have to do as a quarterback in this league is not every quarter is going to go your way and every half’s going to go your way. and uh he just got reminded at halftime, just put your eyes where they’re supposed to be and and make the throws. And that’s what he did in the second half. And that was uh he he worked his way out of a particularly uh slow start of the game and and made the plays when we needed it. How important moment was that for Calvin particular? Oh, I mean, huge for Calvin, right? Everything that we’ve we’ve been hoping to see from him, you know, making those plays in critical moments when we need them to be made and and to see him make that catch and put us in really close range for the field goal to win a game was a huge huge play. I mean, there’s you can’t undersell how big of a play that was. It was a high degree of difficulty on the catch. Um, and it was it was great to see. Not only not only the fumble on the goal line, but the interception that turned into a touchdown. How much did that help open the door for you guys to give you? Yeah, I mean, it was it was everything in the game. I mean, those two plays it, you know, some things just got to go your way sometimes and and we feel like haven’t had a lot of that so far this year. we haven’t had a lot of bounces that have uh that have come in our favor and and sometimes you need that and you know it was a really though I think the the fumble out of the end zone was just the I think the highlight is just needs effort to go chase it down and and and be in the guy’s body frame as he’s crossing the goal line uh was just was awesome to see and then you know sometimes when a guy makes a pick and you know fumbles the ball back to you I mean great we’ll take it. What do you say to your defense at night where he gets the sack and that starts that whole series to get you guys the ball back. How long struggling? Yeah, I think they I think that’s the that’s the thing I love about the team, man. These guys, they play really hard for each other and they knew that wasn’t going to be perfect and they knew that they had to play uh really good football for us to win the game and and they felt that we were struggling and they they didn’t blink. They just played the next play and kept going and and they picked each other up and they kept moving on the sideline and uh that stuff is good to see, man. That’s that’s the mark of of a team that’s got the right makeup and and I’ve said that all along. We just have that much to show for it. But uh knowing the kind of game we were in, the struggles we had offensively, particularly in the first half and even defensively we struggled in the first quarter for sure. Um but they just kept fighting and they just kept playing the next play and and finding a way uh to get it done and then we just sort of kept chipping away at it at every turn we had and the guys made plays we needed them to and I don’t think we allowed a score in the second half. So uh really great effort in the second half defensively to calm it down. maybe get some confidence. Oh, I’m incredibly hopeful that that’s that’s what uh that’s what we’ve been searching for, you know, to prove prove to ourselves that we’re capable of winning a fourth quarter football game, which we’ve been in every one of these games in fourth quarter, you know, every single one of them as as we’re getting as the clock turns into the fourth, uh we we’ve been in striking distance and to show our ability to go close a game out um is a tremendous step for us for for a young team. Bunch of young players making plays. Chim DK on a huge return, Gunner, Cam, uh these guys all made plays for us and and I think when you get these moments where you have a chance to to show your medal in a in a tight game at the end, uh it does wonders for your confidence. You know, you guys practiced that two situation over and over again. In this case, how much of that was operating on instinct and how much of that was kind of as you guys? Uh it was really well done. I think uh I think both schematically in the in the play selection and and Cam’s execution of it were we’re spot on. Um that’s what you need in those moments. You know, you have to be everything’s got to work together. The the scheme’s got to be right. The the answers have to be right and you got to make the throws and catches and uh we did that um and did it enough to win the game. Things worked out well. Obviously, were your analytics telling you four and one, four, four, punk punt? Uh yeah, in that particular set of circumstances with where the time was on the clock, uh handing the ball back to them if you don’t get it in field goal range is is is the end of the game. You know, it’s a it it kicks the game out of reach. Um so that was that’s what we had talked about. Uh if it was fourth and less than one, we would probably go. Uh anything later than that, we were going to punt it because our defense was playing so well, we felt like we could flip the field back and and take advantage. Didn’t want to just hand them three points in in their field position. You were on the verge you were on the verge of an 11 game win streak would have been the worst in Titans history. How much of a relief is a losing streak? Losing streak. Um I I don’t think about those things. You know, we just same thing we preach to the team. Our goal this entire week and it’s cliche and coach speak and all that but but it’s it’s how you have to work when you’re in these situations is you’re just trying to go go one and0. That’s all we’re worried about. And you go one and0 each week and and you keep trying to fight, keep trying to find your way into it. you don’t worry about all that stuff. Half these guys weren’t even here last year, so it doesn’t count on them. Um, and you just try to focus on you just narrow your focus and and you don’t listen to to the outside stuff. You don’t worry about what’s happened previously. You just push forward. Uh, our guys do a great job of of just they just keep swinging and uh we’re going to, you know, certainly isn’t the end of the season by any stretch. We got a lot of football left to play and and we’re going to keep doing that. How much of a relief for you and the staff, the coaching staff because you guys work here like Yeah, I mean it’s for us just to be able to see our team come through and play that way and and play with that kind of resilience and that kind of effort and make the plays needed to win the game is is huge for us. You know, it’s again, it’s just like every loss, it’s still one game. You know, it’s still one game and we got a lot of games left to play. Um, but very very proud of our staff, very very proud of the way that they’ve responded in uh in the face of some adversity over the course of the early part of the season and uh excited for what’s to come. So we just keep trying to stack and keep moving forward and and uh you know again one win is one win, one loss is one loss and and we try to go out and win next week. guy who you know I of course like I said I pay attention and a guy who been working his tail off from injuries to getting back into that field of football man like that play changed the football game and with him making that play running down what maybe six some yards I think um like that that that’s type of play that shows what we talk about as a team our culture and our foundation what we build this team on and that right there like I said it changed the game and um you know it’s that’s a good team win and like I said we we deserve that and like that play in the end zone with with um Rocket like things like that you know it just feel in our hands and you know you you wish for plays like that and it just so happened to happen for us and like I said today that was a good win it feel good to actually win a football game. You’ve been talking for a long time as we’ve talked to you after these last 10 games about how how redundant it feels and kind of the ground thing to what kind of relief is it talking it’s a relief like I say we talk about just learning I mean finding a way to finish game finding a way to um make a play and I think that’s what we talk about we’ve been talking about it talking about it just you know fight to the end and and we show that today. Um, you know, shout out to, you know, even the special team plays like the like things like that that’s that change games and to be able to, you know, get a turnover and take care of the ball in two minutes. We we we worked the hell out of two minutes Thursday. You know, we we worked two minutes in the game. We we talk about being good in situation of football and I think that shows today and two minutes. Camelin went down had a hell of a drive read on the sideline and setting that up for joy. So, like I said, it feel good as hell to finally get a win. We we know you and Cam were very close. Do you go up to him and say anything before that drive or is it just I told him I mean right right when they scored that last drive and um you know I told him I said we going to get you this ball back. We’re going to get you this ball back and you go put in zone. All he said was I got you. And we got him the ball and he did what he supposed um they did what they did um on the offensive side and like I told him I told him that’s why we drafted you number one overall pick. um you his calmness, his um his pores in that pocket like that and I don’t know how many rookers quarterback could have that type of pause when the game it come down to him and he knew it. The ball was in his hand and you know he did a hell of a job of controlling that offense and getting us down to to be able to kick that field go defense I guess you guys stop and get the ball back same thing or just knew we had to hold them here. Well, I mean, I don’t know if y’all saw it, but like even after the turnover we had when our offense turned over the ball, we talked about it through the week. We have to be better with sudden change. And that’s one thing we did a hell of a job. But today, being able to go out there on the field, we need we knew our offense needed the ball back and we hudded up right before we went on the field. We talked about it. We’re going to get on the sideline. We’re going to take everybody take a deep breath, go out there, everybody do their job, and get the ball back to offense. And like I said, that just what we’ve been talking about pretty much this whole week. We’ve been talking about it because last week, of course, um you know, offense turned over the ball and we end up going on defense and giving up a touchdown. So, this whole week, like I said, we’ve been just talking about keeping composure and everyone just doing their job and go put the fire out. We did a hell of a job with that. How much you feel like Cam grew up in the fourth quarter today. Struggled for three quarters and didn’t really look good, but then he turned it on when um I mean I I wasn’t, you know, I kind of was focused on my job. Um, you know, I don’t know how much a struggle, you know, I’m sure this this is team game. Um, you know, I don’t know why he was struggling, but you know, the overall thing is, you know, he went down and got us had a hell of a drop in drive in the fourth quarter and got a score. So, um, you know, it’s always a lot to fix and always a lot of things that we could get better at, but the overall, you know, message was we got to win and he did a hell of a job in, you know, getting the offense in position down there to kick that field goal. How much you hoping that this game can kind of be a springboard more and maybe it’ll give guys confidence that you can you can win games like this now. I mean, winning solve everything. When you can win a football game in national football um in this league, that’s built confidence. So, I think us winning today showed guys that, you know, we can win in this league. Um you know, even when we down six or 21 going into the fourth quarter, you know, nobody stopped believing. You know, we kept uh believing into with each other, make sure everybody we believe in each other. um everyone was going to do their job when it really mattered. Um I think that’s what we talk about. Um that blind trust and you know our guy Primo was in there and we’ve been watching watching this documentary with the um you know them flying and whatnot and you know just that blind trust that everyone going to do their job especially in that fourth quarter. Um that’s what we’ve been talking about and like I said man feel good as hell to get a finally get a win. What was the feeling when you saw the kick go through the upright? A relief. It was a relief man. You know, I we know how hard this is in this league. Um, you know, with Joy, I’m sure he never want to miss a kick, but, you know, that’s one guy that I see working his tail off. You know, I’ve never seen a kicker work his tail off as as as Joey, you know, in the weight room um to on the field like Joy worked his ass off. So, you know, it’s came down to him and I had faith in him. Um, you know, I knew Joy was going to put that ball in the upright and I told him I said it it’s going to come down to you and you going to put it in the upright. So, you know, the belief in him to go out there and make that kick, you know, like I said, it was a relief and like I said, we the message was one and0 and we finally got a don win. We all know the heat that Brian Callahan and his staff they take. Obviously, this win it doesn’t erase everything else, but what do you think it does for for this coaching staff getting the way you guys? I think it’s that’s also build confidence um for them as well. I mean, like I said, we need to take care of everything and when you can have a staff who can come in and make adjustments and, you know, make sure they calling the right plays and putting guys in position to be able to make the plays and, you know, I’m sure Cali probably has something to do with that two-minute drive as well. Um, you know, he he’s the head coach and, you know, of course, we all know he was calling the plays. So, um, I’m sure that that was a team effort um from top down. So, you know, I hopefully that could help build the confidence from not just the player, but the coaches as well. Um, good. I think our defense played well all day. Um, especially in crunch time getting us, you know, the stops that we needed for us to eventually win the game. Um, but I mean, we were put in one of the best situations. We had a timeout. All needs a field goal. Um, you know, we came together as a offense. I think Oline had a good day. You know, they pushed us to win that game. How feeling to finish to finish it off and and see the kick go through? Uh, it felt good. Um, a win, especially for my first one uh in a game like that. you know, it’s a big time win, but I think the biggest thing just we got to continue to build off of it. We got to continue to attack the week the right way. Um, and try to get a win next week. For you personally to come back when it matter, you know, after a bit of a tough start, come back and play the way you did. Like, how big is that person? Um, it’s really not that big to me honestly. I played well previously in my career. I just got to be consistent at it. Um, I think the second half I really saw the field better um, in terms of just getting the ball out, letting my guys make plays and I think Chig and Gunner tight ends, they did that along with the receiving court. Was there something that made you see the field like an adjustment or or anything like that? U, there really was an adjustment um, from the first half to the second half and far of what they were giving me. Um, from the coverage wise, it’s really me of more just putting the ball in play. They they give it to me now. If the corner is back, I need to put the ball in play, let them make a play. I’m sorry about that, Coach. said he um or he or somebody told you at the half just to see it. Did they help you change your mindset at all at halftime with the with the advice? Uh it wasn’t really a change of my mindset. It was more of me actually doing it. Um and I’ve seen it the same way they see it for the past couple games in terms of just letting my guys make plays. Um and I think this is actually the first time I did that and end up paying off for. So, um it’s just the games you play. um the more you get experience with it, the more you get to learn your guys and that’s why we able to win this game. Was that how like a lot of your best games in your life have gone where you kind of built and finished at your best? Um I would say so um I wish I have started better um personally but um end day don’t matter how you start finish um that’s where I want to live at. Um, if I could play that way the entirety of a season or a game, I would. Um, but that’s not real football. So, you know, to be in a position like that, um, defense gets you a style. That’s the that’s what you want to be in. You want to take your guys down there, have Joey make the game, win the kick, and celebrate. Cam, what’s going through your mind when you see that the ball’s been intercepted, but then Tyler falls on the fumble for a touchdown? Um, really what’s going through my mind is like, damn, threw a pick and it was supposed to be a C to Red. He was wide open. They end up tipping it. So, and then you look back and lock on the ball, they talking about touchdown, so I said touchdown. And so, um, it was just a a feeling. That was only the second play I had like that in my career. Um, but I mean, it was good. I think it just shows the the coaching staff, but they emphasize on playing hard. Um, lock it, not giving up on the play. Um, then those guys making a play, lock it, get touchdown. How important was it for you to be able to connect as you help set up that field? Uh, it was real good. Um it was just good that we finally did in the game. Um we did it all off seasonason, but now we finally seen eye to eye in the game. Um he made a a ton of explosive plays for us. He I think just his demeanor never changed throughout the game whether we were down and even when we had two-minute drive, he just stayed right there. He was ready to play, ready to get the ball and he was a big reason why we wanted you hope this can be a springboard for for more Um I hope it can be, you know, springboard for a lot of wins. Um but we just got to continue to get better. We got one one step better today and just really just keep the right mindset each and every week. Try to win next week. Oh yeah, for sure. Um and I think that just sparked it. Um him not giving up. Even when they gave explosive run on a key down like that, them boys, they never gave up. They were a reason why we were in this game the whole time. They also won the reason we won the game today. What does this say? ridicule that he’s under. Um I think it’s it doesn’t even say like nothing to you know what we change dayto day because the end day it’ll never be the coaches always the players end day we always the ones who’s on the field they can’t go complete the ball for me they can’t catch the ball for me it’s going to always come down to the players and I just think our coaching staff they emphasize that just every week that we have to play hard we did that today u we just got to keep on going to battle not only for you know us as a team but for the coaching staff as well with I guess second game out. Was there a champ going on in the locker room? What was it? What was that going on? Well, I don’t even know what the champ was going on, but he he called a hell of a game. It would have been better stats wise if I would have been more efficient. Um, if we just been more efficient in the pass game. I think running the ball, offensive offensive line moved them real well. They were great in the pass game today, even the running back. So, I think the biggest thing is we got to be efficient every job. Um, really every play is called. It just comes down if I want to check it or not. Um, and then I would say just us executing. He called plays that we repped 100 times through OTAAS to training camp and they they worked for us. Um, I wish I would have had Chim back on one of the plays. I missed him wide through the middle. end up checking it down. But, um, I just think that’s just something that, you know, we got to get better at. You’re always the same as us and we know you’re a level guy, but once you got in there, when you’ve got those 10 minutes at least before the doors open and stuff, did did you celebrate in a different way? It’s your your first win. Obviously, this team’s had a tough time and and the comeback was pretty dramatic. I mean, can you share with us a little bit behind the scenes of how excited you let yourself be over it? Uh, me and my me and my man, Coach Nick was right. Uh, he lost his voice today. He was so happy. Um, but I think that was the biggest one, just seeing him. He he stuck to it. Um, he told us we was going to get a win and he was going to be the most excited person in the locker room. He was. So, I just think it just meant something to everybody for us to finally get a win, finally know what it feels like. Um, but we all know um, we got a new a new team next. We play against a very talented Raider team and, you know, we just got to try to go in their place and win. What did you say to Joey in the locker room? Who? Joey. Uh, really good job. I mean, I’m not worried about what he did before that kick, whether he missed it or made it. I’m worried about what he going to do on this kick. And he came through for us. He’s the He’s one of the most confident people on our team. Um, and I’m glad that, you know, I got him on my team. I know if I get a chance to cross the 50, I got a chance to get points on the board with Joey.

Titans HC Brian Callahan, DT Jeffery Simmons, and QB Cam Ward address the reporters at State Farm Stadium after Week 5 at the Arizona Cardinals.

00:00 – 07:05 HC Brian Callahan
07:06 – 13:27 DT Jeffery Simmons
13:28 – 20:41 QB Cam Ward

Subscribe to the Titans YT Channel: https://bit.ly/2M1n3Kd

#Titans #TitanUp