We Have to Continue to Get Better | Press Conference

We Have to Continue to Get Better | Press Conference

Okay. Uh, just two injury announcements. Um, Senita actually had the quad and then Jeff with the ham, just so you guys know that. Um, okay. Just kind of a kind of quick little summary of the game a little bit. Um, we got off to a fast start. Exactly what we wanted to do um, as a football team. Um, going out there doing a great job and got rolling through the game and did some really nice things. Cam played, you know, a nice first half for us as we got going there. And then at the end of the half, you know, unfortunately we gave it the big play and that was disappointing. And then they came out and, you know, went down the field to start the second half and then obviously we had uh the turnover which was critical. We can’t have that. We got to do a better job every all 11 guys in the field and um you know so it’s it’s disappointing the way the game went after you know the end of the first half. So, we got to do a better job um you know, stopping the run. You know, the quarterback got out of the pocket a little too often for us. We got to contain that, keep them in the pocket and um you know, make them do it the hard way. And then offensively, you know, we can’t get we can’t get shut out, you know, in the second half and do what we did, you know, only what eight plays uh in the first three series of the uh in the third quarter. So, um but hey, we’re going to stick together here. We’re going to fight our tails off and find a way to go win the next one. That’s the most important thing. Aside from the turnover there in the third quarter, what some of the reasons for the offensive struggles in the third? Well, it’s, you know, it’s going to have to obviously watch the tape um tomorrow and, you know, the turnover starts and then there was some protection things that came up as the game went on and we’ve got to do a better job all 11 guys uh doing their job better and obviously we had some very successful drives in the first half of moving the ball and Cam was playing well and we got to run the ball better and more consistently. Um, so how much you see with how much was simplicity kind of at the core of what you guys were trying to do with all the turnover today? Was was there a concerted effort to try and just do what you guys know how to do well or were there a lot of changes made to try and reconfigure the offense? It’s it’s not about the simplicity of it. It’s it’s what do our players do best and that’s what we’re always going to look at. It doesn’t you know every play on that call sheet you think is a good play. That’s why it’s on there. So, um, you know, I think we’re going to always, every time you go into a game plan from week to week, you look, what do you think is the best way to approach this team and what is the best way for your football team to go down and move, uh, move the ball and score points offensively? And you saw what Cam and the rest of the offense did. Um, you know, Chim had the big play, the explosive play. It’s it was the perfect coverage, things like that. And that’s what happens. Players play, make go make a play. It was great great to see. How would you assess maybe day and what do you say to him about the turnovers? It’s happened a couple of games and though he’s not trying to do it, but how do how do you get that out of him? Well, that that’s something that can’t happen. We got we got to avoid that and you know there’s going to be listen, you’re going to have some mistakes. There’s going to be some things like that that come up, but um it’s happened too often in the last couple weeks. So, it’s something we we harp on. Uh we we talk about it all the time and players got to go out there and play and we got to uh do a better job as coaches also. So, we’re all in this thing. We’re we are all in this thing together. Mike that last series uh in the first half Yep. You had some timeouts offensively or defense? Offensively, you had you had three timeouts. You had a chance maybe to get in position. Joey slides kicking the ball. Well, what what happened there? Well, the w the win conditions, you know, it was how that that was the tough way to go. The tough direction. Even our last uh series on or the series before that on offense. Um if you could hear the conversations that were going on there just because the way the wind was blowing, it was changing things like that. So, I think Bones did a great job of communicating with me all game long, where the start point needs to be to even attempt it. And so, that that came into consideration of where we were going, the score of the game, how we’re doing it. Uh, you know, don’t give them another opportunity. Things there’s a there’s a number of things that come up, but the the win was definitely consideration of, you know, it’s not like, you know, normally if like you’re playing inside, there’s not any issues, weather issues like that. You say, “Okay, you get the ball, you get to the 50, you can bomb at certain But there was no way in today’s at that point in time during the game that we’d be able to do that. Slide did hit a 50 yard into that same win a little bit. Did something change between that? We just we we were doing what we thought was best like we will every game. That’s what we’re always going to do. Situation of the game, score of the game, how were we playing on both sides of the ball. So there’s a number of factors. It’s not just um hey, okay, he’s made this one. I mean, so it’s just we’re going to always think about, okay, situationally, what is the best thing for our football team on that game, that game day? What are some ways that you can maintain the energy? Start again. What are what are the ways that you can maintain the energy that you guys came out with in the first half? Seemed like the offense was ticking. Yeah. Um things were moving moving pretty fast for you guys and you guys were getting what you look what it looked like you guys wanted and then the second half it seemed to kind of sputter. Uh what are some things that you guys are looking at to to kind of maintain that as the game goes on? play complimentary football. That That’s a big thing. I think when you look at it, playing complimentary football, the offense, the defense, the kicking game, and I think Jim did a phenomenal job in the return game. It’s like if we just block one one return a little better, it’s going to be a house call and the whole team. It’ll electrify the entire team and it’s just a matter of some, you know, everyone going out there in all three phases playing together, help each other. You know, we had a critical third down, backed up, third and eight, you know, it becomes a big play and next thing you know, they go down and score. So if you get that stop, it’s a field position game with the conditions we had and you get good field position, you go down there, get points, you know, it’s a whole different deal, but it’s it’s every it’s all three phases playing together, playing complimentary football, and finding a way uh to go out and win a game. I’m not sure if you’ve said this yet. Any update on Simmons and Sneeed? No, like every injury, I’m going to tell you guys this now. every injury we come in here um you know we’ll we’re going to come in and give you an update on what it was and then every injury is going to be a day-to-day basis because you never know until you get back to the facility how guys you you know wake up the next day how they’re feeling and you know you’re always trying we’ll always talk to the players about hey at this point in time this it’s Sunday to Sunday so we got to do whatever we can to make sure we take care of our players because we’re always going to look out for our players best interest health-wise number one that’s always going to be taken in consideration so they’ll do whatever And then as the week goes along, we give give you guys an update uh if we have any information to share. Do you identify anything that was done different or particularly specifically changed under your regime than maybe what had been happening before the change? In what area is there was there anything that the team did differently today that you believe was not happening? Well, we got off to a fast start. Okay. You know, we we got off to a better start. You know, I think the way we played the first half as a whole until the last couple minutes, I think we did a nice job there. But on on Cam’s interception, it looked like a similar maybe I don’t know if it was the same route or a similar route to him throwing behind Eller, both of those misses. Was that an issue with guys not getting to the landmark or can’t was he just behind those guys or was that a miscommunication? I have to watch the tape exactly to tell you exactly uh what happened and where you know see how the route was, see what the coverage was, see all those little things. Um so, you know, we we got to we got to protect the football. How do you hold guys accountable for a game like this? How do you hold guys accountable? That was something you talked about a lot in the week leading up here. How how do you as the interim coach hold guys accountable? Well, after after every game, you know, I’ll say this, our entire organization this week has been phen was phenomenal. the entire organization, you know, everyone came in, we rallied around each other. We had a great week, you know, um, thank you for all your help this week. You were awesome. Uh, but I think everybody in the organization, um, top down, they were unbelievable. And I think the week of practice we had was phenomenal. So, I mean, they did a great job. So, it’s just a matter of we got to find a way to play better. And you know, we’re always going to, you talk about the accountability part is regardless of what the scores of the game, doesn’t matter what it is, practice, games, we’re going to watch the tape and we’re going to be critical. We’re coaches. We’re going to coach. We’re going to coach extremely hard. And that’s the way it’s going to be. It’s no one’s trying to make a mistake. No player is out there trying to make a mistake, but we also have to coach them and talk about the little things, the fine little details that it takes to get over this hump, you know? So whether it’s footwork, whatever, whatever it is. And it’s as coaches too, we’ve got to look at ourselves, too, and say, “How do we help the players?” Because it’s all about the players. It’s always going to be about the players. So, we got to do whatever we can to put our players in a position to succeed. And they got to go out and execute. We’re not going to make any excuses. Okay? We’re going to get to back to work. Get back in the meetings tomorrow. We’ll watch it in all three phase tomorrow. Clean everything up. Okay? Players will have Tuesday off. We’ll get back in Wednesday and bust our tails to find a way to go to get a win this week. Last one, John. Mike, Patriots hadn’t run the ball real well this year coming in. What what did they do well today uh in that department and I guess how much did losing Jeff help I guess or hurt rather against both pass? Oh I think starting the game they did they you know that that was the one of one thing after the first couple series we said we got to do we got to stop the run you know that was one of the first things uh we talked about you know I heard the staff talking I was doing some you know do a little bit everything at halftime but you could hear the defensive staff saying number one we got to stop the run stop the run and keep the quarterback in the pocket. Um, so they they out executed and we got we had to do a better job at that. All right. All right. Thank you all very much. The quick start and then maybe what happened in the third where you guys couldn’t couldn’t really get much going at all. Uh, I think just with the quick start is just us having urgency. That’s how we need to start every game and maintain it throughout the whole game. Um, and just the third quarter really fumbling the football. U I think that was what really set us back. Um, if I don’t do that, it’s not a the game doesn’t get out of hand that fast. So, um, just got to, you know, continue to, you know, have ball security and, you know, get better. Slip on that play. You said what? Did it just slip on that play? That fumble? Yeah. That’s two weeks in a row. What’s going on? Um, got to hold on to it tighter. Um, but really just got to continue to emphasize it within myself. Um, got to be better at it. I know that’s something that, you know, I can’t continue to let happen. Um, I got to cut that out next week. Do you feel like you guys lose urgency at any point? You say that the first quarter of the success is from the urgency. No, we don’t lose urgency. Um, it’s just we have to continue to stack plays. Um, and there was just, you know, whether it’s a false start. Um, and even towards the end of half, um, I should have checked the ball down, ended up stopping the clock again. We have to just, you know, waste the play on what we didn’t have to. It’s just all of us have to continue to do our job every play. And when we do that, we can be a good offense. Did you get a chance to push push at all to to go to try to score a field goal before halftime or there no chance for you to kind of participate? Uh that’s the goal to get points. We had enough time. We had three timeouts. But when I don’t take the completion right there like I need to, it puts the coaches, you know, in the offense, you know, in a bad situation. So that’s how it end up happening. Um so, you know, I just got to be better. We got to be better as a whole. Um and then the end of the day, we got to, you know, win games. We got to start next week. I win the football game. Obviously, you didn’t get the result, but how do you like the way Mike McCoy and some of the changes that he’s implemented? How do you like how how that went throughout the week and in the game? I think Mike, he’s done an unbelievable job, especially within the circumstances that he’s in and everything, you know, he’s preached to us um since he was named the interim and then all the way to this point, you know, it stayed true. You know, we want to be, you know, hard tough physical football team and we were that at times, but we weren’t that the entirety of the game. That’s why we got the outcome. So, uh, we got to continue to, you know, pour to the coach staff, the coach staff continue to pour in us, and we got to, you know, flip this thing around pouring into into you, he mentioned how previously working with Trevor Lawrence, he just told him all the time that, hey, you’re getting better, you’re getting better. Is that something you’ve experienced in this short time with him? Yeah, I’ve experienced that every game. Um, not only him just telling me that I get better, I’m feeling that I’m getting better just cuz, you know, the the level that you have to play at consistently. Um, and just as a whole, myself and as a offense, we haven’t done that consistently. Um, and I just think the the coaching staff, they they never really tell us, you know, um, like what we have to, you know, just continue to emphasize. They more tell them just to play the next play, continue to play cuz the end of the day, you’re not going to have a perfect game. Um, but you got to continue to stack perfect plays to end up trying to be in a situation to win. Is there anything you could take from from Drake May’s path? had a somewhat rough rookie year. Had a new coach his second season he’s playing playing like that. Um that’s a pretty good course he’s on. You think you can follow that? Um it’s not really about following him. Uh it’s more of, you know, being myself. I think he’s a great player. He’s going to continue to, you know, make plays in his league. Um when it’s all said and done, I think me and him, you know, we have a chance to have some elite battles. So, um he got the the best of us today. Um but we got to continue to get better. Um but you know that’s not really the main goal as far as you know us trying to you know try to beat a particular person something we trying to you know play together. We ain’t played complimentary football you know for a decent amount of time. It’s only been at clicks of the other of the day. So you know we just got to continue to porn each other do better um and try to win next week. What allowed for you for you to have so much success with Chim early and did they do anything to kind of try to take him away? Say that again. What what allowed you and Chim to have the success you had right out of gate and did they do anything to try to take him away in a second? Uh me and Chim we just see it the the the same way from you know how he sees the fields I see the fields the same way. Um and I think that’s something that me and him continue to you know create that relationship just on the field. Um and I think he had an unbelievable day not only in the return game but especially at receiver. And I think the the more reps me and him you know get together um the better we going to be. Um, but you know, this only starts, Cam. Do you think uh it’s more an issue with like focus and concentration or or is it more mechanics, which what’s caused those couple? Um, I don’t think it’s neither. I just got to hold on to the football. Your coaching staff tell you anything after that fumble? Um, no. They don’t really be crashing out on the sidelines. It’s really more next play. Um, but they don’t need to tell me that. I know that. Um, but you know, I got a great coaching staff around me and Bo. um you know he contin continuously tell me what I need to get better at. Um and that’s one of the you know opportunities I have to get better at. Do any examples come to mind of anything that was new or done differently today versus the first six games under Brian in terms of like in general operation communication strategy scheme. Was anything different today than what had been in the past? Um not not really in the terms of just how it translate to the game, our play. I think the biggest difference only been just practice. Um, we had a a great week of practice and I think the it translated to the game. Not not, you know, the whole game, but we’re starting to feel it click, but not nothing really changed. Um, Coach Callahan, he did his best for us. He’s a great head coach. Um, he’s a guy took a chance out of me, so I’m forever going to be grateful to him, but um, we just got to continue to play complimentary football. We did it for one half, we didn’t do it the next half. So, you know, that’s the next improvement for us. What what are maybe nights like or 24 hours like for you after a game when things don’t go as well as you want them to as far as beating yourself up and how how are you as far as putting stuff behind you and getting ready for like the Colts next week? Uh I put stuff behind me fast. Um I think as a quarterback you have to be able to, you know, be able to play next play. Got to be able to flush stuff. Um and it’s really me watching all my bad plays. Um how do I pre how can I prevent it? What situation are we in? What down are we in? Um, and even on some good plays, there’s some stuff that I can continue to do better today. Um, I just got to be able to, you know, build off the bad plays and make them into more good plays. More opportunities today, Cam, for for big chunk plays, even with Calvin out of the game. Looks like you had some decent success in getting the ball down for you. Uh, yeah, I think that was a it was more of an emphasis this week just because the the different coverages that they can get to. Uh it’s a good defense that they have in the back end and at the end of the day we had to put the ball in play as well. Starting early just you know taking what they give us um until we’re able to get you know the intermediate deep throws. So we just got to continue to stack plays like that. You guys know behind Shig it looked similar to the the miss in that same area of the field to Ell in the first quarter. Were those the same route or the same play? It looked like the same miss. Was there a miscommunication there in terms of a landmark or were you just behind them? Uh, no. It wasn’t the same route or the same play. Completely different concept. I just threw the ball behind him. So, I just need to be accurate with the football. To what extent do you think your performance so far is representative of what Cam Ward can do at the quarterback position? Say it again. To what extent has your play thus far aligned in your opinion with what Cam Ward can do as a quarterback? Um, I think he can do a lot. He can push the ball down the field. He can make plays with his plays um I mean with his feet and you know he can motivate his teammates to you know continue to try and score every drive. That’s the standard that we want to score the football every time we touch the field. Um whether it’s with three or seven. Um but I think that’s just what I possess. Um not a lot of people can go the route that I took to get to this point. Um so I’m not tripping you know over just a certain situation that you know one person in or I’m in. Uh, I’m always trying to get better every day and it and meet my end goal trying to be one of the best. That touchdown, the the 38 y, uh, DK said that’s something that you guys talked about. You he was rep. How long like have you been waiting to have that opportunity and that that exact look to be able to take advantage of what both you and he do? Well, I was ready for that play. Um, we had that play on the sheet for about three, four weeks. So, whenever he called it, you know, I got the smiling in the huddle. um almost checked out the play, but we reloaded and then I mean that’s Chim really making the play. The O line did an unbelievable job just getting everybody out the way. Gunner sealed it, you know, with the pin block and Chim made the play. So, um I got to continue to put the ball in his hands. Um let him make plays cuz, you know, when when he touched the ball, you know, he’s dangerous. Was that the first time that was called this this season? That that specific play? Uh that specific play. Yeah. Not the not the protection screen, everything. We just got a new play in. It worked. Thanks.

Titans Interim Head Coach Mike McCoy and QB Cam Ward address reporters at Nissan Stadium after Week 7 vs. the New England Patriots.

00:00 – 9:39 – Interim HC Mike McCoy
09:40 – 18:47 – QB Cam Ward

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