CORNERBACK CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ
(On coming out with win after intense game)
“It was a good battle. They got a good team, they made some plays, we made some plays — that’s how football goes, that’s the nature of the sport. It was good to get a win, an away win. We’ve got to flip the page like Drake [Maye] said and get ready for next week.”
(On shadowing/traveling with WR Emeka Egbuka)
“That was a plan. He’s a good receiver, he got drafted high for a reason. They do a real good job, like I said earlier in the week, him and Baker [Mayfield] have gotten into a rhythm very early in the season and they continued it. It’s a fun challenge out there, it was fun. That’s what it is at corner”
(On if he likes to follow one opposing wide receiver in a game)
“To me, it doesn’t really matter. I’ll play whatever the defense wants me to do – if they want me to follow, if they don’t, whatever the team needs me to do, wants me to do, I’m happy to do.”
(On HC Mike Vrabel telling the defense to win the game in last quarter)
“It never just comes down to offense or defense, but we want to be in those big moments as a defense. He gathered us up and said go out there and have fun, do what we do, go make a play, get a stop and get the ball back to Drake [Maye].”
(On what going for it on fourth downs says about the team)
“We preach it during the week. We believe in the offense; they’ve been doing their thing. We like to go out swinging. Go swing and if it doesn’t have, the defense will get on the field and just do our part to get the ball back to them.”
RUNNING BACK TREVEYON HENDERSON
(On how he feels after his performance)
“Honestly, I really just thank God. It was a tough game. It was a really tough game and we knew it was going to be tough going into it. [There were] a lot of ups and downs during that game. Specifically, during those down moments, I was just trying my best to lean on God to pick me up and give me the strength to keep going, and He was there in that moment to lift me up and give me the strength to push through. I give the credit to my teammates, as well. They fought hard. We all fought hard and we are a team. I couldn’t have done it without those guys and the guys up front.”
(On how WR Stefon Diggs has impacted him)
“He keeps me motivated – he really does. He’s such a great leader on this field. He gets all the guys going. He is always in my ear, but he keeps me motivated.”
(On what he saw on his first touchdown)
“Just making my regular reads for that run scheme. The guys up front – they made it easy for me. They opened it up really [well]. My biggest thing is to be decisive and hit it once I see it. I thank the guys up front for taking care of the dirty work.”
(On the similarity between his big plays at Ohio State and now today with New England)
“It honestly felt good. This season, it comes with a lot of ups and downs here in the NFL and I’m learning that. I thank God for the way that he has allowed it to go because He has matured me a lot in my faith. He drew me closer to him. He’s been drawing me closer to Him during the season and just helping me keep my eyes on Him. I’ve been just trying to trust the process, being present in the moment and just trying to put in the days, each and every practice, just try to come to work. During game time, whatever opportunity comes my way, just try my best to take advantage of it. At the end of the day, I want God to have His way, not my will but His will be done.”
LINEBACKER ROBERT SPILLANE
(On mindset after big stops to win game)
“It’s huge to come down to South Florida and get a win against a great football team who’s won a lot of games this year. I’m really proud of the guys, of how we got some stops — crucial stops — late down the stretch. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy, we knew it was going to take four quarters, we knew Baker [Mayfield] loves to fight back in these games. I’m just proud of how we finished.”
(On large number of players participating on off day)
“We’re a hungry team, we’re a young team, we’re a team with the guy with a lot of chips on their shoulders. We still feel like we have so much left to prove. We have yet to play our best football game as a team – as a defense – and every week that’s why we prepare. We go out there every week trying to play our best game, trying to put the best four quarters of team defense together, and we’re yet to get there. That taste in our mouths keeps us coming back for more.”
(On Mike Vrabel’s coaching style)
“Authentic, original, true to himself, hard nose, intense. You know what you’re going to get from [Mike] Vrabel, you know he’s going to expect a lot out of you as a playmaker. And it’s our job as players to go out there and compete and finish.”
(On if he saw a lot of the aggression and similar traits from Vrabel today)
“Vrabel is consistent, so you might see aggression, I don’t. I see somebody with passion and care and somebody who really wants us to get it right. And we’re on that journey. Ten games through, we still have yet to get it right, but we’re on the right track and we’ve continued to believe in each other as players, as individuals and as a team.”
(On the defense’s conversation during two-minute warning during the fourth quarter)
“I truly believe when we have 11 guys out there in that two-minute warning, everyone is picturing themselves making the play to win the game. I know I sure do. I sure see myself making the play to help our team win. When you got 11 guys out there with that mindset, playing within the scheme of the defense, but going out there to win the game, good things are going to happen. I’m proud of [K’Lavon] Chaisson, he continues to make big plays for us early in the game, late in the game, so really proud of him.”
(On team mentality and confidence as season goes on)
“I don’t know if it’s more confidence, I don’t know if there’s more continuity. I know I believed week one of the season. I thought we were going to win that game, I thought we were going to win every game. So, I’ve had the confidence of the people around me and now it’s just that jell just coming together, understanding our details within the scheme of the defense and playing to it.”
WIDE RECEIVER KYLE WILLIAMS
(On scoring his first NFL touchdown)
“It was sensational. I don’t think words could really put an explanation on that feeling. We got the look that we wanted. Shout out to Drake [Maye] for making an alert on that play. He gets to pick one or two, and he picked me, and then once the ball was in my hands, I [saw] green grass, and then it was bon voyage after that.”
(On his opportunity coming into the game with other receivers injured)
“I knew it was huge. We always say you prepare as a starter, and I really took that to heart this week because I knew what was at stake. When you get an opportunity, you’re not promised another one. You get what I’m saying? So, for me, it was just making the most of it whenever my ‘ops’ (opportunities) came, just making the most of it and then just stacking. So, I’m proud of myself.”
(On his process this season staying ready for his opportunities)
“For me, it’s just been a consistent process. I follow what [Stefon] Diggs, Mack [Hollins], [Kayshon] Boutte, the vets do. I have my routine set, and I just stay true to it. Just because I’m not getting this many plays, or this week I got 10 plays – I’m not gonna shy away from that routine. I’m gonna stay on it, because at some point, I’m going to be needed, and they’re going to depend on me, and I’ve got to be ready, and I was ready this week.”
(On if he could see himself on the jumbotron while running for a touchdown)
“No, I just [saw] the end zone. Yeah, I was looking at the end zone. I need to start looking at the jumbotron, but sometimes I don’t feel like people could catch me, so I look at the end zone.”
(On the reaction from the sideline when he scored the touchdown)
“It was ecstatic. You could [see] how much the team really cares about things like that. To me, it was my first touchdown, and to them, they had the same excitement that I had. So, it was just nothing but smiles, handshakes and everything. And at that point for me, now I’m ready for more.”
(On keeping the game ball from his touchdown)
“It’s going to stay with me. You know, that one is dear to me. Hopefully if I get another one, I can give it to my mom and my dad. But this first one is sticking with me. Mom [doesn’t] get the first one – I worked for this [laughs]. But I appreciate mom – she’s been along [for] this journey.”