DE Olivier Vernon
Postgame at Jets, August 27, 2016
Q: Did you notice how good of a push the defensive line was getting?
A: This was our dry run. The dry run before the big show in Dallas, so we all know what was on the line here and guys are just trying to do what they came in and were brought in to do, play some good defense.
Q: How, as a defense, do you think you guys did tonight?
A: I think overall we did pretty well. I was saying before, it was pretty much a defensive game in the beginning and a lot of guys, especially the young guys, held their own and made some big stops, especially on the one turnover we got in the red zone and came up with that, man. You need plays like that to win games.
Q: Yesterday Colin Kaepernick didn’t stand for the National Anthem to make a stand for the way minorities are treated in this country. What are your thoughts on that?
A: I didn’t even hear about that. They say everybody is entitled to their own opinion, freedom of speech, you have rights. That is on him. I can’t speak on it. That is his opinion. That was his action that he partook in. That is him, he is his own man.
Q: How good does it feel to get a come from behind victory against your in-stadium rival?
A: It feels good. We try to at least get a win in the preseason game. It felt good. The beginning of the game was mainly defensive and a lot of guys had the pressure on them. We had our backs against the wall and a lot of guys came up and made some big plays.
Q: How was your defense able to make some key stops to secure that victory?
A: Just back against the wall type mentality. When we go out there it should be expected to try and make big plays. Just as the offense wants to score, the defense wants to score as well. It probably doesn’t come as often, but we just have to make that effort.
Q: How can you translate the preseason success of getting the come from behind win to the regular season?
A: Well, we will see in game one. We will see in game one when it comes down to it. At the end of the day this is a preseason game and when it comes to the live real thing, I think we have a great group of guys on both sides of the ball that can make some plays, so we will see from there.
Q: I think when you had a hit on Fitzpatrick, you patted him on the helmet. What were you guys talking about there?
A: I just told him that I almost had him there and he was like, ‘Yeah. Next time. Next time.’ It is what it is. I am glad we came out with the win.
Q: That is your old division. You know those guys well.
A: Yeah. They are pretty much similar. It was similar from last year. Throughout my whole career at the Dolphins, a lot of their personnel didn’t really change that much, but it was like a homecoming pretty much. This whole preseason has been like a homecoming, every team and next week we have the Patriots. It is just good to get out there and have a dry run before week one and see what we can do.
Q: How much of a lift does creating turnovers give you?
A: When you get at least one turnover a game, it is going to sky rocket your chances of winning the game. That is the biggest thing. You have to get Ws in this league. For the defense to come up, especially with our back against the wall, and make plays and especially getting a turnover and scoring off of a turnover, that is what you want.
Q: Did you know Kerry Wynn was that fast?
A: Man, I didn’t know he had juke moves like that. He had the little stick and go. I am happy for him. It is his coming out party right now, the man of the hour, but no, I am happy for him. He did his thing.
Q: Did you like seeing Snacks get that strip sack against his old team?
A: Oh yeah. I know coming into the game, he probably had to feel weird. That is how it felt for me coming into the Dolphins game, so I know he was enjoying it and I know he was excited, especially getting some hits on the quarterback. But I am happy for all these guys out here.
