Post-Game Transcript: Head Coach Tom Coughlin

Head Coach Tom Coughlin

Postgame vs. Atlanta, September 20, 2015

I’m disappointed. Again, this time we put together 17 straight points and obviously it wasn’t enough, but getting the ball back down there at the end of the third quarter and having a turnover, the fumble. The unfortunate thing, the most disappointing thing for me is from that point on, I didn’t see any offense. I don’t know what happened there, but we didn’t really, until the last series when we got the ball to midfield with the penalty, we didn’t press beyond after that sequence at the end of the third quarter, for us. Defensively, you know, they did what they have to do. They drove the ball, they threw the ball, they ran the ball, they did what they have to do and they came from behind and the last play to [Julio] Jones, surprise, surprise, down the sideline. But, you know we played hard for a long time, we played hard. I would have definitely come in front of you and said it was an improvement over the first game. You know we ended up with a turnover, which really hurt us. We’ve been doing a superb job of taking care of the ball and you know sliding up in there trying to make a play and getting, coming around the edge from behind and Eli [Manning] did not obviously see the player from behind and the ball came out. But that hurt, no question, that hurt and the things that happen in the course of a game, you know we’re covering a guy down the sideline and don’t really know the ball’s being thrown, the ball hits us in the back. You turn around there and catch the ball, the game’s over. It’s inside two minutes, they don’t have any timeouts, the game is over. But finishing the game, getting the game done and finished the way we want it to, obviously we’re struggling with that.

Q: You talked about the play to Julio [Jones], “surprise, surprise” that they went to Julio. How is it that they were able to get in that spot and get open in that situation?

A: He was covered one-on-one, but he evidently, I didn’t see the middle part of the play, but he just ran by him. It was just a go route, I think, he just threw it up in the air and he went and got it.

Q: Tom, on the flip side, Odell [Beckham Jr.] was so productive in the first half and not in the second. Was that just part of your frustration with the offense? Do you have any explanation for that?

A: Yeah, yeah it is. It really is. There really isn’t. I mean, we had the look that we really wanted, where we could get him where we wanted him and it was too spotty, our ability to take advantage of it. We got to it late, we got to it early, but not enough. But, you know, you’re trying to mix the run in, you’re trying to mix the pass in, you have other people to get involved when the coverage is leaning one way. You have to try to take advantage of some other things with other people. That didn’t happen today, either, at least to the extent that the ball was down the field. I thought Shane Vereen did very well and you see why he’s here. He had a very, very good game and again, it would have been nice to have enough time to take advantage of him in that last couple of sequences there, which we weren’t able to do. But he did play well.

Q: Coach, you got hit with a delay of game and then after that you had one that almost was another delay of game. What did you see, what did you hear happening?

A: I have no, there’s really no reason for that. There was plenty of time when we were out over the ball, plenty of time, and I think, the only reason I can offer is, he’s changing the protection around and he loses track of the clock. But to go from third and seven with a legitimate chance and quite frankly, a good play called at third and twelve—and at that point of time, let’s face it, we had lost [Ereck] Flowers and they had their ears pinned back because you know there was, we were throwing the ball, throwing the ball, throwing the ball and anytime you get out of a sequence where you can mix or screen or something like that to help you, they had edge rushers that were very good and the [Vic] Beasley [Jr.] kid is very good. [O’Brien] Schofield on the edge is very good and they were powerful in the middle and that affected us as well.

Q: You said that you didn’t know what happened with the offense after that fumble. Was there any change in your play calling, philosophy, you started aggressive…
A: No, no, not that I could tell you. I mean, we were trying to be as aggressive as we could. There was no reason not to, you know, because they took it and drove it. So no, not that I would comment on right now.

Q: The last couple years you started 0-2 and never were able to dig your way out of the hole. You’re 0-2 again now, what could be different, what will you try to tell them to do?

A: I thought we played better than we did last week. We didn’t get the turnovers and that was the huge difference in the game. We can’t make mistakes. We have to count on the other guys and we didn’t get any today. Had we got some today, and got some pressure on the quarterback, there were a couple times where he was floating around in the middle and we still couldn’t get to him. So we’ll be talking about pressure, I’m sure after you look at the tape. I just asked them to search down inside, we talk every week about finishing. That wasn’t a finish for me. We talk about “don’t keep score, I’ll keep score.” I’ll let you know when the game’s over, but that’s not what happened again today. The whole theme this week was to trust your instincts, trust your preparation, go out and play the game, compete, challenge your opponent right to the very end. Don’t worry about the score, I’ll tell you what’s on the scoreboard, and we’ll continue to do that. The competitive nature and the finish of the game has got to improve.

Q: Can you talk about the challenge now of going into a quick week?

A: We’re not going to feel sorry for ourselves, we didn’t do that last week. There was frustration but there wasn’t anybody feeling sorry for themselves. It’s our own doing, there’s nobody to blame but us. Maybe it’s better for us to jump right back in. We’re not going to get to look at this tape with the players, we’ll look at it as coaches but we’ve got to jump right on to the next opponent.

Q: Through two games, how do you evaluate Eli? In a moment you need your quarterback to lift your team, he’s been unable to do it so far this season?

A: He’ll get better, he’ll improve. There are times when it’s tremendous and other times when it’s not. I’m frustrated like you are in terms of, at that point in time, all the engines have to be going full speed not the other way around.

Q: Anything about the injuries to Ereck Flowers (ankle) or Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (concussion)?

A: The only thing I can think of with Cromartie was protocol. He has to go through the protocol. Flowers, I hope it’s not going to be a continuous thing that bothers him all year long.