Head Coach Pat Shurmur
August 24, 2018
Postgame at Jets
Opening Remarks: Preseason (game) 3. I felt like, it goes without saying, we got off to a slow start. I talk to our guys frequently about energy and enthusiasm. We didn’t really have that to begin with, and then you saw how one phase of the ball can pick you up. That punt return was just the spark that we needed and it was a terrific run, it was well blocked. There were a couple situations, a couple of blocks on that play where guys pulled off and it could’ve been penalties, so really smart play, an explosive play that got us going. (We) got better on defense, we found a way to score enough points, and ultimately win the game. There’s plenty to clean up. I was pleased with the way we threw the ball, especially with the ones. Not pleased with the way we ran the ball, certainly. But at the end, we found a way to carve out enough yardage running the ball to make it acceptable. We need to run the ball for our offense, but also for our team, and then we need to be efficient throwing the ball. In terms of injuries, I think the two that were talked about (were) Evan Engram with a concussion I think is what they said, and then Rhett Ellison with an eye. Beyond that, I don’t think there’s really anything else to report. With that, I’ll take your questions.
Q: Do you see any consistency with why the run game is struggling?
A: This is the second or third time you’ve asked me about the run game and to your point, it’s a team thing when you run the ball well and when you don’t run the ball well, it’s also a team thing. So, we’ve just got to go back and look at it and I think it’s important that we’re running the right paths and blocking the right guys.
Q: What do you make of a guy like Jonathan Stewart, a veteran who has 10 carries in the preseason for minus-five yards?
A: Yeah, we’ve just got to look at it. He’s a veteran player, he’s played football a very long time and he’s an outstanding player. So, we’ll just look at it as we go.
Q: Did you like the way Eli (Manning) moved? It seemed like you had him running a lot of play action. It seemed like he was handling that well.
A: Yeah, very well. He’s very fit for a 37-year old. There’s no reason he can’t run boots and nakeds. I think any quarterback, you need to be able to change the launch point and I think sometimes that helps the quarterback get completions outside the pocket and there’s absolutely no reason he can’t do that.
Q: You got some deep completions today with Eli. The one real deep one to Cody (Latimer), could that have been (a touchdown) - Cody had the man beat - if that was thrown out a little deeper?
A: No, I think that was a good throw. He got behind him and it was a big play action with a post and a deep cross, and the post got behind the defense and we connected on a very long play.
Q: How do you look at Hunter (Sharp’s) night? He obviously had the explosive night on special teams and seemed to struggle on offense.
A: He had a throw on the boundary on the left side early in the game which I think we’ll just have to look at it, I’d like to be able to complete that. Then we had one later against pressure that kind of hit him. I’ve really liked what he’s done through training camp. Those are two isolated plays, but he also got us in the end zone on a punt return, so there’s a lot of good things he did tonight.
Q: You said your return game was “unsettled” earlier this week, that was the word you used. Do you feel like he’s settling it?
A: Did I say that? I don’t’ really like that word. Or did you say it and I agreed?
Q: Actually, you said it twice, also about the offensive line.
A: Yeah, remind me not to say that word. I just think we want to make sure we’ve got the right guys doing the right things, and he obviously scored a touchdown today, which is kudos to him.
Q: What went into the decision to not play (Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley)?
A: Just not quite ready yet. We want to be safe with Odell. He’s doing a lot of great things, and just wasn’t quite ready.
Q: How much different is the play calling given that you don’t have Saquon and Odell?
A: We’ve got a lot of runs on the card and got a lot of passes, then I guess as a play caller you want to start finding things that get you (what you want). You want to make yards and you want to move the football, and we found a way get some chunks throwing the ball and also complete the ball and extend drives, so as that’s working, you just kind of lean on it a little bit, don’t get away from the run, but just kind of work towards what’s working.
Q: How about as an evaluator of the offense? Do you project what it would or could be like with those guys in there?
A: Yeah. You project what their effect might be but you just watch it for what it is as the guys are in there with the idea that those guys might be playing for you.
Q: After that first drive, what changes did you make defensively?
A: Not much, same play calls. I think we just played a little tighter in coverage. I felt like we did a good job of getting pressure and then it just felt like whether we were creating it, it just felt like they were kind of going backwards. You can see the effect penalties have on an offense where you get in those third and longer situations – we had one today, we hit the post late. But they’re tougher. There’s a reason when you’re third and 11-plus, the average is about 18 percent that you’re going to get it. That’s why you want to be in shorter down and distances and that’s why getting completions on first and second downs are important. That’s why positive yardage in the run game is important, so that you can have shorter distances to go.
Q: In the fourth quarter, you sent in a play from the sideline. Did they not line up right, because it looked like you went ballistic a little bit?
A: Yeah, I don’t know. We’ll have to look at it. Maybe I got upset, I don’t know. You just want to win and want our guys to perform well, so I was probably mad at myself.
Q: You said Odell’s not quite ready yet?
A: I just felt like we didn’t want to put him in there.
Q: I know but do you have any concern he may not be ready for the regular season?
A: We’ll see as we go. Being smart with him.
Q: With (Rhett) Ellison, I know you said eye (injury). Do you have any idea what happened?
A: No, I don’t know. Just a little bit blurry with his eye. Ronnie (Barnes) said it was his eye.
Q: What did you think of Ray-Ray Armstrong’s performance as he looks for a starting spot?
A: Ray-Ray did a good job. It’s a good question, and I’m glad I get a chance to talk about him because he’s caught our eye. Obviously he had an interception last week which was outstanding, and he’s playing good football and he’s getting better and better. I mentioned before, he’s long and he’s athletic, and he has what you’re looking for in a linebacker, and I feel like he’s done a really good job.
