Post-Game Transcript: Head Coach Pat Shurmur

NYG Postgame (vs. Bills) Transcripts: Head Coach Pat Shurmur -- September 15, 2019

Opening Statement: First, I thought Buffalo did a good job. They took advantage of opportunities, they scored when they needed to early. Then when we tightened it up a little bit and played a little bit of better defense at the end, we have to make sure we score. I thought early in the game, the missed field goal and then, obviously, the interception before the half – those are scoring opportunities that you can’t miss on. We knew going into it they were a good defense. I felt like throughout I wanted to keep Saquon involved as much as we could, even though the score got to what it was. Ultimately, we just didn’t make enough plays to win. I credit Buffalo, they played well in all three phases of the game and we didn’t make enough plays.

Q: What was the big difference you saw defensively in that first half that you were able to do in the second half?
A: I think we just challenged better. That was more of the focus, to make sure we challenged everything, and we did. I think they got a couple of incomplete passes within the drive, they were completing passes early and that was keeping drives alive. When you get those incomplete passes on first or second down, it puts pressure on your third downs. Then they had a couple of penalties, so some of it was, and basically from a defensive standpoint, we just challenged more and better.

Q: How were you able to get DeAndre Baker to settle down after the rocky start? He played better toward the backend of the game.
A: You just have to keep talking to him. This is his fourth half of football in the NFL. You just have to keep talking to him. The guys did a good job of coaching him. He’s a tough guy, and he learns from every play that he’s involved in, and he’ll continue to learn as he goes forward.

Q: Why do you think he struggled so badly in his first couple games?
A: Well, we lost, right? In both scenarios, pointwise, played out the same. They got ahead on us.

Q: I meant DeAndre Baker specifically.
A: He’s a rookie corner and he’s learning how to play the game at this level. I think he keeps challenging and he’ll keep continuing to get better because he has the skill and the ability to do it.

Q: In the first two weeks, you had good opening drives where you’ve scored on them. Why do you think the offense hasn’t been as consistent?
A: Well, some of the things that happened to their offense happened to ours. We get penalties, or for whatever reason, we don’t get those yards you need on first or second down, then you get those longer third downs that become a challenge for every team.

Q: Can you speak to the impact that TJ Jones had?
A: Yeah, he did a great job. He caught the touchdown pass, certainly. He had the long punt return, which was excellent and set us up in the position to get points, which we didn’t. For being here just a couple of days, he did a very nice job.

Q: How would you assess Eli’s play today?
A: I think his play is indicative of how our team played. There were some really good plays in there and then there were some things that we need to improve on.

Q: Starting the season 0-2 gives you a little bit of a challenge here going forward. What’s your message to the guys as you get ready here for Week 3?
A: Well, we have to go win a game in Tampa, that’s the message. That’s just how you have to roll this thing out. Just go play.

Q: Last week Buffalo had a lot of deflected passes at the line of scrimmage.
A: They did again today.

Q: So obviously you know that’s something they can do well. How do you think your guys handled it?
A: I mean the tipped ball, it happens. They are good at it. I thought our guys, for the most part, did a good job of protecting. When a guy can’t get home, they put their hands up. The one that was deflected, Saquon was running an option route. We were trying to throw him the ball and he broke inside and that’s where the throwing lane was, and they tipped it.

Q: What’s your overall level of concern at 0-2 and just not playing the way you want to play?
A: I think my focus is going to go right to the next opponent. That’s where it’s going to go.

Q: When Cody (Latimer) went down, did that hamper the way you wanted to run the offense since you only had three healthy receivers left?
A: (When) we came into this, obviously, we weren’t quite sure that Cody was going to make it until late yesterday, I guess it was. Played much more 12 and 21 than I normally would do. Our receiver situation, it just is was it is, and guys have to go out there and step up. Some guys did.

Q: Will you consider eventually getting Daniel (Jones) in? At what point do you start thinking about that?
A: I think we have to look at how our team played, and we just have to go back and take steps to get better in all areas. I don’t think that’s a conversation for right now. I think everybody has to play better.

Q: Is it a concern, it seems like the fans are getting upset early. Is that a concern for you guys?
A: I thought the fans, there was a stretch when we downed the punt (at the two), that was awesome. I thought the fans did a good job of trying to energize things. We have great fans, and they deserve to see wins. At this point, at least through today, we haven’t won. We have to do what we can to win and help them feel better about things.

Q: That first touchdown drive was pretty much all Barkley. Why do you think it took so long for the passing attack to get going?
A: I don’t know that. Anytime you don’t complete passes, there are reasons for it. We talked earlier about the tipped balls. If you have pressure, or you just don’t execute on the throw and the catch part of it, or they defended it. It was probably all of those things that showed up.

Q: What did they do defensively to limit Engram? He had a good game last week, less so today, until late in the game.
A: They are a very solid team. They’ve been a good defense here during (Bills Head Coach) Sean’s tenure. They just challenge you along the way. They have really good players that matchup well when they play their loose zones, and they also do a good job of playing man to man.

Q: What did you think of the way (Bills QB) Josh Allen played?
A: I thought he did a really good job. There were a couple times he broke contain, and he made some really nice throws. A couple times when we were in really tight coverage, I thought he did a nice job. Then they had the structured quarterback run that he scored on. I thought he played well.

Q: How much of a challenge is it to call plays when you’re that thin at receiver? Does that put a strain on you as a play caller or do you just have to try to figure it out?
A: No, we just figure it out the best we can. When you get to where…the big challenge can be going along when you’re down by three scores is making sure you keep the runner involved because we all know how dynamic of a player he is.