Post-Game Transcript: Head Coach Pat Shurmur

NYG Postgame (vs. Cowboys) Transcripts: Head Coach Pat Shurmur -- November 4, 2019

Opening Statement: Hard fought game. Obviously, shoot, there are plenty of things that we can improve on. We weren’t very good in the red zone, we did not create enough room running the football. At the end of the half there, they got back to a point. Hey listen, they were up by a point at halftime because we missed an extra point. Otherwise, you come out, you keep playing, do what you can to win the game and our guys did that. I think the turnovers hurt us. All of the things you can’t do in a ball game happened and hurt us, and we lost.

Q: Why are you having so much trouble in the red zone, especially deep in the red zone?
A: I don’t think it’s a trend. Today, though, certainly, we did. We got down there and we didn’t... We wanted to give Saquon opportunities running the ball, we didn’t make really any yards doing that. A couple of times it got down to a third down pass that we didn’t complete. So, you kick field goals. That’s part of it. But we just need to do better there.

Q: How much of a letdown, speaking of that area, is just not getting seven up there after Antoine Bethea’s interception in the red zone at the start of the game?
A: Yeah, certainly you want seven. But that’s early in the game, the game is very new and we’re up 3-0, so you just keep playing. We found a way to be up ahead, what? 12 to whatever at one point. Went down 13-12 right before the half.

Q: Right before the end of the half, you guys got the ball back with 48 seconds to go?
A: Dropped it. Yeah, we threw a pass, dropped it, and then we had another one that was sort of deflected off-target. I think on the third one there, Slayton, the ball was designed to go to Slayton against the specific coverage. You just have to look for the ball there, break it up in that case. So, you don’t want that—right? The flip side of it is you just take a knee and go into the locker room, but we wanted to give our guys a chance. But we can’t have the bad things happen.

Q: Did you contemplate taking a knee?
A: No. We had 50 something seconds to go. Go play. Why not?

Q: Is your confidence in Aldrick Rosas shaken?
A: No, not at all. He’s our kicker, missed an extra point. He gets to miss one in a lifetime, that’s his miss.

Q: On the 45-yard touchdown there, did you guys run a zone, and was it Bethea there that was supposed to be…
A: Which one? The one before the half?

Q: No, the one when they had 3rd and 18.
A: I’ve got to look at it and see. The last one on third down you’re talking about?

Q: Yeah.
A: They ran an in-route, and we have to do a better job, obviously, of squeezing it. Once it’s completed, you’ve got to tackle him.

Q: How frustrating it is to have you guys play well early on, and then have some inconsistencies throughout. Is that due to a lot of youth you have?
A: I’m disappointed we didn’t do enough things to win the game. That’s where I’m at. I’m disappointed we didn’t win. I think everyone in the locker room is that way. That’s where it’s at.

Q: You said you will challenge these pass interferences if you think you’ll win the case…
A: Yeah, I’m a hopeful guy when it comes to that. But in that situation, I think that was, prior to today they were 0 for 8. Now, we are 0 for 9 this weekend. So, that’s what I was told. There is a system in place for that. I believe in the rules, I believe in the system. At a time in the game when that could have given us a fresh set of downs, I thought it was worthy of the challenge. I guess there are just different views of what rises to the level of egregiousness, I guess.

Q: Leonard Williams got a lot of time today. Without looking at the film, what did you see?
A: Yeah, it’s hard to tell. He was in and out. He competed, and he was out there battling. I couldn’t tell you at this point.

Q: There was a pass interference call right in front of your sideline, seemed like you got a good view. Were you looking at that as a penalty?
A: No, I wasn’t, but it is what it is.

Q: What are your thoughts overall on Antoine Bethea? It felt like he had four or five touchdown saving tackles.
A: Yeah, I’ll have to look at it. I’ll go back to the office as soon as we leave here and watch it. I’ll be able to answer that better. But, he was out there battling.

Q: On the last play, the play where they had the turnover for the touchdown, do you put that on Daniel or do you put that on the pass protection?
A: No, we put that on the offense. He was just throwing a nine-ball, and they had pass rushed a bunch there. It just can’t happen. It can’t happen. He was going to throw it. I don’t think he was holding onto the ball, but we’ll see. I’ll look at it. Obviously, it can’t happen.

Q: What should he have done on scramble when he fumbled?
A: Don’t fumble it. Just hold it tighter. The decision to scramble to get the first down was the right thing. Then, you’ve got to make good decisions, and you’ve got to play well throughout the down. At the end of the down, you’ve got to secure the ball. That’s pretty simple.

Q: I know he’s a rookie, but does it concern you that we’re continuing to talk about ball security and turnovers every week?
A: Not every week. Obviously, this week he fumbled, right? Then he got hit in the pocket and he fumbled. Threw an interception. They are isolated incidents.

Q: He keeps committing turnovers. He is responsible for 15 turnovers. That’s a lot of turnovers, obviously.
A: It is, and it needs to get corrected.

Q: Why did you not activate Sam Beal especially with DeAndre Baker struggling?
A: Because we wanted to wait until the very last moment to do it. We have until Wednesday to do it, that’s why.

Q: Was using Daniel Jones more in the run game based on things you saw from the Cowboys or were you telling him, ‘hey, if you see something, pull it, don’t be hesitant to take off.’
A: He just pulled a couple that he’s got license to do if it just collapses, take off and run. In those cases, he made good decisions.

Q: You talked in the beginning about not creating enough room in the running game. You want to lean on that, are you getting concerned that it’s not where it needs to be?
A: It’s been better. I’ve got to look at it and see why it wasn’t as good tonight. I think keeping Saquon involved running the ball is an important thing. Again, explosive runs are because everyone does things well. When runs are stopped there are times when maybe the path of the back could have been a little better, maybe we could have done a better job up front, blocks on the perimeters. It’s just like anything that happens on offense or defense. It’s a team thing, so I would imagine there’s a bunch of things that need to get cleaned up.

Q: Did you like Will Hernandez sticking up for Daniel, Rhett (Ellison) sticks up for Will. When it’s heated, the guys are having each other’s back?
A: Yeah, I think that’s just teammates defending teammates. You have to be smart, though. You never want to do anything that’s going to create a penalty. But yeah, it’s good. Anytime you are out there playing you can’t let your emotions get the best of you. You’ve got to be smart so that you don’t hurt your team in any way. Especially after the whistle is blown.

Q: You’ve dropped five straight. How important is the game next week for you?
A: Yeah, to win the next game is most important. Regardless of what happened this week, winning the next game is the most important thing.

Q: Do you think because it’s the Jets, and playing here?
A: I imagine that just because it’s the Jets and Giants there will be build up to that. We’ve got to do what we can to win the next game.