Quarterback Daniel Jones
Q: You've practiced against (Philadelphia Cornerback) James Bradberry a lot. What was he like as a player and what makes him tough to go against?
A: Yeah, he's a really good player. He's smart, you can tell he studies a lot. He knows what teams are trying to do, what route concepts they're trying to run. He's a good football player, a true pro.
Q: Would he have any better idea about you than a cornerback who didn't practice with you for two years?
A: Yeah, I think possibly. We spent a lot of time going against each other. He probably does, but it's a different offense, a different scheme and we've got different guys – that's certainly part of it too.
Q: What about you throwing against him though?
A: Yeah, it goes both ways. I think we both understand each other's skillsets and that'll be part of the game.
Q: Is there any part of you that would like to see the offense open it up a little bit throwing the ball? Especially in those two-minute situations at the end of the half?
A: I thought we executed that situation well. We got points which is always the goal. We'll always look to see what we can do better or where there are opportunities for us to make big plays. I thought we executed that situation well.
Q: Do you feel like the coaches have a lot of trust in you guys as a passing offense as a whole?
A: I do, yeah. I do. I think we've at points in the year we've leaned on it, and we'll continue to work to improve it.
Q: How much is something that you would even go to them and say, 'Hey, I see some things this week where we can hit some stuff in the passing game. Let's go more pass heavy this week…'
A: We're always studying what the defense does and how we can attack it in the pass game as well as the run game. In terms of how we're going to play and our game plan, I think a lot of those decisions are certainly above my head. We've been effective running the ball all year, also. I understand that and we're doing a good job with that.
Q: That's not something that you would be like, 'Hey. Let's throw the ball in this opportunity, in this half or this game.' Or whatever it is?
A: Yeah, I mean we're always talking, we're always communicating and trying to get on the same page. It's always healthy conversation. Like I said, we're running the ball well too.
Q: This team hasn't had a huge margin for error in a lot of games. When you're getting ready to play a team that's 11-1, does it make you change the way you think at all as far as opportunities are not going to be a lot here, we need to be completely on point?
A: Yeah, they're a good team – there's no doubt. You understand that going in the game is they're a good team, they're an explosive offense, they've got a good defense. That factors in. We've got to play our best ball and that's the goal, that's what we're preparing to do.
Q: When you've been studying them, do they look like the best team you've played so far?
A: Probably, yeah. Probably. I think they're extremely talented, they play well, they play hard, play together. They're a good team.
Q: What stands out to you when you look at them on film?
A: I think they have talented players across the board. On defense at each level they're talented – people who can make a lot of plays and they play hard. They're smart, you can tell that they don't have many busted coverage or scheme or any issues with that kind of stuff. They're a good team, they're talented, they're smart and they play hard.
Q: When you threw deep last week, was that something you were seeing in the film or was that let's just try and throw deeper this week?
A: Yeah, I think there were opportunities we were trying to take advantage of and (wide receiver) Darius (Slayton) has done a good job in some of those situations getting behind the defense and making plays for us. Just trying to give him opportunities.
Q: When you went back and looked at that deep pass to Darius, what happened there? It was the first play of that late drive in the fourth quarter.
A: Just let him go and try to make a play. He's come up for us big and made a ton of plays for us. I think I could have put it on him a little bit more. We'll both look to improve on that one.
Q: Fair to say that wasn't necessarily the first read? You just spotted that and it was a coverage bust?
A: Yeah, it's not really the first read on that play.
Q: Do you sense when you run more, the offense opens up more?
A: Yeah, I think when there are those opportunities and I can get out of the pocket, get up field – I think those are important for us as a group and something we can take advantage of. It depends how the defense is playing, what they're trying to take away and when those opportunities are there, I'll try to take advantage of them.
Q: Were you surprised in the moment when you guys decided to punt and not go for it on that fourth down?
A: I don't know if I was surprised. I think it's, like I said, that decision is over my head as well. I understand there's a lot that goes into that. I see what we were thinking, and we got the ball back with a chance to win the game. I understood that.
Q: You've run the ball a lot and you know how your body feels. You don't have to study (Philadelphia quarterback) Jalen (Hurts), but you see how much he's run and how effective – do you kind of understand what he's going through? He's carrying the ball a lot.
A: Yeah. We watch those guys a lot because they're in the division so they're playing – last week we watched them with Washington. He's carrying the ball a lot, he's doing a lot for their offense, he's extremely effective in the run game and doing a really good job with that. Yeah, a lot of respect to him and all he's doing.
Q: I'm curious when you run a lot, how much of that is predetermined before the game, 'Okay, we're going to run the ball on this team,' or how much is just the way the situations play out usually?
A: A lot of it has to do with how the game plays out and what situations or what opportunities arise throughout the game. I think last week, there was a lot of nakeds, a lot of movements where I was outside the pocket and then you see a lane, you see a window and you try to take advantage of it. They can kind of just come up throughout the game. We have a few planned and a few ideas going into each game but a lot of them are just opportunities we see.
Q: The designed run there on the third down in the red zone, how much of that was you setting up those blocks or was that just instinct where you cut back? Were you being that patient to set that up?
A: Yeah, I mean I think I was just feeling the spot, feeling them over play and a chance to cut back. The guys did a great job there kicking them all out and then found a lane in there. Yeah, that was a good play for us.
