Quarterback Tyrod Taylor
Q: So, I guess you were told yesterday that you will remain the starter, stay the starter?
A: Yes.
Q: Surprised, not surprised?
A: It's part of the business. Thankful for the opportunity. Looking forward to getting out on the field with the guys this weekend and competing.
Q: What did you like or not like about what you did in the second half last week?
A: I think there was some positives to take away from it. I think as a team we were able to create a spark, obviously put some points on the board. Still some plays that were left out on the field. I think it was definitely some positives to take away from that game.
Q: Did you know, I mean I know you try not to get involved with these decisions, but did you think that you would be able to get a chance to win back a starting job?
A: I never had my focus there. My focus day in and day out was to prepare and stay ready for if my number was called to be out there, to be able to go out and execute at a high level.
Q: You've obviously been on the other end of this right? Sometimes nothing you can do about it. What do you say to a young quarterback who is in the other side of this?
A: Yeah, stay engaged, stay ready. I mean as a quarterback you are literally one play away. Your preparation shouldn't change, your attitude shouldn't change. The quarterback is the leader, whether they want to be or not, so a lot of people look towards us during down times to see how we respond. Obviously, when everything's up, everyone's happy, but in down times you look towards your leaders to see how you respond. So, that would be my message to any young player dealing with it, I've been through enough – not enough, I've been through a lot. I've had a chance to learn from each situation.
Q: You've been kind of through the peaks and valleys of starting, not starting. I mean, is it almost second nature to you now that you don't react when you do get the start and when you don't get the start?
A: I think that's just who I am. I try to stay as level as possible, through the highs and the lows. Life is a roller coaster, how you endure the storms and how you endure the ups and downs I think speaks to your character.
Q: How did that 69-yard play to (wide receiver Darius) Slayton break down? It was something that I'm not used to seeing very much this season.
A: One of our levels concepts, and we had a chance to get in one-on-one with the safety. I think he got on the safety faster than the safety expected. From my perspective, whenever we see a receiver even with the safety, then we give them a chance. Slayton did a great job of tracking the ball coming out of his break and ultimately still scoring on that play. To be able to have the body control on the side and after the stiff arm and to be able to get in the endzone. It was just a truly big play. You want to create as many explosives that you can week in and week out, and that was clearly one of our bigger plays of the game.
Q: He's going to beat pretty much any safety though, right?
A: Oh, for sure. I mean, I like our matchup with him on any safety.
Q: How much does it mean to you to get the start here?
A: It means everything to me. I mean, obviously the work that you put in week in and week out. I've been playing this game for a long time and anytime I get a chance to lace up the cleats and go out and compete means the world to me. That's where I'm the happiest, and it's what I love to do, to be able to go out and not only show your peers but prove to yourself what you could do.
It's not a me thing. It's a team sport, and I'm excited for our guys to go out for these last two weeks to put our best foot forward and to compete at a high level. Regardless of playoffs or not, there's always something to play for and that's the mindset that we've got to have.
Q: There's an appeal of youth of course in just about every profession. What does it mean to you that it came back around, and you do have a chance to finish things out here a certain way whether your contract is up or not?
A: It means a lot. Like I said, I'll take any opportunity to be able to go out and play. It's a privilege, and I know the work that I put in day in and day out. So, I'm definitely excited. Like I said, I know we're out of the playoffs but there's a lot to play for, and I'm excited to go out there and compete with these guys in the locker room. Guys are still encouraged. Obviously, it wasn't the season that we wanted, but we have all of it in front of us to finish it out the way that we want to. There're still goals within this locker room that we know that we can achieve.
Q: Obviously, you have tape out there, but you're a free agent this offseason. How much do you look at this as an audition like, 'Hey, this is what I can still kind of do?'
A: I'm focused on the Rams.
