EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Here’s what the Falcons had to say after the 13-8 win over the Jets on Sunday:
CALAIS CAMPBELL, defensive end
On adjustments: There were certain plays that were coming up, so we started calling things a certain way to adapt to it. Both run and pass. That’s a big part of it, us trying to figure what we can do to combat what people are trying to do against us and put us in a position to win.”
On the pass rush: “Another thing that I really enjoy is that we had four guys down on passing downs. We were getting more (defensive) linemen on the field which I think is beneficial, too. But we are good enough to have a variety and different ways to do things. That’s something that we asked for and coach (Ryan Nielsen) gave it to us. But there were a couple of times where we had to go three linemen down because of the situation. That’s football. That’s something that’s fun to be a part of.”
On Arnold Ebiketie’s play: “I teased him a lot and I have to rid him a lot, because he’s so gifted. He’s just scratching the surface on how good he can be. But he definitely has the knack for making big plays in big moments. I feel like when his best is required, that’s when he’s at his best. He has to figure out how to be that guy all the time and he will as he gets older. It’s great to see that in the biggest moments, he’s at his best.”
ARNOLD EBIKETIE, outside linebacker
On his sack: “It felt good. Every time that you get to go out there and do your job it always feels good.”
On providing more pressure: “It all comes down to just getting comfortable within the defense. Just every time that you go out there especially at crunch time, you know what time it is. It’s time to go out there and rush the passer. Work your best moves.”
On not giving up touchdown for second game in a row: “It was huge. We know that is the type of defense that we are capable of being. We know just the goal is to be more consistent. Trying to do those things more consistently moving forward. Just being us when it comes down to it.”
On if the defense can keep getting better: “We still have a lot of room to get better in terms of what we can be as a unit defensively. We have the potential to be one of the best units in the National Football League. The thing is that it really comes down to the details.”
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter/AJC
KYLE PITTS, tight end
On what was working for the tight ends as a unit: “Just going out there and making the most of it, playing hard and the ball comes your way, make the most of it, proceed with the opportunity. It would have been such a dog fight. When it comes our way, just be who we are.”
On winning the game playing the way they did: “It’s like you said, a win is a win. It’s obviously each week things will get better on, we’ll go back and watch the tape and who we have next week coming up.”
On the overall offensive performance in the fourth quarter: “It’s the NFL, it’s not going to be a touchdown or a deep play every drive or every play. Bad look just trying to not have turnovers and play our ball.”
BUD DUPREE, outside linebacker
On the atmosphere, conditions: “Embrace the weather. Embrace the elements. Embrace the fans.”
On getting his sacks: “Missing those sacks in crucial moments like I have been doing the last few weeks, not being able to finish. It makes your stomach (hurt). Fourth quarter against the Vikings, we could have won the game on that one. Last week, against the Saints, I missed that one. Never giving up. You know it’s working, just come out the next week and continue to rush the passer.”
On Arnold Ebiketie: “That just who he is. He’s a blur. He’s one of those guys who is quick and agile. He’s going to be …there is big upside for him coming on. A young guy, who has a whole lot of growing and a whole lot of upside. I’m excited to see the future for him and what it holds for the long run. This is only his second year. It’s going to be a long haul for him.”
On not allowed a TD for second game in row: “It means a lot. Hats off to Ryan. He’s dialing it up. Making sure that we are in the right situations, right places at the right time. We just have to make the plays. He’s always doing the best he can. It’s awesome for him.”
On the switch to Trevor Siemian: “They just needed a new spark and they thought he was going to give it to them. Trevor has been in the league for a while. He can make plays and he did do stuff. He did make a couple of plays. We made more on our side. We have to continue to work hard on that. I’m glad we put a cap on it when we could.”
BIJAN ROBINSON, running back
On getting a win in the poor conditions: “Yeah, it was just one of those games. Like you said, the weather was all messed up a little bit and it was constantly raining. We wanted to get some drives going and there was stuff that happened, but that weather was a big factor for us, but that’s why we just have to finish as much as we can, get as many first downs as we can, and try to score if we have an opportunity. It was definitely good to see Pruitt score, get in the end zone and have him get that touchdown. That dude works hard, just as much as all of us, so it was cool to see him get in there.”
On if the Jets played them differently: “Probably. They had the nine in the box, they had the safeties down low, but for us, we don’t really care who’s in the box or who’s loading, because we know we have to execute. And obviously, we’re past this now, we have to find the situation and roll with it and go as hard as we can so we can pop out some awesome runs, awesome plays for our whole offense. But if that was their game plan, we have to keep on doing whatever they game plan. We have to understand that it’s about us and we have to go out there and do as best as we can.”
On the safety: “Yeah, that was a good play by them. It was a blitz off the edge, and I was trying to see if there were any cutback lanes. There weren’t many, so it was some play. It was a play that they did good on, that they schemed up well, and my hats off to that play.”
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