Here’s what Falcons coach Dan Quinn had to say after the 38-19 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday:
Opening Statement:
“Before we get started regarding the game, real tribute to the military service game that we had here today. Personally, it was a big honor for me meeting so many families of the fallen soldiers and hearing their stories. Before we got into the game I thought that was important to recognize just being part of that was a very cool experience. This game was about the finish and that’s what it was going to come down to for us. For us to score 21 to 6 in the second half, that’s the script our team needed. I knew we’d respond to the finish, but we have to be put into those spots. Going into this, I knew it was going to come down to that. It’s a very good outfit in Arizona in terms of the way, the style, the features that they use, and their players both defensively and offensively. I knew this one was going to take the entire day and it certainly did. “
On how important it was for WR Taylor Gabriel to make some big plays against their attacking style on defense:
“It was very important. We’re really pleased to see Gabriel step up like he did today. We felt his presence and you certainly feel his speed and then today even more so on some of the screens. Oftentimes when you’re pressured you play aggressive, and that can be one of the weapons that you try to use. Man, did he come up big for us today.”
On the run defense:
“We really had a challenge after our Philadelphia game where we didn’t have a good performance in that part of our defense. Knowing coming into this, there wasn’t going to be scheme or wholesale changes it was going to be doing what we do and doing it better. There was a number of guys that I thought performed better. We used our hands better and I thought the tackling was better. For Johnson and their group, they’ve got a good running outfit and at the end where we got ahead, we turned it into a throwing game. I was pleased to see some of the tackling and guys standing up and challenging at the line of scrimmage. I saw that from Jalen Collins and playing aggressive at the line. I saw that from Robert Alford playing aggressive at the line. Those were a few of the things we wanted to challenge our group on and I was pleased to see that.”
On CB Jalen Collins:
“One thing I thought just I could feel his competition and his intent to play aggressive especially at the line. They’re going to have some catches. He was matched up on Floyd a bunch, who we certainly have a lot of respect for, but the challenge down in the red zone and the challenge on some of the outside ones, they’ve got some good guys who are going to get some catches. Certainly, the way we started defensively was not how we want that to go driving right down the field. We tried some different looks and Carson Palmer like he can do so for us to come back after we had a disappointing start. It’s what I would hope would happen in terms of our mindset and attitude of how to play.”
On WR Mohamed Sanu playing in the wildcat:
“Well, that would be a good question for Mohamed Sanu. He has some history where he plays at quarterback. We’ve actually experienced that for the last couple of weeks in practice so we were fortunate today to get a look for it. Mohamed has been aggressively asking for that call for quite a while but it was good to get him in today. I would say it’s probably not one of Matt Ryan’s favorite plays.”
On Pat Tillman and his military service:
“There’s a lot in terms of his attitude as a competitor number one as a ballplayer through his time at Arizona State and then through the Cardinals. He’s somebody that earned the respect. Then to leave his career right in the middle of it to go find another passion that he wanted to through our whole nation, he’s been somebody that has been very inspirational to a number of us.”
On the second half:
“I would love to say we changed a lot. It was a terrible drive to start it in terms of we had a pressure that we had some miscommunication on that we didn’t pick up and one we missed a check. That was a function of really us on that one not quite executing as we can. The good news is we reset. Oftentimes, you have a bad play or sequence. How do you come up and go after it again and that’s what I was pleased to see us challenging and going after it after a disappointing drive. The term we use on our team is reset. When you go through whether it’s a negative play or a negative drive, and you get your next opportunity not focusing on the past, but going back into your attack mode.”
On coming back after a long two weeks:
“I would never recommend losing on a bye so that one definitely stays with you. I can tell you we knew that was a good break for us and what our team needed but we also recognize the opportunity that we have at hand. That reset was important for the players and coaches to find some things in our game that we want to do differently and better. That was kind of the start of our focus at the very beginning of the week. As the week went on, and we got into our preparation for Arizona, we knew it was going to be a hell of a matchup in terms of what they represent both defensively this year and offensively it seems for years. As we go into attack all those things we’re still trying to improve on a number of areas so having the bye for us at a later time came at an important time. We know there’s a lot out there for us to improve upon and we’re going to keep working for that each and every week. We’re fortunate for the opportunity we have and it’s great being here at home in front of our crowd and we get to do it again this weekend. We’ll be ready to get rocking again.”
On filling the void if Desmond Trufant is done for the season:
“If we go down that road and Tru is going to get some more opinions this week. Jalen Collins would be the one that would step in at that spot much like he did today and last week. We’ll have much more news about that as the week goes on. I was really pleased with the way Jalen competed today. If we have to go down that road with Tru we’ll certainly miss him but Jalen would be our guy that would step into that role.”
On seeing Jalen Collins length and physicality come alive today:
“We did, and the physicality part I saw it first hand at Tampa on the hit on the two-point try on that one where it was down on the goal line. I felt that part of his intensity come to life over the last few weeks. We are going to keep continuing to challenge him but I felt that part of his game really improving.”
On improving from September:
“We are a better version of ourselves from the opening part of the season to now as we are headed into the second half of our season. That’s an important part because the fundamentals are going to be on point. The way we practice and the way we want to compete against one another to see how we can improve, that part of the competition is on. I do feel that as we head into the second half of the 2016 season we are restarting and we will be a better version of ourselves.”
On how the punter did today with his NFL debut:
“In terms of him coming in, we worked the entire week on little things… plus fifty punts. We are really pleased with Matt. You can use that name loosely around here because someone usually turns around, but he did a really nice job in the game today. It is the truth and it happens to me probably once a day. He did a nice job on his first time with the quickness. They have a good special teams outfit. I thought Matt Bryant did a good job in our field goal and PAT. Cardinals DT Calais Campbell, they’ve got a number of guys. Justin Bethel who’s been outside has been able to block so I was pleased with that part of our performance.”
On having Tevin Coleman back:
“It’s an important part for us. That part we have certainly missed Tevin over the last couple weeks. That’s not to say Freeman’s not, please don’t look at it any other way, it’s just that he’s another weapon on our offense. It’s the speed and the ability to make a cut and try and accelerate to try and break an angle down of a safety or a linebacker. So man was he ready to get back. He worked hard during the rehab process to get ready, and I was pleased with the performance so far. We’ll go back and look at the tape and evaluate on everything tomorrow. It was great to have him back out today.”
On how he would assess the overall offense in today’s performance:
“We knew it was going to be a line of scrimmage day and so for us to finish running the ball we were pleased with that. Aside of a really difficult drive to start the second half. We weren’t pleased with that, but we were pleased with the ways the guys attacked. We used a number of different packages today, we had 3 wide receiver sets and 21 back sets. The compliment of different guys of who can attack, I believe 8 different receivers caught passes today and that gets challenging to defend when that many people can get involved. I was pleased to see that if you are suiting up then you’re going to be in the action both offensively, defensively, and on teams too. It was good to see that today.”
On whether they have come to expect the plays from DT Courtney Upshaw since he converted to the defensive line:
“He’s one that we feel like is improving as it’s going. It’s been a transition for Courtney going from outside linebacker where he had so much familiarity but his strength and his speed kind of gave us the thought that let’s see if we have something here and move him inside and then once we did it I said I think we do. We are going to continue to keep working with him in that way. He is a very willing football player, and he has the attitude of whatever you need coach. Those are the type of guys who fill whatever role they may be that are really important players on your team.”
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