Atlanta Falcons players speak to media post-win over Colts in preseason game two | Press Conference

Duration: 8:43 2463 transcript words EN summary

Video summary

The Atlanta Falcons players expressed immense gratitude and excitement following their victory over the Colts, highlighting how having key teammates like Tyler Goodson back from injury served as a significant confidence booster for the entire squad. The team emphasized a strong belief in both injured players' abilities to lead and compete at a high level, regardless of who ultimately takes the field. A central theme throughout the press conference was the infectious nature of their energy and camaraderie, particularly illustrated by the planned celebration after the first touchdown where teammates rushed onto the field to support one another. This spontaneous yet coordinated display of unity reinforced the bond between players on the field and those on the sidelines, creating a positive atmosphere that fueled their performance throughout the game. Joint practices with opposing teams were identified as a crucial factor in ramping up intensity and energy levels for the upcoming regular season. Players noted that these sessions allowed them to get a feel for different defensive schemes and offensive styles while maintaining high competitive standards before facing live opponents. The experience of practicing against another team helped refine their execution and prepared them mentally for game-day scenarios, with veterans actively encouraging rookies to embrace the opportunity to learn and grow. The ability to execute plays with full effort and trust in their coaching staff's scheme was seen as a major improvement from the previous week, demonstrating that the team had successfully built momentum through consistent preparation and mutual support. Individual contributions were celebrated with specific praise for players like Cash Jones and Jack Stoll, who displayed exceptional talent and work ethic during the preseason. Cash Jones, in particular, was highlighted for his relentless effort and ability to make plays consistently, qualities that have been evident since his college days at Georgia. The team's dynamic offensive scheme, which allows for an aggressive attack front, was also discussed as a system that players genuinely enjoy mastering. By focusing on small details and maintaining high morale, the Falcons aim to translate their preseason success into strong performances when they finally face real opponents in the regular season. Looking ahead, the players stressed that the combination of joint practices, film study, and live game reps has significantly accelerated their development and readiness for the upcoming challenges. They acknowledged that while injuries are an unfortunate part of football, overcoming setbacks like Goodson's return strengthens the group's resilience and collective spirit. As they continue to build chemistry and refine their strategies, the Falcons remain focused on executing their roles with enthusiasm and precision. The overarching message from the team is one of optimism and unity, believing that their shared experiences and supportive environment will carry them through the rest of the preseason and into a successful regular season campaign.

Read the full video transcript

How how much does that help you guys as a team to have him back out there? >> Uh it's definitely a confidence booster, you know. Um whether it's two or uh we believe in both of them. Uh we believe that both of them capable to go in there and lead this team. Uh whatever the case may be. Uh that's both my prayer. I'm going to let them handle that. Um figure out and figure out what they got figure out what they got going. Uh but um whoever's in there, we ready to go. >> I appreciate you, man. >> Yes, sir. No doubt. >> Tyler, what was your mindset coming back to Indianapolis for this week of joint practices and and what is your mindset now leaving after kind of this week? mindset was basically compete. Um compete compete compete. Uh that's was pretty much it. And um take advantage of every opportunity. Um and today was a a great day. Uh obviously something I wanted to display. Um make them feel a little bit uh what they missed. Um so it was just it was just a good moment for me, you know. And then the best the best thing about it was just to be able to celebrate my teammates. Um everybody rushing the field and whatnot. Um it was it was great. It was a great moment and great to see. >> What did you think? What did you think of all your teammates just rushing out there coming out? >> It was crazy. So at first like I just seen like a bunch of white jerseys. Um, and I honestly forgot that we everybody was rushing the field. And so once everybody spread, I was like, "Oh, like what's up?" Like, you know what I'm saying? And we all, you know what I'm saying, we all had a good time together, uh, dancing in the end zone and whatnot. It was a good moment. >> Was that a plan thing that you guys were going to come out there first touchdown or >> Yes, sir. Yes sir. It was definitely a plan thing. Uh, coach said he was going to take it to the chin. Uh, didn't matter about the flag, I guess. It was just all about the camaraderie um, and us coming together. Um, and it was it was a great moment. How much did joint practices help the intensity and energy and everything ramping that up for this game to come out here and come out with a lot of good energy to start that one? >> It definitely helps, you know, uh cuz not only you you uh practice practicing against a team, but you also get to get a feel for what teams is running uh defenses, offensive wise, whatever the case may be. So, um it's basically just like uh just preparing for the game, you know, going through practices and watching film. Uh and then we came here and just took care of business day. if you could kind of reflect on the last week at large. I mean, how how much did the past week here help you guys as a team? >> I think it was great just going out there and playing with a lot of energy. That was something that was really important for us. Um, you know, just cuz that's something that's very contagious. So, you know, whenever somebody makes a play, just make sure we have a lot of contagious energy and, you know, supporting our guys out there and just trying to focus on the little details to execute as best as possible. And I think that definitely helped us throughout the week. Um, going versus a live opponent on the other side as well was was pretty cool and pretty fun. >> Do you enjoy watching Jack sling it today? >> Oh, yeah. No, he's a dog. He's a dog. Um, you know, he's pretty big, too. He can go ahead get a chance to run lower, and shoulder as well. Um, you know, he has some great reads as well, too. He's he's a great talent. Um, even better person. >> And then I think what Kevin said a minute ago, you get Mike cleared for 111 on Monday. I mean, how much does that help you guys as a as a whole group to have him, you know, all clear to go, ready to roll? >> Oh, yeah. It's always great. Um, you know, just because injuries is a big part of the game and, you know, you always hate to see that. So, it's always good to see somebody, you know, be able to overcome Sorry about that. Be able to overcome that. um you know and just get out there and be full goal with everybody. So I know he's fired up and we're fired up as well to go out there and just you know compete at practice. >> Last one I had for you. Cash Jones really big day. >> Definitely. >> Yeah. Did you enjoy watching do that? >> Oh yeah, man. You know it's his dog family right there for sure. You know been going through everything as rookies together. So it's always been special just, you know, having him in my corner to be able to talk to him throughout certain things, experiences and stuff like that from, you know, last year in college and then this rookie year as well. And to see him out there killing it, um you know, it's just something he's always been doing ever since I met him. um you know at Georgia he's been doing the same thing every single day. He's always going to put his head down, work super hard. Um you know he deserves those moments. So I'm glad that he got a chance to go out there and showcase what he could do. >> Appreciate you. >> Appreciate it. >> Obviously it's just preseason, but when you look at last week's game compared to this week's game, what do you think the difference was in the performances in the in the two weeks? >> I think we had a lot of energy um you know on the sidelines and just the way that we were out there playing today. I feel like we all were, you know, very excited for everybody making a play on our team. Um and we wanted to show that. Um I I think you guys saw when you know people ran out on the field they didn't have pads on. So just seeing you know all that love from our teammates is very infectious and uh you know can spread and be contagious to the team and I think it was today. >> Yeah. Take me behind the scenes of the first touchdown celebration. What was I I heard it was planned just like what what was the backstory behind that? Why why did you guys think it was important to go out there storm the field and and show you know after the first touchdown energy? >> Oh yeah. Um just to be able to go out there and support our guys is really really important for us. Um, you know, and I think that's something what this sport gives us is team camaraderie and I feel like that definitely helps build that. So, um, you know, coach said we can go out there and turn up. So, it was pretty cool to see all the guys behind us and just give us a whole bunch more energy and just keep that momentum going. >> And a big week for you. You, you know, first preseason game last week, got joint practices for the first time, and now this week, another game, we're getting a lot of reps. How much is this helping you progress and develop over the next couple weeks so you get ready for your first ever regular season? >> Oh, yes. This is definitely huge. Um, you know, just getting reps, like you said, something that's really, really important for me. Um, just getting a chance to go out there, try to execute my job as best as possible for the team. Um, you know, just go out there with a lot of bullets and really flying when, you know, they tackling to the ground and things like that. So, it was pretty cool just to get a chance to do it with my team and just learn from all the veteran guys and even the rookie guys with myself. Um, you know, just going out there and having fun with those guys is pretty important. So, I'm excited for sure. >> When you compare last week's performance to this week, it's just preseason, but what do you think the difference was in the coming in, you know, just the energy level was everything like that coming out and putting on a performance today? say energy level and you know the confident you know just trusting in the scheme and you know stuff we prepared for you know since we've been in camp and stuff like that. So I would think that was like be the big difference just trusting in ourselves and go out there and have fun and play with the effort. >> Obviously joint practices probably helps those energy levels a little bit. How important was that for you guys in ramping everything up? We didn't get to talk a lot defensive guys after joint practices. Just overall what was that experience like in helping you guys? It it was big, you know, just getting out there, you know, for the joint practice and bringing the energy every day. You know, like, you know, coach Ni, you know, he told us like we got to come out there and bring the energy like, you know, up front Dolan, you know, we control the energy. Like we out there with the energy, everybody else going, it's going to be contagious. It's just going to spread off to everybody else. >> It's hard to say anybody brought more energy than you out there on the practice fields like what role does energy play in your game and that outward expression and and the joy that you play with? >> Energy is big for me because I feel like it's contagious. like once they see like one player making plays and the energy just you know his energy and morale is through the roof man it's just going to be contagious and it's going to feed off to everybody else it's going to make everybody else to go out there you know want to make plays and just celebrate like so you know energy is like big for me like I'm a big energy guy like I'm I'm I'm ready to go all the time so yeah it was big for me this week >> it seems like you really enjoy playing in this kind of one gap attacking upfield scheme is that accurate to say >> yeah that's accurate to say you know I love playing the attack front like we kind of played like an attack front at uh Houston before you know we was attacking like certain fronts and you know certain certain things we got in at Houston. So, you know, just you know, coming here and kind of like learning this style of attack, you know, was big for me. So, you know, I'm loving the attack system here. >> All right, here with Demarco Helms. Demarco, obviously just the preseason, but when you compare last week's performance to this week's performance, what what is the difference you saw? >> I think we started out, you know, just coming out with more energy. I feel like defense definitely did a good job uh kickoff, you know, setting the tone uh for that first drive and, you know, just the team feeding off that energy for the rest of the game. Um, you know, a lot of guys on the sideline. um vets and starters and stuff like that. Uh bought the energy as well. So, I think as a team we just came out with a better starting energy and it just held us on throughout the game. >> Yeah, it seemed the intensity was up. Did the joint practices help that at all? How does that, you know, compare or affect anything that happens in the preseason game? >> I mean, I think the joint practice definitely helps for sure. Uh just cuz it's not our first day uh going against those guys. So, it definitely gives you a chance to, you know, just get the tempo of the guys that you're going to be going against. um you know own a couple looks that you seen in practice. So it just gives us like a a step up um before the game the joint practice >> and the intensity also you saw it there after the first touchdown. Tyler Goodson 49 yards a lot of guys run out there. What was that moment like? I don't know if you ran out there on the field but just seeing everyone celebrate and come together on a good touchdown. >> Oh yeah, it was it was great. Um you know just seeing the team come together really just celebrating the offense. Um you know they felt like they had things to improve on. Defense we had things to improve on as well. So, you know, just getting that first touchdown, you know, the preseason on the board, uh, was just it's just great for us to, you know, just bring that energy and let the the the vets, you know, guys that were on the side, just bring that energy to the guys on the field, let them know that even though they weren't in pass that they were still supporting us >> and defensively held them one for 11 on third down conversions. Just what was working out there this week that you guys can apply as you ramp up and get ready for the regular season a couple weeks? >> Uh, really just the Dline. I feel like the D line did a great job of setting a setting the tone uh for the run game. Really just allowing the back end to be real patient on their keys. Uh and then on third down, I feel like we, you know, we just had a attack mindset. Uh DBs did great in coverage. Defensive line did great pressure in the quarterback. So I think that's what led to the success on third down.