Atlanta Falcons players speak to the media following Week 1 at Steelers | Press Conference

about the workload you expected today. >> Yeah. Well, first off, you know, I got to give honor to God um for getting me out healthy, and continue to just I play for him and just give him glory for all that, you know, we do, win or lose. Uh but yeah, man. I mean, you know, whatever it takes to try to win the game. Um I know, uh circumstances happen. I got to be better once again. You know, this is my this was my first game, so like you know, those fumbles, I got to I got to eliminate those. Even though they didn't count, but still like I got to eliminate it. um for the team. So, but yeah, man. I whatever get me in space and uh I just let my God give me ability, you know, do the rest. >> How fast did you see that alley that uh Chris and Charlie created for you on the touchdown run? >> Uh >> touchdown pass. >> I saw right away. Right away I knew I knew Chris was out in front of me. Um and I saw Charlie, you know, held up his guy easily. So, and then I just knew I had to break break one. Um the defender took a bad angle and you know that that the rest was history. But yeah, you know, shout out to, you know, CB. That's that's my dog, man. I mean, he he plays his butt off every every chance that he gets and obviously Charlie, that that's just who he is. He's just a workhorse. So, you know, without those guys, like it would never happen. Um, so yeah, it it started with them and I just, you know, got to do the rest. >> You've been high on the run concepts all off seasonason to I think you guys ran for 120 yards or so. How pleased are you with how it looked today? >> Yeah, I think we could be better. Um, you know, this is our first time running it as a O line, as as a running back. Um, but you know, I think we can even be so much better. Uh, this is just our first time running it together. Um, but even just the the creases that they made, uh, that the O line made that, you know, that we took advantage of, like we still have so much more. Um, we just got to keep on getting used to it and keep on running in practice so we can get it ready for the games. >> The first time you since the first time you played, but you look at mid-season with that pass that was thrown at your back hip and you got that early in the game. >> Yeah. >> Oh, yeah. that that that's just a god-given talent right there, man. I just saw the ball, reacted to it. Um, and then just just made sure I try to make the catch. But, you know, for me, like I these first games are always like up and down for me, like weird sometimes cuz I'm trying to like get a feel, let the game slow down. But, I mean, it started to slow down for me like that second half. Um, and and then, you know, obviously, we just didn't have enough time to to finish it out. >> You talked about the the circumstances of this game. What was it like for the team that you just kept getting bad news about your quarterbacks? You know, >> I mean, you know, for us, we just we just try to adapt. You know, I understand um things happen and and you know, sometimes you know, you something happens in practice, you know, you can't you have to the next man to step up and you know, for for Coupe, that's what he did. And you know, for Coupe, man, I I give him credit, man. Like, he came in the fire um when he may not expected it and you know, he took he took it took advantage of it. So, you know, I appreciate him for for what he did this game and, you know, we'll get back to the drawing board tomorrow so we can, you know, be our best come come Sunday next week. >> How much of the original game plan were y'all able to use this week after making a change so late in the week? >> Uh, I think we, you know, still still ran a lot of it, a lot of the game plan. Um, you know, I know that now we're going to a right-handed quarterback, so some things have to change. Um but for for us like we just adapted and you know Tommy he got he got us right. Um you know what Wednesday? Um and and that's what we did and we came out of practice ready to go and that's that's what we did man. So I credit all the guys just for adapting and and understanding like the situations and you know we we got to do what we got to do still no matter no matter who's back there and I think Coup did a good job doing it. >> This was uh your first game rolling in tandem with Brian. How do you feel like it it went out there between the two of y'all and the communication and all that? >> Yeah, I think I think it went great. Obviously, like for this first game, like the first game's always to see how we how we rotate, see the how Tommy calls it. Um, just so we can just stay fresh throughout the game, you know, me and him. But I think he ran his butt off. Like that dude's a he's a load to try to tackle and, you know, for for us to just play that one two off each other, like I know it's going to be special. But um yeah, I think I think for this game it was just kind of just to see the flow of the game and how he's going to call it and how he's going to call games so we can understand how we can, you know, keep each other fresh throughout the throughout the rest of the season. >> How did Cooper L how the offense after him? How did how do you think everything? >> Yeah, I mean I think we have so much to improve on, you know, um you know, they're they they made some good plays out there on defense. I think we made some good plays. Um but I think we have a lot a lot of improving to do this week. Um because we have we do have a lot of talent on this team on this offense and you know we realize that the defense played their butts off man like they played their tails off. Uh so you know it's really on us to capitalize off that so we can you know put the ball in the end zone and you know we can play that complimentary football. >> AJ first of all how you feeling? I mean when you went down and everybody rushed over it it was it was scary I'm sure for a lot of Falcons fans watching. So how you feeling? >> I'm good. I'm ready to go. I just um nicked up my shoulder so I'll be ready to go. Was there any concern because they were there was somebody on the sideline like calling over trainers right away. Were you concerned when it happened? >> Um yeah, I wasn't feeling feeling good to get back up at the time, but um we went to the tent seeing what it was and um was able to get back out there and finish the game. >> Before asking about the game a couple lockers down as your brother, I know you guys went through a training camp together in preseason games, but was it like suiting up for a regular season game with your brother lining up on the same defense? >> No, it's great, man. just being able to share the field with him for the first time like you know it's a blessing. Um and uh it just felt good like I don't know how to explain it like uh we we we prayed we talked and told him to just keep everything the main thing and relax your mind just go out there and play ball. Um he had a solid game so everything was good. >> Yeah. Did you have like a a brother moment where you you know talked about that kind of stuff before the game or after? The brother moment was >> The brother moment was really since we since we landed here just the process uh yesterday just prepping for the game. Um letting them know like you good and then also just running out the tunnel for the first time. Um it's a big deal >> defensively. What's your what's going to be your big takeaway from this one? >> Got um played a solid game defensively. Got a lot to grow on. Um but overall, you know, we played a solid game. I felt like just a few things, you know, we needed to clean up, you know, um couple couple penalties and things like that, but uh just getting off the field on third down is always the main thing. >> AJ, can you walk us through what what happened on on kind of that penalty, it seemed like you were maybe stumbling on the play. >> Yeah, I was just um when he ran the deep ball on third down, I was like third and short, so I was playing for uh playing for the sticks and um kind of got myself in a little trail situation. and I had to just try to make a play on the ball just came down on my shoulder >> overall there was kind of an aggressive mindset it felt like from the secondary was that part of the game plan coming in >> yeah um you know as a defense as as a defensive back you really want to always disrupt timing um playing a guy like A-Rod you know we want to uh put hands on the receivers and disrupt the timing um force them to make good throws and uh that was the game you know for me that was my game plan just put just disrupting receivers off the line >> and then when you see kind of the impact play that somebody like TJ Walk can have and and how that can really flip a game. How much does that motivate you all as a defense to to say we got to get to that point and and kind of have that impact on a game? >> Um >> felt like we played solid. You know, TJ W is a great player within itself. Um >> of course I can watch him from the sideline, but I feel like our guys got after got after um Aaron a few times during the game while my back was turned. Um I didn't feel like I was back there scrambling for days. I meant like plastering, but uh I feel like we played hand in hand defense. Dline did their part. We did our part. We did our part. They did their part. >> Hey, I asked Mike um with so many, you know, new guys, y'all got uh and finally get to get out there together. Y'all feel, you know, out feel from, you know, what y'all did today, turnovers and so forth >> defensively? >> Defensively. Yeah. >> Uh that's that's what the offseason program is for. like we just build that chemistry early on. Um, like you said, a lot of new guys, but come game day, it's not a lot of new guys to us, probably to to the average eye, but >> Okay. >> We build that chemistry early on where we can trust each other, go out there and make plays. >> What could y'all take from your day and build off of? >> Um, really just everything, all the little details. Uh, we going to go back, watch the tape, see what it is. Uh, >> and just clean up a lot of stuff. Uh, we didn't win the game, so it's obviously obviously stuff to learn off of. Divine, what's going to be your big takeaway from today? >> Um, this game comes down, it's a game of inches, you know, so we just got to be on it every play. Um, especially defensively, we just got to execute, especially in like four-minute offense. We got to get off the field. >> All things considered, the defense, except for the the drives that started off turnovers, only allowed six points on the drives that that didn't stop off turnovers. What did you think of the defense's effort today? >> Uh, I am proud of the guys. Um, obviously, um, towards the end there, we got to get off the field, but outside of that, I'm definitely proud of the guys. We just got to keep growing from it. >> There's a lot of young guys out there on defense. A lot of guys in new roles. What What did you like out of the young guys that were some of them getting their first experience out there? >> For sure. Just effort and energy, man. They were out there ready to play and um I appreciate them for that. >> You were getting involved quite a bit. You saw somebody like Zidarius getting involved a lot. Uh to to have the veterans step up on the road in a game like this. What does this mean for you guys? >> No, it means a lot. Uh he said he said he'll tighten up for us and he did that. Uh I don't know how many he had, but he definitely did his thing and I'm like I said earlier, I'm just proud of the guys. cuz we got to keep growing from it so we can win next time. >> I was keeping track of it. I don't think Rogers got you guys with a hard count or a substitution in the game. If I miss one, I'm sorry, but I was that a point of emphasis this week cuz he's made a career out of that. >> Definitely a point of emphasis. Uh we were ready to go. Um the whole game we were basically betting on that he would try to do that. So, we were ready whenever he was ready and we did a good job. >> Brick Brick talks so much about generating turnovers. You guys are able to get when you come up with a fumble. How key is that uh uh for this defense? Uh definitely key. Uh usually when you win a turnover battle, you win a game. Uh we just got to get more more >> defensively. Do do you put more pressure on yourself when it's, you know, the the offense is dealing with the quarterback change? You know, all the all the things they're going through this week. Do you guys take more pressure upon yourself? >> 100%. Uh we we do that anyways. Uh we try to win the game defensively. Um we had a few letups, so and that that just can't happen. We just got to win the game and play almost perfect football. >> And I mean, you saw we saw AJ go down. They're calling over trainers. He's back out there. I think the next series or two series later. What does that say about his toughness, a guy like that? >> AJ's a soldier, man. He's ready to play and I I appreciate him for that. All right, Jake, what are going to be your takeaways from this one? >> Yeah, just too many mistakes. Uh need to finish better on stuff and having a lot of opportunities and and not finding a way to get it done, you know. Um had a bunch of issues on offensive line and stuff we could have done better and um yeah, got a long season to get it fixed. >> What do you see as the issues on the offensive line? Um I I got to watch the film and and see exactly what it looked like, but um you know, just really finishing and protection and uh finding ways to continue to run the ball and uh showed glimpses of it and made some plays, but just need to keep capitalizing on it and then, you know, carrying it over and converting it to points. So um came up short too often. So that, you know, something we got to get better at. >> They've got, you know, Hall of Famer and Hayward and a player of the year in Watt. I think it was five holding penalties in the first half on on the offensive line. Did that surprise you? >> You know, sometimes that stuff, it just happens. It's a physical game. Guys are moving around quick and um you know, it's stuff that's going to come with the game. Obviously, you don't want it. You we got to check the film and see how we can uh make those things better, be in better position, you know, but um yeah, like I said, had opportunities and we were in that game, you know, and uh fortunately didn't pull it out. How tough was it with the the quarterback shifting dynamic this week with a quarterback being named on Monday and then Tua gets hurt on Thursday? >> Yeah, you know, it's obviously not ideal. Um but you know, you be a pro, you find a way to go get it done and uh there's not an excuse for it. So, um you know, we we Coupe went in there and we had a chance to win the game and thought he did a good job and we just got to find a way to win at the end of the day. >> And we've seen a lot of Bejon over the years. They knew he was going to get the ball a lot. I mean, what does it say about him to be able to have I think it was something like 170 yards total. >> Yeah, I mean, kind of goes without saying the caliber of player he is and what he's capable of. So, um, fully expect that, you know, out of him. >> Matthew, we talked to Jake a few minutes ago and he said, you know, he's looking forward to looking at the tape and seeing what kind of issues the O line can clean up. What do you think about the offensive line today? >> I mean, I just think we didn't we didn't take care of business. I think there was a lot of mistakes. I think we, you know, we shot ourselves in the foot a few times. Uh, and I think, you know, defense did a great job and we got, we have to, you know, be better and move the ball and, you know, stop, you know, the penalties. >> Yeah, I know you can't, you know, we don't have the benefit of looking at film. You mentioned penalties. Is there something you can put your finger on with that? >> Uh, you know, we just got to be cleaner, you know, technique and, you know, fundamentals and I think it's week one, you know, it's just still pretty early in the season, so we got to clean that up. >> How tough was it with the the changing quarterbacks this week, right? Like starter name Monday, Tua goes out at the beginning of practice on Thursday. How tough is that on you guys? I mean, I think we did a great job with communications and stuff like that. You know, obviously there's stuff to clean up, like I said, but I think, you know, throughout the week, uh, the coaches, uh, did a great job of, you know, preparing us for that outcome. I mean, for that, you know, quarterback change and, uh, yeah, I think I think, you know, as far as like the relationship between us and the quarterback, I think everything was fine. >> Sound like Cooper was dealing with whatever the team said, he had back spasms or something. What What did you think of him going out there, you know, playing through whatever he was dealing with? >> Uh, you know, definitely tough environment. I think he did a great job leading us and I I could feel the confidence and I think uh you know we all rallied behind him and we have to be better for him and uh you know very excited for the next week and just hopefully we could be better for him >> offensively. They knew Bjang was going to get the ball and he's still able to do what he does. I mean what what does that say about him? >> I mean Bejan's just a great player. You know he he creates a lot of explosive plays for us and I think uh you know he's a huge part of our offense and I think we're so grateful for him because you know even though we we we could have a wrong assignment he's going to make us right. uh you know you're you're one of the the veterans in this group now it seems like so what what's going to be the message when you guys get back to work in flower >> brand I mean just get back to work you know I think uh like I said it's early in the season you know it's that first game it's always uh the person who wins is who makes less mistakes and obviously we're on the wrong side of that uh today and we you know we get the opportunity to go back to work tomorrow >> but what was the experience like >> it was pretty good just get a chance to go out there with my guys um you know put a lot of preparation in and stuff like that and built a lot of camaraderie throughout this whole time from rookie mini camp otaas um in training camp as well. So, it was good to get out there and uh you know, get our feet wet and just have fun out there. >> Was there a moment whether it was fly over running out there or whatever where it was like, man, this is it. >> Oh, yeah. Um, you know, I think really just warm-ups. Warm-ups just kind of stuck in to me cuz, you know, preseason's one thing, but the regular season, um, you know, that's where everything is fully logged on the record. Um, you know, things like that to try to get to the ultimate goal. So, um, I think that was something that was really, really, uh, you know, important for me, just trying to make sure I take everything in and just try to stay focused throughout the whole thing and just lean on my older guys around me to, uh, be prepared. >> Speaking of warm-ups, our our cameraman had some shots of you and and Mike kind of joking around in the pregame. Just what's that relationship like? It seemed like you guys were having a good time staying loose out there. >> Oh, yeah. Now, Mike, that's my guy. Um, you know, he always joke around and things like that, but, you know, when it's time to turn it on the field, he can turn it on and just, you know, be a great overall person and leader for the team as well. Um, you know, so we have a good relationship. want to continue to build that and uh you know have some fun as well. >> Made an impact right away on special teams. Couple good punt returns, the kick return that got called back. What do you make of your effort especially in those areas? >> Oh yeah. Um you know I just try to do my best uh to my ability to try to do my job to help the team as best as possible. Um you know not the result that we wanted but I mean it's it's great to be able to see you know people are blocking the perfect lanes to be able to make me spring a certain return like that. Um you know so it's it's definitely encouraging for sure to know that you know we have the guys to put me in the right position. um you know just to go out there and execute but it it was pretty fun to get out there and do that today. >> Outside looking in on the offense it's probably a lot of people are going to say well the the quarterback changes named on Monday injury on Thursday somebody else coming in. How how big a factor was that all all the changes this week uh at quarterback. >> I think the mentality is next man up. Um you know I feel like we all do a good job preparing. Um you know we don't know how many players we're going to get in the game but we all do a great job preparing like we're going to be the starter in the game. Um, you know, so I feel like he was very very prepared and uh, you know, it was definitely good just to see him um, you know, go out there and have fun with us and go out there and compete for sure. >> I know you don't have the benefit of film. What's on the the to-do list for this offense when you all get back to work this week and and head towards the home opener? >> I think really just correcting the little things. Uh, you know, working on certain things that we can control. Um, you know, specifically for myself as well, just trying to just, you know, get better overall. Um, you know, to be able to put myself in the best position to help the team as possible and then just, you know, try to eliminate penalties and things like that that we can do um, to not hurt ourselves. But I think we have uh some good stuff to learn from um and want to keep going forward and I'm excited for our group. >> You know, it's one of 17 obviously. Is that a message shared by the the vets in this locker room? Like what are guys saying to you after a game like this? >> Oh yeah, definitely. Um you know, it's one week at a time. Um something that kind of stuck with me as coach said is 17 sprints. Um you know, so it's not just, oh, we got to look at week 13 or 14. We just try to take it week by week and just try to be as best as possible um you know, for that week. And that starts with preparation.