Falcons QBs Tua Tagovailoa, Jack Strand & more speak after first preseason game | Press Conference

So, take us through um you know, your evaluation of how you did. >> Uh definitely not up to standard. Um not even up to par. You know, we'll start with the first drive. Um was it second play, just being able to catch the snap, you know, little things like that. Um, you know, I was thinking about it like what we put out there is not a reflection of the the hard work the hard work that we've put in the first two weeks um, you know, into training camp and it does no justice for, you know, the work that our coaches as well, you know, have implemented. So, you know, it starts with me. I got to be better with that. You know, I thought off of that play, we kind of got out of the rhythm. you know, we I I think we we could have had a a pretty decent play um off of a screen going to B- Rob and kind of getting getting everything going from there. So, uh starts with me and I got to be better. That's it. >> You just detailed everything pretty great. But how did you feel overall going out there? Not a large sample size for you obviously, but how did you feel? >> Yeah, I felt good. It's football. um you know, played some games, got some games under my belt, but with this being preseason, that gives you no excuse um you know, to be able to go go out there and put a performance like that out there on tape. So, you know, not satisfied, not happy at all whatsoever, but you know, we'll learn from this. We'll go into the meeting rooms tomorrow and we'll fix and clean up what what needs to be cleaned up. >> I know you guys always want to use the preseason to get ready for the regular season. Do you feel like you did enough today to feel like you got something out of that? No, not at all. Uh, you know, as I said earlier, we're trying to get into a rhythm and a flow of things offensively and, you know, there were a couple hiccups and, you know, we just weren't able to overcome them, you know, early on. >> I'm sorry to interrupt. Is this is this a setback just in terms of the competition? I know PEX is still got to get healthy and and that, but in your mind for where you stand in the competition, what does a preseason game mean for that? Well, I think to me, if it were up to me, I I'm evaluating everything. Um, so for me to go out there, I, you know, I'm I'm competing. I'm wanting to go out there and put points on the board, you know, not not go out there and, you know, we'll go three and out, three and out, you know, and and not be able to to perform to the level that I know I'm I'm able to do. So, uh, always looking at everything as a competition. Um, but >> yeah, I just got to be better. I I got to be better for our guys offensively. >> You were happy for your teammate Jack Stan. You guys went over there, got the ball, made sure you gave it to him after that touchdown. Why was that important for you to do that? >> Well, that's important cuz this this is his first NFL game. Um and and I don't think people understand it's not easy to get into this league. Uh whether you're drafted, whether you're undrafted, and as little kids growing up playing football, like it's always a dream to be able to play in the, you know, in the NFL. And so this being preseason, I understand, but like that's a big deal. It's all a big deal. And and as I said um earlier, everything's being evaluated. >> When you have the two kind of opening series that you did, do you have a conversation with your coaches like you want to get back out there or you pretty much knew from the start it was just going to be the two series in that? Yeah, I I I knew from the start uh what was going to happen um going in there and so, you know, you got to make use of your opportunity every time, every chance that you go out there and that's not what we did. >> Would you like to play in the second one? >> I love to play in the second and the third, whichever ones, you know, or or both of them that they let us. >> Why do you feel like maybe you guys came out a little bit flat? >> I'm I'm I'm not too sure. Um, but then again, I I would say it starts with me. I think that second play kind of set us back a bit. Um, kind of got us out of our rhythm and and flow of things offensively. >> Would you say you're frustrated, disappointed? How would you kind of describe your your emotion right now? >> I would say both. Frustrated and disappointed at the way, you know, things things happened tonight as we went out there. But we'll come in tomorrow. We'll see see the film and we'll move on from that. two. Did you have thoughts about James Pearson's news today? >> I I don't think I seen anything. I'm not on social media. >> He was suspended for eight first eight games this season. >> Okay. >> I have I have no control over any of that. Um, you know, but James is like three lockers down from me and we chop it up here and there, but I mean outside of that, that's out of my control, that's out of his control, you know. It's it's up to the higher powers. They just congratulate me. They said they they were fighting people to get it, but I'm glad that they were able to. It was awesome of them to do that. >> First time you played in an NFL game. Expectations heading in and what's your thought process after it? >> I mean, expectations. I just just wanted to go out there and and do my job as well as I could and I know that was the that was the expectations. That was the goal of everybody on the team and I think uh it'll definitely be they'll be good film to watch for for all of us and things to get better from, but I think we were able to do some good things too. >> Were you happy with the execution tonight? Um, I think you can always have better execution and you know, we we like I said, we did some good things and there's going to be some things to clean up. So, we got a we got a few weeks of training camp left to to get those things figured out before we start playing real games. So, um, but yeah, it's good definitely just to to get some stuff on tape and be able to see what we're doing well and what we need to improve with. >> Did you have any family come down for this first game? Yeah, I had my my girlfriend was here and her family and then I my mom and two of my younger siblings uh actually surprised me before the game and I didn't know that they were coming down and they were just out on the field and they called me out said that uh Griff, our strength coach, needed to do something with me and then they were there out there and I had no idea that they were going to be here. So that was a cool moment for sure. >> What was your first thought when you saw saw them? >> I like didn't didn't really know what to think, I guess. I was trying to like figure out how how they might have made it here or whatever, but it was just awesome to see them and I'm glad that they were here for it. >> What did it mean to have Tua and Penn get the ball for you to make sure you had that after the game? >> Yeah, that was that was cool with them for sure and they've been so supportive of me through, you know, this whole training camp just help Cooper has to Cooper Rush. Um, but they've been awesome just with questions that I have or stuff that they see that I'm doing like if I got to clean up my footwork or if I got to change up the way that I'm doing a read or something or like even just the way like with my mechanics use my legs and stuff. um they've been more than willing to help me out and try to get help me become the best player that I can be >> from division 2 to now scoring your first touchdown in the NFL. I mean, just what is that like for you to experience it? >> Uh it's it's pretty cool. It's definitely uh it's it's a little bit uh I guess it's a little different, you know, playing in an NFL stadium compared to playing in in a division 2 stadium. But, you know, it's it's the same game that that I've been playing since I was whatever 6 years old. So, that was kind of my mentality going in. But, I mean, just having an opportunity to to score a touch on the NFL game is really cool. >> What did the guys say to you after you scored? a lot of lot of congratulations and yeah, it was cool that they were they were all there to celebrate with me. >> What's the biggest difference from division 2 to NFL playing in a game? What what would how would you describe it? >> I mean, naturally just going up from a division, even division 2 or even if you're a division one FBS power five player going to the NFL, obviously it's just there's going to be a jump because the speed of the game's different. Guys are bigger, they're faster, they're smarter, you know, they they kind of I think they just understand like defenses understand a little bit better what offensives are trying to do and vice versa, too. So there's just it's a little bit more of a chess match I think playing in the NFL which um I I think is a lot of fun cuz you kind of just dive deep into figuring out how to beat the other team a little bit more in the NFL than than you would in college. >> Is it faster than you expected or what was it like the speed? >> Um I wouldn't necessar say it was faster than what I expected. Um and I think I prepared myself uh very well with just the details and things like that. Um you know and I came out there like hey this is my first game. I trying to leave a good impression. So I think I came out there um you know as ready as possible and just try to do my best out there. Zakura, this is an amazing day for you. I mean, it's the first time that you've played in an NFL game. Walk us through the day and just kind of the emotions of what this day is like. >> Oh, yeah. It was uh it was definitely pretty emotional just, you know, thinking back to like all the sacrifices that not only I made, but like my parents and and people who have helped me get to this point. Um you know, to make my NFL debut um you know, preseason wise was pretty cool just to you know, just just think back on all those times. And then um you know, just very blessed and thankful. Um you know, I was just praying a lot today. uh you know, just asking for guidance and things like that and um you know, to just keep me focused because at the end of the day, it's still football. Um you know, it's always a dream of mine to get to this level. So, it's pretty cool to go out there with the guys and uh you know, try to go out there and compete. >> Sorry, they're throwing a lot at you in this offense right now. What are you trying to focus on the most? >> Um really just whatever my role is. Um you know, wherever they want me, whether it's outside, inside, um just trying to be as ready for the possible for the team. um you know, detail oriented wise and just try to be uh you know, reliable um in a sense. >> What do you feel like was a really strong area for you tonight? What do you feel like you did well? >> Um I think I executed um you know, for the most part on my plays and things like that, whether the ball came to me or not. Um you know, I feel like I sprung some other plays and things like that. So, I think uh you know, definitely some things I can learn from for sure. Um but I think I did a good job of just you know, trying to prepare myself and stuff. >> How' the job go? >> Uh it went pretty well. It's been going pretty well. Um, I've been having good sales. Uh, guys in the locker room are wearing it, too. Um, and it's it's good to see. Um, especially when you spend a lot of money on it, you know, starting out seems like you spend a lot more money than you making, but uh, now everything is coming into fruition for me and sales has been going great. >> Awesome. Leading rusher for the Atlanta Falcons today for How does that sound? >> Sounds great. Um, >> I'm happy with the game, but it's also room for improvement. Um, I'm definitely going to go back to the drawing board, look at some uh, tape and see what things I could have done better um, on special teams or and at the running back position. Um it's never as good as you thought it was and it's never as bad. So um I'm I'm okay with how the performance went. Um I think as a team we could definitely could have done better. Um it's not the outcome we wanted to show um or come out with at the end of the game, but back to the drawing board. >> Yeah. Yeah. And you mentioned it's obviously not the result that you guys want, but how do you kind of clean it up from here and obviously take the preseason the next couple games to do so? >> It's on to the next, you know, uh we got to focus on. We got two joint practices coming up. Um like I said, we come in tomorrow. um look at the tape, look look at what what we could have done better and what things we did good and u capitalize on that from there and just focus on Indie >> those joint practices against your former team, right? >> Hey, I'm ready. I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be good to see the guys I play with um and coaches obviously as well. But um at the end of the day, we're going there to compete and I'm looking forward to compete against them. Um it's going to be fun. >> And obviously being here, you know, obviously hometown kids, is it cool to I'm sure you had a bunch of family come. Is that that element? >> Sure. I probably have about 20 25 family members here. Um um I got family in Charlotte, too. So, it's nothing but a 3 and 1 half hour drive. So, it's definitely uh good for them to be here with me cuz uh as I've been in the league and in college, everybody's had to travel hours away. Um so, it's definitely a good good to be there. And just for me, uh it's it's a real moment. Um Corky Kale, I played in the stadium a couple times when it was maybe the old stadium, uh whatever the case may be. So, everything was just uh amazing for me. It was just home, you know. >> Tyler, joint practices are always intense. Do you feel like there's going to be a different level of intensity for you going back there? Uh, I always practice with the same level of intensity. Um, it's just going to be more fun. Uh, now that now that I know I'm practicing against guys that I played with for the past three years, um, I'm looking forward to it. Those guys know how I am on the field. Um, I know how they are on the field as well. Um, so I'm looking forward to being competitive. >> You mentioned there's always things to improve. Obviously, you got to watch the tape and all of those things, but preliminarily, what do you feel like you guys want to get better at? >> Uh, definitely uh, efficiency. Um, it was times where we uh, ended up fighting the sticks. you know, first down, we want to come out there and be second and five, second and six. We don't want to go out there and be second and eight, um, third and 10. Um, so I'd say as a offense as a whole or as a defense as a whole, just just being more efficient and being bringing more energy to the locker room as well. >> Just a preseason game, so you got a long way to go. What do you think this offense is actually capable of? >> Explosiveness. Um, from top to bottom, we got the pieces, we got the coaching staff, um, and we got the coaching staff that's going to put the ball in the players hands to make the the right decisions and to for us to be explosive. from top to bottom down the board. I just see a bunch of explosiveness. >> Jack and QB sneak for a touchdown. >> Yes. Pretty great, huh? Yes. Yes. Pretty great. I was I was at the bottom of the pile trying to push them in screaming, "Could y'all please get up off me?" Cuz I was losing my wind a little bit, but uh it's good to see um you know, first year guys come in and uh experience this uh moment uh their first NFL game. And it's it's great for him to uh touch paint like like we always want. >> One more question about the joint practices. I know obviously it's intense for you because you just play for that team, but all these guys in the lock room after that result, do you feel like there's a little more intensity because they feel like they want to >> for sure, especially especially with them tying. I seen they tied with New England. Um but like I said, it is what it is. Uh we're going to go back to the drawing board, see what we need to work on. Um whether they look at us as a weaker team or not, we're going to go in there with the same mindset as if that we're going to compete and that we're going to win not only in just the game, but in practice as well. So, um I'm looking forward to it. These coaches are thrown a lot at you right now. You're having to digest a lot on defense and expected a lot of you as a rookie so far. How much do you enjoy that challenge and what's your mentality around that? >> I love it. I mean, I try to go in there every day. It was like if I was undrafted, would I be working as hard or would I be working harder and try to work as hard as I can? So, um, so if everything is put in front of me that I'm ready for it no matter what. if I'm back up a three, a one, you know, just the same approach every day. Just because I was going with the ones today don't mean that I um I just study harder. I was I was study harder anyway. So, but um they have put a lot on my plate, but it's it's been fun. You know, I'll be able to go home and and learn a lot and it um the pressure of learning is is fun. >> Always tough to clean up. Obviously, you got you got to watch the tape, but after this one, what do you want to get better at? Um, I would say just just the feel of the game, just being that middle linebacker, just being able to fill out blocks and, you know, and get everybody where they need to go and, you know, just today was just the first step in the right direction. So, you know, I'll go in and be hard on myself and I know we have a lot of things to clean up, offense, defense, and special teams. So, um, I know the coaches will help us out and be honest, but it's a good thing. You know, you never want to feel like you're ahead of the curveball. So, you just always want to get better at something.