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REDSKINS HEAD COACH JAY GRUDEN
On injuries:
"Injury report, only one of note is [LB] Perry Riley [Jr.] has a calf strain. We’ll get more tomorrow on him. [T Morgan] Moses went back in, he had a little tweak of his MCL but he’s OK."
On the importance of this win:
“It’s important. First of all, it’s game one; we didn’t feel like things were slipping away. But more importantly, it’s the second home game. To go 0-2 to start the season at home is tough to overcome. We have to take advantage of our home crowd, keep them in the games like they were today. It was outstanding. The big thing is you want to have something positive these guys can build off of. They’ve worked extremely hard and the only way to show for what they’ve done, for their hard work, is getting victories. It was a huge win in that regard also.”
On splitting carries between RBs Matt Jones and Alfred Morris:
“Some days will be different. Today we just controlled the clock and were able to get the running game going and get both some good touches. There will be some games where it may not happen like that. Our plan is to keep both backs fresh. I intend on them both getting plenty of touches. [Running Backs] Coach Randy Jordan does a great job with the substitution pattern. I don’t really care who is in there. They’re both very, very good football players as long as they’re fresh.”
On if that was the blueprint for a successful game:
“In pro football, I think that’s the blueprint for most successful teams. You look at all of the successful teams in the history of this league, very few of them are throwing 70 times a game. There’s a strong running game there and that is the blueprint that we have to have. We have a young quarterback, we don’t want to throw the ball 50 times. We want to run the ball, be physical. [It] opens up a lot of things for us, controls the clock like it did again today. The blueprint was there last week; we just didn’t make enough plays to win the game. I think if we run the ball more than we pass it, have equal amount of rushing yards as passing yards, we’re going to win a lot of games this year.”
On TE Anthony McCoy:
"I think that he is just another piece. I think that [TE] Jordan Reed has done a great job, obviously. McCoy – we just got him a couple of weeks ago. He’s a big guy. He can handle the running game, also the pass protection. He’s good for play-actions. He’s still learning though. He’s a very versatile guy, that’s why we had some three-tight end sets today, which was very, very effective. We can not only run the ball and pound people out of those, but we can have some good play-actions and some good makings out of that set. It’s a very good personnel group to have.”
On the resolve of the Redskins in the fourth quarter:
“We were worried a little bit. We were trying to keep them positive. It was 17-3, then it was 17-10 and the momentum was starting to shift. You could see people starting to have a little doubt maybe, but the veteran guys led the way and we kept our heads about us and found a way to get this victory. It’s a great win because really everybody had their hand in it. It wasn’t just the running backs. It wasn’t just the offense. It wasn’t just the defense. It was everybody. Everybody played a major role. Special teams field position was excellent. Defense obviously did their thing and offensively we ran the ball, killed some clock and did some good things.”
On the importance of attitude and getting a victory:
“That’s exactly right. You can talk all you want until you’re blue in the face, but the only thing that matters is getting W’s. I’ve said all along I felt good about the way these guys have been working. The change in our team from the offseason until training camp, and obviously until now, the only thing that can really back up what I’m saying is victories and that’s why it’s important. And obviously it’s important, but obviously for the confidence of these guys, we have a lot of young players playing and we’ve got to get them used to winning and show them how to win and build off of winning, for how to prepare after a win. There’s a whole lot of things you still have to do as a football team and as a football coach after a victory that are equally as important after a loss. We have a short week against the Giants, and it’s going to be key that we stay focused and prepare like we have been.”
On QB Kirk Cousins’ performance:
“He was efficient. There was obviously a lot of big plays in that game, but the third down and eight, the check down to Chris Thompson was huge to keep that drive alive. The big third down and five to Jordan Reed where he was patient and let Jordan Reed be his defender on the option route stood in there and made a huge throw. Those are huge plays for us when we can maintain drives. I’m happy with the way Kirk played. I’m sure there were some throws that he wishes he had back, but to get a victory against a defense like that is very impressive.”
On Rams WR Tavon Austin’s impact:
"He’s a dangerous guy. We made sure we weren’t going to punt it to him. He’s a great player and we worked extremely hard. [Defensive Coordinator] Joe Barry did a great job, [Defensive Backs] Coach [Perry] Fewell, [Defensive Line] Coach [Robb] Akey, they did a great job getting the defense ready. They popped a couple jet sweeps, and I think they added a little reverse to him. Overall, I think the game plan was really good. We stopped the running game, which was very important. We got them to third down and medium-to-long. We were able to get off the field. Like I said they were one-for-10 on third down. We’re staying fresh on defense and obviously controlling the clock on offense."
On the defense:
“So far it’s working good because we have not given up many big plays. We gave up that long one today, it was a great throw and great catch. But when you have to make teams work for every yard that they get it’s hard on offense – I know firsthand as an ex-offensive coordinator. If we can just be sound at what we’re doing and stop the running game and bring pressure when we want to, we’ve got a very diverse system over there – it’s rush three, it’s rush four, it’s rush five, whatever it is it keeps offenses off-balance and the defensive players are producing.”
On how he feels about the defense:
“I feel good. You have to figure when your top pass rusher – [LB Junior] Galette goes out, [CB Chris] Culliver’s not even here – we’ve had to deal with different people, which is good. And that’s a sign of a pretty good coach that’s able to put people in key positions and they’re able to make plays. [LB] Perry Riley [Jr.] went out and [Will] Compton came in and had an excellent game. The guys are doing it and we’re prepared I feel like. The guys are playing hard and we’re making solid tackles. We’re not missing a lot of tackles and we’re fundamentally sound. We’re sound scheme-wise so far. Long way to go, 14 games left before we start celebrating but I like where we’re heading.”
On RB Matt Jones’ growth:
“He’s a smart football player. I think growth-wise it’s just the confidence in pass protection. I think he came in as a strong physical runner already. He was a big boy coming in, it’s not like we fed him and he gained a lot of weight. [Strength & Conditioning] Coach [Mike] Clark has worked with him hard with his body and keeping his weight down and getting his lean mask on. But overall, not a lot of tweaking there. We’re just trying to keep him fresh, trying to get him in shape, and making sure he protects the football. His body work as far as his frame is already done, we just have to get him where he’s fresh every game and keep running him.”
On the lack of explosive pass plays with WR DeSean Jackson being out:
“Part of it is because the pass rushers that we’ve played against the last two games are as good as anybody [inaudible]. You’ve got [Ndamukong] Suh Week 1 and Aaron Donald, [Robert] Quinn, and [Chris] Long. Those plays take a little bit of time. But we did try a couple long shots today, but we’ve just felt like we want to run the ball. When we did take shots, they just didn’t work.”
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On injuries:
"Injury report, only one of note is [LB] Perry Riley [Jr.] has a calf strain. We’ll get more tomorrow on him. [T Morgan] Moses went back in, he had a little tweak of his MCL but he’s OK."
On the importance of this win:
“It’s important. First of all, it’s game one; we didn’t feel like things were slipping away. But more importantly, it’s the second home game. To go 0-2 to start the season at home is tough to overcome. We have to take advantage of our home crowd, keep them in the games like they were today. It was outstanding. The big thing is you want to have something positive these guys can build off of. They’ve worked extremely hard and the only way to show for what they’ve done, for their hard work, is getting victories. It was a huge win in that regard also.”
On splitting carries between RBs Matt Jones and Alfred Morris:
“Some days will be different. Today we just controlled the clock and were able to get the running game going and get both some good touches. There will be some games where it may not happen like that. Our plan is to keep both backs fresh. I intend on them both getting plenty of touches. [Running Backs] Coach Randy Jordan does a great job with the substitution pattern. I don’t really care who is in there. They’re both very, very good football players as long as they’re fresh.”
On if that was the blueprint for a successful game:
“In pro football, I think that’s the blueprint for most successful teams. You look at all of the successful teams in the history of this league, very few of them are throwing 70 times a game. There’s a strong running game there and that is the blueprint that we have to have. We have a young quarterback, we don’t want to throw the ball 50 times. We want to run the ball, be physical. [It] opens up a lot of things for us, controls the clock like it did again today. The blueprint was there last week; we just didn’t make enough plays to win the game. I think if we run the ball more than we pass it, have equal amount of rushing yards as passing yards, we’re going to win a lot of games this year.”
On TE Anthony McCoy:
"I think that he is just another piece. I think that [TE] Jordan Reed has done a great job, obviously. McCoy – we just got him a couple of weeks ago. He’s a big guy. He can handle the running game, also the pass protection. He’s good for play-actions. He’s still learning though. He’s a very versatile guy, that’s why we had some three-tight end sets today, which was very, very effective. We can not only run the ball and pound people out of those, but we can have some good play-actions and some good makings out of that set. It’s a very good personnel group to have.”
On the resolve of the Redskins in the fourth quarter:
“We were worried a little bit. We were trying to keep them positive. It was 17-3, then it was 17-10 and the momentum was starting to shift. You could see people starting to have a little doubt maybe, but the veteran guys led the way and we kept our heads about us and found a way to get this victory. It’s a great win because really everybody had their hand in it. It wasn’t just the running backs. It wasn’t just the offense. It wasn’t just the defense. It was everybody. Everybody played a major role. Special teams field position was excellent. Defense obviously did their thing and offensively we ran the ball, killed some clock and did some good things.”
On the importance of attitude and getting a victory:
“That’s exactly right. You can talk all you want until you’re blue in the face, but the only thing that matters is getting W’s. I’ve said all along I felt good about the way these guys have been working. The change in our team from the offseason until training camp, and obviously until now, the only thing that can really back up what I’m saying is victories and that’s why it’s important. And obviously it’s important, but obviously for the confidence of these guys, we have a lot of young players playing and we’ve got to get them used to winning and show them how to win and build off of winning, for how to prepare after a win. There’s a whole lot of things you still have to do as a football team and as a football coach after a victory that are equally as important after a loss. We have a short week against the Giants, and it’s going to be key that we stay focused and prepare like we have been.”
On QB Kirk Cousins’ performance:
“He was efficient. There was obviously a lot of big plays in that game, but the third down and eight, the check down to Chris Thompson was huge to keep that drive alive. The big third down and five to Jordan Reed where he was patient and let Jordan Reed be his defender on the option route stood in there and made a huge throw. Those are huge plays for us when we can maintain drives. I’m happy with the way Kirk played. I’m sure there were some throws that he wishes he had back, but to get a victory against a defense like that is very impressive.”
On Rams WR Tavon Austin’s impact:
"He’s a dangerous guy. We made sure we weren’t going to punt it to him. He’s a great player and we worked extremely hard. [Defensive Coordinator] Joe Barry did a great job, [Defensive Backs] Coach [Perry] Fewell, [Defensive Line] Coach [Robb] Akey, they did a great job getting the defense ready. They popped a couple jet sweeps, and I think they added a little reverse to him. Overall, I think the game plan was really good. We stopped the running game, which was very important. We got them to third down and medium-to-long. We were able to get off the field. Like I said they were one-for-10 on third down. We’re staying fresh on defense and obviously controlling the clock on offense."
On the defense:
“So far it’s working good because we have not given up many big plays. We gave up that long one today, it was a great throw and great catch. But when you have to make teams work for every yard that they get it’s hard on offense – I know firsthand as an ex-offensive coordinator. If we can just be sound at what we’re doing and stop the running game and bring pressure when we want to, we’ve got a very diverse system over there – it’s rush three, it’s rush four, it’s rush five, whatever it is it keeps offenses off-balance and the defensive players are producing.”
On how he feels about the defense:
“I feel good. You have to figure when your top pass rusher – [LB Junior] Galette goes out, [CB Chris] Culliver’s not even here – we’ve had to deal with different people, which is good. And that’s a sign of a pretty good coach that’s able to put people in key positions and they’re able to make plays. [LB] Perry Riley [Jr.] went out and [Will] Compton came in and had an excellent game. The guys are doing it and we’re prepared I feel like. The guys are playing hard and we’re making solid tackles. We’re not missing a lot of tackles and we’re fundamentally sound. We’re sound scheme-wise so far. Long way to go, 14 games left before we start celebrating but I like where we’re heading.”
On RB Matt Jones’ growth:
“He’s a smart football player. I think growth-wise it’s just the confidence in pass protection. I think he came in as a strong physical runner already. He was a big boy coming in, it’s not like we fed him and he gained a lot of weight. [Strength & Conditioning] Coach [Mike] Clark has worked with him hard with his body and keeping his weight down and getting his lean mask on. But overall, not a lot of tweaking there. We’re just trying to keep him fresh, trying to get him in shape, and making sure he protects the football. His body work as far as his frame is already done, we just have to get him where he’s fresh every game and keep running him.”
On the lack of explosive pass plays with WR DeSean Jackson being out:
“Part of it is because the pass rushers that we’ve played against the last two games are as good as anybody [inaudible]. You’ve got [Ndamukong] Suh Week 1 and Aaron Donald, [Robert] Quinn, and [Chris] Long. Those plays take a little bit of time. But we did try a couple long shots today, but we’ve just felt like we want to run the ball. When we did take shots, they just didn’t work.”
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