Titans QB Ryan Tannehill – Media Availability – November 7, 2021
Titans QB Ryan Tannehill – Media Availability – November 7, 2021
(On the importance of getting short field position and the pick-six to take pressure off the offense)
“Oh, it’s huge. And the defense played huge all game and those plays early were unbelievable. You look at the pressure on the quarterbavk and then, (Titans LB) David (Long Jr.) making a play on the ball and then (Titans S) Kevin (Byard) reading the pattern and getting underneath that out cut was huge. So hats off to them, they played a heck of a game. It was fun watching them make plays and, I’m proud of the way they played.”
(On going into the game not knowing if backup linemen Titans OL Bobby Hart or OL Aaron Brewer would start)
“Yeah, I didn’t know exactly what was going to pan out up there, but I’m proud of those guys, the way they stepped in for us. We obviously knew coming in that, they have some pretty good players on the other side and I’m proud of the way that those guys battled and made plays for us.”
(On the Titans’ resiliency despite losing Titans RB Derrick Henry and two starting offensive linemen)
“We are a resilient group; we believe in each other. It’s the ‘next man up’ mentality. We know it’s not always going to be pretty, but we believe in each other, we’re going to fight and we’re going to try to find a way to win. And today we did that. The defense came up huge for us. They made those huge plays in the first half. The offense did enough, we made some plays when it counted there at the end, we were able to put that drive together and go get a touchdown when, if we give the ball back to him, it could have gone the other way. So part of the way our guys battled. Hats off to the defense, they play their tails off all day. And we found a way to win.”
(On if the Titans have as good of an understanding as there can be about the shape of the game as it unfolds)
“Yeah, you don’t play for stats. You play for wins. Sometimes they correlate together, but in other situations, in other games, it’s just a matter of finding a way to win. And today as a team, we did that. The defense, like we just mentioned, some of the plays they made were huge. They played tough the whole day and offensively, we kind of answered the bell there at the end when we needed to make a play.”
(On what he was seeing when the Rams’ intercepted him)
“(Titans WR) A.J. (Brown) was going on the outside. Right at the last second, somebody’s hand went across my face and I tried to adjust my arm angle so I wouldn’t get batted, and I left it inside there.”
(On beating a Super Bowl contender on the road and how big of a deal is it for the Titans)
“That was a good one for us. No doubt about it. Proud of our guys, the way we came out and battled, a good team on the other side, on the road. And guys stepped up and made plays, but at the end of the day, it’s just one more game. We just have to find a way to keep winning one game at a time. But I think that, hopefully we can build on it. And I’m proud of the guys and way they battled.”
(On the tough hits he took in the fourth quarter and if the Rams were trying to rough him up when the game seemed out of reach for them)
“I mean, they’re playing physical. They have a good pass rush and they play physical. I don’t think it was personal or anything. At that point, if they get the ball back then they’re going to have a chance to possibly make it a game again. So, they’re playing good, tough defense and they committed those fouls and allowed us to extend the drives.”
(On where the team is now and what is different about this team compared to previous years)
“I don’t want to compare it to years past, but I’m proud of our guys and the way we battled. We have a lot of heart, a lot of belief in one another, and a lot of will to win. No matter what’s going on, what adversity we face, it’s kind of next man up mentality. And it’s been that way since I’ve been here, but I’m proud of our guys and the way we battle. We just want to go out and find a way to win each and every week.”
(On how his experience is different, what is different with him personally and mentally and how experience will shape him)
“It’s a lot of fun to go out with a tough group of guys that believe in each other, and want to find a way to win; it may not always be the prettiest win. It may not always be smooth sailing, but when things don’t go, well, this team doesn’t blink, we believe in each other, we’re going to keep fighting no matter what happens. And I’m proud to be a part of a team like that.”