QB Deshaun Watson (10.14.26)
Deshaun, when you look back at that last game, what can you guys do to make sure the protection all around works better this week?
“Just make sure we’re all on the same page and we’re communicating and we’re on one line. We can operate a little bit faster and pick things up.”
Was that all in one group not working last week? What happened?
“Yeah, we just all got on the same page. That’s pretty much it.”
Was there some times you thought maybe you could have gotten back to your hot option a little quicker?
“I mean, it just depends on the concept. Sometimes we’re expected to be picked up and we’re not picked up. So, the routes were a little bit downfield. Sometimes we had chips with the tight end, so the hots are not necessarily open right away, but a couple times, yeah. In empty, probably could have gotten the ball out and thrown it away, but it just depends on the whole concept.”
It looked in training camp like you guys ran a lot of plays under center, and Sunday you had one or two plays under center. How did that happen? And will you go under center a little bit more to diversify things?
“It just depends on the game plan. It just depends on what Coach (Todd) Monken wants to do each and every week. And we’ve been so multiple and we can attack different ways, but it really just depends on the game plan.”
Why are you more comfortable in the shotgun?
“Who?”
You.
“I mean, I think every quarterback would probably necessarily say that, but I don’t have a preference.”
Do you think you run the ball better? I mean, you personally? Your scramble runs.
“I mean, that’s the only way you can kind of get QB runs, is from the shotgun. I don’t think necessarily you’re going to do it under center.”
If you don’t have KC (Concepcion Jr.) this week, do you think it’ll be easier for you guys to kind of plan for that a little bit, and maybe have Isaiah (Bond) taking some of those reps and get your mojo down, instead of having him thrown in there like he was on Sunday?
“Yeah, I mean we hope to have KC back, but all the guys are doing a great job of just trying to learn every position. You never know what’s going to go down, depending on the week and how the flow of the game is going to go. But if we all can just be on the same page and know the full game plan and not just one position, then it definitely presents itself better. But IB (Isaiah Bond) and all the guys are doing a good job of just making sure that we’re all learning the whole concept. So regardless if your number’s called, you haven’t played that position all year or all week, you’re ready for those opportunities.”
When you as a quarterback have a pass catcher who has a couple of drops like Isaiah had on Sunday, what are you telling that person in the game to try to help the situation?
“Just encourage them. Just keep working hard, keep trying to find ways to get open and I’m going to keep coming to you. Those opportunities are going to continue to show. Just make the next play. We can’t dwell on the last one. So, when that next opportunity comes, just make that play.”
In those conditions, do you think it’s harder to throw the ball or to catch the ball?
“I think it’s both. I think it’s both”
Do you expect Baltimore to bring as much pressure as the Jets did?
“I have no idea, honestly. We’ll see how the flow of the game is, and if that’s what they want to do in flavor, then we’ll be prepared for it. And if not, then we just got to operate and try to stack plays and find other ways to attack them.”
How did it end up that Harold (Fannin Jr.) only ended up with one catch for four yards? I think he had a total of four targets. Was he supposed to be more of a blocker, or what kind of happened with Harold in that game?
“Again, just the flow of the game and just how the game is being called, honestly.”
This offensive line has been rebuilt from one end to the other, and you guys have had some injuries as well. How challenging has it been to kind of build that cohesion and the chemistry that you need between that unit and you?
“Just, again, just more reps, more opportunities we get, communication throughout the week, watching film together, seeing what we’re seeing, basically communicating what I’m seeing and what they’re seeing, and just trying to be on the same page as much as possible. So again, we have five new guys, two of them rookies, three guys from different schemes. We just put them all in one, and we just try to communicate and try to be on the same page as much as possible.”
How badly do you as a quarterback need the running game to get on track?
“It is definitely helpful. Overall, not for the quarterback position, but for the whole team. Being able to run the ball is definitely one of the hardest things you have to do in this league, is to be able to run the ball. But when you can do that, it opens up a lot of other things for sure.”
How do you kind of steady the ship as a leader of this offense, with such an opportunity at hand, 4-1, dropping a game that you guys, I’m sure, feel like you should have won. How do you kind of steady the ship there and kind of keep these young guys focused, like everything’s still in front of you? Sunday you’re battling for first place.
“Yeah, it’s a long season. Some opportunities right in front of us. We can’t dwell on what happened Sunday. We watch the tape on Monday, 24-hour rule, have an off day Tuesday, and then come in today and focus on the next opponent. So, the opportunity is right there in front of us, and we got to put in the work throughout the week, so we’re prepared to have a chance to go for that opportunity on Sunday.”
What are some of the keys to having a successful screen game? Do you feel like you guys aren’t quite where you want to be in that area?
“I mean, really just, again, guys knowing their landmarks, guys knowing who they’re going to block, and just the timing of it, all those things just got to be on the same page so we can… the guy or whoever’s getting that ball can catch it and just get going.”
It seems like each week your chemistry grows with guys like (Denzel) Boston. Can you just talk about your relationship and how it just continues to grow between you guys?
“He’s been able to come to me as a young guy and communicate with me what he’s seen. And I think the biggest thing is he can pick up the information that I’m providing to him and also what the coaching staff is providing to him. So, with him being a fast learner, understanding, and having that savvy, playmakership, and just being able to make plays when the opportunity comes. So, all those things kind of combined is giving him more opportunities and he’s capitalizing on them. So, our relationship is just continuing to grow, continuing to build that bond, and hopefully we can continue to create more plays.”
Did you think the hit by Minkah (Fitzpatrick) on KC was a dirty hit?
“I mean, I was from the opposite end, so I couldn’t really tell. I mean, I’ve seen the footage and stuff like that. I know Minkah was just making a play and trying to make a play, but yeah, I mean, I guess it’s football. I’m just glad that KC is healthy and he’s doing a lot better for sure.”
Deshaun, you’re obviously familiar with Kyle Hamilton’s game, past games against him. They added (Malaki) Starks into the mix last year with their first pick. Just how much of a challenge are those guys in the back end in terms of just for you and what you’re seeing, how they kind of move around, the versatility that they kind of offer?
“Yeah, they’re playmakers. Those guys are, especially, Hamilton, All-Pro guy, Starks, I think year two, on his way to being an All-Pro. Those guys are playing really high-level football for that defense, and they have other guys on that defense, too. So, this is a great challenge for us to be able to go out there and test what we are, and we just got to be on the same page and see what they’re doing and make sure that we have those guys accounted for, each and every play.”
Even though you didn’t play against them, you were involved in the meetings when they played the Ravens last year. You see any difference in their defense after their coaching change?
“I don’t even remember last year, to be honest, so I don’t even know. I just remember the guys that I played against, so it’s a lot of familiar faces. But yeah, man, they’re doing a great job of what they’re doing on defense, for sure.”
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