QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (12.29.24)
We were just talking to Jerry (Jeudy), he put a lot of this on himself or he said you played a great game and he had too many drops and was really frustrated with himself. So what do you say to that?
“It’s a team sport. Especially in offensive football. All 10 guys got to be working together to be able to make a play go. Ultimately, I’m the one with the ball in my hand. I have to make better decisions and can’t have those two turnovers.”
So is that what sticks with you, the fact that you turned the ball over again twice when you wanted to play clean ball today?
“For sure. Can’t remember the last game we had where we didn’t have a turnover. And so that is really frustrating, especially on my part after harping on ball security all week and Coach (Kevin Stefanski) has been harping on ball security all year. So, it’s definitely a point of emphasis and it didn’t get done today.”
What did you see on interceptions? What if you could get Jerry or somebody behind that defender?
“Yeah, our running back didn’t get out. He got caught up in the line coming through the middle of the line and one of the D-linemen grabbed him so he wasn’t able to occupy that backer. Again, that falls on me and decision making. They were playing two-high shell, l snapped my eyes back and really just locked in on Jerry instead of seeing out in front of him.”
But you committed to getting the ball to Jeudy, targeted 18 times. Was that more than you expected?
“I wish it was more. You know, it’s our best receiver. We have to be able to get the ball in his hands as much as possible.”
You spent a lot of time with Snoop (Tyler Huntley) in the preseason. You didn’t really get a chance to watch him in this game. But what can you say about some of the things you looked up and saw him doing?
“Yeah, man, I’m proud of him. We had those conversations back in training camp when he was here and just on kind of what we wanted this year to look like for each other. And so to see him getting opportunities and then for me to get an opportunity, I know he’s happy for me too so I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
What did you see on some of those fourth down plays when you guys were stopped? Starting with the one, that throw to Jerry on that slant, he thought he might have gotten out but what did you see?
“Just trying to do my job, execute the play at a high level. Those were the reads on those plays. And like I said, it’s a real team game on offense. So we got to have all other 10 guys doing their jobs too.”
What about next week? Do you feel like you will get the opportunity to finish this out and start again in Baltimore? Do you know yet or anything?
“I’m not focused on that. I’m about to go home, watch this tape and just be really critical of myself so come Monday I can go in there and let Coach know.”
What’s that like though for you when you are like on a game-to-game leash? You even mentioned the short leash so what is that like for you?
“It’s part of the position, part of where I’m at in my career. It’s a learning experience, a growing experience, something I got to work through. It’s not an excuse. It’s just hard.”
How much do you want that opportunity next week to just go turn this around a little bit and finish out on a strong note?
“Of course everybody in that locker room wants to end on a high note for this offseason. Obviously this year isn’t where we wanted it to be but for me personally, I love this game of football. I love being out there with that group of men in the locker room, coaches and players and everybody else included. So for me to be able to get another shot, it’s going to click eventually and that’s all I can say.”
Were you concerned at all that you would be lifted from this game at all?
“It wasn’t a thought on my mind. Just thought about executing the plays, doing my job on each and every play. Like I said, that’s what tape is for, to go back and learn from them. But ultimately I thought I executed for the most part in terms of doing my job. Yes.”
On those first two potential grabbings, I know there’s pressure, but what did you see and what could you have done differently?
“Know where my check downs are. So there’s pressure on my face so I mean there’s not really much you can do besides maybe take a sack, hold on to the ball. Again, we’re trying to eliminate those plays. So it’s one of those tough spots but again, that’s what film is for and we’ll go back and look at it so I can correct it for next week.”
You talked about, during the week, Miami disguises the defense, so when you’re out there though, how did you adapt to what they were doing and trying to avoid any pressure or anything?
“Yeah, I mean they caught us – I’d say three plays with pressure, that really gave us a headache. Other than that, they were playing two-deep, five underneath the whole game. Whether they got to it through Invert, Tampa, whatever it was, they were sitting in a two-deep shell, making us try to take completions up and down the field. And again, that’s why it’s so important that each play, all guys are doing their job so we can continue to progress the ball down the field, including myself.”
Can you allow yourself to imagine what a game like this would have been like had David Njoku been able to play, had Ced (Cedric Tillman) been able to play and if you had a few more places to go with the ball?
“No, because that’s not who I practiced with all week. I practiced with the guys that were out there today. And like I said, as a group, with me included, we did not do our jobs at a high-level good enough today.”
But did I misunderstand you? Did you say you thought you executed better today? I want to make sure I understood you correctly.
“I said for most of the game I did my job on the play that was asked of me and required of me on those plays. Yes.”
Do you think you played better than you did last week then?
“I mean, the outcome’s the same. Whether you threw for a million or didn’t, you obviously didn’t make enough plays to win the game. We keep coming out with these losses and we have to find a way to fix that. Thank you. Go Browns.”