HEAD COACH JEROD MAYO

Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, October 6, 2024.

JM: Obviously a very disappointing game. I think there's no question we're tough, but we just have to be better from an execution standpoint. We've got to be able to execute in situations. We've got to be able to execute on a play-by-play basis, and we didn't do that. I would also say as the game wore on, our fundamentals began to slip, and that can be a combination of things. We'll watch the film with a critical guy, and we've just got to put a better team out there.

Q: Jerod, with the 12 penalties, like you just said, with the execution, what are you telling your team after a day like today?

JM: That we can do it. We preach all the time about pre-snap and post-snap penalties. It just wasn't a good day.

Q: Jerod, how would you describe the separation at this point between Jacoby and Drake at quarterback? Is there a big gap between the two of them?

JM: I don't want to get into the separation talk. I will say, look, Jacoby is out there trying to do what we've asked him to do from the start. He's taking some big hits, and his toughness continues to show up. Execution from the entire offense has to be better going forward.

Q: Jerod, obviously the defense had held them down for a better part of the game. Do you think fatigue factored in on the 15-play 80-yard drive to put them ahead?

JM: Yeah, I know for a fact fatigue played a part in this game. You think about Marte, this being his first game and playing pretty much every snap. I appreciate him doing that, but at the same time we've got to be able to get off the field, we've got to be able to move the ball offensively. We have to win the time of possession game or at least be close, which once again, they controlled that.

Q: Jerod, on the pass to Ja'Lynn Polk in the back of the end zone, the closing minutes, what were your thoughts on how that play unfolded, and did you get an explanation from the referees on the rule on how it was overturned?

JM: Look, you guys can ask the referees about that. It was close. It was close. But it was the correct call in my opinion, but I'll have to go back and watch the film. I saw the replay live. Just a tough call.

Q: Jerod, to what do you attribute the lack of production in the passing game?

JM: I think it's a combination of things. It's not just one person. It's everyone just going out there and executing. It's not even knowing what to do, it's, all right, a piece moves, we've got to be able to identify that and go out there and execute.

Q: What did you think of the way the offensive line played today compared to the last couple weeks?

JM: Yeah, I will have to look at the film. I would say there were times where the pocket looked pretty clean and then there were times where you had a free runner right up the A-gap, and we've got to do a better job taking care of that. It's about consistency. That's what it's about. It's about consistency.

Q: Late in the game on 3rd down they called a pass interference on Christian Elliss, led to a touchdown drive. Did they explain to you the foul on that play? Was there any sort of explanation?

JM: That's a question for those guys. They threw the flag, and we always talk about we'll do business as business is being done. We've just got to do a better job as a whole with penalties in general, whether it's holding or a pass interference or anything. Look, I don't think the referees are just out to get anyone in particular. I just think we've got to play smarter.

Q: As the head coach, how bothersome is it that things like discipline, penalties, production is getting worse, not better?

JM: Yeah, the pre-snap stuff definitely bothers me. Look, we have guys, they're out there, they're trying their butts off, but at the same time, going back, not to sound like a broken record, it's about execution, especially in critical situations.

Q: Anything that you can share about Rhamondre Stevenson? We saw him efforting to get off the field late in the game but I don't believe he went back in the medical tent.

JM: He went back in the game after that, so we'll see how he feels tomorrow.

Q: Through five games how would you assess the job you're doing as a head coach and your staff as a whole?

JM: Well, I would say for me, it's all about getting better. It's all about learning. It's experience. Look, there are definitely things that I have to do better as a head coach. I would say the staff, they're still – they're getting on the same page, and once again, like I said earlier, it's about getting better every week, and that goes to communication between the staff and then obviously I have to do a better job as a whole.

Q: You guys got down to the 12-yard line at the end of the fourth quarter and called four straight passes. Was there any thought of running the ball in that situation since you guys were more productive on the ground?

JM: There were a bunch of conversations about that. We ended up throwing the ball. That's what we decided to do, and ultimately it's my decision. I would say we averaged over seven yards a carry, I'm not sure, so that definitely was part of the discussion. We just didn't finish it up.

Q: You talked about the offense needs to get going points-wise. 10, 13 and 3 the last three games. What kind of things can you do as the head coach in your mind to get more points produced with this offense?

JM: We tell the guys all the time, once you cross the white lines, it's your offense, it's your defense, it's your special teams. You've got to take accountability. We've got to look at ourselves in the mirror, starting with myself and the rest of the coaching staff. We've just got to continue to progress.

Q: Jerod, you talked I believe this week or last week about you expected to take some lumps. My question is did you expect the lumps to be to this degree and the nature of which you're losing?

JM: I expected to take my lumps just like a lot of other first-year head coaches. Look, I'm fine with that. Once again, it's about the guys in that locker room, and we have to be better. We, including me.

Q: Jerod, I was just curious, we saw Keion White take two penalties on the same drive, both for 15 yards. Just what did you see from that drive and what was your message to Keion when he got off the field?

JM: It comes back to discipline. Once again, it's all about discipline, it's about execution. I mean, I think those were the right calls

QUARTERBACK JACOBY BRISSETT

Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, October 6, 2024.

Q: Jacoby, did you get any kind of explanation regarding the pass to Ja'Lynn Polk in the end zone that was ultimately ruled incomplete?

JB: No, the game kept on going, so we didn't get any.

Q: Jacoby, just the frustration of not getting more points in the end zone today and the mental mistakes, the penalties, how much did that kill you guys?

JB: Yeah, it was frustrating. Honestly, nothing was good. Penalties taking us backwards, we just -- honestly, we've just got to play better. It's getting to that point where you've just got to play better. Penalties in the wrong situations, in bad situations. We're not good enough to do that and to go backwards to try to score points. We need to continue to go forward. We've got to change that, fix that.

Q: You said you've got to play better. Is there anything specifically that you can point to about your offense that can get better in the short term before the season gets out of hand?

JB: Yeah, we've got to score more points. In the short term, that's what we've got to do. We've got to score more points.

Q: Jacoby, toward the end of the game you went no-huddle several times. You seemed to get a rhythm, seemed to go faster. Is that something you enjoy, and would you like to see that incorporated more?

JB: Yeah, I mean, we're going to go back and watch the film and see if that's a possibility, too, as well. Yeah, we had some success in it, but yeah, it's a lot of plays before that that caused us to lose this game. It wasn't because we went into no-huddle and we're making yards. We've got to play better. We've got to execute, and we've got to play with good fundamentals and technique and do the right things.

Q: As a leader on this team, how do you keep the frustration from boiling over after a game like this with so many penalties and losing four straight?

JB: Yeah, you've got to go back and watch the film. That's the part about this league is now it's taking it from the classroom to the field, and in those critical moments, treating every day in practice like it's the last play of the game and we're down and we need to make a play. I think that's what it's going to come down to, and it's going to come down to -- you watch all the penalties, and whatever the case may be, it all comes down to fundamentals and technique, and that's what we're lacking right now.

Q: During your first possession for the two-minute drive, was the idea to try to put some points up and try to go for a double score?

JB: At the end of the game?

Q: Before halftime, sorry.

JB: Yeah, yeah.

Q: Was the idea to try to score before halftime and come back out and score again?

JB: Yeah, that's always the plan, especially when you get the ball in the second half.

Q: What do you think needs to change with this offense to get it to the level where it needs to be?

JB: We've got to play better, man. There's no magic thing that we need to do. We've just got to play better. We've got to execute better. We've got to play with good fundamentals better. We've got to do all the little things better. When we go back and watch this film, it's not about this person, that person, this play, that play. We've just got to play better as a unit.

Q: When it comes to the penalties, is there anything you can put your finger on to just sort of help explain why we're seeing as many as we're seeing?

JB: I can't do that right now. I'll have to go back and watch the film and be able to really assess that. But yeah, I'm sure it's going to come down to fundamentals. I know I keep saying it, but I'm pretty sure that's what it's going to come down to.

Q: Do you feel like you're seeing things where you know, okay, I think we can get there if we cut those mental mistakes down, things like that? Are you starting to see things –

JB: Oh, for sure. We're making plays. We're just shooting ourselves in the foot. We're going one step forward to go 20 steps back. It's like we can't do that. Until we get to that point, we're going to continue to be frustrated at the small things. You can't leave the game into the refs' hands. That's not what football is about. You've got to go out there, play with good fundamentals, technique, do the little things right. This league is so hard already. The margin of error is so slim, and to not be able to do that because of lack of focus and a lack of things that we all have control over, we're not good enough for that yet.

CB CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ

Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, October 6, 2024.

(On what went right for the defense for most of the game, and what went wrong in the last Miami offensive drive)

"We had a plan and came out and did it for the first 50 minutes of the game. We stuck to our plan and did what we had to do. Toward the end of the game, we didn't execute like we should have and that's all it comes down to."

(On whether being on the field for a lot of the game played a factor in Miami's touchdown drive)

"We don't look at it like that. We as a defense pride ourselves on being able to go out there bend and don't break…that is our mentality. No matter how long or how many quarters it takes, how many hours, minutes it takes. We can be tired, but give it all we got."

(On his interception)

"They made a good call. The coverage we were in allowed me to be able to jump that route. I saw it and went and made a play."

(On assessing where the team is at after this loss)

"It's always hard, it's hard to lose. We are professionals. We want to go out there and win games. It hurts but I don't question anybody in that locker room. We all stick together. We all come in and go to work every day. You learn from wins, and you learn from losses, it's a part of the game. So, we are sticking together and nothing will make us not stick together."

(On matching up on Tyreek Hill)

"He's an amazing receiver and competitor. He changes the game: you can feel him when he comes on the field…both him and [Jaylen] Waddle. So being able to go up against them is good for us and we get to see them again."

RB RHAMONDRE STEVENSON

Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, October 6, 2024.

(On what's holding the offense back from being more productive)

"I honestly can't really say right now, Mike. I'm going to go back and look at the film, though. I think it just all stands on execution. We need to go out there. The play calls are the play calls. We need to run those plays and execute them at the highest level."

(On his touchdown)

"Great play. I liked the play call. I got outside. I don't really know exactly how it happened. I need to watch the film. Just got outside, a receiver was over there blocking. It was [Kayshon] Boutte. Boutte had a great block on the corner, and I just ran off the corner and saw the end zone. I had to get to it."

(On how the outside zone is coming along)

"Yeah, and I think that should be the case throughout the season, just more reps at it. The outside zone is not an easy play to run, especially for the guys up front. The more reps they get at it, the better we should be at it."

DE DEATRICH WISE JR.

Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, October 6, 2024.

(On the loss)

"It was a tough one. Definitely wanted to win, wanted to get this one in the win column. One of those things that we will watch the film, and we will see what happened to see what we can fix but we definitely wanted to get this win."

(On the mental challenges that occur on long drives)

"When you have those types of plays, you have the mindset of bend don't break. Make them kick a field goal or not score. Unfortunately, they ended up scoring on that drive. But our mindset when we get on the field is always three-and-out. When they start pushing the ball, the next thing is either or get a three and out or a field goal. We weren't letting them try to score, but we let them get one on us."

(On the message to the players in the locker room)

"Staying together. Making sure that we always stay together, sit together, stay positive. And when we get back on the field on Monday or Tuesday, we correct what we saw. That is our mindset: to keep grinding. We've been similar in this predicament before, in my career, and the only thing that we have to do is just continue grinding and fix our mistakes. That's it, simple."

PLAYERS IN THE LOCKER ROOM

Antonio Gibson, RB

(On the opportunity to start)

"On the first run I feel I definitely missed a lot there. I could have cut and made him miss but other than that, I finished the game with a little bit but still didn't come out with the win."

(On the importance of switching out with Rhamondre Stevenson)

"It just helps the offense, it keeps me fresh, it keeps Rhamondre fresh and then having two people running the ball well that's always a plus. That just helps everybody."

(On Rhamondre's touchdown after the last few weeks he's had)

"It was great because I know I've been there before my second year in the league. To be able to block that noise out and go in there and perform how he did. That's a pro player right there."

Ja'Lynn Polk, WR

(On why the offense had a hard time moving the ball)

"I put it on myself. I have got to know my job and what to do whenever we get out there to execute plays. If they are lined up right, small little details. Knowing what you are doing, knowing the situation to make everyone on the same page."

(On if the defense did anything to surprise them)

"No, not really. We just kept this game simple and went out there and played ball. Like I say, I have got to play better, I have got to do better, I have to practice harder. I have got to find ways, whatever I can do, in order to help the team get better and myself as well."

Nick Leverett, G/C

(On his first experience playing at center in an NFL game)

"Obviously did not come out how we wanted it to. Definitely left a lot out there, but we have got to go back to the drawing board. I hold myself accountable, it was a lot of stuff I left out there, a lot of nasty play out there. So I have to do better, and it starts with me."

(On the challenge of filling in)

"Honestly, it's just trying to make those guys comfortable. I had a great center in front of me, unfortunately he went down. Just trying to jump in there and make those guys feel comfortable. At the end of the day, I have to do better."

(On learning from the penalties today)

"Yeah, just what you said, we have to learn from it. We are going to watch the tape. Honestly, look yourself in the mirror, I am going to look myself in the mirror, and then watch the tape. Just be real about it, don't sugar coat anything like that. Then just fix it, learn from the film, that's all it is."

Kendrick Bourne, WR

(On being back playing again)

"It felt good, it felt good. Good to be able to run after not being able to walk at a certain point. It felt good to run some routes and get out there."

(On how they got things going on the final drive)

"Finding a rhythm, you know, stringing plays together. We trust AVP [Alex Van Pelt]'s calls, whatever he calls, we try to execute at a high level. Sometimes the defense calls a better play, so sometimes it's player against player, but overall, they just played better."

(On the no-huddle plays helping the rhythm)

"Yeah, yeah, I think moving fast obviously helps, it makes the defense tired. It shows who's more in shape and things like that, so I think that's a strong suit of ours. You can tell we move the ball during two minutes. We need to keep getting better in those moments to just keep winning games. Games come down to two minutes a lot, so the better we can be in two minutes, the better we'll be."

(On Jacoby Brissett's mentality)

"Yeah, he's a fighter, he's a fighter. That's what I appreciate about Jacoby, the moments he's a leader. That's what we need, so just him fighting, I respect it the most. I appreciate that."