HEAD COACH BILL BELICHICK
Postgame Press Conference
Thursday, August 29, 2019
BB: Tonight we got a good opportunity to look at a lot of people. A good, lengthy look I would say. Some of those guys played a lot in preseason, some of them hadn't. We'll obviously take a look at the film and evaluate that tomorrow, and then we need to make some decisions by the weekend and start getting ready for Pittsburgh. I thought it was a good, competitive effort tonight. Obviously, there were a lot of things that we could do better, but we did some things positively.
Q: Demaryius Thomas looked really comfortable out there tonight. Were you encouraged by what you saw from him?
BB: Yeah, we'll take a look at the film and see how it looked.
Q: On first blush, do you have any opinion at all?
BB: We'll have to take a look at the film.
Q: What was the thought process on having Joejuan Williams play some safety and Jakob Johnson play some outside linebacker tonight?
BB: Well, we didn't have a lot of options there, so we had to move some people around, get a look at some guys doing some different things which was good.
Q: Have you been impressed with Jakob's ability to play up to the competition level here in the NFL?
BB: Yeah, he's worked very hard.
Q: What can you tell us about the two offensive lineman that you acquired, and are you still thinking through how you're going to do things Week 1 as far as the starting unit in the wake of the David Andrews news?
BB: Well, we'll do whatever we think is best for the team, Greg [Bedard].
Q: Is there anything you can tell us about the two offensive lineman you acquired or why you acquired them?
BB: Because we think they'll help our team. We'll see. Both guys have played multiple positions, so we'll start working with them and see how it goes.
Q: What are your thoughts on Gunner Olszewski's level of competitiveness throughout camp and willingness to do whatever is asked of him?
BB: Yeah, Gunner's very competitive. He works really hard, can see his aggressive style out there so you love that about him.
Q: Any update on Hjalte Froholdt's injury?
BB: No.
Q: What is your general reaction to what David Andrews is going through and are there hopes that he could play this season?
BB: Yeah, we're still I'd say getting more information on that. We'll see how it goes.
QUARTERBACK JARRETT STIDHAM
Postgame Press Conference
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Q: What was it like working out there with Demaryius Thomas tonight?
JS: Yeah, it was really good. Obviously, he's a phenomenal player. He's been around for a really long time, so it was really good to get some throws in to him and to Josh [Gordon] and Julian [Edelman] – guys that have been in the league a long time. They're great players for a reason. It was a lot of fun.
Q: What have your impressions been of Josh Gordon since he returned to the team and in particular tonight out on the field?
JS: Yeah, I really thought he did some really good things. Josh is obviously very, very talented. My job is just to get those guys the ball and let them do their thing, and sure enough we were able to do that a few times.
Q: How would you classify your preseason?
JS: A lot of mistakes. Good learning, great learning. I've been able to really sit back and watch the film with Josh [McDaniels] and the coaching staff and just figure out what I need to do to get better. That was my whole focus this preseason, was just to get better every single day and continue to grow from game to game.
Q: What's it like throwing to receivers that have the size and frame like Josh and Demaryius have?
JS: Yeah, it definitely makes our job a lot easier. You just kind of get it in their vicinity and let them be the playmakers that they are.
Q: How did it feel to get back into a full four quarters of game time and get into a rhythm and routine out there on the field?
JS: It was good. Just like the three other preseason games have been good, just to get reps and whether it's coming in at the middle of the second quarter or the whole game. I was just very thankful to get reps and get better. That's, again, what my whole focus was this preseason and I just tried to continue to get better.
Q: How comfortable would you be if you were asked to handle the responsibilities of the second quarterback here?
JS: I think whatever decision is made, whatever my role is on this team, that's what I'm going to do. Whatever it is, I'm going to continue to work as hard as I possibly can to do that and to help the team in whatever way I can, so that's kind of how I'm looking at it.
Q: Is scrambling something that you're going to have to look to cut back on given how dangerous it is to run as a quarterback in this league?
JS: I think for me, I'm not necessarily looking to run. If it just opens up and I see a lane, I can take off, but I don't want to bring hits upon myself in that regard. Just something to be conscious of and try to not do too much.
Q: Do you feel that at any point in this preseason you've made repeated mistakes or are you able to make a mistake once and put that issue behind you going forward?
JS: That's definitely my outlook on it, is to try not to make the same mistake twice. I think there's been some times where I've done a good job of that and then some times where you've got to reiterate it and continue to get better from it. Again, it's just a full learning process throughout this preseason so it was really good for me.
Q: Do you feel like you're making quicker decisions out there than maybe you did even a few weeks ago?
JS: Yeah, again, just with reps. The more reps I get, the more comfortable I get, the more I can dish the ball out to those playmakers and let them do their thing. The offensive line has done a really good job this preseason in holding up those defensive line guys. Yeah, I'm just trying to get the ball out as quick as I can.
WIDE RECEIVER DEMARYIUS THOMAS
Postgame Press Conference
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Q: Could you describe your first reaction to being back on the field?
DT: I was excited, especially first game coming back from tearing my Achilles, getting out to make a couple plays. You know, I was excited about it and I look to build on it and keep getting better.
Q: How are you feeling physically after this game compared to how you were before the injury?
DT: I actually feel a lot better now. Before the injury, I was a little smaller. But I'm a little heavier, a little stronger. The program we've been doing here has helped out a lot, so I feel great.
Q: As excited as you were to get back physically, how much more excited were you to get in the end zone twice tonight?
DT: I was excited about that, as well. It's been a long time since I've been in the end zone, and to have on the Patriots jersey to score, it was big for me.
Q: Did you feel like you needed this game to be ready and feel comfortable for the regular season?
DT: Yes, sir. To get to game pace, get the calls, line up, see different coverages, different guys than the guys I see at practice – you know, I think it's a great start for me and I can build on it.
Q: They say that the biggest part of coming back from an injury is to get to the point where you're not thinking about the injury and just performing. Are you at that place yet, or is it still in the back of your mind if you're going to be OK?
DT: I just go out and play. If I'm going to get hurt, I'm going to get hurt, but I'm going to be full speed getting hurt. My Achilles is great. I'm going to do whatever I can to play my best ball. I'm not going to think about anything, I'm not going to have it in the back of my head, because usually when I have it in the back of my head, I don't play my best. So, I'm just going to give my best, and if I get hurt, I just get hurt.
Q: You've been on the visiting sideline so many times here in big games. Does it feel a little strange to be on the other side and wearing a Patriots jersey?
DT: You know, kind of. I played a while on opposite teams. Beginning of the season, the first team I'd look at is the Patriots and see who they're playing, and come playoff time, see what position they are. Now to be a part of it, it feels great.
Q: What did you think of Jarrett Stidham tonight? Did he look like a rookie at certain times, or did he look like a veteran to you?
DT: I can't compare, but in my time – I've had a lot of quarterbacks – and today I say he did what he had to do to put us in situations to score points. He looked good to me.
Q: Do you get a sense of the potential this offense and this team can have? How much do you want to be a part of that?
DT: Well, first off, I want to be a part of it for sure. Just being around, watching the guys work, watching the guys week-in and week-out, from Detroit to Tennessee, we've got a lot of potential. But there are a lot of guys around the league that I feel like are going after the Patriots, because I know when I was on other teams, we were going after them. We might look good on the roster, but we've got to go out every week and get better and better every week. So, if I can be a part of that, I'll be happy.
PATRIOTS PLAYERS
Keion Crossen DB
(On his mindset after allowing early touchdown)
"The vets just told me to keep my head up. That's the nature of our business, keep battling keep fighting. My teammates did a great job of encouraging me. I just kept fighting and things turned for me."
(On the energy of the bench after making plays)
"We support each other daily. If I make a play, the d-line makes a play, whoever makes a play, we're all over each other. That's just the hard work we put in, and the love we have for each other and the brotherhood that we share on and off the field."
(On his preseason experience)
"It is definitely a growth experience. I feel like I have improved a little bit from last year. I'm just trying to learn my position every day, get better every day and listen to the vets. You're never too old to keep learning, and I just continue to do that and make the best of my opportunities."
(On if he feels he has taken a step forward from last year)
"Definitely, just continue to grind. Hard work beats anything. If you work hard, at the end of the day, what you put in is what you get out."
Gunner Olszewski, WR
(On playing in game)
"I was excited. I have done a bunch of defensive meetings and it all just makes so much sense to me. Offense playbooks are a little foreign to me but I am getting the hang of it."
(On preseason experience)
"The best time of my life, that's it. That is all I can say."
(On biggest take away during the preseason)
"The New England Patriots are just damn good at what they do. I am glad that I got to be a part of it for the four weeks."
(On Jarrett Stidham throwing him the ball)
"It felt good and I told Jarrett that I am glad he finally threw me the ball. He always looks at Jakobi first which I don't blame him for because Jakobi has done a good job this preseason but it felt great."
(On how it felt to make a tackle)
"I mean I did it for eight years, I hold a school record for tackles. I always try to find the ball and hustle which is what I like about defense, hustling can go a very long way."
(On teammates talking to him after final play)
"They just told me that I played my tail off and everyone has been there. I am a competitive guy so it is tough. I don't want to lose a game of ping pong let alone a preseason game. But all the guys came over and picked me up right away and that is just what everyone is about here."
Joejuan Williams, CB
(On the learning process of playing safety)
"Yeah, all the veteran guys have got me when I hit the sideline. Every time I got to the sideline they were there giving me tips, giving me pointers, and just cheering me on. It was just fun. Being a ballplayer I feel like I want to play every position and I want to show my value to the team. It was something I took as a challenge and it was really fun."
(On the speed of the game at a different position)
"It is just an adjustment. You go along as the game goes along, and I feel like I just went along as the game went along. It got better and better each snap, so it was just an adjustment."
(On the vantage point from safety)
"I feel like you see a lot more, especially at safety you see the whole defense. At corner you kind of focus on one man, we play a lot of man on this defense. At safety you see a lot more. You are kind of like the quarterback of the defense. I feel like taking on that challenge this week definitely helped me out playing corner also. I know where my safety help is and where my safety is going because I played the position."
(On his takeaways from the summer)
"This whole summer has been a learning process, and been a learning curve. At the end of the day you are just learning. I am a rookie, I am just trying to soak up everything and learn from the vets. Once I make a mistake, I just make sure it doesn't happen a second time around. At the end of the day it is all about learning. This is a marathon not a sprint, so I am just trying to be the best player I can."
