It's been. It's been both your wins. Now what stands out about that group down there? Gosh, it's a it's a group that just you know, they bow their neck when I have to um and uh, I think it's what two for ten, two out of ten last you know for the Atlantic game and at home anyway, Um that our defense has stopped. So it's a um, they understand sense of urgency down there. You know, they understand
that things things can happen faster, balls out faster. Um. You know, the space is obviously limited down there, so it's an advantage defense a little bit. And and they they they play well. I mean it's been, it's been one of the one of the positives on defense. Guys, it's on your first drive and your left drive. And a couple of players in there said that there's a magic when when Carson's in there. I'd to denigrate when Nick has done. But what was it like having him
back and what did you think of his performance? Well, it was exciting to to get him back out there, and and uh, you know a week really started back in on Tuesday, you know with our walk through and stuff, and then the whole week just seeing him you know, just how he got in the huddle, talking to the guys, communicating with them, you know, the skill guys, um throughout the game today and just kind of getting back to his old self. Um. You know, and again like always,
you know, we will evaluate. I know he would probably have want want to get the fumble back, he'd want to pick back and things like that, and and those are things that can't happen, especially you know when our backed up on our end of the field. But I thought overall, he did some nice things. Moved around well, extended extended some drives for us um whether he was running or you know, escaping the pocket and making some plays down the field. But um, I thought for the
first first time back, not too bad. There seemed to be several plays where maybe a year ago or two years ago, Carson might have tucked it and run as opposed to like hitting Dallas Goddard a couple of times, hitting the running back a couple of times. Do you think the knee has anything to do that to think that's natural maturity? Do you agree with that? I don't think it's the need at all. I think it's just maturity of playing the position, and and and seeing the
field and and it comes from playing, you know. And and uh um he did that several times today. Um, dumped it off into the flat, got got positive, you know, eight yards, ten yards whatever, and that that just comes from playing and just the maturity of playing the position. Over time. He's your quarterback diving into the sideline for that first down. What's going through your mind in the second quarter? Um, Well, for me, I was standing right there.
I mean, it's definitely obviously a safe as a safe dive. You know, there was no contact other than him hitting the ground really and um, that's just him, you know. I mean that that's the that's the aggressive nature that that he plays with. And those are types of plays that you know, you just you know, um, you just
make you just do. It's just it's just instinct, you know, and and something you don't you don't coach and and uh um, you know it just it was a great, great play, great way to get a first down and keep us on the field. Didn't appear that obviously he worried, didn't even think about the injury. How important is it for a quarterback who comes off an injury to go out there and just be who he was before it seemed that way. Any Yeah, I mean I think it's important.
I don't want to, you know, I don't want to put you know, restraints on him at all, and and and put him in bubble wrap. And it's not that's not how we play the game. It's not how he plays the game. And he wants to be you know, just as aggressive on the field too, and and so I don't think about it that way. I just want to, you know, do us right for obviously him, but for the offense and the other guys out there that are that are strained in their bodies to to just execute
one play. But I thought he you know, protected himself pretty pretty well today the game. I think Carson's first seven targets or sou we're at tight ends and he played a lot of thirteen. What may you think that was the way to go going into the game, Um, just by scheme, you just uh, we felt like with our three tight ends, that gives us a little bit of a personnel advantage. Teams want to play, you know,
a base defense. They eventually went to nickel defense and we still had some success to on that and then we began to run the ball just bigger people, athletic people on the field. Really worked for us on the you know, the opening drive and and just wanted to get the quarterback in a rhythm too, you know with that. But um, part of the plan, part of you know, this game plan was was to do do some of that in this game. Spoke after the last game about
wanting big plays on offense. You had to really get together a long drive. I think the final drives a sixteen play drive. Is that good enough for you or do you want to have more exposive plays? Well again, well we'll take a look at the film. I mean, you definitely want more. I mean, you know it goes out so you love to score you know, five play drives and put yourself in the end zone. But um,
sometimes it doesn't happen that way. And again without evaluating the tape and seeing if whether we miss somebody or you know, protection breakdown whatever stuff we can fix, then then we can we can continue to uh you know, stay aggressive. There. We had some opportunities, we made some plays down the field. Um, you know, Urs had a couple of nice ones, Dallas had a couple when Dale had a nice long pass in there. So you know, we're getting them. We just got to make sure that
we continue to stay aggressive. And obviously, as a play caller, you know, I gotta I gotta call to play. Drive was the key. Just the resiliency of the offense, quite honestly, Um, offensive line began to dominate a little bit at that point. Um And and uh, gosh, you know when Dale Corey running extremely hard and then and then we were fortunate a couple of penalties went our way and and extended
a couple of those drives. But um, you know, it's just, uh, I had just a team effort at that particular time, Right. Were there things that you didn't do you thought he might diagnose? Were there things that you think he diagnosed today that you know, sort of blew up for you? What was it like basing a guy that you've been so close to the last couple of years. And yeah, it was a lot of fun, a lot of fun
getting chance to visit with him before the game. And um, you know, we were aware of of a couple of things that that he might pick up on, whether it be by formation or personnel, and kind of vice versa with us, you know, with with their offense, and and really quite honestly, once you're into the you know, the heat of the battle, you're into the game, you know, you just you're just focused on calling the next play and executing that next play and and uh and trying
to trying to score. And I know he was the same way. But he's got a good football team. He's got a great quarterback obviously, Um, they're gonna win a ton of games. And then it was it was fun to play against building on a death chart after the trade last year. What made you trust him today? In that situation with with with two guys out Darren Sproles on JG, I weren't playing no, um no, I mean listen, Wendell has always has always impressed me. I mean, he's
he's worked extremely hard. He um, he's really improved it's craft and put himself in a position to help us. And and he did it again in training camp this year and in the first part of this season. And you gotta have guys like that, you know, might might be role players, but you know what their role is pretty big in games like this when you know your two top guys are down in the backfield and along the same lines. I thought, Josh stepped in and made
some nice runs too, you know. So, UM, we continue because they also play you know, special teams. Um, we continue to rotate guys and make sure they're fresh throughout the game. Had a big game. Was that because you saw matchups, because of necessity considering the injuries that you're dealing with in the depth issues, or because he's earned it because he's progressive to this degree. I really think it's a little bit all that what you just said. Um,
he's earned it. Obviously, he's smart, he's talented. We see it in practice. Um, you know, And and it's it's it's just time to play, you know, and cut him loose a little bit, and and and don't keep him back and and so it was part of the game plan again to to do that with two tight ends, three tight ends. But at the same time, UM, as he gets more and more comfortable with the offense and and and find um specific plays for him, he's just gonna get better and better. And Uh, it's it's a
combination really of all those comments you mentioned. The committee at running back without Jay and darn Darren, what gives you the competence Other coaches might shorten their bench show to speak, but you still went with the three guys, went Donald, Josh, what gives you the competence and those guys, you know, I I trust Deuce during the week to make sure that those guys are prepared, trust the players that they're doing their jobs to UH to make sure
they understand the game plan. And really, you know it, I talk a lot about it takes all fifty three, you know, and and then of course it takes the forty six. On a game day, whoever dresses is going to play. And um, you know, these first three games, it's it's really come down to everybody's had to play. And you know, this is the National Football League, and UM, you know again, I'm not going to hold a player back just because you know he's a rookie or he
doesn't have enough experience. UM, it's our job as coaches to UH to coach him up, you know, and to get him, get him ready and prepared. And so the next time Josh is in this situation, you know, each each time gets a little better and better. So, um, whether he's a rookie or a you know, twelve thirteen year vet, and we have to make sure that they're all coached up the same involved in another big I think with Derek Barnett involved in another big you know,
strip sack bumble. What has his progress been like since you since you guys drafted him? And where is he right now? That was one of the big plays that Yeah, I mean, great play. Um, this kid just keeps getting better and better. UM been pleased with how he how he works in practice. UM, you know, he's he's an unselfish ball player. I mean he'll play special teams if you ask him, he'll rush the pastor if you ask him. I mean, he just he does some so many great things.
And we're so excited to have a player like Derek and a young player like Derek who who who can who can play extensively and and and work in the work in the rotation. Um just seems like, you know, somewhere in the game ninety six is gonna show up, you know and make him play. And he did that, you know several times. Today. It was the message to
both Carson and in the locker room. UM, I just can congratulated Carson just on the win, you know, UM, nothing further than that really, just uh, you know, we found a way, you know, make it work, and we won, and it's to be proud of, you know, and you know, for the team, it's it's a matter of just we got to just learn from our mistakes. I really feel like, you know, good football teams find ways to win and and we've we've been able to do that in tight,
close ball games. We've been able to you know, figure it out and and win and that and that's a tribute to the guys in the locker room, and so that was kind of my thoughts after the after the game to them, and you know, to enjoy it um and we're right back to work on Tuesday. Thanks