New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr addresses the media following the team's 16-15 win over the Tennessee Titans.
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00:00 [LAUGH]
00:04 >> Your thoughts on the first game?
00:06 >> It was a lot of fun.
00:08 I'm glad we won.
00:09 That's all I wanted to do.
00:10 And that was one of the more physical games I've played in my ten years.
00:15 Very physical football game up in the trenches.
00:18 But proud of our guys when we bounced back in the second half and
00:21 we're able to get that win.
00:22 >> Can I- >> No, no, no, please.
00:24 >> No. >> I talked to him.
00:25 >> [LAUGH]
00:26 >> Yeah, but that was rude.
00:28 On that last drive, do you want, I know the answer but I'm asking anyway.
00:33 Do you want that shot to go to Rashid to try to put the game away?
00:37 I'm guessing that's you, right?
00:39 >> Yeah, me and Pete talked about it on the sideline.
00:41 And I told Pete that that was a play that I liked.
00:44 And he trusted Rashid and I to make the play.
00:48 And the offensive line gave me time to throw it.
00:50 And when he's that fast, I was just trying to throw it out of bounds.
00:55 And he ran a great route, caught it, all that, it's exciting.
00:59 But that goes back to Pete trusting us.
01:02 He asked me what I liked throughout the game, all that kind of stuff.
01:05 And before that drive, that was something that I really liked.
01:08 And he called it.
01:10 So he has a lot of trust in us as players, and that means a lot as a player.
01:13 >> What did you see on the touchdown from Rashid?
01:16 >> Great route by Rashid, a double move.
01:19 Came over in motion, double move.
01:21 I tried to give a little pump right when he was settling his feet to try and
01:23 get the corner to stop.
01:24 And Rashid's so fast,
01:26 it's really tough on a corner to get it back started when he gets going.
01:30 And so Rashid ran a great route.
01:33 Again, that's another play that Pete had called up, dialed up,
01:37 play, hey, get ready.
01:38 And I really, really enjoy working with him and his demeanor throughout the game.
01:44 Cuz you kinda know what's coming, you know what to expect.
01:46 And he calls them and he counts on us to make plays for him.
01:49 >> What does it say about Rashid to be able to bounce back from the opening kickoff
01:53 and to be able to be available and to help make those plays to get you guys
01:57 the touchdown and the win?
01:58 >> Well, it's a very veteran thing of him to do, a very grown up thing.
02:02 Usually when young guys make a mistake early, it's hard to get them back focused.
02:07 It's hard to get them back right for the rest of the game.
02:10 And that's just the NFL, it's just over time you see that.
02:13 And he made a play and no one blinked, no one flinched.
02:16 But I was really proud of him.
02:20 When something like that happens, his mindset and his demeanor was great.
02:23 So when something like that happens, I hope he gets to make some plays after to
02:26 get that confidence back.
02:28 Yeah, but from what it looked like to me, he didn't lose any.
02:31 Cuz he came out and got a lot of passes for us in some big situations.
02:35 >> What does a win like this do for the offense?
02:37 First game, of course, you all together in the real live game,
02:40 maybe for action, and you just need to put out the win.
02:42 What does this kind of report say to the team on the offensive side?
02:45 >> Well, the exciting part was, everyone talked about the weapons and
02:49 throwing the ball down the field, all that kind of stuff,
02:51 the things we've been doing in camp.
02:52 But this, we showed that we could win the ultimate physical type of game, right?
02:57 >> [SOUND] >> You're good.
03:00 >> Yeah, we showed we could win a physical football game.
03:04 And we're gonna have to be able to win in any kind of different way.
03:08 And so I'm just glad that we hopefully got that one out of the way.
03:13 No, I'm just kidding.
03:14 >> How proud are you to execute the drive to run out the clock to seal the deal?
03:17 >> Well, it felt good, it felt really good.
03:21 Obviously, you can tell I wear my emotions on my sleeve sometimes.
03:25 So I was real excited, real fired up.
03:26 And the one that got me the most excited was the run that creased at the end,
03:31 cuz that's the one that did it.
03:33 O-line called it right, they blocked it right.
03:40 Jamal made the right cut, got down, did exactly what Coach asked,
03:43 said get the first, get down.
03:45 He did that, that right there is what makes me proud.
03:48 Cuz it's game on line, we get this, we win.
03:51 And we didn't have to put the defense back out there, that makes me happy.
03:54 >> Kevin, tell us about your connection with Chris Olabi as well as Michael Thomas.
03:59 >> Yeah, I think today was awesome cuz the ball was spread around so much.
04:03 And Chris obviously went over 100 and
04:05 that's fantasy people's favorite thing ever.
04:08 And he did that for them.
04:09 But when we can spread it out, no matter who gets 100,
04:13 no matter who gets the touchdown, as long as we keep that mindset,
04:18 big team, little me, hopefully we'll see a lot of good days for Chris and
04:23 Chi and Mike and Juwan and everybody.
04:25 And so the fact that we were able to spread it around,
04:28 everybody made their plays when they were called upon.
04:31 That's good to see as a quarterback because now I can trust them all.
04:35 Now if they're doubling him or they're playing Robert, I can go to this guy,
04:37 I can trust him to win.
04:39 It helps me with my decision making for sure.
04:41 >> Can you explain what you saw on that big [INAUDIBLE]
04:45 in that last drive?
04:47 And you don't see a lot of things necessarily go in the deep when you're
04:50 trying to like let the clock out like that.
04:52 >> Yeah, that's all Pete Carmichael just trusting us as players.
04:56 It's a play that we talked all game.
04:59 And before that drive, it was a play that him and I had talked about.
05:04 I was like, Pete, I love this.
05:06 And what was awesome about that, cuz it was our first game really playing together
05:11 with all the situations, all the scenarios, game on the line.
05:14 And Pete trusted us to make a play.
05:16 And as a player, that means so much to us, that he would trust us in that situation
05:21 to go get that for him and for the team.
05:23 And hopefully we can continue to do that cuz he showed us that he trusts us, so
05:28 we gotta keep proving to him every week that we can earn that.
05:30 >> So they were gonna design then to go get the sheet on that play?
05:33 >> Yeah, if they gave it to him.
05:34 Like if we had the one on one good release, all that.
05:36 If not, it had something else.
05:37 But yeah, for sure, we were trying to get the sheet.
05:40 >> Derek, you guys had been sitting on that double move,
05:44 the one that turned into the touchdown.
05:45 What was sort of origin of that?
05:46 Were you guys talking about that last night as something?
05:49 In the last few days, when did you identify that and
05:52 know that that was something you wanted to go to?
05:53 >> Well, we saw something in practice a couple weeks ago.
05:55 We're like, hey, it'd be kinda cool if we did this.
05:58 And sure enough, as you watch the tape,
06:02 you're like, man, it looks kinda good in this situation to call it.
06:05 And we ran it at practice.
06:08 We actually didn't connect on it in practice, funny enough.
06:12 But today we connected and those are the ones that matter.
06:15 >> Derek, what about the defense?
06:16 Just talk about the way that they play and
06:18 what they do for you as a quarterback when you sit and play with them.
06:21 >> If they don't play that well and we lose the game,
06:24 everybody's mad at me, and rightfully so.
06:29 And that's how it should be as a quarterback.
06:31 And this is the ultimate team game.
06:34 This is the ultimate team game.
06:36 It takes all 11 on the field at once, all three phases.
06:40 And all three phases had some plays that they'd like back, but
06:43 all three phases played their butt off and played physical and grinded.
06:46 And did anything they could to win.
06:48 So anytime we can get a win, yes, I'm so proud of our defense.
06:51 Yes, I'm so thankful with the takeaways that they got and
06:55 kinda washed ours away and helped us in that.
06:58 But like they would say, they expect us to finish the game,
07:02 just like we expect them to get us the ball back.
07:04 And as long as we keep that expectation for each other, knowing that, hey,
07:07 if it doesn't happen, we got your back, we'll take care of it.
07:10 Keep that kind of mindset.
07:11 I think we're gonna have a good season.
07:13 >> You've been waiting for- >> You talked about how physical it was
07:15 during the game, especially in the first half.
07:17 Tell us a little bit about your ability to maybe sit in that pocket a little bit
07:19 longer in the second half and make some of those throws.
07:22 >> Well, it's all the offensive line.
07:24 I try my best to not be a statue, but be back there to let my guys get open and
07:28 let them run.
07:29 When I have to get out, try and go get as many yards as I can or
07:31 make a play with throwing it.
07:33 But they did a great job in the second half, and
07:38 this without watching the film too, they made it look like all my fault.
07:42 But in the second half, it just felt better.
07:46 The timing of things, whatever, however it worked out, it was just better.
07:48 And very proud of those guys.
07:51 I think everybody, offense, defense,
07:54 everybody felt a little rusty on this or on that.
07:57 It's week one, and you hate to say that, but it always happens.
08:01 But we cleaned it up really fast and we're able to bounce back to get the win.
08:05 >> You said you've been waiting for this game for a long time.
08:08 How did it feel emotionally to finally get that first touchdown after you
08:12 had been grinding it out with field goals most of the game?
08:14 >> Yeah, it felt great.
08:16 But again, in that situation, that was the expectation.
08:20 We gotta score, we gotta get a touchdown to win this game.
08:23 And thankfully we did.
08:25 And I just tried my best until the game's over to stay here.
08:30 And I guess I get emotional.
08:32 But after that touchdown, it's so fun.
08:34 In my head, I'm like, cool, first touchdown.
08:36 And then literally half a second later, it's out.
08:39 It's like, okay, now what do I gotta do?
08:41 And the best part about it is that we won the game.
08:45 We won the game.
08:47 That's literally the only reason I came here and wanted to play this game so
08:50 bad was to win this game so that we can hopefully continue to keep stacking them.
08:54 >> Derek, what was the answer in view of how Mike Thomas played today?
08:57 >> I love Mike.
08:58 He's the ultimate competitor.
08:59 And wow, on game day, I love the communication that we have.
09:03 It's a different level, man.
09:05 He reminds me so much of Devontae and the way that they both approached the game.
09:09 And it makes sense cuz they're two of the best receivers in the whole league.
09:13 And his mentality, his violent route running.
09:18 You saw the one he caught over the middle on second down to get us back into
09:21 a third advantageable and took a shot.
09:24 And he told me, he's like, if you gotta throw it in there, throw it in there.
09:28 And he let me throw it in there.
09:29 He took the hit.
09:30 And he got, he bounced up.
09:32 And just that mentality that he brings, it elevates everybody on offense.
09:38 It means, man, I gotta do that for us too.
09:40 I gotta match that.
09:42 And I'm just so proud of him.
09:44 I know it's been a long road for Mike.
09:46 I know being able to start the game off big to him down the sideline,
09:50 know how much that meant to him.
09:51 But knowing Mike, he couldn't care less.
09:53 He cares about the next rep.
09:55 And so I think that that's what we've all fallen in love with Mike.
09:59 And I'm the same.
10:00 I haven't been around him as much as y'all, but
10:02 it didn't take long for me to see what he was about.
10:04 >> What makes his communication a little bit different or
10:07 something that stands out to you?
10:08 >> He sees things the way quarterbacks see them.
10:10 He sees things with certain reps and certain routes.
10:13 And he's like, hey, when they go zone, I did this, you good?
10:17 I'm like, yeah, I'm good.
10:18 He was third in the progression on that one.
10:20 I'm like, but now I know if these are shut out,
10:22 I know he's gonna do it, bam, right when we see that.
10:24 So it just helps you so much.
10:26 You get to him quicker.
10:27 Even on that third down, I almost gave him a little hand signal, or
10:31 second down, I almost gave him a hand signal just because I saw something.
10:35 There was one earlier in the game, I gave him a hand signal.
10:36 He ran it perfect.
10:37 We were about to hit it when they hit the ball.
10:38 I wish we had that play for Mike.
10:42 But I don't know, he just sees things the way I want him as a quarterback, and
10:47 it's really impressive.
10:48 >> What happened on that intercept or before half?
10:52 >> I forced it, I was dumb.
10:55 >> [LAUGH] >> I was way too excited, I'll be honest.
11:00 I'm making every throw now, I'm pissed off.
11:02 I tried to, I walked to the side, I was like, what are you doing?
11:06 So I know it's funny right now cuz we won.
11:08 It wasn't funny at the moment, I'll tell you very seriously, but
11:12 that was just me being stupid.
11:15 >> Any thoughts on the cropped in?
11:16 >> That was unbelievable.
11:18 Yeah, when we scored that touchdown, I could have held myself and
11:19 started dancing, man.
11:20 That was awesome, that was ridiculous, man.
11:23 I was gonna be on that side of it.
11:25 Last year wasn't so fun, so.
11:27 >> Derek, how would you describe how Trevor Penning was sort of handling, look,
11:31 he had some struggles.
11:33 How he was handling that in the huddle and how you thought he was?
11:37 >> He was great, great mentality, great demeanor.
11:38 And every game is not gonna be everybody's best game.
11:43 And he was getting held on one, something happened.
11:46 There's so many things and so many different things.
11:48 Could I have got the ball out quicker?
11:49 I'm gonna watch it and be critical of myself to help him.
11:51 But I was so proud of his demeanor and the way he carried himself because no one
11:57 wants to make a mistake.
11:59 All of us, all 53, nobody wants to go out there and be the one that, man,
12:04 that was on me, like I did before the half.
12:06 It crushes you, it hurts, cuz you want so much for your team.
12:09 But the way he picked himself up, we have a room full of grown men that, hey,
12:13 yeah, I made a mistake, let's keep going, let's keep playing.
12:16 And I felt that from him, his demeanor is the same all the time.
12:18 He looks angry, he looks violent, and he plays that way.
12:21 And I love him to death and
12:23 I'm proud of the way that he was able to finish in the second half.
12:26 >> The ball you threw over Kirkwood in the end zone at that one point,
12:30 did you think he got held?
12:31 You were trying to alert to the flag or you were trying to, I couldn't tell.
12:35 >> Yeah, I got out and if I had time I probably would have thrown it to Mike, but
12:39 someone was in my face.
12:41 Mike was coming on over.
12:42 And so I tried to give it a safe outside shot that he would get it.
12:49 But yeah, I just overthrew it just a little bit.
12:52 >> Aaron Rose, when you decided to come here,
12:54 one of the factors was that you felt like this team had a defense.
12:57 And you mentioned it before where you wouldn't have to be constantly chasing
13:00 the score, if you will, and being a one dimensional offense.
13:03 >> Yeah.
13:03 >> Is this kind of an example of what you envisioned?
13:07 >> Yeah, absolutely.
13:08 They kept us in the game, they kept us in the fight.
13:11 And when we weren't getting touchdowns, we were having field goals,
13:13 it was driving us crazy.
13:14 But they don't flinch.
13:17 And they being able to play with a defense like that,
13:22 we can win a lot of games, especially once we get going.
13:26 And offensively, we didn't have our best, but we had enough to win, and
13:31 that's what matters.
13:32 And we had it when we needed it.
13:34 But when you look at the defense and the way that they can play,
13:37 there's gonna be games that we may have to score a lot.
13:39 And maybe games that are tight like this,
13:41 or maybe games where we can get a lead and help them out.
13:44 It's gonna change throughout, but just knowing the type of people that are on
13:47 that side of the ball, the type of grown men that are in that room on defense,
13:51 that's what excited me, and I saw that today.
13:53 >> What's it like as a quarterback to have the confidence of the offensive
13:59 coordinator to finish the game off and put it kinda on your shoulders the way
14:03 they did, cuz you know you're gonna have to, you don't wanna get the ball back.
14:07 >> Yeah, I made my day.
14:09 It really did, it meant a lot to me and to our offense that he trusted us to do it.
14:13 And I take my hat off to Coach Carmichael, Pete's been unbelievable to work with.
14:20 And in a crucial moment, he's like, nope, I know he likes this, I'm calling it.
14:24 And he trusted us to make a play for him.
14:26 Like I said earlier, hopefully we can keep doing that to earn that trust,
14:28 earn that respect from him.
14:32 But that's him trusting his players.
14:34 And that says a lot about him and our coaching staff,
14:38 especially head coach, he's a defensive guy.
14:41 Run the ball, take the time out, kick it, he could have said that.
14:44 He's like, no, we trust you guys.
14:45 And DA and Pete let us do that, and it was really cool.
14:50 I'm not gonna lie, it felt really good.
14:51 >> If you guys took that, if you took that late hit,
14:53 just was there an extra edge with the team?
14:56 >> Maybe, yeah, usually when the quarterback gets hit and makes a throw,
14:59 and even though they took it away from us, I probably caught it.
15:03 But usually when that happens, the team, for whatever reason in football,
15:08 whether I've been watching or part of it, they get excited.
15:10 The quarterback got hit, he gets up, he's got blood on his hand.
15:14 For whatever reason, people like that stuff.
15:16 And I don't know if we play with more of it now, but I just know we executed.
15:19 But you could definitely feel the energy and the excitement,
15:22 like now we're gonna go finish this game.
15:24 You definitely felt that shift from the first half to the second.
15:26 >> You took a hit to the head or the neck?
15:32 >> Yeah, I got hit everywhere.
15:34 >> [LAUGH] >> I bet it's like a forearm to the face
15:38 now.
15:39 >> It happened so quick, he jabbed me real quick, I don't even know.
15:42 Yeah, he got me good.
15:44 He's a heck of a player.
15:45 >> What was the conversation you had with him after?
15:47 >> He was like, dude, he apologized.
15:49 He's like, I'm sorry, bro.
15:51 He's like, yeah, we're playing physical, he's like, I'm trying to hit you, but
15:53 I'm not trying to hurt you, nothing like that.
15:54 I was like, you're good, man.
15:57 I know a couple that are D linemen too, I kept telling them.
15:59 I was like, you know I like that, man.
16:01 And they started laughing.
16:02 So we had a good laugh even though my neck hurt.
16:05 >> Yeah, you didn't seem too bothered by it.
16:06 Like y'all went and shook hands or something right after, right?
16:08 >> Yeah, cuz he apologized.
16:10 He's like, I'm sorry, man.
16:10 And I was like, I think my wife's more mad than I am.
16:13 >> [LAUGH] >> But no, it's football.
16:16 It's gonna happen.
16:18 But hopefully not all the time right in the face.
16:20 Good, appreciate you.