Post Game Press Conference – Colts Players

COLTS PLAYERS

Kwity Paye, DE

(On playing in front of family and friends)

“It’s amazing. I was looking forward to coming back home. It’s a different energy when I come back home. I’m very proud of where I came from. I’m proud to represent Providence and the whole state of Rhode Island. It was such a warm welcome from Patriots fans.”

 

(On how much he reflects on his journey)

“It’s crazy because people always talk about the numbers and the highs. Being an immigrant coming to Rhode Island and coming from Rhode Island to be a first round pick, and the odds were stacked against me. You never see that, but I’m truly grateful to be where I am at and I’m grateful for the process.”

 

(On what it means to him getting a win in Foxborough)

“I was thinking about it while we were playing and how it would be great to get a win at home. It’s a big team win.”

 

DeForest Buckner, DT

(On how big of an advantage it is to go against an offensive line that doesn’t have as much experience)

“It is definitely an advantage communication-wise and moving protections. Some of these guys don’t have a lot of experience but they did a good job of trying to protect certain guys to give them some extra help.”

 

(On the focus heading into the bye week)

“First off is getting some rest, getting some guys healthy and unplugging a bit. I was on IR early in the year but I was still working my tail off to get back and like everyone else, playing 13 games straight and finally getting a bye so we will reset our minds a bit and then come back ready to go.”

 

(On watching the offense make those plays at the end of the game to win)

“When we needed them most, they showed up. That’s why Anthony’s [Richardson] here. He can make those big-time plays and extend plays when we need him to. It’s just another game-winning drive under his belt in his young career and it’s awesome to see him do it.”

 

(On the play of Alec Pierce)

“He’s taking advantage of the opportunities that are given to him. He hasn’t had a game where he has had a whole lot of receptions or targets, but he is making those opportunities count. He approaches every day ready to work and he always talks about when he gets his opportunities he will make the most of it, and he does.”

 

Michael Pittman Jr., WR

(On the win)

“It means we’re still alive and we have a chance. We have to win out to give ourselves the best possible situation and it started today, so we just have to keep on going.”

 

(On the game-winning drive)

“It was insane. That was absolutely insane. I don’t think I ever played that many plays straight in my career. To go down and do that and come away with points was pretty great. The defense played great today. We are 1-0 this week.”

 

(On the play of Anthony Richardson)

“Anthony is a heavy hitter now and if we need some short yardage, as much as I would like to pass the ball, in that short yardage stuff, him just running the ball, I don’t know what our rate is of conversions but it has got to be pretty damn good.”

 

(On the call to have Richardson keep the ball at the end)

“It’s all or nothing, so it shows he really trusts our line, he really trusts Anthony and he ultimately put the ball in Anthony’s hands and we came away with a win.”

 

Julian Blackmon, S

(On the win)

“It’s a big win, especially the momentum going into a bye week. It’s something we wanted to make an emphasis of, to make sure we ended on a good note.”

 

(On being able to hold the Patriots the red zone)

“It’s a game of inches, and I feel like we definitely were giving up a lot of key plays that we could play better on. But when it came to the red zone, we just knew we’ll protect it and I think we did a decent job. It could have been a lot better, so we’ll watch the film and see what we can do to try and minimize the mistakes we were making.”

 

(On his interception)

“Honestly Zaire [Franklin] made a great play. They ran a search route right off the ball and he broke on it because they had ran it in the red zone in the first half, the first quarter, they had ran that same play. I was telling him, ‘you play that very aggressive and I’ll take anything behind you.’ So we played it out just like that and they ran the same play. He broke on it very well and he gave me the opportunity to catch a pick.”

 

(On Shane Steichen’s decision to go for two and the win)

“I was right there with him, let’s go for it and give the ball to 5 [Anthony Richardson]. I think he did a good job, and he’s competitive. It was awesome to see.”

 

(On Anthony Richardson)

“I think it’s just opportunities. You live and learn, and I think that he’s learned. He’s young and there is so much growth ahead of him. He has such a high ceiling that we are just excited for him and he’s taking the steps he needs off the field and on the field in order to perform.”

 

Mo Alie-Cox, TE

(On the call for the two-point conversion)

“I didn’t know what was going on, because normally I would be like, ‘What’s the play?’ But going into the play I didn’t ask, I’m just watching, so I had no clue what we were running. Then we say, ‘hike’ and I just see AR [Anthony Richardson] take off. I’m like, AR up the middle, behind Q [Quenton Nelson] and all them, we’ve got a good chance. He punched it in and everybody just took off on the field. I mean gutsy win, gutsy call. We got it done and it’s the momentum we needed going into the bye week.”

 

(On that call by Shane Steichen)

“It speaks a lot about the belief he has in us, and the belief that he has that we can go out there and execute the call in critical situations. Not just that play, but that whole drive. I think we converted three fourth downs and the big touchdown to AP [Alec Pierce]. So definitely credit to him for believing in us and letting us go out there and get the win.”

 

(On the pass he caught to set up the game winning touchdown)

“It was a man-beater. I don’t think they came out in man, because I’m normally the picker. Normally I’m not even an option on the play, but I look up after I set the pick and see AR scrambling to the right. I’m like, ‘alright I think I’m the only receiver on this side, so it’s either he runs it or the ball has to come to me.’ So I just tried to stay in phase with him and kudos to him he made a good pass and we just converted.”

 

Zaire Franklin, LB

(On winning the game in the last two minutes)

“Man, definitely I am not a gambling man, I don’t watch scary movies, I like rom-coms and I like to know the ending. But you put the ball in 5 [Anthony Richardson]’s hands, he is a superstar in the making. I just love watching him continue to grow and develop as player and continue to bounce back and fight. He is a special player.”

 

(On the growth of Anthony Richardson)

“I said it to him, I said, ‘look, when you commit to the process, you give yourself a chance to be great, it’s no guarantee, but you give yourself a chance.’ He gives himself a chance every week to be great. He has had the opportunity to show up and answer the bell for us a couple of times and it’s just special.”

 

(On the win)

“I mean, this was a gritty win. It’s never easy in this league, and they have great players on that side as well, but we needed this one. We needed this going into the bye. Let’s get refreshed and let’s come back and go on this run.”

 

(On the importance of the win heading into the bye)

“I think, take our time off, enjoy your family and enjoy the rest. When we get back, defensively we have to step our game up. If 5 [Anthony Richardson] is going to play like that we need to be better than this. We appreciate that a win is a win, but at the same time we need work hard when we get back.”

 

Grant Stuard, LB

(On the win)

“This is the start of a run that we need to go on. It’s important that we work together toward victory and build on this, playing complementary football. We are trying to keep this momentum and go 4-0 in our next four games and keep this win streak alive.”

 

(On Drake Maye)

“I think he was calm under pressure. I thought he made good decisions for the most part. He definitely has a lot of talent. I think he will do good in this league, for sure.”

 

(On the red zone defense)

“We talked all week about stopping the run, no touchdowns in the red zone, things like that. It keeps us in the game as a team. As a defense we work on being consistent in that manner. When we play teams like this and they get down there so many times, you see every play in their repertoire. We have to improve as a defense making stops consistently and just being confident and making plays. It keeps us in the game and I am proud of that.”

 

(On the special teams play)

“New England is special teams central. Trying to match up with certain guys and moving guys around and knowing we are going to get an opportunity to really play because sometimes both teams on kickoffs just kick it out the back (of the end zone). When you have aggressive special teams both playing each other, it is really an opportunity to see where I’m at, especially against top returners in the league and [Brenden] Schooler who is a top player for them. That part of it was fun for me.”

 

 

Danny Pinter, C

(On going for two and the play call)

“I mean, there’s no one else we want to have the ball in that situation and we knew he [Anthony Richardson] was going to find a way. I saw we were going for two and everyone was fired up and when I heard the call, I was like, ‘yeah, that’s who we want to have the ball.’”

 

(On the last drive)

“That whole drive was awesome and it’s just about being resilient. There were up and down plays and some plays didn’t go our way, and it’s just about coming out and battling the next play. I’m just so proud of the entire offense, and all five of those guys up front, they just battled play after play, and AR finished it off for us.”

 

(On the development of Anthony Richardson)

“I think it’s just his confidence. The game was up and down and he just never waivers. He has confidence in the huddle and you just always know the next play that could be the one. It is that next play mentality and that’s contagious to everyone. Everyone just has confidence in the huddle.”

 

(On how he felt on the field after his return)

“Fine, I feel like there are always plays you want back for sure. I think the biggest thing as a group – and we talked about it all week – just be resilient. Let’s finish every play and just play as hard as we can, and I think you could feel that with the group. I think we got the run game going because guys just wanted to finish every game. There are plays you want back, there are things you want back, but that’s football. Just come out and get better. I’m just proud of how we fought as an offensive line.”