Seattle, WA
Postgame Transcripts: Week 14 at Seattle
Interim head coach Steve Wilks
STEVE WILKS: Like to begin out by saying condolences so the Silas household. Heard proper earlier than the sport that legendary coach and NBA participant, Charlotte Hornets former coach Paul Silas handed away. My time in Charlotte, seeing him, being round him, nice coach. Even a greater individual. Coach Clifford had a possibility to satisfy his son, Steven, who’s teaching down in Houston. Once more, condolences to the household. Regarding the recreation, we talked about doing one thing that we have not accomplished all yr, which is approaching the highway in a playoff surroundings and successful a soccer recreation. Could not be extra pleased with the lads in that locker room than I’m in the way in which that we completed that recreation at this time. Every thing we do begins up entrance on either side of the ball, and we ran the ball tonight for 224 yards. We completed the sport once we wanted to for us attempting to pound the ball within the fourth quarter. Very spectacular from the standpoint the protective the soccer after which taking it away on the defensive facet of the ball. And once you take a look at time of possession, 39 minutes, which is vital. Actually attempting to maintain Geno and people guys off the sector with that high-powered offense and people receivers. So with that, I am going to take your questions.
Q. Coach, the extent of emotion in your voice, what are you feeling?
STEVE WILKS: You already know, it is thrilling, once more, only for the lads in that locker room, for the way laborious they work, how devoted they’ve been. We discovered ourselves to have the ability to work by way of it. At all times discuss do not permit it to get in the way in which, no matter it might be. It began with the teaching change. You already know, I can go on and on with the various things, with gamers leaving, , coaches leaving, no matter. You already know, these males in that locker room discovered a method to refocus and get it accomplished.
Q. Coach, discuss beginning and ending robust. This has been a reasonably good performed recreation.
STEVE WILKS: Nicely, it was one thing that we talked about and we felt like we needed to do it on the highway. Wished to be aggressive, as we did. Went for it on fourth down. Did not get it. Nice stance by them. However we by no means wavered. One other it. Hold persevering; discovered a method to win the soccer recreation. We talked about it at halftime. You already know, good soccer groups, which I really feel we’re, all proper, I instructed them that, I stated, however nice ones discover ways to end. Let’s go be nice.
Q. Is that this an announcement win?
STEVE WILKS: It is laborious to win within the Nationwide Soccer League, regardless. To have the ability to get this one on the highway means quite a bit, sure.
Q. Enjoying with a playoff mentality, how do you suppose the fellows responded? Is that this the form of win now, two in a row, form of get it rolling?
STEVE WILKS: Nicely, I hope that is one thing that we will construct momentum off of. You already know, notably, once more, you are good, however once you come right into a scenario — as a result of that is a playoff workforce that we performed at this time. Good soccer workforce. So to have the ability to get a win like this on the highway, hostile surroundings, twelfth man, I feel is unquestionably a momentum builder for us. We undoubtedly obtained to proceed to construct off this. You already know, we obtained to go residence and shield the financial institution.
Q. Following up on that, if this can be a assertion win, what sort of assertion was made at this time on the sector?
STEVE WILKS: Nicely, I feel simply actually the mentality of actually ending up entrance and operating the soccer. I feel within the fourth quarter, as a defensive coach — once more, nothing extra demoralizing than having a ball run on you within the fourth quarter and never having the ability to cease it. Our offensive line, once more, operating backs, these guys did an amazing job.
Q. D’Onta on that drive, that lengthy drive that ended up in a landing. Is was largely Chuba and Raheem.
STEVE WILKS: It was a mere truth of him not being out there. As you noticed, Chuba did an amazing job. As coaches we felt like we have been going proper now with Chuba in a specific rhythm, however nothing was incorrect with D’Onta.
Q. Discuss the place the emotion is coming from.
STEVE WILKS: Once more, as I expressed, I am so thrilled and joyful for these guys within the locker room. The coaches do an amazing job in recreation planning and placing these guys in place, however all of the credit score goes to these gamers on how they go on the market and carry out and end. With every little thing we have gone by way of, they’ve gone by way of with the completely different teaching modifications, , eliminating gamers, group attempting to tank it, , all these various things, and to see how these guys responded and got here out and performed at this time, it’s fairly thrilling emotionally, sure.
Q. What did you say to the oldsters who stated, oh, perhaps this group is tanking after you guys made a few of these the trades?
STEVE WILKS: I feel it was fairly apparent in my strategy, in our strategy as a workforce, in how we went out and carried out and performed. So I do not suppose you bought to essentially be verbal about it. Simply exit and proceed to work laborious.
Q. Earlier than these final two drives, your first and objective on the three, and Ben calls 4 straight passes, which appeared to form of go in opposition to the id. Can you’re taking us although that sequence?
STEVE WILKS: We felt like perhaps we might get one thing on them, notably — nicely, , they have been crowding the road of scrimmage, they usually did it late within the recreation as nicely, however I wasn’t going to take an opportunity and throw the ball then. Hindsight I felt like we have been making the suitable resolution. In case you return and take a look at that one, Sam might have run ball in. He tried to drive to drive it in there late, and I instructed him to simply go forward and win together with his legs.
Q. On that very subsequent drive, the (indiscernible) comes out with Sam. Had you all saved that for although second?
STEVE WILKS: We had proven some it of. It’s all primarily based off the look. We most likely had the look earlier after which Sam did not take it. Got here again and did some good issues with the ball late. We most likely had one when — most likely ought to have handed the ball off and possibly would’ve been a landing.
Q. When you have got the interim head coach tag, lots of people speak concerning the gamers, the employees. How have you ever made this teaching employees and this workforce yours?
STEVE WILKS: As I acknowledged originally, , I do not know what is going on to occur, however for 13 weeks I stated I used to be going to do it my manner with gamers, coaches, and the mentality and the tradition that I wished to create. So our mindset does not change. It is all about successful at this time. Going to take it one by one, and subsequent up is Pittsburgh. We are going to determine what occurs on the finish. Proper now, we’re simply worrying concerning the Steelers.
Q. The opposite week you form of challenges among the (indiscernible.) Having Jaycee Horn make that play early, how necessary was that to the momentum early to attempt to make an announcement?
STEVE WILKS: Nicely, any time you possibly can take the ball over — take the ball away early is essential. You already know, you discuss a momentum changer, notably in a hostile surroundings right here being on the highway, so it was vital for us. Simply Jaycee as an entire, man, he was excited all week about this matchup and this problem. I feel we all know precisely what occurred at this time.
Q. After that turnover on (indiscernible) seems to be like perhaps the Seahawks had some momentum. You get the sack from Shaq and Brian Burns. To have your two leaders on protection make that play and get the ball again, how massive was that?
STEVE WILKS: It is vital. We talked about it on the sideline, let’s go end the job up entrance, difficult these guys to get after the quarterback. We finally obtained him late within the recreation. I feel we had three sacks and I feel two of them got here late within the recreation. Once more, how we construct and what we do begins up entrance on either side of the ball.
Q. Whenever you have been speaking concerning the stuff you guys have overcome a pair minutes in the past, you talked about organizational tanking. Are you able to develop on that?
STEVE WILKS: Joe, I am not going to develop on it. I simply talked about it with reference as a result of that was among the issues that have been stated exterior the constructing. I simply need folks to know, notably our followers to grasp how dedicated we’re to essentially attempting to win and keep on this divisional race.
Q. What did you consider the Marshall through-the-legs seize? Not one thing you most likely train.
STEVE WILKS: Nice effort by him. They made the decision and stated it wasn’t a catch, so we simply obtained to have the ability to stay with it.
Q. Flight residence now. What’s that going to be like?
STEVE WILKS: Nicely, I am positive the gamers are going to take pleasure in themselves. As coaches we all know we will grade the tape. It is a lengthy flight, after which we’ll begin speaking about Pittsburgh on the way in which again.
Q. How do you rejoice wins? Do you rejoice wins?
STEVE WILKS: 24 hours. That is it. You already know, after I was younger a coach instructed me at younger age, he stated, you benefit from the season when the season is over.