Postgame Quotes From the Patriots and Eagles Locker Rooms- 8/16/18

After the impressive preseason win over the World Champion Eagles, both teams had plenty to talk about. Here are some of the quotes from after the game Thursday night.

PATRIOTS PLAYERS

Ja’Whaun Bentley, LB

(On if he feels like he’s making progress)

“I’m just trying to take it one day at a time. I feel like as a team we came out and wanted to accomplish all of our goals and I felt like we did that today. We did that. We played well.”

(On dropping deep into coverage on the first play of the game)

“We were pretty much in man-to-man coverage. [Nick Foles] threw it deep, [I] played the ball. Kind of how you draw it up. Just do my job on that play.”

(On his touchdown off of Adrian Clayborn’s strip-sack)

“You want to make sure you secure the ball and make sure you finish and not get caught or anything like that. I’ll just look to make the plays that are meant to be made and I’m just here to make them and the results will show.”

Adam Butler, DL

(On the emotion he showed after recording a sack)

“I was just excited that it happened the way that it happened. That was my role on this team last year and I’m hoping to get it again this year and maybe more so that I can do my part to help this team.”

(On if the sack was a reminder to fans and coaches of his abilities)

“I wouldn’t put it all on one specific play, no.”

(On if tonight’s effort showed what this defense is capable of)

“We still got a little ways to go, but we are what we put on tape.”

(On if he feels good overall about the defensive effort)

“I think we did pretty good, but like I said we still got to keep playing.”

(On what’s exciting about this year’s defensive front seven)

“I think the most exciting part is the diversity. There’s so many people that can do a lot of different things. You’ve got some guys who can rush inside and outside. Some guys who are just very talented on the edge and to watch everybody come out and show their skills tonight is amazing.”

Adrian Clayborn, DE

(On tonight’s defensive pressure on the quarterback)

“Part of my job as a defensive lineman is to get after the quarterback and they were passing a lot tonight, so we had to get after the quarterback so we don’t leave our DBs [defensive backs] out to dry.”

(On if the defense is better than what some may think)

“We’re working hard to be good and I think we will get there hopefully.”

(On his strip-sack that led to a touchdown)

“I got a good beat on it. It was a pass play and the lineman wasn’t expecting to get off the line that fast so just take my edge and try to hit the quarterback.”

(On if he feels good about the defense following tonight’s performance)

“I feel like we always execute our job and that’s a good start so we’ll watch the film and see what the numbers are tomorrow.”

(On his reaction to watching Ja’Whaun Bentley score a touchdown following the strip-sack)

“I was just checking to see that nobody was going to tackle him. Once that was good, it was all good.”

(On being able to hit the quarterback in preseason games following a long training camp)

“Yeah, this weird. Preseason is always good for that. Finally get to wrap up the quarterback. I slipped off one because I’ m just not used to it. Everybody is not used to it, but that’s what preseason is for.”

(On how good this defensive front seven can be once the season gets going)

“Time will tell. I won’t put a prediction on it, but if we keep working hard and keep doing what we got to do we will be good.”

(On his impression of coach Brian Flores)

“He’s good. He knows the defense well and he’s been helping me out with learning it as fast as I can.”

Julian Edelman, WR

(On playing in the game)

“It was good to go out there and get hit. It was good to go out there and have the team start off fast. It really simulated the start of the game.”

(On getting better each week)

“I feel myself getting better some days and not as good other days but I think that is just training camp in general.”

(On taking pride in blocking during the game)

“We take that very seriously here. Our job as receivers is to get up there and catch the ball and compete in the running game to help our running backs.”

(On scoring during the first half)

“It is always nice to put points on the board. That’s what I get out there and try to do each week. There was a lot of things we could have done better but it will be a good week for us coming to practice and learn. It is just another step in the direction towards playing the regular season of football.”

(On playing with Tom Brady)

“It was nice; I enjoy playing with Tom.”

(On training camp)

“I feel like I had good days during camp but as a player you just have to keep working on your stamina.”

Jason McCourty, CB

(On what he saw during the touchdown)

“You just have to make the play. I just have to do a better job on staying on my man and trying to make a play.”

(On how he felt during the game)

“For me it just felt good because it is a blessing every day to be able to play. For me to be able to be a part of this organization and take the field with the guys in every opportunity I have to play a national football game is such a tremendous opportunity and blessing. I never take that for granted.”

(On feeling more comfortable during the game)

“I am definitely feeling more comfortable. I think I have an advantage with the prior teams I was on with a lot of different coaches. That has helped me to be able to pick up different football and situations while adjusting myself as a player.”

(On how it feels to be in Boston)

“It is a lot colder here compared to Tennessee. The family atmosphere here with having my brother has been really amazing. Even having my mother come who does not have to take a plane to get here is great.”

(On playing with his brother)

“It is a great feeling getting to run off the field together. It is not so much game days right now but more times throughout the week where we get to walk out to the practice field together or even being able to talk about family issues. It is great to have our connection and be so close. He even is my Uber driver to the games as well which works out pretty well.”

EAGLES PLAYERS

Nigel Bradham, LB

(On his preseason goals)

“I want to pretty much get better at everything, especially my techniques and fundamentals. Understanding concepts and continuing to learn every day. There is always something to work on in every aspect. Being on the same page with people, communication. Pretty much everything overall because you are working with someone new every year.”

(On the Eagles progress to date)

“I feel like we have a ways to go, obviously, but I like where we are at. I feel like we have a lot of opportunity to grow from where we are and we will.”

(On a Super Bowl hangover)

“We’ve passed that and it is a whole new year. That was last year. This is a new team. Each year is a new year and you can’t dwell on the year before. That’s how we are looking at it.”

Rashard Davis, WR

(On his touchdown)

“We practice that play a lot in practice. When I heard the call, I just gave my man a good move. Nate [Sudfeld] just had to put it out there and he put it in a perfect spot. He [the quarterback] goes where he sees it best. I just gave my man a good move and he put it in the perfect spot for me to go up and get it. It was away from the safety so it was an easy catch for me.”

(On his night)

“It was a good learning night. I made some plays but I also made some mistakes. There is a lot to learn. I just have to go back and watch film and correct them for next time. Looking back on that, [the punt return for negative yardage] that was just a learning mistake. You’ve got to go back and look at the film and go from there, make sure you don’t make the same mistake again and just move forward.”

(On his comfort level in the offense)

“I think I’m pretty comfortable. I’m just practicing different positions and trying to learn the whole playbook. I think I’m getting pretty comfortable I just have to keep practicing and keep learning everything.”

Malcolm Jenkins, CB

(On his unnecessary roughness penalty)

“On my penalty, I asked why it took so long to throw the flag to which he responded that he was processing it. The explanation I got for the flag was that I didn’t have to hit him, which is kind of opposite of what my job description is, so I don’t understand that.”

(On all the penalties on the defense)

“It’s different than rules in the past and I think it’s something that is just unavoidable. Hopefully it’s just a preseason game and they will work out how they are going to call it by Week 1.”

(On the play of the defense)

“I think those penalties definitely hurt us. There was a lot of good and a lot of bad, but we’re still evaluating.”

Lane Johnson, T

(On the noticing different things on their defensive front)

“Not really, I went against number 91 and 58 and with the new defense. It was pretty much the same guys”

(On the perception of a double standard professional athlete face when they speak their mind)

“If you do good they are going to rip you, if you do bad they are going to rip you, and that is how the game goes. At the end of the day I really don’t concern myself with how people view me; it is really about how this team views me and the personnel who run it.”

(On the uneven performance on offense)

“It was inconsistent, three 3-and-outs; we didn’t move the ball, we had penalties. We just didn’t look crisp and we didn’t look sharp and that is not who we want to be.”

(On learning from the preseason)

“Yes, that is what preseason is about. Try getting these little mistakes out of the way so when Week 1 rolls around you are rolling good.”

(On feeling good about the offensive line in practice)

“I think we will be OK and we have a lot of corrections to make. This next game coming up against the Browns will be big for us to learn a lot and come out and be better.”

Rodney McLeod, S

(On his penalty)

“It is my understanding that it was more so for leading with the crown of your head and more helmet to helmet. It felt like on that play, I didn’t do either. I went low and led with my shoulder and he [James White] saw me coming and he obviously tried to get lower himself. They made the call and I asked the referee why he called it. He said any type of movement where you do lower your head during the preseason they are going to call it. I am hoping when the first game comes about, that a routine tackle like that doesn’t get called.”

(On the impact the rule change will have on the outcome of games)

“As players we just have to adjust with the rules and I am hoping that these calls that were called tonight are not going to be called on a consistent basis, I felt like a lot of those were not fouls. The league makes rules and we have to be able adjust.”

(On the first defense’s performance)

I felt we played well; we extended some drives due to penalties. Like the one we had previously talked about. I was the victim of that on the first drive and obviously those are things we can’t do. Going against Tom Brady and the Patriots is always good for us getting some good work. We left some opportunities out there and we still have a lot of work to do before we play Atlanta [Falcons].

Haloti Ngata, DT

(On playing the Patriots)

“The Patriots are always known as a great team and it is always good to see how you measure up. So it is definitely good because you get a good feel on how you are doing.”

(On his preseason goals)

“You want to make sure you are in good shape and get your body feeling good for the regular season.”

(On being an Eagle)

“I love it! I love being here. Hopefully we can just fix the things that we need to, start out fast and have a great season.”

Nate Sudfield, QB

(On how he felt playing tonight)

“I felt good. It felt good to play that long. I was pretty encouraged we were able to move the ball down the field. Obviously I was disappointed we weren’t able to score just before the half. But, it was fun to get into a rhythm and see some different looks.”

(On the 57 yard pass to Shelton Gibson)

“I was excited because Coach [Doug Pederson] was being really aggressive calling a go route on the outside. I knew if I had one I was going to try and hold the safety in the middle. Obviously, Shelton is really fast and I just tried to let him run under it and he did a great job making a play on it.”

(On his ability to throw the deep ball)

“I’d like to think that I can make most throws out there. Obviously it’s pretty satisfying to hit the deep ball, but there is a lot going on in the play and I wouldn’t say it’s all me. It’s never going to get there if the line is not protecting me, which they did a great job. It feels good and I feel confident making those throws, but it’s a group effort.”