Saints quarterback Derek Carr talks about the disappointing loss to the Rams and what went wrong.
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00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:03 >> Derek, obviously a disappointing result.
00:05 Just kind of your assessment, thoughts on how things went tonight?
00:08 >> Yeah, you gotta give credit to them, always first.
00:11 They beat us, and we did a great job of fighting back, but it wasn't enough.
00:17 And so proud of our guys for that,
00:20 always, with the way we executed at the end of the game, the second half.
00:25 But obviously, losing game by eight points, it hurts,
00:28 cuz you think about every single play, what could have been.
00:33 But it's tough, you gotta tip your hat to them, to their coaching staff,
00:38 to their players, they did a great job.
00:40 >> In the half sequence, did you feel that was kinda a little bit rushed since you
00:44 guys had two timeouts, or did that kinda play out the way you thought it would?
00:47 >> Yeah, we all feel better if Chris's shoe doesn't blow up, and
00:53 we gotta play there.
00:54 And he made a great decision on the route, exactly what we talked about.
00:59 He ran a great route, and then the shoe just rips apart.
01:03 And it's like, dude, not the time for that, but then he can do about it.
01:09 But I think that then after that, we're trying to make the play,
01:13 make something happen.
01:13 And both times on the fourth down, I love the aggressiveness.
01:18 We knew, DA was very clear on that to the team.
01:22 And obviously against that offense,
01:25 you're not gonna win a lot of games kicking field goals against them.
01:28 You're playing ten times, you keep kicking field goals, it's gonna be tough.
01:31 And so we knew as offense we needed to execute, and there was just a couple.
01:36 We had opportunities, there was a couple.
01:39 The second one I had to get it out quick and try to guess where it was gonna be.
01:43 And then the first one, they just got it in there.
01:45 Chris ran a great route, and we would have had that one, but they made a play.
01:49 >> Darin, how do you feel if y'all can slide home against the pressure tonight?
01:52 >> Well, we knew it was gonna be tough.
01:54 We knew it was gonna be tough.
01:56 More so than just Aaron and what he's able to do by himself physically.
02:02 They make it tough schematically, cuz they know certain things you have to do
02:08 without getting obviously all into it, to make it hard on other parts of your
02:12 protection, and they did, they made it tough at times.
02:16 But I thought our guys fought and
02:17 did a great job of trying to limit as best they could.
02:20 And really, the second half fought really well.
02:22 That's a tough team to go two minute kind of tempo against because of what they can
02:27 do up front, and our line kept us in the game and we were able to make plays for them.
02:32 >> Yeah, it was tough running the ball tonight.
02:34 Why do you think they were so effective in taking that away?
02:36 >> Yeah, the play actions were good.
02:39 And so usually when that's good, you would say the runs.
02:44 It's hard for me to tell cuz I'm turning my back every time.
02:46 That would be better for those guys to talk about.
02:51 But after I watch the film, we'll see.
02:54 But they did, they made it tough.
02:57 Again, you gotta give credit to their front.
02:58 They did a good job in certain areas and certain things, but
03:02 I also thought our guys did good too.
03:03 >> The down efficiency tonight,
03:07 how would you describe the effort there?
03:11 I think it started like two for eight there before kind of rallying.
03:14 >> Yeah, it was tough at the beginning.
03:16 There was a couple plays where we were gonna have to make some corrections
03:22 because I was expecting one thing and we got another.
03:25 But the positive is we've been able to talk about things and
03:31 then get on the same page and do it better.
03:32 So some things came up, some came up today that hadn't happened to us yet.
03:38 You're like, why today?
03:39 Yeah, but it did.
03:42 And we'll talk about that cuz then we could have another one there.
03:44 I think about, there was another one.
03:47 Again, simple correction to make.
03:51 Just sucks that with only three games left, man, now we gotta fix it now.
03:56 But we will be positive about that.
03:58 But I thought we did a good job of the plan we loved.
04:02 And so I thought we got going, started picking them up.
04:05 We were close again on a couple others.
04:09 But at the beginning, it was not good enough.
04:12 That's just simple.
04:14 It wasn't good enough by us as players.
04:17 >> And you are no longer controlling your own destiny, but
04:20 what kind of mindset was it the last two games?
04:23 >> Playoff mentality.
04:24 That's been our mentality, but really, win or go home kind of thing.
04:28 And so thankful to be playing meaningful games in December, but
04:33 we have to do our business.
04:37 We can't worry about.
04:38 Again, I've been in those scenarios where we had 1% chance and
04:40 all that kind of stuff.
04:41 I've lived that world and
04:43 all you can focus on is what you can control no matter how tough it is.
04:47 No matter how much you wanna watch everyone else.
04:49 It really doesn't matter at this point for us.
04:51 We have to win the last two.
04:53 We have to win our games.
04:54 It's gonna be tough cuz two teams that have beat us.
04:56 And so hopefully everyone's mindset, get some rest,
05:01 spend time on Christmas with their families.
05:05 That's always good for your heart and for your mentors, as money would say.
05:10 And you just gotta keep pushing forward after that.
05:15 Tuesday, we're coming in and we gotta go.
05:17 And so I'll be studying on my off time and
05:20 get ready for these two games for sure cuz they're big for us.
05:23 >> Derek, I wanna go to one of the players' questions, asking about third down.
05:25 You mentioned that something had came up in the game and
05:28 having to fix something in real time.
05:30 What's the challenge in that and can you just share what that maybe,
05:34 not what it was, but around it?
05:36 >> Yeah, yeah, I'm glad you know I wouldn't say it by now and I'm sorry.
05:40 But that doesn't help you too much.
05:42 But it came up and it's like, dang, we haven't talked about that.
05:50 And so when you haven't talked about it, it's a little frustrating.
05:54 But it gave us an opportunity to say, okay, hey, we're playing the game.
06:00 I see what you're feeling, all that.
06:01 But if I'm not expecting it, if we haven't talked about it,
06:05 it's kind of tough for me to make that decision.
06:07 Cuz especially with not knowing what's coming and certain things in the play.
06:11 So we got better from it and we'll continue to grow.
06:16 But it's just hard and frustrating when it happens this late in the year cuz
06:20 dang, we needed that one.
06:23 And so it makes it hard, but we've been doing it.