Miami Dolphins Interim Head Coach Todd Bowles Monday Press Conference

Miami Dolphins interim head coach Todd Bowles met with the media earlier today, holding the customary day-after-the-game press conference. Here is the transcript from that press conference, as provided by the team.

(On evaluating the job John Jerry did playing left tackle for the first time)- "We thought he competed. The biggest thing about John is he's physical and he likes to compete. We have to clean up some technical things about him in the past game that type of thing. He put his weight on some people. He moved some piles. It was a very positive thing."

(On what makes John Jerry good at what he does)- "He has a lot of physical ability. That guy that big that can move that well he can move some piles for you. When you get in that type of atmospheres with the weather like that and you're trying to run the ball a guy like that comes in handy."

(On Jake Long helping John Jerry on the sideline)- "Yeah Jake was outstanding on the sideline like a coach on the field. I think we have a lot of guys like that at various positions that help you when you come off the field if those guys aren't getting it done or injured or anything. Jake was valuable to him."

(On how much left tackle John Jerry has played)- "He plays it in practice. He plays in on scout team. Nothing like playing it full time in the ball game. It was his real first experience added but he has played it in practice."

(On how much the veterans and captains helped him yesterday dealing with everything)- "I thought they were outstanding all week. Those guys get the players going as they have all year. They were great yesterday on the sideline. They were great in the locker room. I think that carried us a long way."

(On Jake Long's future the next two games and getting him back in there)- "We hope to. We haven't gotten the injury report back yet but he's no worse because he didn't play. We'll kind of take it day by day and see where he is during the week."

(On Koa Misi and his injury)- "Same thing. He's out. Hopefully something to come back this week...day by day. He'll probably be the furthest away but right now we're still holding that hope."

(On keeping Jake Long out or if he wants to get back in there)- "He wants to get back in there. We want him back in there. Anybody that can play will play. Jake's a competitor, he's a warrior, he's a captain for us and we missed having him out there."

(On how fun it was to see his former coaching position in the defensive backs have a game like they did yesterday)- "They've come along. They started out the season rough. Vontae (Davis) and Sean (Smith) yesterday I thought both of those guys competed extremely hard. I can't say enough about Vontae the past couple weeks. The guys been making plays. He's been studying more. He's becoming a true professional...Sean as well. Sean does all the little things right. He prepares and he's a very smart individual. Those guys are playing well."

(On Nolan Carroll and Reshad Jones)- "They have some good roles. They like to compete. Nolan's coming off...he started off the season rocky. But him and Reshad they've come along. They rounded into shape and helping us a great deal as we expected them to."

(On why the secondary started out rocky)- "Youth. I mean they were young. Without the camps and everything with guys coming in like that it's going to be tough for anybody and it has been all year for most defenses. Those guys they matured. They learned a lot of things and they came around. They got to learn how to get beat down and get back up and I think they did a good job."

(On being surprise with Reggie Bush's performance in cold weather)-"Ever since I've been watching Reggie (Bush) in college he's made those kinds of plays. I haven't seen them all in cold weather, but he's been a star in this league for a long time. He's making plays every time he's out there. He's been healthy all year. I think that has a lot to do it. The line was blocking for him and Reggie did what Reggie does. Proud to see him do it. It was fascinating to watch. I thought he did a good job."

(On any concerns about the play of the defense at Buffalo)-"No, I thought the defense played well early on. Last series we made them take the long way. They got some dink-and-dunk passes on us that they would catch and runs. But for the most part the defense did a good job. Turnovers were the important thing. If you can get turnovers in this league that kind of washes away everything else and we got three turnovers."

(On anything surprise you from watching film)-"No, pretty much the same all the time. Kind of grade the film, seeing it from an offensive standpoint and grading the film and looking at it a little bit different, but for the most part, no."

(On how impressive were Brian Hartline catches)-"I thought Brian (Hartline) jumpstarted us actually. He got the first catch down there and dove. He's from Ohio State, it's a Michigan game for him so he should be use to that kind of weather (laughing). I had a few of those guys like that between him and Matt Moore, Oregon State and Ohio State so they kind of like the weather. They loved it in pregame. Those guys were all ready to go so Brian did a great job we thought. He makes great catches in practice and makes them in the game. He's a tough guy. He's a very tough guy."

(On Matt Moore played very well yesterday despite his health)-"He did. After the first sack he got up and he did show any ill effects of that. Kind of knew he was going to be alright just a matter of him settling in so he managed it well. He threw some good deep balls and he carried us for the most part in the first half."

(On how the schedule is going to be this week with the game on Saturday)-"Well, the players will be off today. They'll come in tomorrow. Tomorrow will be like a Wednesday. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday will be Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday."

(On liking the fact that since it's a short week you're able to jump right back into studying)- "I don't think you like it. You deal with it. We've had a Thanksgiving Day game, Thursday Day game before so you kind of get use to the schedule and we kind of know where it goes."

(On beginning to settle into the new position)- "Yeah, you settle in and there's always going to be something new to learn. You can be a head coach in this league for 10 years and you'll have to learn some things new every day. Things happen every day so you try to control what you can control and make it about football and you move on."

(On these last two game being a statement for next season)-"Their AFC East rivals so playoffs or no playoffs we're going into the game. We can only do them one game at the time and this week it's the New England Patriots they've been on a roll. Obviously, they're a well-oiled machine. They beat us up pretty bad the first game of the year. So we got to do our homework."