COLTS INTERIM HEAD COACH JEFF SATURDAY

Opening Statement:

“Proud of the guys overcoming three turnovers in the first half. Gave ourselves a shot to win at the end. Unfortunately, didn't make enough plays at the end to get off the field. But we ran the ball well. Battled with it. And just unfortunately they made two huge plays at the end and then converted. So, a disappointing way that we finished the season. But proud of the guys' effort. They left it all out there for sure.”

Have you ever seen a finish like that?

“I've never seen a lot of what I've seen in the past eight weeks, right? So, baptism by fire, however you want to frame it. But no, I felt good about where we were and where we sat. And then I don't know what the first fourth-and-long was that they convert in the little middle hole shot. And then Rodney (Thomas II) just being mis-times it, however you just -- like I said, just some crazy plays happen and unfortunately they happened for them and not us.”

Have you been able to figure out what's been missing and why you can't finish games?

“Like I said, I thought the effort was good. I'll go back and take inventory and stock over the whole, the time I was here, when I have time. But this one is the only one I'm thinking of. And unfortunately, like I said, you have to make two plays at the end or three plays at the end and they make them. Tip the cap to them. We've got to make them and didn't.”

Do you feel like you've improved your chances of being the long-term candidate?

“I have given zero thought to any of that. I told those guys when I walked in the locker room the first time, and it has not changed, was to serve them the best I could, and I feel for those guys. They're the ones that lay it all on the line every week. And, again, we came up short, and that's heartbreaking for me for them. Again, those guys, just the way they play, I tip my hat to them. There ain't nothing easy about what we do. And to generate enthusiasm and energy and all the things that they've done these past few weeks, I'm just grateful for them.”

What was your message to the team?

“Really kind of the story of our season, right, is that we play, give ourselves a shot, and unfortunately at the end we didn't close it out. And this one wasn't one play. And similar to other games we had, it was a number of different plays, different players, different opportunities. And from my perspective, gotta find ways to make that happen. And unfortunately, they see them. They come up and say, Coach, I've got to make that. I get it. But unfortunately, we're not making them.”

How difficult has it been the last three, four, five weeks? How have you been trying to find answers but not being able to?

“I think from my perspective, like I said, I want to do the best I can for them. So anytime you feel like you're arming them and it's not coming up the way you want, it frustrates you. I can assure you, losing as a coach is much more painful than losing as a player, in my experience. And just because you're involved with all three phases. And so, if one phase plays well, it doesn't affect the other ones and vice versa. It seems like you always go home with some kind of difficulty to get through with that part of the staff.

So, I'm not -- it's just a disappointing way to finish the season. And I feel for those guys. But, again, I appreciate them. I told them I was grateful for them. Everything they did, showing up, never wavering, all the things I've asked of them, they did it each and every week. And the way they put it out there I was grateful to them for that.”

Did you think this was everything you thought it would be? Will you allow yourself to rest, take all this in?

“Probably at the latter part of this week. We'll do exit interviews, physicals, kind of all the things tomorrow like every other season that I've been a part of. And meet with the guys, say goodbyes to players over the next day or so. And then I'll start, I'll start looking at it and kind of diving into the details, for lack of a better term. So that will be probably towards the latter part of this week.”

You mentioned with the bad finishes, inability to close each time, how does the team learn to close?

“When you get young players, when you put yourself in it, it’s making it and building confidence that you can make the plays. The first week I'm here it's Bobby Okereke and Gilly (Stephon Gilmore) who make the plays, guys who have kind of been in those situations. And as the season progresses and other guys are in, it's those guys making the plays, however that looks and whatever it looks like. But once you start making them you build confidence. It's kind of like turnovers and sacks. You talk about those things coming in bunches. So, learning from that, it's no different from offense when you turn the ball over -- how do you learn from not making that mistake? And when you experience it, how do you make a change from it? That's how you go back and forth.”

Have you scheduled your interview?

“No.”

Do you still want to pursue the full-time job?

“Anything, for after the season, I'll talk to you guys tomorrow and through the week. But this is about today. That's where I am today.”

COLTS QUARTERBACK SAM EHLINGER

Walk us through the two interceptions.

“The first one, the pick-six, unfortunately, they went two Tampa so shell had to take the underneath checkdown. 52 (Jonathan Greenard) made a great play. I should have just thrown it away. And then the second one, I can't hold onto the ball that long. Thought I was going to have Parris (Campbell) coming back around the middle and he came around and hit my hand. But gotta get the ball out quicker.”

Is that something you're still learning to recognize things, get the ball out quicker?

“Absolutely. Absolutely. It's a long process. And it takes a long time for young quarterbacks to develop. And I think part of that is coverage recognition and getting the ball out because the d-line is really good and you don't have time. So, it's certainly part of the process.”

How much of it is, I know you’ve worked hard on it, looked at it on film, but how much is it different when it's game day?

“All of it. All of it. I mean, look around the league, it takes a long time for young quarterbacks to develop. Some have longer leashes, and I understand that. But it's unfortunate.”

How difficult has this year been like for you? “As I've looked back at the season and processed everything that's taken place, I'm very thankful for it. It's been an absolute roller coaster. But it's a roller coaster that I loved riding. I love the guys on the team. I love all these coaches. Yeah, the expectations were high and they weren't met, but we learned a lot about ourselves and as players. Obviously didn't want it to go this way. But we've learned a lot and we'll be better for it.”

I remember during camp you told us kind of a two-year process with Tom House. Will you work with him in the offseason again? What does year two look like in that process?

“Yeah, obviously gotta sit down and do exit interviews to kind of figure out what we need to work on. But I'll go out to San Diego to work with Tom (House). And it will be the physical stuff. But then talking with coaches and Chris (Ballard), now it's the processing, the speeding up, the getting the ball out. And that's coverage recognition, that's understanding concepts and, like we said, reps. Working with him, focus on physical development, and then also watching a lot of film to be able to diagnose coverages and schemes before it's too late.”

Game reps, did you find yourself reverting back to the old at all, or a battle with that in game reps this season?

“I think that it's kind of a balance. It never reverted back to all where it was all the way before. But it wasn't as perfect as it has been when there's no chaos around me. So, I think that it's kind of a balance between the two.”

From your experience, either high school, college, the pros, how long does it take you to really put a season out of your mind, to fully dive into the preparation for the offseason for next year?

“I think a few weeks, get away from it for a little bit. Take a step back and kind of go through it and diagnose and review. You can learn a lot in that process by just kind of stepping away and looking back. So I'll take a few weeks off, look back and then right on to next year.”

I know you hate the loss, but how nice was it to see Damar Hamlin's former teammates do so well today?

“Obviously any positive news for Damar (Hamlin), whether it be the people associated with him and also the progress that he's been making. It's unbelievable. So, for his two buddies to have a great day today, then obviously the progress that he's making is very positive.”

COLTS LINEBACKER ZAIRE FRANKLIN

How much does it mean to break the single-season franchise tackle record?

“A lot. A combination of a lot of hard work, just believing in myself, and trusting in my teammates. I’m thankful for the coaches and my teammates who put me in the right position to make plays. It’s been a journey. I’m just thankful that I was able to prove myself in the league this year and stamp myself as a true player in this league and playmaker. And this record is just the icing on top.”

Was there any doubt that you were going to do everything you could to get back out on the field?

“Yeah, four-and-whatever, down 10-points in a game that really doesn’t mean anything, but if I started a game, I want to finish it. Being out there with my teammates means everything to me. I know they depend on me, and if I ever could go, I’m going to go no matter the circumstance no matter, whatever it is. When I was down, as soon as I could feel my ankle, I was like ‘you know what? Let’s see if we can move on it and get back out there.’ There was no way I wasn’t going to come back in for the guys.”

What did you share with Rodney Thomas II after you specifically went and sought him out?

“I just told him that ‘there is nobody in the NFL that I would rather have in that situation than him in that moment right there.’ I would not choose anybody else in that moment for him. He’s a young superstar. He’s led our team in interceptions. He’s a playmaker. He’s red line to red line. It goes on and on. I know this feels like his darkest moment, but trust me, better is ahead of him. I am always here for him no matter what, in anything, regardless of what he needs. I know it’s going to sting, and I know it hurts, but like I said he’ll be stronger because of it.”

COLTS SAFETY RODNEY THOMAS II

What has it been like to see these guys work as hard as you have until the end?

“Nothing but heart throughout this whole team. I love everybody on this team. We battle, we fight, and stay beside each other. I just have to be better.”

What was the pre-game moment like with everybody on the field? What was the vibe in the moments leading up to kick off?

“We knew what we had to do. We came in here just trying to make some plays and try and get a win. That was the only thing on our mind: getting a win.”

I know it hurts in this moment, but big picture wise, last time you saw Damar Hamlin, he wasn’t awake. What does it mean to you knowing that he was awake keeping up with all the games?

“It means everything. I’m just glad he’s good. I’m just glad he’s okay.”