Xavien Howard – April 16, 2019
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Tuesday, April 16, 2019
CB Xavien Howard
(I know you guys have talked about a long-term contract. Are you all close?) – “My agent will handle that business. I’m just here to take care of my business on the field.”
(Are you excited about the possibility though that they do want to keep you long-term? Did that please you, just the fact that they’ve made an offer and want to keep you?) – “Oh yeah, I’m here today. I’m here getting better and to help my team win.”
(Why did you choose to come to this voluntary camp?) – “It’s a new staff, new guys. I just want to build as a team.”
(How important do you feel it is to play a leadership role for what’s here right now?) – “We’re trying to build with the new staff. We’re just trying to get things together and be on the same page.”
(What is your understanding of why S Reshad Jones wasn’t out here today?) – “I have no problem with that. I’m just worried about the guys that are here. Everybody is getting better and just wants to build.”
(You mentioned the new staff, what are your initial impressions of Head Coach Brian Flores?) – “He’s a great guy.”
(Would your hope be … I know you’re having your rep handle all of the contract stuff but would your preference be to get something done this offseason and to not go into this year in the final year of your contract?) – “I’m here today and we’ll just see how it goes from there.”
(What have you already learned about the things that Head Coach Brian Flores wants to do in his defense that you like?) – “It’s the first day here. We’re just trying to get a feel for it. We have to know our role in the defense that he wants us to do. We’re just going to get better each day.”
(Is there a big difference between the type of practice that was run last year and this one?) – “No.”
(How have you spent the spring?) – “I’ve been training, just trying to get better each and every day.”
Brian Flores – April 16, 2019
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Tuesday, April 16, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores
(How does it feel to be back on the football field?) – “It feels great. I’m extremely excited to be out here and to work with the players for the first time. Our coaches are excited. I’m just (ready) to get out there, quite honestly.”
(How would you describe the approach you want your players to take the next three days?) – “I think these next three days are about fundamentals (and) technique. This is a teaching camp. We’re not going to conquer the world over these next three days, but this is a teaching camp. We talked about that this morning with the players. It’s fundamentals, it’s technique, it’s our basic information, our basic installation. It’s getting out here, getting in and out of a huddle, the quarterback/center exchange, ball security – the basic, basic elements of football, because if you don’t have that as a foundation, we can’t do much after that.”
(What went into the AAF guys that you brought in? There was a whole batch of them, obviously.) – “I think the guys we brought in, they had some success in the AAF. They’re good players. They’re good people. They’ll come in and have an opportunity to show what they can do and if they can help this team win games, then they’ll be out there, that’s for sure.”
(How would you sum up what you saw in Phase I of the offseason program.) – “In Phase I, we don’t really get to see them very much. They’re in there with the strength coaches for the most part, strength training. Our coaches get them a little bit in some meetings, so that was good. That part of it was good. I think we’ve got a group that works hard. They’re eager to learn. It’s a new system for everyone. I think they’ve done a good job over these first couple of weeks, but it’s so early. You can’t make a determination of ‘this guy can do this, that guy can do that.’ We haven’t even stepped on the field yet.”
(The roster looks relatively thin. You don’t even have enough offensive linemen to put together two lines. How do you address that with seven draft picks?) – “Right now, my focus is on getting out there and to practice with the players we have. The guys we have, whether it’s however many or however little, we’re going to do everything we can to help those guys improve and help those guys become the best versions of themselves. We’ll worry about the draft and things of that nature when we get to that. I tell those guys ‘Let’s take it one play at a time.’ I’ve got to practice what I preach. That’s kind of my objective and my goal here over the next few days.”
(Where are WR Jakeem Grant and WR Albert Wilson in their recoveries from injury?) – “Those guys are working extremely hard to get back out on the field. They’re in here a lot. They’re in here and they’re doing everything they can do to get back on the field. Hopefully we see them out there as soon as possible.”
(You guys have the international player – DT Durval Queiroz Neto. How do you work with a guy when he might not have football instincts?) – “I think this is a great time for him to be here because it’s strictly fundamentals, it’s strictly technique. It’s the most basic part of football, where you’re laying a foundation down. I talked to him yesterday and I said ‘This is a great time for you to be here.’ He’ll be working hand placement (and) footwork). He’ll learn the basics of our defense from that standpoint. I’m excited to have him. He’s a good-looking young kid. We’ll work with him and we’ll try to get … He’s been here a day. The time I spent with him, he seems like he’s eager to learn, he’s eager to put in a lot of effort and we’ll try to maximize his potential, which I think there is something there.”
(How important is it to have a veteran like QB Ryan Fitzpatrick in here at quarterback considering the transition of this team right now? Is he the anticipated starter going into the season?) – “I think Ryan is a great leader. He’s shown that already. He’s been in this league a long time. He’s smart. He works hard. He embodies a lot of the qualities that we’re looking for in our players – not even our players, everyone in this organization. That leadership is something that I think this team needs. I think every team needs that. We need that from not just one player but we need that from everyone on the roster. I think, to me, leadership is … You don’t have to be a ‘rah-rah’ guy to lead. You have to work hard and put the team first. I think we’ve got a group of guys that do that. I think that’ll help us and I think he kind of leads the way from that standpoint.”
(What have the last two months been like for you?) – “They’ve been a lot of fun. I’m living a dream. There’s a lot going on. To be in this position, you’re dealing with players, coaches. (General Manager) Chris (Grier) and I work and we’ve talked on a daily basis over the last two months. Obviously we had free agency and draft and combine and our 30 visits. Those have all been parts of this process that I haven’t dealt with before, but kind of going through it has been good. It’s been a learning process. Like the players, I try to learn and improve every day. I tell them to do that. Again, I practice what I preach, so I’ve learned and tried to improve on a daily basis and I’ll continue to do that.”
(Does it enter a different phase today when you step on the field? Is this kind of a different category for you?) – “This enters the phase that I’m used to and I enjoy the most. I’m passionate about coaching football so today is a special day to me. It’s a special day for me, for this team and I’m excited to come out here and do what I love to do, which is coach football.”
(Aside from WR Albert Wilson and WR Jakeem Grant that you just mentioned, is there anyone else that won’t be working today, that you don’t expect to be working today?) – “This is a voluntary camp. We’ve had most of the guys here. I’ll tell you this, just being frank and honest with you – I’m going to try to do that with you guys – Reshad Jones won’t be here today. He and I have been in constant communication and I’m aware that he’s not going to be here. With that said, like I’ve said already, I’m going to coach the guys who are here. I’m going to help those guys improve. Our coaching staff is going to do the same and that’s that.”
(Do you see S Reshad Jones as part of the organization that you’re building?) – “Yeah. He’s here and he’s part of the organization. He and I have been in constant communication. Again, it’s voluntary. He made a decision to train somewhere else and it’s voluntary. There’s not much we can do about it and that’s where that is.”
(From your understanding, it’s not based on S Reshad Jones’ roster status, it’s that he decided separately?) – “Exactly. He and I obviously communicated about it and it’s voluntary. That’s where it is. It’s not the first time a guy hasn’t showed up to a voluntary camp. It’s voluntary.”
(We know S Reshad Jones had surgery in February. Does that factor into it as well?) – “Yes. There’s a few factors. I would say that Reshad, he’s obviously rehabbing his shoulder and he’s training. He’s been here, he looks good, he’s been in all the meetings. That’s been good. I think he’s learning all the terminology and learning the defense and that’s been good. It’s part of the process.”
(So you’re okay with S Reshad Jones not being here or you’re disappointed?) – “I’m focused on the guys who are here. That’s where I’m at. The guys who are here, I’m going to coach them. I’m going to coach them hard, I’m going to try to help them improve and that’s kind of my stance on that.”
(Is S Reshad Jones upset about anything?) – “You’d have to talk to Reshad about that.”
(Has S Reshad Jones indicated that he wants to be on the team next year or has he asked for you to try to move him in a trade?) – “I’m going to tell you guys this: My conversations with our players, I’m going to keep them private. I’m going to leave it right there.”
(How have you gone about managing and delegating everything that comes with your responsibilities in the draft and free agency, those type of things and like you said, you’re favorite part, the football?) – “That part of it’s been good. Delegating is something that’s – I don’t want to say it’s newer in this role. I’ve delegated in the past with some other roles but it’s different in this role. I have a lot of people on this staff that I trust, so delegating to them, it’s pretty seamless for me. It’s not a huge issue. But a lot of the things, obviously, I want everything run by my desk and kind of the way I want things. I think it hasn’t been an issue.”
(Have you felt how hot it is out there? Is that a change for you guys?) – “I enjoy the heat, so it’s not going to be an issue for me at all. (laughter) I’ve heard that over and over and over again since I’ve been here. We’ll see how hot it gets, but that’s never really been an issue for me.”
(Are there any other players aside from WR Albert Wilson and WR Jakeem Grant physically that aren’t able to go yet?) – “Again, from that standpoint, I’ll … The injury report comes out, when is that? September? (laughter) So, we’ll go with that. (laughter)”
(When you first got in front of the team, what were say two or three main bullet points you wanted to get across to the players to set the tone?) – “Let’s focus on improving. Let’s focus on technique. Let’s focus on our fundamentals. And let’s establish a practice tempo that will be … Again, practice execution becomes game reality. I really firmly believe that. That’s something I’ve learned over the years. So, let’s establish a practice routine, establish practice habits and focus on improvement. That’s probably four or five bullet points but that was the crux of our conversation this morning.”
(Obviously, S Reshad Jones’ absence impacts S Minkah Fitzpatrick because Minkah you wanted to cross train him at cornerback and at safety or at least it seems so. Does he now have to primarily focus on safety?) – “Minkah is going to play multiple roles. I don’t think someone being out of the lineup would affect that too much at this time. Again, this time of year, we’re not going to be in and out of crazy alignments or defensive … We’re not going to be in our exotics, I would say. This is not the time for that. This is about, again, fundamentals and technique and basic information installation. So, not really.”
(How important do you see this time of year in terms of establishing the foundation that you mentioned of practice?) – “I think every day counts. Every day counts. I think every day is a day to improve and a day to get better. I think any situation or any time we can improve is the difference between getting fourth-and-1 and not getting fourth-and-1. I think this counts. I’m excited about it and hopefully we can win today.”
(From a draft preparation, how different is it between last year and this year, defensive coordinator and head coach?) – “Again, right now my focus is coming out here in 15 minutes and working on helping these guys improve. Again, I’m a one-play-at-a-time guy. That’s what I tell the players. I’ve got to practice what I preach. That’s where my focus is. I understand the question. I know that’s coming up and …”
(Speaking as a guy who loves today, who lives for coaching, but you’ve got the draft duties also during the week, has that been a big change? Has that been difficult? Is it a little bit of a distraction? How would you describe that?) – “I would describe it as part of the job. I’ve got to compartmentalize. You guys have talked about that already. I’ve got a myriad of things I’ve got to do, the draft process is one of them. Meetings with players is another one and then there’s various things that I’m in charge of I would say, or things that I have to do. That’s part of the job. That part of it is fun, too. That’s where I’m at.”
(What level of input do you have? Does General Manager Chris Grier come to you and say, “We like these five guys. Which one do you like the most?” How does that work?) – “Chris and I are in constant communication whether it’s on the phone, whether he’s in my office, I’m in his office. We’re in constant communication about players, the draft, free agency, AAF players. He and I have a really good relationship. We’re aligned in a lot of the things we’re looking for in players. He’s excited about seeing the guys come out here today. It’s been a very good working relationship.”
