Brian Flores – December 17, 2021
Friday, December 17, 2021
Head Coach Brian Flores
(The two starters who have missed practice all week, RB Myles Gaskin and WR Jevon Holland, is there knowledge of the Jets and their conditioning good enough where if they should clear protocol by 4 p.m. tomorrow you would be comfortable playing those two on Sunday without any practice?) – “Myles (Gaskin) will be back at practice today as well as Salvon (Ahmed). Jevon, we’ll take that day to day.”
(Right, so RB Myles Gaskin and RB Salvon Ahmed are out of protocol and available to play on Sunday?) – “Available to practice today.”
(Okay and also I was going to ask about G/T Austin Jackson was ill and is he going to be able to play on Sunday do you think?) – “We’ll see how practice goes today. Obviously, he was dealing with something non-COVID related. We’re just taking that one day at a time but he will be out at practice as well today.”
(The team acquired CB Damon Arnette on Wednesday. Were there any concerns over why he was released by the Raiders and what were conversations like with him to assure you that he is in a good place?) – “We signed Damon (Arnette) to the practice squad. We’ve been taking a look at him. I think Chris (Grier) and his staff did a lot of background work on him and felt good about bringing him in and taking a look.”
(Just wanted to ask you amidst all the crazy stuff around the league this week and of course with you guys as well just how the team and your coaching staff has responded to all the change throughout the course of the week?) – “I think we’ve done that. I think our support staff does a great job of adjusting and being flexible. I think everyone needs to do that right now. This setting is supposed to normally be in-person but we got to go Zoom because that’s what the times call for. Whether it’s our equipment staff, our medical staff, our cafeteria staff; each department has kind of made some adjustments to fit the new league protocols and our players are making that adjustment as well. All the while keeping our focus – I should say our support staff has done a great job of making those changes pretty seamless so that the players can focus on the Jets, our opponent this week, which is going to be a big challenge.”
(On that same line, do you think you have been successful on maintaining all the COVID talk out of the way in terms of your preparation? Do you feel comfortable with the way things have been going this week even though we’ve been talking all week long about COVID?) – “I think this is kind of league-wide, what’s gone on from a COVID standpoint. There was a game that was played last night, games that are coming and I think we’ve got to compartmentalize and we know that’s going on just as a lot of things are going on. Really individually, there’s always something going on and when you get into the building, you really focus on what the task at hand is; that meeting, that practice, that walkthrough, the Jets and their team which they gave us a lot of problems the last time we saw them offensively, defensively and in the kicking game. We expect that type of game again. That’s what we’re preparing for, a 60-minute dog fight against a division opponent and that’s what we’re preparing for.”
(Did RB Malcolm Brown look good enough this week, healthy enough where you think he’s going to be able to play Sunday and do you feel good with what you have at running back now with RB Salvon Ahmed and RB Myles Gaskin at least practicing today? You’ll see how they look potentially Malcolm, RB Duke Johnson obviously as well.) – “Malcolm (Brown), we had a walkthrough yesterday so Malcolm did some good things on Wednesday. We’ll see how today goes. Same with the rest of the group. When you’re out for as long as Myles and Salvon were, we’ll see them come back and see what that looks like today. At least we’ve got more guys available, we’ll make a decision and a lot will ride on what that looks like today.”
(I want to know about the preparation for the guys who are out with COVID. Do they have an opportunity to keep up with the Zoom in terms of the gameplan or are they coming in today cold and sort of in the dark and have to play catchup?) – “They don’t have days where they’re totally off. We’ve been zooming. What we do is guys who are in protocol, they zoom into all the meetings and obviously everything has gone virtual so all players are in all meetings. We’ve kept them up to speed on the gameplan, what we’re doing in all three phases and we’ll try to make those as interactive as possible having guys answering questions, unmuting and those guys are a part of those meetings. It’s one thing to just meet, it’s another thing to get out there and actually do a walkthrough or a practice. It will be good to get some of those guys back into a practice setting.”
(In terms of gameplan and the work that you’re going to do today – you do have two days – how much do you feel you can get an evaluation on those guys coming back in two days?) – “I think the guys you are talking about Salvon (Ahmed), Myles (Gaskin); these are guys who do have some banked reps from the season. I think that some of the plays that are just kind of core concepts, core plays, core schemes or concepts; I think it’s more just kind of getting into the huddle and hearing it, and going through it as more of a refresher. Anything that’s brand new obviously we’ve got to see what they looks like as well. But if we feel good about the way it looks and how it was repped today, then we might go with one of those guys. Otherwise we’ll go with someone who has repped it a little bit more during the week.”
(You had the news yesterday that WR Jaylen Waddle landed on the COVID list, just on handling that loss, how that’s unique from any other time you played without other receivers this year?) – “It’s the next man up. We need winning contributions from everyone on the team. It’s not a one-man team, it’s not any one person. There are 11 guys on the field at a time. The message is what the message always is. Other guys got to step up and we need contributions from everyone. That’s how you have success in this league and we understand that. Again this is a tough opponent. They’ve got good players. They played us tough, and that game was 7-7, 14-14. It went back and forth really the entire game. We know that, we understand that. They know us well. They’ve got good coaches, they’ve got good players, we’ve got to play well this week.”
(With WR Jaylen Waddle primarily playing the slot even though he’s played everything. Is that next man up WR Isaiah Ford in the slot or where do you guys go in terms of finding guys who can contribute to the offense?) – “I feel we’ve got guys who can play a few different positions. Ford, ‘Mike G’ (Mike Gesicki), Albert (Wilson). I think we’ve got some options there. I think we kind of went through that when we got that information yesterday basically right in the middle of meetings. We’ll make some adjustments on the fly and we’ll kind of work through some of that today, but we’ve got a few different options there.”
(How challenging is that when players have to adjust on the fly quickly? I know TE Mike Gesicki plays a lot of slot, and WR Isaiah Ford is viewed as one of the smarter guys on the team, he can play everything. How much of an intellectual challenge will it be for them?) – “I kind of liken it to a game. If a guy goes down in a game, we’ve got to adjust on the fly. So we always have a backup plan. That backup plan went into action yesterday. But now obviously we have a little bit more time to say ‘maybe there’s some other things we can do.’ Normally in a game you don’t necessarily have that time unless you feel like you can get it run and executed or installed and executed on the sideline, at halftime. Now we have a little bit more time. We were able to kind of go back in last night, and say ‘This is where it’s going. We can do this, that, or stay the same.’ I know the question was how hard is that. I think it’s something that happens really weekly across the league and that’s kind of what we’re dealing with.”
(If you don’t get S Jevon Holland back tomorrow out of protocol, obviously you got S Brandon Jones assuming he’s healthy, and S Will Parks, and S Clayton Fejedelem, and you cross train. Could CB Justin Coleman, and CB Nik Needham play safety if need be on Sunday? Have they’ve gotten enough work there going back May, June, August where you’d feel comfortable with that?) – “I think as a staff we go through every potential player that can play a different position. Obviously there is more conversation when you have a player who is down. So yeah, we talk about all of those situations. If we move this guy here, who is going to play his spot and round and round and round. Can we get this checked if so and so is here… I think there is a lot of conversation that goes on there. But yeah, those conversations I’ve had, I think we like the depth in the safety room. Whether it’s (Eric) Rowe, whether it’s ‘Fej’ (Clayton Fejedelem), whether it’s safety Brandon Jones. I think those guys do a good job from a communication standpoint of getting guys lined up. I think we’re dealing with a quarterback who is skilled, who is very talented, who has really played well, and who has gotten hot I would say. We’ve got to do a good job collectively as a team, as a defense communicating. Obviously taht starts at the safety position and the linebacker position. Those are really the signal callers on defense. That part of it we’ve got to have right. I think we’re always keeping that in mind as we’re trying to put those guys out there.”
Andrew Van Ginkel – December 16, 2021
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Thursday, December 16, 2021
LB Andrew Van Ginkel
(I think among edge players, you’re second in the league in quarterback hits. Do you take pride in that, or do you say ‘darn it, I wish a few more had been converted into sacks?’) – “Obviously you’d like to get the sacks. I’m just trying to figure out how I can get better and different ways I can attack the quarterback and just be a step quicker so I can get those sacks. Obviously I’d rather have those sacks, but all I can do is keep trying to get better and improving.”
(One COVID-19 question for you. Have you personally made any changes this week to your approach to life knowing how contagious this variant is? Are you staying in more? Have you made any conscious changes?) – “No. I’m just kind of going about my life and doing the protocols that they give us and just trying to be smart with how I abide by things.”
(Today the team went into increased protocols within the facility. What has that been like to deal with?) – “It’s just another thing that we have to deal with. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter because we’re obviously preparing for the Jets and we’re trying not to let it become a distraction. As long as we focus on the Jets and try to get better each and every day, I think that’s the main goal.”
Brandon Jones – December 16, 2021
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Thursday, December 16, 2021
S Brandon Jones
(I know when we last talked to you a couple weeks ago, you said you were planning to play but weren’t certain if the elbow would be healthy enough. Are the elbow and the ankle both healed, even though you were limited yesterday, where you’re pretty sure you will be able to play on Sunday?) – “I’m still taking the same approach I did last week. Obviously with the bye week and stuff, I feel really good. The ankle and elbow feels really good. It’s kind of taking the same approach, same routine as I’ve always done and just see how I feel on Sunday.”
(I was going to ask you also if you have texted or talked to S Jevon Holland? Can you share with us whether he is sick at all or if he has symptoms?) – “I’ve texted him a little but just to check in. I didn’t get too far in detail about symptoms so I’m not too sure on what exactly he does have. I miss my dog, man.”
(On that note, if S Jevon Holland can’t go on Sunday, what kind of challenge will that be for the secondary and the safeties to play without him? And after a couple of weeks where the defense had to play without you. Kind of switching roles there.) – “It will always be tough especially with a guy like Jevon, just how vocal he is and just how much of a great player he is on the field. Even though he’s young, just being able to communicate and get people lined up, he’s done a tremendous job of that this year so that’ll be pretty hard. But our DBs coach, ‘GA’ (Gerald Alexander), really teaches all the DBs throughout the season because you never know what will happen. Throughout training camp, throughout practice, we’ve all kind of been able to multi-task and do a lot of different things for certain circumstances, whether it’s COVID or people getting injured. We all have a lot of experience in being able to do a lot of things and staying a step ahead of situations like this.”
(When there is a COVID positive at your position, do you feel a greater responsibility to stay safe? Not to stay in a glass bubble but to even be more cautious than you would if your position group wasn’t impacted.) – “I’ve been pretty responsible and smart about everything as it is. With tests coming up and people popping for COVID, obviously I’ve gotten tested a lot more frequently just to make sure with my fiancé and stuff my outside life from football, making sure that stays intact and don’t have any outbursts or outbreaks with that. That’s really just the biggest difference, just getting tested a little bit more frequently.”
(It’s a big topic in sports with cases mushrooming this week whether players who are COVID positive but asymptomatic should be allowed to play. Do you have an opinion on that?) – “I don’t know man, that’s above my pay grade. (laughter) I don’t even have an answer for you.”
(It’d be good to get your thoughts on facing QB Zach Wilson. You saw QB Joe Flacco the first time you played the Jets so now getting your first look at the rookie.) – “Being a rookie, he has a very talented arm, makes really good decisions, does a really good job of throwing with anticipation which is kind of rare – not rare but you don’t see it a lot in a younger quarterback. It’s something that they usually have to develop over time. He does a really good job of putting the ball where it needs to be and just kind of having an overall control of the offense even when he makes certain checks, if he sees a look and doesn’t like it, you see him on film being able to kill certain calls, make different changes to the formations and stuff like that. I think, from what I’ve seen, he’s done a really good job.”
Raekwon Davis – December 16, 2021
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Thursday, December 16, 2021
DT Raekwon Davis
(Everyone in society talks about COVID-19 fatigue. Are you guys just sick of it and how it’s impacting pro sports this week with more than 100 NFL players testing positive and a bunch of NBA stars out as well?) – “Right now it’s just – right now we’re just taking it one day at a time. Just trying to separate guys. We had a couple guys go on COVID-IR. We’re just trying to keep from getting more guys going back on COVID-IR. That’s it.”
(The times you are being doubled this year compared to last, obviously there was quite a bit both years. Has it increased a little? A lot this year?) – “It’s about the same to me. I really don’t know. I think it’s about the same though, to be honest with you.”
(Which is more than half the time you think?) – “I don’t know. Hey, I get double-teamed. That’s all I can tell you. I don’t know how many times in the game I get double-teamed, I just get double-teamed.”
(What are your thoughts on going against QB Zach Wilson this week? A guy that you did not face the first time you faced the Jets.) – “It’s going to be new. He’s a quick quarterback. He likes to run out of the pocket. You’ve got to just be mindful of the things he likes doing. He’s a scrambling quarterback so you got to keep contain on him.”
Liam Eichenberg – November 16, 2021
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Thursday, November 16, 2021
T Liam Eichenberg
(From a COVID-19 perspective, what’s the thinking of the offensive line group? Have you all collectively decided to stay in all of the time? Is this something that you guys have talked about amongst yourselves?) – “It’s a situation where we listen to Kyle Johnston, our head (athletic) trainer. Obviously it’s a weird year once again dealing with COVID and everything. We just try to space out, try not to be all together at times, try to take precautions, put on masks when we’re told to. Stuff like that. It’s obviously in the background with everything that is happening.”
(Since you were in college last year, you didn’t experience the NFL season of meeting conducted virtually. Was today your first virtual meeting if they have happened yet? What was that experience like?) – “In college we actually had in-person meetings. The only time I’ve really done the virtual meeting was over the summer during OTAs when it was Zoom. That was about it.”
(Is it strange at all or perfectly normal and easy to absorb information over the computer as opposed to in person?) – “I’d say there are pros and cons. I think on the computer, there is a chance that guys might not be paying as much of attention. In person, I think you can actually show people how to do things better. That’s probably the pro there.”
(I know oftentimes he’s behind you and you’re blocking for him in front of him, but what has been your impression of RB Duke Johnson in practice as he’s the one running back on the active roster right now?) – “Duke is a great player. He’s a guy that’s played for a long time. He’s been around. He understands ball very well. He sees the holes very well. A downhill guy. At the end of the day, he’s a guy that goes hard. That’s all I can ask for is a guy who works hard and is committed. I‘m excited for him to be behind me. He’s done a good job so far this year.”
(Do you as players know the health of the five guys that are on the COVID list? Is there any update provided to you by coaches, or Head Athletic Trainer Kyle Johnston or anyone, or is it only the close friends of those five who check-in with them know how they are actually doing and if they are sick?) – “For me, because some of them are younger guys, you kind of reach out on your own. That’s about it.”
(Of the ones you’ve reached out to, are any sick or experiencing symptoms?) – “I’m not sure. They really didn’t get into too much depth about it. It’s kind of, ‘we’re in the hotel,’ and dealing with that life.”
Isaiah Ford – December 16, 2021
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Thursday, December 16, 2021
WR Isaiah Ford
(I have to ask you the obvious question; your reaction when you heard the news about WR Jaylen Waddle? And I would ask it in consideration with the other running backs who are out as well. When you put all that together, what do you see?) – “First of all, we are praying for Jaylen and hope that he has a speedy recovery. I’m not sure how he’s feeling just with the virus and everything like that. It’s a really big opportunity for a lot of the other guys. We pride ourselves on having that next-man-up approach and it’s going to take all of us to cover Jaylen’s role as well as the running backs, whoever’s in there. It’s going to take a full team approach.”
(I know you’ve done meetings virtually before, obviously last year. What’s that experience like compared to being in person? Does it feel at all weird or not at all because of last year’s experience?) – “I think it’s been the new norm so to speak with us doing it all of last year. I don’t think it’ll be anything different. We know the job that we have to do. It’s lock in for those however many hours that we are doing it and then after that, you can kind of unwind. We’re still on the clock, we still have work to do and we’re preparing to try to beat the Jets.”
(I know Head Coach Brian Flores has not gone as far as to tell guys you can’t go out. I don’t think any NFL coach can or would do that. But is it at the point to where players need to discuss that among themselves and agree collectively basically to stay in their house and at the facility for four more weeks?) – “I think we all know what’s at stake. I don’t think that really has to be overly emphasized or anything like that. We all know that we love this game and we all know that we love each other so we want to keep each other as safe as possible. Not only us, but each other’s families. I think that kind of goes without saying.”
Michael Deiter – December 16, 2021
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Thursday, December 16, 2021
C/G Michael Deiter
(A few of us saw you last Wednesday in something that looked like a boot, so we worried whether you had any sort of setback. Was there a setback? Or were you wearing that merely for protection as a precaution and you’re fine?) – “No setback. Just a precaution. I’m fine.”
(How do you feel like you played in your first game back and do you feel more in a groove? I know it’s hard to re-establish after nine weeks.) – “There was some good, some bad. I think I did ok. I definitely need to improve but that’s how it was before I was out. I just need to make sure I’m still communicating good and making sure everyone is on the same page, and obviously getting back into a groove is already happening. Getting back into the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday – all of those days – and what Wednesday means, what Thursday means, what Friday means. That groove is coming back.”
(How would you describe what it’s like trying to prepare for a game when it seems like every day there’s a new player who is going on the COVID-19 list.) – “It’s the same old, same old. It’s the guys who are next up, they need to understand that their number might be called and they need to be ready to help this team win. It’s the same with coaches. It could be the next man up with the coaches too. Everyone involved needs to be ready to be the next guy up, whether you’re p-squad, third on the depth chart – it doesn’t matter because obviously it’s real. COVID is real. Everyone can have an opportunity out of nowhere so people need to prepare that way and be ready to help this team if need be.”
(You’re mostly blocking in front of him but what have been your impressions of RB Duke Johnson this week? What have you seen from him, the way he’s practicing and the way he’s going about things?) – “Duke looks really good. He’s a smart player. He’s obviously had some success. He’s a downhill runner, which you love as an o-lineman. I think he’s got a lot of potential and I think he’s going to run really well. We have a ton of confidence in him. I hope he has a bunch of confidence in us. I’m excited to see him get more work.”
Mike Gesicki – December 15, 2021
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Wednesday, December 15, 2021
TE Mike Gesicki
(How was the bye week?) – “The bye week was great. A nice little mental and physical reset and now we’re back to work but it was good.”
(Do you feel like guys were juiced up, ready to go?) – “Oh yeah. Everybody is in the right frame of mind, everybody is happy to be back and excited for another opportunity.”
(QB Tua Tagovailoa says he doesn’t pay attention to social media and I’m sure there are a lot of guys like that. Are you aware of the analysts who praise Tua, those who are critical? If you hear something critical, does it bother you as a loyal teammate or are you completely oblivious about everything being said about him?) – “You obviously hear it. I watch SportsCenter every day. You see it, you hear it but the thing that’s not a big deal, it is what it is – it’s just how sports fans and the people that talk about it are – the thing that’s frustrating – that’s probably the wrong word – are the people that are negative and then positive and then negative and then positive. That’s when, in the past I’ve said uneducated and whatever I said in the past that (Dolphins staff) is getting ready to jump on the stage and tell me to stop talking, (laughter) but that’s what I’m talking about when I say that kind of stuff. It’s the people that are negative and then positive and then, ‘Oh he’s so great,’ and then ‘Oh he’s not.’ Just pick a side and then roll with it.”
(You said you watched SportsCenter every day, who’s your favorite all-time anchor?) – “That’s a great question. I don’t know and now you’re putting me on the spot with names. I kind of just watch it, some highlights here and there, it’s on in the background. I literally don’t watch anything else besides sports so I go home, watch some NBA, Steph Curry last night and all that kind of stuff. That’s pretty much all I watch.”
(Scott Van Pelt is the GOAT by the way in my opinion.) – “Yeah absolutely. I did watch SVP last night for sure. He had Steph on, so it was cool.”
(RB Duke Johnson might be getting an opportunity on Sunday. When you see a guy come from the practice squad, do you have words of encouragement? Of course he’s a veteran, but I’m just wondering if you get to talk to him?) – “Duke is a professional. He handles himself in a really professional way. From the day he got here, he’s got experience on a couple different teams and many, many seasons in this league. He knows how to go about his business and I’m excited for his opportunity.”
(Have things changed for you and the offense, if at all, with all of these running backs potentially out?) – “Yeah, I think Durham (Smythe) has been getting some snaps at running back. He’s already taken snaps at quarterback. I said this in the past, his price tag is going to continue to go up now. Now he’s getting snaps at running back so make sure you get that news out up to New York. (laughter)”
(Pick him up on your fantasy team?) – “Yes. Yes.”
(This will be your eighth game against the Jets in your career. Obviously, staffs and personnel change, but is there one thing you can always expect going into a Jets game?) – “They’re always going to be ready to play. Like you said, staffs change and all that kind of stuff but this team, they’re always going to be ready to play. I think it’s going to be a good matchup and a great challenge for us and something that we are excited about.”
(Do you worry about the COVID cases not only in the NFL but in all sports, the NBA, soccer, etc. Do you worry about that?) – “Yeah. I think it’s definitely something that you have to be aware about and be smart about. There’s only so much that you can control but you can control leaving here, being safe and all that kind of stuff and then following all the protocols that the NFL sets inside of these doors.”
