Sam Eguavoen – October 6, 2021
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Wednesday, October 6, 2021
LB Sam Eguavoen
(The biggest challenge to a QB Tom Brady-led offense you would point to? What is the biggest concern this week outside of what Tom does?) – “The biggest thing is just not focusing on what’s happened these first four games or whatever and just focusing on the next game. At the end of the day, it’s the NFL. Any given Sunday, anything can happen. But we can’t come into the game already beating ourselves for what our record is showing because going against a good team, if we’re not at the utmost confidence going into that game, it isn’t going to look good for us.”
(I know every year is different, different players and a different team, but you guys did start 1-3 last year and were able to win five-straight games and turn it around. Is there anything that you personally think that you can take away or the team can take away from last year’s turnaround?) – “Honestly, we’re not even looking at last year because every year is so different. You may still have the same core guys from last year but anything can happen. Divisions change, play-calling changes, there are a lot of changes. Just as a team, player-wise, we just can’t get rattled and what we did last year, this is what we did because it may not work with this team’s chemistry. Everything is different. Like ‘Flo’ (Head Coach Brian Flores) says, we just have to take it one day at a time, one meeting at a time and just keep working. That’s really the only answer to this. As long as we just keep working.”
(You’ve played against QB Tom Brady twice already your first year here, what goes into preparing for the best quarterback of all time? How excited are you as a player to get to defend against somebody like that?) – “It’s like a game of chess, you just can’t beat yourself. He’s been playing for two decades or whatever and he’s seen every single defense known to mankind. If we’re in a Cover 3 or whatever you’re in, everybody has to do their job. At the end of the day, when the ball is up in the air, it is me versus you. Tom Brady can’t control me versus this running back in coverage or whatever, or this defensive end versus that tackle. All he’s going to do is get the ball where he thinks it’s supposed to go. We just can’t beat ourselves and I feel like that’s what we’ve been doing these first four games. We’ve been pretty much beating ourselves and giving the other team opportunities.”
(Does a tackle after a QB Tom Brady completion, a tipped pass from Brady or anything coming against him, does it mean a little bit more because it’s who he is?) – “Not really. Unless they say, ‘Hey, if you get a sack on Tom Brady, I’m going to give you three million dollars.’ (laughter) A tackle is a tackle in the stat book. It doesn’t have an asterisk on Tom Brady. (laughter)”
(You don’t want that picture? You’re not going to post that picture on Instagram?) – (laughter) “Yeah, I’m going to post it and tag him. Nah man, a tackle is a tackle and a sack is a sack.”
(Three million would be nice too.) – “Oh yeah, for sure. (laughter)”
(How much are you enjoying what seems to be carved as a niche for you relative to attacking the quarterback? It seems like you’re really aggressively embracing that. What’s it like?) – “It’s fun. You just get to zero in on this one, specific job and do it to the best of your ability. The best of your ability is always to, after this play, it should be a sack. Not by me but somebody on this front four or front five, we’re sacking that quarterback or getting the sack, fumble or touchdown. Being able to feel that you can control the game up front, right there. I like the position I’m in with this team. I appreciate all the coaches for giving me a chance.”
(Did you feel like going back to practice today there was a renewed sense of, ‘Hey let’s bounce back.’ Kind of an urgency to the vibe in the locker room?) – “Yeah, we knew going into the week something was going to have to change. Our mindset was going to have to change but our work ethic was always still whatever the standard is ‘Coach Flo’ (Head Coach Brian Flores) set and even higher than what the standard is that he sets. I think it was just each player looking at themselves in the mirror and asking themselves, ‘Why do I want to be here? Am I going hard? Am I doing the most that I can to my full ability? Am I watching enough film?’ From our record, I’m guessing a lot of us weren’t going as hard as we should. This week, we just have to turn it around. No matter what the outcome of the game is, I want to make sure I put my best foot forward and then we just go from there.”
(You said change your mindset, what does that mean? What was the mindset before and what do you want it to be this week? I know you say look in the mirror but as a group, as a collective what does that mean to change the mindset?) – “The beginning mindset of the football season is you don’t know. Everybody’s record is 0-0. You work your tail off all training camp, going to the game and then you win. You really don’t know anything until adversity hits. Everybody changes when adversity hits. You just got to up your game and go harder. Maybe you skipped a rep in the weight room last week, maybe that’s the reason why you didn’t stop him on third-and-1. You never know. The eye in the sky never lies. My thing is, I know the man upstairs is always watching me. If he was down here watching me, I’d be going hard every single play so I can’t ever forget somebody is always watching so don’t ever cheat nothing. Don’t cheat the grind.”
DeVante Parker – October 6, 2021
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Wednesday, October 6, 2021
WR DeVante Parker
(Co-Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends George Godsey told us yesterday that they have to get the ball to you more earlier in games. Has that been something that’s been talked about? A message delivered to you this week that you’ve heard from coaches?) – “Yeah, they told me the same thing. Really we just need to get the ball going to anyone, really. Just execute the play they give us and that’s what it comes down to really – just getting that first play in and keep the drive going.”
(If you had to pick someone to replace WR Jakeem Grant as a character in the cartoon who might be eligible for your cartoon? Who might be a good choice?) – “(laughter) Somebody on the team?”
(Yeah, who would be a good cartoon character for that?) – “Probably say Kirk Merritt. Probably Kirk, yeah. (laughter)”
(We don’t know WR Kirk Merritt very well. What’s his personality like?) – “Kirk (Merritt) – he’s a laid-back kind of guy. He’s funny though. I’d say Kirk would be that guy. Laid-back, funny. Cool guy to be around.”
(I’m assuming you’re going to miss having WR Jakeem Grant around.) – “Oh yeah, most definitely, but it’s business and I wish the best for him. I hope he does well out there and we’ve got to keep going.”
(I know how close you guys are. Was that sort of an emotional or different conversation you had with him yesterday after the trade?) – “No, it was a good convo. Just like I said, happy for him. He’s getting an opportunity and wish the best for him.”
(How would you describe kind of your comfort level with QB Jacoby Brissett right now?) – “Yeah, I’m very comfortable with him. Certain routes, he sees things. We talk. We talk about it during that period or something in practice. Talk about what he sees and what he wants me to do and we just talk about little things like that, just staying on the same page.”
(So you kind of excel at making contested catches, whether you’re three yards away from somebody or if they’re in your jersey. How would you describe kind of the art of the jump ball and the art of the contested catch?) – “I don’t know, you just catch the ball. That’s it. You’ve got to just focus hard on it, just come down with it, when it comes down to it. I never really actually practice jumping ever. It just happens.”
(There’s no tells? You don’t look at whoever’s guarding you, look at their footwork?) – “No, I just go and attack it. That’s it, just attack the football. There isn’t much to it.”
(It comes pretty naturally to you?) – “Yeah.”
(You’ve seen it all. You’ve seen it all during your time here. What’s something that you can take away from this start that lets you know things might turn around?) – “We were in the same position last year and we went on a little streak towards the end a little bit last year, so I’m very confident in what we can do.”
(We kind of asked TE Mike Gesicki about what he might say to QB Jacoby Brissett from a receiver position. Technically a tight end, but he’s a receiver. What would you say to Jacoby relative to creating big plays and the opportunities that you believe can come to fruition on Sunday against the Bucs?) – “Really just to take it one play at a time. Just execute it – that play call. Don’t worry about nothing else. Just know what you have on that exact play and execute it. That’s really it, really.”
(What was the name of Keyshawn’s book – Keyshawn Johnson. “Throw Me The Damn Ball.” Are you familiar with Keyshawn Johnson?) – “(laughter) Yeah, I’m familiar with him.”
(What I meant is did you know about the title of his book, that it was called “Throw Me The Damn Ball”?) – “Oh no, I didn’t know that. (laughter)”
Jacoby Brissett – October 6, 2021
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Wednesday, October 6, 2021
QB Jacoby Brissett
(You get to see QB Tom Brady this week. A former teammate, a former friend I’m sure, mentor. How did he make you better when you were in the locker room with him?) – “I think just watching him and seeing his level of professionalism and his love for the game, his attention to detail and everything that he brought to being a quarterback and setting the standard of a quarterback. I think just watching that so young in my career is something that you try to emulate in your own fashion. I think it was very beneficial (for me).”
(On that subject, we love the Wolfpack photos and former memories. I don’t know if there was something specific that you could share with us. Every former teammate has a QB Tom Brady story. Was there a conversation or an interaction or experience with him that stands out to you?) – “Well, one day we were – it was during training camp and everybody is playing games in the locker room while we’re on break. And I was playing and he walked into the locker room and was like ‘What are you doing? Didn’t you just mess up this in practice? Then you shouldn’t be playing.’ (I was like) ‘Alright.’ So ever since then, I never play games in the locker room anymore. (laughter) That was when I really saw full Tom. I thought it was pretty cool though.”
(Knowing the kind of work and pressure that comes along with being an NFL quarterback, are you kind of in awe that QB Tom Brady is able to continue to do this at 44 years old?) – “It’s definitely inspirational for sure. It’s no surprise though. Like when you know him and you see all of the behind-the-scenes things that he puts into getting ready for a game and getting his body ready and his mind set, there’s no surprise that he’s doing what he’s doing. What is he – 44 (years old)? Yeah and I met him six years ago. He was ‘old’ (then). It’s definitely cool to see.”
(What was it like when you first stepped into the Patriots locker room and there’s QB Tom Brady? Were you awestruck in any way? How did he react to you?) – “I mean the first time I met him was on my visit there. He popped into the meeting room during OTAs and that was when I first met him. He walked in and was like, ‘Hey, I’m Tom.’ Like obviously we knew who you are. (laughter) But then it was just like alright – once I got to the team, we obviously knew who each other were. My locker was right next to his. I think we just hit it off and became friends.”
(What do you say to your teammates? This is a young team. They are excited but you have a losing record until now. What do you say coming into this game? You know QB Tom Brady personally, Head Coach Brian Flores knows him personally. What do you say to those young teammates that may be a little excited but unsure of the pressures of this game?) – “Well, there’s nothing wrong with being excited. I mean you get to play an NFL game. That’s exciting every week no matter if you’re 22 years in the league or one year in the league. That doesn’t change. So just go out there, be excited and have fun. But understand the intent of the game is not like you’re going to watch Tom play. We’re going to win. I think these players know that. It’s the start of the second quarter of the season. Obviously the first quarter didn’t go as well as we wanted it to, but we get to start over this quarter of the season and it starts this week.”
(There was a play during the Colts game last week where WR Jaylen Waddle was coming on a crossing route and it seemed like WR DeVante Parker was going a little bit long. It seemed like both of those guys were open but you checked it down. What were some things that you saw on that play that led to the check down?) – “I possibly had a chance to do it. But they gave us the coverage that we didn’t want on that play. So instead of just firing it in there, which I’m sure you probably would have liked for me to do, just taking the smart play. I know when you look back on this like alright, I’m not taking down the field throws. But at some point, you’ve got to put the team first and not do that. Obviously there’s certain times where you do do it, but I think right now, trying to learn that balance of when to obviously take those chances and then when to not. I think it’s a work in progress. I think it’s something that we’re able to – you go out there and it looks like you’re failing at it and not doing it right but you come back and you’re like ‘hey, what did you see,’ and being able to have those conversations. I think that’s the good part of that is it’s happening earlier in the season and obviously you want to go out there and execute every play and do it every time, but you won’t. So coming back and watching it and just seeing what do I think, what do I internally think, if I could have made a throw or not, and not just doing it because everybody is saying we need to do it.”
(Could playing up-tempo early maybe help replicate the success that you and WR DeVante Parker and TE Mike Gesicki and others have had late in the last couple of games. Could that be one avenue that might help you?) – “We’ll see. Obviously we’re trying to figure it out. We’re obviously exploring every option. We’re still getting better as a team so it’s not like we’ve just got to change everything that we’re doing because things haven’t gone our way. Like I said in the press conference after the game, we are getting better in situations. Like pointing out the play to DeVante, the week before I missed him. This week I hit him two to three times on the exact same play on the exact same throw. It’s slowly getting better. I’m getting better in this offense. I’m learning the guys. I’m learning where my spots are on the field with these guys. We are getting better. We obviously wanted it to go a little bit better with the results of the game but at some point, you surrender the result of the game for the greater good of getting better each week and week out. I think that’s what we’re doing and hopefully the results will start to come.”
(Do you feel like that process of learning your guys, your teammates, do you feel like that’s made you hesitant at all these past few weeks to maybe not take the aggressive play and take that smart play?) – “I don’t think that’s been the case because as you saw the game before in the (Las Vegas) game, I still did it but we just didn’t capitalize. Then obviously when you go back out there and you do hit it, it’s like ‘why haven’t you guys been doing this?’ Well we did, we just didn’t hit it. I think we are taking our chances. Obviously certain teams are seeing that we’re trying to take chances and they present coverages that we can’t just chuck it down the field. Yeah, I think we’ll have more chances, whenever they appear, and hopefully we’re ready to hit them.”
(Do you have a vision for what you want this offensive identity to be? A vision, a goal, an idea?) – “I want to score every time we touch the ball. That’s the vision.”
Brian Flores – October 6, 2021
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Wednesday, October 6, 2021
Head Coach Brian Flores
(Just to go over the couple roster moves yesterday. C Austin Reiter – his signing – was it done more as depth or would you like competition with OL Greg Mancz until C/G Michael Deiter comes back? And then with WR Jakeem Grant, was there a thinking that you’d like to be able to get WR Jaylen Waddle opportunities in the return game? Did that contribute to the Jakeem move?) – “The Jakeem (Grant) move, we felt like we’ve had some depth at the receiver room. We wanted to get some other guys going as receivers and in the return game. So that kind of went into that decision, for sure. As far as (Austin) Reiter, more depth with Deiter going down and we had to bring Cam Tom up from the practice squad last week, so we’re just looking for depth at that position. But anyone who steps into the building is given an opportunity to compete so we’ll see what this looks like in practice today and this week and we’re excited to see what that looks like and give him a chance to compete.”
(How do you feel about WR Jaylen Waddle as a returner?) – “I’m confident in (Jaylen) Waddle as a returner. Obviously he’s had a lot of success in college. He hasn’t really gotten back there much this year. He had the one opportunity and it didn’t go so well. But looking forward to getting him back out there, getting more returns and hopefully getting him going in that aspect of the game.”
(Where is WR Jaylen Waddle in regard to ball security in the return game, being short-handed, that sort of thing?) – “Ball security is something we talk about all the time. He knows that – whether that’s offensively, in the kicking game, backs, receivers, quarterback, tight ends. Obviously when you have turnovers in the game, that doesn’t work in our favor if we turn it over and it does work in our favor if we turn them over. I think Waddle has done a good job in practice. I think we have confidence that he’ll be able to protect the football in the return game and offensively, but it’s something you’ve got to work on really daily and be conscious of all the time and that’s anyone who has the ball in their hands – quarterback, long snapper, whoever.”
(We heard Co-Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends George Godsey say yesterday that we all know that WR DeVante Parker needs to be a bigger part of the gameplan. Is his relationship – DeVante’s relationship with QB Jacoby Brissett at a point where he can be a larger part of the gameplan earlier on in games?) – “I think they’ve got a good relationship and I think that’s building really every day. And I think that’s the case with Jacoby (Brissett) and DeVante (Parker) and Jacoby and all the receivers, tight ends, backs, o-line, etc. I think that’s something you just continually build. You build it through practice. You build it through meetings and walkthrough and Jacoby does a good job of just trying to communicate with the receivers. ‘Hey, we want you here. Where do you want the ball? Inside, outside, high, low?’ Depending on situation. And that’s with all of them to include DeVante. I think they’re starting to build a little bit more of a rapport. That showed up late in the last couple games. Hopefully we can get to some of that a little bit earlier and yeah, that’s something we’ll definitely work on in practice today and something we’ve talked about.”
(For guys who don’t necessarily create a ton of separation like WR DeVante Parker, does it just boil down to trust between receiver and quarterback that he’s going to make a play on those 50/50 high balls?) – “Yeah. I think when you’re talking separation I think some people, they separate a little bit differently. Some with speed and quickness, some are just bigger and have more of a catch radius and that’s how they separate. I think DeVante (Parker) probably falls into that mold, I should say. I think part of that is just you think a guy’s open or he looks like he’s open or looks like he’s not open, but if you give him a chance, (there’s a) good chance he’ll come down with the ball.”
(In terms of getting more – you mentioned maybe getting more receivers passes – is WR Preston Williams in your thinking that way? Has that been kind of a difficult call not really having a spot always on the active roster for him because of special teams and other factors you have to consider?) – “Yeah, I think you’re in the right direction there. I think Preston (Williams) is somebody we’ve talked about really every week. We like a lot of things he’s doing in practice. So yeah, we want to get some other guys some opportunities and hopefully we’re able to do that. But again, we’ve got to do a nice job in practice. We’ve got plenty we’ve got to work on. Plenty to work on really across the board. Players, coaches – we’re all trying to get better, trying to do better, trying to improve and that starts in practice. But as far as getting some other guys involved, that definitely was part of the conversation in the receiver room, him specifically.”
(Are you hopeful to get DT Raekwon Davis back? Will he be out there today?) – “Yes, Raekwon (Davis) will be out there today. We’re just going to see what this looks like. We’re not necessarily going to make a move on the roster just yet, but he’s definitely moving in the right direction and he’ll be out there today. So yeah, he’s doing a lot of good things and he’ll be out there today.”
(What will DT Raekwon Davis’ return mean to this run defense?) – “I think it would mean a lot. I think when healthy – I think he was doing a lot of good things at the end of training camp, start of the beginning of the season. But you know, he’s big, he’s strong. He’s hard to move inside so we’re hopeful that he has a couple good days of practice and we can get him out there. I’m kind of – I don’t like to count my chickens. (laughter) I don’t like to jinx myself either so we’ll see how this goes in the next couple days of practice.”
(You mentioned earlier this week that you like the offensive system and the gameplan. I guess you were asked about changes. Obviously there hasn’t been a lot of success so I’m curious what you do like about the system and the gameplans.) – “I mean I like the communication. I like the collaboration. We need to do a better job really across the board. This is everybody. The players have to do a better job of executing. We have to do a better job of putting them in positions to execute. I would say we’ve missed some opportunities of guys being open, guys making cuts. I would say we’ve got to do a better job of putting them in positions to have more opportunities as a staff. We’ve had a lot of conversations. I think the only thing we can do is go out there, practice, continue to prepare the way we’re preparing. I think just from a preparation standpoint – and look, this is just my opinion as a guy who is in here every day – I think our coaches and our players work hard. They compete. They try to do everything the right way. I think my belief is when you continue to string good days together or string that type of preparation together, normally things work out. That’s kind of my belief. That’s how I’m wired. There’s always some little things we can change and do better, and things you learn from as you go. Especially when you’re dealing with 53 players plus practice squad, there’s always some little subtle things you can change and get better at. We’re finding those things out and making those corrections. I’m hopeful we’ll see more of the results that we’re looking for.”
(How does QB tom Brady in a Bucs uniform look compared to the Tom you first went against in practice on the Patriots fields?) – “Look, this is a great player. He was a great player when I last saw him in person when we were on the same team and he’s a great player. Smart. Great command of the offense. Accurate. Can find the space in the pocket. I think he’s playing great football right now. I think that team is playing great football, really offensively, defensively and in the kicking game. They’re well coached. They’ve got a lot of great players. Skill players, defensive players, pass rushers. And they’ve done a great job. That’s why they’re the defending Super Bowl champs. But yeah, I mean I have a lot of respect and admiration for Tom. We were on the same team for 15 years. I learned a lot from him, for sure. It’ll be great to see him, great to compete against him. A lot of respect and admiration.”
(The obvious follow up is what’s one thing you learned from QB Tom Brady?) – “Preparation. I think that’s one thing that I know how he prepares. I know that he’s looking for every advantage. Honestly, Bruce Arians is the same way. (Todd) Bowles is the same way. Byron Leftwich is the same way. They do a great job there. I would say that would be it – preparation.”
(How hard is it to confuse QB Tom Brady and get him off his game?) – “There’s no confusing. He’s seen everything. I could sit here and say, ‘yeah, you can do this, that and the other,’ but there’s no confusing the guy. It’s about trying to execute. They’ve got good players. Look, every defense has somewhere in the defense where there’s some kind of weakness. In Cover 2, it’s this. In Cover 1, it’s this. In Cover 3, it’s this. In Cover 4, it’s this. When you bring five, it’s this. You bring six and it’s this. Look, after 20-plus years of playing in this league, he’s seen pretty much everything. So no, there’s no confusing him. We’ve got to do a good job really across the board. We’ve got to play – the entire team has to play well offensively, defensively and in the kicking game. That’s what we’re going to have to do to have success against this team.”
(Do you marvel that QB Tom Brady’s been able to do it for this long after just working with him for so long? Are you just like how is he 44 or 45 years old or whatever he is now, that he’s still going?) – “I’m not surprised. When you’ve been around the guy and you see the way he works and you see the way he prepares and see the way he takes care of himself, see the passion he has for the game – you’re not surprised.”
(You want your team to prepare the same way every week, to the upmost obviously. There shouldn’t be variables to that. But human condition being what it is, when you’re playing against the Super Bowl champions and against QB Tom Brady, do you find that there is typically an additional laser-like level of something extra when you’re playing against that guy?) – “I mean yeah, you want to prepare the same way with that laser focus every week. That’s what you want. You speak of human condition and that’s something I think about a lot as well. Yeah, I imagine 53 guys under 25 years old, there’s a little bit more excitement playing against a team like that. I shouldn’t say there’s a little bit more excitement. That’s probably the wrong thing to say. We’re excited to play every week. But when you play against arguably the best player of all-time and they’ve got a bunch of great players, you have to up your level of preparation and up your level of intensity and execution. I hate that it’s like that, honestly, because I feel like I have – as a coaching staff, every week is like this. But yeah, in my opinion, yeah there’s probably a heightened level of ‘we better get this right or he’s going to find the open receiver, the matchup, etc.’”
(I know you were focused on your own team last week and focused on your own team this week of course. Was Sunday night difficult for you to take in at all, just knowing that it had to be very unusual for QB Tom Brady, it had to be unusual for Head Coach Bill Belichick. It was just an awkward night on a lot of levels. Was it difficult for you to look into that as a fan and not feel tugged in either direction?) – “No, I didn’t feel tugged. To me, it was a good football game. If you know both guys, you know they are both competitive, they both want to win, it’s important to both of them to win, to play well, to execute. They play good football. I think that’s what you saw. At the end of the day, yeah there are emotions and there are personal relationships. But me just watching the game, when you step on the field, it’s team against team and it’s about execution, it’s about playing smart and disciplined and tough and the physicality of the game, which it was definitely a physical game. Those are the things I took from it. I kind of leave the other stuff out of it once you’re in the game.”
(Is there anything you can take from last year? Last year you started 1-3 too, and you were able to get five straight wins. Is there anything you can take from that turnaround as you try to guide the team?) – “Last year was last year. This year is this year. Different team. A whole different set of circumstances from last year to this year. I just try to live in the moment and just try to improve, get better and do everything I can do personally to help this team improve and get the results we’re looking for. That’s what I’m trying to do here.”
(Your opponent this week allows a league-best 2.7 yard per rush. Some of their opponents don’t even try to run the ball on them sometimes. I guess my question is a philosophical one in regards to what’s the value of continuing to run the football if you’re not having success in terms of yards gained?) – “It’s a good run defense. I understand why some teams don’t do it. If you want to run through a brick wall, feel free. I don’t know how that will feel. (laughter) When you watch them and you’ve got Vita Vea in there and you’ve got (Ndomukong) Suh in there and you’ve got Devin White and (Lavonte) David and (Jason) Pierre-Paul, it’s not easy. You want to be balanced, but you want to be smart too. It’s hard. I think everyone has seen that. The players they’ve got up there, it’s hard to run it in there.”
(In years past, DE Cam Wake used to always say, if there was a key to QB Tom Brady, it was to make him uncomfortable in the pocket. Not divulging anything, but do you see any weaknesses that your defense could put on him in some aspect?) – “I think we’ve got to have good communication. Let’s just start with that. Because if you blow an assignment or have a mental error, he’s going to find it and take advantage of it. So let’s just start right there. We’ve got to tackle well. They’ve got good skill players who break tackles. Those create big plays that way, explosive plays that way. They hit a hitch route, make somebody miss and what’s five yards goes for 25 yards. Tackling, communications, setting the edge in the run game, trying to limit the big plays as best you can. I know there is a lot there, but I think that’s where you start. It’s one thing to say, ‘get him off the spot.’ Yeah, I think you want to do that. But when the ball is out in a second and a half, you can’t get to the spot. There are a lot of things you’ve got to do defensively. They do a lot of things well offensively. We’ve got to play well as a team. I’d say if there’s one thing, we’ve got to do a good job on third down. Getting them to third down and then executing in that situation.”
Elandon Roberts – October 4, 2021
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Monday, October 4, 2021
LB Elandon Roberts
(Can you put your finger on what this defense needs to do to improve against the run?) – “We need to continue to take it one day at a time and it starts in practice. That’s all you can do.”
(As a leader of this team, what do you feel has been the disconnect that is preventing you guys from playing up to your capabilities?) – “I feel, like I said, as a leader, it starts in practice. We just got to play better complementary football. That’s it. It’s just that simple. Once we start doing that, we’ll really start to string things together.”
(I wanted to get your thoughts on the upcoming matchup and seeing your old friend from New England, that quarterback back there.) – “It’s always a joy seeing Tom (Brady). Obviously we’re on two different sides of the ball, so that will be the guy I’ll be competing against. It will be a fun game.”
(You guys started this exact same record last year. Then you put together a string where you ahd five straight victories. What do you find was the common thread when you turned it around last year?) – “Just no panic. We believe in the formula, we believe in the coaches, we believe in the locker room. You can’t panic this early in the season. I’ve seen people start out 5-0 and now you don’t make the playoffs. Around this time, the only people that usually panic are you guys and whatnot. That’s why we ignore the noise outside of the building and just continue to do what we do, and that’s take it one day at a time. Once we start stringing things together, we’ll be just fine.”
(A little while aga, Head Coach Brian Flores was on with us and he was citing a disconnect between what happens during the week and what happens on Sundays. He said in practice we’re not holding, in practice we’re not dropping balls, and yet on Sundays we’re seeing some of those mistakes. Are you observing the same thing and if so, how do you account for that difference, what do you think the cause is?) – “Just like I said earlier in the day, you’ve got to take practice to the game field. Sometimes it sounds simple, but it’s really a simple answer. Take what you do in practice to the game field and we’ll be just fine. No panic.”
(It’s been an odd year against the run because you’ve had a bunch collectively as a team, some good plays limiting opponents to one or two yard gains, or no gain at all. Then there have been a few that were hurtful every game. Have there been a theme you’ve noticed on the ones that have broken for a longer gain?) – “I don’t have an answer for you. I don’t know what you mean by theme.”
(As far as plays being well blocked? Has there been anything you’ve noticed on tape review on the ones that have broken? Was it just good blocking by the other team? Run gaps? Because you’ve had a number of good plays limiting opponents to small gains. I know NFL teams are going to break for long runs. Is there anything you’ve noticed defensively on those runs?) – “Of course you want to eliminate them. (laughter) I’m laughing because of how you structured the question, but of course you want to limit the big explosive runs, and you want to get it stopped just like your two yard gains or your negative plays. Like I said, we’ve just got to string things together and that starts in practice and take it one day at a time.”
Liam Eichenberg – October 4, 2021
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Monday, October 4, 2021
T Liam Eichenberg
(You’ve obviously been a total team guy in terms of playing three different spots this year and learning all of them. I’m curious, has Offensive Line Coach Lemuel Jeanpierre or Co-Offensive Coordinator/TEs George Godsey or anybody ever asked you this year where do you think you will be best? Is that a question that you have even been asked?) – “I kind of just assumed after being drafted that I was coming in to play right tackle. But no, at the end of the day, it’s wherever the team wants me, wherever they need me. I’m just trying to improve every single week. Like you said, I have played a couple different positions. Hopefully I am able to stay at right tackle, which I think is the case. I haven’t heard anything new. I’m looking forward to this week practicing, and improving on the little things that I have made mistakes on.”
(Do you think right tackle could ultimately be your best NFL position? As a guy who went two and a half years playing left tackle without allowing a sack, is it clear to your mind which is your better NFL position?) – “I think right tackle will be great for me. Like I said before, I need those reps, I need practice and I’m looking forward to that – something I can work on and improve on.”
(I know you’re settling in at right tackle now, but how much work do you actually get on the opposite side at left tackle?) – “I do some work after practice, just making sure my movement pattern is still there. At the end of the day, it goes back to wherever they want me to play. Like I said, these past two weeks I’ve just been playing right tackle, so I have kind of shifted into that mindset.”
(How did Offensive Line Coach Lemuel Jeanpierre say you graded out yesterday and were there encouraging signs of the review of the tape for you personally?) – “We watched the film. It just kind of goes back to the little things. For me, it’s about not leaning and staying square when I set. I think that will improve as time goes by and I get more and more reps. For me, like I said, I’m really looking forward to practice. It’s frustrating because I know I can do it and it’s tough letting the team down, to say the least. I’m looking forward to getting back at it, improving and helping this team win.”
(When you say right tackle might be your best spot for you, are you saying that because you feel your NFL skillset is best for right tackle or is it because you don’t want to step on T Austin Jackson’s toes knowing he was drafted to be the left tackle?) – “I think Austin is a better left tackle than I would be, if I’m being honest with you. Just like myself, we each have things we need to work on from a technique standpoint and a fundamentals standpoint. But for my mindset, I think that I have been a right tackle for a couple weeks and I personally have seen improvement in my movement and how I punch and just also from a run-blocking and pass-blocking standpoint. I think it’ll be my best position.”
(Fundamentally, you talked about some technical stuff. Where do you feel like you’ve gained the most in terms of knowledge and understanding switching sides?) – “I would say switching from the left to the right, I think personally I feel like as reps go on, I will have a better ability to keep my balance on the right side than on the left compared to in college. I think I leaned a lot more in college on the left side. On the right side, I think I have a better ability to stand my ground and be balanced. From a fundamental standpoint, I think I need to keep my head up when I punch. Those are kind of the biggest things. Also, get used to throwing the hands more.”
(What do you think has been the issue with the run game?) – “My personal run game, I need to work on not false-stepping. I need to work on gaining ground and helping the guard out. Like I said, it goes back to fundamentals and technique. For us as an offensive line, we need to focus on those details.”
Malcolm Brown – October 4, 2021
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Monday, October 4, 2021
RB Malcolm Brown
(Not to start on a negative note, but this team right now is 28th in rushing yards per game. What needs to change in order for you guys to start making plays?) – “I think it’s a collective (thing). We just need to do a lot of things better. Meeting better, preparing better, practicing better. Anything you can think of, we just need to do it better. I think it’s no secret that we need to get better at a lot of things. We just have to own that and keep it moving forward.”
(I saw a stat this morning that said you were facing eight-man boxes on 52 percent of your snaps. I’m just curious, when you watch film or in the middle of the game, is that something that you notice and if so, do you feel that that’s an opportunity for the offense to take advantage of that and hit some play-action against defenses?) – “Oh yeah, sure. I believe what you are saying is pretty true, but at the same time we still have to establish that run game and make sure that we are doing that, practicing that. Whatever adjustments we need to make, I think in this league, you have to be able to establish a little bit of a run game. We have some great players on the outside, tight ends and receivers, that can make some really good plays. If we have teams respecting our run game and being able to open up things for them, you’ve still got to run the ball and make those types of plays. I think you’ve got to have teams respecting you in the run game and try to be as successful with that as possible.”
(I noticed that you started a couple of games here, what does that mean to you that the staff has, I know that more than one guy gets to play, but what does that mean to you to be selected as the starter at this time?) – “Personally, it’s definitely special to me. Being in this league for so long, definitely not really being able to get that. I think I had two maybe two starts or so throughout my entire career. If I’m being honest, they weren’t really meaningful before this year. Personally, it’s something definitely special. I’ve been working for a long time and for these coaches to be able to trust me like that and put me in right then and there is definitely an honor. Starting doesn’t really match to taking a loss or anything like that. I think I’m more so worried about being able to contribute to this offense and contribute to this team to be able to put some W’s on the board.”
(When you think about what Co-Offensive Coordinator/TEs George Godsey, Co-Offensive Coordinator/RBs Eric Studesville and Head Coach Brian Flores would like to see accomplished on offense, what is your opinion of the identity they would all like to see developed on offense?) – “I think we just want a tough, physical team. That’s everybody. To be able to start fast, be physical, establish the run game, be able to use our weapons that we do have. Like I said earlier, we have a lot of great guys on the edges as far as tight ends and receivers to be able to establish something very early, establish a presence very early. That’s really it. To be physical, play fast, knowing our assignments, smart players as well, being able to make adjustments on the fly as well and just being able to execute at a high level at all times consistently. Consistent is the biggest word in that, just being able to do all those things that I just named but being able to do it on a consistent basis.”
Jaelan Phillips – October 4, 2021
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Monday, October 4, 2021
LB Jaelan Phillips
(I wanted to ask about yesterday’s game and getting your first sack or half-sack and having some success rushing the passer. As the game goes on, are you able to kind of tell in your mind that this is starting to click? What do you think clicked for you yesterday?) – “I’d say that I’m just starting to get more comfortable just in terms of within the game, being able to work different moves, being able to just consistently get off the ball and consistently try to create pressure. I feel like just getting in the game flow and seeing what’s working, seeing what’s not, I’m starting to just kind of understand what I need to be doing to be, like I said, creating pressure.”
(Four games into your rookie season, what is something that you maybe want to improve on? Obviously we’ve talked a lot about how you’ve been developing. You’re trying to get to the point where things are slowing down but what do you want to work on going forward?) – “You can always work on your consistency. So for me, just being able to bring that day in and day out in practice, in games, and just to be able to continue to improve on my mechanics, my fundamentals. Just everything like that. Then just whenever my name is called and whenever I get those opportunities, to be able to come through and deliver for the team.”
(I noticed you spent a lot of time closing on the quarterback, real close to the quarterback. I’m wondering, can you just describe what that feels like when you’re having some success and you’re getting in the backfield? What does it feel like to be closing in on the quarterback?) – “It’s like getting a taste of something a sweet. Like if you eat a bite of a cookie, you’re not about to stop eating the cookie. (laughter) Honestly, it feels like when you’re getting pressure and stuff like that, it makes you want to do more. It makes you want to get to the quarterback. It makes you want to get a strip sack, just to continue to create havoc and have an impact on the game.”
(I wanted to ask, I know it looked like on one play I think to open up the second half, it looked like you may have got caught inside on that outside run. What did you see on that play and what’s something that’s maybe a teaching point later on for a play like that?) – “Yeah, that was just a communication thing. I just need to make sure that I’m in the right spot, right where I need to be, and that I’m communicating with my teammates to make sure that what we’re doing is cohesive because you lose together and you win together. I definitely take responsibility for that and I just got to get my alignments and make sure I’m on point.”
(A quick follow up, on the facemask penalty, it looked like you got like the shoulder area. Did you get any explanation for that? Because obviously that was a big third-down penalty for you guys.) – “Yeah, frankly I can’t do anything about what the refs want to call. All I can do moving forward is just make it so that there’s no gray area. Be able to win cleaner on my rush so I don’t have to be grabbing his shoulder and I can just wrap him up properly. So yeah, I don’t really have anything to say about that.”
(In six days from now, you’re going to be going up against QB Tom Brady. I wanted to know what that was like for a rookie player.) – “Yeah, Tom has been in the league 21 years? And I’m 22 years old this year. It’s pretty crazy obviously to have the opportunity to play against somebody I’ve been growing up my whole life watching. I can remember all of the Super Bowl parties at the house when I’m eight years old or 10 years old, watching him dominate. But to be honest, coming into the game, I’m not about to be starstruck. You can’t really focus on ‘Oh my gosh, this is Tom Brady.’ Or ‘this is Leonard Fournette.’ Everybody is nameless and faceless, so you’ve got to prepare for everybody just like they’re anybody else. At the end of the day, our execution is what matters so we’ve just got to go out there and execute. I’ve got to go out there and execute. It will be fun, no doubt.”
(Do you have to do anything to prevent yourself from being starstruck? Given the magnitude of the player?) – “Listen, I’ve been around enough – NFL players and enough celebrities and stuff – that I don’t really get starstruck anymore. You’ve just got to go out there and play.”
(So who is the biggest celebrity you’ve been around?) – “Biggest celebrity I’ve been around? (laughter) Who knows, I can’t even tell you off the top of my head. (laughter)”
(Throw out a name for us.) – “Like I’ve said, I’ve been in Miami for two years. I’ve met Trey Songz at an event. That was cool. (laughter)”
