Brian Flores – August 3, 2019
Download PDF version
Saturday, August 3, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores
(With QB Josh Rosen, outside of obviously the fact that you said he studied well and has a good work ethic; but just from a skills standpoint, what has he shown you and Offensive Coordinator Chad O’Shea and Assistant Quarterbacks Coach Jerry Schuplinski, what you like and what areas he still needs to work on beyond consistency?) – “Well, he’s very talented. He has a big arm. He’s smart. He communicates well. But again, it’s hard to not mention consistency in this environment. I think that’s the big thing from an accuracy standpoint, from a decision-making standpoint, from a leadership standpoint. He’s got room to improve the same way really all of the quarterbacks do – include Ryan (Fitzpatrick). I know I said he was leading the way the other day but again, let’s be clear, everyone on this team knows there’s still a lot of competition and a lot of time left. Today is a big day to kind of showcase how much improvement guys have made over these last few days and really the entire training camp. Josh has done a good job, Ryan has done a good job, Jake (Rudock) has done a good job. They’re all working hard but we need improvement from all three guys as well as everybody on this team.”
(Does what you do out there today differ from what you were going to do at the stadium and if so, how will it differ?) – “It’ll be a little bit different. We were going to try to simulate the game as much as possible – the coaches in the booth, a headset and all of that. Those things that go on game day, obviously we won’t be able to do that to that degree. We’ll try to simulate it as best we can. But you’ll see a lot of the normal things you see in practice. We’ll have a couple of individual drills, we’ll have some team drills, some situations, a few things in the kicking game. So it’ll follow the normal practice format, with probably a little bit more team (periods).”
(How much live stuff, tackling to the ground, will we see out there?) – “We’ll see in about – I’ll call it an hour or so, roughly. (laughter)”
(Are you hoping to get some coaches and/or all of your players out to the stadium prior to the first preseason game?) – “That was the hope today. Obviously we had to move things back here to Davie. I would love to do that if the opportunity arises where we can do that. Obviously there’s a lot of new faces on this team, new people on this team – including myself – so to get to the stadium, see the locker room, get on the field, see where the play clock is and all of those little things that I think a lot of people take for granted and don’t really think about those minor details. Where is the coaches booth? Those things, we’d love to get over there obviously before the first preseason game. That was the goal for today but we have to be able to adapt. Sometimes things happen in a game and we have to be able to adapt and find a way to get what we need to get done. Again, this is a little bit part of the learning process for us. If something happens in a game, if somebody goes down, we have to be able to adjust and move on and continue to be productive, and that’s the plan for today: to have a productive practice, to get better and to improve on all of the things that we’ve talked about really the entire training camp. I think the guys understand that and if we can’t handle a little bit of change and be able to adapt, we’re going to go through some tough times because every team is going to deal with some form of adversity. How we respond to that says a lot about the team.”
(Was there any thought to just having the scrimmage earlier over at the stadium, like at 9 a.m.?) – “I mean we looked at every scenario. There are a lot of logistics that go into just moving it up four hours. There are a lot of other things that come into play from that standpoint. I’d say yeah, it was thought of; but then you look at all of the things behind the scenes that have to get done that nobody – all they care about is it 1 p.m. or just move it up to 9 a.m. and they think it’s that easy, but it’s really not. Those are conversations for myself and (General Manager) Chris (Grier) and (Vice President of Football Administration) Brandon (Shore) and the leadership team within this organization. We felt like it was best to just stay here at the facility and try to have as productive of a day as possible. That’s really, ultimately, our number one goal: to have a productive day and put the players in a position where they can get good work in and improve.”
(How much growth has DT Christian Wilkins shown you from spring up until now, eight practices into training camp?) – “He’s still young. He’s still raw. He’s still a rookie. He’s done a good job. He has an energy; he has life to him. But at the same time, he has a poise to him and a workman-like demeanor. He comes out here every day and works his butt off in individuals, post-practice, within practice. This is a kid who it’s important to him. Football is important to him. We have a lot of guys like that but Christian for sure. He’s done a very good job and I think he’s learning how to – again, it’s too early but he’s starting to begin to understand what it takes to be a pro, quite honestly. There is a lot that goes into it. There’s a consistency, there’s an accountability, there’s a discipline that goes into that. Again, that’s something that all of the rookies and kind of the younger players need to learn. It’s not something – I don’t think it’s something you’re born with. It’s something you develop over time.”
(How would you evaluate how QB Josh Rosen has performed on the field since earlier this week when you made your statement on the QB race?) – “I think he’s made some improvement, really across the board. There are things that a lot of people don’t see – better footwork, better mechanics in the pocket, better decision-making. I think a lot of times people, all they see is the touchdown pass. They don’t see the check down that’s a positive play for the team who just picked up a first down instead of firing into coverage. Checking to a run instead of throwing into a bad look; checking to a pass instead of running into a bad look. I think there are things that a normal person watching doesn’t see and I think he’s improved in those areas. Those are things – the little things – that go a long way at that position.”
(When you made the change with the offensive line coach, there were also a lot of changes on the offensive line personnel-wise. Was that a result of that change or was that scheduled previously and it was going to happen regardless of who’s coach?) – “I think it was a little bit of both. We wanted to see different guys in different positions. Again, the o-line, those five guys including the back, the tight end – that group has got to work as a unit. To get the best unit, you just have to mix it up a little bit. We wanted to see some of the younger guys in there, we wanted to see some of the older guys in different spots. We’re seeing that and I think it’s been good. We’re getting a good look at those guys and getting a good evaluation of those particular players at particular spots, but then different groups as a whole. I think it’s been good; but again, we’ve got a long way to go. I think the real test is going to be Thursday night. Not that we’re looking far ahead, we’re focused on today; but right now, we’re not touching the quarterback, we’re not hitting the quarterback. From a pass protection standpoint, we know if a guy’s beat, you can see it on tape but it’s another thing when it’s live action and there are negative plays. That’s when it’s real and you see the angry side. (laughter) It’s important, so we want to get the best group out there. I’m looking forward to that.”
(Is it fair to say that as long as it’s not what you want, there’s going to continue to be changes?) – “There’s always a chance for there to be changes. I think in an ideal world, you have five guys up there that work well together, that understand ‘Okay, this guy struggles with this, so I’ve got to help him with this. Or we’re going to leave this guy on his own.’ There are five guys that you work with, that work well in an ideal world. Football is not an ideal game. There are variables. Things change really from play to play based on matchups, based on scheme of the opposition. With that in mind, there is always a change. We’re going to try to get the best five guys out there – I can tell you that – and the best unit. I know the next question is going to be, ‘Well what if he’s just a guard, are you going to play him at tackle?’ No; but we’re going to put the best unit out there. I think we’re going to do what we think is best for the team. Look, we’ve got time to evaluate them. We’ve got time to look at different guys at different positions. That’s what training camp is for. I’m sure you guys don’t want to find out in game whether a guy can do it or not. Let’s try to find out now. That’s the goal and that’s what we’re trying to accomplish right now.”
(What ideal date would you like to have your starting five set?) – “I’d love to have them right now. (laughter) But again, we’re in an evaluation process. To be fair to all of those guys and give them a true opportunity, I think we at least have to go through a game. I think all of you guys would agree with that. To name five guys right now and try to lock it in, I just don’t think that is the right thing really at any position. We’ll see how this thing shakes out. But again, they’re all improving, they’re all working, they’re all trying to get better. Today is a big day. Next week is a big week and we’ll take it from there. One day at a time.”
(With WR DeVante Parker, obviously you guys decided to bring him back. Has he justified that belief in him and what do you see his potential bieng?) – “I think he’s had a strong camp. I think DeVante is athletic, he’s big, he’s fast, he’s got good hands, good body control, he’s smart, can play multiple positions. He’s blocked in the run game thus far in training camp. He’s done a lot of good things. The key for him is consistency. It’s something you’re going to hear from me on a daily basis. Clearly he has talent. I think everyone in the room knows that. Can we apply that talent or maximize that talent on a day-to-day basis, on a practice-to-practice basis, on a week-to-week basis and string them together? I think we’ve got talented guys in that same boat at some other positions as well. Consistency is a big thing for me and it’s a big thing for the entire team. Backs want to know that the receivers are going to block. Quarterbacks want to know that he’s going to run the right route. Linebackers want to know that the end is going to set the edge. It all kind of goes hand and hand. If you do it consistently then we feel good about it. If you run the wrong route, then run the right route – every play counts. Consistency is a big thing. He’s had a good camp. He’s had a really strong camp. We just need to keep it going.”
(Typically coaches use the third preseason game as kind of a dress rehearsal. When you have a really young team like you have, and you’re kind of fitting pieces together, do you treat the preseason differently than maybe other coaches in terms of the games and how you handle them?) – “That’s something that I’ve put a lot of thought into over the last couple of days. I talked to a couple of the coordinators, Chris (Grier) and Brandon (Shore). Obviously there are players we want to take a good look at, guys we want to evaluate in a game and I have a thought process on how I want to handle the preseason. I’m not going to give that to you today. Yes, it’s something I’ve put a lot of thought into. Those preseason games are very valuable. It’s an opportunity for us to get a good look at our vets, our young guys, different groups, different o-line groupings, different d-line groupings, different secondary groupings, different receivers, different quarterbacks. We’ll use those. Those are important reps and we’ll use those wisely.”
(You have a bunch of guys that are young, hungry and have a lot to prove but maybe not a lot of star power on this team. Is that kind of a rebuild thing or is that one of your mentalities long-term?) – “I think we’re just here trying to get better every day. I’ll let other people worry about star power and all of that – whatever you want to call that. It’s a team game. Stars are kind of a ‘me’ thing. I don’t – I guess I’m not – it’s a team game. There are 11 guys out there and they have to work together. If you have a star that wants to do his own thing, that just doesn’t work. I’m of the ‘put the team first’ mantra and these so-called ‘stars’ need to be on that page on this team. Hopefully that answers your question.”
