George Godsey – November 8, 2021
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Monday, November 8, 2021
Co-Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends George Godsey
(As you reviewed the tape yesterday of the running plays specifically, you had 23 handoffs, 33 yards on those gains. Were there any where you thought that RB Myles Gaskin or Salvon Ahmed could have created more? I know no coach likes to blame everything on one group, but in all candor, were all 23 runs poorly blocked or could either back have gotten a more out of any of them?) – “There is a lot that goes into those. The play call I think we can improve on a few of those decisions. Running inside versus running outside and vice versa or pulling guys. That’s part of it too. I think collectively we’ve got to do a lot better, from not just the line, but the tight ends. Hitting holes if they are there. Like I said, some of those were uphill runs, especially at the end of the game there. I think we definitely got to do a lot better than the performance yesterday.”
(Last week, G/T Jesse Davis said that to establish the running game the way that we want it, we can’t continue gaining one or two yards on first down. How difficult does that make it for you as a play caller, where you want to establish the running game but if you consistently gain nothing or one yard or lose a yard on first down, as you did yesterday, how can you in good conscience keep go back to the running game if it never works?) – “That’s a good question for really any play call. If you don’t get any yards on first down, which happens in the pass, happens in the run, play actions, then it puts you in a little bit more predictable situation. It makes it harder and that’s where you saw some of the rush getting to us too. They did a good job stopping the run too, so give them credit, and making us a little bit one-dimensional.”
(I wanted to ask you a little bit about WR Jaylen Waddle. It looks like he’s had a little bit of an uptick the past couple of weeks playing on the perimeter versus inside. What does that say about his progression as a pro at this point in his career and also what does that help you guys accomplish as an offense when he can be more versatile?) – “When he got here, we had a conversation about the receiver position and not just being a slot. That’s how we look at the tight ends, that’s how we look at a lot of the players whether it’s a back catching the ball out of the backfield. We want to be very capable of playing them inside, playing them outside, using him in motion, shifting him across the formation. As a rookie, to absorb all of that and still be productive in both spots, it’s a credit to him, his preparation and knowing the DBs he’s going against. There is a lot that goes into that. He’s done an excellent job for his first year of taking that information and then going out there and being productive.”
(Could you assess the pass protection? Was there a common thread as to why there was so many pressures allowed?) – “There were some plays that maybe we designed that required the quarterback holding the ball a little longer that I’d like to erase those from the call sheet. Then there are some times we have to do a better job at all positions – the tight end position, the line position. There are some plays that we can get the ball out earlier. There are some route we can run that we shouldn’t be spending time at the top of the route. The protection and the run game – a lot of that looks like it’s one position but I’ll tell you there is a lot of factors that go into the group and that production of run the ball, protecting and getting yards on those plays.”
(You said something that I really wonder about. How much, because of your protection issues, do you have to throw out of this playbook because you guys don’t seem to be able to protect at a respectable rate for either of the quarterbacks?) – “There are some plays and some games where we’re right on and doing a good job and able to hold on to it a little bit longer. Then others, like yesterday, where the ball had to come out of our hands. Those guys did a good job. (Jacob) Martin did a good job coming off of the edge. There were some good rushed by (Maliek) Collins too inside. Those players are good players. We probably could’ve done a little bit more to help the line out. When the game starts becoming how it was yesterday, we’re just trying to get first downs and possess the ball, which overall we ended up having more possession time than them considering the turnover, which really was a phenomenal feat when you look at those numbers. We never want to turn the ball over that many times, but to still lead in possession, I’ll give credit to our defense for getting the ball back.”
(Staying on this theme about handling pressure, the Ravens, especially lately when they’ve gone against the Dolphins, have done a pretty good job of winning the physical battle upfront. How do you handle a team like that, that’s so physical and are there times where you might use finesse to overcome whatever advantage they may have in a physical battle?) – “We’re just getting started on them. We had a little bit last week to get to know them. Now it’s about putting it all together. They are a good defense. They are a good team. They find a way to win. They turn the ball over. They create negative plays. And we’re going to have to improve on that in a short week. There is a lot to that. Obviously our guys have to come in here and be super attentive and try to get ahead win the mental battle today, tomorrow, the next day, and come out and play a game Thursday on a short week against a good team. It’s a big challenge and we know that .Today is a big day for us.”
(What are the differences that you have to keep in mind for calling plays for QB Jacoby Brissett, versus QB Tua Tagovailoa?) – “Every quarterback is different and they have their strengths and we don’t want to give everything away as far as how that goes. But under center, in the gun, motions, shifts, alerts, empty, all of that stuff factors into the quarterback’s comfort level. Then being able to put all of that together and make sure that whatever play call is going in, there is a good understanding of all of the different defenses or things that can align defensively for him. He’s got to make a lot of decision from the line of scrimmage – that’s every quarterback. We’ve played them both this year, so the comfort level with the line, the communication with the center. We practiced all week with one center and then early on we end up getting another center in there. That stuff is definitely a lot of factors, and a lot of variables that we need to overcome. Give credit to the guys for battling really honestly for 60 minutes and having some negative plays and overcoming some of those and putting a good end of half drive that ended up being enough.”
(Without getting into the details of what they are and giving out clues, do you have conversations with QB Jacoby Brissett about things he likes better or things you feel like may work for him, that you feel may not work for QB Tua Tagovailoa as much?) – “Yeah and they are at different stages of their career too. Some of those plays that maybe Jacoby has had experience with, maybe Tua hasn’t. And maybe Tua has reps some plays in college that Jacoby hasn’t. Definitely those conversations have to take place before we feel comfortable about calling the play.”
(The offensive line, obviously you guys have struggled all season. Why have there not been more changes made to that unit that aren’t injury related since the performance has not been there?) – “We’re looking at it week to week. We look at it day to day as far as those positions are concerned. Every job is earned in practice each week and by Sunday, we’re putting the group out there we feel best about being able to help us run the ball, protect, throw the ball, catch, at whatever position it is. That’s a day-to-day deal. That’s a part of our culture here as far as competition goes. I think there is a lot on everybody to maintain your position or to win a position. It’s not just the o-line. It’s all of the positions where that takes place.”
(I know that the players on both sides are different – different coaching staffs. Just knowing that the Dolphins defense, and the Ravens defense are kind of built in the same mold in terms of the mentality to blitz and pressure. How much do you think that familiarity will help you in terms of trying to gameplan on a short week?) – “We’ve gone against our defense with a lot of pressure during training camp through now. Sometimes it’s different – the overall scheme. There are a lot of different blitzes that Baltimore runs and we’re going to have to be ready for them. They do a good job of getting in position to cover down after they pressure. They are a good sound defense, they are coached well, they’ve got a lot of talent and they execute and make big plays, whether it’s a negative play in the run game or a sack. You find some quarterbacks really not knowing what side the blitz is coming from and then there is a negative play or a forced ball that maybe shouldn’t be thrown. We’ve got our work cut out for us it’s on all downs. It’s everywhere throughout the field. We’re going to have to move the chains, find ways to get first downs, hold the ball and score touchdowns when we can.”
(Dealing with the differences between QB Jacoby Brissett and QB Tua Tagovailoa got me thinking about the fact this is a short week, and how much that might complicate things for you guys. Are you thinking you are going to have to make the call today or tomorrow, could it go down to gametime like it did yesterday? Everything is so compact this week.) – “The good thing is we knew this was going to be a short week early on in the season. That’s part of the NFL. Those are decisions that need to be made. Sometimes they are a little bit later than others. As a professional, both guys need to be ready. That’s the way we’re going to approach it and we need to do a good job game-planning so that there are not a lot of changes one way or the other. Those guys are both capable of leading us to victories. They both know that. We have a lot of confidence in them and what we put out there here in the next couple of days, next couple of hours, are going to be important for those guys to make good decisions on whether they can execute those plays the way that we’re going to dial them up.”
(I’m sure you’ve got a lot of questions about the deep ball and the lack thereof. When you’re trying to create those big chunk plays, what are the elements you have to consider when deciding the call of I’m trying to run a go or I’m trying to run this deep route?) – “Everything is involved with that, as far as what receivers are out there running those. Obviously we’ve had some variety there at that position. We’ve had some injuries. How we’re go to protect it and how many people need to be involved with the protection. Max it up, release quite a few guys. There is a lot that goes into that. I think yesterday we really couldn’t hold on to the ball too long and that’s how the game ended up taking place. We had a couple of sacks really for 10 yards there that we don’t want to have, especially the one when we were in field goal range. Those type of things we’ve got to eliminate. Sometimes it’s better, although it may not be a huge play, to get the ball out of your hands and move the ball that way. There are a lot of factors there and every week we’re going against a good front. The guys here at this level are excellent. They play with great effort, especially Houston and Baltimore. We’ll have to do a good job protecting it to get the ball down field.”
