Frank Smith – January 12, 2023
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Thursday, January 12, 2023
Offensive Coordinator Frank Smith
(I’ve got a question about QB Teddy Bridgewater. What is the role that the little finger plays in throwing the football? I understand that if you’re a right-handed quarterback, that’s the top hand taking the snap if I’m not mistaken, but throwing the football, what is the role that the little finger plays there?) – “I think in reality just being able to grip the ball, being able to control it. I think that ultimately just having that comfort level and being able to one, take a snap and two, to be able to control the football as far as you’re either delivering it through a pass or even be able to hand it off. Teddy (Bridgewater) has done a great job rehabilitating and working through all the injuries and stuff like that, just like all our guys have this year with any injury adversities. So I think that ultimately his ability to handle the football is obviously the most paramount thing that we’re looking at when it comes to whoever is taking the snap. Got to hand it to him though; he’s working his butt off to try and make sure that he’s ready to go in all capacities that we need him.”
(I’m going to ask you an offensive line question that would not compromise you competitively because it doesn’t involve any names. I’ve given this a lot of thought. [laughter] So how many – again, no names – how many permutations have you, Offensive Line Coach Matt Applebaum and Head Coach Mike McDaniel settled on in terms of all the possible lineups for Sunday on the offensive line? And how much does that affect game-planning these last couple days for you and Mike as far as which of the permutations ultimately gets used?) – “Really it come down to kind of like we said it all year, we always have to plan for contingencies in all forms for all positions. I think preparation really starts in training camp. It really starts in the preseason. So for us, the variables that play out in-season, we’re never trying to really work something at the last second. We’re always trying to make sure that we have as much crossover and sometimes where’s the crossover coming? It’s sometimes more in individual drills and stuff like that where we can get the work at it. But ultimately, you’re trying to build consistency. How do you build consistency? Being able to play similar spots, similar sides. That’s how you build consistency for guys. So I think overall when we look at the line this year, we’ve had a lot of really cool challenges with some of the situations that have come up, and I think the guys have handled it tremendously. Their work, their intensity towards the opportunity to maximize their play. We couldn’t be happier from that effort that we’re really putting in. The result is obviously something that you’re always working through to obviously continue your process, but I think the good thing is a lot of these variables and lineup changes we’ve already considered. So we are just really implementing things that we’ve had conversations about or even drilled in some of our individual things.”
(And then as far as how it affects game planning – for example, do you and Head Coach Mike McDaniel have a conversation Tuesday saying if T Terron Armstead is available, we’re going to use this particular play more than if he’s not available? Does that type of thing happen?) – “Kind of. Ultimately you try and put in plays and schemes that maximize your players’ skillsets. Whether that’s a lineman or wide receiver, quarterback, running back, all positions. I think the players make it come to life every play we do so when you can have opportunities for guys and what they do well, yes, we want to put it in. And obviously there’s an element schematically of what we need to attack to challenge the defense. So yeah, you weigh it in and then ultimately, that’s why we have the volume of plays we have. One, to be able to attack the different nuances that the defense presents, and two, to make sure we’re getting to plays that are obviously what our players do well because you can game plan blocks, you can game plan combinations as you can routes. So I think those variables come into play, but we’re always trying to consider multiple contingency opportunities to make sure that we have guys in the right spots.”
(If QB Skylar Thompson indeed starts again, would you like to see him manage the game similar to how he did against the Jets – minimizing risk? Or in this scenario where you probably need some more points, just let it rip, you got nothing to lose, go ahead, go after it?) – “I think when you look at it from philosophically for an offense, our job is to score points and however we score points is trying to obviously win the game. So for us last week, we felt there was an opportunity with the Jets to attack them in a way that maybe we hadn’t attacked certain opponents the same way. I think ultimately like this week, we have a plan for how we want to attack the Bills and ultimately, regardless how that plays out, that’s the plan that we communicate. The guys understand it, I don’t think necessarily that we’re looking at some type of way to really do it. We’re just looking at what’s the best way for us to make sure we score points and win the game and if we maximize those opportunities, we feel confident that we can accomplish that.”
(From your perspective with the various quarterback carousel that you’ve had all season, what’s been kind of the impact of Quarterbacks Coach/Passing Game Coordinator Darrell Bevell in getting QB Skylar Thompson ready this this week, QB Teddy Bridgewater in some weeks and obviously QB Tua Tagovailoa and his development? What’s kind of been your perspective?) – “I think if you look at any of the injury adversities that we’ve had all year at all positions, I think you’ve seen a great job of coaches working with their players, trying to make sure that everyone’s connected with how the game plan is going, everyone’s connected on the important parts of what we’re trying to attack inside of the defense. So the quarterback room, ‘Bev’ (Darrell Bevell) and Chandler (Henley) have done a fantastic job with the quarterbacks making sure that we’re working through all the variables that could potentially happen, all the guys – because again, you just never know when your number is going to get called. So I think that also plays into all rooms with the injury issues that we’ve had to deal with, like all teams do. And just making sure that every player that’s going to have a jersey for the game is ready to go and make sure they understand the game plan. I think it’s been a great opportunity for us as coaches to actualize these contingencies that we’ve been talking about since September and it only makes us stronger for the future.”
(The Buffalo defense almost never leaves their nickel package and I think a lot of that’s built around CB Taron Johnson. What are some challenges unique to a player like that, that can insert in the running game but also pull back and give them more coverage weapons as it were?) – “Yeah, I think that you see a defense that has obviously been together, they understand the philosophy, they understand what they’re trying to do. Sean (McDermott) and Leslie (Frazier) have done a fantastic job and then fortunately from my experience, I know Mike (Shula) going back all the way to Carolina with Sean (McDermott) when he was the coordinator. They run a very, very good scheme, aggressive, they know who they are, they have a very good understanding whether they’re in nickel or their base defense. I think that all their players communicate well. I think they have a great understanding of where they’re trying to be inside of their defense. So I think that the flexibility that they do within their defensive system is probably a strength of theirs and that’s through their players. I think it’s ultimately, you can see it’s a well-coached team that plays hard and ultimately, we got to make sure we’re on our stuff to make sure we bring our best on Sunday.”
(Because of three reasons – A, you’re playing a very good team, B, they’re familiar with you, obviously, you’re familiar with them and C, because you all are beat up offensively without QB Tua Tagovailoa – do you and Head Coach Mike McDaniel in game planning think “we need to do even more unusual unexpected things that we haven’t shown this year, be it trick plays, be it something we haven’t used a lot, to increase our chances to win in this very difficult spot that we’re in?”) – “I wouldn’t say that’s kind of how we look at it. I think our starting point has always been, who is the defense? How do they operate? How do they play defense? Where are the stress points of their defense? How can we challenge them and make them have to defend every yard of the field? So I think we start from that capacity, and then you look at who are the potentials of being up and how do we maximize what they do well and then what do we do well? So you don’t really ever get to that variable until maybe later in the week when you have more clarity towards what’s going on because we still have really three more days of prep before we get to Sunday. There’s a lot of variables that could even play out before then. I think ultimately we’re starting from where we always do and trying to make sure we have options with their scheme to attack different parts of the defense, to attack the matchups that we feel advantageous and then making sure we communicate that with the guys and making sure that we’re operating what we need to do to win the game.”
(If RB Raheem Mostert can’t go Sunday, has anything changed with the running game? He’s basically been the guy you’ve counted on all year.) – “No, I think that we feel very confident with the way the group has responded overall. I think that with what we do, trying to build consistency within our system with running our core concepts and allowing everyone to really get an understanding of what the play’s intent is, what are the stress points of the play or what are the critical factors of the play. So ultimately, the running backs room overall has a good understanding of what we’re trying to do. I don’t think that we necessarily are having to tailor; I think more of it’s just it’s a great opportunity for the next guys in the room to show what they can do in the situation when their number is called.”
(Psychologically, how is the staff approaching the reality that the team is a significant underdog going into this particular ballgame? Is it ignored? Is it discussed? I don’t know.) – “Honestly, you don’t even really know all that stuff until outside people tell you. Your only goal as a coach and a player is to focus on the mission at hand and you go forward with your preparation. So how the outside world views things, it’s kind of irrelevant from that standpoint because as far as your preparation goes, you’re focused on the details of your assignment. You’re focused on the intent of the play. The last thing I think that really focuses in everyone’s mind is what some people are saying that should happen or could happen. I think that everyone’s just focused on being the best they can at each individual moment, which is today. If we maximize today, make sure we stay in the moment and do what we need to do at that time, that’s part of your preparation getting ready for Sunday. And if you do that all year in everything you do, that’s why games aren’t bigger than what they are. They’re just another opportunity to go play the game in front of an audience as opposed to in practice, and then in practice, if you take that intensity with that mental stamina, you’re always banking reps to get yourself ready for that environment, so I don’t think necessarily, anyone’s really focusing on that until really someone tells you and you’re just like, ‘Oh, really? Okay.’ I think it just comes forward that our job is to be present.”
(Last time in Buffalo, you had success on the ground. It was RB Raheem Mostert going that time. RB Jeff Wilson was out. Now you’ll have RB Jeff Wilson and maybe Raheem won’t be able to go. But what other constants do you feel you have in that rushing attack that lead you to believe you could have similar success this time?) – “I think it starts with the preparation on Wednesday and just making sure everyone’s connected in what we’re trying to do in the attack and schematically, fundamentally. I think that all guys with all the variables we’ve had this year, our goal is just to create consistency and a general overall understanding of communication so we can operate. So again, I don’t think that our goal is really worrying about all the variables that could be; you got to worry about your individual variables that you can control. So there’s so much uncontrollable things, especially in the playoffs. The regular season is over. Now it’s a one-game elimination tournament. So the only thing you can do in that is really just stay in the present and focus on what we need to do today and then stack those plays, stack those moments until it’s time for Sunday to extract them when you need them.”
(What’s the first thing that goes through your mind when you kind of project and look at what the atmosphere there and crowd noise is going to be for a playoff game in Buffalo?) – “I assume it’ll probably be very similar to last game. Just hopefully no snowballs. (laughter) I think a couple of us got pelted by those. But yeah, the fortunate thing at the end of the season with us and getting flexed to primetime, having a lot of those opportunities, all they are is they’re preparing you for these moments. So it’ll be an electric atmosphere and we’re looking forward to the opportunity.”
(And you got obviously a great carry from RB Salvon Ahmed late in the game Sunday. He played well in Buffalo. What do you like about his skill set as a runner?) – “Yeah, I think he’s a great fit to our system. I like his vision, his toughness, his ability to redirect, his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. As we talked about in earlier months, we’re trying to find guys who are complete players, but then guys who do things well and just trying to maximize that and we’ve been really pleased with what he’s done so far. We feel real confident that if his number is called, that he can execute with what we need him to do.”
