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Danny Crossman – January 4, 2024 Download PDF version

Thursday, January 4, 2024

Special Teams Coordinator Danny Crossman

(There were a lot of kickoff returns the last time you guys played Buffalo. Was that by design, or wind related? Why was that?) – “There are a lot of different aspects that go into it. There are times you want it in play, there are times you don’t want it in play. There are times that it is in play whether you want it or not. There are a lot of different aspects that go into it.”

(What happened with the kickoff return to start the second half?) – “That’s a great example of if you’re a little bit off on a fit, or if you’re a little bit late on a fit, against good people, bad things are going to happen. We had a bad fit and a late trigger, and a terrible play you can’t afford.”

(Buffalo also allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown to start last game. Is there something you can find that may exploit that?) – “Every play is independent. If there was a pattern at this time of year, it would’ve been exploited numerous times. It was a one off. They had a fit and a missed tackle. At this time of year, all of those things are amplified.”

(Do you think at this time of year, special teams are more important than the usual 1/3 of the game?) – “No, I don’t. It’s similar. It’s just at this time of year when you’re playing in late December and playing in January and playing in February in critical games that have major implications, whether it be in the playoffs, seeding in playoffs, advancing in the playoffs, whether it’s offense, defense or kicking game, every single play of every single phase is amplified because there may not be many more.”

(WR Braxton Berrios is the fourth alternate for the Pro Bowl with the season he’s had. Do you think he’s close to breaking one?) – “I do. We’ve been close on a couple. Like we talked about with the kickoff coverage, we’re a little bit late getting to a responsibility or a second leverage player or whatever it may be. But I’m really happy with where Braxton is and he’s done a nice job. We just got to get him a little more help.”

(FB Alec Ingold is a Pro Bowl selection for the fullback position but I know he plays a lot on your units as well. I just wanted get your perspective on his work on special teams and how happy you are for him.) – “No. 1, a great individual as a person. A great leader. Plays through a lot of stuff. Does everything and anything you could ask for. Yes, super happy for him. Like all of these guys, I’m very happy to have him on our club.”

(LB Cam Goode had a hold on a punt that went out of bounds. What happened there?) – “It’s all technique. He got something earlier in the play and tried to do something to help himself, and put him in a negative position, and got called for it. Those things are amplified, the ball would’ve been on the 30 if they catch the front end of it and a positive. They catch the back end of it and now we’re starting the drive on the 10-yard line. It’s a 20-yard swing, so those things can’t happen.”

(Was WR Braxton Berrios upset with himself on that kickoff on the sideline? He called fair catch, but did he think it was going out of bounds?) – “He thought in hindsight it might have been going out of bounds, or maybe establish himself out of bounds before he caught it. But it was a long way to go. Fortunately he made the right decision early with the fair catch. The rest of it was going to play out. I think he thought if he may have taken another half a count, maybe the ball would’ve went out on it’s own. Those decisions happen in a split second. He ran over 28 yards to get there. In hindsight, you say ‘I could’ve done this.’ But I’m happy with the way he executed the play. The results are what they are.”

(What is the risk/reward with that? What do you instruct him to do on those?) – “If we can, if we know the ball is going to go out of bounds, we’re going to establish ourselves and touch the ball, and then we’ll get the ball on the 40-yard line. But in that situation where you’re running and you’re not sure and the ball is drifting away, you’re not sure where you are because you’re still tracking the football, so you’re going to live with what you get. He made the right decision early with the fair catch, so at worst we were going to be on the 25.”

(Regarding K Jason Sanders, we saw him against the Jets last year, and we saw him against Dallas this year. We know he’s not afraid of those moments. Does he really relish those moments and look forward to them? Or is he pretty business like about it and it doesn’t matter either way?) – “You’d have to ask him that question. The way I look at Jason, he’s ready no matter what. He doesn’t blink and whenever we send him out, we’ll look for the positive results.”     

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