Brian Flores – August 20, 2019
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Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores
(There is certainly a mindset that would be out there – I’m sure some fans would have this – that if you have a young, rebuilding team that has added a lot of draft picks and you have an older player and a younger player that are about even – in this case talking about quarterback – a case could be made to go with a younger guy to invest in the future. As it pertains with quarterback with your team, do you agree with that mentality: if two guys are close, to go with the younger guy, with where you are as a franchise now?) – “That case could be made. A case could be made that playing the older guy – a case could also be made that the younger guy is not ready. I think a lot of times – I understand that thought process but I’m the one dealing with the individual player, and sometimes guys just aren’t ready. The whole sink or swim mentality, it’s easy for somebody on the outside to say; but for that individual player and the best interests of that individual person, that might not be the case. For those who aren’t in the trenches and dealing with the day to day, they wouldn’t understand that. If a guy is ready, we’ll put him out there. If he’s not, we won’t put him out there. I think that’s the right way to approach it.”
(As it relates to QB Josh Rosen and the quarterback position, if in fact the scenario is wait and learn, from your experience, what are some of the things that quarterbacks not on the field but watching, learning and listening from a veteran, how it can benefit them?) – “I would say there is a long list of guys who have gone through that process. Patrick Mahomes is a guy that comes to mind. (Tom) Brady is a guy that comes to mind – Steve Young, (Aaron) Rodgers. There’s a pretty good list. I’m not even naming them all. I think sitting – in some instances, not all – could be a good thing. Sitting, learning, improving your technique, improving your fundamentals, going through the mental reps of games and practices, I think guys have gotten better that way. I think there is a hunger to play by sitting and I think guys understand that it’s a privilege to be in this league and privilege to play. I think they take advantage of – when they get an opportunity, they understand how important that is and they take full advantage of it.”
(I don’t know if this plays into your thinking at all or not, but sometimes we’ve seen young quarterbacks thrown in there and maybe they get sacked at times or they just don’t have success, and you kind of wonder about their confidence level. Does that at all factor in, kind of wrecking a young quarterback’s confidence?) – “I think all of it factors in. Hopefully when you stick a guy in there – look, bad plays happen. We have to stay even. We can’t get too high, we can’t get too low. When the bad plays happen, if they happen, I think if you have a guy in there, that’s not what you are worried about. You’re not worried about wrecking his confidence because if that’s the case, you shouldn’t put him in there in the first place. But you want your players – at all positions – if it’s a good play (or) bad play, move on to the next play. That’s part of dealing with the highs and lows of playing in this league. There’s a discipline – a consistency – that you need at all positions. Again, guys who get too low, if you feel like their confidence is going to be wrecked, then they shouldn’t be out there.”
(Could it come down to whoever plays better Thursday will get the starting job? Is it that simple?) – “I wouldn’t say that. I would say there’s been a lot of practice reps, game reps, from the spring to training camp to games to our practices last week with Tampa. For it to come down to one game, no I don’t think it’s that. I think as a staff, we’ve talked about this position – as well as every other position on this team – a lot. We’ve spent a lot of time on it. We’ll make the decision we feel is best for this team and this organization.”
(How much does confidence from their teammates, does that factor into you picking a starting quarterback? Guys on both sides of the ball.) – “It factors in a little bit but the confidence that I have and our coaching staff has plays a lot more – there’s a lot more that we put into that. We’ll make those decisions. But yeah, you want all of your players to have confidence in everyone who steps on the field. We’ll make those decisions as a staff and the input will be primarily from our staff, from (General Manager) Chris (Grier), (Vice President of Football Administration) Brandon (Shore) and the personnel staff. Like always, we’ll do what we think is best for the team.”
(What have you seen this summer from RB Kalen Ballage and how unusual is it to have a guy who is that big who is that fast?) – “Yeah, it’s unusual. He’s a very, very talented young man. He works hard. Football is very important to him. He’s a big man. He’s fast and he’s athletic and he can catch the ball. He’s doing a lot of good things for us, so we’re excited to see him perform this week and moving forward. Hopefully we can get the best out of Kalen. I think we will.”
(There are a lot of clear-cut No. 1 wide receivers in the National Football League…) – “There’s a lot?”
(There are a lot of them.) – “Really? Do you have 15 (of them)? (laughter)”
(Fifteen would be tough. At least six or seven.) – “Six or seven? I’m just asking.”
(This team, in my estimation, doesn’t have that clear-cut guy.) – “Like a lot of other teams? (laughter)”
(Like a fair amount of them.) – “(laughter) I’m asking. I don’t know.”
(What do you see the benefits are of having a No. 1 receiver and what do you see the benefits of having a committee?) – “I would say we saw one last week in (Tampa Bay’s) Mike Evans. He’s big, strong, fast. The benefits of having a guy like that are defensively, that’s a guy you don’t want to wreck the game, so you make sure that doesn’t happen. Offensively, that’s the guy you get the ball to as many ways and as much as possible. Thankfully there’s not a league full of Mike Evans. There’s obviously quite a few really good receivers. They’re a problem. They’re a real problem. Defensively, how we handle those players, we have to game plan for them. Offensively, you game plan to get them the ball. I think we’ve got some good receivers as well – guys we’re going to game plan for. If teams want to match us up 1-on-1, we’ll try to take advantage of them and hopefully we get to a point where people are doubling our guys too. I think we’ve got a couple of guys who have that capability and just need to raise their level of play and get to that point.”
(Where – as a former defensive coordinator or play-caller – what are your views on cut-blocking and the approach that it has to impact the defense?) – “I think it’s something that you have to practice defensively. Cut blocks are a part of the game, specifically on the defensive line. (If) you get cut on the back side, there’s going be to be gaping holes in the defense, so you have to not allow that to happen. In space, it’s something we practice – not getting cut, sprawling, staying on your feet. Again, offensively, really you’re taking a shot when you cut. If you miss, then the guy’s going to go make a play. If you make the block, then you’re going to spring the running back, receiver or tight end. As a defensive guy, I think it’s something we have to practice. It’s something we have to not allow ourselves to get cut. It’s a part of the game. It’s always been a part of the game, and it’ll continue to be that way and we have to defend against it.”
(How do you know if an offensive line is good or catered to do that?) – “I think it’s film study. I think you see it over and over and over again. We have a pretty good idea of when it’s going to happen. I would say in space, it’s a little bit of one of those things where you’re not necessarily sure. The good space cut guys, it’ll look like they’re going to block you up top, and the next thing you know, you’re on the ground. We know who those players are as well, but I think a lot of it’s film study. Some guys are just – they run at you with their head down, so you know it’s coming. I think it’s something that we study as a team. We know which particular players are cut-blockers. A lot of tight ends are flashing across the line of scrimmage to go block a big defensive end. A lot of times, those end up being cut blocks. It’s something that we try to give our players that information pregame.”
(A lot of times you hear coaches and players saying, ‘you’ve got to buy in. You’ve got to believe.’ How do you know when a player has bought in to your system?) – “I think when they come out and they practice on a day-to-day basis regardless of weather – rain, heat – bumps and bruises, that’s part of the game. When guys are really trying to work hard to communicate. When it’s hot and you know it’s tough, those guys are bringing energy to practice. I think that’s when you know. I think we’re starting to get a little bit of that around here and hopefully we get more.”
(Does it have anything to do with on-field stuff? Doing stuff the way that they’re taught or these are separate?) – “I think it’s all-encompassing. It’s doing the fundamentals the way we ask, practicing with an enthusiasm and an energy and guys who just have fun playing the game. I think at the end of the day, it’s hard. We work them hard. We try to create an environment where it’s not easy. If you can make this fun, I think that’s what we’re looking for.”
(Can you talk a little bit about DT Durvial Queiroz Neto and him adjusting to a new role the past couple of weeks?) – “I think he’s one of the hardest-working guys on this team. He’s one of the strongest guys on this team, that’s for sure. He’s playing a little bit of o-line and d-line. We wanted to see – he had some good snaps last week in Tampa. He’s a young, tough, physical, young man. He needs a lot of work with his fundamentals and techniques. That’s what we’re working on on a day-to-day basis. We’re excited to work with him this year.”
(I wanted to ask you about K Jason Sanders – how he’s looking in your eyes, as well as the fact that you didn’t bring in another kicker, which I think in and of itself, makes a statement going in. How’s he doing?) – “I think he’s doing well. I think he’s somebody – he’s giving us the kickoffs we’re looking for. From a field goal standpoint, obviously he’s got a big leg, and he’s been accurate thus far. Even when he misses, he comes right back. Normally he makes (them). I think he kind of embodies a lot of the ‘never get too high, never get too low, stay even’ qualities that we’re looking for, and you need that out of your placekicker. He’s done a really good job, and hopefully he stays on the course that he’s been on.”
(What kind of progress did you see from CB Nik Needham from Preseason Game 1 to Game 2?) – “I think Nik has improved from Game 1 to Game 2. There’s a couple plays there that we weren’t so happy about; but again, I think every game’s an experience, specifically for these rookies. They get out there, sometimes it’s the first time they’ve seen a bunch or a stack – in this defense, at least – and what to do in those situations. When they get it right, it’s good, and we can reinforce the communication and why we do it. When they don’t, we can reinforce why the communication or whatever – the technique or fundamental – why it’s so important. Like every other rookie, every play is an experience, and it’s a good experience for them and not just a rookie but any player. The game’s evolving so much. There’s always something to – whether it’s a jet sweep or shovel or unbalanced formation, whatever it might be – all those variables and adjustments and things that are different, it’s always good for young guys and really anyone to see.”
(What is it about CB Jomal Wiltz and CB Eric Rowe – you had experience with them in New England – what is it about those two guys that made you want to have them here in your secondary?) – “I think they’re both and smart. I think they both play disciplined football. I think they work hard and they tackle. They’re both – they’re pretty good cover guys. Again, I think they’re versatile. They can play multiple positions, and again, they have familiarity with how we do things, and I think that’s helped some of the other guys.”
(To the question earlier on the receivers – you mentioned that you think you have a couple guys that if they raise their game, could potentially be feared? Who would you think are part of those guys?) – “I think we’ve got a few guys here. I think we’ve got a good receiver group. I think we need to play better, some of these guys. I think Preston’s (Williams) come on. You guys have seen that. DeVante’s (Parker) had some good practices, and we just need more consistency. Kenny (Stills) – obviously, he’s had some production in the past. We need to get more production from him and just continue to build at that position. Albert (Wilson), obviously. I think we’ve got a good group.”
(When you were in New England, was WR DeVante Parker the guy that you had to pay the most attention to facing the Dolphins, just because of his unique combination of size and speed?) – “Yeah, when he was out there. There were a couple games where he didn’t play against us; but yeah, he’s obviously got a combination of size, speed, athleticism, can go up and get the ball. You’ve got to be aware of where he is. He’s a good player.”
