Brian Flores – August 26, 2019
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Monday, August 26, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores
(With the quarterback choice, does General Manager Chris Grier have any input? Or is this your decision after talking to Offensive Coordinator Chad O’Shea and Assistant Quarterbacks Coach Jerry Schuplinski?) – “Chris has a lot of input. He and I talk about the quarterback every day. Chris, myself, (Vice President of Football Administration) Brandon (Shore) and obviously the coaches, we all are putting our heads together as far as the best choice for this team. We’ll make the appropriate choice at the appropriate time.”
(How active do you and General Manager Chris Grier anticipate being in the trade market before cut-down day?) – “This time of year, there’s a lot of movement. Obviously teams will be cutting down here at the end of the week, so there are a lot of conversations, really on a daily basis. Chris and Brandon (Shore) handle a lot of that and I’m obviously involved. There are a lot of discussions but all of those conversations are obviously private and internal and we’re going to keep it that way.”
(We know that roster moves are designed to make you a better team. How is this team without S T.J. McDonald?) – “Any time you make a decision, you try to do it in the best interest of the team. We just felt like in this situation, that was the case with T.J. He’s done a good job with this organization for the last few years. Again, all of those decisions are tough but a lot goes into them. Again, those discussions that we have about personnel – and we have a lot of them internally – I’m not going to talk about those particulars and the specifics of those with you guys. But obviously, we have those (conversations) internally and again, those are private conversations that we have as an organization.”
(Is there anything sudden that happened with S T.J. McDonald that kind of changed his direction?) – “No. Nothing sudden. T.J. has been a good player for this organization. He’s been a great teammate. It was just a decision that we made as an organization.”
(Philosophically, how do the middle-aged guys, if you will – the six-, seven-, eight-year veterans – how do they fit into this team? It seems like you’re going more youthful.) – “Good players and productive players and guys that we feel fit what we’re trying to do offensively, defensively and in the kicking game, we’re going to try to keep around. That’s going to be the case as long as I’m here. So sixth, seventh, eighth (year veterans), rookies, a 12th (year veteran), it doesn’t (matter). If you’re a good player who works hard and embodies a lot of the qualities we’re looking for out of the guys on our team, then that’s what we’re looking for.”
(About the S Bobby McCain/S Reshad Jones safety combo – if that’s the way it ends up – do you think those two complement each other? Do you like the upside of that combo if you go in that direction?) – “Again, Bobby and Reshad – it was good to get Reshad back out there. He’d been out for a couple of weeks there, so it was good to see him out there. Again, he’s going to have to get himself back into playing shape. He’s going to have to get back into the defense with the communication and the things of that nature. But yeah, he and Bobby – Bobby has had a good camp so far. I think the communication between those two, they have a great rapport. Then really, the communication amongst the entire secondary and the rest of the defense, that’s something that we spend a lot of time on. It’s very important for this team. I’m looking forward to working with both guys.”
(Players are very aware obviously when a veteran gets cut that they might be next. Can you give assurances to guys like WR Kenny Stills and LB Kiko Alonso that they’ll be here this time next week?) – “I think at this time of year, I think each individual player has to focus on today and focus on getting better today, their technique, their fundamentals, their communication. That’s really where their focus should be. We’ve talked about that as a team. That’s something I’ve talked about and harped on really since we – you guys have seen me up here. ‘Let’s focus on today. Let’s lock in on today. Let’s just get better.’”
(Did S T.J. McDonald’s strengths and weaknesses as a player – he’s a big safety and he’s not particularly fast. We all know this. He’s played some linebacker. Is it accurate to say they did not mesh very well with the scheme and what you’re asking your players to do?) – “I would say that’s inaccurate. I think he’s a guy who has a good skillset, one that’s been productive in this league. There’s a lot that goes into putting a team together – skillset obviously, production obviously, communication obviously and things of that nature. I think with T.J., at the end of the day, it just wasn’t the right fit and we, as an organization, decided to move on.”
(It’s a salary cap league as you well know. You guys are soon to have plenty of salary cap room. How much of the decisions that you’ve made roster-wise and are about to make have to do with finances?) – “I think that’s always a part of any move we make. When you look at the team today, the team this year and the team moving forward, that’s always part of it. Putting the roster together, there’s many variables – the salary cap being one of them. That’s just one part of the equation that goes into making these decisions. Myself, Chris (Grier), Brandon (Shore) and the coaching staff, we take all of these things into account. Like I said – I keep saying this over and over again and I feel like a broken record – we’re going to do what we feel is best for the team from a salary cap standpoint, from a performance standpoint on the field (and) from an overall team standpoint. That’s just kind of going to be what we’re going to do.”
(On looking at moves beyond this year.) – “I think every team is always looking – this year obviously is at the forefront; but every team in this league is looking into the future – future years – and we’re no different. I think we keep that in mind as well as today and this year’s team. We’ve got all of that and you have to balance all of those things as an organization. How you do that is through communication – open, honest communication. This is what I think, this is what you think, let’s talk it through. Like any decisions you make, I think that’s the process. I think we have a good process. It’s something that we’ve worked on really since I’ve got here. Any decision we make, it goes through a certain process. It’s well thought out. A lot of time goes into it. A lot of thought goes into it. All of those variables that we’re talking about – production on the field, age, salary cap – they all play into it. There’s no – I know we want to have one reason why this happened or that happened, but that’s not just how this works. Again, we’ll always do what we think is best.”
(How smooth has that process been for you personally balancing the now, which you are focused on, and what’s best for the team two years from now?) – “I think we have a good process. I think it starts with communication. I think it starts with transparency and being open and honest about how we feel about Player X, Player Z, Player Y. We go through that process with open and honest communication. I think this, I see this, you see this, you see that. If we do that and we’re transparent, then at least everyone’s opinion is out there and we can come to a collective decision as a group. That part I think has been good. At least that way there’s no, ‘I should’ve done this; we should’ve done that.’ It’s all out there. Between Chris (Grier), Brandon (Shore), myself, and our coaching staff, that’s something we harp on. If you have a thought or opinion, let’s get it out there. Let’s talk about it. We’re going to have differing opinions. That’s football. That’s the world, really. You just work through it.”
(What’s your general philosophy on the fourth preseason game?) – “Get better. I think it’s a great opportunity for young players, really all players. Any time you can step out on a football field and play the game and tackle at full speed, tackle a quarterback, cut block and play the game like you will in the regular season, I think that’s a great opportunity. The players who – the young players, let’s call them – the young players, the guys who are trying to make this team – well everybody is trying to make it – but who are, let’s call them, on the fringe – it’s a great opportunity for them to make plays in the kicking game, make plays offensively, make plays defensively and try to put some good tape on film and make our decision hard. That’s the goal of each player: to make our decisions hard. I think that’s what you get out of the fourth preseason (game).”
(The other night you had mentioned that you were trying to challenge WR Kenny Stills to raise his game. In the four days since then, what have you seen? How has he responded?) – “I think he’s responded well. I think he’s practiced well. I think he’s a guy who’s got mental toughness and he works hard. The game is important to him. I think he’s responded well.”
(T Laremy Tunsil has been talking about how he feels the need to be more vocal in his fourth year. Is that something that you think needs to happen and should happen?) – “I’m always looking for leadership from players. At the end of the day, those are the guys that are on the field. I’m not going to go out there and make a tackle, I’m not going to go out there and make a call, nor do I have the ability to do that anymore. At all. (laughter) Yeah, we’re looking for leadership from Laremy. I think he’s a guy who has that capability. Obviously, he’s a very good player, well respected on the team. I think he’s trending in that direction. I like seeing it. I do.”
(Is it fair to say that T Laremy Tunsil’s accomplishment and imposing physique, his voice, the whole package, that when he talks to teammates, you’re going to be inclined to listen to him?) – “I don’t know about the imposing physique. He’s a big guy, but I don’t think you got a lot of guys in that room who are just going to bow down to anyone. (laughter) I hope not. I hope that’s not the case with anybody on my team. I really hope that’s not the case. (laughter)”
(But T Laremy Tunsil’s voice is deeper than anybody else’s.) – “Yeah, but I hope that doesn’t do it for our … (laughter) I really hope that’s not the case. But yeah, from a leadership standpoint…”
(T Laremy Tunsil’s accomplishment?) – “His accomplishment and the way he works, I think – Yeah, this is a good player who’s done a good job over the last few years and really worked hard. I think he’s got respect in the locker room as a player, not as an imposing figure. (laughter)”
(We saw LB Kiko Alonso doing a little bit out there on the field yesterday.) – “Yeah. It was good to see him back. Yeah, like we talked about yesterday.”
(I guess another linebacker in LB Raekwon McMillan we haven’t seen a ton of. Where is he in his…?) – “He’s working his way back. Honestly, I’ve never seen a guy work so hard to get back as hard as he’s working. He’ll be back as soon as he can. We’re getting close. I can say that. We’re getting close. But it’s not for lack of work, I’ll tell you that right now. This guy, he’s in there as long as a lot of our coaches training, lifting and trying to get himself back out on the field.”
