Brian Flores – December 22, 2021
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Wednesday, December 22, 2021
Head Coach Brian Flores
(Just checking to see if WR Jaylen Waddle, S Jevon Holland and RB Phillip Lindsay will be able to practice today?) – “Yeah, so Jaylen (Waddle) and Phillip (Lindsay) came off of the COVID list the other day, so they’ll be available for practice. Jevon (Holland) has not, so we won’t see him today.”
(And anyone else beyond Jevon that you think will miss practice today?) – “Albert Wilson will be out for personal reasons and then injury-wise, I don’t have that in front of me. DeVante (Parker) will be – it’s just a rest day for him.”
(And one last thing on WR Albert Wilson, do you expect to have him available next Monday?) – “Yeah.”
(QB Tua Tagovailoa is going into his first Monday Night Football game. How do you envision him responding to that and he had a couple of turnovers this past game – what he needs to do to get past that?) – “I think his approach has got to be like any other game. His preparation – it needs to stay the same as far as getting to know the Saints and what the players on their roster, their schemes, how they want to play situationally. We know it’s a tough opponent. Very good defense, well-coached. Dennis Allen is – I have a lot of respect for him and I think he’s done a great job with that defense for a number of years. We understand that. Tua has just got to prepare the right way but understand that this is going to be a tough test and he’s got to play well if we’re going to move the football.”
(And just on his turnovers, what he can do to correct that?) – “I think the best way to kind of answer that question is for him to just continue to prepare. We always want to be smart with the football, be accurate with the football and no one’s tougher on themselves than he is on those things and how important that stat is. So we’ve got to protect it and he understands that.”
(I wanted to ask you about Tua’s angry run in the last game. I don’t know what your thoughts on about whether you like that or not, but do you think there was some sort of message that was delivered to anybody watching, including his teammates, on that particular play?) – “I think it was a scramble and we got a positive gain. It was an 8-yard gain. We ended up second-and-2 on the plus-side of the field and he was excited about making a positive play on the field as he should be. And he got back in the huddle and moved on to the next play.”
(I get it. Separate topic. Motor and effort – I’ve noticed that a lot of defensive guys and a lot of guys in general are bringing motor and effort and I wanted to ask you about how you think the best way to identify in the draft and free agency players who are most likely to bring motor, effort, motivation, drive on a consistent basis?) – “I think you can see it on film. Guys who are running to the football, finishing blocks, playing in the kicking game. I think you can see on film guys who enjoy playing, play 100 miles an hour, 100 percent, great effort really on every snap. So that’s what you see on film and then you just kind of confirm it in a meeting setting where you kind of get a feel for how passionate they are about the game.”
(There was an Inside the NFL clip from last Sunday’s game where it showed Tua after his touchdown to WR DeVante Parker where he said “I audibled” I guess to that slant. I was just curious, I know we kind of asked you about this earlier in the season with Tua, but when it comes to audibles and making checks at the line, is that something where is that kind of a part of the practice reps as well or is some of it just kind of trial and error, just kind of trusting your gut with what you see on the field and on game day?) – “I think it’s something that we talk about if there’s an advantageous look or an opportunity to make a play. The stars align, then you choose to make that decision, but we’ve got to get everybody on the same page. He was able to do that on that particular play and that happens really throughout the game. I know you make a mention of that one, but that happens throughout the game in all phases and that’s about just overall awareness, understanding matchups, understanding what we’re doing, what they’re doing. And it’s not easy to do. You’ve got 40 seconds to make that decision – really less than that – so it was good. It was nice to see him do that and we’re going to need that thought process, that type of decision-making this week against a very, very good football team in New Orleans.”
(There are 10 teams in the AFC with either six or seven losses. What can you say about the parity within the conference right now with so many teams jumbled? Where do you see yourself in this playoff picture?) – “That’s the National Football League. I think it’s hard to win every week. That’s the beauty of coaching and playing in this league. There are a lot of great players, a lot of great coaches. It’s a slim, slim margin for error. I think we’ve made mention to that the entire year. You’ve got to prepare the right way, you’ve got to perform, but your preparation gives you an opportunity to perform. You’ve got to make good decisions, play good situationally and even then, because there is so much talent in this league from a coaching standpoint, from a playing standpoint, it’s not easy and every game is tough.”
(QB Tua Tagovailoa bowled over a defender. What’s your opinion on that from your QB? Would you prefer he just slides in that case, avoiding injury risk and not trying to get two extra yards falling forward? What’s your take on your quarterback doing that?) – “I think when you’re in the moment – you want to see – most guys slide in that situation. I’m not sure if he thought he was going to get a first down. But when you’re in the moment, those guys have to make decisions. Obviously we want them to protect themselves and we want him to protect himself. I’d prefer that he slides and keeps himself out of harm’s way. But I’m not the one that’s out there and I’ll tell him that. He’s got to make decisions out there. But he got up and moved on to the next play.”
(I’m curious what the doctors and trainers are recommending relative to whether or not guys who are coming off the COVID-19 list – like WR Jaylen Waddle for example, need to be eased back into practice and participation and snaps. What are you learning about that?) – “I think it’s case by case. Myles (Gaskin) is a good example. He came right off of the list and was at practice Friday. We saw what that looked like – walkthrough Saturday and played on Sunday. But it’s case by case. That example, I’m not sure if that is easing someone in, playing in a game two days later. I certainly think it’s case by case and I think the individual, whoever that person, can tell us a lot about what they are feeling and what they can do. Obviously the health and safety of the players is priority No. 1. Those questions are really for the medical staff. I think (Head Athletic Trainer) Kyle Johnston and our medical staff do a great job of going through that process with those players, whether it’s off of COVID or off of injury or whatever the situation is.”
(Throughout the losing streak, you always said and you always told us that you guys are going to keep doing your job, stick to the plan and get through this. But I was wondering if there is any additional pride or additional sentiment knowing that this team, this group of guys, believed and trusted in you enough to really pull through and really come out here and win six in a row like they have done?) – “I think it’s a hard-working team. I think it’s a competitive group. I think they enjoy playing together. I think they play for one another. I think they prepare the right way. I’m not really looking back. I’m not looking forward either. The one thing I’ve been consistent on is focusing on getting better today. We’ve got a great opponent coming in – well, we’re going there, into a hostile environment. It’s going to be a great atmosphere and that’s where my focus is. We need to have a good practice today and try to string some good practices and good days together amid a lot of things that are going on with Christmas and the holiday season. We’ll just take it one day at a time.”
(I know you’re focused on what your team needs to do week to week, but especially this week since you play on Monday night, do you watch any of the other results on Sunday with regards to how they impact your playoff chances? There is one in particular that makes a huge difference this Sunday.) – “I’m just focused on today’s preparation. That’s where it is. I think we’re going to be on a plane when a lot of those games are going to be played. You only have so much energy. I want to put all of my energy into our team and this game, and we’re going to need all of it against this opponent in this environment. They are very talented. They’ve got great coaches, great players. You can go down the list. Defensively, (Cameron) Jordan, (David) Onyemata, (Marcus) Davenport, Kwon Alexander, (Marshon) Lattimore, Malcolm Jenkins, (C.J.) Gardner-Johnson, the rookie (Paulson) Adebo. Taysom Hill, Alvin Kamara, Mark Ingram. I’m going to put all of my energy on that group and not worry about anything else.”
