Brian Flores – January 5, 2022
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Wednesday, January 5, 2022
Head Coach Brian Flores
(I know obviously this past offseason you guys extended K Jason Sanders and then LB Jerome Baker during the summer. Then basically you ran out of cap space as far as any other potential extensions. So TE Mike Gesicki will be an unrestricted free agent, as you know. Is it your hope that Gesicki is re-signed and returns to the team next season?) – “Those are conversations more for next week. Right now, we’re focused on the Patriots. It’s a tough team. They’re really good in all three phases, well-coached, and that’s kind of where the focus is today for me and the team. Obviously we’re working on early downs and some things in the kicking game. That’s really where the focus is.”
(I know the focus is solely on the Patriots but WR Jaylen Waddle has an opportunity to not only pass 1,000 yards but break WR Anquan Boldin’s rookie receptions record. I was curious as a young receiver, what’s the next step for him to not only kind of maintain the consistency that we’ve seen this season but have a greater impact on games moving forward?) – “I think Jaylen has done a good job. Look, he’s gotten better every day. He works hard. It’s important to him. He’s tried to learn more about the position, learn more about defenses, learn more about matchups. He’s really gotten better every week so I think his focus and our focus isn’t on …”
(To follow up on WR Jaylen Waddle, is it something where you would want to get the record out of the way early so late in the game, you can just focus on making plays to win?) – “I think the focus will be trying to move the ball against a good defense. Whoever that is – if it’s Jaylen, it’s Jaylen. If it’s Mike Gesicki, it’s Mike Gesicki. If we’re running it, we’re running it. Run, play-action, screen, really to move it effectively and efficiently against a very good defense. So yeah, that’s kind of where our focus is and trying to put together a solid game in all three phases.”
(Is there anyone you don’t expect at practice either today or this week?) – “No, I think we’re – yeah, we expect everyone. A couple of guys will be coming off the COVID list, so we’ll just kind of see what that looks like. But yeah, I expect everyone.”
(Following up on that, what was the final determination on RB Malcolm Brown and whether he’ll be coming off IR or staying on there?) – “He’ll be staying on IR.”
(I know you don’t want to address contractual things until next week, so regarding DE Emmanuel Ogbah, how about if I ask you about it this way. How do you assess his season as a whole? One of the main aspects of his contributions I would think is his ability to bat down passes. Is that something that you really stress going into the season? Was it something that maybe surprised you to any extent? If you could describe what you’ve seen from him.) – “I would say one of his best attributes is his leadership, the way he works, the way he comes to work every day, how important the game is to him, how he supports his teammates. Then his play on the field has been very good as well. The batted passes, the pressures, how he plays in the run game – I think all of that, he’s played well really across the board. We need another performance, a good performance, from him this week against a good opponent.”
(I know it’s been since September since you’ve seen QB Mac Jones live but I’m wondering watching the cross-over tape, what you’ve seen from him this season?) – “I think he’s done a very nice job. Good command of the offense, poised, good decision making. I think as an entire offense, it’s complementary to the skillset of each individual player. The run game, the pass game – I think Josh (McDaniels) has done a great job of putting those guys in good positions to have success. They’ve obviously, with Mac at the helm, done a nice job.”
(I wanted to ask you about CB Xavien Howard? How important do you think his play has been to the team’s overall success on defense?) – “Very important. I think ‘X’ (Xavien Howard) has played very well this year. Oftentimes we’ll say ‘X, you cover that guy.’ It allows us to do a lot of different things defensively with his ability to cover guys one-on-one. I think he’s done a nice job.”
(I wanted to ask you about the Patriots defense and what you’ve seen of the characteristics of them overall this season. And along those lines too, having coached LB Dont’a Hightower and DB Devin McCourty, and now scouted them on tape, can you give us an appreciate or an understanding of their importance and their value of changing from week to week what the Patriots do defensively?) – “I think as a defense, it’s tough, it’s physical, good situationally. Those guys in the secondary do a good job. Every catch is contested. But specific to ‘High’ (Dont’a Hightower) and Devin (McCourty), obviously I have a relationship with both guys. I have great respect for both of them as players but more so as people. It’s good to watch them continue to grow, continue to lead. They’re both very multiple. They do different things. They allow that defense to be multiple. They do a good job as leaders on that team and overall they’ve done a nice job defensively.”
(Your opponent on Sunday has traditionally improved throughout the course of the season. You guys got a chance to see these guys back in September and now preparing for them here in January. Where have you seen the Patriots biggest strides from Week 1 to Week 18?) – “I think they’ve really improved in every area – offense, defense and special teams. I think they’ve dealt with injuries like every team and other guys have stepped up. I think there are some things that are standard operating procedure there. Guys play tough, play physical, play disciplined. They do a nice job overall.”
(I wanted to ask if you have talked to QB Tua Tagovailoa or if not, what would the message be to Tua after a game in which he kind of struggled a little bit. It’s the last game of the season and you want to end this on a good note. What’s your message to him and rebounding from last week’s performance?) – “We move on. We move on to the next play, we take it one play at a time, one day at a time. We make the corrections, improve and go out there and put your best foot forward. That’s the case for him and every player. That would be my message to anyone that dealt with a little adversity.”
(Kind of big picture as a whole, coming off of a disappointing result and a disappointing outing, especially going into the last game of the season, where do you strike that balance in terms of saying ‘this is what we have to fix,’ but also saying ‘there were some good positive things to take out from that game?’) – “I think you always do that win or lose. I think there are always some things you wish you could have done better, some things you can improve on and you continue to make those coaching points. This was good, let’s continue to do that. This wasn’t so good, let’s improve and whatever area it is offensively, defensively or in the kicking game, or from a coaching standpoint. That’s really the message every week. I think our guys take to that and try to make the improvements. I’m hopeful we’ll see that in practice today.”
(G/T Robert Hunt seems to play well at right guard. How would you assess how he’s done, and I was curious, was it tempting for you and Offensive Line Coach Lemuel Jeanpierre at any point this year to move him to right tackle? Was that a move you ever were on the brink of making?) – “No, I think he’s found a home there at right guard. I think he’s played well so I didn’t want to change that or move him. I think he’s done some good things. I think he’s still a young player who is getting better every time he goes out there. I think he’s making improvements on a weekly basis, getting more comfortable with his communication and just understanding how tough and physical it is in there at that position. I think he’s done a lot of nice things.”
(With G/T Liam Eichenburg, you’ve seen him going back to the offseason at multiple different spots. Do you have a feel yet whether he’s best at left tackle, right tackle, guard? Do you have a sense of that eight months into this relationship?) – “I think it’s probably too early to say he’s this, that or give you a definitive answer on that. I think Liam is a good young player, a good young prospect. I think he does everything from a preparation standpoint, work ethic standpoint, giving himself an opportunity to get the most out of his ability. I think that I’m pretty confident he’ll get the most out of his ability and be a dependable, reliable player for us. Where that is? That’s yet to be determined. I think he’s played a few different spots for us this year, primarily at left tackle. I’m pleased with a lot of the things he’s done there. Obviously there is room for growth and improvement, but that’s the case with any young player. I think we have an opportunity this week to continue to improve and continue to make the corrections. He’s a young player and we’re excited to work with him.”
(How do you view the meaning in potentially finishing two straight seasons with a winning record with a win on Sunday?) – “I really haven’t thought about that too much. I’m just really kind of focused on this team, this week. It’s a tough opponent. Whether it’s offense – offensively they post issues. Defensively, obviously they do a nice job there. Same thing in the kicking game. It’s going to take a great effort by us, a great week of preparation to get the result we’re looking for. I think that will be great for our team but it’s going to take a lot of hard work.”
(Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick has been talked about a lot and his attributes have been mentioned. Are there any particular attributes or leadership style that he has that is under discussed in your view? And maybe it gained more meaning to you now that you’re a head coach as compared to when you were working under him?) – “I think Bill, his consistency is something maybe people don’t talk about. Having been in that building, I think that’s something you see on a day in and day out basis. As far as how the day-to-day approach he expects from players, coaches and everyone in the building, you hear the same message really on a daily basis. It’s been a while since I’ve been out of there now. I’ve certainly grown more of an appreciation for my time there and the things I’ve learned with more time being there. I think a lot of those things I try to apply here on a day-to-day basis. Bill is a great coach, but I’d say consistency and messaging is one thing that isn’t talked about enough.”
