Brian Flores – July 31, 2019
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Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores
(I know it’s still early obviously, but after three days in pads, how many of the edge guys stand out to you and outside linebackers?) – “I think they’re all doing a good job. I’ll start with Charles Harris – I think he’s really working hard, really working at the techniques on the edge, in the run game and in the pass game, so he’s doing a good job. Tank (Carradine) – he’s doing a good job on the edge as well. We’ve got a group of guys – that edge player – that goes back and forth between guys who are outside linebackers to ends to big ends to smaller ends. It’s a fluid group, so we’ve got a group of guys working there – (Nate) Orchard, Harris, (Tyrone) Holmes, (Andrew) Van Ginkel’s been out there, (Terrill) Hanks has been out there, (Jerome) Baker’s been out there, Kiko Alonso’s been out there. We’ve got a group of guys out there, so that’s going to be a fluid spot, just depending on situation, the best grouping, what they have out there offensively, and I think that spot will change. We work a lot of different guys there. We see some safeties in that spot as well. From T.J. (McDonald) to Reshad (Jones) – Minkah’s (Fitzpatrick) been out there. The edge – there’s a lot of guys playing that position. We work a lot of those same techniques with those guys, so we’re just going to try to move those pieces as we see fit.”
(Staying on those edge rushers, is it important to see sacks right now, or do you just want to see technique and them doing things the right way?) – “It’s always important to see a good pass rush. Whether that ends up in a sack, per se, we’re really looking for good rushers, pressure on the quarterback, pressure on the offensive line, which ultimately creates some discomfort for the offense, for the quarterback, for everyone. Sacks (is a) big stat – that’s the one everyone’s watching, but I think pressure on the quarterback, making the quarterback uncomfortable, making the offensive line uncomfortable, making really the offense as a whole – coordinator, everybody, coaches, all the way across the board – that’s pressure to me. Sacks are a great stat – I love them – but at the same time, going through the process of winning a one-on-one matchup, working in concert with another player if we work in a game or stunt or something in that realm. If it results in pressure and making the offense uncomfortable, then to me, that’s positive and that’s a productive-specific snap.”
(QB Ryan Fitzpatrick seemed pretty adamant about not having his workload kind of managed here – having a pitch count. Is that something you guys had a conversation with him, or is that something you guys are kind of working towards here in training camp to manage his workload?) – “I think we’ve got – everybody’s going to work. So from that standpoint, it’s getting managed. He’s not taking every snap. So from that standpoint, he’s getting managed, and that’s really the case at all positions. We’re working ones, twos, threes, and in some cases, we’ve got four or five guys working at a position, so the volume of players we have kind of manages the entire situation, so I’m pretty sure that was probably where Ryan was going with that. That’s the case with everybody. We’re going to try to get work for the guys in the groups we want together, so they can build that chemistry. At the same time, we’ve got to get everyone evaluated, so the pitch count is not really something we’re concerned with right now. More specifically at that position, I think there’s enough – if anything, there’s really not enough snaps to go around. I’d say it’d go the other way.”
(I know it’s early in camp, but what have you seen out of LB Jerome Baker so far at linebacker that’s impressed you, and what do you feel his role will be?) – “Bake’s done a good job. He’s done a really good job. He’s learned the concepts and the defenses to a solid level, and he’s learned multiple positions. Obviously, he’s fast, he can tackle, he’s smart, he’s tough. He’s got some leadership qualities, which I talked about a little bit in the spring, and that’s starting to develop a little bit.”
(With LB Jerome Baker’s pass rushing, is that something that’s schemed up, or is that just a knack because he’s been the guy who’s pretty much created the most pressure so far?) – “I wouldn’t say it’s schemed up. This is a talented guy. He can win a one-on-one pass rush. At the linebacker position, we’re going to ask him to do a few things. We’re going to ask him to rush, we’re going to ask him to cover, we’re going to ask him to tackle, play in the run game, so depending on what we have called, he may have to win a one-on-one, he may be involved in a scheme or he may have the freedom to do either-or. That’s kind of some of the things – if a player’s capable of doing that – really offensively, defensively or in the kicking game, we want to give him that freedom. That’s the style of ball I like to play. Players know that, but they have to earn that right. Otherwise, we’ll just (say), ‘you’re rushing against that guy.’”
(What is it with guys you’re trying to carve out roles for everybody – what does a guy have to do to get more than just the role that you’ve carved out for him? What does he have to show you and this coaching staff, and also, how difficult is it to manage these egos of guys who’ve been, like T.J. McDonald, who’s been a starter every single game he’s ever played in the NFL?) – “The last question – from an ego standpoint, I’m thankful that this isn’t a team with – in the time I’ve spent with them – with a lot of egos. These guys are, for the most part, putting the team first and trying to work hard and understand competition, really embrace the competition, understanding that that’ll make them better players. From that standpoint, we haven’t had very many issues. I’m very straightforward with the guys. The best guys are going to play. I think I’m going to try to proceed in that manner and be fair and give everyone an opportunity, so from an ego standpoint, I tell the guys, you’re going to have as much of a role on this team as you show on the field, in the classroom, in the walkthroughs, and at the end of the day, this is a production business. From that standpoint, egos – I don’t even like to use that term in football because it’s a team sport, but I know that it’s a part of the game. As far as the first part of your question, which was ‘how do guys carve out a role?’ I would say first and foremost, it’s in the kicking game for really anyone on the team. If you make plays in the kicking game, you make a name for yourself in the kicking game here in this organization, that means a lot to me. If guys want to impress me, do it in the kicking game. That’s where I started in college. That’s how I got on the field at Boston College. That’s how I broke into coaching in the National Football League from working with guys like (Houston Texans Special Teams Coordinator) Brad Seeley and then (New England Patriots Scout) Scott O’Brien. It’s a very important phase of the game to me, so if a guy wants to impress on this team, do it there, carve out a role there, and then if you’re at the game for the kicking game, we’ll find something for you to do offensively or defensively. The players know that. I think everyone in the league should know that. That’s a spot where you can definitely carve out a role, and then, that’s how your reps increase. If you do a good job in the kicking game, you get more offensive or defensive snaps. If you do a good job with those snaps, we’ll give you more, and that’s how guys evolve and grow in this profession.”
(What’s the biggest thing TE Dwayne Allen can bring to the offense?) – “Dwayne – he brings leadership, he brings energy, he brings effort. When we get him out there, in the past, he’s been a good blocker; but again, the past doesn’t matter. He’s going to have to go out there and block and be productive when he gets out there. As far as – from a receiving standpoint – I think he’s a good receiving tight end. That’s something that we’ll try to take advantage of if we can, but that’s up to Dwayne. It’s no different than any other player. If he makes the most of his opportunities, then he’ll see more opportunities.”
(Obviously by not putting WR Albert Wilson on PUP at the start of the season, the expectation is that he’ll be ready early in the year. Is that timeline still intact? Is there going to be a point in the near future we’ll see him do some team?) – “Yeah. Albert is really working on a daily (basis). You see him in some individual (drills), you see him out there a little bit in practice. He goes in and he’s working; we’re working him. We’re working him, that’s for sure. He’s doing a good job. From that standpoint, from a conditioning standpoint, he’s got to get back up to speed and hopefully we’ll see him sooner than later. He’s definitely working towards that and that’s something that we’ve talked about as a staff and (with) our medical team. We have a plan in place for him. We’re not going to stray from that plan. He’s working hard to get back on the field.”
(I’ve seen you run a lot of gassers after practice. I haven’t seen too many bubble practices. What are your thoughts on managing guys and giving them days off even if they’re not hurt? And what are your thoughts on the cumulative effects of this heat later in the season?) – “I think that’s something I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about. (I’ve spent) a lot of time talking to different coaches, trainers, medical staff about what’s the best way for us. We have a plan in place; but part of that plan is practicing in this weather. I think it’s something that we’ve got to get acclimated to. I think it’s an advantage for us. I think it’s a disadvantage for teams that come here. At the end of games, if we can go in this weather and they can’t, I think everybody will be happy. I think that’s part of training camp. It’s hard. Training camp is hard. It’s been that way since football began. I think the players need to understand that. Everyone needs to understand that. It’s not going to be easy. You go through the hard times so you can see the fruits of that labor hopefully. I think most successful teams and most successful seasons start with a good training camp. They start with hard training camps where you find out what your limits are. I think that’s something that we have to do. I think every team has to do it. These guys are working, I’ll tell you that much. You guys see it. It’s hot, it’s humid, we’re in pads, we’re hitting, we’re running. But you’re right, there’s nothing more important than the health of this team. I know that; but I also know that we need to push the limits and see how far we can go. That’s the game and that’s how you get better. To me, that’s teaching, that’s coaching. How do you know how much you can do if you don’t try to go beyond it? I guess that’s a core principle of mine. We’ll see how it goes.”
(So you aren’t going to give guys days off?) – “Days off? They just had a day off the other day. (laughter) That doesn’t count? I’ll give you guys days off. (laughter)”
(LB Kiko Alonso missed practice yesterday with an injury. Is his injury something that – most of these guys have just been one day or two days and then back.) – “I expect to see Kiko back pretty soon. Like you said, most of these guys are – it’s one or two (days). I think we’re in that realm. I’m not putting that number on him but this is a guy who works hard. He wants to be out on the field. He’s a leader on this team. The guy has made a lot of plays in this league. I don’t see this as a long-term thing. I think he’ll be back sooner than later.”
(When it comes to linebackers and defensive backs, we’ve seen a lot of shuffling. Are you at a point where you know what everyone does well and you’re trying to figure out who plays best in what package or are you still trying to figure out with a lot of them, ‘What does he do best?’) – “Great question. I think I know what guys do well but I also know this, when the lights go on and we start to play games, some guys just are gamers. Some guys can make plays in games and have a knack for it. The evaluation up to this point, I know what I see. Our coaching staff, our personnel staff, it’s something that we’re evaluating every day. When it all boils down to it, it’s production in games, in that setting. So that’s the big test. What they do in practice is very important. It’s the only way to simulate the games. The best way to simulate the games is practice, and that goes a long way as far as the evaluation. But if a guy goes out there and does nothing in practice and goes out there and catches four touchdowns, we’ve got to take a harder look at that guy. I think you guys will too. I think the rest of the league will. Up to this point, that’s the evaluation. I think I know what guys can do. It’s still fairly early. We’re getting into some situational – third down, two minute – we’re starting to get into those situations practice-wise. There’s still evaluation left; but I would say the majority of it, I feel comfortable with what guys can do well and what they can’t do well. But the games will tell us a lot as well.”
(Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach Bruce Arians said yesterday that with rookies, he needs to see 500 reps of what they can do so far. I think the quote was, ‘if you can’t show me in 500 plays, you can’t show me – essentially, you have a pretty good body of work.’ Does that sound about right with this building, too, that being going back to April, May, now you’ve had hundreds and hundreds of reps with these guys?) – “Well, I’m not in that building, so I can’t really speak to what Bruce (said) and his 500 reps. Our evaluations are here, and I think until you play a game and you see them in that setting, you think you know or you have a good idea; but you just – the evaluation’s ongoing. I would say that. Am I 95 percent sure? Yeah. Have I been proven wrong before? Yeah. I think every coach has. So we’ll see how it goes. I think that’s part of going through what I think should be a fair process, which is meetings, walkthrough, practice, practice some more, practice in pads, practice the situations, then go out in the game and see who does what. Some guys, the lights come on, all of the stuff you saw in practice, they go into survival mode, and then they can’t play. We’re looking for that on both sides – guys who are gamers and guys who show up in practice and then don’t show up in the games. We need to make sure we’re right there.”
(What have you seen from CB Eric Rowe, and how important is it to you to shore up that second cornerback spot in your secondary?) – “I think Eric’s done a good job. I think he’s a guy that we have some history with. I think consistency is the big thing for him, and consistency is the big thing for everyone on this team. We’re going to continue to work on his line-of-scrimmage technique, his tackling, his deep – finding the ball in the air, defeating blocks, his roles in the kicking game. I think Eric’s done a good job. He’s a hard-working kid. He loves the game, puts the team first. He’s a team guy all the way. He’s tough, he’s smart and I like Eric a lot. I’m looking forward to him continuing to grow and grow as a football player.”
