Brian Flores – November 3, 2021
Download PDF version
Wednesday, November 3, 2021
Head Coach Brian Flores
(I know there are obviously cap considerations with roster moves and I know you’re just thinking about today’s practice, of course. But in 2019, you all switched out 14 players before the start of the season. If you all don’t turn it around in these next two games over the next 10 days, have you and General Manager Chris Grier considered the possibility or could a case be made to just dramatically change parts of the roster, bring in guys on minimum, take a fresh look at guys or replace guys that are not performing well if things don’t turn around in these next two games over 10 days.) – “Well the focus is on today’s practice but I will answer your question. I think there’s always conversations about the roster, where we’re at, who is playing well and always evaluations. If we feel like – or I should say this, we’re always going to try to do what’s in the best interest of the team. That’s – I don’t want to say everchanging but that’s a moving target, I would say. We’re always going to do what’s in the best interest of the team. I think those conversations I have between myself, Chris, our coaching staff, our scouting staff – we look at the waiver wire really every night and see if there’s anyone that’s a potential claim or a potential practice squad poach. We’ve had a couple of those in the last couple of weeks. There’s always conversations there from a roster standpoint. I don’t think that will change. If we feel like it’s in the best interest of the team to make a move, then we will make a move.”
(Have you ever been tempted – I know one thing your predecessor did, not saying it’s right or wrong. But Adam Gase essentially fired three players after a loss. Have you been tempted at all during this process to just make a statement by releasing any guys who are not performing? Or is that something you just don’t believe in?) – “I would say it’s case by case. I try to think through every decision. If that’s what’s best for the team then I think that’s something that we would consider but that wouldn’t be a decision made just by me. Obviously those conversations would be had by myself, Chris (Grier) and our coaching staff. There’s a lot that goes into that. How does that affect the team? How does that affect the coaching staff? How does that affect the locker room? There’d be a lot that goes into that. Again, a hypothetical that I guess it could come up and if we felt like it was in the best interest of the team, I suppose a situation like that could occur.”
(On Sunday, the broadcast team said that in meetings with you during the week, you asked if you would be relieved once the trade deadline comes and goes and they said you say ‘yes.’ Are you, now that it’s passed, relieved that all of this is kind of over? Especially the whole QB Tua Tagovailoa stuff that has been going on for months.) – “I don’t know if that’s the right choice of words or the context, but I think I try to take things one day at a time. My focus right now is on today’s practice. I’m trying to prepare our team for what’s going to be a tough game against Houston this weekend. That’s really it. I try to compartmentalize really on a daily basis and focus on what is in front of me. I’m focused on this team, the players on this team, the support staff in this building and trying to help guys improve and get better and have success on the field.”
(With the cloud that has been hanging over, you will admit that there’s been kind of this cloud of lingering doubt about QB Tua Tagovailoa and the questions. Do you think that there’s a relief there from a team perspective that that’s at least, for now, gone?) – “I think our group – I think part of playing in this league and coaching in this league is blocking out and ignoring noise, distractions and things of that nature. If you can’t do that, then your energy is on something that it shouldn’t be. If you can do that, then your energy is on something that it should be on. The message is always to – let’s put our energy in the right places, so that’s our meetings, our walkthroughs and our practice. Look, I understand that there’s always things going on in these guys’ lives, but we try to limit those as much as we can and talk about limiting those when they arise. We just try to talk about it a little more and hope that they take that message and put their energy where it needs to be.”
(You’ve steadfastly said that you’re a day-to-day, what’s in front of me today guy.) – “Yes.”
(When a team is 1-7 and when your team inevitably hears a 1-7 team can’t do this and a 1-7 team can’t do that, how much more difficult does that make the challenge of keeping them to just worry about today’s practice and getting better today and tomorrow and Friday, and showing up on Sunday and all of those things? Does it get tougher as the losses pile up?) – “I don’t think so. I think it’s about – I think I’ve been consistent. I try to be consistent. I shouldn’t say I’ve been consistent. I try to be consistent with these guys on a daily basis about the way we have to prepare, the way we have to practice, the way we have to do things. If you continue to do those things and if we limit the mistakes, I think things will turn. I believe that. I’m unwavering in that belief. That’s not going to change. It doesn’t matter what the record is. Those are things that are just kind of embedded in my fabric. I think they know that. They know they’re going to hear kind of the same talking points on a weekly basis. But they also know it’s not just coach-speak either. They know that I believe it so in turn, hopefully they believe it and come out here and prepare the right way, practice the right away and put themselves in position to have success this week.”
(Even good teams make mistakes, make penalties, have turnovers. But oftentimes they have the talent to overcome them. Do you feel like this team has enough talent to overcome mistakes, considering what the record is right now and the product that’s been put on the field?) – “I do. I think games in this league come down to a handful of plays. Like I’ve said too many times this year, we’ve been on the wrong side of those mistakes whether it’s a punt hitting somebody or a penalty here or a dropped ball here. We’ve been on the wrong side of them. We’ve got to do a better job as a coaching staff – that starts with me – of putting them in better positions to make some of those plays. But I do. I think we’ve got – I like our players. I like our team. And I love coaching this team so I’ll continue to coach them. I’ll continue to try to help them improve and get better. Just keep taking it one day at a time.”
(If I could follow up, why do you like this team? I’m being dead serious because the results are not matching what the expectations were. You talked to Peter King and you said that – and I didn’t necessarily agree with you – this was the year that you guys were going to hit it and kind of move away from the rebuilding. And here we are 1-7, which is where you were at the beginning of 2019.) – “I like the people in this building. I love the people in this building. I think we have the right types of players. I think we have a talented group. I think we have a young group. I think we have a developing group. I think we have guys who give great effort, prepare the right way and I enjoy coaching this group. I think there’s a lot of the right ingredients here and we’ve got to find the right formula to help us get over the hump. A lot of people may disagree but that’s my belief. I believe in this team. I believe in the people in this building and I’m really unwavering on that.”
(You were the defensive play caller on the Super Bowl-winning team. The day after you won that Super Bowl, Stephen Ross was hiring you and said that performance made me feel good about what we just did. My question is, in a year where your defense collapses against Jacksonville for the game-winning drive and against Atlanta for the game-winning drive, struggles in the second half against Buffalo – why haven’t you taken over the defensive play calling?) – “There’s a lot that goes into that question. Obviously, I’m involved defensively but as far as the play calling, I have a lot of trust in (Defensive Coordinator) Josh Boyer and our defensive staff. I think he’s done a good job. We just have to continue to get better. We have to put the players in better positions to make plays and I think we are moving in that direction. I thought we did a lot of good things against Buffalo and we’ve got to execute better. As far as calling the defense, obviously I have some input on that. But I think Josh has done a good job calling defenses in this league and I have a lot of trust in my staff and I will continue to do that.”
(Some have wondered and have wondered if QB Tua Tagovailoa has wondered if the organization’s decision to explore acquiring another quarterback is an indicator that the organization has already concluded that he is not the answer as the long-term franchise quarterback. What would you or have you said to Tua and to us about that?) – “Well to you guys, I’ve said he’s definitely – and to him – he’s gotten better. He’s gotten a lot better and he’s had some good performances this season. He just needs to take it one day at a time and continue to improve and get better. That’s where his focus should be. Not on anything outside of that. It should be on his meeting, his practice, his craft, his techniques, his fundamentals and not really worry about what anyone else is saying or writing, and just worry about the way he goes about his day on a daily basis.”
(In the last nine games, is it important to you to see QB Tua Tagovailoa show that he can complete more down-the-field balls, deeper passes? No touchdowns in his career of 30 yards or more. I know it’s only been less than 16 games but what about that?) – “That’s one area of the game that is a goal of his to improve on. There’s areas in his game and really all of our games that we are looking to improve on. What I don’t want him to do, or any player to do, is try to force things because the expectation from somebody else is to do this, that or the other thing. I think he needs to play within the system, I think he needs to take what the defense gives him, I think he needs to take those shots down the field when they’re appropriate, which I think he’s done that. To me, playing any position, you don’t want to go try to do too much. You want to – I don’t want to say let the game come but when you try to force action, oftentimes that’s when mistakes happen. I think he has had some downfield throws. I don’t know if they’re touchdowns but he has had some downfield throws. We’ve got to put him in position to create more downfield throws. We’ve got to do it in practice and once we get that done in practice, we’ll feel better about executing it in the game.”
(Certainty throwing the ball downfield would be easier if WR Will Fuller was available. Is there any fear that he might not play at all for the rest of the season or are you confident he’ll be back?) – “Confident he’ll be back but kind of week to week. With nine weeks left, confident he’ll be back, yes.”
(Do you feel like you’ve had enough time to evaluate what QB Tua Tagovailoa is and what he’ll be?) – “Look, everyone develops at a different pace. I see him getting better really on a weekly basis. I think there’s still some things that he needs to improve on, like all of us. We have more time. He does everything he needs to do to get better, improve and I think he’ll continue to improve.”
(I asked QB Tua Tagovailoa this last week but do you feel like the circumstances he’s dealt with from the injuries to QB Ryan Fitzpatrick last year to now this have been a fair or positive way to start his NFL development or career?) – “I think everyone’s journey is a little bit different. This is his. I think he’s done a good job. I know a lot of people may not feel that way but I think he’s done a lot of good things as a young quarterback in this league. I think he’s made a lot of improvement as far as his understanding of what the defense is trying to do to him, our offensive concepts, his command of the huddle. There’s some things he certainly needs to improve on. I think we all have things we need to improve on. I’m anxious to see him continue to improve.”
(Has this been the hardest time in your career with the losing record, all the rumors of trading for Houston QB Deshaun Watson and the QB Tua Tagovailoa situation with all the media attention? Has this been the hardest personally on you and your NFL career?) – “I guess I don’t think about things as hard or challenging. Adversity is adversity is adversity. I think, and I’ve said this before, it either breaks you or makes you stronger and I’ve always taken the approach that adversity, and it has, made me stronger. I think this is what we’re going through as a team. Hopefully it makes our team stronger. That’s kind of the approach I’ve always taken. It’s not going to change. And that’s the message I send to the team and to everyone in this building.”
(On a broader scale, how much influence do you have with General Manager Chris Grier on roster moves?) – “I’ve said this before, Chris and I talk pretty much every day. My focus is on the team in season. I would say kind of the personnel part is probably one percent of my job right now. To me, it’s the team. Offense, defense, special teams.”
(What about the Senior Bowl, coaching the Senior Bowl and the draft process?) – “That’s a different time of the year. In season, I’m focused on our team and really that’s it. Obviously, there’s daily conversations but even in those, I’m thinking about third down or red zone or run defense or something like that.”
