Brian Flores – October 13, 2021
Download PDF version
Wednesday, October 13, 2021
Head Coach Brian Flores
(Did you lose a bet with DT Christian Wilkins?) – “Yeah, we had a wager. I pay my debts. (laughter)”
(How important to you is the continuity on the offensive line? For various reasons you’ve had to run out five different groups so far. I’m sure it helps finally having a set group and not having to mix and match all the time to find the best five?) – “You always want continuity. You always want to play the same group and build that communication, build those relationships on the field. You always want that for a myriad of reasons. That could change. That could be because of play or performance. That could be because of injury, which we’ve dealt with. Really all of that. I’m hopeful this week that we can continue to play the same group and build some continuity that you’re talking about. But yeah, I think it’s important. But every situation on every team, that can change basically on any play. You’ve got to be ready to make adjustments as well.”
(When T Austin Jackson was the 18th pick of the draft obviously most folks thought he’s the long-term left tackle. I’m just curious about the process that you and the staff go through for making evaluations about who should play where and who should play at all. What role, if any, does a guy’s draft status and expectation relative to that, play into the decision-making process?) – “I think once a guy gets here, I really don’t care where he was drafted. Drafted, free agent, trade, waiver wire. I think we’ve picked up – we use really all of those avenues to acquire players. When they get here, it’s about the way guys compete and players taking advantage of their opportunity and being productive in whatever role they’re given. So that’s really the conversation. It’s never, ‘hey, he was this pick or that pick.’ I try to do what’s best for the team, best for the organization. That’s always kind of where we start and it’ll always be that way.”
(With QB Tua Tagovailoa being designated for return, do you expect him at practice today?) – “He’ll be at practice, yes. And yeah, we’re excited to get him back. I know he’s excited to get out there. We’ll take it one day at a time still, but we’re moving enough in the right direction that he’ll be out there. He’ll have an opportunity to practice and hopefully play in the game.”
(How’s he feeling? I know you said he’s still dealing with a good bit of pain and it’s kind of about pain management or tolerance on his part?) – “Yeah, if you ask him, he’s 100 percent, he’s fine. So he’s not going to tell anybody any different. He’s made a lot of progress but we know he’s dealing with something. He’s going to tough it out. That’s just the type of kid he is. But we’ve just got to see how it goes through practice, get back into the swing of things and we’re hopeful that he’ll do well in practice today and be available this weekend.”
(I know backups always say that they prepare as the starter. If you do have uncertainty at that position about who will start for you Sunday, does that change anything as far as how today and tomorrow go, if there still some questions about who’s going to be the starter?) – “Are you speaking specific to injury?”
(Not specific – I’m saying if you did and wait and see like you said, you’re going to see how QB Tua Tagovailoa fares today. Most weeks you know, you have an idea by now who your starter will be and I know backups always prepare as if they’re going to be the guy. But if you have uncertainty at any position, whether it’s that position or any other, does that change – particularly with quarterback – does that change the way you do have, does it change the way you look for, does it change the way you practice, does it change anything as far as reps and all those things over the next couple of days?) – “As far as game-planning, no. I would say it doesn’t change conceptually what we want to do, how we want to attack, how we want to defend, how we want to play in the kicking game conceptually. I think we want to do is what we want to do, so we do that with either quarterback. Their skillsets obviously would change some things, but – I’m not sure if I’m answering your question correctly, but no, I would say we don’t really change anything from a gameplan standpoint or I would say not too much based on players. But specific to the quarterback, Tua is obviously dealing with something. Jacoby (Brissett) is dealing with something. We’ll see how this goes in practice. My expectation is that both guys will be available and we’ve got to see how it goes really with both guys. That’s my expectation, but I think we’ve got to see how it goes.”
(What was your reaction to the Jon Gruden situation and how the Raiders handled it?) – “I think it’s unfortunate. I think football is a game that, from my standpoint, what I love about the game is that it brings people together and it really brings people from all walks of life together. So you hate to see anything that brings any type of division – I guess that’s the world I’ll use. At the same time, I believe in forgiveness. I do. I never want to judge someone on the worst thing they’ve ever said or done. I don’t think anybody here would. I know I wouldn’t. So from that standpoint, I guess that’s how I feel about it. I would never judge someone based on the worst thing they’ve ever done or the worst thing they’ve ever said. But I do think the whole thing is unfortunate. Obviously there are consequences for your actions and the things you say and I think we all should learn something from it.”
(Is WR DeVante Parker or TE Adam Shaheen ready to practice?) – “(Adam) Shaheen will be out there. DeVante (Parker) will not. DeVante will not be out at practice today.”
(Back when you drafted S Jevon Holland, you had mentioned his communication and leadership skillset as something that attracted you to the player. I know in Sunday’s game, he played more snaps than any defensive back. I was just curious five games into the season, how do you think he’s coming along in that regard?) – “I think he’s doing a lot of good things. I think he’s still learning the NFL game. I think his communication as a young player is good. Hopefully it’ll improve. It’s something we harp on really on a daily basis with him. He’s a sponge. He’s a smart kid. He understands – he has a good understanding of the information we’re giving him and he’s done a nice job.”
(I’m not sure if you have done a London game before. Have you? And what are some of the challenges that come along with preparing for this game?) – “I’ve coached in two games over there. I think the biggest challenge is the time change. That is something that we are already talking to the players about. It’s five hours ahead. What time is it now? It’s 11 a.m. so it’s 4 o’clock there. That initial time change and getting your body clock on London time so we can be physically at an optimal level when we’re ready to play on Sunday, which will be 9:30 a.m. our time here and 2:30 p.m. their time. That’s probably the biggest challenge. But it’s a great atmosphere. That I know for sure. The fans there love the game of football, so it’s a great atmosphere and we’re excited to get out there.”
(With QB Tua Tagovailoa’s condition, are there extra factors put in specifically this week because it is a London game? That maybe when you’re considering whether or not he’s ready or not, that maybe wouldn’t come in on a normal week?) – “No. The flight, that could be something to consider. It’s a longer flight but with his situation, it’s not. This is really just let’s see how this goes at practice, can he make the throws, can he roll to his left, roll to his right, step up in the pocket. The one thing we won’t know is taking a hit. We won’t know that until the game but we’ll try to do as much as we can to get a feel for what that will look like or what that will feel like without having a setback obviously. I’ll say this, he’s a tough kid. He’s a tough kid.”
(For a lot of these guys, it’s their first time going out of the country or seeing London and whatnot. For someone that has done some of these international trips, what’s your message to them when it comes to enjoying the trip but also remembering that it’s a business trip as well?) – “I think this is a great experience for a lot of guys on our team who haven’t been outside of the country. Some guys were getting a passport for the first time. I think we mentioned what the game does for a lot of people. I know for me personally, the game has opened up a lot of doors for me, and I think this opens up a door for some of our players who haven’t played or haven’t been outside of this country. I don’t know how many of you guys know this but my first coaching job – or coach, it wasn’t even a job – was with a club team in Italy. Guys were smoking cigarettes at halftime. (laughter) it’s a little different from what I’m dealing with now but it was a great experience for me and something I will cherish my entire life. Coaching for the Napoli Briganti in Naples, Italy. So that was fun. That was a personal experience of mine and I think our guys are going to have a similar experience going out to London and doing something that is very different than what they’ve done before.”
(Was there wine at least at halftime?) – “Plenty of wine. There was plenty of wine. (laughter)”
(How did that come about?) – “I had about three or four buddies from college, who once they were done playing – I went and started working and they basically were paid to join a club team in Napoli. Not a lot. It was housing and a little bit of a stipend. But it was a great experience for them to go over, visit Europe – live in Europe, not even visit. Live in Europe, play some football and they were kind of player/coaches. We had some time off in the summer in the NFL. I think we had four or five weeks, so I went over. Not to coach at first but just to spend some time with friends. One of the coaches had to leave, they asked me to coach and that was my first coaching job. I was the defensive coordinator for the Napoli Briganti. I coached one game. We lost 6-0. Then we traveled to Italy. (laughter)’
(What did you run? What defense did you run?) – (laughter) “It was a 4-3. Do you want to get into that? (laughter) I ran some strong safety pressure. Tutto bene is about all I’ve got for you. It was a great experience. I still talk to some of the guys that are on that team now. I made some great friendships and it’s a good story to tell.”
(You said it opened a door for you. I’m just curious how that one – granted you held them to six points but how did that one game open doors for you?) – “I was in scouting at the time. I knew I wanted to coach right after that, along with a few other things. I was having a lot of thoughts about the future at that time, and it’s one of those things that presented itself. Everything happens for a reason. It really does. I think that’s one of them for me and I think I’m here where I am today, coaching, because of that time period where – I never thought I was going to be coaching. I thought I was going to be hanging out drinking wine and it turned into (that).”
(What is the thing that you remember most about Napoli – about your time there, about the city? It’s a great city in Europe.) – “It’s a beautiful city. It was really – I’m big on relationships and the time I had with some of my closest friends, guys who were the best man at my wedding and just friends that are real close to me. More than – the place is beautiful obviously. Naples is beautiful. Amalfi Coast, all of that, it’s a beautiful place. But I’m more about people and more about relationships, so that’s kind of what I remember the most. One of the criteria for me to coach the game or coach for these guys, was I told them that they had to fly my then-girlfriend, now wife, out. They agreed and then we lost, so the season was over. Then we traveled. We traveled Italy. (laughter)”
(Did you play at the soccer stadium or where did you play?) – “No, no, no, no. (laughter) We played at some little field.”
(You dug into the food while you were there, didn’t you?) – “Yeah, I had plenty of food and wine. Plenty. (laughter)”
(Do you guys have an activity for Saturday? Maybe go to a game like you have done in the past? The Dolphins are really loved in London. Do you have some plans? Maybe meet with Christian Pulisic or some of the U.S. National Team players that are there?) – “No. Once we get there, I think our focus is going to be on the game and the Jaguars and their team. And they’ve got a good team. It’s a young team. It’s a talented team. I think they’ve been in some close games. They’ve got some good young players and they’ve missed some opportunities and they’ve had some opportunities to win some games. So I think our focus will be on them and the challenge of this week.”
(What have you seen from Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence?) – “I thought this guy is talented, big arm, accurate, can get out of the pocket, make plays and he’s getting better every week. That’s what I’m seeing.”
