Brian Flores – October 24, 2019
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Thursday, October 24, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores
(RB Kenyan Drake is a guy who has had his name out there in trade rumors. I was wondering if you’ve been able to talk to him about that and if it’s a potential distraction.) – “I try to talk to most of our players on a daily basis. Right now, our focus is on the Steelers and that’s kind of where all of my conversations and messaging to the team is. Really, that’s where we’re at. Then again, any conversations from that standpoint – I know the (trade) deadline is next week and it’s what a lot of people want to talk about – but those conversations, if they’re even had, will be internal for us as an organization between myself, (General Manager) Chris (Grier), (Vice President of Football Administration) Brandon (Shore) and our staff. No, from a distraction standpoint I don’t even mention that. I don’t think that’s the case at all. I think Kenyan is going to be at practice today and he’s excited to play, just as the rest of the group is.”
(Do you anticipate RB Kenyan Drake being on the team for the rest of the season?) – “I mean, yeah, I do – unless there’s some other situation that presents itself. Look, I can’t sit here and predict the future; but yeah, I do. He’s been productive for us. He’s a good player. That’s what I expect.”
(Do you have an update on T J’Marcus Webb?) – “He’s doing everything he can to get back out there. He’s a tough kid. He wants to play, wants to practice. He’s doing everything he can. Hopefully we get him out there today.”
(What’s the plan if T J’Marcus Webb can’t go?) – “We’d have to move some things around. Obviously Isaiah Prince has started games for us earlier in the year, so he’d be the next guy in; but we’ll see how J’Marcus is feeling. Again, he’s a tough guy so he’ll do everything he can to get out there.”
(A phrase that came up a couple of times and I think you used it after the game on Sunday was referring to learning how to win. How does a team go about doing that? Is it something where you know you’ve done it once you’ve actually won? What’s the process? You’ve been on teams that have won a lot.) – “I think there’s a lot that goes into it. I think the one thing that – well, really every play counts. I think that’s the first piece to it. From the first play to the last play and every play in between, they all count. So you want to have high execution really on every play, and good communication, because you don’t know which one it’s going to be that is the difference between winning and losing. I think that mentality, that every play counts and if you dwell on previous plays – good or bad – that will affect the next play. So just having a next-play mentality and an every-play-counts mentality. That’s where I would start. To me, the next part is there are critical moments in the game. Let’s call it critical red-zone possession or a critical third down or a defensive possession after a score. There’s kind of critical points in the game. Again, every play counts and every play is critical; but there are critical moments and junctures in a game where as a team, we need to kind of recognize that and play our best football right then. So the best execution, the best communication, the best calls from a play-call standpoint. There’s an entire series of – look, a lot of people are involved in that, myself included. That’s kind of what we’ve talked about as a team, as a staff, and those are things you have to recognize those situations in the game.”
(Is there any aspect of what you just described where you think the team is doing particularly well at this point or needs to really focus on that’s been lacking up until this point?) – “Yeah, we’re lacking in a lot of those areas – recognizing those critical situations, execution in those critical situations. I think all of it plays a role and we need to get better at that. It starts with me.”
(Sacks are easy for us to see. DE Taco Charlton has three in four games. What’s not so obvious in terms of how he’s doing?) – “I think he’s doing well. I think he’s still learning. I think from a consistency standpoint, rush to rush, there are some things he could be doing a lot better. He’s had some production. There could be more. That just comes with knowing your opponent, knowing the scheme and putting yourself in a good position. I think he’s doing a lot of good things and I think if he continues to improve and gets more comfortable within the defense, he’ll continue to have the production that he’s had and hopefully even more.”
(What has been at the root of the issue in terms of the team’s inability to stop the run?) – “Communication, setting the edge (and) tackling I would say, at the end of the day. I think if we tackle better, and that’s going to be a big thing this week against this group. They’re tops in the league as far as yards after contact. So tackling I would say is at the forefront. But again, there’s a lot of things that go into it from a communication, alignment, setting the edge (standpoint). At the end of the day, we have to do a better job of tackling.”
(Your back end has seem to hung in there pretty good without CB Xavien Howard the last two weeks. What has shown up to you that has impressed you?) – “I think between Ken (Webster) and (Nik) Needham and Ryan Lewis, I think those guys play hard. They work the techniques, they try to be physical at the line of scrimmage. All three guys can run pretty well. We’re trying to develop everyone on the team. I think you can kind of see some progress in the back end with those guys. Look, they’re all hardworking kids. It’s very important to each one of them. They listen, they’re attentive and they’ve had a little bit of production.”
(How demanding are you on them to learn a bunch of different things and then play on Sunday? We’ve talked about obviously CB Eric Rowe playing some safety, but you’ve been moving a bunch of guys around.) – “We try to put a lot on that group and try to put them all in positions to play well. I think they’ve responded, that entire group, and I would say that about the entire team. We’ve ask multiple guys to play different roles and defensively they’ve all responded. It’s not all perfect. I’d be the first to say that. I think this is a hardworking group. We’ll continue to put more on them, ask them to do more and hopefully they’re productive out there.”
(You’ve obviously seen all the games. Do you think there have been times where the opponent has underestimated your team?) – “No. That’s not really something I think about. I think in this league, I don’t think there’s a coach out there that’s underestimating another team. I don’t think that’s how – I don’t think that happens a lot in this league. I think every week it’s another test for every team, just like it is for us. I think teams, hopefully they see that we’re going to compete and fight. I can’t speak for other teams, to be honest with you.”
(The reason I’m asking is if you watch the New England game, the Dallas game, last week’s Buffalo game, it’s almost like they’re not all that into it and then all of a sudden they turn it on and things game in the game. That’s why – You notice that, right?) – “I just think you go out, you start the game, teams make adjustments (and) we try to make adjustments. I think that’s how every game goes. There’s ebbs and flows in each game. I can’t speak to whether or not another team underestimates us or didn’t underestimate. There’s no way for me to actually know that. My opinion is that they’re not. I think every team, every coach, they’re trying to go out there and move the ball offensively and stop them defensively and win the field position battle in the kicking game. I don’t think anyone is not trying to do that or thinks that the other team is going to not go out there and play. I don’t think that’s the case. That’s my thought process there.”
(You have such a young team. What advice would you give to all those players that who have never played on Monday Night Football before?) – “Take it one play at a time. Look, it’s a road game on Monday night. It will be our first night game of the season. (There will be) a lot of attention paid to the game, but just take it one play at a time. That’s going to be my message really the entire week. Let’s try to execute, let’s try to communicate, execute on a play-to-play basis and let’s see how that works out for us. Let’s not think about it being Monday night or who’s watching or the outcome of the game or anything like that. Let’s just take it one play at a time.”
(What’s your assessment of T Andrew Donnal and C/G Keaton Sutherland since you’ve gotten them here and have you been able to implement them into the offensive line?) – “Donnal’s had some experience in the league and that shows up on the field as far as communication, having seen different looks. (He’s) tough, he’s physical, he’s a hard-working guy. Keaton is young, a young player in the league. (He’s) got some athletic ability. He’s a smart kid. He kind of understands things almost like a veteran in a lot of ways. That’s been good. I think I like having both guys. I know (they) haven’t gotten much time for either one of them, specifically Keaton; but I think they’re developing and that’s really what we’re looking for.”
(You’re very familiar with Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick and obviously you play him this week on the other side. How do you evaluate how the deal has affected both teams short-term and long-term?) – “That’s not really – I just kind of evaluate their defense and him as a cog in their defense, as well as their offense and their special teams. They’ve got a lot of good players. Minkah happens to be one of them. I’m not thinking about the deal. I’m thinking about the Steelers and T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree over here and (Javon) Hargrave in the middle and (Cameron) Heyward and Devin Bush and Minkah and (Terrell) Edumunds and (Steven) Nelson over here, (Joe) Haden – (laughter) They’ve got a lot of guys. You can’t focus on one guy. Then offensively, we can go into all of that. The deal was the deal. That happened, but it’s in the past and it’s not really – I’ve got a lot of other things on my mind. I understand the question.”
(What have you noticed of how they’ve used Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick and how he’s kind of delved into their defense?) – “I think he’s had some production. He’s playing safety. He’s playing some in the box, in the deep part of the field. I think they’re using him well, and he’s been productive. I have a lot of respect for Minkah, as do a lot of our players; but I have a lot of respect for that entire team. He’s a good piece for them.”
(How would you assess WR DeVante Parker’s development through the season?) – “I think he’s made a lot of improvement over the course of the year. Every week he seems to kind of come up with a catch – a big catch for us – deep down the field, across the middle. He’s made some tough catches as well. The way he’s practiced, the way he performs – the way he practices has shown up in games. I think he’s really done a good job along with the rest of the receiver group. I think we’re starting to get some guys back. Preston (Williams), Albert (Wilson) – Albert had a catch last week and I think we’re starting to get him back going and (Allen) Hurns. I like what I’m seeing from that group and hopefully, we continue to improve.”
