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Dan Feeney – August 4, 2023 Download PDF version

Friday, August 4, 2023

OL Dan Feeney

(I’ve got a general question here as it relates to communication and pass protection. Do you have any idea how many sacks would be attributable to lack of communication as opposed to somebody getting physically beaten one-on-one? Is it 50/50?) – “I don’t really have a number for you, in all honesty. I think it’s holistic. The whole o-line works together, so if one guy is off, they pull the string. Some guys are in other stressful positions, so I think it’s holistic. The o-line never wants to give up a sack, no matter what. That’s like the worst feeling for an o-lineman. So we do our best to communicate and make sure everybody is on the same page and know IDs, know who bigs are and things of that nature.”

(Is communication the No. 1 thing in pass protection or scheme or being able to go one-on-one?) – “I think it’s communication and just knowing who you’re working with. Sometimes you play with a guard who is a little more aggressive, some guys like to set a little back. So I think it’s just knowing who you’re working with, because obviously you’ve got moving pieces going around, football happens. I think just knowing the guys, communicating is the biggest thing for the o-line.”

(And that gets into the continuity?) – “Exactly.”

(Coach talked about the kind of trust the offensive linemen have to take in the coaching in the system with playing more aggressive and going out and getting blocks. I know you played in a similar system last year, but how have you kind of adapted to that trust and playing more aggressive to fit in the system?) – “Luckily, I’ve been in a system similar to this the last two years, so it’s not too big of a jump. I think it just adds this whole offense – like the o-line being aggressive, running off the ball, doing what we want to do, making the run game work will open up (Jaylen) Waddle, Tyreek Hill, all these guys that have world-class speed. So if we do our job, they’ll do their job and then the team wins.”

(Did you come here at peace with the possibility of just being a top bench player in terms of center and guard? Or did you come here with any hope and expectations of competing for a starting job?) – “I want to play, no doubt. We have to figure it out. It’s early in camp, positions move, but we’ll see what happens. Obviously, I want to play. I’m a football player. I would love to be out there and play, help the team win and do whatever I can, but circumstances are circumstances, so we’ll see what happens.”

(There are a lot of players on the roster who can play left guard and they’re all competing. You obviously can. Have you gotten much work there in this camp so far?) – “Yeah, we’ve been moving people around a lot. I think there hasn’t really been too many set spot. A lot of guys moving, just kind of getting guys reps in different positions. I think that’s kind of how they want to do it. Like I said earlier, football happens. It’s a tough game. It’s an aggressive game. But everybody wants to be good at what they can do and being able to do a couple things never hurts.”

(I only noticed T Terron Armstead out there for one snap, I have no idea how much he was out there. But any noticeable difference, any tangible difference with him and his participation increasing?) – “I really don’t know too much, honestly. You’d have to ask him that, but it’s just good to have him in the room, just a great vet. Just picking his brain, letting him talk and just sitting there and absorbing his knowledge is incredible. He’s an 11-year vet and he’s got nothing but great knowledge to give to the younger tackles in the room.”

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