Daniel Kilgore – July 30, 2019
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Tuesday, July 30, 2019
C Daniel Kilgore
(How surprised were you with the news when they made the announcement?) – “Yeah, I mean you’re definitely surprised. Four days into camp – any change – not just coaches, but players – with the new rules, you’re allowed to keep a whole team – but any time it’s a coach, yeah, you’re surprised. But after meeting with ‘Coach Flo,’ (Brian Flores) that’s what he had a gut feeling and what he thought was best, and I back him. I back the head coach, (General Manager) Mr. (Chris) Grier and the OC (Offensive Coordinator Chad O’Shea). So whatever they think’s best for the team, that’s what we want to do.”
(Did he go into any detail and explain to you guys what was behind the move?) – “No, I mean he doesn’t have to. That’s his call. That’s the luxury of being the head coach, and our job as players is to go out and do whatever we’re told, so whoever’s the offensive line coach, we’re going to do it.”
(What’s the biggest difference between Pat Flaherty’s and Dave DeGuglielmo?) – “’Guge,’ (Dave DeGuglielmo) he’s going to have to get his terminology in. It is tough because we did have a spring with ‘Flats,’ (Pat Flaherty) so it’s going to take some time for him to get his terminology and what he’s expecting for us. That’s the biggest transition for us and that’s really what – as an offensive line unit – we’re going to have to dial in and make sure that we’re all on the same page with the offensive line coach.”
(What is it like knowing you’re being coached now by the guy who coached the best offensive line in the NFL last year?) – “It’s awesome. They (Indianapolis Colts) were a playoff team. You look across their line, and they had an outstanding year, just from stats. I didn’t watch them – I didn’t dissect them or anything like that, but he’s (Dave DeGuglielmo) been around the league. He’s been with this coaching staff before. So it’s an opportunity for this team to really grow together with the staff, and we’re looking forward to working with him every day.”
(What do you want this offensive line’s identity to be?) – “Tough. Both mentally and physically. We are a young team. ‘L.T.’ (Laremy Tunsil) and I are the older ones. Chris (Reed), he’s got some experience. Jesse’s (Davis) got experience now, but we’ve got some young guys. Mentally and physically, we’re going to have to be tough. Just knowing the scheme, that’s the biggest thing because this is a scheme that you need to be on top of your game. And within these elements – training camp – it’s tough. It’s hot out here, so when you’re the mock play of the game or whatever towards the end of practice, you’ve really got to think. So you’ve got to dial in on what your job is, so being physically and mentally tough.”
(Did Pat Flaherty reach out to you at all today or to any of you guys?) – “Not today. I spoke to him last night, and I’ve been with Coach Flats (Flaherty) before in San Fran, and this is my sixth head coach in nine years. I’ve had many offensive line coaches, both full-time, helping or whatever, and it’s a tough transition when you’re blindsided like that; but he’s a good sport. He’s been in this business for longer than I’ve been alive, and he understands. It was tough for him, but he left – I told him, I said he’s an awesome coach, but he’s an even better man. Fortunately, we have his son on staff, and Shawn’s done a great job, and he can carry on what his father did but really establish himself as a coach in his own career. I spoke to him a little bit, and he thanked the guys for all their effort for him, and he knows that we’re in good hands, so there’s no bad blood. We understand this is the business side of it, but we’re also – we’ve got to look forward. We’ve got to adapt now.”
(What do you think went wrong the first four days, and what was feeling a little different today?) – “That’s something that’s out of my – I couldn’t tell you. What went wrong? It’s training camp. We’re fighting through it (and) we’re trying to get better just like every other training camp I’ve been with in nine years. Nothing’s perfect. So I think that it’s something that’s out of our hands, and like I said earlier, as ‘Coach Flo’s’ calling, we’re going to back him.”
(What do you take from – you don’t have to see a coach fired four days in. What do you take from that moving forward?) – “Well, I said this in the spring: we rent those lockers – coaches and players. You really, coming into this business, you’ve got to know that each and every day, you’re under a microscope, and they’re going to put who they think is going to help them win games on the field. Four days in or if it’s four years in, there’s no gray area. You’re either getting your job done or you’re not and we’re going to move onto the next guy.”
(I’m doing something on Adolphus Washington, No. 53 – what have you noticed about him and his style of play?) – “He’s tough. He flies around. To be honest with you, I don’t know really – because the whole unit, they’re doing a really good job, and they’ve got the depth and everything, and everybody’s really just – for me personally, I’m just trying to get used to my guys and working up to him, so he’s doing a good job. He’s fitting in where he’s supposed to be.”
(First day with the new position coach. Was there any kind of difference either in intensity or…) – “No, not in intensity. I mean, yeah, he wants us to get after it, but it’s just – again – working out the kinks, wanting to do his drills and getting used to his drills. It’s his first da. It’s not even been – well, it’s been 24 hours now, but he’s playing catch-up. Now we’re playing catch-up with him, with what he wants and terminology and drill work, so that’s going to be a difference. It’ll take the next couple of days to get what he wants as far as individual work; but after this week, we should be good.”
(Offensive Line Coach Dave DeGuglielmo has been around the team, but has he been in meeting rooms with you guys?) – “On-and-off, on-and-off. I believe he’s been doing personnel stuff, but he has sat in with some offensive line meetings, especially offense meetings. He has spoken a little bit; but as far as being there full-time, no. He’s kind of just, he’s scattering, he’s kind of doing his own scouting of all positions; but now being able to really dial in on offensive line, it’s going to be interesting to see what he has in store for us and where we go from here.”
(Did you have conversations with the guys who played under Offensive Line Coach Dave DeGuglielmo in terms of what to expect?) – “I have not had conversations with any guys that have played with him. No, I have not.”
(Do you think it’ll be a drastic shift in maybe techniques of what he’s asking you to do versus what Pat Flaherty was asking?) – “I wouldn’t say drastic. I would say there would be minor technique differences, as there is with every coach. It’s what they think will put you in the best position to take on a block or a single or a double. It’s just – yeah, there will be some differences, but not drastic. Again, I told the guys after practice – the only ability for us right now is being able to adapt. Adaptability, that’s really going to be the biggest task: put our head down and go to work.”
(Obviously there are a couple of roles that you guys are trying to figure out as far as who’s a starter at a particular position. How is it for you guys as far as continuity? I know that’s important.) – “It is important, but honestly it’s important to be able to play different positions. The old saying – the more tools in the shed, the better you are – and I think that has to do with a lot of our guys playing guard or tackle or at center and guard. You know, I think it’s important for a lot of these young guys to experience different positions and state their case to really make the team. We’ll plug in different guys at different positions and see who works well with each other and who doesn’t, so it’s important.”
(What do you like so far about G Michael Deiter?) – “Deiter, he’s a big body. He’s intelligent. He knows the game very well, compared to – man, when I was a rookie, I had no clue. He’s so far advanced from when I was a rookie out of Appalachian State, him coming from Wisconsin. He’s doing good. He’s big; he plays physical. It’s just more or less now just transitioning that technique – what Coach is wanting and really fine-tuning some of his things.”
