Danny Crossman – November 10, 2020
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Tuesday, November 10, 2020
Special Teams Coordinator Danny Crossman
(Could you give us the top three reasons why K Jason Sanders is kicking so well right now?) – “(laughter) I think in my opinion, we have a very good rapport right now and a very clean operation with the snaps and the holds. Obviously any time that that triumvirate is working very well, it seems like to the kickers in the past and obviously with Jason now, that they’re really able to get a good, clean picture of what’s happening on the hit. And then he’s just in a good rhythm. As we all know in whatever our chosen profession is, there’s times when you just find that nice rhythm and things are going and they’re going smoothly and things are clicking. That’s sort of where he is right now and he’s playing with a lot of confidence.”
(I wanted to ask about how crazy Sunday was with you guys missing a bunch of coaches. I know I think almost everybody had multiple roles. What was your responsibility beyond coaching special teams on Sunday and how do you think the staff handled all the craziness?) – “I think we handled it very, very well. We’re always in the next-guy-up mentality – whether it’s coaches, players – just as an organization, especially obviously this year during the pandemic. So whatever everybody’s opportunities are, whatever roles you need to pick up or transfer, I think we’ve talked about it since last spring and obviously have worked through it during the season. So when those things come up, we feel like we’re going to be in good position to just roll with whatever comes at us.”
(How do you, I guess, overcome the natural worry or fear that comes when you hear something like that? A coach on your staff has tested positive and not knowing how that would affect you one way or the other?) – “Again, I don’t spend any time even thinking about it, to be quite honest with you. It’s a pandemic. Anything can happen. You can do everything absolutely correct and properly and follow every guideline and still end up with the virus. So it doesn’t even enter my mind. I just come in every day and do my job and don’t even think about it.”
(I wanted to ask you about TE Durham Smythe, who had to leave mid-game in this game; and when he missed the San Francisco game a few weeks ago, Head Coach Brian Flores had told us about the impact that has on who dresses for game day. I just wanted to get your take on his special teams ability and the impact that he makes for you guys when he is available for you out there on special teams.) – “I think Durham (Smythe) probably doesn’t get enough credit. As an available player, he’s going to play three or four phases for us based on the week and how his play time is set up both in the kicking game and offensively. He’s very trustworthy, very accountable. So any time you don’t have those guys, it’s a knock; but we feel very, very confident in anything we ask Durham to do. (He’s a) good football player, a good leader and we’re happy to have him.”
(I know this play wasn’t under your department, but how thrilled were you for WR Mack Hollins when you saw him bring in that touchdown, especially considering the importance that he brings to special teams since Week 1?) – “Again, anything we can do to win the game and whoever is making those plays to win the game, I’m all for it. I’m happy for any player – whether it’s an offensive, defensive player – when those guys have to step up, if they make a play in the kicking game – and just like the guys that are predominantly kicking-game role players, when they get their opportunity offensively or defensively. So I’m very happy for Mack (Hollins) and obviously it was a big play in the game. I’m just very happy for the team.”
(Obviously K Jason Sanders hit one from 56 yards, which is I believe a career-long. He’s really good from 50-plus throughout his career. I’m curious, in practice do you guys even bother doing the 58 or 60-yarders? Has he successfully tried or made a 60-yarder in practice?) – “He has. Week-in and week-out, we have a certain number of kicks we’d like to hit in certain positions on the field – high, low, hashes, middle of the field, whatever it may be. And routinely we ask him to hit some of those longer field goals. So again, any time we send Jason (Sanders) out, his job and our job when that group goes out on the field is to score points. So if we’re sending him out there, we feel confident in what we’re asking him to do.”
(Just wanted to ask a little bit more about the coaching situation on Sunday. Did you have anybody in particular that helped you out on special teams or did any other assistants kind of stand out as playing a bigger or significant role in helping the communication, getting guys on and off the field, things like that?) – “Again, I’m not going to get into a lot of that stuff. I think ‘Flo’ (Head Coach Brian Flores) has talked about it. We had a lot of people step up. We had a lot of people ready to handle a lot of different roles, so it’s an outstanding staff – not only the coaching staff, but then you incorporate the strength guys who are always involved. So there’s always guys that do a lot more than a lot of people understand and know outside the building. And I think it just comes all with getting good people, hiring good staff and then everybody understanding that as things change, just like players – Mack Hollins came up earlier, going in and catching a touchdown – it’s the same thing from a coaching staff. You never know when certain things are going to be asked of you. We have a great group that’s always able to step up and handle whatever is presented to them.”
