Matt Burke – August 4, 2017
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Friday, August 4, 2017
Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke
(What we’ve observed is DT Davon Godchaux getting a lot of first team work. Has DT Jordan Phillips’ camp been up to your expectations and is that a battle where you see it as a tossup right now between Davon and Phillips?) – “Can I answer yes to both questions? What we’re trying to do with some of the young guys especially, is kind of get them in against the top competition. It’s not a reflection on Jordan. He’s had a solid camp and done what we’ve asked him to do. It’s really us trying to move some guys around and see him against the top level of competition and get a better evaluation on some of those guys. Godchaux’s had a good camp. He’s flashed a little bit so we’re just trying to kind of find out so we’ll move those guys around and get them working with different groups.”
(Our eyes would tell us that LB Raekwon McMillan is your middle linebacker assuming he doesn’t screw it up … Is that true?) – “Just as long as all of them don’t screw up. (laughter) He’s done a good job. He’s done a good job. Again, the same sort of thing with the linebackers, with Raekwon in particular. What we wanted him to do in terms of taking charge of the huddle leading the group. That position has to make a lot of calls and where he’s been playing so he’s done a good job and the same thing, so we’re trying to get him work with that first group and against better competition and see how he responds. He’s been good so far.”
(What factor made you go with LB Raekwon McMillan at mike instead of LB Kiko Alonso or LB Lawrence Timmons?) – “No factors. I mean again, we went through the spring and we’re still moving them around a little bit, in our nickel package especially, if you look. That’s really where sort of the interchangeability comes in – a diversity. Basically with Kiko and with Lawrence having both played both spots now inside and out in their careers and there’s a comfort level with those guys. There’s always caution with a rookie, trying to just make sure he’s comfortable in doing what he’s doing. So we wanted a little bit to settle him in one spot.”
(What would LB Raekwon McMillan need to do to get more reps or experience in the nickel?) – “Do nothing. I mean he’s getting work. You know for us, obviously especially with (Head Coach) Adam’s (Gase) offense and seeing a lot of three wide (receivers) and sub personnel, it’s just a matter of mixing groups. We had that thought in terms of okay, if we’re playing a guy with ‘the first base,’ well they’re getting all nickel snaps and he’s not getting work. So how do we … so we’re trying to really almost have two different looks at it where in base, there’s one set of groups and then he may be in one base; but when we go two nickel, he’s getting the nickel work with that group or vice versa with Mike (Hull) and those guys. We’re definitely aware of sort of making sure it’s not just ‘Okay, you’re with the one’s, you’re with the two’s.’ It’s okay. Base snaps are different then nickel snaps and who’s getting work and again, really the combination of both, we’re trying to get toss sort of our top five or six guys all working together and seeing what the best mix is. So we’re conscientious of getting him work in both groups.”
(Are you comfortable with your depth at linebacker right now?) – “Yes, I am. I am. I feel good about … I think Neville’s (Hewitt) had a really good camp – really, really good camp. And obviously we feel good about Mike Hull. We’ve been moving him in and out of groups a little bit. So we kind of feel we’re pretty good with about five deep right there. Then there’s a lot of different body types with that next group and what we’re looking for with some of the young guys that are competing. So I feel pretty good, yes.”
(Has CB Alerraun Verner done enough to make you think that he can challenge CB Bobby McCain to be your first-team slot cornerback?) – “He’s had a good camp. I’ll just hit repeat on that one. I wouldn’t say that. I think Bobby’s had a great camp and Bobby’s right where we want him to be. I think the comfort level for me with ‘Vern’ as a veteran guy that’s done it before, and we’re moving him in and out a little bit, and he’s made some plays. You know he hasn’t played in a press system that kind of we employ, so there’s some technique stuff that he’s working with; but (we’re) very happy with sort of what he’s done since he’s been here. It’s hard to think it’s only been a week. So it’s still a work in progress, but he’s had a good camp too. Since the day I walked into this building, (Head Coach) Adam’s (Gase) whole thing has been competition is going to make us better. So we’re just trying to build up as much competition as we can at all spots and we’ve be moving Vern both places and it’s been a really good camp.”
(What have you seen from DT Vincent Taylor as well?) – “Vincent’s actually made a lot of strides since we’ve been back here from I thought from where he left off in the spring to when we’ve been back here. He’s been a lot better. ‘T’s (Defensive Line Coach Terrell Williams) has been working a lot with his footwork and that was kind of one of his issues coming out. He’s been really good. Honestly both those rookies are just tough kids. They don’t say anything and they just put their head down and go to work. You see them out here with (Ndamukong) Suh and with those guys. (They’re) just sort of sponges. So Vincent, he’s a tough kid. He’s got some explosiveness and I think the comfort or the … I don’t know what the word is but I’ve been happy with both those rookies just in their approach to how they’re working. Vincent made a huge jump to me from where we left here in the spring to where he is today. So I’m very happy with his progress.”
(How much better is CB Xavien Howard than he was to close last season?) – “A lot. It’s good. I’m going to turn the pressure on ‘X’ up a little bit. He’s had an outstanding camp. I mean outstanding. Again, it’s hard. He was a rookie last year, didn’t play, had the issues, and that plays with you guys with people a lot, psychologically and physically. He’s had a very, very, very, very good camp and we’re putting a lot of expectations on him to continue that trend, so I’m excited to see it.”
(In what areas do you feel like CB Xavien Howard has been better? Anything in particular?) – “Everywhere. He’s physical, he’s putting his hands on guys. We drafted him for a reason and the athletic ability he has. He spent a lot of time in the offseason just (working on) technique, the stuff he didn’t get as a rookie because he was hurt this time last year and then we kind of threw him into the fire. So it was more just like learning the scheme and just trying to get caught up to where he could just go play ball. The technique work that he’s done with (Defensive Backs Coach) Lou (Anarumo) and (Assistant Defensive Backs Coach) Daronte (Jones) from really the offseason start forward. His technique is just … it’s been impeccable. Again, we’ll see. It’s only Week 1; but he’s just having a really good camp.”
(How was your vacation?) – “It was fun. It was good.”
(What was the highlight of your vacation?) – “It was good. We got to hike with gorillas, so we got to Uganda. The highlight were those two days there probably.”
(Why were those two days the highlight?) – “We were in the forest. You spend two days hiking up in the mountains. I don’t know. It’s hard to describe the sort of sensation of seeing these giant beasts kind of approach you. You basically, you could get close and then as they’re moving around, the guides and the park rangers that you’re with sort of instruct you as to whether you should move or hold your ground or stop talking and stuff. So the first time that happens and (the gorillas) actually walk within feet of you, it’s hard to describe. It was majestic.”
(And this was where specifically?) – “It was in Uganda, on the western border of Uganda at this place called the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.”
(That’s not the first time you’ve done that before?) – “First time I’ve been that close to gorillas, absolutely. That’s not the first time I’ve been to Uganda, but the first time I’ve been that close to gorillas.”
(What was the low light (of the vacation)?) – “Twenty-eight hours of flights back here and (Head Coach) Adam’s (Gase) texts asking me where I am. (laughter)”
(When did those texts start, right after you left?) – “I had no Wi-Fi service for a while, so it was good. (laughter)”
(Can you talk to me, just in general, about inheriting a defense that struggled so much last year and challenges in front of you coming in?) – “There’s a new challenge every year. We have different players, and that’s one of the things you can see the 0-0 around here, so it’s a new season for us. What happened last year – good and bad – doesn’t matter to us, so we’re trying to move forward. I’m pleased with the effort level and work that everybody’s putting in. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that Came Wake and Ndamukong Suh are having the two best camps of anybody on this field. It sounds silly to say that, but to see those guys – I mean Cam’s almost my age, I’m not sure – and to see him out here what he’s doing, it’s fascinating. I’ve been happy with just the overall effort and what these guys are doing coming out here every day.”
(And as a defensive coordinator that’s kind of important, to have guys step up?) – “Yes, again, especially your veteran leaders. We’ve added a bunch of rookies that we may be counting on to play some football for us. So to see how they’re watching those vets, how they work, and how they’re just taking it in. We talked about the two tackles last year and they’re just watching a guy like (Ndamukong) Suh go to work every day and how he performs. It’s invaluable to me as a coach and as a coordinator.”
(Are you setting any particular goals this year defensively? Any bar you’re setting?) – “Yes, try to win as many games as we can.”
(How has your life changed with this new title of defensive coordinator?) – “My life?”
(Yes, I mean the hours you work or what?) – “Everybody works hard. I’ve got to deal with (Head Coach) Adam (Gase) a little more than normal; but it’s coming to work, no different.”
(What do you need to see from DT Jordan Phillips to ensure that he’s ready to handle a 40-snap workload?) – “I think he’s ready to handle that right now. Again, with Jordan, as always, it’s been consistency and honestly, I’d say he had one kind of rough day at camp so far. It was one day where he jumped offsides a couple times; but other than that, he’s been consistent. That’s all we’ve been preaching to him. I know he stood up in front of you guys in the offseason and said the same thing, ‘Hey, I have to be better play in and play out.’ That was basically our charge to him when we came back, like listen, it can’t be a part time, it can’t be a flash play, it’s got to be a level of consistency that we’re working with, and he’s done that. He honestly has. Like I said, he had one kind of rough practice, which I’ve had a couple of rough practices too. So the longer that goes, the longer the consistency shows, and the more the trust builds and we feel good about that. He’s been doing (well), he honestly has. If you see us moving guys around again, a lot of times that’s just us trying to evaluate some other players. It’s not punishment for (Jordan).”
(What have you seen from S Nate Allen so far?) – “It’s been great, as advertised: smart, veteran, competitive, always in the right place. I laugh because everyone sees T.J (McDonald) making a lot of flash plays, but Nate’s kind of just making real consistent plays. He doesn’t necessarily make all the splash plays. He’s gotten his hands on some balls actually, which has been nice; but he’s a steady and calming influence, which is exactly what we wanted out of him. It’s been great.”
