Mike McDaniel – November 9, 2024
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Saturday, November 9, 2024
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(WR Tyreek Hill gave us another scare about a midweek thing that surfaced with him. How did he get the wrist injury and do you expect him to play Sunday?) – “Managing something, just kind of was heating up so trying to have it cool down. He’s doing everything possible. He’s a competitor, so we’ll see how he responds but just trying to get him to game day. He’s prepared and if his body lets him, he’ll play but we’ll see.”
(Are you less optimistic about it than you were with the foot injury a couple weeks ago? Is it a more serious thing where it’s a toss up in your mind if he plays?) – “I would say relatively – all I know is that I know nothing, as Socrates would say. (laughter) I’m optimistic that he’s going to do everything he can, but we’ll see. I wouldn’t say I was optimistic or pessimistic about it.”
(How did OL Austin Jackson’s knee injury develop and what is his status?) – “That was something that popped up after the game, and he’ll be out for this game.”
(Is there any long-term concern? Any surgery concern?) – “We’re still evaluating that. It’s not concrete, but that’s not out of the question. But we feel good about the way he’s attacking it, so we’ll see. We’re finding out information.”
(If he does need surgery, would it be a clean-up type thing or might it be something that would sideline him for the rest of the season?) – “I would look at it more in the former than the latter, for sure.”
(Did CB Cam Smith come out OK from that knee injury?) – “He did, yes. He’s good to go.”
(Good to go for the game?) – “It was a minor football practice scare that proved nothing to be fearful of.”
(And also in the secondary, S Jevón Holland, CB Kader Kohou and CB Storm Duck?) – “All three have had a good week and I think they’re all three super competitive and not happy with being off the field. I’m optimistic with them but we still have today to work through and then the remaining time up until Monday night.”
(Do you expect to activate WR River Cracraft in the next 48 hours?) – “We’re handling some roster stuff, so it’s kind of compounding but feel very good about where he’s at. I think he’s ready to play, so managing the roster will kind of dictate that but there’s a chance, for sure.”
(What’s it like kind of picking CB Jalen Ramsey’s brain? I know we see the impact and the results on the field, but I’m curious what is he like maybe in team meetings, on the sideline at practice? Just behind the scenes, what can you share about what he’s like?) – “I think he is a passionate football student and athlete. He’s really into football, so he has a lot of cool perspective and he really knows a ton of – he kind of lowkey has a grasp on a lot of different techniques and fundamentals across the board, specifically defensively but understanding what offenses are trying to do. He’s utilized in all sorts of ways where he’s playing inside, outside. He’s played an edge player before. One of his superpowers is that he has so much skill set in a unique body so he is exposed to a lot of football, knows a ton about different techniques and fundamentals of defensive players but also he’s got a strong opinion on offensive players, for sure, and what they’re good at and what they’re vulnerable to. It’s a cool guy to talk to on the football field because he has a lot of thoughts and passion about just really football in general. He could be a coach, I’m just not sure if he could stand the hours.”
(What do you think this game will be like for both CB Jalen Ramsey and WR Odell Beckham Jr. going up against the team they won a Super Bowl with?) – “I think those situations in the National Football League are always special for the individual. I think for them, especially having the success that they did that you alluded to, there’s always those memories but at the same time, they’re veterans that are fully immersed into the Miami Dolphins and what we need to do to win this game. I think the initial moments of going into the stadium will probably bring up some memories, but the second the clock starts, it’s just football. I know they’re going to be eager to get a win out there, as we all are.”
(What makes Rams Head Coach Sean McVay’s offense so dangerous?) – “I think it’s the collective understanding of what’s trying to get done. I think between Sean (McVay) and (Offensive Coordinator) Mike LaFleur, both guys that I’m very close with, they have a supreme conviction in what they’re trying to do and very good at articulating it to their players so you have a unit functioning in unison which forces defenses to play sound, and generally if you’re overplaying something, they have something to offset it so that you can take advantage of that overplay. I think just the various ways that they can attack you as well, if your pass rush isn’t getting home, the offense paired with the arm talent of (Matthew) Stafford is very dangerous and they can score points in a hurry while also maintaining ball control and having good ground game and all of that. So you have to be on your Ps and Qs or things will get exposed, for sure.”
(Will you have WR Dee Eskridge available this week?) – “I don’t think he’s going to (travel with the team).”
(How is FB Alec Ingold doing managing that calf and also TE Julian Hill, he missed last game. Will he be able to return?) – “Those are two of our hardest workers on the team, and I think one thing that you can always count on is if they’re not available, it’s because there wasn’t anything one could do. They’ve both had a good week and we’ve been managing appropriately so hopeful for the next 72 hours to come out clean but optimistic.”
(LS Blake Ferguson, would he be available to long snap after this game when he’ll be eligible, after his misses those four…?) – “We’re still working through that. We know that time will come. The specifics if it’s next week or the week after or the week after, we’ll let time tell, but he’s – I love Blake (Ferguson). When he’s ready, you’ll see him because the team is best when he’s spinning it.”
(What made you guys want to use one of your designated to return spots on S Patrick McMorris? What intrigued you about him in the offseason program and in August and is it more likely next week or beyond for him rather than this week?) – “I think first and foremost the guys that – there’s few and far between rookies that are able to transition super quick. We thought that he did a real good job of learning the responsibilities and really getting better throughout training camp. So he stood out in that way, and I think that’s both because of his ability and his professionalism. I think it might be a hair soon this week, but I look forward to him getting up and being a part of what we’re doing because he’s about the right stuff and has talent to contribute.”
(How tough a call is it going to be with your second elevation? Obviously you need a long snapper as one of them, but you’re shorthanded at tackle without OL Austin Jackson, at receiver, we’ll see on WR Tyreek Hill, WR Dee Eskridge out. You have WR Erik Ezukanma and others. How difficult of a call is that for you and General Manager Chris Grier with the second elevation?) – “It’s one of those things that’s part of the job and you have to be very mindful in terms of the needs of the entire team. It is challenging because we think there’s a couple guys that can help us at various positions so you just have to really take the week to fully assess where each position group is so that you can try to maximize really the health of your team on game day by assessing where everyone is at and having contingency. So you just really have to be communicative and thorough so that you can hit the right spot for your game day roster.”
(I read that two-point conversion success was 55 percent in the NFL last year, but this year it’s down to 31-33 percent. Do you think this is a deal where defenses are getting better at defending the two-point conversion?) – “I think it could possibly be a sample size issue that could contribute it, but I think that more teams have been in tune with the variables, particularly in the second half for your point charts and whatever; you have more reps for defenses to kind of game plan and it’s a tough down-and-distance. It’s two yards, but the field is compressed. So I think there’s a lot that goes into it. I do think from weekly preparation, what I’ve noticed is there’s more variance. In years past, I could feel a little more predictability which I think that might have something to do with it as well where you’re having to prepare for – a play has to work versus several different defensive personnels and coverages as opposed to kind of a known entity of what to execute and how to attack them.”
(Can you speak to T Kendall Lamm’s readiness and what he can provide as he’s going to be thrust into action at right tackle for OL Austin Jackson?) – “He is? Maybe, or maybe you’re dead right. I think just regardless, what an asset he’s been since he first got here where we’ve seen him execute in both. There’s two different things that you have to be able to do as an offensive lineman; that is prepare to start when you’re the starter all week and then in-game, be able to come off the bench and perform. The thing that stands out with Kendall (Lamm) is he executes at a high level doing both. So that gives you a little more confidence and conviction going into a game when you know if the next man up is prepared and can be a resource and a source of production as opposed to somebody that you have to protect against and leaves you limited – it’s very valuable. I think what’s so impressive is that he’s not just able to execute in games where he has the entire week to prepare as a starter, but he also has proved to be abnormally productive coming into the game in the second or third quarter which is not easy to do, a lot of people struggle with that. I think that has to do with who he is. He was never given anything in this league, he’s had to earn everything, and I think it’s to his credit that he’s what, in Year 10 or something? He’s one of many guys that we have on this team that have exceeded their due date so to speak from a right when they got into the league, he’s playing some of his best football right now, so important part of our team.”
(Though T Patrick Paul obviously is a left tackle by trade, do you and Offensive Line Coach Butch Barry want him to get to a point where if needed he could fill in at right tackle? And if T Kendall Lamm should break a shoelace for a play on Monday, could Patrick handle right tackle now?) – “Yeah, that’s always something that is important in your tackles that aren’t starting, is their versatility, and that’s something as a rookie that you try to walk before you run. You try to speak one language before you speak two, so you start out as one position for the sake of trying to master the nuances and then you grow. We’ve had the opportunity to get him comfortable at left tackle and so he’s been able to work at right throughout the year and that’s something we’ll continue to work on. He’s definitely capable and able to play on the right side as well, at any time. Maybe even this week, who knows?”
(With the success that the offensive line has had of late, especially with guys staying relatively healthy, how confident are you in there not being a drop off, I guess, from a continuity standpoint with OL Austin Jackson’s injury?) – “I think that where there’s adversity there’s opportunity. We’ve had so many different – we’ve had a lot of experience with a shuffling of offensive line lineups and Kendall (Lamm) has been a part of that. I think it’s a bigger deal when there’s not familiarity between two people working together. When guys have been in individual together, I mean shoot, he’s worked alongside Liam Eichenberg for two and a half years. I think that makes it a lot easier. There’s not as big of a learning curve when guys have history working together and we rep our tackles in a multitude of fashions during the season, during the week to minimize that learning curve as well. So I’m very confident in our offensive line group and feel very good about the depth and the working relationship of all those guys.”
