Wes Welker – November 10, 2022
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Thursday, November 10, 2022
Wide Receivers Coach Wes Welker
(I wanted to ask you something that I was asking Offensive Coordinator Frank Smith. Have you seen receivers get seemingly as open, often wide open, as WR Jaylen Waddle and WR Tyreek Hill? Is it entirely because of their skills and defenses and safeties playing maybe back on them, and corners obviously, and giving up shorter routes? Are there other factors? What comes to your mind as a reason why they’re so open, so often?) – “I would say, first and foremost, the main reason is them. They’re the ones out there doing it, taking coaching points, all that stuff, but those guys are just different. It makes our job a lot easier. Where there can be a little bit of error with them, a lot of guys have to be more perfect, especially in the NFL, and all those different things, but the line of error for them is a little more than others. Obviously, we don’t want any – (we want to) have that line brought down as much as possible to get them open as much as possible, but at the end of the day, it comes down to their skillset and who they are and the way they play the game and all those different things. I think as the season goes on, all those details get really put down where we’re on it even more. So those yards of separation hopefully become more, even if it’s just a little bit. But at the end of the day, it’s them.”
(In addition to the obvious strengths of WR Tyreek Hill of straight-line speed and quickness, what are some of the other unique parts of his skillset that as a former receiver and wide receivers coach, we might find interesting?) – “I think first and foremost as a receiver, I think it’s your mindset and he definitely has that. Everything else is just about the details of things and being on top of all the assignments and the techniques and everything like that. But with him, he can run every route. Some of the stuff that we’re able to do just because of the skillset and who he is and all those different things, your imagination can go crazy as a coach in all the different things that that you could possibly do with that type of skillset and mindset and everything just kind of clashing together to be able to produce the way he is.”
(Off the field, is there something you’ve seen WR Tyreek Hill do or heard him say that sort of resonates with you and sort of illustrates that he’s more than just the guy who catches the ball and runs fast?) – “Yeah, I think if you watch his blocking, you don’t see guys leading the league in receiving and blocking the way that he’s blocking – the whole room really. We take a lot of pride in that, and he’s at the forefront of that. It makes my job a lot easier when your best player in the room is buying in and doing those type of things. It leads to team success.”
(Since fans are constantly asking, I have to ask you about WR Erik Ezukanma. How close is he to get to the point where you guys feel comfortable putting him in the lineup?) – “I feel like we’re comfortable with it, it’s more just kind of the scenario we’re in and the players that we have right now. We’re probably a little more comfortable with other guys right now. That’s no fault to Erik (Ezukanma) or anything else. He’s been working his tail off. It has nothing to do with him or anything else, it’s just where we’re at in the room and where other guys are. What’s the difference? Do we put somebody else down who’s been earning it the whole time? That’s a decision that we struggle with all the time, but right now, it’s more about him just continuing to get better and when the opportunity arises, being ready for that opportunity. But we don’t know when that’s going to happen. There are a lot of different factors that kind of go into that. I think there’s the gel, the team, the camaraderie the guys that are on the field, the guys have proved it on the field during a regular season. I don’t think it’s fair to Erik, or it’s fair to the room, or fair to anybody else to change it at this point. We’ll keep it rolling as is, and then he just has to know that if something were to happen, or anything else, that he’s got to be ready.”
(As a quick follow up if I may, do you have to have conversations with WR Erik Ezukanma to make sure he keeps his head up, particularly in the situation where you elevate WR Braylon Sanders from the practice squad over him for a game?) – “I think that was more position specific. If another position – he’s been learning the Z, and then we had the deal with River (Cracraft) where he came down with an illness and Braylon (Sanders) had been working X. Well, he was backing up X. There’s a lot of factors that kind of go into it, so it’s not just like, ‘Alright, well Erik, you’ve been working Z this whole time, now you’re going to play X.’ Well, that’s not fair. It’s not fair to Erik, it’s not fair to the team and all those different things. So there’s more factors to it than just switching a guy to a position and doing that. It’s nothing Erik is doing. It’s just the way it kind of played out that week. It was a Saturday deal and Braylon had been on top of his stuff. We felt comfortable with it and he was able to get in there and play some X that week.”
(WR Cedrick Wilson Jr. was involved for the first time in a long time. Can you talk about how he’s come along in this offense?) – “’Ced’ (Cedrick Wilson Jr.) has been awesome. He’s handled everything like a pro and just gone out and practiced and done what he needed to do. There’s going to be multiple times this year going forward where we’re going to need Ced to make plays for us. He’s been coming through for us and been a pro about it … I think at this point, Trent (Sherfield) has just played really, really well and he’s been on top of all of his assignments. When the ball has come his way, he’s made plays. So it’s kind of where we’re at right now, but we’re always trying to integrate all our best players and get them on the field as much as we can. We definitely want to do that with Ced, so when those opportunities arise, I know he’s going to be ready.”
(It seems like such a key element of this offense is the effort away from the ball and from where the pass actually goes. Do you see it that way? And then also, how do you cultivate a situation where you get such good effort on routes where the ball is not going to that particular route?) – “Yeah, but you don’t really know that. So the way I looked at every single play, it’s a matter of doing your job for anybody. If y’all are going to write a report, or write whatever, are you going to put your best into it? Or are you going to take a play off? No. That’s your job. That’s what you’re expected to do each and every play, and that’s just kind of the way I look at things, and all of us do, as far as what’s my job, what’s my assignment on this particular play? And then the next one? So whatever happens, did you do your job? With our quarterback and everything else, you don’t know. It could be a time that he comes to you or he sees something. The guy sees the field really, really well. So for us to not be on it and for somebody to miss that (opportunity) because they weren’t on their stuff, that’s on them. If they continue to do that, then we have to find somebody else.”
(I want to ask you about the receiver position in general. When you look at in recent years, rule changes have benefited offensive players more. I know a lot of people say the quarterback is the most important position on a team, but when you look at a lot of quarterbacks around the league, they have that big offensive weapon receiver. How do you think the receiver position has grown in importance in recent seasons and recent years?) – “Yeah, I think people are starting to realize – I wouldn’t say starting to realize, but at the end of the day, the game is going to come down to a third-and-4. It’s going to come down to a third-and-5. It’s going to come down to a third-and-10. It’s going to come down to you having to throw the ball, and you have to be able to have guys that are going to get open. That play could be in the first quarter. It could be in the second quarter. It could be the difference in going down and scoring on a drive or not scoring. So to me, the receiving position and being able to get open and being able to throw and to catch is about as important of a thing that you can have in this league and the timing that you have to have with it, being on the same page with the quarterback on each and every play and having your depth being where he’s expecting you to be and all those different things, it takes a lot of work. It’s not something that just kind of happens overnight, it’s something that we work on through OTAs and everything else and trying to get on the same page. But that’s why pass rushers get paid all that money, because if you’re able to sit there and get to the quarterback and not give those guys time to be able to make the plays that they need to make – it’s the same with corners. If you’re able to cover a guy at a consistent level, you’re going to make a lot of money in this league. So at the end of the day, that’s what our league is. It’s not just ground and pound anymore. They’re going to make you get in third-down scenarios and can you separate and beat man coverage and keep the chains moving or make big plays in those situations for your team to win? That’s the game.”
Eric Studesville – November 10, 2022
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Thursday, November 10, 2022
Associate Head Coach/Running Backs Coach Eric Studesville
(We haven’t got to talk to you since the RB Jeff Wilson Jr. pick up. What’s the skill that you think is his best NFL on-field quality?) – “Effort and competitiveness. He’s intensely competitive. He came in and worked right away to get up to speed on everything. I think he’s a smart guy that runs the ball hard and can catch the ball out of the backfield. He’s got a good overall running back skill set. But the competitiveness and his desire to be prepared is probably at the forefront.”
(What did you see from the run game last week? I think you rushed for 77 yards. You seemed to have some timely runs. But what did you see from the run game?) – “Overall, I think we’re a work in progress. We continue to work on it. We’re emphasizing it. We continue to see flashes where we’re close to things. The ground that we have to make up now is to finish executing some of these runs and to make some of these runs bigger plays. We’ve left some yards out there. I think every position group that we have on here, at one point in time, including the running backs, has contributed to missing yards. We just got to get on the same page and keep pushing this thing forward because we are close in some ways. But it comes down to all of us being accountable to executing at a higher level in a run game. We feel like we’re making progress and getting there, but the urgency now is on us to continue and to finish these close looks.”
(Do you feel like opportunities might open up more in the second half of the season, just given the way the passing game is really clicking, it seems like teams defenses are trying to adjust their game plan to stop the pass game. Do you anticipate some more maybe light boxes and just opportunities overall opening up?) – “That’s always hard to say. Each defense is going to try to have a game plan to stop us whatever way that is, and what our position is, let’s carry enough things that give us a chance to maximize and take advantage of whatever they’re doing. If we got to run the ball 35, 40 times a game, I would love that and we’d be in a position to do that. If we’ve got to run it less than that and we’re efficient as can be throwing the ball down the field, which we are right now, we’re explosive making plays there. But at the bottom line of this game is we got to find a way to win. And we’re going to contribute whatever way that is. If that’s in my room – Jeff has a great block right out of halftime that gives us a 22-yard throw to Tyreek (Hill) on the sidelines. We’re going to do whatever we have to do to contribute to the win. How and what defenses do are different things all the time and we just got to be ready to adjust to whatever they give us.”
(You mentioned that block that kind of sprung that pass. Why is it difficult for some running backs to be like quality blockers? I know last year we were asking RB Myles Gaskin about being a smaller guy and having to overcompensate. But why is it tough for some running backs to maybe not be as good for the blockers?) – “A lot of it probably comes down to desire and competitiveness. I mean, there’s big backs that are good protectors and there’s small backs that are good protectors. I think it comes down to desire and the fact that you want to make a contribution to the offense being successful. If you’re going to run it, then you got to be willing to protect.”
(Not a lot of teams have fullbacks that they use often, much less a fullback that has as much varied usage as FB Alec Ingold. What has he meant to the running back room?) – “Well, first of all, I think what he means to the running back room is you see a guy that’s focused, that’s intensely prepared and really accountable for the entire running back game, room, everything that we’re doing with that. I think that’s a great message that all those guys take into account with each other. That room is really good that way. I think he’s brought a physical component to not only our room but our team too, that guys like seeing. I mean whether it’s blocking a linebacker or a defensive end, out in space on guys, we see him really giving great effort and being physical and that’s what that position is.”
(What was that like, kind of reincorporating coaching a fullback after it had been some years, right? I mean, when was the last time you’ve coached a fullback before this year?) – “We had Andy Janovich in Denver was probably the last one that I had. I’m trying to think. I’ve had fullbacks in the past in different offenses. Is it different and unique? There are things that those guys have to do that you talked to him about. And there’s certain things where they fit into plays and how they do it. But it’s no different than any other position. It’s no different than a tight end who has to play like a wide receiver at times, or sometimes a wide receiver coming and doing some running back type things or whatever. They’re football players. That’s why you want to have good football players on your team where you do have flexibility to do things, and we’ve got a lot of players on this team like that. I think Alec is one of them.”
(How will you use RB Jeff Wilson Jr. differently than you use RB Chase Edmonds? Jeff’s physical presence, does that make a difference?) – “I see it as apples and oranges really. I mean, we had Chase here, so we game-planned and used him the way that we thought was the best for us at that time. I think we are going to apply that same formula and that same equation to Jeff, in that we’re going to do what we think he does best and gives us the best chance to win and execute. It’s not a comparison of those two. It’s not an interchangeable thing where they’re doing the exact same things. We’re going to put our players in the best position to give us a chance to win.”
(You don’t have to game plan for him, but your thoughts on RB Nick Chubb?) – “Incredibly impressive with the numbers that he puts up, how he runs the ball, how physical he is, how incredibly strong he is. It’s going to be a great challenge, but I think he’s a really, really talented running back.”
Frank Smith – November 10, 2022
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Thursday, November 10, 2022
Offensive Coordinator Frank Smith
(I think one thing people wonder when they watch your offense is how in the world are WR Tyreek Hill and WR Jaylen Waddle often seemingly so open in the middle of the field? Is it simply their talents? If you could explain, from your perspective, why you think that’s been the case?) – “Yeah, I think it goes into obviously utilizing their skillsets of speed, but at the same time, I think it comes down to just what do they do well and what is the defense trying to do. So basically, putting them in spots to be able to utilize their skillsets. The one thing you see about our offense is that we’re constantly in motion, we’re constantly moving pieces to try and allow our guys to get in positions to attack the defense. So I think it’s a combination of the process when it starts on Tuesday, when we start coming with the game plan – how do we get our guys in best position to attack the defense and what they’re trying to do coverage wise. Then that comes into their understanding, their execution, the combination with Tua (Tagovailoa), the timing. You start the ingredients being baked on Tuesday, and when it all comes together, you have a great dish on Sunday. So I think that’s just the challenge for us each week is to make sure that we don’t just run plays to run plays. We run plays with a purpose, and I think that’s the greatest thing about what we do around here.”
(RB Jeff Wilson Jr.’s contribution, I thought I saw him have a good block against a rusher against QB Tua Tagovailoa, the reception, the 28-yard run, the physical presence. What did he do and what does he add to the offense?) – “I think you hit everything right there. I mean, that’s exactly what he brings – versatility within the offense and an understanding already of it coming from San Francisco. His familiarity with (Head Coach) Mike (McDaniel) and knowing what Mike is going to ask him to do. I think this last Sunday was a good representation of what he’s going to bring and not being a one-dimensional back doing one thing – I mean, he’s got a broad skillset. It’s pretty cool to see him make that catch and then dive in from four yards out to score. Then (he’s) just a guy who loves football. You can just feel his energy every day when you’re just talking to him. So I think that we’re really fortunate that it was able to happen. (We’ll) just keep utilizing him for what he can do, and that’s a complete back.”
(How would you assess OL Robert Jones’ first start at left guard?) – “I thought he did a good job. I think there were some things that when you come out there, as far as making sure you’re looking at the right things, constantly working on technique as things move. But overall, we felt that he executed the gameplan. He was physical. The things that he needs to work on and improve on he’s well aware of, and he’s already attacking it starting yesterday. So I’d say overall, we’re very pleased with how he started for his first game.”
(In regards to WR Tyreek Hill, the football player on the field, from the moment he’s arrived, when I say to you, is there a moment, the first moment, any moment that just jumps in your mind like, “Wow, that’s different. Wow, that’s unique. Wow, that’s special. Wow, I haven’t seen that.” Does something jump in your head when I talk like that?) – “Yes, and unfortunately, I saw it for four years on the other sideline and division. So I just watched it all the time and go like, ‘Ugh, wow.’ I mean, I remember back in 2018, he was lined up in the slot on rookie nickelback and I’m just stand there going, like, ‘Uh oh,’ and then he just runs right past him like he was like a cone standing right there. So when you watch it on the other sideline two games a year for four years, when he comes to the field in-person, the one thing that sticks out to me might not even be what the world would see. To me, what sticks out is his passion, his work ethic, his ability. It starts in individual drills, how hard he works. Success isn’t by chance in this league. It’s not like – so many times people say, ‘Oh, wow. He makes it look easy.’ He makes it look easy because of his preparation and the diligence he has. When you’re around – I was fortunate enough early in my career in New Orleans to be around so many great players, and just the strain at which they operated just on a daily basis – he’s the epitome of that. So I think overall, the production that we see on the field, that was never a surprise – I saw that way too often. (laughter) However, how he is as a worker, how he is as a guy, that is what sticks out to me, because that’s why you’re like, ‘That’s why he’s successful.’”
(How are you guys treating the return of OL Austin Jackson? Do you want to get him back in at right tackle? Or with the way T Brandon Shell is playing, would you like to see if he could have a hold on that? Or maybe give OL Austin Jackson a chance to compete at left guard with OL Robert Jones? How do you want to treat that?) – “I think ultimately, we’re just trying to make sure we get Austin (Jackson) ramped up in an appropriate way, so we don’t have any setbacks or anything – so introducing (him) back in, the slow ramp up into getting ready for the game. Ultimately, our goal is to play the best five. Whatever combination that is is what we’re going to try and put out there. So ultimately, right now as far as where guys go and each spot, I would think that as you guys have seen throughout the season, the consistency and the versatility is kind of something we’ve tried to hit on from the beginning, especially with the (offensive) line. So when it comes to his return, we’ll evaluate that when we get there. But ultimately, right now, our goal is just to get him back to the practice field and getting him back to the game field.”
(Earlier this week, Head Coach Mike McDaniel talked about the idea of how many people put into the running game with yourself, Offensive Assistant Mike Person, Assistant Offensive Line Coach Lemuel Jeanpierrre, Offensive Line Coach Matt Applebaum. I’m just curious as a former center, former run game coordinator, all that stuff, how have you enjoyed getting with this group of people to put together a gameplan each week, especially in the running game?) – “It’s been awesome. For me personally, starting really kind of in Chicago, doing run plans kind of independently by myself and having learned through that process, I always studied the Shanahan scheme. We were kind of similar, doing some of that in Chicago. So for me to really watch what (Head Coach) Mike (McDaniel) was doing from afar and then now kind of – when you study a scheme, it’s hard to really replicate it sometimes unless you’re inside of the system. You kind of understood certain things, but now working with Mike (McDaniel) every day on that has been awesome. The way he sees football, the creativity, the understanding of that, what the defense is trying to do, and how to attack it, I mean, it’s been awesome. It’s kind of like – I’d say our game planning always starts on Tuesday with an abstract thought of where we see the vulnerability or with the defense, what area we need to attack, what we’re both seeing, and then we kind of build a gameplan off of that. As opposed to many places you’ve been, ‘Hey, these plays worked against them. Let’s do that. Let’s do this,’ where we start with an abstract thought and kind of go, ‘OK, here’s what we see. Now, let’s build upon that.’ I would say that’s one of Mike’s greatest strengths is understanding the defense, its rules, where they’re trying to do things and then we build a plan off of that. Then the guys help with that as well when we look at combination blocks, leverages, stuff like that. I mean, that’s where the whole – I would say it starts off with a lump of clay and then turns into a piece of art by the end of the week.”
Sam Madison – November 10, 2022
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Thursday, November 10, 2022
Cornerbacks/Pass Game Specialist Sam Madison
(Did you coach against WR Amari Cooper in high school down here?) – “I didn’t. I had him on my 7-on-7 team for a couple of years.”
(How have you seen him grow?) – “Oh, man. Going into his senior year, he didn’t really have any offers and then coaching for South Florida Express, we were traveling around South Florida, around Florida, and then all of a sudden, it was like who is this kid? But just unbelievable speed. Strength at the top of the route. And that’s the way he’s always played. He’s always been one of those guys that’s going to go get it. He’s very quiet and he lets his play do the talking.”
(We know what CB Xavien Howard can do. We know what he has done. We also know he’s played through groin injuries. But candidly, throughout the first half of the season, how would you assess what you’ve seen?) – “Just going in and watching film when I first got here, and just understanding and knowing exactly who he was, watching him for a number of years doing television, he’s a playmaker. And these little nick and nack injuries, they can take a toll. So being able to finally get him through those different little injuries and not really having him during training camp, the offseason and trying to make sure that he was healthy to get him to this point, those were our main goals. Now I think he feels comfortable. He’s practiced very well the last couple of weeks. He’s just got to get his confidence back, knowing that he’s healthy, and then whoever he’s covering, he’s just got to go out there and dominate, just like he’s been able to do over the last couple of years. So he’s feeling comfortable. I’m feeling comfortable about everything he’s doing. And now we just got to go out there and just get that confidence back, and just go and attack. Getting his hands on the ball last week, I thought that was good for him. But now we’ve just got to take it to the next level and dominate every play.”
(I was curious to get your thoughts on the second to last play on the deep pass to WR Chase Claypool and DB Keion Crossen in coverage. A lot of people are saying that he potentially could have been called for defensive pass interference. I was curious, what are your thoughts on that one?) – “(laughter) Do you watch the offensive line and defensive line? They could get called for holding every play. The same thing in the secondary. So when you’re in that situation at that point in the game, the referees, they’re going to do their due diligence and see exactly what they see and just make the appropriate call. But just get it done at the line of scrimmage. That’s what we really talk about. That’s what we really preach. Since I’ve been here and Coach Josh (Boyer) has allowed me to work with these guys, getting hands on them at the line of scrimmage to eliminate those things down the football field and then slowing guys down. Keion just has to do a little bit better at the line of scrimmage. He knows that and that’s what we work on. That’s what we talked about throughout the course of the week.”
(Didn’t CB Keion Crossen have his hands around his waist on that play downfield?) – “To your point, when the referees come in here and we talk, and they come out there and they watch us practice, one of things that they always talk about is don’t put your hands up high. Put your hands down low. As long as you don’t turn the wide receivers, then it doesn’t become a penalty. So having your hands down low, those are the things that they tell us when we’re working with them, when they come out here during training camp. So those are the things that we work on and those are the things that they go out and try to work and execute. For it to be a no call, any given Sunday it could be called a penalty or not, just like it was for Keion.”
(Can you speak to the growth you’ve seen from CB Kader Kohou from when you first got him? He comes in as an undrafted rookie out of Texas A&M-Commerce and now he’s really an NFL starter.) – “Yeah, he’s an NFL starter. And guess what? He doesn’t shy away from contact. He doesn’t shy away from any challenge. It doesn’t matter if it’s Stefon Diggs or no matter who it is, he goes out there and he’s going to give it his 100 percent, and that’s what we ask from these guys. That’s what he’s been doing throughout the course, since he’s been here. He’s the guy that when you give him something and you talk to him about something, he’s going to go out there and try to execute it. Challenging at the line of scrimmage is one of the things that we work on, on an everyday basis. He’s going to do it. He’s nice, thick (and) strong. He missed a game. It really hurt him when he missed those couple of games. So coming back has really helped our depth and as you can see, when it comes to run support, he doesn’t shy away from that at all.”
(How will the LB Bradley Chubb acquisition affect your guys?) – “It’s going to affect us a lot. When you talk about the defensive line and the secondary always have hand in hand, if we can give our defensive line a couple of extra seconds to get to the quarterback – because they’re starting to do a lot of chipping because they know we play a lot of man and as you see over the last couple of weeks, the coverage has been tight relatively throughout the course of the game. So if we can get those guys a couple extra seconds to get to the quarterback, hopefully they can get the ball out, get the quarterback on the ground but yet still just be a disruptive force throughout the course of the game. He’s starting to feel himself and feel the things that he can do within the scheme of his defense. And Josh (Boyer) is going to do a good job of putting him in those situations to be successful. So, we’re very confident about him. The guys have accepted him very well and he just came in and just picked up right where we’ve left off and just continue to get better. So just looking for good things and more things better from him.”
Danny Crossman – November 10, 2022
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Thursday, November 10, 2022
Special Teams Coordinator Danny Crossman
(I know K Jason Sanders is a guy who obviously doesn’t question himself, as he’s had success. But when he’s maybe not kicking up to the standards he has in the past, how do you keep him from losing any confidence or any of his edge?) – “Well, I think it goes into a lot of the things we talked about – the work that he puts in during the week, how he’s hitting the ball during the week, going back to all those basics and how and when things are coming up – you’re only judged by the game. But I think the work he puts in during the week and the success he’s had, he knows what he’s done to have success and he sees it during the week. It’s just – you’re splitting hairs when it comes to making kicks. Now, make no question – that’s a kick that has to be made. You can’t miss that kick.”
(Can you take us through that blocked punt? What was successful on that play and just how gratifying was it to come up with a big play on special teams?) – “Again, the key is to win the game, and the fact that we were able to win the game and make a play in that – there were some things, we liked some matchups. The players did a great job of executing. Jaelan (Phillips) almost got there too cleanly, almost overran it and then a great job by Andrew Van Ginkel with the scoop and score. (Those are the) things that we work on, and I think more than anything, that’s where the feel good part comes from the preparation, the work and then seeing it executed on game day.”
(LB Jaelan Phillips is not among the team leaders in special teams snaps. Forgive me for not knowing this, but is he generally on the punt rush team? Or was that a special plan?) – “He’s not generally. It was just with where we’re at with playing time and situations – a lot of moving parts this year. (laughter)”
(That’s the benefit of also adding LB Bradley Chubb, right? Different snap counts defensively?) – “Correct. It gives us an extra player on the defensive line/outside linebacker/defensive end. So now there’s maybe some more plays to be had.”
(As I recall, LB Bradley Chubb and LB Jaelan Phillips were lined up next to each other. Is that going to be a more regular thing?) – “Again, a lot of things (are) week to week. We’ll see. But again, two talented guys that when they’re able to maybe play less on defense, they maybe have some more reps available. We’ll see where that goes.”
(You mentioned K Jason Sanders’ kick still should have been made. I know Head Coach Mike McDaniel used as the wind as a reason for it, but 29 yards at that distance, should the wind be factoring in?) – “Wind is a factor in everything, but we’ve got to make that kick.”
Tua Tagovailoa – November 9, 2022
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Wednesday, November 9, 2022
QB Tua Tagovailoa
(You’ve talked about how you keep receipts and get motivated by the doubters. Now you’re receiving a lot of praise for these last two games. How do you go about keeping the same approach?) – “Just keep doing what we’ve been doing as a team. Continue to work on the things we need to get better at offensively, defensively and in special teams and continue to move forward with that.”
(In terms of just your on-field play, your comfort with the scheme and building on that, would you say that this is the most comfortable or confident you’ve felt playing football?) – “I think Coach Mike (McDaniel) does a great job putting us in great situations offensively. He has a lot of, people would say window dressing. He doesn’t like that term, because it’s just a part of our offense with the movement, shifting, motioning. It’s a part of what we do. So I think it’s a lot of credit to what our head coach has done within installs and things like that to help put us in those situations. We can say that I go out there and throw, Tyreek (Hill) and (Jaylen) Waddle and all these other guys catch and run. (McDaniel) continues to give other people praise, but he doesn’t get as much praise as I think he should, and a lot of that is because of him.”
(It looks from the outside that you’re having more fun. Is that correct?) – “I think we’re all having fun. We’re all having fun. We’re feeling comfortable in this offense that we’ve had to all learn, that’s been new for us. So it’s cool to see that all the hard work throughout OTAs and training camp has paid off to this point. It’s not something that we’re satisfied with. We’ll keep going, continue to learn and build off of things we need to, but we’ll continue to find ways to do things that we’re good at and try to do them well continuously.”
(You said the phrase last week, “We’re not afraid to talk about Super Bowls around here.” It’s sort of the talk we haven’t heard from people up there for the last 20 years or so. Is that just a natural progression of his team? Or just how you feel in watching this season pan out?) – “Like I said prior to that, it’s the confidence and the things that we’ve seen throughout OTAs and the build up of that to training camp, being able to kind of build off of that towards the beginning of the season and kind of to where we’re at at this point. Like I said, we can always continue to get better with things. But yeah, I mean, why shy away from that? We’re not afraid to talk about that here.”
(I’m doing something on the pregame coin toss, and I’ve talked to a few players. I’ve got a couple of questions for you. First of all, everybody said that they call heads, which I found kind of strange, but then T Terron Armstead said that he doesn’t like to go out there because it interrupts with his pregame routine. So I’m wondering, do you like going out there? And what do you call?) – “Well, I’m told that I’m one of the captains to go out there. So if I’m told or if I’m not told, I’m not bothered by it. (laughter) But when I do go out there, I don’t know. Whatever I think, whether it’s heads or tails, I don’t have a 50-50 thought in my head or whatnot, or I go in there already knowing what I’m going to call. So it’s just up in the air.”
(Do you have any moments out there? S Jevon Holland was saying that it was cool when he went out against Detroit, because Barry Sanders was out there. LB Elandon Roberts was saying it was cool going out with the 1972 Dolphins. Any moments, either college or pro, that stand out?) – “Yeah, I think going out there with the ‘72 Dolphins – I mean, how much better could that get? That’s the only team in the NFL that’s been undefeated. A lot of greats on that team. I got to talk to (Bob) Griese, so that was cool.”
(Going back to what you were saying a few minutes ago about Head Coach Mike McDaniel and the concepts he’s brought here, what stands out for you? When he was first outlining them to you back in the spring, what stood out to you? Were there things that made you say, “Hm, I’d never thought about that?” Or “This may work really well?” Or “I don’t know if this is going to work?” What jumps out?) – “I think the thing that Coach Mike (McDaniel) has helped us offensively with is he’s kind of tailored the offense towards what we do best. If you look on film, he tries to tailor it to what Tyreek (Hill) runs the best, what Jaylen (Waddle) likes running, what I like throwing, what I’m good at throwing and things like that, whereas you watch their film from when they were with the 49ers, they did things a little different because of what those guys were good at and what they liked. So I really think it’s just things that are tailored to our strengths, and then he builds off of that. So not much of, ‘Why are we doing it like this?’ Or ‘Why are we doing it like that?’ It’s more so, ‘How do you see that play if they get this or if they get that? How do you see him running it and where do you think I should go with the ball on this?’ Just more of that kind of conversation.”
(Regarding WR Tyreek Hill, what have you come to believe is the most unique thing about him on the field? And then also off the field?) – “I mean, I would say the biggest thing that I’ve noticed with him that he carries with him every time on and off the field is his competitiveness. (He is) always competitive. He’s competitive in everything he does. I would say he’s a great teammate. He’s a great teammate for everyone on the team. I think a lot of people from the outside looking in can see that.”
(What would you say after your break from that concussion stuff that was going on – what would you say is the biggest contributing factor to getting back in this rhythm it seems like right away? Three touchdowns in games right away.) – “Just continuing to work the offense – the mental part of it. Today’s a walkthrough day for us. That doesn’t give us an opportunity to kind of slack off. It more so challenges us mentally, understanding where to line up, knowing where to go with the ball in certain coverages and then making quick decisions.”
(Is there anything from the break that you carried over that you think has helped you lately that you’re able to hone in on when you were gone?) – “Well, I think when being out, and then watching from the sideline, watching at home, on TV, then watching the film, there were things that going through progressions that I wouldn’t have thrown. Seeing it from the outside and not being in the game. There are things now that we’ve seen that we could hit that we have. So I would say things like that. But other than that, just coming back in and doing my best to try and work as hard to get back in rhythm with the guys.”
(You mentioned you’re comfortable now. Is part of that you’re getting protection? That you’d be able to step up in the pocket and have some time that maybe in the first couple of years you didn’t?) – “Well, yeah. I think everything – with protection up front, with how our run game is going, with our play-action game is going. And then we have boots, so it’s really an accommodation of all of that and defenses having to figure out, is it this play, is it that play? And then what complements those plays? So I think that’s why we feel comfortable as a group going out there every time.”
(What was the moment where you knew and felt confident that head coach Mike McDaniel as a play caller was worth the hype?) – “I would say it happened when we lost our first game. He came into the team meeting, and really I would say you kind of see people’s true colors of really who they are. And the guy has been the same person and he’s never changed. Never gotten mad. Just always what can we work on? Things that we can fix. And then you look at two more times we ended up losing (and he was the) same dude. Same dude. So I would say he’s won the trust of me, of the guys in the locker room. And then also, I would say the organization. Like everyone feels free to come up to his office. Everyone feels free to be around this guy and say whatever they feel like they can say and be themselves. So I think that’s what we really appreciate about him.”
Jeff Wilson Jr. – November 9, 2022
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Wednesday, November 9, 2022
RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
(What’s your reaction to the week? First game, touchdown, how has it been so far for you?) – “It’s been an absolute blessing. To come in and be welcomed with open arms, smiles and genuine care, I wouldn’t ask for any other situation because I feel like I’m at home. I feel like I’ve been rocking with these guys since the beginning of the year.”
(Has it truly felt different? Or does this have a feeling of the 49ers from a few years ago?) – “No, this definitely doesn’t feel like the 49ers. I’d appreciate it if everybody stopped saying that. I’m just new on the team. I really don’t like it because it’s the Miami Dolphins. It’s got nothing to do with the 49ers. We rock our own way, we have our own swag and we play our own way. This is two totally different teams. It’s not the 49ers. It’s the Miami Dolphins.”
(You said you have your own swag. What have you noticed about that? Can you elaborate on what that is?) – “It’s just the culture here, man. Everybody, like I said, everybody is on one accord, on one page. Even on the field or even on the side, some teams you just see a lot of side chatter, a lot of this or that – everybody is focused and locked in. Even with the fun, you can still tell that everybody is still on the plan and on the goal of getting to where we want to go. I mean, I just feel like that’s kind of cool and unique to have fun and be able to work at a high level at the same time.”
(Now obviously, you knew Head Coach Mike McDaniel when he was in San Francisco and now as a head coach. Is there any change in him? Or is he the same guy he was there?) – “(Head Coach) Mike (McDaniel) has been the same person since I’ve seen him in 2018 at the University of North Texas when he came down and worked me out. He’s still that same guy, and for him to be that, man, that speaks volumes to him. We live in a day and age where everybody changes when you get different statuses and stuff like that. So just to see him still be that same guy, it’s tremendous and I’m still happy for him. I can’t wait to see where it takes us.”
(You mentioned swag. Does Head Coach Mike McDaniel have his own swag too? Because the way he talks to us sometimes, he’s philosophical.) – “Come on, man. Y’all know (Head Coach) Mike (McDaniel) has swag. He was the first head coach I’ve probably seen on the sideline with some Nike Supremes on. Come on, man – what coach does that? (laughter) Besides all that, like I said, all the outside stuff, it’s really strictly business here. So all the other stuff, it doesn’t need to be a distraction because everybody is just really ready to work.”
(How awesome is it to be with your guy RB Raheem Mostert? You both scored last week and now you’re going into your first home game?) – “That’s crazy, man. To be reunited with him, man, it’s a blessing, because obviously, if you don’t know, it’s the (National Football) League and everybody is not as friendly. You know what I mean? Everybody is not as open to welcome you in with open arms, so I’ve heard. I’ve never been in that situation. It’s just, ‘He say, she say,’ but I don’t have to worry about that here. Raheem (Mostert) takes me in like (we’re) real life brothers. It’s almost like we came from the same home. It’s just that type of bond. There’s nothing fake about it, and it’s all love.”
(What were your first impressions of QB Tua Tagovailoa and his play?) – “He’s a GOAT. (laughter) Besides the game, I like to watch a person during the week, because I feel like behind the scenes, behind the camera or the naked eye, that’s what you can really tell – that really shows a man. So just to see how he goes through the week, how he prepares, how he interacts with everybody in the locker room, how he’s around. You’ll have some quarterbacks that you’ll hardly ever see them or hardly ever talk to them, but that’s not the case. Man, that’s ‘Big Uce.’ (laughter)”
(If I could follow up on that, WR Tyreek Hill said this week, he’s promoting his charity week this weekend, and he made a comment that everyone who doubted QB Tua Tagovailoa or took shots at him should step up to the table and apologize now.) – “Man, he should have a locker full of letters. I’ve only been here, what, a week? I’ve only known him for a week, but like I said, just watching him through practice and being around him through the facility, people really should. He deserves that, because he’s not done yet – he’s just getting started.”
Bradley Chubb – November 9, 2022
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Wednesday, November 9, 2022
LB Bradley Chubb
(It seems like the Browns possess a one-two punch.) – “Yeah, for sure. They’ve got two great running backs. I feel like Nick (Chubb) is in a league of his own, does a lot of great things. He’s one of those people that he gets stronger as the game goes on. And as you hit him more and more, he just keeps churning those legs and keep doing what he does. And Kareem Hunt is kind of more of the same. Like real electric, could do a lot of things. Like I said, once you hit him, he kind of bounces off and gains acceleration off stuff like that. So it’s going to be a good challenge for us and we’re excited about it.”
(Head Coach Mike McDaniel said moments ago that the Browns are no joke, despite their record. Just what have you seen on film?) – “I see a physical group. The offensive line is physical with the guys up front. Like I said, those backs do a great job of continuing to move and never being down off first contact. They got a great receiving corps. Jacoby (Brissett) is an NC State guy, so I always pull for him. It’s going to be fun man. It’s a big challenge for us because at the end of day, like you said, their record reflects a whole different thing. We just can’t go in there with a mindset of whatever they are and we can just run over them. We just got to go out there and do what we know what to do, and that’s play good defense, stop the run and get after the quarterback in those passing situations.”
(What are some of the differences against a team that has a traditional running game with running backs as opposed to stopping a scrambling quarterback?) – “It’s more of a line up and play what you see type thing. A scrambling quarterback is kind of like, whatever he sees, he’s going to take. But these guys, they do a good job too of taking what they can get as well. We just got to be disciplined in our gaps and nobody trying to play hero ball, trying to play two gaps at once and knocking off a different guy. That’s when they crease you for 30 or 40 yards at a time. So if we just play gap, fundamentally sound football, I feel like we will be fine.”
(What are you personally hoping to get out of this week, your second week with the team?) – “Just to get better, man. I feel like last week I was kind of playing a little tentative just because I didn’t really know, I didn’t want to mess up and stuff like that. But now I’m just trying to let my hair down – as much hair as I got (laughter) – let it all down and just go out there and play.”
(What’s this process been like for you? Transferring teams midseason, you got to move to a new place, no bye week in between.) – “It’s hectic. But at the end of the day, man, it’s fun. I get to go out here and play football with a whole new group of guys that I’m learning, and I’m still figuring out. They’re still figuring me out as well. So it’s cool just to see how it’s going from the first game to however long we’re playing until the end of the season, how it’s going to transform, and how it’s going to grow closer together and stuff like that. I always look at it as a fun challenge just because it’s easy to be in the same spot, learn the same defense, know all this and then just kind of coast. But it’s hard to pick up and move and do all this and still have success. That’s my main thing is trying to be the best me I can be out here.”
(What’s been your impression now that you’ve had more time with Head Coach Mike McDaniel?) – “Everything’s straightforward. It’s not guessing or how does he feel about me doing this. Everything is straightforward. You know what you’re expected of. You know what you got to go out there and do on Sundays. I feel like it’s a good thing because players up front are telling me what I got to do and stuff like that. In practices, he takes care of us as well and makes sure our bodies are good. I feel like it’s a great staff, man. I’m just glad to be a part of this organization.”
