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.”
Chan Gailey – November 10, 2020
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Tuesday, November 10, 2020
Offensive Coordinator Chan Gailey
(Could you tell me what G Ereck Flowers means to that offensive line and where he’s at as far as his play currently?) – “He’s a veteran – one of the most veteran players we have up there. The one thing that’s great about him is his leadership and enthusiasm on game day. He really brings a lot of enthusiasm to the game every week. He’s excited about scoring. He’s excited about winning. That’s what you want out of those guys. He’s been a very good stabilizing force for us up there. He’s played well so far. I expect him to continue to play well and even improve on a couple of little things that (Offensive Line) Coach (Steve Marshall) has him working on.”
(When you were envisioning QB Tua Tagovailoa’s second start, I’m pretty sure you didn’t envision him going without three wide receivers, two running backs and his position coach; and yet, he went out there and played at a high level. What was the difference from Week 1 to Week 2 for him and how encouraged were you that all that he had to overcome as a player, he was able to do so?) – “I think probably the best answer for that is going to come from him. But from my perspective, as the game slows down, as he plays more – and I said this last week but I believe it’s the truth – as he plays more, the game will slow down and he’s able to see things better. He’s able to feel the game. He has a tremendous feel for the game. That allows him to see some things and do some things and throw the ball in some spots that other people might not do. I think that he just went out and played the game. He didn’t care who was there or who wasn’t there. He was playing the game and that’s what you like about him. He doesn’t think about adversity. He thinks about, ‘ok, how can we go be successful?’ That will carry a person a long way.”
(I wanted to ask about RB Salvon Ahmed. He led the running backs in snaps. What did you think of his performance? It felt like there were some plays there that showed some explosion that we obviously hadn’t seen before.) – “Yeah, he had some good plays and he had some things he’s got to work on. It was his first time out. He’s got some things that we’ll have to improve upon and talk about and get him better at. He does show what you just said. He does show some explosion. It was good to have that and be able to see a short run turn into a longer run with that burst that he has, to be able to get on the edge. I think he’ll improve. I hope that all of these guys that are playing for their first and second time, the second time they go out there I hope they improve and continue to improve. He was running the ball well in the first half so he played most of the second half.”
(We’re doing a story around the league on rookies at midseason. I wanted to ask you with no exhibition season and very little offseason, I’m wondering with rookies in general, do you think they’re still behind and will be behind all year? Or at this point, have they caught up in their development? What do you feel about that?) – “I think a guy that’s played in every game is pretty well caught up at this point. I think you get eight games into the season – halfway through the season – and you should be caught up if you’ve played in every ballgame. Those guys that haven’t, that are being thrown in there for the first time, they’re behind. They were behind because they hadn’t played early and they’ll be behind and it’ll probably take them about eight games to get fully aware of everything that’s going on and what they’ve got to do. If you hadn’t played in the first few, those rookies will be fresher at the end of the year because guys don’t realize a 16-game season, what that does to you.”
(What you said just now about playing eight games and being fully aware makes me excited about what you are going to see from QB Tua Tagovailoa the next six games. What do you think he has to prove moving forward and has to show? I also want to ask you about communicating with Tight Ends Coach George Godsey during that game? It seemed to me that he filled in for Quarterbacks Coach Robby Brown on the coaching staff there during the game.) – “That worked very well. We were fortunate in that Coach Godsey hadn’t been available earlier in the year, and that we had two coaches who had coached the tight ends so that (when) we needed George (Godsey) to come over and fill in for this, those guys had experience working with the tight ends to be able to deal with them on game day. So it worked out in a very good scenario for us to have George available to talk to me and to the quarterbacks and to do the communication. So that worked very well.”
(You said something about eight games in, players are going to get a lot more comfortable. What does QB Tua Tagovailoa have to show you more in the next six games? What are the next strides you want to see him take after Sunday’s performance?) – “The next strides are he’s got to see and understand defenses more and more. And that just comes from doing it. We worked against the same defense all offseason, so you didn’t have any preseason games to go say, ‘okay, this is what another team does, this is what another team does.’ He’s getting that on the fly. So I think just understanding defenses, what they’re trying to do, how they’re trying to attack you, what their strengths are, what their weaknesses are; those types of things will be the strides I hope he makes here in the next few weeks.”
(I guess with everything that QB Tua Tagovailoa’s been through I guess over the last year, do you feel like he’s back to where maybe you were seeing him on tape in college as far as his play-making ability?) – “It looks like it to me. I can’t see a real difference. Physically is the one thing you had the concern about and I think he kind of relieved all our thoughts about that the other night.”
(I wanted to ask you about TE Adam Shaheen. I know he had the extension a couple weeks ago and we saw TE Durham Smythe out in that 49ers game and then leave this past game. I’m curious to get your take on the impact he’s had in that tight end room and the confidence level you have in him to elevate him into a more prominent role if someone like TE Mike Gesicki or TE Durham Smythe is unavailable ahead of him.) – “I think we have a great deal of confidence in Adam (Shaheen) and what he can do. He’s come in here, he’s learned the blocking schemes, he’s blocked well. Everybody can get better at that, but he’s done a good job there, and he’s a very good pass receiver. He’s been a big plus to our tight end room and we have a great deal of confidence in what he might be able to do in the future for us.”
(I wanted to ask you about poise and maturity as it relates to QB Tua Tagovailoa being 22. He kind of feels like an old soul to me. Can you think of an example of on-field poise and maybe off-field maturity since you’ve met the guy?) – “It’s hard to me to talk about on the field on game day, but in practice I see the way he interacts with the other players on our team and you see a real maturity there, the way he handles his interactions day to day, on a day-to-day basis. So is that on the field or is that off the field? I don’t know which one that is, but he really has a great deal of maturity in how he builds relationships with other people on the football team.”
Josh Boyer – November 10, 2020
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
Defensive Coordinator Josh Boyer
(First of all, your thoughts on the defensive effort – you got another defensive touchdown, but you gave up more points than you have in weeks past. Was it a function of Arizona just being really good or what were some of the things that went wrong. And specifically with your corners, we’ve obviously seen them play at a high level throughout the season. Were you kind of surprised with some of the passes they gave up and the DPIs?) – “Again like every week, you kind of start with a self-evaluation and obviously I need to do a better job of putting our players in better positions. We could surely execute better, so we’re all going to work hard to improve that and make sure that we do a better job. I would say the Arizona Cardinals offense – that’s an outstanding offense. Coach Kingsbury (Cardinals Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury) – you can’t say enough good things about him. He makes it extremely hard on a defense, so nothing but respect for them. They’re a very good offense and like I said, we ended up making the plays that we needed to make, but obviously there’s room for improvement and again, I would say that I could definitely do a better job putting the players in better position. I need to work hard to do that, and I think as a group, we could execute a little bit better.”
(I wanted to go back to the fourth-down stop late in the game there. To the untrained eye, it looks like both DT Zach Sieler and LB Elandon Roberts were on the scene first, but I was hoping that maybe you could give us an expert opinion on how that play was able to be successful for you guys at such a big spot in the game.) – “I think it was a group effort there. We got good execution. We were able to stop the play. I can appreciate the question. I usually don’t go into specifics on plays. I just think it puts you at a competitive disadvantage to talk about scheme; but our players were able to execute on that play. Obviously Zach (Sieler) and Elandon (Roberts) were part of that. Xavien Howard got in there on that play; but yeah, it was a big play for us in the game and I was glad to see that we executed it well.”
(I know this week was different for you guys because you had a few assistant coaches that weren’t able to come with you. How did that affect maybe how you were flowing through the defense and how you guys went about your normal game process?) – “I think ‘Flo’ (Head Coach Brian Flores) has done a very good job of from all the way before we started training camp, making sure that we had contingency plans in place – kind of a next-man-up mentality, whatever that entailed. And I think everybody that was asked to do things did it well. Again, I think (Head Athletic Trainer) Kyle Johnston, (Vice President of Football Administration) Brandon Shore; those guys, they did an outstanding job of making sure that our protocols were being followed and that the safety of our coaches and our team were at the forefront. Ultimately we had enough guys to go to the game. Everybody that was on the next-man-up mentality was there and we were able to get a win on Sunday.”
(I’m just curious, what do you see moving ahead this weekend with the Chargers? Obviously a rookie quarterback who really doesn’t look like a rookie. What do you see?) – “Again, we’re facing a very good offense this week. You can take the record and throw it out the window. These guys have been in every game. They could have won every game. They’ve moved the ball well. They’ve ran the ball well. They’ve thrown the ball well. They’ve had explosive plays. They’ve got good players. They’ve got good scheme. It’s going to be a big challenge for us. They’ve used numerous different backs due to injury. All of them have been successful. They’ve got a loaded skill receiver group. They’ve got good tight ends and they’re really running at an efficient pace. It’s going to be a big challenge for us this week. This is a very good offense, so that’s what we’re working all morning on. Like I said earlier, we’re just trying to find ways to put our players in positions to succeed and we’ve got a huge challenge this week. This is a very good football team coming here this week.”
(I wanted to just go back to the performance by the coaching staff. Was there anybody in particular that you want to give some praise to that took on a bigger role on the sideline there maybe helping you guys get in and out of huddles, getting guys on the field, playing a real big vocal role on the defense on the sidelines?) – “I think ‘Flo’ (Head Coach Brian Flores) probably mentioned earlier in the week, it’s really a team effort. I think just like we ask our players to be, we ask our coaches to be the same way. It’s pretty much a selfless effort. Everybody’s just trying to do what we can do to win the game. I think everybody that was involved – whether they were on the field, not on the field – everybody was doing everything they could to help us win the game.”
(I wondered if DE Jason Strowbridge – had the practice work improved to the point that you all wanted to use him last week? Did that contribute to why he played and how you thought he did? And just also DT Raekwon Davis, how he’s played the last couple weeks.) – “I think for both guys – Jason (Strowbridge) and Raekwon (Davis) – I think like we ask all our guys to do, we ask them to try to improve on a weekly basis. Jason actually, he got some opportunities this week. There were some good things. There’s some things that we can correct. Again, we’re going to just keep trying to get better and better each week because we don’t have any easy games on the schedule. Every week is hard and the goal is to win each week, so it’s important for us to improve. We know other teams are improving, so we’ve got to set the bar pretty high for us and especially for young guys, you hope that that improvement comes at a rapid pace. Both of those guys are working hard to do that and we just need to continue to get them better as we go.”
(I’m wondering where you place yards allowed in your priority list of things that are important to you at the end of the day when you look at the stats and look at the game film?) – “I would say in order, for me, when I look at it; one is did we do what we need to do to win the game? Two, obviously we would like to keep the point totals down. Three, we would like to get the ball back to the offense as soon as we possibly can. Obviously we’re not trying to give up big chunk yards, big plays; but as far as the stats go, like I said last week, I don’t really pay any attention to them. It’s more of a factor of us trying to put our players in position to succeed and for us to win the game, and really ultimately as a defense, what you’re trying to do is limit the points and get the ball back to the offense, and that’s kind of the way we look at it, we approach it. Ultimately, you’d love to go into every game and the offense has minus yards and you intercept every pass they throw, but this is a tough league. The coordinators are good. The offensive players are good. Sometimes they’re going to make plays; but at the end of the day, like I said, what you’re trying to do is win the game.”
(I have an important question on Chargers WR Keenan Allen in terms of he’s one of the better route-runners in the NFL. How difficult is it to kind of get some of your best cornerbacks on him considering how much he works inside and in the slot?) – “I would say Keenan Allen is a very good receiver in this league. I would say he’s a very good route-runner. He makes big catches for them in big situations – third down, red area, two-minute. He’s a very talented receiver. There’s a lot of things that – like I said, we’ve got a big challenge. They’ve got other guys – (Jalen) Guyton – that can take a top off the defense. Mike Williams, Hunter Henry, they have so many weapons. Their backs out of the backfield – pick a back, it doesn’t matter who it is – (Austin) Ekeler, (Justin) Jackson, (Troymaine) Pope, (Joshua) Kelley, it doesn’t matter. These guys are a very good offense. They present you with a lot of problems, and they’ve got a lot of good players everywhere and Keenan Allen is a big part of that. So like I said, we’ve got a huge challenge this week in front of us and again, our goal, our time, focus and energy is putting our guys in the best position to succeed.”
Anthony Campanile – November 10, 2020
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Tuesday, November 10, 2020
Linebackers Coach Anthony Campanile
(We’ve seen a high volume of big plays these last couple of weeks from LB Elandon Roberts in these last couple of weeks. Maybe a bit of a slow start, but high-impact plays recently. What’s changed for him? Is there anything you’ve been working with him on that we’ve suddenly seen this big-play ability the last month?) – “Not really. Not really much has changed. I always say feel like we say this in the room: big plays are made with anticipation. When you can anticipate, what’s going to happen, you have a pretty good idea it’s one of two things as opposed to one of 10 things. I know I’ve said that amongst you guys before as well. That gives you the opportunity to go out and make some of those plays. He really studies about as hard as you possibly can. He’s really a great guy to coach in that way. I would attribute most of that to him. That’s why we wanted him here and he’s brought that to our team. He just prepares relentlessly every week. I think that’s just a byproduct of that.”
(How did your role maybe change Sunday and this week with you guys being down a few guys due to protocols on the staff?) – “I just think everyone picks up for one another. ‘Coach Flo’ (Head Coach Brian Flores) has done a tremendous job with that. He’s had a contingency plan and we all just stick to the plan in terms of what gets altered slightly for each guy. That’s why it went pretty well the other day and he’s done a great job with that.”
(How wild was it on Sunday? Did you feel like a lonely man out there? And who was the unsung hero of the day that really stepped up and made a difference for you guys?) – “I just thought that everybody collectively (stepped up). That’s what a team is. I feel like that’s what Coach Flores has built here. That’s really like the length and shadow of one man. That’s him. That’s what he’s been preaching ever since I’ve been here, that everybody has to pull in the same direction. We’re all going to need each other at some point. One week the offense is going to need the defense, the defense is going to need the offense, whatever it may be. That’s true of a coaching staff. If you want to have a great team, you better have great teammates. I feel like on this staff, we’ve got a ton of great teammates. The players, really more than anything, I thought they did a tremendous job on Sunday. I really did. Just playing, and in between drives and everything, they were great.”
(I like watching DT Zach Sieler in his pregame warmup. He goes like 100 miles an hour. It’s like he’s trying to play a preseason game before the real game. I think Outside Linebackers Coach Austin Clark does the Rocky thing with the covering of the pads; but I couldn’t tell from so far away, did you fill in for Austin or did someone else fill in on that?) – “Yeah, there were a couple of coaches over there. I was still with the linebackers during the pregame; but Zach is 100 miles an hour and he’s a great dude. He practices that way every day. I know some of you guys have obviously been at practice and seen that. Him, like many others, he was ready to go.”
(I wanted to ask you about LB Kyle Van Noy. He seems to get some crap from the other guys for being the old guard, so to speak, on the defense. Do you give him a hard time for being a whopping 29 years old? And can you speak on maybe how underappreciated he might be on this defense, and some of the underlying things he might do for this defense that we don’t see as fans and media?) – “I just think that a guy like Kyle is incredibly bright. He has a high IQ in general, but really a high football IQ. I think he’s really been helpful for a lot of the younger guys as well, just in terms of even the day-to-day talking to them, schematics within each game plan. I think he does a great job throughout the week in preparation, just like Elandon, like I was talking about before. I think he does a great job in the game on the sideline in terms of being aware of the information, communicating with the coaches and the players alike. He’s really just – he’s been a pleasure to coach that way, and has brought a lot to our team.”
(What is your go-to when you are not eating something Italian?) – “Oh, man. That’s tough. The good thing about me is I’m like a human garbage disposal, so I’ll just eat anything. Like if you put something in front of me, I’ll eat it. That’s a tough one. I’m pretty easy, though. My wife is Portuguese. She cooks a lot of Portuguese food. I love that. I’ve been enjoying trying pretty much everything down here. Like I said, if you put something in front of me, I’ll eat it. That might not be a great answer; but yeah, just about anything.”
Brian Flores – November 9, 2020
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Monday, November 9, 2020
Head Coach Brian Flores
(With WR Preston Williams, does it look like it could be a long term injury, and what was the thinking of having G Solomon Kindley not play most of the last three quarters? I know there was a decision there because you have more than five starting caliber linemen.) – “With Preston, we’ll just take that day by day. We’re still kind of evaluating that situation. But he’s a tough kid. He’ll try to fight through things and we’ll see how that one goes. As far as the o-line rotation, Solomon has done a good job really the entire season. Obviously we had Austin (Jackson) out and Robert Hunt in, and Jesse (Davis) has played a few different positions. Really the only two guys that really are locked in are ‘E-Flow’ (Ereck Flowers) and Ted (Karras). We feel like we have six guys we feel really comfortable with. We went with five of the six and that’s all you can play unless you go with a heavy tight end. That was the group yesterday for the majority of the game. We’ll see what it is next week.”
(Where are you guys right now in terms of the COVID protocol? Is there a possibility that you’ll get some of the assistants back, or is that still a situation where you’ll have to wait and see?) – “We’re just going to follow the protocol. We get that from the league. We’re in the intensive protocol. We have to meet virtually. There are a few other factors to that. There is a period of time that has to pass before guys can start coming back. We’ll just follow the protocols and when guys are allowed back, they’ll be back in. Thankfully everyone is safe and healthy. When we get them back ,we’ll be happy to have them back.”
(Twenty-four hours later, what pleased you the most about QB Tua Tagovailoa performance yesterday?) – “I was happy with the team performance. I think it was a tough, tough game against a very good football team. It came down to a couple of plays. There were a handful of plays that could’ve gone either way. I thought the guys played hard. I thought they battled. We dealt with some adversity throughout the game, made some mistakes but fought through it. It was a great team victory. Obviously we got contributions from all three phases. Offensively, you mentioned Tua. He played well and kind of led the way in the fourth quarter. Made some plays throwing it, running it and defensively got some key stops. Jason (Sanders) made some really good kicks at the end of the half and the end of the game.”
(I wanted to see how you viewed how you guys covered WR DeAndre Hopkins. I know you guys held him to three receptions for 30 yards, but CB Xavien Howard got a handful of pass interference calls. How do you grade that out when you weigh everything?) – “I thought we had too many penalties throughout the game. It wasn’t just ‘X’ (Xavien Howard). Just generally speaking. False start penalties, DPIs (defensive pass interference), hands to the face, things we can do better and we’ll coach it harder and try to place an emphasis on it. Those can only hurt us. They can’t help us. It negated what could’ve been critical plays in the game. Hopkins is a great player. Like I said last week, if I had one guy for a 50/50 ball, he’d be the guy. He’s a tough cover, so we did a good job on him for the most part, minus the penalties. They have a good offense. They have a lot of other players. (Christian) Kirk played well, obviously the quarterback played well, they ran the ball effectively. Plenty of corrections for us to make, but we still have a long way to go. We have to make a lot of improvements over the second half of the season.”
(There was some speculation from social media and judging by the video, it seemed like there might be something to this. Was WR Preston Wilkins injured when DT Christian Wilkins was celebrating with him in the end zone?) – “I’m not much on social media, so I don’t know what’s on there or what’s not on there. Preston obviously had an injury. He didn’t return. Honestly, when or how it happened – I don’t think that’s what happened. How it happened? That’s not on the coach’s copy, but it looked like it was during the play, based on what I saw. But I don’t know. Maybe it was somewhere else. Obviously some other people saw something else. I think the thing is that he suffered an injury and hopefully – look, he’ll do everything he can to get back and we’ll just evaluate it day to day and take it one day at a time.”
(In WR Preston Williams’ absence, WR Mack Hollins stepped up for you guys. I know he’s been an important player on special teams. Where is he in his development as a receiver and also, you got a young batch of receivers there. If Williams isn’t able to play, who do you expect to step up?) – “Mack has done a good job in the kicking game and practices hard. He’s made a few plays in practice really every week. As far as who steps in, I think a lot of that will be based on how we practice this week. And then whatever (Offensive Coordinator) Chan Gailey kind of puts together from the standpoint, who he think fits, we’ll execute the game plan the best (we can) as a group. You’re right, we have a lot of young guys, and hopefully if they happen to play, they’ll go on and play well. Guys like Mack Hollins and obviously Jakeem (Grant) can jump in there. Malcolm Perry played a good chunk yesterday. We’ve got to practice well, we’ve got to prepare well and hopefully we’ll execute in the game.”
(I wanted to ask you a little bit about Honduras because last week Hurricane Eta passed through the country and. First off, I want to know if your family is doing well. I know there is a lot of people struggling there. I just want to get your thoughts on that. It’s a tough time for the country?) – “I’m glad you’re on the call because I was going to mention this anyway. Yeah, Honduras has been hit pretty bad – not pretty bad, but they’ve been hit very bad and they need a lot of help there in a lot of areas. Obviously it’s a country – I don’t want to say they don’t have a lot of resources, but they are struggling and as much help and support as they can get. I know I’ll do my part, for sure. As many people that could help, it’s definitely needed. My heart goes out to them, the people there and those other Central American countries. Nicaragua I know got hit, Guatemala and also South Florida. We’re dealing with floods from what I understand. The flooding hasn’t been this bad in I don’t know how long, based on some of the people I’ve talked to. But definitely in those Central American countries, they are struggling. I’ll try to support them for sure.”
(DE Emmanuel Ogbah said yesterday that the coaches are putting him in the right position to succeed. What are the things about his skillset that gives the coaching staff a lot to work with and that they are taking advantage of?) – “He’s got versatility. He can play inside, outside. He’s tough. He plays against the run. He plays well against the run. He’s fast. He’s got length. He’s smart. He can do a lot. He’s a good teammate. He’s tough. I think I’ve said that already, bute’s a good player. We’ve got a lot of other guys on defense. It’s never just one guy. It’s a team effort. We’ve got a lot of guys who are preparing the right way and making sacrifices for one another, and Ogbah does that as well for his teammates.”
(I wanted to get your thought on what you saw from RB Salvon Ahmed yesterday?) – “I thought he ran well. He’s got some juice. That was pretty good for his first time out. There is a protection play that stands out for me that I thought could’ve been better. I don’t know if anyone else saw that one … For his first time out, I thought he played well. I thought he took advantage of the opportunity.”
Emmanuel Ogbah – November 8, 2020 (Postgame)
Sunday, November 8, 2020
Postgame – Arizona
DE Emmanuel Ogbah
(Is this your thing now, you’re just going to create a sack fumble for a touchdown every single week?) – “If that’s what it takes to win games, then I’m down to do it. (laughter)”
(This is obviously a breakthrough season for you with the production we’ve seen. Do you feel like you’re playing the best football of your career, and if so what’s gotten you to this point?) – “Like I said before, it takes trust. The coaches trust me, my teammates trust me. They put me in the right position to make plays, and I’m blessed and grateful for that.”
(Can you take us to the feel of the locker room? This felt like a playoff-type atmosphere. Do you guys feel like you guys are in the mix playing as a playoff team?) – “We’re just taking it one step at a time. We got to grind out those tough wins and they’re a good football team. We just came out there and did good.”
(How much pride does this defense take in creating big plays and then watching the offense go out on the field and being able to capitalize. It’s just such really nice complimentary football you guys are playing and I’m just curious about the defense’s pride in kind of that style of football?) – “I like to say all phases work together. When offense is down, the defense has got to pick them up. When the defense is down, the offense has got to pick the. up. We work hand-in-hand. Also special teams, too, has been big for us. I’m just grateful to have teammates that trust each other and just go out there and play for each other.”
(How much of a challenge was Cardinals QB Kyler Murray to defend and what can you say about that drive there on that third down when you guys stopped them?) – “Kyler Murray is a really good player and real shifty, so it’s kind of hard to just square up and tackle him. So you kind have to take your shot every time. They are a good team, and we just came out there on top.”
(Last week during QB Tua Tagovailoa’s first start it maybe didn’t look like you guys had a player you could depend on to score the football, and now this week it seemed like Tua is very dependable offensively for you guys. How do you play, and how do you guys continue to play knowing that you guys have a quarterback on the other side that can score the football for you guys?) – “Like I said, we all trust each other. We’re all rooting for each other. Like I said, (if) the offense is down, the defense has got to pick them up. When the special teams is down, offense has got to pick them up. So we just did our best. All props to Tua (Tagovailoa), he came out there and balled for us when we needed him. I’m grateful for that.”
(You’re the first guy since former DE Cameron Wake to have a full sack in five straight games which is kind of cool. I know each person is their own person, but it’s a coincidence that you both wear No. 91 and he’s obviously a Dolphins legend. I don’t know if I’ve ever asked you about Wake, but what do you think of him and trying to live up to some of his accomplishments?) – “I used to watch a bunch of (Cameron) Wake highlights before games, so I’m real familiar with Wake. But it’s just a blessing that I’m in the right position to make plays and grateful the coaches put me in the right positions to make plays, and I’m just happy to be out here balling for them.”
Tua Tagovailoa – November 8, 2020 (Postgame)
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Sunday, November 8, 2020
Postgame – Arizona
QB Tua Tagovailoa (transcribed by Arizona Cardinals)
(On the Dolphins scoring drive that tied the game at 31 and what he was feeling) – “It was a good win, first off. I think the biggest thing throughout the game was taking what the defense gave us and just taking it a play at a time, a snap at a time. I was very fortunate before that play to have run and got out of that pressure situation on third down. I think it’s just taking it a play at a time. The plays that we’ve been given by our offensive coordinator (Chan Gailey) helped us get into situations where we could be successful offensively.”
(On what Offensive Coordinator Chan Gailey did this week to build his comfortability) – “There wasn’t much change in practice throughout the week. Coming into this week, we were able to get into a rhythm offensively in the pass game, and we were able to use that to our advantage as well. If we wanted to run it, we could run it and mix some other things in there like go with our drop backs and throw it. I think Chan did a great job with getting me comfortable with getting the ball out quickly, looking down field and going through my progression reads as well. Kudos goes to everyone up front with the O-line, the blocking with the backs and all the receivers making plays.”
(On running the ball and the reaction from his teammates) – “The reaction from teammates, they’re always going to be happy when you get a big chunk play or convert for a first down. They were very excited, and I was excited that they were excited. It was just one of those things where you just have to go out there and play. We knew what we were up against. They’re a great defensive team, a great offensive team. I think everyone over looks their special teams as well. They’re really talented on both sides of the ball and all three phases of the game. I think we came out with the intention to know that this was going to be a hard-fought game. We came out and played all four quarters as a team.”
(On his mindset and willingness to run the ball) – “I think the Dolphins organization with Kyle Johnson and everyone on the medical staff, if they felt that they would be putting me in a bad situation if I had to go and make a play on the run, I don’t think they would let me go out there and play. Knowing that’s how it was going to be, I had self confidence that I would be able to go out there, and if I needed to make a play with my legs, I would. That was probably the slowest I ever felt. I felt like I was running in quicksand.”
(On his relationship with Cardinals QB Kyler Murray and how much fun he had playing against him) – “That was awesome. I think it was fun for the fans as well, not just us competing. You know what you’re going to get when it comes to Kyler. You’re going to get big plays on their side of the ball. We’re trying to game plan, but it’s so hard trying to game plan when you know the kind of explosive player he is. They’re going to make plays, not just with his arm. It’s also with his legs. I think he might be the fastest quarterback in the NFL right now. It’s a bold statement.”
(On if Murray is faster than him) – “Oh my gosh, he’s faster than me. No doubt.”
(On how he evaluates himself in his second game) – “I would say it was a lot better than the Rams game. We’re going to enjoy it and come in Monday and watch film with one another. We’ll see what we can learn from and continue to work.”
(On the resolve of his teammates) – “I think we persevered offensively and defensively as well. We had some guys banged up in the first half, then they were able to come back. We persevered as an offense. We knew we didn’t have a lot of the guys out there that we called certain plays for, but we made it work. I think that was the beauty of everyone coming together. With Mack (Hollins) catching a touchdown and the completions we were able to get to our tight ends, DeVante (Parker), Jakeem (Grant Sr.) and some plays dumping it down to the running backs. It was one of those things where that’s what the defense gave us, and that’s what we were going to take.”
Brian Flores – November 8, 2020 (Postgame)
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Sunday, November 8, 2020
Postgame – Arizona
Head Coach Brian Flores (transcribed by Arizona Cardinals)
(On overcoming adversity throughout the week in the road win) – “First off a lot of credit goes to them, that’s a good football team there. Kliff Kingsbury is doing a great job over there, Steve Keim, Mr. Bidwill, there doing a great job there. That’s a tough, physical, that’s a good football team. Kyler Murray is a fantastic player. They’re doing a great job over there that’s a tough football team. I think our guys dealt with a lot of adversity this week, these last couple of days especially. I talked about our mental toughness last week, I think that showed up again today. Hard-fought victory, players stepping up, coaches stepping up, we had assistant and strength coaches coming in, Kaleb Thornhill came in there and was helping us from a coaching standpoint. We had a lot of people step up and help and it was definitely a team victory.”
(On QB Tua Tagovailoa’s performance) – “He made a lot of plays for us, a lot of big plays, especially down the stretch when we needed it. It was kind of a back-and-forth game, they made plays, we made plays. The stage wasn’t too big for him tonight, he played well. We had a lot of guys play well, the offensive line, backs, tight ends, a lot of guys contributed. It was a team victory, we made plays on all three sides of the ball and that’s what you need to win a game like that against an opponent like that.”
(On K Jason Sanders field goal to take the lead in the fourth quarter) – “We have a lot of confidence in him. At that point in the game its fourth-and-one a lot of people want to go for it we decided to take the three points and take the lead. We have a lot of confidence in Jason, I think it was a 50-yard kick if I’m not mistaken. Good snap, good hold, good kick, good protection. He made it and that was the difference, he made it and they didn’t make it, that’s the difference in the game.”
(On the Miami coaching staff positive COVID-19 tests) – “We’re not going to disclose any medical information on any of the coaches. We’re just going to follow the protocols and the guidelines set by the league. (Head Athletic Trainer) Kyle Johnston, (VP, Football Administration) Brandon Shore these guys have been on top of it the last couple of days. Again, when I say team effort I don’t just mean the guys that are on the field. This was an organization win. We’ve got a lot of good people here, they work hard, it’s important to them, and I have a lot of appreciation for all of those people from the medical staff, to the strength and conditioning staff, to our nutritionists to our equipment staff. We’ve got a lot of good people on the operation staff, we’ve got a lot of good people here. It’s important to everyone and that’s what we’re trying to build, that type of team atmosphere, building those relationships, that kind of comradery and I think that shows up on the field. I’m proud of this group, I’m proud of this team and when I say team I’m not just talking about the 53 players and 16 practice squad players and the coaches, I’m talking about everyone.”
(On Tagovailoa’s resolve and performance in his second career start) – “It was a team effort. Tua did his part. It wasn’t a perfect game. He made some mistakes like we all do. I made some mistakes for sure in this game. But he fought back, we fought back as an offense, as a defense, as special teams. We gave ourselves a chance to win it at the end and we made plays at the end. Sometimes it comes down to one play on each side and to win in these types of competitive games against good teams those are the plays we need to make and essentially we made one more than they did. I’m telling you guys that’s a good football team. Kudos to (Defensive Coordinator) Josh Boyer, he called a great game. That’s a damn good play caller over there in Kingsbury. So a lot of credit to them. That was a hard-fought battle across the board.”
(On the challenge of defending the Cardinals offense) – “When you play against good players, good coaches it’s hard, it’s not easy. It’s not easy to call that game. Feel free to call it if you feel like you can call a better game against that group then go ahead. It’s about trying to make as many adjustments as possible. There was a little bit of a chess match there between Kliff (Kingsbury) and Josh (Boyer) and what we were doing versus what they were doing going back-and-forth. That’s what you love about the game from a coaching standpoint. But at the end of the day our players executed and they won one more play then they did. It’s hard to win in this league against good football teams and we were able to pull it out today. Our effort, our energy, our execution in critical situations that’s what you need in ball games like that.”
(On when he learned he would be without coaches and the positive tests throughout the team) – “We’re going to follow the protocols and the guidelines set forth by the league and that’s what we’ve done the last few days. The protocol says that those coaches had to be out. We’ve been in constant communication like I said. Kyle Johnston has done a tremendous job, Brandon Shore has done a tremendous job and they’ve really been transparent and honest. Nothing is more important than helping this team, I want to be clear about that, nothing is more important than helping this team. If that means that I’m out, QBs are out, coaches are out and that’s the best thing for the team from a health standpoint then that’s what we’re going to do. Those are the conversations that we had between league and our front office in conjunction with myself. Again, I can’t speak this enough, nothing is more important than helping this team. We’re going to do everything possible to contain the virus. We all know there’s a pandemic, the numbers are going up, infections are going up on a daily basis. You guys have heard me say it, you can do everything possible, you can distance, and it spreads in the air. We’re trying to do everything we can and unfortunately we had to deal with some of the COVID-19 protocols of the league and we’re going to do our best to mitigate any risk. We’re just going to follow the lead of what the doctor says and the staff there. That’s what’s important now.”
