Danny Crossman – August 27, 2020
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Thursday, August 27, 2020
Special Teams Coordinator Danny Crossman
(What kind of goes into the nature of having the conversation with WR Preston Williams about returning again, the season after the injury?) – “When it comes – injuries can happen anywhere at any time. Number one, you have a guy that has a skillset. Number two, you have a guy that wants to do it. Then we have to decide how it best fits and what the situations are in the game. There are so many layers to it and it involves everybody.”
(I was going to ask about the decision not to bring in competition for K Jason Sanders and P Matt Haack. Did you guys, as you evaluated draft prospects, you and the scouts, had you concluded that none were as good as Jason and Matt or did you conclude that both are young players and should get another season?) – “It’s a combination really and I think it goes back to an understanding of the lay of the land with not being able to conduct on-field offseason work. There are a lot of reps where you maybe would’ve had some other legs, and then with the numbers going from 90 to 80. So there are a lot of things that goes into it. But it’s a production business. Guys have to perform. We like where those guys are at and the training camp that those two individuals are having. It’s a constant conversation.”
(A follow up on WR Preston Williams real quick. I know you mentioned that injuries happen everywhere; but I guess as far as his role on offense, how do you balance a player who is a full-time offensive player and using him as a returner or even on special team as a whole?) – “Again, every team, every organization has their own philosophies. For us, that’s one of the things we talk about and making sure that we’re making smart, informed decisions; but when you look around we wouldn’t be the only team if Preston ends up back there. There are a lot of teams that put a lot of really talented players – offensive players and defensive players – back in that role. The bottom line every decision we make is in the best interest of the team to put us in position to win a football game.”
(I always find it fascinating to watch guys break from whatever previous drill they were doing to come to your unit, and bust their ass downfield as gunner and jammers. I have a lot of respect for the conditioning that goes into that. Specifically, I wanted to ask you about a guy that I think stands out in that way in S Clayton Fejedelem, and just your initial impression on how he works in the kicking game?) – “I think what you have with Clayton is a guy that as we bring in an established veteran, number one is understanding what’s been his role in the past, and just being able to translate that to us and set the tone for what we’re trying to develop and where we want everybody to be in those drills. Yes, Clayton is doing a great job. As you said, when we are doing those drills, we have every guy working to play to that same level. Those that are, are encouraging and bringing those other guys with them because especially with this type of offseason – preseason – you have to be able to manipulate and try to get those high-intensity looks in the kicking game without having preseason games.”
(The guys at the bottom of the roster, they are not having the opportunities that they typically would to standout or show you guys what they can do. How has navigating that been so far?) – “It’s been fine. All it comes down to is putting them into some of those situations that you would think they would find themselves in in a preseason game. You just have to do it in practice and as much as we can in controlled areas, controlled situations. That’s the thing about it. We can manipulate that. We can get done in practice. We’ve done that in the past based on what’s happened in preseason games. We’ve all been there where, as I’ve said in the past, you have an idea of what you want to get looked at in a preseason game. It doesn’t always play out that way based on how the game goes. You’re always having to tweak what you do in practice to get those looks. It’s just a little bit more self-evident this year because you know you don’t have those live reps in preseason games. You have to be able to try to simulate those in practice.”
(Obviously you have two good returners with WR Jakeem Grant and WR Preston Williams. Do you any idea what you have with RB Malcolm Perry as a returner? Is he in your thoughts at all in that process? How tough is it to know what you have without preseason games?) – “It’s tough. The beauty of it is there are other guys too; but I think everybody around the league – obviously including us – there are going to be some young guys that you don’t know exactly what you have, and you’re not going to know until you put them out there. But that’s the beauty of it. You feel good about guys, put them out there and let’s see what you’ve got.”
(I guess maybe not the beauty but the ugly part of it is that some guys may slip through the cracks here. What are your fears in that situation where a guy might not get an opportunity and he probably stands out somewhere else after you’ve had him in camp?) – “You don’t ever worry about it. You only worry about the ones we have. That’s just the nature of the beast on a yearly calendar in the National Football League. You can’t worry about the guys you maybe don’t get in free agency, the guys you don’t get in the draft. You don’t worry about that. You work with the guys that you have and you try to make the guys that you have the best that they can be and then you go put your best foot forward.”
Marion Hobby – August 27, 2020
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Thursday, August 27, 2020
Defensive Line Coach Marion Hobby
(DT Christian Wilkins, how do you keep him encouraged with the new role that he kind of has in a certain package for you on defense; whereas he’s not in every package like he was last season?) – “I think it’s still early – early in the process – and I think he’s a worker. He’s still getting plenty of reps in practice and I think how we do things around here, people kind of like keeping them inside guys fresh and they’re rolling. I think if he has a problem, he would have come to me or ‘Coach Flo’ (Head Coach Brian Flores) or ‘Coach Boyer’ (Defensive Coordinator Josh Boyer). He’s just got his head down working and it’s still an early process.”
(I wanted to ask you about the other day, the defensive line had a bunch of batted passes down at the line scrimmage. Obviously the length and those big powerful hands can go a long way to help those guys detach and get their hands on the football; but I was curious if you could explain the value of length and heavy hands in your system specifically as it pertains to kind of holding the point against the run but also as a pass rusher?) – “I think that’s big-time important. When you look at the offensive tackles and the offensive linemen even in this league, they’re pretty big guys. So being able to attack them at the point of attack with strong hands, being able to separate off guys and then batting down passes is a lot of timing. The guys are what, getting separation, getting their eyes, seeing the quarterback’s hands come off and being able to get their hands up. Being able to – them taller guys, them bigger guys – being able to separate from these big offensive linemen and being able to get their hands up is huge.”
(Just how DT Raekwon Davis has looked and is there a substantial gap between DT Christian Wilkins, DT Davon Godchaux and DT Raekwon Davis or is Davis pushing those two veterans?) – “Well, I’ll you what. He’s looked impressive. He can get in there. He’s a big man. He’s powerful and he kind of sticks out a little bit sometimes, especially in the run game. I think all three of those guys are competing at a high level and with a 16-game season and planning on winning a lot of games, I think all three of them are very important to what we’re doing. That’s a position where if you can keep guys fresh in there, you’re really in good shape.”
(I know that DE Jason Strowbridge is a rookie and he’s got a million things to learn, but what are your two things that you really harp on him about that you want him to get better at?) – “Probably about his natural get-off. He’s kind of thinking a little bit. You can tell he’s a young guy. He wants to please and sometimes – a guy told me a long time ago, ‘a confused player and a non-motivated player look the same’ – and I think sometimes he’s a little bit confused and wants to please, wants to be correct and sometimes, just man, just turn it loose and go. But I’ll tell you what, he does flash at you a lot. He does a lot of good things that catch your eye that keeps you on his trail. You push him a little bit, but he does a lot of good stuff. I always tell him, ‘hey man, react,’ rather than thinking this thing through.”
(Obviously you coached at Clemson. You have a bunch of guys in your room from Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss, another one from Clemson as well. I’ll add DE Jason Strowbridge in the mix because he’s a South Florida kid. What is it about that Southeastern kind of football that lends to what you’re looking for from your defensive players?) – “You always get a little partial. (laughter) I played in the SEC, I’ve coached in the ACC and dealt with a lot of these guys. Just not necessarily the conference aspect of it, but more or less of we’re looking for them (to be) physical, tough, smart guys who – they’re coming from those conferences and they’re used to that type of play on a consistent basis. The SEC is a big run league. The ACC is kind of a run and pass league, so those guys come out of systems where they’re used to playing the way they play in this league.”
(I hate to bring it back to DE Jason Strowbridge again, but you mentioned the things that flash and that he does a lot of good things. Like what?) – “I would say sometimes in the run game – he’s a 275-pound guy. He can hole-point, get separation on the offensive linemen; but I’ll tell you, in the pass game sometimes he – you’d think he would just be a power guy and then sometimes he gets on the edge on an offensive lineman and you can really see his natural quickness, too. So when he’s going, he’s going now. Now did I think he was going to be just more of just a hands-on power guy? I did, but then sometimes you’ll see him get on the edge of linemen and see him work his hips and that finesse aspect of him and you’ll go, ‘okay, I see you, Strowbridge.’ So I think he’s got a little bit of a variety to his game and it’s just a matter of when it’s starting to come out. I think he can rush a little bit. He can play the run. That’s what you want to see – a guy who can hopefully develop into a three-down player over time.”
Gerald Alexander – August 27, 2020
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Thursday, August 27, 2020
Defensive Backs Coach Gerald Alexander
(We’ve seen seven or eight young corners really competing. Beyond CB Noah Igbinoghene, if you take him out of the equation, who else from that group has flashed to you if you’re willing to share names? We’ve obviously seen CB Tae Hayes and CB Breon Borders make some plays, CB Nik Needham obviously. Who has stood out to you from that group of seven young corners?) – “I think all of them are competing very well. You mentioned a lot of guys like Breon, and Nik and Noah. Obviously we’ve got our veteran guys like Byron (Jones). I think throughout the course of camp, those guys have done a good job competing, being in a good position, challenging the football, getting their hands on the football. Everybody for the most part are doing exactly what we want them to do in these practices, and that’s competing their butts off out there on the field. Generally speaking as a group, they’ve all done what we want them to do.”
(The word on the street is that you brought a point system to town to try to get more turnovers and hands on the ball. I wanted to get a little bit more insight on what that looks like and what the goal is for the guys with that?) – “The point system is really just trying to enforce what we’re trying to get done and that’s our job description – getting the ball for our offense or scoring ourselves. It really just got categorized and whether it be scoops off the ground or trying to strip the ball or obviously being able to get pass breakups and interceptions. At the end of the day, it’s getting those guys in a competitive environment. It’s a corners versus safeties competition as well as another competition that we have. It’s getting them mindful of – it’s all about the ball. Everything we do, every technique, every detailed coaching point that we give them and every defensive scheme, is all about – at the end of the day – getting the ball. You start to see that energy, that competitiveness amongst those guys at practice doing the little thing that reward points. At the same time, I’m trying to build culture. I’m trying to build a way of behaving in the defensive back room. Doing certain things at practice and always being conscious of the ball hopefully is generating a way of behavior where that’s just the way that we operate out there on the practice field. It’s been fun, it’s been competitive; but at the end of the day, there is some method to the madness about how we operate out there in the secondary in particular.”
(Who is leading the race in your point system, and since a turnover chain is already taken, what does the winner get as his glory?) – “We’ll keep the rewards in house. There is a lot at stake. I’m not sure exactly who the leader is right now individually; but it could really be anybody. There are a lot of different categories – not just PBUs (pass breakups) and interceptions; but like I mentioned earlier, there are scoops on incomplete passes, there is special effort, there is explosive eliminators. There’s so many different points and as of right now, as of yesterday, the corners are leading the competition through I want to say the last four practices or so. I think individually, I think Bobby (McCain), with the interceptions that he’s had – and in the red zone, points are doubled. It’s a real big deal when we get in that part of the field as it is when we get in the game time, that plays on the ball or turnovers in the red zone that benefit us on defense, especially when our backs are against the wall, they are valued double in the competition. It’s been fun. It’s been one of those things that kind of broke up the monotony of training camp a little bit, even though it’s probably shorter than it ever has been. The guys love it, and it’s a good deal out there at practice.”
(What have you seen from CB Byron Jones and how do you see he’s adjusting to his role in this defense and learning the scheme?) – “You see a guy who is continuing over the course of camp, getting more comfortable with the terminology and the techniques and all of the things that are different than where he previously played. With that, this is a great time for him to continue to get back to the basics and fundamentals and retool and reshape his craft, as he’s been doing. You see that he’s the ultimate professional, he’s a great influence on some of our young guys and how he approaches really everything that he does, whether he’s on the field, off the field or in the classroom. You start to see a guy who handles himself like a professional, who is doing some good things out there on the field, who is learning and developing as he continues to go. Then he’s out there really competing out there on the football field.”
(I got two questions just to follow up on the point system deal: is there a name for the game, and does it go past camp? Is it just a camp deal?) – “It’s a camp deal right now. There are two different competitions. I’ll kind of give you guys some information here. The corners versus safeties competition is really just a ball disruption deal. It’s categorized, it’s valued at a certain things for ball disruption or something on the field. Then we have our Hood vs. ‘Burbs’ competition, which is solely based on interceptions. Those guys got a chance to draft different members. That is settled on the field. Once practice is over, if both teams don’t have interceptions, both teams do 25 pushups. If one team wins, the loser does 25 pushups. If both teams tie with one or more interceptions in practice, then the coaches got 25 pushups. It’s just getting those guys conscious of always thinking about the ball, always attacking the football; and hopefully at the end of the day, those behaviors that we execute and believe in and take action in at practice, that will lead to just something we do in games because we understand that’s going to help our team win.”
(You touched on your cornerback play a little bit earlier, the first question of this presser. I’m curious about your safeties. You guys have a history here of converting cornerbacks into safety with S Eric Rowe out wide, or S Bobby McCain or S Brandon Jones, who played in the slot before. What is it about guys that can come down and cover that make for good safeties in your defense?) – “I think you see how the game is now. Offenses are trying to do everything they can to attack space, especially in the passing game. You need guys who have the athleticism to be able to cover in space and be tough enough to be able to support on the run. Those guys are much valued now in today’s NFL than maybe in years past or in the history of the NFL, when things were kind of a little bit more condensed and heavy run-oriented. So when you have guys like Bobby, when you have guys like Eric and you have guys like Brandon, who are really good in space but also are smart, great communicators and tough enough to support the run, those guys are valued in today’s game.”
(One more on the points thing. I think it’s really great. It’s something you hear more from, from college teams. How do you think that helps apply to a pro team, it keeps them engaged and helps them come together as teammates as well?) – “I think in ways, my responsibility is to create different ways of operating here. Fortunately enough, I did come from college, so it gives a fresh new feel for maybe the guys who are at this level who haven’t had the chance to have that same amount of competition or energy or whatever these guys are taking from this competition and this points system. At the same time that this is happening, they are having fun with it and they are competing with one another; but what I’m trying to do is inadvertently trying to create change in behavior. Now, hopefully when these guys are competing like this in practice and doing the necessary things that warrant the value of the point system, they are also starting to create behavior in how each other operates and how we try to hold ourselves accountable, so it gets to the point where those are just the things that these guys do as a secondary. Now when you’re not behaving in that way, when you’re not living up to the cultural standard that this point system has provided, you know you’ve got something where now the players are now policing each other and saying ‘hey, we don’t operate like this at practice. We scoop up incomplete passes. We try to strip for the ball every single play. Or we run to the ball at practice every single rep.’ That’s what it’s really trying to create. That’s really the foundation, that’s the method to the madness. At the end of the day, what we do out there is a grind and there is fun in it and it gives just a fresh new feel when we get out there and practice and compete day to day.”
Josh Boyer – August 27, 2020
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Thursday, August 27, 2020
Defensive Coordinator Josh Boyer
(I wanted to ask about DE Shaq Lawson and DE Emmanuel Ogbah. There’s been a lot of sacks, some tipped passes at the line – what are you seeing from those two guys to let you know that your pass rush may be in a better place this season than it was last season?) – “I think specific to Emmanuel and Shaq, both of these guys are very diligent workers. They’ve come in. They’ve done a lot of things that we’ve asked them to do. I think they’re both talented players and I think they’ve made the most of their opportunities in practice. Improvement is a constant theme for us, and that’s something that we strive for on a daily basis and I think these guys work hard at that. They’re not satisfied with one good play. They’re looking for consistent play over time, and then there are some plays that they’d like to have back. They keep working and you keep seeing productive plays from them, and hopefully – with all of our defensive ends – hopefully we’re improving.”
(I have a question for you now that we’re about halfway through padded practices. I’m just curious about the evaluation mindset. Has it started to change towards how you’re going to round out each sub-package and if it has, how do you evaluate this defense’s ability to be multiple and have all the parts for each sub-package you want to call on game day?) – “It starts with kind of an individual approach. You see what guys can do. I think there’s some things that we’ll practice. You put guys in certain situations to see how they handle it. Obviously practice is the closest thing that we have to game simulation and we work different combinations. I think over time, some of that starts to settle in; but there is also still a competition between players, and I think that brings out the best in players, which as coaches is ultimately what we’re trying to do, is to get the best version of the player on and off the field.”
(What is your vision for DE Jason Strowbridge and how has he been doing?) – “Again – you guys are going to be like, ‘man, this guy is really redundant’ – but my vision for him is to see improvement on a daily basis and to build consistency over time. And I think with not just Jason but a lot of rookies, they come in and you see some good things and then you see some things that need some work, and really what we’re trying to do is build upon the good things. The things that aren’t so good, we try to correct that, and really what we’re looking for is consistency and to string good days together. And that’s kind of our goal, is just the day at hand and to constantly improve.”
(What’s your impression of how CB Byron Jones has competed in training camp so far?) – “I think again, Byron has had some good matchups in camp. I think he’s been competitive in coverage. I think he’s working very hard to improve on some things that he can put himself in a little bit better position to make plays. And by that I mean he’s right there; some of these, we’ve got a chance to get our hands on and turn the ball over. He’s a very diligent worker – works at his craft – and again, it’s the reoccurring theme of we’re not satisfied with where we’re at and we are trying to get constant and consistent improvement.”
(Sort of following up on that, you guys obviously as a franchise made a big investment at the cornerback position in the offseason with CB Byron Jones, CB Xavien Howard and then also drafting CB Noah Igbinoghene in the first round. Just what makes that position right now in the league such an important position to make a big investment like that at?) – “I think again, it goes really back to situational football – third down, red area, two-minute. Those are, call it, ‘winning football.’ You really need to have guys that can cover and you can never have too many of them, especially the way offenses are constructed. Sometimes it’s three receivers, one tight end and a receiving back; and all of them are skilled receivers. Or it could be two tight ends, two receivers and a receiving back; and they could run the ball at you or they could spread you out and throw it, and I think as many guys that you have on your team that can cover, it puts you in a more beneficial state as a defense.”
(A little bit of a curveball question for you here. Your defense obviously has to go against your offense every day in practice and your offensive line has undergone a lot of change. I’m wondering what are you seeing in that offensive line – how it attacks your defense? What are maybe your defensive linemen telling you about how that offensive line is to go against and especially with that size that they’ve added? They’re massive.) – “I think obviously (Offensive Coordinator) Chan (Gailey) and (Offensive Line Coach) Steve (Marshall) – they’re going a good job, and I think it’s the same process for them as it is for us. They’re looking for constant improvement with their players. I think the scheme and I think the personnel at times presents you some problems defensively; but it’s one of those things – it’s competition. They’re trying to get better; we’re trying to get better. Sometimes we get them; sometimes they get us. And I would say for all the players and for all the coaches, it’s try to get the best version of the player that you possibly can; so when we put them out there on Sunday, we’re putting them in a position to succeed.”
(From what you’ve seen from CB Noah Igbinoghene does it look like he’s ready to play major snaps and contribute as an NFL player right away if needed?) – “Again, I think Noah, he’s had a productive camp for us and we’re going to hope that continues, and we’re going to strive for improvement on that. I think when he gets the opportunity, hopefully he’ll make the most of it. Everything’s kind of like, you’ve got to earn your right to get out there and play; and then once you get out there and play, you’ve got to earn your right to keep more snaps. That’s kind of the way we’ve always approached things and he’s working hard towards that. Time will tell.”
(DT Christian Wilkins seems to be a centerpiece in a certain package you guys have. What makes him kind of unique and perfect for that role versus DT Raekwon Davis, who has taken a little bit more of an opportunity there when you do a four-man front?) – “I would say for both of those guys, I think there’s some multiplicity with all of our guys on the defensive line. Sometimes in practice, you work one guy at one thing and you work another at another, and then you try to balance out the reps as it goes whether it’s (Davon) Godchaux, (Christian) Wilkins, Raekwon (Davis), (Zach) Sieler, Benito (Jones) – any of those guys. We try to balance out the reps, balance out the different packages that we have as we go, and we try to at all positions kind of create some multiplicity so that we’re not just lining up in the same thing over and over again for the offense.”
(You guys brought a lot of new players in on that side of the ball and some obviously had preexisting relationships with both you and Head Coach Brian Flores. I’m curious how are the new guys on the defense kind of acclimating and does that preexisting relationship with those players kind of help accelerate the learning curve for the rest of the guys?) – “I do. I firmly believe like every year, you kind of start over. The current relationships – some things may click a little bit quicker for guys if the terminology is the same. For other guys that are coming from different programs, they may have done the same things, but maybe it’s just the terminology is different. So I think it’s a case-by-case basis, but there’s a lot of things that when you have a history with certain guys over years; there’s things that as a coach, you’re quicker to know, ‘okay, this is probably what we’re going to get on this.’ But like I said, I think (General Manager) Chris (Grier) and ‘Flo’ (Head Coach Brian Flores) did a good job of putting as many competitive players on defense as they possibly could and we’ve had some competitive practices. We’ve had some competitive work in individual periods and again, we’re just going to try to improve on a daily basis.”
(We’ve heard a lot of the players talk about sort of the emphasis on turnovers and getting hands on the ball this offseason. I know every team wants that. That’s sort of a goal for a defense, but how easily do you see, I guess, that emphasis being able to translate to turnovers on Sunday?) – “I think practice execution becomes game reality; so if we’re not practicing something and it’s not a point of emphasis, you’re probably not going to get the results that you want. We spend a lot of time on trying to get the ball, and I would say historically if you look through the league, the turnover margin is probably closest-related to wins and losses as anything else there is. And to get turnovers, you’ve got to get a lot of guys to the football and they’ve got to know what they’re doing when they get there; or you’ve got to get guys ready to read the quarterback, ready to break on throws and get hands up in the passing lane. These are all things that we spend a good amount of time on and again, we’ll see if our work bears fruit here, but it’s definitely something we put a good amount of time on of trying to get our guys to the ball, trying to get our guys to get the ball.”
Austin Clark – August 27, 2020
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Thursday, August 27, 2020
Outside Linebackers Coach Austin Clark
(I just wanted to ask you, if you’re willing to share, the first name that comes to mind as far as who has jumped out to you at your position so far? Who has been most impressive to you, if you’re willing to share that?) – “To be honest with you, all of the guys have been really impressive. I couldn’t pinpoint one in particular. They’re all working their butts off. It’s been a great two weeks or however long it’s been here so far.”
(I know you’ll probably have to hold back LB Kyle Van Noy from himself a little bit here in training camp with that hand injury. How are you guys trying to progress without him and how do you kind of keep him at bay because he obviously wants to be out there?) – “I think it’s like anywhere else – if someone is down, its next man up. If he’s out there, he’s out there. I think he’s a phenomenal player that has a lot of versatility. He’s very smart and instinctive. I’m excited about him and all of the other guys.”
(When it comes to rushing from different gaps, a player like LB Kyle Van Noy certainly comes to mind. Is there a stark contrast in the way you teach technique for a guy to rush off the edge compared to let’s say the A-gap, for instance? And what does Kyle’s experience playing in that role do to sort of provide an example to the rest of the room when it comes to rushing multiple gaps?) – “I think there’s a couple of things that go into it. One, schematically, depending on what the scheme calls for – if it’s a true one-on-one matchup that we’re dictating there, then that’s different too. I think Kyle has a skillset that he can win on the edge, he can win inside, and his versatility within this scheme that we play, as well as what he’s done on Sunday making big-time plays in big-time games, is something that’s going to prove to be huge for us.”
(Earlier this week, we saw that LB Andrew Van Ginkel had two tipped passes, including an interception during I believe Tuesday’s practice. How has he kind of taken on this camp and how has he improved so far?) – “I think the biggest thing ‘Gink’ has done for himself is he got a lot stronger at the point of attack. I think he would tell you that. I think he understands the scheme extremely well and he knows how to use his length and athleticism, and has found some niches in his game and some go-to stuff for him. It’s paid dividends. He’s also a very smart player that understands the scheme and I’m really excited working with him.”
Anthony Campanile – August 27, 2020
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Thursday, August 27, 2020
Linebackers Coach Anthony Campanile
(Could you please – one-by-one on the two guys, rather than lumping them together – talk about the skillsets of LB Elandon Roberts and the skillsets of LB Kamu Grugier-Hill? What do they do well?) – “I think both of those guys have added a bunch to our team. They both have great leadership qualities. Kamu is really a great athlete, a physical guy, and gives you an opportunity to do a lot of things with his physical ability. Elandon is the same thing. (He’s) a tremendous leader and (brings) great physicality in the run game. He’s a lot of fun in the meeting rooms too – both guys are. We’ve enjoyed having them here. They both bring a lot of great leadership qualities and they’ve developed as a unit by bringing all of those things into our room. I’ve enjoyed coaching them and they bring a lot to this football team.”
(I had a question also about LB Elandon Roberts. You talk about the leadership he brings – we see him communicating all of the time on the practice field. We also watch him down there and to be perfectly honest, he looks the part of a very mean dude on the field to me. That’s what I see from the press box up there. What can you say about his energy and temperament that he brings to the practice field?) – “It’s a physical game – I don’t think that will ever change – and he’s a physical player. I could see that it maybe seems like that but I’ll tell you this: as a person, he’s one of the greatest guys you could ever meet. He’s a jovial guy off the field and to be honest with you, I think that’s where he loves being is inside the white lines and making physical contact. Just in drill work and in team periods, he’s an awesome guy to be around; but has a great demeanor like you’ve already alluded to, certainly in the meeting rooms, off the field and within the lines of the football field.”
(I know the linebacker coaching situation – outside linebackers and inside – how do you guys work without LB Kyle Van Noy with this point right now?) – “I think in football, things roll on. Kyle has been doing a great job for us right now with everything that he’s doing. That’s just kind of status quo. We just keep rolling and working our tail off out in the field and continue to develop. We’re right here in the midst of camp so every day is important, every meeting is important. I think guys have done a great job. I’ve been so impressed with our players – the linebacker unit – from the standpoint of the effort they’re giving to every little thing, whether it’s a walkthrough, meetings, individual work. Every little drill that we’re doing, there’s been a laser focus. They all just kind of rally around each other and push each other to get the best out of each other every day, and have created a really good standard in that room. Every guy has held true to that, which is great.”
(I wanted to ask you about coaching the linebacker position, especially as the NFL sort of evolves to more of this nickel – how does your view of that position and what you seek for it change?) – “I just think at that position in this league, you’ve got to be able to run and hit, and you’ve really got to be a smart guy because as the game has evolved at every level, linebackers are being asked to do more things. There’s a lot more asked of linebackers in coverage than certainly there was 15-20 years ago when I was playing. It’s always evolving, but you’re always looking for that out of your players. You want guys that can run and hit and are great communicators, and obviously that takes a really good football IQ to do that at this level. I think that our room has done a great job with all of those things and we’ve got a room full of guys that can do that.”
(I’d like to ask you about LB Raekwon McMillan. Where is he in his development and what does he have to do to see significant playing time?) – “I think he’s done a great job. (He’s) a guy that you love to coach about all of the right things. (He’s a) physical guy that I think has continued to develop all through camp, like all of the other players. Really, Raekwon has consistently gotten better every day and guys are getting reps with everybody, just kind of in and out with different groupings of people. I think he’s done a great job with all of the reps he’s had in camp. He’s another guy with great leadership qualities and takes every little inch of coaching he can get. It’s all so important to him. He loves football. He’s been a joy to coach and I think he’s gotten better every day that I’ve been here. I really, really believe that.”
(My intention is not to stereotype you here but I have a feeling that Sunday dinner may be really great at your house.) – “(laughter) Forget it. It’s like they start at two o’clock and end at 10 o’clock. Forget it. Absolutely. (laughter) I’ve had a couple of those since I’ve been in Florida, which is nice. The food is really good in this area. I feel like I’m back home so it’s nice. (Head) Coach (Brian) Flores is a Brooklyn guy and (Assistant to the Head Coach) Lance Bennett is a Brooklyn guy too, so those guys know how to eat.”
(What’s on the menu?) – “We could go any which way right here right now. It’s a good thing I’m not home, because this could be like an eight hour dinner. There’s always something with red sauce on Sundays. (laughter)”
(I wanted to ask you about LB Andrew Van Ginkel. How well do you think he’s played? We saw him have two bat-downs a couple of days ago. Who else at the edge position has stood out to you so far?) – “I think everybody at that position has done a tremendous job and that’s really – first of all, it’s a credit to the guys playing the position, because I see development from last year or earlier on this summer until now in all of those players. I think that’s a really cool position to play obviously because it takes a certain skillset to do that and just like every other linebacker position, you’re asked to do some things that require some multiplicity to your game to be good at that spot. I think all of our coaches have done a great job with that in pass rush, in pass coverage and helping to develop those guys. ‘Gink’ is a guy that like you said, he just shows up every day and seems to get better and better. Vince Biegel, when he was going, he was getting better and better. Every one of those guys at that position, I feel, has developed. I’m really impressed with – being here, I’m impressed with all of our coaches here and what they’ve done in terms of developing those guys – (Outside Linebackers) Coach (Austin) Clark), Coach Boyer (Defensive Coordinator Josh Boyer), (Defensive Line) Coach (Marion) Hobby and ‘GA’ (Defensive Backs Coach Gerald Alexander) and (Coaching Assistant Charles) ‘Chuck’ Burks. I like to sit in there and watch team (drills) every day because I feel like guys are developing. It’s been a lot of fun being here. It’s a great group of guys.”
Kavon Frazier – August 26, 2020
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Wednesday, August 26, 2020
S Kavon Frazier
(Obviously you signed during a time where workouts weren’t allowed. Did you talk to General Manager Chris Grier, Head Coach Brian Flores or Defensive Backs Coach Gerald Alexander before you signed, before David Canter did a deal for you, and if so, what did they tell you?) – “No, I didn’t speak to anybody before that came. Yeah, there was a time we couldn’t do any workouts obviously. Last year I was hurt, coming off of a pec injury. It was just an unfortunate time for me, because I needed to be seen by teams in order to have them trust that I was 100 percent healthy. Even though that was Week 4 of the season last year, teams wanted to see to see how I was feeling, to see if I was 100 percent. I was just fortunate to have them actually believe that what we were saying, and believe my agent, that I was 100 percent; and ultimately believe in me, and believe in my talent and what I could do on the field.”
(I wanted to ask you because you’re pretty much a strong safety. What’s the biggest key to mastering those run fits when you have to help out in the run?) – “Yeah, run fits to me is one of my strong suits. It just kind of comes natural to me. In Dallas, I don’t want to speak too much about this – about my time in Dallas – but during my time in Dallas, I was doing the same thing. I was down in the box a lot, filling in holes, filling in gaps, so this defense is just coming natural to me.”
(You played a lot of special teams in Dallas and now you’re here to compete with work in the defensive backfield. How important is it to you to earn reps on defense, and what’s your impression so far on the defensive back room through the first couple of weeks during training camp?) – “It’s definitely important. Like I said, I really don’t want to go too much at my time in Dallas because I’m at a new chapter now and I’m just grateful to be here, but I didn’t really get the opportunity that I wanted there. So here, it’s definitely important for me to try to get on the field on defense; but with that being said, I’m willing to do whatever they want me to do. I realize I’m in my fifth year and we have a lot of other people also, so there’s a lot of competition going on. Shoot, I’m just doing whatever they want me to do. If they want me to play strictly punt and just coverage units, I’m cool with that. If they need me in on defense, I’m going to be ready for my opportunity when it comes.”
(I know you’ve been kind of active in the protest movement throughout the offseason. I just wanted to get your view on where we currently are and what you feel your role is in bringing attention to social justice?) – “Yeah, this is a tough topic for me because I had an incident when I was younger and I was racially profiled when I was 10 years old. The police thought I had a gun on me, but I was just a 10-year-old innocent kid who went to Christian school all my life, who was doing all the right things. At that moment there, I knew anybody could be targeted just by the color of their skin. That’s why I’m so active in the community. I’m so active in trying to educate other people about what’s going on, about how America really is for us. But where we are right now, I’m really lost. I’m lost for words, I’m lost for hope. I really don’t understand how after people watch what happened to George Floyd and after they watch that eight or nine minute clip, how this last incident could’ve happened. I just don’t understand how somebody could – somebody who is unarmed, family in the car, how he could be a threat. I just don’t understand. We’re lost. We’re scared. I’m scared. I drive a pretty nice car and I’m scared if I get pulled over, that could happen to me. I have two daughters at home. Obviously this happens a lot with males, but my daughters still look like me. They still have some darkness to their skin. I’m just scared. Me as a male in America right now, I’m really, really scared. I just don’t understand. I don’t know. Because that could be me with my daughter in the car and they just unload seven shots on me. I’m just lost man. I’m lost.”
(In Dallas, you guys didn’t necessarily have the freedom to kneel or protest. Have you given some thought as to what you’ll be doing here?) – “I don’t really want to speak on my time in Dallas. This is a new chapter. As far as the protest, we’re just going to take that as it comes, and just talk with the team about it. As it comes up, then we’re going to attack it. Right now, there are other problems going on in this world. Obviously the NBA has been taking knees, they’ve been wearing Black Lives Matter shirts and the same stuff is still going on. Obviously people don’t get the message. There are people out there that still don’t understand what us as black males in America really go through. We’ve been telling them this for a long time now and they just think we’re lying. They victimize us and they think that we are the problem. Just because some of us may act a certain way or came up from certain neighborhood, that we’re always – that everybody is angry or everybody is upset at the world. Really, it’s the other way around. We’re lost for hope right now. We’re scared.”
Nik Needham – August 26, 2020
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Wednesday, August 26, 2020
CB Nik Needham
(I wanted to get your thoughts on how different this year has been for the secondary than last year. It seemed last year every week there would be a new DB who was signed and they would potentially even play that Sunday. Here you have a lot more depth and competition. What’s the difference been for you?) – “The difference is just I think for me coming into my second year, just the game is kind of slowing down a little bit for me and just in training camp, we’ve had the same guys out here – all competitive, all willing to work, all trying to give it their hardest – so it’s just been a real competitive camp this year, for sure.”
(Head Coach Brian Flores talked a little bit last year about recognizing some talent in you pretty early on during camp. He mentioned some things you hard to work on to get off the practice squad. Then you get called up and have that immediate impact right away. I’m curious what are some of those things that you worked on and is there anything in particular this offseason you worked on the same way?) – “This offseason, last offseason, it’s the same things – just getting in shape. Last year I came into camp at 205 and I wasn’t able to run at my full potential and finish a whole practice through that heat. Definitely this offseason that just came up right now, I was more focused on that and didn’t want to let that happen again, so I came in and had one of my best overall body compositions; so I was a good body weight and body fat. That’s what I was focused on – just eating right and really taking it more professionally.”
(We heard a little bit about I guess the emphasis on turnovers and getting hands on the ball, and they told us a little bit about the point system. Can you kind of take us behind the scenes on the point system and how things are going in that realm for the DBs?) – “We get points for scoops – it doesn’t matter if it’s an incomplete pass or not. He wants everybody focused on getting to the ball, get to the ball, get to the ball. So any ball on the ground he wants us to scoop and interceptions – obviously that’s the biggest key to change the game – so we do like a little pushup contest and then at the end of the year, we’ve got another contest. It’s the ‘hood’ versus the ‘burbs’ – those are the names of the teams. It’s all about getting to the ball though. It’s all mainly focused on getting to the ball, stripping out the ball, trying to force as many turnovers as we can and that’ll help us win a lot of games.”
(We talked to CB Noah Igbinoghene the other day and he mentioned you by name and a couple other guys. What’s it been like working with him and just being in the same secondary with him?) – “It’s been cool. It’s crazy that he’s only 20 years old. The dude’s physically gifted, for sure – 205, runs a 4.3 – so I’m in awe of him as well. I’m like, ‘damn, that’s crazy.’ But no, he’s a great player – physical, always willing to learn and a great teammate to have, for sure.”
(Before I get to my question I want to ask what your weight is now. You said you slimmed down. What is it now?) – “193.”
(It seems that Head Coach Brian Flores is pretty good at pushing buttons. Do you remember an instance last year where he may have kind of played some games with you and helped you become a better player?) – “No, I just didn’t – I failed my first conditioning test, which was very embarrassing for me because I was one of the only ones and that was just being out of shape; so it was like a little team joke. Everybody was calling me like fat and stuff, so in my mind I was like, I can never have that again. So I was just always pushing my hardest to never be that guy again. Like I can’t be the only one like that. I was talking about how I got a gut at DB and stuff, (laughter) so we used to make little jokes like that so I was like, never again. I can’t have that happen, so I set my mind to it. Spinach. (laughter)”
(I want to ask you about CB Byron Jones but before I do that since we’re getting all these statistics, I know CB Noah Igbinoghene probably has like the most ridiculous body mass index. You mentioned BMI. What are the numbers for you?) – “I think I was 193 and 7.3 percent body fat; but like that’s what I’m saying, that was my ideal and best one I could be at because last year I was like, 205, 10 or 11 percent body fat. It’s just maintaining that and keeping that. I’ve felt it on the field as well. It’s definitely paid off.”
(The CB Byron Jones question. Obviously he’s got a lot of years of experience. What, if anything, has he said or what have you observed that’s kind of helped you?) – “Just how he approaches everything – practice, meetings – anything he does, he treats it just like the same thing and he just attacks it. He’s very focused. He’s very, very focused and he’s very intellectual; so he gives me a bunch of tips, smart tips that I can use on the field and just from his experience in being out there. He’s played like, 59 games – that’s a lot of experience out there – so anything on film he sees, he’ll give little tips on how he’d play something in the game or something of that nature. So I just use that all in my tool box.”
(Last year you started a good amount of games. What did you learn from that and did it humble you a little bit to begin this camp as a backup?) – “We’re all just working out there, but I just always came in and just worked – worked my hardest – and whatever Coach (Brian Flores) tells me to do, I’m going to do that. So I just try to do it to the best of my ability. I’m not really worried about positions or anything like that. Wherever they need me, I’m willing to go and give it my all.”
(Regarding the change in weight that you were talking about earlier, did that include a major change in diet? Is there something you gave up that you really miss?) – “Like I said last year, just not as much fast food and really locking in. I didn’t think that eating a bunch of nonsense really affected me like that, and I would watch guys like Chad Ochocinco – said he eats McDonald’s before every practice – so I’m like, ‘oh see, it doesn’t even matter;’ but to me, it definitely matters. I’ve heard there’s only a couple people like that in the NFL that can do that; so I definitely learned it didn’t work for me, so I had to figure that out the hard way.”
(Just kind of following up with what we were talking about with the point system if I ask a two-parter on that. One, what’s sort of the delineation for what you get point-wise for interception versus hand on the ball versus PBU and all that stuff?) – “Picks are the most. I think it’s five points for picks. For a scoop – if you get a scoop of a fumble – it’s like three points; and then PBUs is one point. We’re trying to get to pick, but – and also if you drop a pick, that’s missed opportunity. I think that’s minus-five as well, so we’ll holding everybody accountable. If the ball touches your hands, you need to make a play on it.”
(Okay and then I guess you said the teams – the “Hood” versus the “Burbs” – how did that come about and which team are you on?) – “That was ‘Coach G.A.’ (Gerald Alexander). He brought that here. He just had two team captains. It was Byron (Jones) and Bobby (McCain). Byron’s captain of the Burbs and then Bobby is team captain of the Hood, so Bobby had drafted me I think in like the fifth round or something (laughter) to the team. But yeah, that’s how it went down.”
(I’m curious to ask you about the competition you’ve seen – not just in the NFL in general but this year in training camp – coming out of UTEP, obviously you’re not going to find DeVante Parkers and Preston Williams down there. What have you learned from those guys but also your experience last year going up against some of the league’s best as you played so many snaps at cornerback last season?) – “I’ve definitely learned – definitely from DeVante (Parker) and Preston (Williams) that you can be draped all over them; the quarterback is still going to trust them to make a play on the ball. He’s going to throw it up there to only where they can reach it, so you’ve got to be good at playing the hands and sometimes you may not even be able to look back because you don’t know exactly where that ball is going to be placed because they have such a long reach and extension. And that’s also what I learned in the NFL. Just because you’re all over a guy doesn’t necessarily mean he’s all the way covered. They’re still NFL receivers, too, so they can make plays on the ball no matter what.”
