Adam Gase – October 11, 2018
Download PDF version
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Head Coach Adam Gase
(When it comes to TE Mike Gesicki and his transition to NFL blocking and route running, how is it going?) – “Route running has been good. He’s made a lot of strides in the blocking. Yesterday especially it was very noticeable some of the techniques that they’ve been working on have really been improving. Just kind of seeing how much pride he’s taking and trying to do everything right, that’s all you can ask for. He’s really been working on it and he wants to be a guy that can be effective in it.”
(What’s the key to improving throughout the course of the season? That’s what your key was in 2016. What is the key to doing that?) – “Keep working on fundamentals. That’s why we spend a lot of time on individual (drills). I felt like we were longer this week. We extended the time a little bit. I know a lot of the coaches were excited about that. Probably the players not so much because they don’t stop. I mean, it’s non-stop. It’s good work for us and it translates over to games.”
(Did you have a sense in 2016 that you were about to go on a run?) – “I remember the first game I felt good about the week of practice. But you never can predict how many games you can win in a row and things like that because you’re so focused on one. And then you kind of forget that you won the week before. Everything is just so compartmentalized that you don’t worry about how many you win a row. You’re just trying to get that one week.”
(What gives you encouragement that your best football is ahead of you?) – “Because I watch these guys practice every day. I watch these guys try to get better and try to do it right. The last two days the guys have had great energy and worked hard. When we go out on Wednesdays, it’s not like it’s 65 degrees and cloud cover. You’re going to get tested just from being down here, which is great for us because it weeds people out real fast.”
(In terms of the receivers, there’s a ton of speed but not that much size right now without WR DeVante Parker. What is the best way to get them open in press coverage?) – “A lot of times those guys are doing a good job. We’ve just got to make sure that we protect or we get the ball out on time and gives those guys opportunities for run after the catch. Jakeem (Grant) has done a great job as far as being one guy that’s always creating separation at the line of scrimmage. He is a very tough guy for DBs to get their hands on. Albert (Wilson) is a little different as far as the way he runs some of his routes because he’s stronger and a little thicker to where he can power through some stuff. And then Kenny (Stills), a lot of times once he gets those first two steps and he gets clean of a DB, he’s going to win. Are there times where we need to take some better releases or do something different? Yeah. But I think for the majority of the time, we are shaking free. It’s just we’ve got to be a little bit on the same page a little more between (the) front, quarterback, receivers (and) everybody. We need to have success at the same time.”
(Is the timing of these passing plays being thrown off by press coverage?) – “No.”
(Looking at LB Raekwon McMillan throughout the season, especially earlier, it seemed like he could get to the hole but once a guy got his hands on him, that was kind of it. Is that accurate, and if so, how does a guy get better at breaking free when a guy gets his hands on you?) – “I think what he’s doing right now is the way that he wants to play where he’s striking first instead of waiting for that guy to get his hands on him. That’s what happens. The linebackers are smaller than the o-linemen, so if they get their hands on you, science just tells you you’re probably not going to be in good shape. He’s doing a better job of striking first, separating from the block and getting around the ball carrier.”
(When you strike first, how much of that is physical and how much of that is film study, knowing where the ball will be going?) – “It’s repetition really. It’s just reaction. If you understand what’s going on schematically and the way the line is blocking, whether it’s a gap scheme or you’re seeing down blocks and a guy pulling around, things like that compared to outside zone, inside zone, that’s just seeing it. You can watch it on film as much as you want, but you need to be out there and you need to do it.”
(It looked like LB Raekwon McMillan and LB Jerome Baker had their best game this past game. What did you see different from them?) – “I don’t know. I was giving them a hard time saying we’ve got to play in Ohio every week. (laughter) I thought both of them played fast and they did a good job of executing what (Defensive Coordinator) Matt (Burke) was calling. And when those two guys are doing that, that changes the whole dynamic of what we’re doing because now that ball is not getting past that second level if it does squirt through in the run game. And they were really good in pass coverage.”
(When you think of S Minkah Fitzpatrick and LB Jerome Baker, the rookie defensive guys, what would be sort of a common trait that you think those guys have?) – “Football instincts. They both just have a natural feel for the game, which is something that’s a great addition for us.”
(You and Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy have something in common. You’re both head coaches who call your own plays. I know you work 110 hours a week but there’s only a finite number of hours. The amount of time you’re planning play calls, does that take away from something else?) – “I don’t know. I don’t think so. You just figure out a way to get it done between that and all the other duties that you have. There’s ways to do it. You’ve just got to figure out your time. The hardest thing is if something creeps up you don’t expect, you have to deal with something that takes away from (that) time and now you’re in a race. You’re in a race to Sunday.”
(Does something unexpected come up every week?) – “No. Not this year. (laughter)”
(Does RB Kenyan Drake have a higher rate of runs that lose yardage than your other guys, and has that affected how you consider using him?) – “It’s probably been … every game has been different. I think there’s been some times where he’s trying to make a big play because he knows he has the ability to. He’s done it in the past to where he makes one of those decisions that’s a millisecond decision and he takes it to the house. Buffalo in 2016, last year, I don’t know how many times. When it doesn’t work, that’s when you get a negative play. Really for us, we’re always really talking to him about, stay with it, especially early, kind of get in the flow of the game before you want to react like that. It’s hard to get a guy to do that all of the time because he’s going to go off of instincts. That’s what makes him who he is is just going off of, ‘this is what it feels like,’ and he goes and does it. He did a really good job last week, I thought, as far as helping us stay on track. There were a couple of times where he tried to bounce it or do something that really wasn’t designed for the play and we got 0 yards or minus-1. But I think he did a good job of really cutting those back last week to where there was a lot of positive coming out of his touches, especially at running back.”
(Because you can’t really get behind the sticks, no?) – ‘That’s the biggest thing. Like Frank (Gore) does a really good job of we’re second-and-5, third-and-2, now we get a first down to where it’s first down, second down, first down. I think Kenyan (Drake) is coming along in that area. It’s just he does give you that element of first-and-10, 60-yard touchdown or 40-yard touchdown to where now it’s a game-changing play. That’s experience. I think the more he does it and the more he kind of understands the big picture, which I think it’s coming together for him – just watching him practice and the way he’s preparing – I think we’re just going to keep seeing a better player every week.”
(How difficult is it to get two backs to buy in? Okay, we’re better off when you share or when you play these roles?) – “This year, both of those guys respect each other. I love the fact that Frank (Gore) came in here and once he kind of started practicing and those guys were working in meetings and stuff, he said it really early, ‘Man, I respect this guy. This guy is legit. I really like working with this guy. When he practices and he’s rolling, it’s fun to watch.’ For him to say that (about Drake), that’s a big compliment to me. I think Kenyan (Drake) has been one of those guys that he’s coming from a place where there was always somebody else. It’s not new to him. Like, if you ask him, he’s going to tell you the same thing. He’s going to say, ‘I just want to win.’ That’s what he’s going to tell you all the time and he’s going to do anything he can to just be on the field, whether it’s running back or we flex him out. He tries to get on special teams. Like he’s at all the special teams walk-throughs, meetings and all those types of things. He’s always trying to sneak in and do that stuff. We don’t want him to do that right now. That’s not in his job description, no matter how much he wants to do it.”
(What did you think of the block that RB Kenyan Drake laid before he caught that screen pass in the fourth quarter?) – “It’s probably one of the best plays I’ve ever seen. He chipped a guy and then he’s the check-down, gets his head around and then he did a great job of getting north, accelerating through, made three guys miss, gets the first down. It was a great play at a big moment of the game.”
(What is your vision for how to use RB Kalen Ballage?) – “We’re taking it one week at a time. He’s doing a good job. Whatever he’s asked to do, he does it full speed. That’s a big man running. I’ve enjoyed seeing him develop on special teams as well. He’s taken a lot of pride in it. Because of the way that room is designed, where all those guys has done special teams or plays special teams right now except for Frank (Gore), you better bring it in that area because all those guys are watching. He’s done a good job of impressing both (Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Darren) Rizzi and ‘Mouf’ (Assistant Special Teams Coach Marwan Maalouf) as far as what he can bring to special teams. If we have to play him, he knows what to do and he plays fast.”
(What do you say to the defense who may have felt like their performance was wasted last week?) – “I don’t have to say anything to them. They know they did a good job of what we ask them to do with who was healthy. I thought the defensive staff put together a really good plan. We’re just going to keep building off of that and hopefully keep getting healthy. We just need to do a better job on offense and not turn the ball over.”
(What’s the thought process to put DE Charles Harris at defensive tackle when he goes inside? Is it just to use his speed?) – “His speed causes problems. Guards and centers, they like the slower-moving guys. When you start putting some speed guys out there and they start doing all their games and stuff like that, it’s just hard to track guys and pass things off. We see it every week to where the defensive line coach likes to test to see how well you’re working on things in practice.”
(Do you know some things about Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio that can help you out Sunday?) – “It doesn’t matter what I know because Vic is going to have a good plan. He’s tough. He’s very tough to go against. He’s extremely smart and he’s seen a lot of football. Our guys need to worry about executing what we’re doing and we can’t worry about what they’re doing.”
(How much does your old knowledge or Offensive Coordinator Dowell Loggains’ old knowledge of the Bears help you at all?) – “They’ll use it against us more than anything. Vic (Fangio) knows what he’s doing, I’ll just say that.”
DeVante Parker – October 11, 2018
Download PDF version
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Wide Receiver DeVante Parker
(How has your week of practice gone?) – “It’s going pretty well. I’m just happy to be back out there moving around again.”
(What happened with the quad in practice?) – “I just ran a route and it just hurt.”
(You had high hopes obviously for this season. Do you still feel like your goals can be met?) – “I’m just taking it one day at a time, just working my way back into it.”
(Do you ever feel snake bitten or wonder ‘why me?’ sometimes?) – “No, not really.”
(What do you feel like you can add to this offense?) – “I feel like I can add just high-pointing the ball and doing whatever the coaches want me to do.”
(What have you seen from the way the receivers have been used this season? To me, from afar, it seems like it’s a little bit more creative as far as the end-arounds and things like that. What have you seen?) – “I’ve seen (Head) Coach (Adam Gase) putting receivers in the backfield, getting them out there and just getting them moving around.”
(How does that help the offense? In what ways does that play to the receivers’ strengths?) – “They’re real elusive in the open field, so it helps out the offense a lot.”
(What’s been the hardest part of this season for you?) – “Not being active, obviously.”
(When things aren’t going right and you’re frustrated or mad at the world, who are some people or a person in particular that has kind of helped you?) – “Some of my family. They’re always texting me to check up on me and see how I’m feeling.”
(What do they say?) – “A lot of things.”
(More good than bad, I’m sure?) – “Yes.”
(How hopeful are you about this week and Sunday?) – “I’m not really sure. I’m just going in there a day at a time and just working my way back in.”
(Before you came back from the finger injury, you said an extra week gave you some time. Do you think an extra week would give you some time if you came back next week instead of on Sunday?) – “I’m just (taking it) one day at a time.”
Kenny Stills – October 11, 2018
Download PDF version
Thursday, October 11, 2018
WR Kenny Stills
(The Bears are presently one of the best defenses in the NFL. How much of a challenge do you guys see this as?) – “It’s a challenge every week for us to go out there and not turn the ball over, not commit penalties and put points on the board. We know that we can’t hurt ourselves and that’s our main focus right now.”
(So it’s not really the opponent, it’s you guys who you feel are hurting and holding yourself back?) – “Yes. I think if you look across the league, a lot of the times it’s self-inflicted – injuries – or turnovers and penalties. We’ve got to do that first and then kind of worry about everything else after that.”
(Success on third downs has been an issue pretty much all three season under Head Coach Adam Gase. How does it get fixed?) – “The first half of last week’s game, we did a great job on third down or getting first down, second down, first down, first down, second down, first down. We had success and we were ahead in the game. That’s really the recipe for us is trying to eliminate the penalties and then stay out of the third-and-long situations. It’s hard to convert in the NFL in third-and-long situations.”
(Scoring points in the first quarter seems like it’s been an issue. What do you feel like you can do better there?) – “Just execute. We’ve got to do what our assignment is, whatever coach is asking us to do. Like I said, for us, I think most of the time it’s we start a drive with a penalty and it’s hard to recover from that. Not shooting ourselves in the foot is our main focus and our main goal this week.”
(Have you seen defenses cover you guys differently the last couple of weeks than they did over the first three weeks?) – “No. We were just talking about that. I think the defenses are playing their style of ball and trying to get to the quarterback and put pressure on Ryan (Tannehill) and trying to get the ball out of his hands quick. Teams aren’t doing anything different than what we’re seeing on film.”
(How is it affected you and you wanting to go downfield with some of the passes with the shifts at o-line and injuries there?) – “I think it’s more about guys learning to play together. There’s five guys up there and it’s a team game. They’re trying to figure out how to mesh and how to work together. I think it’s more about that than anything.”
(There’s a lot of talk with Bears LB Khalil Mack with the offensive line and tight ends but how does a guy, with what he does, how does that affect the receiving corps and what you guys do?) – “Yes, he’s a great player. He gets to the quarterback quick and creates turnovers and forces the ball to get out of the quarterback’s hands. We know we have to get open and make plays when we get the opportunity.”
Frank Gore – October 11, 2018
Download PDF version
Thursday, October 11, 2018
RB Frank Gore
(On the Bears defense.) – “They’re a good defense. They play hard. They’re a good team. Our goal is to go out there and try to get a win. We’re also a good team. We just have to clean up our mistakes from last week and play all four quarters and go from there.”
(How about the challenge of trying to protect QB Ryan Tannehill from Bears LB Khalil Mack and how he’s played?) – “He’s a hell of a player. He plays hard every play. That’s why they traded for him. He makes that defense go. They’ve got a bunch of great defensive players. I know the defensive coordinator (Vic Fangio). He’s a great coach. I know he’s going to get those boys ready to play. But we also have great coaches too. It should be a good game. As long as we go out there and just believe in us and play hard and play together and try to get a win, we should be fine.”
(Was practice different this week after the loss to Cincinnati? Because you guys were up, was there a sense of frustration and anger?) – “I didn’t see that. I just thought we all … Coach Gase told us what it was and what it is. We all got over it and we came out the first day on Wednesday and busted our behinds. We had a good day today and we’ll finish up tomorrow, come in Saturday and be ready for Sunday.”
(You got a decent amount of carries on first down last Sunday. How much does that help in terms of you getting into a rhythm?) – “I was excited being out there with my teammates and being able to touch the ball, but you never know how a game plan is going to be this week. I’ll just be ready for my number to get called no matter what. They called my number and I was ready for it.”
(How do you look at you and RB Kenyan Drake? There’s some feeling that you’re kind of the chains mover and he may be the home run hitter. How do you see how you guys are used?) – “We both work good off each other. We’re both different (and have) a different running style. He can do everything in the passing game. I can also do things in the passing game; but I think it’s a good mix. As long as we’re in and the game is going right, I think Coach Gase will get us opportunities.”
(Do you like the dynamic when both of you guys are on the field? It seems pretty unique.) – “I like being on the field no matter what. But yes, it’s good. It’s a good change of pace. It helps each other.”
(What’s the key to third-down success for this team?) – “I just think we have to … As long as we do good on first and second (down), if it’s third down, we should be good. I think we did a lot better last week. I just think as long as we keep doing good on first and second down and getting us in good situations on third down, it’ll help Coach Gase make great calls and we’ll be fine.”
(As a fellow running back, what did you think of RB Kenyan Drake’s block on that pass?) – “He’s tough. He plays the game hard. He plays hard and I like it.”
Adam Gase – October 10, 2018 (Conference Call)
Download PDF version
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Head Coach Adam Gase Conference Call with Chicago Media
(When you first got to Miami and started to work with QB Ryan Tannehill, what was important for you to familiarize yourself with about him and how did that process go?) – “I think the first thing for me was I wanted to learn what had happened in the past and where he had success (and) where maybe there wasn’t as much success, to where I either stayed away from (it) or tried to help him improve it. Really, just getting to know him, getting to know how he thought (and) getting to know how he reacted when situations happened in a game. That’s why the beginning of that season, I was a little bit off on how I was doing some stuff and changed some things around. He took to it and was able to have a really – the back two-thirds of the season – have a good part of that season.”
(You’ve had a lot of different circumstances both good and difficult go on through your time in Miami. What have you learned about yourself as a coach and how you adjust throughout your time there so far?) – “I think it helps when you have the ops staff, equipment guys (and) support staff that we have. (They’re) outstanding. They do a great job because it’s been a lot of interesting situations. Then I think the coaching staff, being able to really handle everything in stride. The less things that are coming at you that you don’t have to directly deal with and guys can handle on their own, that’s a very helpful thing to have. Our guys have done that.”
(What about Offensive Coordinator Dowell Loggains attracted you to him to be your offensive coordinator this year?) – “When I got to Chicago … We had always talked about maybe working together one day if the opportunity ever came up. When I got to Chicago, I wanted to make sure that it was somebody that I trusted a lot and that I knew, that could do a good job to try to help Jay (Cutler), and I thought he did a great job. The way that we went about it, it worked out well. We had chances to win some games that we came up short. Then it was good that he was able to be the coordinator. When he came free, it was a no-brainer for me. It was just something that I felt extremely comfortable doing. I knew exactly how he would kind of fit in with what I wanted to do here this season. I really think he’s an unbelievable quarterbacks coach. For me, he’s great for me on game day and game-planning and things like that. He has a way to kind of get me to calm down a little bit when I get a little too juiced up on game day, to where he can get my mind right and get me settled back down.”
(How much, or not, does the experience of having first-hand knowledge of some of these players from your tenure here help you prepare for this game?) – “Well, I don’t know if it’s as many as … When I was there, there’s not as many guys there (now). Probably (Offensive Coordinator) Dowell (Loggains) and (Offensive Line Coach) Jeremiah (Washburn) know these guys better than I do. It’s hard because you never want to give your players too much information because then they start thinking about the wrong stuff. A lot of this is obvious for anybody. You know what you’re dealing with with the front defensively. The secondary, those guys have been playing well and the inside linebackers, both of those guys are really good players. As far as their offense goes, Dowell coached the quarterback (Mitch Trubisky) but Year 1 to Year 2 is a huge jump. It’s just such a difference for a quarterback because every day is not new (anymore). What we know about him from last year, I think it’s close to irrelevant for our guys.”
(As you emerged from your first year in Miami in 2016, having done the head coach responsibilities and the play-calling at the same time, what did you take away from that experience having to manage all of that for the first time?) – “I think it was more just preparing for the game. Probably dealing with a lot of the duties that you have to do during the week and how your time gets pushed around and back. There can be days where it’s hard to get into a flow of watching tape. It kind of gets choppy for you sometimes. I think that was probably the hardest thing to get used to. Game day, to me, wasn’t anything that was challenging to me. I have a lot of really good coaches on our staff to where the situational stuff was getting brought up really early. Having (Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator) Darren Rizzi on this staff and (Senior Director of Football and Player Development) Joe Vitt and (Director of Football Research and Strategy) Matt Sheldon, all of those things really help me out.”
(What have you come to appreciate about Bears Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio from your time here and how does that factor in preparing, knowing that you’re going against a defense called by him?) – “The thing that … I think in the amount of conversations we had in the year that I was there, it helped me grow a lot as to how I looked at things from an offensive perspective. I really appreciated the amount of time that he would spend if I asked him a question about what he thought. He’s tough to go against. I’ve only gone against him one other time but they were pretty banged up and a lot of their really talented players weren’t playing. You can see … If you give him a good group of players, he’s going to make them that much better because he’s a good on-the-field coach and then he calls the game really well. He makes it very difficult to prepare for. You just know he has a good arsenal and he knows what he’s going to do to take things away. We have to be great in-game adjusting.”
(Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy is at the same point in his first year as an NFL head coach as you were – as you kind of referred to – when things really started to kick into gear around Week 5 or Week 6. I know you’ve mentioned it before but is there anything in particular that really helped get things going or made the difference around this time of year that really got you on that good run?) – “It’s hard to say. I think guys … We started off 1-4 and really we had a really rough game against Cincinnati and then Tennessee. Then we went to play Pittsburgh and it just felt like guys understood more of what we were looking for, whether it be practice, meetings, how we prepare. We kind of, as a coaching staff, had a way better feel of what our guys were good at and what we needed to stay away from. It’s just one of those things where things clicked at the right moment for us. If it probably would have been too much longer, we probably wouldn’t have had a solid year; but it came together at the right time for us. Sometimes it just takes a minute to get that cohesiveness between the coaches and the players.”
(You guys held Bears LB Khalil Mack to not having a sack last year when Oakland came to you guys. What can you take away from that game and how you schemed against him to keep him from getting to the quarterback?) – “I don’t know how much. He looks really good right now, I know that. I know last year we played them a little later in the season. I think he was pretty banged up. He had some really, really good pass rushes that we just happened to barely get the ball off. You try to do everything you can to just get it to where he can’t destroy the game. It’s always hard to stop him from affecting it in some capacity. This is probably the best I’ve ever seen him and I thought in those early years – the first couple of years in Oakland – it was impressive to watch him play. But right now, I think he’s just playing at a different level than anybody that I’ve seen.”
(What have you seen in S Minkah Fitzpatrick’s skillset that really stands out to you?) – “I mean the variety of things he can do. It’s really impressive to see how much he can retain information-wise and then go out and execute it on the field. I think he just has a knack for being around the ball. He’s a good tackler. The guy just has incredible instincts. He’s just a football player. You can tell the amount of work he puts in and what he can translate, it’s impressive to see a rookie be able to do some of the things he does.”
(With that variety, what has been the challenge for you finding how to use S Minkah Fitzpatrick or what’s the best way to use him?) – “It’s been a challenge. It’s kind of been … He’s had to do some things out of necessity. We’ve had some injuries and we’ve had to move some pieces around. He’s jumped into wherever he needs to, whether it’s a safety that goes down and he has to go back there. We moved Bobby (McCain) outside and he had to go play the nickel. The good thing is he does such a good job of preparing that no matter what happens, he doesn’t blink. He just keeps on doing what he does.”
(What have been your impressions of OL Kyle Long on film? Maybe compared to the guy that you got to know pretty well in your time here.) – “Kyle is one of those guys that he’s such a freak athletically. He’s as tough as they come. I don’t know if there’s been many players that I’ve been around that were as tough as him. I always loved being around him. I loved his energy. I loved how much he enjoyed just doing everything that came along with football. It’s strange to see … What year is this for him? It’s amazing that’s where it’s at now. He’s one of those guys (that) can neutralize interior guys really quick.”
(It sounds like OL Kyle Long looks all the way back? He’s been through a lot in the last couple of years but he looks like the old Kyle to you?) – “Yes, I mean I didn’t really watch … After I left I kind of had my own thing I was worrying about but it’s hard for me to tell a difference between when I was around him and what I see now.”
(In your estimation, what are the important elements of the partnership between a coach and a quarterback?) – “I think when you’re the play-caller, I think it’s really important – those two guys being on the same page. You spend a lot of time with each other and you go over a lot of things and you talk a lot of situational stuff. You talk about play calls. The more in-sync you are, the more you’re thinking alike, the better. That’s probably the biggest challenge when you first start with a guy because you’re trying to get used to how he thinks, how you think and however you do it, just get on the same page.”
(What are your impressions of Bears QB Mitch Trubisky then, in what you’ve seen with him?) – “It seems like things are going well, especially that last game. It’s always good to get a quarterback to have a game like that to where the confidence just shoots through the roof. Sometimes playing this position, that’s what it is. It’s feeling confident with what you’re being told going into the game and then going and executing it. When you have success, that just helps you as a quarterback. You just keep building on the things that you’ve been working on. I feel like his skillset of being a threat in the running game and being a threat as a scrambler, being able to throw the ball as well as he does and get that receiving crew and all of those guys contributing, that’s a good sign for him.”
(What have you come to like about the two backs you have with RB Frank Gore and RB Kenyan Drake and the way you can use those guys and the different things they do?) – “I think we’re finding a better rhythm. I think when you have two guys that you like having in the game, it’s hard to just have one in there. You find ways to get both of them in there going. You try to give both those guys as many plays as you can and as many touches, because they both affect the game in a different way. Obviously Drake does a lot for us whether it’s in the backfield, outside, in the slot. He can do so much stuff. Frank, he’s still Frank. He can find a way to grind out some yards and then all of a sudden he pops one 15-20 yards. It’s been fun to be back around Frank and just see and watch him work every day and watch him have an effect on our locker room. That’s one of those things that I’m glad that he’s here.”
(What has WR Albert Wilson brought to your offense in his first year?) – “Well I think his skillset is probably something I’ve never really been around before to where he can do so much. Anywhere from being in the backfield, being outside, being in the slot. He does a lot for us on special teams. He’s just like one of those guys that whatever you ask him to do, he’s going to do it to the best of his abilities. Getting him in the open space is always fun to watch. I feel like a couple of times he’s gotten the ball and it hasn’t looked real good and I’m sitting there going, ‘Wow, this is a really bad play call.’ Then he makes it right. He seems to do that quite a bit.”
(What do you think is between you guys and having success on third down? What are some of the difficulties then?) – “Most of it has come because our second down – our first and second down stuff – had not been good. Last week we finally stayed ahead of the sticks. We were more second-and-5 and less. Now all of a sudden we’re getting third-and-3, third-and-1, third-and-5. It gives us a better opportunity to convert. Once we start getting into that third-and-7 range and teams get exotic, they start pressuring and showing pressure and dropping out. It just puts a lot on the quarterback’s plate and it gives (the defense) more variety. It makes it really hard and that’s why you see the conversion percentages on third-and-7-plus aren’t really the best around the league.”
(Is former Bears Head Coach John Fox enjoying retirement?) – “I don’t know. I haven’t … I get a text every once in awhile from him but in season, it’s hard to really pick up the phone and have long conversations with anybody. He checks in and makes sure that I’m still breathing and getting after it.”
Ryan Tannehill – October 10, 2018
Download PDF version
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
QB Ryan Tannehill
(You’ve seen your fill of LB Khalil Mack. What makes this guy so elite?) – “He’s just a good player all the way around. He’s a good football player. He’s strong. He plays to the whistle. He’s physical. He’s good with his hands. If you draw up a defensive end, he’s pretty much the epitome of what you want to have. (I have) a ton of respect for him and his game. We’re going to have to do a good job of having a plan to help our guys out with him.”
(Is that a guy that you have to be aware of where he is at all times as a quarterback?) – “No question. You face players like this a few times a year. There are a few elite pass rushers in this league and he’s one of them, so you have to be aware of where he is. If you don’t control him and don’t do a good job of having a plan of attack, then he can wreck a game. Definitely a guy we want to have in mind of where he’s at at all times.”
(What do you see as the overall challenge for you guys this week against this team? They’re number one against the run and also top 10 against the pass. How does it all seem to you?) – “They are a good defense all the way around. They’re playing good football. I think it all starts with their front. They’re doing a really good job up front of getting after the quarterback in the pass game and playing around the line of scrimmage in the run game. I think it all starts there and then I think their secondary does a good job of playing off of that, being aggressive and making plays on the football. All the way around, it’s a good football team – a good front, a good defense – and we’re going to have to do a good job of executing. That’s what it comes down to is executing. Every man is going to have to win their one-on-ones and execute. If we do that, then we’ll be in good shape.”
(How much better do you feel like you have to play than you did the last couple weeks?) – “I have to play better. I have to take care of the football. That’s what it comes down to is really just eliminating the turnovers. Those turnovers we had at the end of the game – that I had at the end of the game – last week, really hurt us. If you eliminate those, we’ll be in good shape.”
(Were you chalking it up to bad decisions you would like to have back?) – “At the end of the day, it’s a decision. Everything you do is a decision. The first one, obviously, (was a) bad decision. The second one I was probably a bit too aggressive moving up in the pocket like that. Third-and-20, I probably should’ve just ran it and moved on and punted and moved on to the next play.”
(In your mind, easily correctable?) – “Yeah, no question. No question. It’s something we talk through and continue to work in practice of putting ourselves in those situations and having the right reaction when you get in those situations again.”
(Is that anti-intuitive to give up this play, there’s a next play, and to not try to be too aggressive?) – “I think at certain times it’s hard, obviously. You want to stay on the attack. You want to be the aggressor in the situation, especially at the end of the game like we had there, kind of a 3-minute drive-type situation where you want to stay on the attack and go win the thing. So, it is kind of anti-intuitive to be able to come off the gas and have a bigger picture mentality. That’s something, obviously, I have to work on and get better at as we move forward.”
(How do you deal with a game like that, the Cincinnati game? Coming off of that, I’m sure you were very upset with how things ended for you individually. What is it about you that you’re able to move forward quickly?) – “Football is a one week at a time thing. Whether it’s a good game or a bad game, you can’t hang on to what happened last week. Every week it resets. You have to learn from what you did right, what you did wrong and move on and improve. Nothing really changes as far as that goes. Just put it behind you. Obviously, it hurts, but put it behind you and get ready for the next one.”
(How much do you and Head Coach Adam Gase talk about being aggressive versus being conservative with how you play?) – “It’s a constant dial. What the situation is, how the game is going – there are a lot of different things that factor into that. It’s not one answer that is going to be right for all situations throughout a game. You just have to be smart and know where you’re at within the game and find the right time to be aggressive, take a shot. And if it’s not the right time, then move on and move on to the next down.”
(Where would you like to lean? Would it be in the middle or closer to one way or the other?) – “I think I like to lean aggressively and that’s probably what got me in some trouble last week, obviously. I just need to take it back a step, take a deep breath and have a bigger picture mentality in that situation.”
(The offense the last two weeks have scored one touchdown in each game. What has to change to raise that number per game?) – “Just execution. That’s what it comes down to – execution. I think we have to eliminate penalties and take care of the football. Those two things will put us in the right situation. I think early on last week for two and a half, three quarters, we did a good job of executing the run game, being third-and-manageable, converting on third downs and we had some opportunities on third downs that we didn’t convert and we should have. It just comes down to execution. If we stay ahead of the chains and we don’t put ourselves in second-and-20 and third-and-17s, then we’re going to be in good shape. Like I said, take care of the football, eliminate the dumb penalties and we’ll be in good shape.”
(Does it boggle your mind? Because I looked at that game and for three quarters, you guys looked like you were playing well, but there was still only one touchdown. It looked good, but it didn’t produce good. Do you ever think about that?) – “We just have to finish drives. That’s what it comes down to. I felt like at certain points, whether it was a third down we should’ve converted or we were moving the ball well and then had a penalty, we just have to be able to sustain those drives and get the ball in the end zone.”
(When you’re facing a player like Bears LB Khalil Mack, where’s the line between being aware of him, but not letting him get in your head too much and change what you guys want to do?) – “I think it all goes into the plan as far as how we build this game plan, how we go into the game of plan of attack. Once you’re in the game, you just have to go play. It’s a matter of preparing, being aware. Then once you’re playing, you just have to go play.”
(Is it also for you to adjust your line, because there are different pieces now. Guys are getting hurt, there are different guys are in there. Is that for you to adjust also?) – “Yeah, no question. Obviously, whenever guys go down, we have to adjust a few things. I think everybody – not just me, but I think the entire offense, especially Coach Gase – have to adjust the way we do things. It’s a battle, but it’s part of playing the game. We’re going to have guys go down, whether it’s receiver our o-lineman. Adjustments are always a part of that. We have to respond better than anybody and adjust better than anybody, so that’s what we’re going to do.”
(You had some success last week with dump downs to RB Kenyan Drake in the passing game. How do you see that element of the offense evolving?) – “Drake is a weapon for us out of the backfield, whether it’s splitting out on the outside or having him release from the backfield. He’s explosive. He has good hands. He has a good feel for things. He’s definitely going to be someone who we want to get the ball to in those types of situations. If we can’t get the ball downfield – if number one is not there down the field – then we feel good about getting the ball in his hands and letting him create. I think it was a third-and-19 that he ended up getting a first down on (last week). Unbelievable. He had a huge chip block and then I don’t know how many guys he made miss on his way to the first down. That’s just a small example of what he can do in the pass game. I think the more touches he gets in those type of situations, the better we’re going to be.”
(I saw that you and your wife announced you had your daughter Stella. How has that experience been?) – “It’s been great. It’s been great. She’s home now. All (are) doing well. (We’re) settling in nicely to a family of four.”
(Allow you to sleep a little bit?) – “Yeah, no question. (laughter) Thankfully my wife is taking care of that.”
(I see a smile on your face. Parents always say this: no matter how rough the day is going at work, when you go home and you see their smiles, it changes everything, doesn’t it?) – “It does. It’s nice. Obviously, I put a lot of time and effort and energy into what I do here in this building; but whether it’s good or bad, I go home and my little guy runs up to me, ‘Daddy! Daddy!’ It definitely warms your heart and puts a smile on your face and puts things into perspective.”
(How does your son Steel feel about the new baby?) – “He’s doing good. He’s handling it better than I thought he would. I thought he would be a little more jealous and maybe a little mean to her, but he’s doing great. (laughter) He’s been really sweet to her and helping us out. It’s been a good adjustment so far.”
(Head Coach Adma Gase said to us a couple days ago he and the staff are working 110 hours a week. Do these guys work too many hours?) – “You’d have to ask him if it’s too many. I know they work crazy hours. I’m constantly trying to get him to go home and sleep some. He’s always going to do what he feels like the job requires. If he can work a little hard and put in a little more, then he’s going to do it. It’s something I respect about him that he’s going to constantly drive to find ways to get better, push himself, push this offense and push this team. You have to respect that about him and I think we’re better for it.”
Xavien Howard – October 10, 2018
Download PDF version
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
CB Xavien Howard
(On the defense leading the NFL in interceptions right now.) – “On the back end, we’re sticking together. We’re trying to make plays. We’re hungry out there. We want to put the ball back in the offense’s hands.”
(Is there something that goes into that? Is that film study? I know there is a want to, to want to do it. But is there film study or something that you see every week that lets you know that maybe you guys can get a pick every game?) – “It’s just something we’ve seen that we lacked last year. Coming into it, flying to the ball and making plays on the ball, that was our big thing for us in this offseason.”
(How have you guys gone about practice this week and washing away last week’s loss?) – “We’re on to the Chicago Bears. It’s a new week. We’re not worried about last week. We’re just focused on this and trying to get the game plan down and just do our job.”
(How big was it to get S Reshad Jones back last week?) – “It was great. Reshad is a great player back there. He helps out a lot, so having him, a leader like he is, helps out a lot.”
(What challenges do you see in the Bears offense?) – “I’m just getting into watching the film, so I’ve got to see today. So far, I saw the game when they played (against) Tampa. They had a lot of passes and stuff like that. I know they can sling the ball. The quarterback can run and make plays.”
(What did you notice from QB Mitch Trubisky? I know he had six touchdowns in that game.) – “Yeah, that was crazy. Going into that I think he had like two. There were a lot of passes going on and running with ‘29’ (Tarik Cohen) – he’s a fast guy – and Allen Robinson. They’ve got Taylor Gabriel. They’ve got some good weapons over there. We have to be on our Ps and Qs.”
(What does it mean to be at home this week?) – “There is nothing like a home game. We’ve been on the road two weeks straight. So getting back at home, just getting back in the environment and things like that, we’re ready for that.”
(With the way some of your young guys are playing – LB Raekwon McMillan and LB Jerome Baker – how do you see the direction of this defense?) – “Everybody is trying to improve each week, week in and week out. We’ve got to keep that going and stick to what we are doing.”
Jerome Baker – October 10, 2018
Download PDF version
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Linebacker Jerome Baker
(Do you expect a tight game?) – “Yes. It’s definitely going to be a defensive battle. I’m excited for that. I’m happy to play against (Bears QB) Mitch (Trubisky). He’s from northeast Ohio, so I’m going to be excited to play against him. Honestly, we just have to go out there and execute and get the win.”
(How comfortable are you right now? It seems like you’re playing really fast at this moment.) – “I’m constantly learning and constantly getting better. It’s working out in my favor. I really just have to stay the course, lean on my older guys when I have to and just do my job. All of the sacks and tackles, all of that stuff is going to come to me.”
(I know you’re going to be on the bench when he’s out there, but do you guys tlook athink of Bears LB Khalil Mack when he’s out there on defense?) – “Yes. I’m a fan of guys that play the game well and play the game the right way. If I get a chance, I’m definitely going to see it. I hope he doesn’t have too much success against us, if any. It’s definitely going to be exciting.”
(After five regular season games in your career, do you find yourself reacting more than thinking?) – “It’s a little bit of both. There’s a lot of football I haven’t seen yet, so I have to go out there and just react to it or just follow my rules to it. For the most part, I try to prepare myself before the game so I actually see it, so when I go out there it’s not as new to me.”
(LB Raekwon McMillan had a very solid game on Sunday, too. With you young guys playing well, what are your thoughts about the direction of this defense?) – “We’re definitely going in the right direction. We have a lot to improve on; but overall, we’re definitely moving in the right direction. It’s exciting to see all of us making plays and playing well as a defense. You just have to constantly improve and the rest will handle itself.”
(And the Ohio State influence not to be overlooked?) – “It’s definitely not to be overlooked. You know what they say there. We developed there, so it’s all good.”
(A lot of people think that this might be Head Coach Urban Meyer’s last season at Ohio State. Your thoughts on that?) – “I would be surprised. Coach Meyer is one of those coaches that there’s not many like him, if any. I don’t see that, but if it is, it is what it is, really. Coach Urban, he’s one of the best ever.”
