On the urgency of naming a quarterback and whether other offensive positions need similar attention
QI think you got a little bit more time with those, a little more grace. They've been doing a good job of fighting all those battles, and we're rotating a lot of guys in through on that offensive line unit. So, I'm okay with the gel taking a little while up front.
On the benefits of position flexibility on the offensive line
Yeah, the flex position, I think, especially an experienced guy like Geno (VanDeMark), is extremely important. You know, if you can play multiple spots, especially if you're a guy that can either snap a football or push yourself out to tackle, life's going to be really, really good for you up front because you got guys that can do both.
On the snap plan for quarterbacks
Right now we're keeping status quo. All guys have been getting ones, twos, and threes with the exception of Ty. He's the only guy that's not taking any three reps. So, really it's been status quo, but today everybody got a couple reps with the ones, and Ty took a couple with the twos. So, we're still moving them around, and the guys know that there's a pretty clean picture moving forward throughout the week.
On how his time is divided on the practice field with another coach helping quarterbacks
Yeah. I'm always going to probably hunker pretty close to the quarterback, just because of that relationship that I have to have for game day. Uh, but it does, you know, at times, especially if there's something specific in a game plan or drill work that I think has to be addressed to see if we can fix some problems, I'm certainly going to be over for those drills on any of the position groups. So, the flexibility is huge, and just having guys that you can trust in the quarterback room like Nick (Sheridan) is ultra important.
On the growth of the quarterbacks since spring
They've grown a ton from spring to now. Even first practice to now has been outstanding. I thought a couple of the young guys hit a couple bumps early on, and I really thought they played through it really quickly. Sometimes you'll hit that and they'll stay down. They get on the canvas and they can't get back up. But I thought both the guys did a great job, Keelon and Austin, of playing through that.
We've had a lot less up and down with the whole room. I think that we've done a good job taking care of the football. Again, today there were no picks, and I really didn't feel like the ball was in jeopardy today. And I think that's one of the biggest things -- just improved decision-making in the room.
On Jam Miller's performance
Uh, Jam Miller. He's the man. Love that guy. So, Jam's been doing everything. I think the thing about a guy like Jam -- you love older guys that don't feel like their skill-set is complete. And what I mean by that is, I think Jam really wholeheartedly takes on like there's things that I can get better at, and he works at them extremely hard. He's very diligent about his process, and so he's a good leader in the room.
I think Daniel (Hill) has showed the physicality we thought, with exceptional hands. I think Dre (Washington) is getting better at pass protection, as is Rich (Young). And so those four guys have really shown a lot of growth. And then even AK Dear is a guy that was really swimming this spring and has showed some promise here lately. You know, normally I don't talk about those younger guys too much, but just been proud about his progress. Last couple days have been really good.
On how many running backs could be utilized in the fall
I mean, whatever we need for the gameplan. Sometimes there's some specialty stuff that you need a little bit more of one type of back, and I think that we're lucky that we have a lot of different types of backs. So, I think that you normally are going into almost any game thinking there's at least three guys that are going to get considerable reps.
On Jam's areas of improvement
I don't know. He was pretty solid right away. I mean, I would say physicality, but he's always been super physical. I think his eyes have improved, you know, just as far as where his first indicators are at and just following his rules. So, I think he was pretty dialed (in) honestly even before the spring, but I certainly think he continues to improve on that.
On WR Isaiah Horton's performance in fall camp
Hungry. Just, I mean, he's a guy like today -- he had a touchdown in the red zone. Ran a really physical route in the middle third of the end zone that he had to win on tight coverage and bodied a guy up and made a really, really strong catch. And I think he's a guy that is very critical of himself and aware of the things that he needs to get better at. And I think that's all you can ask out of players, and he's certainly doing a good job of that.
On wide receiver blocking techniques
Number one, blocking circuit is for everybody. So, for us, we do work extensively. That part of our game, from a circuit or a drill work standpoint, that's something I know as a staff that we work every week, every day.
The receivers are guys that -- it's really, you know, I guess the point I made the other day in the unit meeting was I said when I was here in the spring and we're going through practice, I felt like we had to find a guy to pick and point out like that's what it should look like, and that was the guy that was standing out. Now, if there's a guy not doing it right and tight hands and good base and things like that, now he's the guy that's standing out. So, the room is completely flipped. I think it's a belief system in the room, and they've certainly captured that.
On how fundamentals factor into fall camp
It's got to stay in there all year. I truly believe that -- that's a little bit of coach talk and saying the right thing on the mic, but I do think that guys can improve throughout the season. And you don't know -- it might be the third-string left guard that you got to count on by the end of the year. So, you got to continually develop young players, and that's a critical part of what we do. And so it has to be the same, in my opinion, all the way through the year. And you got to be able to show them clips of what it used to look like, what it looks like now, and what you want the finished product to look like. And we certainly do that every day right now.
On the performance of the offensive line
Really good. Really good. I think the interior position, as mentioned before, there's a lot of flexibility and guys that can play multiple spots -- not just Geno. Parker (Brailsford) obviously solidifies the inside at the center spot, but Geno is a really capable center as well and can play both guard spots.
At the tackle spot, we're lucky. We got a couple young tackles that are starting to progress -- Jackson (Lloyd) and Michael Carroll. And then, you know, with Olaus (Alinen), you got three young guys that are backing up your two starters as it is right now. And I think that we feel really confident in the depth that we have right now.
On how wide receivers like Jaylen Mbawkwe transition into blocking
Yeah, it's a good question. I think it's a lot if the culture in the room's wrong. If the culture in the room isn't that, "Hey, we catch touchdowns, but the expectation is that we're going to block," then when that culture is right, it happens really quick because they're more than capable typically. The athleticism, the strength -- all that stuff's normally there. It's more of a demeanor or a mindset. So, when the room is right, I think it happens really quick.
On Jaylen Mbakwe's development
You know, I think Jaylen is one of the guys we haven't talked about a bunch, but I think he's really settling into his role as a receiver. He's improving on route running. I think his hands are getting better -- securing the football. I think he's doing a really nice job. He's shown up quite a bit already.
On the mindset and expectations for receiver blocking
It's a combination. That's a good question. I think certainly Shep and myself have that type of demeanor as far as the expectations in the room. It's great when you got teach clips from guys like Rome Odunze that are blocking and Jalen McMillan that are more than willing to be blockers. And then you show them NFL clips, and those guys are all expected to insert on Hammer Nail -- and you got Puka Nacua and guys like that that aren't scared to put their nose in there -- and the DK Metcalfs of the world.
So, I think when you're able to show them that and say, "Hey, this is what it's supposed to look like," and then your guys start doing it, you can start showing it on film and just positively reinforce what it's supposed to look like. So, I do -- I think it's a combination of both. That was a long answer for that. I apologize. Holy smokes.
On what excites the coach about the team so far
Man, I'm honestly really excited about the way the O-line's playing, the physicality that they've been showing, and the leadership that Parker's been able to have. And then KP (Kadyn Proctor) -- I think it's been so fun to coach him. He's a hungry guy. QHe obviously is a super talented player with god-given ability, but he works really hard and is very diligent about his process. So, seeing that and then just already the improvement in the quarterback room fires me up.
On the benefits of a large offensive line
Yeah, it sure does. I've been on the other end of that, and it's not as fun. So yeah, anytime you get a bunch of guys that can move them from A to B, life's pretty good.
