On QB Jared Goff’s injury status: “He felt better today. We’re going to see where he can go. We gave him a couple of walkthrough reps and Tim (Boyle) is still preparing, so we’ll see where we’re at.” On if he has reflected on the last game against the Chicago Bears and the offense’s lack of production in the red zone: “We did some things good the last time we played them and the turnovers killed us. And so, I think some of that is us just trying to be smart when we get down there and give ourselves a chance to possess the ball and then see if we can get it in there. But, we ran it pretty good until we got behind and then we weren’t able to run it anymore. Look, we scored with (Kalif Raymond) Lif down there, but certainly those turnovers killed us.” On how they have been addressing the tackling concerns from the last game against the Bears: “I think what we’ve really been preaching is, ‘Finish.’ The finish and population to the ball. Look, you play a couple of running backs back-to-back that are pretty good like the two we just faced and it’s easier said than done, but it’s ultimately – you would love to always believe that the first guy is going to get him down, but more importantly, ‘Wrap him up and if you can’t, at least you’re holding him long enough for your teammate to show up.’ So, I think a lot of it is just pursuit and finish is as big as anything, which we’ve been doing a good job of in practice and in the games it’s been showing up.” On the positives he has taken away from the team over the course of the season: “Defensively we’re getting turnovers, which I think is pretty big. It gives yourself a chance and to play good defense, you need to get turnovers, which we are. I think, there again, I think we’ve gotten the most amount of rookie play time than anybody in the League, or maybe the second. I don’t know what that is, but we’re getting invaluable growth and experience out of our young guys. That doesn’t – certainly, hasn’t shown up in the win column, but I do feel like these guys are growing. The more investment we’re getting now, it’ll pay off. And there again, I’m hoping it will pay off big before next season. We’re hoping this thing comes at any time. But they keep putting out the effort, they keep working. It’s a good core group. I’ll bring it up one more time, it’s hard for us to overcome one or two mistakes.” On how QB Jared Goff will test his oblique injury this week in practice: “He threw this morning. I wanted to see him throw, so he threw this morning early. He went out there and looked pretty good. We’ll do it again tomorrow and then do it again Friday, or Thursday – excuse me, Wednesday. What is today? Monday? Alright, Monday. For those three days just to see where he’s at. We’ve kind of tested it, him on the move right, left, in the pocket, throwing the deep ball, things of that nature. He looked good enough to get him some reps today, but there again, we’re prepared. Tim (Boyle) will be ready to go if needed.” On if QB Jared Goff throwing today was to test him in game-like situations: “We weren’t just playing catch like out in the backyard since it’s Thanksgiving week. We were, we tested him. It wasn’t like – we didn’t go 40 plays or 50 throws, but yet it was enough to see how it felt. Did he have some whip on the ball? What was his comfort level? It was enough to give him some reps today for sure.” On his favorite memory as a player with the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions from playing on Thanksgiving: “I don’t know if I can just name one particular game. I just know it was always special to play on it because of the fact – like, you’re growing up and you’re watching that game, nationally televised, and hell that’s – I remember you always watch the Cowboys. I grew up in Texas, everybody did, but then you watch the Lions. That’s the first team you’re watching, and so that’s how you got to see some of the greats. One of them works with us right now, (Special Assistant to President/CEO and Chairperson Chris) Spielman and those guys. So, I know growing up as a young kid, a young boy, and you see that and you dream one day of being able to play on that stage, and then to be able to do it was pretty cool, it was pretty special.” On his go-to meal on Thanksgiving: “Turkey guy, no dressing, no cranberry, particularly smoked. Mashed potatoes. Gravy. Corn off the cob, cut right off the cob. Green bean casserole and homemade rolls.” On how Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn has earned his trust in late-game situations and coaching young players: “Look, I think AG is a hell of a teacher. I think he’s a hell of a coach, hell of a teacher. I think he’s a hell of a motivator. I’ve been fortunate to be around him as a player, a teammate, but also as a coach for five years in New Orleans. And so, we’ve both learned from the same guy and just you get to know him pretty well and what he’s able to do. And when you see him develop the talent that he has where we came from, you know what he can do. I’ve got a ton of faith in him and that staff and how he leads that staff. I think it’s a good mix. I think it’s a good mesh and I think he delivers really good direction and leadership. I just think – I bring it up one more time, we are really teachers is what we are. Yeah, we’re coaches, but you’ve got to be able to teach and I think he’s one of the best. And so, that’s how he’s getting it out of them.” On what he attributes the increase in turnover production over the last few games to: “I think you’re always talking about them. You’re always preaching them. You’re always working. Like, we work turnover drills. We’ve been doing them all year, but sometimes it just takes – you’ve got to get a little momentum and all of a sudden you get one and guys start feeling it and smelling it. And next thing you know, one guy sees his teammate doing it, he starts doing it, and then the next one starts doing and it does, it becomes contagious. Unfortunately, it’s no different than offensively. If you start fumbling the ball, pretty soon that becomes contagious the wrong way. But, I just think it’s we’re kind of beginning to catch fire here. Amani (Oruwariye) came up with another interception. I keep telling him, he needs to buy me a lotto ticket or I’m going to give him money and he can pick the numbers because he’s coming up with them. I do – look, every team I’ve been on, player, coach, all of a sudden when you start getting a couple and they start smelling it, it start happening and they start feeding off of it and they really believe they can cause one and you get balls out of it. It’s kind of what’s happened here and it’s given us a chance is what it is doing.” On emphasizing the importance of playing on Thanksgiving to the players and what getting the team’s first win on Thanksgiving Day would mean: “Look, I think that even though we’re in the world of social media, I do believe – so, you’ve got access to everything right now – I do believe our guys still look at it as it’s a special thing. Everybody is watching this game and everybody’s got their families at home and they’re all circled around the TV, they just ate or they’re going eat afterwards. I think it still rings true that it is special. And yeah to your point, to be able to get a win on that day – look to get a win, period, is going to be freaking outstanding. But yes, to get it on Thanksgiving would make it that much more special.” On his self-evaluations of his play-calling over the last two games: “I think that it’s no different than anything else. You always look at yourself and figure out where you can improve. Certainly, there were a couple of calls I wish I could have back. I think that certainly finding some runs has been pretty good. I feel like just mixing it up and letting those guys go up front has been pretty good and it’s helped us. We’ve kind of found a running game here, but I think that maybe there were a couple of calls there where – it’s tough to say because you could say, ‘Well maybe we ought to pass it here.’ But also, wanting to be mindful of – the first week you’ve got a guy who you don’t feel like can push the ball down the field, you want to be smart, the conditions aren’t good and then we come back with another game where the conditions aren’t great. Boyle hasn’t – it’s his first start. You go back and forth on that. Do you try to take care of them? Do you try to get it with (D’Andre) Swift on the ground or do you put it in his hands? You play that game a little bit, but certainly there are things I wish I could have back, but I’m growing at it as well.” On how they can get the wide receivers to be more productive: “I think what’s going to help us is getting a first down. If we can get a first down to sustain a drive, then we get a couple more plays to try to put it in the hands of our receivers, whether that’s a run or a short pass. I think to be able to really helps those guys out, I think we’ve got to convert on third down. We’re way too low right now. Even if you can convert one or two more times in a game, you allow yourselves a minimum of six plays and then you don’t know where that’s going to go. I think everything starts there.” |
