Tuesday, November 26, 2019
(On what they expect when they play against Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston) “What I try to do early in the week, and I’ve done this for a while, is I try to show the team, ‘Hey, this is the best of what they have.’ So, you kind of say, ‘Hey, the players that they have, this is the best they’ve played,’ and show them clips. So, you try to get that image in there potentially of, ‘Holy cow, these guys are really good. These guys can do all this stuff, we have to get our focus on it.” So, that’s kind of how I present it early in the week to the team.”
(On if Defensive Coordinator Todd Wash evaluates Winston’s tendencies with the defense) “We do that as we work along in practice and later in the week. We want to make sure that we’re working on the mindset of the players that way.”
(On what they can do to change their performance in the third quarter of games) “Yeah. We go in there [the locker room] and we make the adjustments right away. So, basically how it’s always been is, you get in there, and the players go and they get a drink, or go to the bathroom, and we [the coaches] kind of go in and offensively, defensively, special teams, I kind of pop around. We’ve already pretty much talked about a lot of the stuff prior to going in at the end of the second quarter, that’s how that process works for us. And then we get together really quick as coaches [and] make sure we’re set on the adjustments that we’re going to make, and then we go in and present them to the players. And then you try to get the players ready to come out, right off the bat, and last week, unfortunately… I kind of go through it with the team, kind of these woes that are happening, obviously, because it’s frustrating. So, I kind of go through with the team and say, ‘OK, hey, here’s where we started.’ First of all, we make a decision to kick into where the ball’s carrying more, there wasn’t really a lot of wind. And it’s a short hang time, and all of a sudden now it’s out at the 37-yard line. And then here’s how it goes, and these things have for us not being able to do what we should do, coaches, and players and everyone. It spiraled to a point where in this game, once you feel that momentum shifting, what you’re always looking for is something to happen. And it has to be within the scope of what you’re doing. And you’re looking for someone to make a play and stop the momentum and try to get it back on your side. And I think there’s a lot of things that I’ve talked about with the team that happen before that, where, ‘Hey, you’re assuming you have three points and you get knocked back, you get a sack, and you go – you’re assuming you have a long run into that red zone, you have points, then you’re knocked back. You’re talking about taking the lead, gaining the lead, we’re not even talking about the ability to probably, or maybe, score a touchdown.’ And these are the things that are going on, that create these swings that we can’t keep on our side.”
(On the importance of playing well at home and gaining the home field advantage) “I’ve always said that, Gene. I always say that you have to earn the respect or – I feel that you have to earn that as a team. I think that, because like I said before, and you guys know my story, I’m a fan, myself, of a team [the Yankees]. I get pissed, I get disappointed, I get mad. I scream at the TV. Obviously, I don’t get a chance to go to many games, so it’s understandable. And I understand why our fans are upset, and that’s why when you get up here and you talk, I’m upset, too, and I’m pissed. I don’t want the fans, and the sponsors and everyone around to be [saying], ’What the hell is going on with this guy? Why is he so positive?’ No. It is what it is. We’ve got to fight our way through this. We’re pissed. It’s disappointing. I know for me, and again, I’m speaking from my position and how I truly feel, I’ve always felt when you become the head coach, that it’s so much more than just leading the team. There’s so much more of a responsibility that, at least, I put on myself. I look at it as you’re representing the community, the sponsors, the fanbase. When we lose a football game, I never go back to feeling sorry for myself. The thing that comes to my mind first is the fans, the sponsors, the players, the coaches and the organization. And that’s kind of how I look at it. So, is it something that we knowingly go ahead and address to the players? I do at times, I don’t know if I do it enough, but I think it’s something that I’m sure that we’re all aware of.”
(On what QB Nick Foles means when he talks about building the culture of the team) “You really have to ask him. There’s a lot of buzzwords, and everyone has different definitions of it. I always look at it in this profession [as] winning. If you’re winning, you have a pretty good culture. If you’re losing, then either you don’t have a good culture or you’re not good enough [at] putting the players in the best position or you don’t have talent. I mean, really, that’s kind of how I look at it.”
(On if he regrets his ‘safe’ approach to the preseason) “I’ve been criticized, even within the organization, of how the team was, and how I trained the team. But I go back to [how] I make decisions based on things that have happened. So last year with the injuries and everything that we had, I went out and I researched a bunch of other teams and what they do. So, I made a conscious decision that if I went about it the same way – and I’ve talked about this before — then we’re going to get … and we get all these injuries – I think you always have to find ways to get better. You’re going to look at what other people do. You’re going to look at all this other stuff that people that have success, and whether it’s soft tissue [injuries], training, all that stuff. So, I went out, and I worked my butt off to do that. So, I don’t think that I regret that part of what I did. Now, am I going to have regrets, or do I have regrets? I think when I have a moment, because right now my [mentality] is not to look back and say, ‘I should have done this, or should have done that.” Right now, I look at it as, ‘Hey, what’s the best job I can do now?’ But make no mistake about it, when you don’t win football games, there will be a lot of things that I look back on and say, ‘Gosh, if I would have done this, or would have done that.’ And I think if you don’t do that, I think that’s poor character when you can’t admit to those things. So, I don’t think I’m telling anyone here, you guys know me well. So, I think that you understand how my feelings are.’
(On if he would like to see TE Nick O’Leary get more involved in the offense) “You come off the street – and I use that term because that’s a term we as coaches use quite a bit – you’re on the street, you’re on that street for a reason. You get off the street. We’ve done that so many times now, where we brought people in off of the street and put them in there to play. And I have to say that they didn’t hurt us, and they did a nice job. And I think that’s a credit to those players. Obviously, when you’re on the street, there’s a desire, a high desire, but you still need skill. But I think it’s a credit to him, it’s a credit to how Ben Koyack came back, there’s a couple guys that have come off [the street] and that have played. That’s very difficult to do, it’s something you don’t want to do, obviously, but I’m happy that we were able to bring Nick [In]. And he brings other things to the table, too. Now you get a chance to know him a little bit more. The toughness about him, there’s a work ethic about him which I appreciate.”
(On if he was criticized on his preseason approach by the players or someone in the front office) “I’m not going to stand up here and lie, but I’m also not going to make this thing a huge story… so, if you guys want to print it and go, I’m just telling you the truth. That’s just how it is. And you know what, though, just to add to that, that’s not the first time that’s ever happened to me, and I’m sure it’s not the first time it’s ever happened to anyone in my position. So, it’s not abnormal. What’s probably not normal is me saying ‘Yes,’ that I have been [criticized]. But like I said before, I don’t have a lot of secrets and I’m really boring, so I don’t have a lot of shit to hide.”
(On the stress playing Tampa Bay WR Chris Godwin and WR Mike Evans puts on the defense) “They may be two different types [of receivers], but not two different types of production. You’re looking at guys that within 12 games, both have over 1,00 yards. They’re one of the top teams in explosive pass plays, so it’s going to be a great challenge. It’s like having two number one [receivers] that you’re going against, so it’s going to be a challenge for us defensively.”
(On if he is concerned about some of the players not practicing today) “Yes. The answer to that is yes. And again, it’s a challenge and I will probably be able to give you a much clearer answer Friday, because we’ll have a lot of guys out and see if we can get these guys back. I think some guys we feel better about than others, but I don’t want to rule anyone out or play any type of games.”
