OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR GRANT UDINSKI
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025
(On his thoughts for tomorrow’s mock game) “Yeah, we’re going to take care of us. It’s like a
practice for us in terms of the way guys are approaching it, but it’ll be good to get the
experience for the guys, kind of going through the pre-game routine, more so than anything.
In terms of the mock game element of it, kind of the flow of it is mock game-ish, but the
turnaround is a little quick for guys, so we’re trying to simulate the timing, pace of a game
between series getting corrections. Every once in a while, a guy will be out there with a
series, we punt, and then he’s back out there again. So, you can’t simulate it perfectly, but
we try to make it as close as we can for the guys to kind of get that feeling of a game, the
timing of a game, the rhythm of the pre-game warm up, that routine. So that way, the first
time they go out there for pre-season, it’s not something completely new.”
(On if there will be periods with live tackling) “I think right now, Liam [Head Coach Liam
Coen] will probably be able to talk to you guys on some of that schedule stuff but right now,
the plan is to take the tempo just like we’ve done at practice.”
(On what he needs to see offensively from WR/DB Travis Hunter in the mock game) “Well, I
think what we want to see is just that continued improvement. I don’t think that there’s
anything specific that we would say we need to see tomorrow. We have time to continue to
work and progress. I think it’s just a continued progression of schematic understanding, the
technique, the chemistry with Trevor [QB Trevor Lawrence] and the rest of the guys that we
want to see in that mock game tomorrow.”
(On the importance of working one-on-one with Hunter) “We’re trying to maximize the use
of all the time. For sure, the one-on-one time is great because it gives you an opportunity to
see what he knows, how he sees things, how he feels about things. So, the way the
schedule has been built to get those opportunities has been phenomenal, and it’s
impressive to see him switch back and forth. That’s not easy to do, to go from hearing
defensive play calls, practicing defensive techniques and drills, taking defensive reps in
team and then turn around and be able to spit out his job and his responsibility on a long
offensive third down play call.”
(On the way WR Dyami Brown has transitioned into the offense) “I think that’s kind of what
you saw a little bit from him last year. He has that ability. I think the improvement in some of
the stuff that he’s shown in the run game, and even with the different routes that we’ve
asked him to run, will only hopefully expand his ability to create explosives. Last year,
whether it was running go balls or vertical routes or with the ball in hand on screens in
different plays, I think that’s something that’s in his wheelhouse.”
(On how he balances players getting enough touches on the offense) “That’s a great
question. I think it’s important to allow the scheme and the kind of defense and the looks
and the different concepts, get the guys the ball when it’s appropriate, where we’re not
trying to force them touches. It’s something that we’re certainly conscious of in the way we
plan a practice or a period or even a routes-on-air session, to try to get each guy an
opportunity to touch the ball, because we have those skill guys. So, it’s a good problem to
have, but it just takes a conscious effort to kind of be intentional with the way we plan a
practice or a game plan.”
(On the pressure the defense faces when lined up against Hunter and WR Brian Thomas Jr.)
“I think depending on the defense and the structure and the down and distance will
determine how much pressure it puts on them, because ultimately, they’re the ones that
have a decision to make on how they want to handle BT [WR Brian Thomas Jr.], how they
want to handle Travis and as you guys know, the more resources you allocate over there,
you’re taking away from somewhere, so you’re limited in something. So hopefully, by having
those two guys together on the same field, whether it’s the same side or opposite from
each other, we force a little bit of the issue.”
(On his evaluation of the run game) “Yeah, it certainly helps a bunch, being able to see the
guys really come off the ball and be able to strike and use their hands with that full speed
and strain and finish. I think we were able to evaluate a little bit of it with the footwork and
the communication and targeting some of that. The full pads help tremendously to really
see guys, not only what they can do, but to see how they’re processing some of the
coaching points and really the targets, aiming points, all those things that you preach in
individual drills that’s tough to sometimes show up in the less competitive, non-padded
periods.”
(On the state of the running back room) “I would say the thing that really stands out about
the guys is their effort and embrace, how much they’ve embraced the opportunity to
improve. I think all those guys kind of had different areas that they’ve wanted to improve,
individually or collectively, even as a group, and the way they’ve approached the protection
scheme, the run game, that’s a little bit different than some of the things they’ve done. They
really embraced that and kind of approached it with a growth mindset. So that’s been
awesome to see the young guys step in and kind of have that, and even the older guys kind
of fit right in with that and set the tone with that type of growth mindset to approach it
where they’re trying to buy in to the best of their ability.”
(On what he has seen from RB Ja’Quinden Jackson) “Yeah, he’s taken advantage of his
opportunities. You kind of said it right there in the question. I think all the guys have really,
especially with some of the injuries. And at back, you’re always going to get some rotation,
because a guy’s running 70 yards down the field in the heat finishing the run, so you have to
have the next guy up and ready to roll. So, it’s really been his understanding of what we’re
asking him to do and his understanding of the scheme. I’ll be excited to see when we go full
pads with live tackling when we’re against an opponent to see what shows up after contact
for him.”
(On the growth he has seen from RB Travis Etienne Jr.) “Yeah, like I said earlier, kind of his
approach to the way he studied the protection system, his approach in the pass game and
the run game, embracing some of the new concepts, or different concepts that we’re
running. Some of it might be familiar from stuff he’s done, whether it’s in college or with
previous staffs, but his growth kind of week-to-week, day-to-day. Almost with an
understanding of versus certain fronts and certain structures, where this run scheme is
trying to attack, where the landmarks are we’re trying to attack, you see that progression
day over day and that’s what’s exciting about his growth.”
(On what makes Etienne Jr. so compelling as a pass-catching back) “Well, it really comes
down to ability. He’s a guy who has some natural ability to do a lot of that stuff, whether
he’s lined up in the backfield or whether he’s lined up flexed out, in empty, in the slot, all the
way out wide. That versatility gives him a lot of options to get the ball in different situations,
get the ball in space, which is where he’s suited best.”
(On what makes or breaks a successful screen game) “There’s a lot of variables for make or
break in the screen game. I think ultimately, what we’re trying to work on is getting the guys
to have an understanding of the rules and the concept. The screen game will always be
gray, so once they have that firm understanding of the rules, what we’re trying to attack,
where we’re trying to attack, the timing with what we’re trying to attack on defense, then
they can understand the decisions within those rules. How sometimes you might have to
not necessarily break the rules, but bend them a little bit in order to have that feel for a
defender triggered this way or he fit a different way or this guy fit off the outside and the
receiver next to me took my guy, now I got to go on and get the next guy. There are little
things like that that come with the feel. First you kind of have to develop that understanding
of the rules, and then once they develop that understanding, then you can kind of practice
it, get the feel down for it. That ultimately, in my opinion, will kind of create that fruitful
screen game for all areas of the screen, whether it’s receivers, backs, tight ends.”
WIDE RECEIVER BRIAN THOMAS JR.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025
(On being named 61 on the NFL Top 100) “I would say it means a lot to me just being able to
make that my rookie year, coming in, just me wanting to come out here and show what I
can do. I would say that means a lot to me. I feel like I could have been better, so that’s
what motivates me to come out next year and do even better.”
(On having a target on his back entering year two) “I wouldn’t say it’s having a target on my
back. I would just say I’ve got to come out and prepare the right way, come out and be
ready for whatever the defense throws at us and come out and play team ball and get the
job done. That’s my biggest thing, getting the job done. Getting wins.”
(On what he’s added to his preparation going into his second season) “Really just getting
more into the playbook, knowing the ins and outs of it. Just knowing why we run certain
things with certain coverages, what are we trying to do with certain routes and stuff like
that. I would say just being in the film room, being in the playbook. That’s probably my
biggest thing I’ve added to my game.”
(On if he feels like there’s a higher ceiling for him) “Yeah, I definitely feel like I can do more. I
feel like there’s more in the tank for me, so each and every day, each and every game I’m
going to come out there and show everything that I can do, show what I can do, try to be
better than I was last year.”
(On building his relationship with QB Trevor Lawrence) “Like you said, we’re still continuing
to grow our relationship. Just coming out here each and every day continuously putting in
that work and trying to be the best that we can be, taking a step forward each and every day
to get better.”
(On the additions of WR/DB Travis Hunter and WR Dyami Brown) “It helps a lot. It helps with
just competition at practice, we all motivate each other, so it helps a lot just being able to
have them out here each and every day. For sure.”
(On how lining up against CB Tyson Campbell helps him) “It makes me a lot better. It’s best
going against best having Tyson, Jourdan [CB Jourdan Lewis], Jarrian [CB Jarrian Jones], any
one of them, Buster [CB Montaric Brown]. All of them, any one of them, I feel like we all
push each other just to come out and be better each and every day. We all compete and
get the best out of each other.”
(On competition between he and Giants WR Malik Nabers) “Yeah, when we’re around each
other, we mess with each other about it. But with us, it’s all work. All competition. We just
come out each and every day competing at the highest level. When we were together at
LSU practicing, we were competing at the highest level whether it was seeing who wins the
most one-on-ones, just little things like that. We just always find a way to compete whether
it’s me being ranked 61 and he’s 67. Just little things like that. We’re going to compete
always. That’s what we do.”
(On where WR/DB Travis Hunter has grown the most) “Where do I think he’s grown the
most? Probably learning the playbook. Being able to go out there and execute the plays and
knowing the ins and outs. Probably just being in his playbook, learning the playbook,
knowing what he has, not having to second guess himself or think twice about what he has.
So, I would say that’s probably the biggest thing.”
(On how this offense suits him) “I would say just having a lot of different routes and being
able to run different things. Being able to run the full route tree, doing little things whether
it’s playing inside, outside, and just being able to expand my route tree. Being able to
continuously expand it and run different routes. I would say that’s probably the biggest
thing for me. And having guys like Travis, Dyami, Parker [WR Parker Washington], all those
guys on the other side, it helps out a lot too.”
(On if anything changes when WR/DB Travis Hunter is with the defense) “I wouldn’t say
anything changes. It’s just next-man-up for us. Parker knows he’s got to come in when
Travis is on defense and give it his all. In our room, we want to come in with no drop-offs.
We want everybody to be able to execute the same way. That’s the biggest thing, just no
drop-offs. When Travis goes out or if I go out, somebody else has to step in and come ready
to go.”
(On younger players that have grown) “All of them, really. Whether it’s Travis or all the other
rookies. They all come out each and every day and push each other to be the best that they
can be. They all work hard in the drills. I would say all of them. All of them are coming out
here and growing and just getting better each and every day.”
