JAGUARS HEAD COACH DOUG MARRONE
October 7, 2020
(On what’s great about blocking for RB James Robinson) “I think it’s’ not about whether it’s our line or anyone’s line. I think everyone would appreciate it. I think anyone that can gain positive yardage, that really understands the scheme, that works the way that he works, the way that he credits the guys that are around him, not just the offensive line, but the tight ends and receivers and fullback and everyone around him, I think you have a great appreciation for that. Styles, they all depend. There’s still different styles that can be productive. He’s got a couple of them, there’s a couple of things. I don’t know if I would ever pigeon-hole him into one, but I think the one thing that I would describe him, for myself watching him, is a very disciplined type runner that’s always looking to get the positive yardage. I think that was a big thing that I saw during training camp. I think that’s what you’re seeing on the field. He has the ability to make people miss, which is obviously a key thing for that position, but his understanding of the scheme and his protection and just really all the aspects of what you need someone to do: protection, catching the football, carrying out fakes, understanding the scheme, being productive. I think really he’s someone that checks all the boxes.”
(On if RB James Robinson will stand out more in situations where the offense needs to run down the clock) “Yeah, I would say that [in regards to] the last part [of the question], he has stood out. I think you look already if some of the runs that were negated for penalties, not just the other one last week, the 50-yard run, but there’s been another run, maybe two or three, that have been negated. If you look at that and you put that in there, it’s quite impressive for what he’s done. I don’t look at it that way. I think he’s someone that can affect the game at any point. It might not be the yardage you see in the run game, even though our yards per carry is very good right now, but you can see him. He can also affect it in the passing game because he does have the ability to make people miss, he is difficult to tackle. So, I don’t know if it’s one or the other. I think he can be effective in either way a game goes and affect the game.”
(On his reaction to former Texans GM and Head Coach Bill O’Brien getting fired) “I think most everyone knows that Bill [O’Brien] and I obviously have a friendship that probably leans towards more of a brother type relationship, so, for me, speaking to him is not an unusual thing. We speak quite a bit. I know this, definitely in this league, I would say that I probably know him better than anyone and I know that he’s an outstanding football coach, he’s proven that. I know that he’s very loyal to his coaches and players and organizations. I think that he’s a guy that has won four out of five titles in the AFC South and I think he’s someone that’s an outstanding family man, he cares. I mean there’s just so many great qualities. I can’t believe I have to say this publicly now because normally I’d bust his chops. But he’s a great friend and it’s always sad when you see things like this and I’m sure that he’ll have opportunities down the road because of all the things that he’s done. It’s just the way [it is]. I think we all understand this is the way the league is.”
(On an injury update) “We’ll have some guys practicing today for different reasons, but the only one I don’t feel good about is D.J. Hayden. Everyone else has a chance. So, I don’t want to say I feel great, but everyone else has a chance to play on Sunday, so I’m excited about that.”
(On if he’s ever been fired from a coaching position) “No. I remember George DeLeone, who was my offensive line coach at Syracuse and [has] been around a period of time, he told me one thing. He said, ‘If you haven’t been fired then you haven’t been coaching long enough.’ I thought, ‘Well, maybe I’ve been lucky I haven’t coached that long.’”
(On how he reacts to positive COVID-19 tests across the league) “I think with the way we tried to address the situation right from the beginning is that we hit on the protocols. I would say probably we may not go more than a day or two without talking about COVID and the protocols and things of that nature. So, to answer your question, I think if you haven’t said a lot about it and you just had the protocols in place, then I think you can create a lot of anxiety or issues or problems, but I think when you’re talking about it, pretty much on a daily basis, that you’re able to always keep reminding the players and keep them going. So, when things change and knowing that every time we have talked about the protocols, I’ve always talked to the players about it’s a season of change. These things can change as they go and they’re coming from people that are experts, like I said before whether it’s the league or the PA or both of them working together and scientists. It can come from states and government. It can come from a lot of things. So, I think they way we approached it from the beginning has helped us to be able to talk to players, like really yesterday and today we spoke about it quite a bit of what we have to do and how we have to stay on top of it, along with the staff. For us, we look at it as ‘Let’s talk about it. Let’s make sure we’re in compliance. Let’s make sure we’re doing everything the right way. Let’s make sure we’re sharing the information that we’re getting from the league and the PA’ and that’s how you always start. Then, all of a sudden, it’s like, ‘Now, we understand all this stuff. This is why we have to do it. Now, let’s get our focus back to football.’ So, I don’t see the anxiety or the issues that maybe some people may think are [happening]. We understand it and we accept it, and we move on. I don’t think it’s something that we’re trying to fight or we disagree with or maybe we don’t understand. I’m never going to say that we may like a lot of this stuff because some of it is straining from a standpoint of not being done before, but we accept it. So, I think that’s where we are as a football team and as an organization and I can’t say enough about the people around that we’re all doing a good job and we’re all policing ourselves.”
(On facing a team that just fired their head coach) “A lot of times, that team will go out there and [still play hard]. The Texans, watching them on film, have played extremely hard and I think that they’ve played some, at least two, elite teams in our conference in Baltimore and Kansas City. I think everyone knew when the schedule came out, I think there were reports on how brutal the beginning of that schedule was. I think it’s even tougher when you don’t have an offseason. I mean I know everyone else didn’t have an offseason either, but to give yourself the time and preparation, it’s tough. I don’t know. I can’t look back and say it, but normally what happens is human nature takes its course as they wound up either firing the head coach or benching the quarterback. I think then all of a sudden people start looking and saying, ‘Hey, we have to step up our game’, so usually you get the best effort from a team.”
(On the return of DT Carl Davis Jr. and the status of RB Devine Ozigbo) “I think with Carl [Davis Jr.], that’s always a possibility of something happening there and creating a roster spot for him. I think with Devine [Ozigbo], he had a good offseason. We’re just making sure he’s ready to go from a soft-tissue thing. We don’t want to bring him back and all of sudden get and injury because we we’re really excited about him. He was having a really good camp. Two years ago, he had a great preseason and camp when he was with New Orleans before we had gotten him. So, we’re just making sure he’s fine and doing our due diligence there.”
(On the status of RB Ryquell Armstead on the COVID-19 list) “I don’t see that…you know what? I’m really not sure. I’d have to go back and look into that to being to give you an answer. I’ve been focused on so much of what’s going on here that I don’t know, so I apologize for that. But, if you need it, just tell Tad [Dickman] and we’ll get you something on that.”
(On QB Gardner Minshew II’s pocket presence and trying to simulate pressure in practice) “I think it’s always difficult. It’s less challenging to simulate maybe the coverage aspect of things when in practice, but it’s little bit more challengeing to simulate that rush. Those are things, not just for us, but I think everyone goes through that. That’s happened everywhere that I’ve been. When you get off the footwork and you’re moving around, you can simulate scrambles and work on scramble drills. Everyone around the league does that. So, it’s tough. If you look at it, I think the things that we wanted him [QB Gardner Minshew II] to work on, he’s worked on. I think people have to remember last year was the first year really playing. This year is his first year as a full-time starter, so I see someone who’s going to be getting better and better each week. I think that the amount of experience that you get on game day, I always wonder what you can compare that to [in terms of] practice reps or scrimmage reps or things of that nature, so everything he’s getting. In talking to him the other day, there’s some things that he’s done really well and there’s some opportunities out there where he knows that he can do it and he wants to do a better job of so he can take advantage of it offensively. So, he’s in a good place because he’s probably one of the most competitive people that I’ve ever been around. Obviously, he’s smart and obviously he continues to work to be the best he can for our football team.”
(On an update on S Jarrod Wilson) “I think there’s a good possibility that he might be able to come up this week.”
(On reflecting on this year from the last time they went to Houston last year to now) “Gosh, that’s a question I really don’t put a lot of thought into. I apologize for that. I think I’ve always been one to say that when I have time, which I don’t have, then I’ll look back on some of things. Right now, you’re in a mode of always trying to get better, trying to improve, always trying to handle coaches and the players. So, it’s very difficult for me to look back, so I apologize for that. I can’t. I’m a deep thought guy. It would take me [awhile]. I’d need a couple days off probably.”
(On the challenges facing the Texans and QB Deshaun Watson) “I think it’s like everything that you see. You’re talking about a guy that’s one of the top quarterbacks in the league [Deshaun Watson]. He can beat you in so many different ways. They put a lot of pressure. They have the read-option game. He can drop back. He can scramble. He can boot, he can naked. He can extend plays. Again, you see a lot of quarterbacks in this league and then when you see the ones who have the ability to run and throw the ball deep like he can and keep his eyes down the field, it creates a lot of challenges. So, he’s an outstanding football player, that’s obvious by what he’s done. At times, it’s been tough [for us] to get him down. For a quarterback you’d think once you wrap him up, he’s going to go down, [but] he can escape tackles. I think he makes everyone around him better, he really does. So, I think all those things that come into play create a great challenge and we’ve done a good job at times against them and fell short [at times]. We know that it’s going to be a great challenge and we have to do some better things.”
(On seeing a coach get released this early in the season) “I can’t speak for all the coaches. I learned a long time ago, when I was a player and then actually making a decision to get into coaching, the evolution of when I first started and started out in Division III and kind of worked my way up, [I] started to see the changes. I recognized the business part about football because when you’re in high school, that relationship you have [with your coaches is different]. Like my high school coaches and I and my teammates are still really close. All of us that have played team games or team sports, men or women, understand that bond that’s out there and it’s a special bond. Now, my high school coaches were also teachers in the school and you build this great relationship and in your mind, as a young man, you think about that relationship and you expect it to be that way at every level. Then, when I went off to college, after my second year, my offensive line coach was released and that’s kind of the first thing that kind of shocked me a little bit of someone that was naive to the business part of it. In the ensuing three years, I had three different line coaches, so I started to realize that. Then when I went in the NFL and I played and I bounced around, I started to realize the relationship between coaches and players and the financial aspect of things. Now all of sudden you’re listening to contracts or incentives or whatever it may be from the players side, which that’s the side I was on. Then, when I first started coaching in Division III, a lot of those coaches were tenured, they were professors, taught something at the school and had their Master’s. There’s always pressure to win just because you’re competitive, but as you start moving up, obviously what’s changed is that if you don’t perform, you don’t win, someone has to go. So, I think as I progressed in this profession, I’ve realized that nothing probably would ever shock me [in terms of ] what goes on in the NFL when things happen and I think we all look around and we all know that. It’s kind of like when you get the questions of your job security. Every day you’re working to keep your job. The perception on the outside may be different for some people, but a lot of people approach it that way. I can’t speak for any one specific coach, but that’s what we’re all striving to do.”
JAGUARS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR JAY GRUDEN
(On how effective RB James Robinson will be in a situation where they have to run down the clock) “That’s the goal. We have to get in that position. We have to put ourselves in that position. That means we have to start faster, finish some drives, and keep the game in reach where we can use him [RB James Robinson] for 60 minutes, not just 25 or 30, so we’re excited to see that. He’s done nothing but impress us in every way, shape, or form, so I’d love to get him some more touches and those will come in the third and fourth quarter, like you said.”
(On how RB James Robinson has progressed) “I think what you can’t see in preseason and in practices is contact balance and runs after contact, and his ability to have vision and break tackles in the hole, which he’s done effectively so far. He had a couple really strong runs last week where we didn’t get to everybody, but he made two people miss in the hole and had some positive runs down the field and in the holes for three, four-yard gains, like I said, I think between the tackles, outside the tackles. I think we can be more creative with him, get him some more balls out in space. So we’re just looking forward to keep working with him and the more we give him, the more he seems to perform. He seems to exceed our expectations, so it’s our job to make sure we continue to utilize him and go from there.”
(On if coaches being fired early in the season is jarring or just what happens in the league) “Both. You have to accept it; you have no choice. That’s the way it is. That’s what you signed up for. You know that it’s a production-based business and if you don’t produce, odds are you’re probably going to get let go. Unfortunately for [former Texans GM and Head Coach] Coach O’Brien, that happened to him. It happened to me last year, obviously. You put a lot of work, blood, sweat, and tears into your profession. You work extremely hard and when it gets taken away, you don’t feel really good about it, but you understand that that’s a result of performances that aren’t good enough. They’ve had a very tough schedule. They played Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, and Kansas City and they’re a good football team. He’s done a great job at that team and that organization. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out, but I do empathize with him, that’s for sure. Sympathize, empathize, whatever you want to say.”
(On the growth of WR Laviska Shenault Jr.) “[He’s grown] a lot and I think we’ll see a lot more. I think Laviska is a guy we’re just going to continue to work with and he’s going to get better and better the more he does and the more he sees. He’s coming off that double core surgery that he had in college. I can’t wait to see him at full strength. I think he’s at full strength, but I think he can get stronger and better and even more productive in the passing game and obviously the running game. We’ve taken a little bit off his plate in that regard because James [Robinson] has preformed so well. I think we can utilize him a little bit more. I think the more healthy he gets, the more confidence he has in the system, where to line up, how to play, he’s going to be a factor for this football team for many years to come. We’re just scratching the surface with him, but we love the way he works in practice and his production on game day has been excellent so far. It’s our job to get him more touches.”
(On recovering after penalties that wipe out productive plays) “That was tough. We went into halftime 13-10 and Cincinnati took the opening drive, took the lead [to] make it 17-13. We get the ball, we bust out a 50-yard run to have it called back and then we did not overcome that penalty, which cost us big time. Next time we got the ball, we’re down 24-13. It’s just something we haven’t done a good job of is overcoming negative plays, a sack or maybe a penalty. First-and-long, second-and-long, we’ve not done a good job this year of overcoming those things. It’s something we have to focus on, get a better get-back-on-track package. I tried to run a quick game and get half of it back and we had to throw it away and we had another dropback and had to throw it away unfortunately, then had to punt. It’s just something we have to do a better job of as coaches making sure we get the right play in there. We don’t have to get it all back out in one play, we have to understand that mentality. We still have two or three downs to get it. We just have to make sure we do a better job of getting that negative taste out of our mouth and continue to move the chains.”
(On how to help the offense on third downs as the play caller) “We just have to give them good options, good solid options. Whether it’s a good solid running play or maybe it’s a drop back pass. Like I mentioned before, we have to have a man answer, have to have some zone answers, we have to win on the outside, we have to have a good pocket, and we have to deliver the ball accurately and on time. Unfortunately, the last two weeks it hasn’t been that case, so it’s been something different that rears its ugly head. So we just have to continue to work them and make sure we get concepts that are good that can convert obviously the down and distance. We also have to make sure we produce and get to our right spots, win against man-to-man, step up, maybe move on to your second or third progression, whatever it might be. That requires good protection, so it all works hand in hand. Offense has to be pretty much perfect: the offensive line, the routes, the quarterback, the backs in protection running routes. Unfortunately, it’s been somebody different or something different every time. We just have to make sure we take that part of the game very seriously because third downs, in my opinion, and turnovers are the most important parts of the game.”
(On the two-point conversion attempt) “Gardner [Minshew II] thought he [James Robinson] outflanked him and tried to kick it to James so he could get to the front pylon and score, but [in] the design we had four other options of [how] we’re going to get to the end zone. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out. Gardner saw something and decided to dump it to James, who was basically trying to clear out, but it’s a learning experience. Unfortunately, James makes so many good plays, sometimes when you feel like he’s outflanking a guy, he’ll run a guy over and score, [but] it didn’t happen on that play. We did have other options.”
(On the challenges from the Texans defense) “Well, they still have a pretty good, solid defense. I think [CB Bradley] Roby’s playing excellent at corner and I think they have some good football players. The linebacker core’s very solid. They can run. They can hit. Obviously, [Whitney] Mercilus is an excellent pass rusher, so they have some weapons on defense that can make it difficult for you. They can rush four, they can rush five. They a have unique blitz package as well on third down. They can play man, they can play zone and that’s something we just have to be aware of. We have to make sure we protect the quarterback, number one, and then obviously try to stay out of those third down-and-longs because they can make it miserable for you. They can run three defensive linemen or two defensive linemen. They have the odd packages, they have the double A’s, they have a lot of different things they can do to you trying to confuse a young quarterback. So we have to do a great job of being on top of our protections and obviously the most important thing is staying out of third down-and-9 and 10.”
(On the run game against the Bengals and why the Texans have struggled against the run) “Number one, I think we stayed with it pretty good. We tried to go out in the third quarter with the running game. We have the 50-yard run called back [and then] we’re stuck in a long yardage situation, so we had to throw it. Next time, we still tried to run the ball, but obviously the scoreboard was something we had to kind of press the issue a little bit, try to get some plays down the field to try to get back in the football game. But I think we stuck with it pretty good. Obviously we’d like to have James [Robinson] getting the 20-25 carry range. That’s the ultimate goal, get Chris Thompson some more touches and go from there, but it doesn’t always work out that way with the score and conditions and what have you. The Texans, I think they’ve given up a 100-yard rusher in three games and I think Baltimore had a couple hundred yards rushing against them. They played good teams. Pittsburgh can really run the ball effectively. Obviously Minnesota’s always going to run the ball. They have [Vikings RB] Dalvin Cook, he’s an excellent runner. Baltimore has three guys that can run the ball, including the quarterback, that are very, very good. So it’s going to be important for us to try to get some runs in there and crack some and play physical with them and keep our quarterback clean, utilize the play action and go from there. That’s when we’re at our best anyway.”
(On QB Gardner Minshew II not playing like himself in certain drives last weekend) “I think there’s a stretch in there where he probably would like to have some plays back because we all would. When you lose a game, you might point to a few plays, especially if you’re the quarterback. There’s some plays or key plays in the game where it maybe might have kept the drive alive, I think he could hit nine times out of ten, [but] it just didn’t work out. A lot of times, they have some long defensive players. [Bengals DE] Carlos Dunlap gets in throwing lanes a lot and it might alter his vision down the field on a few occasions. I think that’s what happened a couple times. They weren’t really rushing the passer. We had excellent protection a couple times, but I think he had trouble seeing to his second or third progression, which made him run a couple times or get out of the pocket. But that’s something he’ll continue to work and continue to get better at. He’s been very effective getting out of the pocket and making plays happen with his legs, just not last week. So, ideally, we’d like him to stay in there and get to his second and third progression, but as a quarterback, what you feel and how you react is something you really can’t coach. That’s something that he’s going to have to go through and each individual play we’re going to ask him to scramble for first downs, but sometimes we hope that he stays in there and gets to his second and third progression. Overall, for the first four games, I think Gardner’s continued to progress and [is] doing some really good things, but obviously there’s some things we need to correct, and we will correct them. That’s going to be the case for every quarterback in the National Football League.”
(On if he expects a jump in play in the middle of the season for QB Gardner Minshew II) “We hope so. We hope that everybody makes a jump. We’re going to have to make a jump. We’re 1-3 right now, so offensively we have to play better. Offensive line, running backs, receivers, tight ends, coaches, we all have to do better. 1-3’s obviously not good enough and if you’re talking strictly on the quarterback, at 1-3, usually the record is indicative of the quarterback play a lot of times from an outsider, so he has to get better and we expect him to get better. He’s a young player, has great energy, great passion for the game. He has the tools to become better and better each week, but we also have to play better around him and not put him in third-and-long situations and try not to get down two touchdowns in the fourth quarter where we’re [in] the two-minute drill all the time. So it’s our job offensively to make sure we finish drives, keep the game close, and that will make our quarterback play a lot better.”
JAGUARS QB GARDNER MINSHEW II
(On how his level of play can jump from year one to year two) “I’m just working with our guys each week just trying to get better and better, [get] on the same page, continue to try to build that chemistry with our guys, continuing to trust our offensive line and just build this thing together. I think we have a lot of room to grow as a unit, as a team, and that’s what we’re going to work to do.”
(On what he’s learned since coming into the NFL) “I’ve learned so much and I think that’s a credit to a lot of the great coaches and teammates I’ve had around me between last year and this year. They’ve done a great job of giving me information. I’m doing my best to try to learn it, take each week and just kind of keep building week by week and, as you said, continue to progress.”
(On the passes he threw away early in the third quarter against the Bengals) “I have to do a better job of just working through progressions right there. One, [I] just didn’t get backside on progressions, the front side was covered so [I] just have to get back. Second time, [I] picked the wrong side to work. [I] just have to do a better job seeing the defense pre-snap. So, we can’t afford to make those mistakes. I can’t afford to make those mistakes and put our team in jeopardy.”
(On his ability to bounce back after a rough drive) “It’s one of those things, we get frustrated, but I think more than anything we’re frustrated because we know what we can be and we know what we should be doing. We’ve seen glimpses of it this year, we move the ball fairly consistently. It’s just being even more consistent and not having those drive-killing plays, staying out of our own way so we can really reach our full potential.”
(On his thought process on a play where he scrambled unsuccessfully) “In those third-and-short situations, your antennas go up or kind of [see] those possibilities. I knew they were in a five-man rush with nobody behind, but more than anything, I just have to be more patient. I had great protection. [I need to] let everything develop, play it out, and then at that point just decide when to scramble and that’s just a work in progress. It’s something I have to get better at and we’re working on it week by week.”
(On if he sees himself as a franchise quarterback) “I don’t know, that’s not anything I can decide for myself. It’s something that I just try to be the best I can be for our guys each day out there in practice. I try to be the best guy each time we step out there on Sundays. I know I’m going to give my all and compete for them and they’re going to do the same for me and I think as long as we do that, we’re going to get this thing going [in] the right direction.”
(On if RB James Robinson has the ability to take games over in the second half) “We have so much belief in James [Robinson]. He’s really proved that he can really do it all for us. He’s one of those guys [that] we want to get the ball to him more. We just have to be in situations where we can do that and I think he can be a really, really good running back in this league.”
(On if RB James Robinson is the best combination of moves and power) “I think [those two things] and vision. I think that’s one of the best things that he does is he’ll find something out of nothing and every cut he makes he’s moving forward. He’s pressing, getting yardage and he ends every run physically. He’s lowering his shoulder. He’s hitting safeties, linebackers, whatever and I think anytime you have a guy like that that you see he’s giving his all for us, it makes everybody else want to step up and help him out.”
(On the growth of WR Laviska Shenault Jr.) “Laviska’s done a great job. He’s a guy that we obviously know what he can do with the ball in his hands and he’s working every day to be a better, more complete receiver and I think he’s doing a great job with that, creating separation, catching the ball. His hands are great and we’re going to look to continue to build on his role and get him the ball as much as possible.”
(On WR Laviska Shenault Jr. being able to do it all while being a legitimate receiver) “I think it’s huge. I think it’s another thing that the defense has to prepare for each week. You never know really how we’re going to use him. He’s a guy, for me, I know give him the ball in his hands and I don’t think I’ve seen him yet not make at least one guy miss. He’s really, really good like that and it’s huge to have when you can throw a 5-yard pass and it turns into 20.”
(On what he expects from the Houston Texans and DE J.J. Watt) “Houston’s very good. I think one of the things you see watching tape is they’re a smart team. They’re disciplined, well coached. They’re going to be in the right positions. You don’t see them getting beat from lack of discipline or anything like that. J.J. [Watt], he’s definitely a guy you need to know where he’s at. You have to have somebody on him, a lot of time you want to have two guys on him. The biggest thing with him is he just won’t stop. He’s going to keep going. The second effort sacks, those clean-up sacks, he gets all of those. He’s always working, and I think it’s awesome to see one of the guys that’s been so good in this league for so long and it’s because of his work ethic and how hard he plays.”
(On if playing a team going through turmoil can make them play well) “No doubt. We have enough turmoil going on on our own over here. We have to figure our shit out first, so we’re fired up. We’re ready to go. I know a lot of people are writing us out, but the belief in this team is still very strong and we’re ready to get out there as well.”
JAGUARS WR DJ CHARK JR.
(On if former Jaguars CB Jalen Ramsey helped him become a better receiver) “Definitely. [Being] physical, fast, running off the ball doesn’t really work with people like him. You have to be decisive with every move that you make. When you are getting vertical, he’s very strong and can easily push you out of bounds or push you out of the window to where he can easily make an interception. So, you just have to be smart with every move, have to be physical, and you just have to want it more than he does, even though that’s pretty hard to do because he really [wants it]. You know the type of player that he is, so you have to match his intensity. Anytime you get to go against guys like him, and [former Jaguars CB] A.J. Bouye, as soon as you get into the league, day one in training camp, I’ve yet to go against a corner better than him.”
(On why the offensive is more productive with him in the game) “First off, we played that Thursday night game right after playing the Sunday game and it’s hard to already game plan. You kind of have to game plan for two weeks in one week, but when you lose your main target, you’re automatically going to have to switch the whole offensie up. You can’t really, a lot of times, just plug and play, so you have to switch things around and so I think that, for one, made it difficult on offense. Two, I do think going out there, I can stretch the field, I can make safeties back up. Even if I’m not getting the ball, if I’m running down field, the safety has to respect it and things like that. Crossing routes or underneath routes, if the other guy’s open or in a more favorable matchups, so I think that absence is huge. But I feel like if we go into a game and we take out James Robinson, it’s going to be a similar situation to where the defenses are just backing up and not respecting the run. Or if Gardner [Minshew II]’s not in, people [are] stacking the box, not respecting the pass. Anytime you lose one of the main guys who takes most of the reps, it’s going to be difficult.”
(On the difference in playing in a divisional game) “Honestly, it’s no difference for me. Every game to me is a chance to show who I am and I’m playing in the NFL so it doesn’t matter if I’m playing you twice or playing you once, I want to be dominant. Yeah, I approach it the same way. I feel like that second time that you play a divisional opponent, it’s a little more tough because they just saw what you can do and now they [are] game planning for things like that, but I think that’s the only difference. I’m still coming out with the same mentality to win. I’m coming out trying to be the best on the field and I have to hold myself to that standard, no matter [if it’s a] division [game] or not.”
(On how RB James Robinson can help him from getting double covered and help the passing game in general) “One thing, when people double cover you, they like to use two high safeties, a lot of times [they use] cover two or two man. But when you have a running attack, those two defenses aren’t that good against stopping the run so it kind of forces you to use the double cover in a different way to bring other guys out so that you can still be there to stop the run and I think that’s what he helps with. So, if you’re going to double cover me, if I’m backside and you want to double cover, you kind of have to show it in a different way. That’s when studying comes in. That’s when you know if it’s one high safety and put the safety on your side, it’s coming down looking, it’s probably dropping out to take that side away, corner goes outside, things like that. Even with that, if two guys are on me, that means someone has a more favorable matchup again and you always can just stay in cover two, hand the ball, run between the tackles, and our running offense is pretty good, so I like that matchup.”
(On downfield blocking for RB James Robinson) “It’s pretty easy. Honestly, just run and get in the way. That’s it or you’re running for a second and then he’s passed you and then it’s off to the races. So, I like it. If I have to come in, get a safety, I know I’m going for the kill shot but if I can’t get it, I have to get a little bit of him and he’s going to get out and make somebody miss or he’s going to run somebody over and allow me to talk smack, so I like blocking for him.”
(On the growth of WR Laviska Shenault Jr. as a receiver) “The main thing that I’m always on him about is just knowing exactly what to do, not only knowing what you have to do but knowing what the defense is doing to take you away and that’s something that he’s gotten way better at, his understanding of it. Since he’s been here, he’s been a good route runner. He’s been physical, you’re not going to press him. He’s really physically gifted and he uses that to his advantage. He gets open and catches the ball very well. We haven’t been able to utilize him as much as the good receiver that he is, but like last week, I think he had 81 yards in the first half. That’s not easy and he did it pretty easily. He makes all his plays look easy, so that’s one thing I do envy of him. I take some hits, but [for] some reason it seems like he doesn’t really get hit as hard.”
(On when RB James Robinson first stood out to him) “[It was] probably early on with camp. Him and [RB Devine Ozigbo] Ziggy both run the ball extremely hard every time. We weren’t in pads a lot of the times, but you see a guy who gets the ball and takes off and then runs 50 yards, comes back, does it again, does it again, does it again. So, you see that and you’re like, ‘This guy has good vision, and he has the work ethic to go along with it.’ But that first game, being able to see him, live reps, and do the same thing, just take what he does on the practice field and take it to the field, you knew that he was here for business and he’s not a guy that’s just a character in the locker room. He handles his [business] and goes about his way and you have to respect it.”
(On if RB James Robinson’s production in the first four games surprises him) “No because I’m a person who once I see it, I expect it, so it doesn’t surprise me. I expect it to happen and I need it to happen because we want to win. I go to him all the time and tell him how big of a part of the offense he is or is for me. But surprising? No because at this point, he got here for a reason. He’s our starting running back for a reason and he put up the stats that he has for a reason, so [I’m] not surprised at all.”
