HEAD COACH LIAM COEN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2025
(On how quickly WR Trenton Irwin can get acclimated to the system) “Similar type deal we
did with [Buccaneers WR] Sterling Shepherd last year in Tampa where you have a little bit of
a runway for the next couple of days to get acclimated. Continuing to add competition to
the room. Guys that have played some meaningful snaps in the league in a similar system.
Just the type of person that he is that we’ve heard from Zac [Bengals Head Coach Zac
Taylor] and those guys in Cincinnati. Just continuing to develop the roster, really. So far, he’s
been a great guy to kind of get to know a little bit, and he’ll continue to learn the offense as
we go here.”
(On if the offensive line sets the tone for the team’s mental and physical toughness) “It
definitely does. It’s really, like I’ve said, an interesting dynamic in this time, where you can’t
bang, you can’t hit really, you can’t establish the line of scrimmage, but you can establish
the way that we want to play in some ways. In terms of attacking the line of scrimmage,
mental toughness when it comes to multiple play calls, handling cans, handling the
audibles, zero checks. Like the way they break the huddle, the way that they’re disciplined
with cadence that’s definitely helping set the mentality and toughness of the group,
specifically on offense. It always starts with those guys up front, although it’s just a weird
time to truly, I guess, evaluate it. But you can continue to press that and push that envelope
and say, ‘Guys, let’s continue to be at a high level every single time we come out on the
grass, and every single protection walk through, and every single play that we’re doing,’
knowing it’s a lot of pass game.”
(On how adding WR/DB Travis Hunter to the offense changes things for WR Brian Thomas
Jr.)
“Yeah, I think I saw so much of it, obviously a different entity, with [former Rams WR]
Cooper Kupp in L.A. where you’re getting a lot of double coverage. It would more so be from
the slot, where maybe they have a nickel playing outside leverage and then a safety or a
linebacker inside of him to double. Then go to Tampa with [Buccaneers WR] Mike Evans and
he’s more of that outside receiver that’s getting the corner and the safety double. So it’s
really just about creating balance. And okay, if we put them on the same side, well can we
dictate maybe where the double may go and help get one-on-one coverage elsewhere. As
we go and see maybe how people defend us that way with Brian, it’ll help kind of dictate
whether we want to get the one-on-one matchup on the inside or on the outside, at the
running back position, at the tight end position. So it kind of helps dictate terms, even
though it can be annoying at times to get double teams.”
(On how he balances rooting for both sides of the ball now that he is a head coach) “Yeah,
it’s hard. I actually got asked a similar question on Monday, where your first feeling is
always, man, we had a good day on offense. You’re usually pretty pleased, just in general.
Now that mentality kind of has to shift a little bit. I don’t think you’re ever going to be fully
pleased if one side of the ball is that much different than the other, whether it be on offense
or defense, but I’ve definitely had to remind myself to stay positive even when maybe
something negative happens to the offense. Man, at the end of the day, this is about
developing a team, and I have to be at the forefront of that.”
(On how his offensive rookies have developed over the course of OTAs) “Yeah, a ton of
learning. So much learning. They’re doing a ton of extra. Like you walk out here. I think it
was about seven this morning, got finished working out and saw [QB] Trevor Lawrence and
[WR/DB] Travis Hunter out here walking through. That’s just one example. You see the
rookies. They do development periods every day right at the end of practice. Why we kind of
leave 15 minutes per day at the end is for them to go in and get developmental work. So
that has been really, I think, key to those guys learning the system, getting updated
because, man, they got thrown in the mix. We’re a month already into the install and so
they’ve had to play catch up, and that’s kind of what those developmental periods are for.
It’s hard to truly judge it at the moment. I think I just see, okay, are we getting lined up
properly? Are we getting off on the right cadence? Are we not making total bust mistakes?
The finer details will come for those guys in training camp, but right now it’s more about
that broad scope learning.”
(On if any rookie has stood out so far) “Man, hard to say to be honest with you. It’s kind of a
group of guys that I think you’d say the majority of the draft picks have taken steps within
each kind of realm. I can’t really single anybody out specifically that I think that’s like, wow,
oh my goodness, this has been amazing. I think you just like say I’ll kind of wait on that
judgment in training camp.”
(On bringing in LB Dennis Gardeck) “Yeah, just a ton of respect for the player competing
against him two times a year in L.A. since 2018. Every time we would go play the Arizona
Cardinals, he was on the game-wrecker board. We would always kind of introduce the
game wreckers to the players. And he was on there, whether it was originally for special
teams, and then also for rushing the passer and creating some disruption. It just gives us
somebody a little bit different kind of style rusher, special teams demon. He was a captain
in Arizona on special teams. He had three sacks in a game last year. Not sure how many
people did that this past season, but he did and had an interception in the following game.
So you’re just looking at continuing to find guys that can disrupt the game in a specific way,
whether it’s in the DPR or on special teams.”
(On what DL Dawuane Smoot brings to the team) “Just again, continuing to add
competition to the room, consistency, a guy that obviously has roots in this area and has
strong friendships with some of the guys on the team. And then when you talk to guys that
maybe have not been in this building, Eric Ciano, our strength coach, was with him in
Buffalo and he just said he was a tireless worker in the weight room, on the practice field,
consistently going. You kind of had to pull him back at times, and that was something that
continuing to get a little bit of veteran presence, guys that have played meaningful reps in
this league that can give us some meaningful snaps hopefully and continue to create that
competition we’re looking for. Just getting to know him a little bit, seems like, obviously, a
grown man and been really cool to get to know him a little bit.”
(On if having a group of veterans for pass rushers was intentional) “A little bit. You obviously
want, like we talked about the other day, waves of maybe some different types of rushers at
times. Guys when you’re playing in the trenches, specifically, when you come in and maybe
you’re a UDFA or a rookie in general, man that size, that strength, that speed, especially in
the trenches is different for anybody. And so there’s always a curve. There’s always going to
be a learning curve and a physical growth curve that is going to need to occur. But getting
some of those guys that have established themselves in this league and played meaningful
snaps, I think will just help us, maybe in times of crisis and just to maybe be a little bit more
consistent in some ways, knowing that we’re pretty young as a team in general.”
(On what growth he wants to see from QB Trevor Lawrence) “Yeah, I think when you look at
maybe the first few days of OTAs and really even phase two that we were out here on the
grass, I think his footwork has drastically improved. I think just the rhythm of playing the
position in every system is different. Right? The drop of a quarterback is very similar to a
dance and so each song, right, has a different rhythm. Each play has a different rhythm.
Each systems have different rhythms. And continuing to develop that for him so that, we
talk about footwork so much because when the game is being played, we know it’s lived in
the gray. But we’re trying to create black and white lines for footwork, for reads, for timing,
because when the when the things start moving, oftentimes you have to revert back to your
fundamentals, your footwork, your timing. And so, I think he’s taken a step in that area as
well as just the overall operation. That’s what I’ve really looked for, for him in this time has
been okay, really focusing on his lower half and his footwork and then also just running the
show. Like, I’m not really judging does he make every single throw right now. Is every single
ball perfectly accurate right now? Is he operating the offense at a high level? Yes, he is right
now.”
(On how his first pitch was at the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp game) “Oh, man. I mean, it
was a change-up right down the pipe. Might have gone 400 over the left center field for
somebody else, but I think it was about what I was hunting up.”
(On if it was supposed to be a change-up) “No, it was just, it was cool. I was downstairs,
kind of getting some practice in, and they had really cool technology that they’re using
down there to simulate the opposing pitcher. I was learning some of that stuff down there,
and was throwing a couple knuckles and curves, I was going to maybe throw that out there,
but ended up just sticking with the change up.”
WIDE RECEIVER BRIAN THOMAS JR.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2025
(On his plans for this season after his breakout rookie season) “Just to come out and be
better than I was last year. Come out here each and every day and push myself to be the
best that I can be and see where that takes me. So, just come out here and be the best that
I can be.”
(On how much more comfortable he feels this year) “Just being able to be around all my
teammates and have some of the same guys here, some of the same faces. Being able to
bond with Trevor [QB Trevor Lawrence] and stuff has been pretty good. Being able to have
those bonds is just going to help us out going into this year.”
(On the biggest thing he learned last season off the field) “The biggest thing was just
probably taking care of your body. How long the season really is, how long the season
actually is, so doing the little things. Doing prehab so you don’t have to do rehab. Taking
care of your body before things happen and being up on everything.”
(On what it’s been like getting to know WR/DB Travis Hunter) “It’s been pretty good. Pretty
fun. He’s a fun dude. Super cool, super chill—I’m not going to say that one (laughs). Super
cool, super fun. He’s just a fun guy to be around. A lot of energy. Super fun.”
(On how he and Hunter are able to push each other) “Yeah, for sure. We compete in
everything we do. We come out here each and every day, coming out here striving to be the
best.”
(On how many questions Hunter has been asking him) “Yeah, he’s been asking a lot of
questions. But that’s just him trying to be the best he can be. Just talking through routes,
talking through little things, plays, why we run these certain plays versus these certain
looks. So just little things like that. He wants to be the best. We both want to be the best.
We just come out and compete each and every day and whatever he needs help with, I’m
glad to help him.”
(On if he gets tired of Hunter’s questions) “No, it would never be like that because guys that
were here last year, they helped me out throughout the whole season and they were there
for me. So, anything he needs help with, I’ll be there for him.”
(On if he aspires to take on more of a leadership role) “Yeah, that’s super important for me.
That’s one of my goals: to become a better leader and be there for my teammates when
they need me. That’s super important for me.”
(On what he’s seen from the offense) “It’s been pretty good. I’ve been liking it. Just getting
adapted to it and learning the system, it’s been pretty good, pretty fun. I’ve been liking it for
sure.”
(On the difference between how he feels now versus this time last year) “I feel way better
this year than I did last year. Just coming off a long rookie season, with the Combine, draft,
all that, just being able to have some off time, take care of my body and come back and be
ready to go, I feel way better this season, for sure.”
(On his first time seeing Hunter out on the field) “I actually came out here for when they had
the rookie minicamp. I was up here, so I came out. I just stepped out here and looked at
him doing the drills and stuff. It was really just how quick he was and how detailed he was.
When he might’ve gotten a drill wrong or something, and he was just hopping back in line
and going right back at it and trying to find ways to do it right and find ways to be the best
that he can be.”
(On if he’s excited about playing with Hunter and the attention it might take away from him
at times) “Yeah, I’m super excited to have him and Dyami [WR Dyami Brown] over there on
the other side. They’re both going to play a big role in the offense. They’re both going to help
us out and push us to go where we want to go. I’m super excited to have both those guys
out there with me.”
(On how having two fast receivers on the outside can challenge a defense) “It’s just hard for
them to cover and hard for them to just lock in on one person. Just being able to have two
or three guys out there that can run, and really, we all can do it all. We all can do everything.
So, just being able to have that, it helps out the offense a lot.”
(On getting to know WR Dyami Brown) “It’s been super good. Dyami’s a cool guy. I’ve been
talking to him a lot. We were just on the phone talking last night. Just getting to know him
each and every day, building a bond with him.”
(On what building chemistry with QB Trevor Lawrence has been like after Lawrence was
sidelined at the end of last season) “It’s been good. Getting to know each other, out here
spending time with each other, staying after practice and getting some extra throws in to
have that chemistry with each other. It’s been super good to be able to bond with each
other.”
(On if he and Lawrence’s chemistry is growing) “I definitely feel like it’s growing each and
every day, each and every practice. I feel like we’re all just coming out here to be the best
that we can be and we’re all just coming out here to get better. So, it’s going to grow.”
(On if he and RB Bhayshul Tuten have argued about who is faster) “Not yet, but me
(laughs).”
