HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2024
(On if this week is a warm-up week into the regular season and if the starters will play on
Friday’s game in Atlanta) “Yeah, this third and final preseason game, we usually let the
starters play a little bit more. Again, it depends on the circumstance and the way the game
goes. But we’d love to get maybe two quarters out of them. We do take a look at Atlanta a
little bit and we simulate a game week schedule-wise, now that camp has broken. That’s
probably the only reason these weeks are important, to get the guys—no longer in the
hotel, they’re living at home, transportation here, all that kind of stuff. It simulates and sort
of feels like a game week.”
(On the injury status of QB C.J. Beathard and WR Christian Kirk) “C.J., groin. Re-injured that
one. He’ll miss this week. Christian will miss again. Still calf. Feeling good, but I’m just
going to hold him out this week.”
(On if DE Arik Armstead and S Darnell Savage will participate this week) “Yes, we’re going to
see how he is in practice. I can’t speak on the game just yet. But we’re going to work some
individual stuff, and then progress slowly with him. Then, Savage, his red jersey came off.
He’s officially cleared to go, so he’ll play this week.”
(On when he and General Manager Trent Baalke will start the process of finalizing the
roster) “Well, we talk. We have personnel meetings after every ball game and throughout
training camp, and we talk about the roster. It’s still early to make any kind of decisions. I
mean, obviously, Trevor [QB Trevor Lawrence] is the quarterback and Josh [DE Josh Hines-
Allen] will be the defensive end. So, we know that much. But after that, it’s still evaluation.
Still want to get as much time with these guys as we can right up until the last minute.”
(On evaluating late signees such as DE Breeland Speaks in a short timeframe) “Yeah, I
mean, it’s tough. It’s tough when guys come in the middle of camp. But he’s done a nice job
just picking up the terminology, picking up the defense. He’s getting meaningful game reps
that are good for him. We’ve just got to continue to evaluate how he does in individual
drills, any team reps that he gets during the week. Then again, with this last game, probably
looking like the second half potentially playing, and making the most of those reps. It’s
probably a challenge with a guy like that, probably 53, as you go. But practice squad is not
out of the question. That’s what a lot of these guys are competing for. They’re still
competing for those spots.”
(On how designating two players to return from injured reserve gives flexibility when
building the roster) “I mean, it helps you. It helps you. Especially in a situation maybe like
Dewey [S Andrew Wingard] or one of these guys like that, that just is banged during camp
and you know they’re not going to start the season. It does give you flexibility, but then
you’re going to have to make a move down the road. For us to do that with a couple of
players, it does make it a little bit easier to manage your roster right at cut downs.”
(On WR Parker Washington’s successes in the last two weeks as he’s gotten more reps) “It’s
valuable. I mean, you look at the last five games last year when Christian missed. He got all
the work there. I think he’d got a lot of confidence and gained confidence. He’s stronger this
year. He looks faster, quicker, all of that. He’s just making the most of his opportunities and
doing a nice job in the return game as well. He’s been, as we’ve said, one of the bright spots
at camp.”
(On the improvement and impact of the second-year players) “Yeah, those guys are really
showing up. They’re making plays all over the field. You saw Tank [RB Tank Bigsby] the other
night, just how powerful he can be running the football and just improving. He’s going to be
a great addition for the run game. As you mentioned, Ventrell [LB Ventrell Miller], getting
those reps, Foye [LB Foyesade Oluokun] is not there. So, he’s getting to be able to step in
and do some great things. Really, this is his first year because he missed last year. But he’s
done a great job. Braswell [CB Christian Braswell] has done a great job. You look at all these
guys, second-year players, that are just getting opportunities. It’s part of that
developmental theme, just developing your roster and letting these guys perform. It’s
benefiting them.”
(On what he wants to see from the offensive line in the final week of camp and preseason
game) “Number one goal is to, obviously, keep your quarterback clean. Second thing is be
able to run the football a little bit with some success. Even though you’re not going into
these games game planning, you still want to have that success. Then just your training
camp rules kind of take over in protection game, run game, things like that. But play
physical, control the line of scrimmage as best you can, no matter who who lines up on the
other side. I can’t control Atlanta, but just see the continuity, the unity with those five or six
guys that will be out there.”
(On if he’s planning on starting the first five starters on Friday vs. the Falcons) “Yes.”
(On what he wants to see from DT Roy Robertson-Harris) “Roy’s been doing a really good
job. I think, too, he missed a lot of springtime with his injury. Again, it takes some time, just
learning the techniques and learning the details of the defense. But he’s been doing a great
job. He’s going to be an impact player for us and just continue to grow in the defense.
Consistency, not only by Roy, but by everybody, and continue to show that he’s one of the
mainstays on that interior line.”
(On what he saw from OL Javon Foster on Saturday) “It’s interesting because he continues
to improve, continues to get better. I think as the game wore on, I think some fatigue took
over a little bit, got tired a little bit towards the end. He busts his tail and doesn’t make
many mistakes, honestly. If it is, sometimes it’s just a brain lapse here or there. But he’s
improving and he’s doing some good things. This past game was a lot of reps for him, and
for a lot of guys, but I thought he handled it well.”
(On how valuable preseason reps are for rookies that may not get many snaps in the regular
season) “Guys like that, to put that amount of snaps on film for us to evaluate, and then
obviously for other teams to evaluate when you get to cut downs, that whatever happens,
you have good tape out there. That’s why I just keep encouraging all our guys that are
competing, yeah, you’re competing for our roster, but there’s 31 other teams that are
looking as well. So always make the most of your opportunities when you get a chance.”
(On how he and Baalke have been able to develop depth within the roster) “Yeah, that takes
time. To say the bottom third or even half of your roster—those guys typically end up playing
a lot toward the end of the season, right? Because your starters get nicked and might miss
some time, and these are the ones that fill in and give you the meaningful game reps.
They’re also the ones playing on special teams, right? Again, it just goes back to our
philosophy here is we’ve just got to develop everybody. We’ve got to keep coaching
everybody. You just can’t coach the top third or the top half, right? It’s got to be everybody. I
think that and just the acquiring of players through the draft, through free agency, the last
couple of years, you’re starting to see now these young players really emerge and do some
good things.”
DEFENSIVE TACKLE MAASON SMITH
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2024
(On how different his expectations of training camp were compared to the reality) “For me,
it was really just about getting better, progressing and putting my front foot forward and
continuing to grow. For that, it’s kind of exactly what I expected it to do. I feel like, LSU
[Louisiana State] prepared me for what was to come in this next level. Being able to put
everything learned past and getting all the things that I’ve learned from the vets and
coaches, and everybody in the room. I think it’s been very good for me, a very good
transition. I feel like there’s always room for improvement, but just putting my best foot
forward and continuing.”
(On what the toughest thing about camp is for him) “Really just consistency. Coming into
the next level, that’s something that I really wanted to focus on. Just not being up-and-
down and not having a great game, and then coming back and having a great game. So, it’s
just more about being more consistent. I think that still applies to this day. Just being able
to stay playing at a high level each and every game, each and every practice. You’ve got to
bring it every day in this league. So, just being able to do that and continuing to grow in that
aspect.”
(On if he feels ready to perform a needed) “I feel like I’m ready to perform. Just like I said,
taking advice from the older guys, taking advice from the coaches, and just continuing to
grow. I have no doubt in my capabilities on the field. So just being able to continue to grow
and continue to get better.”
(On how DE Josh Hines-Allen has helped him) “Really just from a mental aspect, just being
able to know that you’re that guy, and continue to grow and push. He’s always told me
really just don’t wait. You’ve got to go attack him now. It’s there for me now. So just being
able to go and fully commit to doing everything that I’m supposed to be doing.”
(On what he observes about Hines-Allen on the field) “He just demands respect. As the
leader that he is, it’s always great to have somebody like him in the room, keep a lot of guys,
especially young guys like myself, in good spirits and continue growing and growing. In a
sense, he’s really just like a lot of other people, even though having 17-and-a-half sacks last
year, he still knows that he has room for improvement. So, he’s continuing to grow and
continuing to get better each and every day. When somebody at that stature, that demands
that much respect, you see them continuing to grow and continuing to work hard, and
progress every day it’s only going to make you do the same.”
(On if Hines-Allen will be someone he will rely on week-to-week during the season)
“Definitely, him and some other guys. Your rookie year is a lot of unknowns, it’s kind of like
your freshman year of college. So, just being able to put a lot of those answers to some of
those questions I’ll have, I’ll definitely ask him about some of those things. When the going
gets tough, how he got through his hard times his rookie year, because everything is not
going to be perfect. So just continuing to grow.”
(On his physical and mental state during his last year at LSU compared to now) “I definitely
feel like I’m in the best shape of my life right now, post-injury. I feel like the last couple of
games of my college career, I feel like it was pretty good. So just coming into this next level,
I just wanted to continue to go in the right direction. But health-wise, I feel great. I’m a little
bit heavy right now, I’ve got to lose a couple of pounds. But I feel great and like I said, it’s
the best I’ve felt since having my knee injured.”
(On his friendship with K Cam Little) “Actually, I’d never met Cam until we got here. But they
beat us my freshman year and Cam had a walk-off kick, and he hit the gritty after they won.
Just looking back on that, the first thing that he told me when we got here together was that.
But Cam’s my guy, and me and him are the two youngest on the team. So just having him
around and he’s a great player, a great guy. We go golfing together all the time. So just
having him around has been great, and that’s my guy.”
(On DE Arik Armstead being a mentor for him) “Coming into this level of football, he was
actually one of the guys that I followed after, just being a bigger body, defensive lineman,
being able to play the big end spot, to the three tackle, to the nose spot. He’s very versatile.
Looking at myself, I see myself in some of him. So just taking the things like today in pass
rush, working moves, different types of moves, things that work for him could also work for
me just because stature-wise, we’re kind of similar. But he’s been giving me a lot of great
tips. For somebody that has done it at a high level for a long time and that’s something that
I’m inspired to do. I definitely get a lot of feedback and everything from him as much as I
can.”
(On how much time he spends watching film with DT Jordan Jefferson) “Coach Dre [Bill
Walsh Fellowship Coach Andre Gurode] – five-time Pro Bowler, 12-year offensive lineman,
center, played for Dallas – Coach Dre told me something when he first got here and it was
about extra time. He was like, ‘If you put in 45 minutes each and every day to watching film
– whether it’s film or anything football related – you’ll be that much ahead of your
opponent.’ We tend to spend 45 minutes a day just watching film and doing other things like
that, just getting the adjustments needed and getting the opponents’ offenses down and
everything like that. Back sets, everything like that. So, just knowing my opponent better
and being critical of what I’m doing on the field. Everything’s not going to be perfect like I
said, but you try to make it as perfect as you can so in a game, it comes easier.”
