HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2024
(On injury updates for TE Evan Engram and S Darnell Savage) “Evan, probably not going to make it. He tried this week, just not there yet. Hopefully next week, we’ll see. Darnell, we’ll give him one more day, today. See if he can push through it. Don’t want to risk anything further, but we’ll see where he’s at the end of the day.”
(On seeing urgency in preparation this week) “Yeah, I thought the guys handled the week fine. There’s been obviously, rightfully so, criticism around the team, different things. They’ve handled all that well. We just have to go play. It’s been a long week. Looking forward to Monday night.”
(On what cues from the team demonstrate if they’ve received his messaging) “I think it’s just that there’s a couple for me: what are they saying amongst themselves? Obviously, that’s number one. I think, then the biggest thing too, is how they approach practice. The energy level, the excitement, the enthusiasm, because really, does anybody like to practice? I mean, it’s practice, right? But the way they approach that, and they’ve done a great job this week, just focused in on Buffalo and what they need to do.”
(On if RB Tank Bigsby and OL Cam Robinson will be available on Monday vs. Buffalo) “Yes.”
(On the impact Engram has on TE Brenton Strange) “It’s interesting you brought that up because I’ve noticed it with Evan. I think it’s good for both players. Evan, just to see it from a different perspective, and then Brenton gets to kind of lean on Evan’s experience as a player. So, both guys have really benefited from this situation. Now, we’d love to have Evan out there and all that, but I think both have really handled it well. It’s big for Brenton to have a mentor like Evan.”
(On if Engram will be traveling to Buffalo with the team) “I don’t think so. I think we’ll keep him here. Just better access to treatment and around-the-clock and stuff like that.”
(On what he makes of the high ratio of explosive plays to time of possession) “Obviously, in order to score points, you’ve got to find chunk plays, you’ve got to find explosive plays in the run and pass game. So, we’re always looking for that. As coaches, we study throughout the week. How do we attack an opponent, right? Our opponents are doing the same thing. It’s timely, you’ve got to be smart, protection, there’s all kinds of factors that go into it. When it comes down to it, I think your quarterback doing the right thing with the football. If it’s there, take it. If not, do the next best thing, right? Check down a tight end, a back, and you can still get a positive play even when you dial up an explosive.”
(On if having extra rest like the Bills did is a bigger advantage early or late in the season) “I think later in the year is more beneficial. We’re talking Week 3. But anytime you can give players a couple extra days to heal is good. But definitely would definitely would probably help you later in the season.”
(On the importance of increasing the play count) “I think you have to, one, third-down
you’ve got to stay on the field. Which means first and second down become important.
That’s the obvious. Defensively, you’ve got to try to find a way to get off the field. You can’t have 16 and 11-play drives, I think, like last week, and you’ve just got to try to find ways to get off the field. There’s got to be that balance between the two. Then, you’ve got to score. You’ve got to score red-zone touchdowns and not kick field goals. I think those are all things that can factor in when you’re talking about different play counts and trying to get your rep count up and things like that. Take aside or take out all your two-minute stuff and things like that, just your normal pace of plays. You want them to be up, so, ball control. Having the ability to run the football becomes important.”
