| Opening Statement: “I felt like one of the things to note that I thought really helped us yesterday that got us off on the right foot and off to a fast start was our third downs, and what I mean is really particularly early in that game that I think kind of led to our 10-0 start. We were four-of-five on third downs in our first two drives offensively, which we’ve had our struggles, and so I think that helped significantly. But not only that, our defense was three-of-four in their first three possessions. So, I think that helped us get off to a big start and then kind of set the tone for the game.” On how the addition of WR Josh Reynolds has led to more consistency in wide receiver production: “I think it’s been a big part, I do. Look, there are multiple factors that play into why I feel like we’re better, but I think the addition of him has certainly helped. He kind of brings us something that is a little different, a little different flavor, just his size, his length, his speed, his ball skills. He’s a smart guy and he’s been a real good addition for us. I’ll tell you what, he’s a damn good teammate, too. You just watch him, he’s excited for one of his teammates and he’ll block. He gets in there and mixes it up and he’s excited for a teammate when he makes a play. But yeah, he’s been a good addition for us now.” On if the team has to make a decision soon on RB D’Andre Swift’s status for the season: “I still think we’re taking this week-to-week, day-to-day. There again, I know as of this morning he’s better than he felt last week. He feels better than he was I guess Saturday when we worked with him. So, our plan is to work him back into practice this week and see how he feels.” On how he envisions RB Craig Reynolds’ role when RBs D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams return: “Well, let’s wait until we know exactly who we have. I think we’ve got to get through the whole COVID deal here first and find out who we have. I mean, we may be playing with (Jason) Cabinda at halfback, but we’ll see. I mean, look, that will be a difficult decision, but it’s a good decision. That’s one of those tough things you’ve got to decide. ‘Do you carry three backs? Do you carry four backs? Who’s up? Who’s down?’ And so, we’ll play it by ear. It’s a good problem to have.” On if RB Craig Reynolds has performed well enough to earn carries when RBs D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams return: “I would say this, if Craig goes to the game, Craig is getting some carries. That’s what I would say. So yeah, he’s warranted that.” On LB Alex Anzalone’s injury status: “That’s a tough deal. I don’t think it’s a major – I don’t think we feel like it’s a major injury, but yet it’s going to knock him out for the year. So, he got the shoulder, but this is not a – we don’t believe this is some long-term issue. It’s just we know with three games left, that will probably knock him out for this season.” On what losing LB Alex Anzalone for the season means to the team: “He’s been rock solid. He’s been one of those guys – I mean, he’s been as steady as a rock and he’s really our quarterback on defense. And so, it will hurt, but I’ll say this, we lost him early in that game and we lose (Josh) Woods and now (Jalen) Reeves-Maybin has to step in and take the green dot, which is not something he normally does. And, our plan was with he and Alex, knowing they were kind of coming back off of injuries is, ‘Just give him stuff to get him in the flow, but not – ,’ we didn’t want to be overbearing. And, Reeves has to play 72 plays and he’s the green dot and he played all out. It wasn’t perfect, but I’ll tell you what, the guy made a ton of plays for us. And so, that’s a credit to him. It will hurt, but look, we’ve had to adapt all year, and so here we are again.” On mentioning CB Parnell Motley yesterday as a cornerback that was not able to play against the Cardinals: “I was just bringing it up as to one of these guys that had COVID. And so, we’re going to start getting some guys back, no different than Nickell Robey (Coleman) and Jamaal Williams and Tracy (Walker). The 10 days are about to be up, so at least we know we’re working those guys back. So, if anything, we may have four guys from this weekend and we’ll have 50 guys out, but those four will be up ready to go.” On how yesterday’s win can propel the team’s momentum going into the offseason: “I just think it – there again, they understand – really, kind of like they have to be honest with you that when you put in the work and you trust the game plan and you trust yourself and you trust your teammates and we do things a certain way, good things can happen and there is a way to win in this League. Once again, you’ve got to give yourself the best opportunity to have success. So, I think if anything, it just – one more time it validates the fact that, ‘Hey man, we can do some things. We can take teams to the wire. We’ve got a chance to win.’ Look, that’s one of the better teams over there, particularly in the NFC. And so, that just validates we can do this and stay true to what we do, our system and what we’re preaching.” On if there is a philosophy behind choosing to receive the ball first if you win the coin toss as coaches become more tenured: “I don’t know. I think you – look, we did it a little bit earlier this year. Sometimes, you want to try to create a rhythm offensively and you are telling your guys, ‘Listen, we’re going to come out fast. We’re going to start fast. We’re going to move the ball. We’re going to set the tone with the offense,’ and you do it. And so, I think it’s a flow thing and I get the whole, ‘You should always defer, always defer. You gain a possession.’ But that’s – I mean, we can sit here and argue that all day long. I would say naturally I like to defer, but yeah. I mean look, if you’ve got a potent offense, we’ll do it. Shoot, we did it in New Orleans. You’ve got a potent offense, you’ve got Drew Brees and you’ve got these things, then let’s go out and set the tone early. Yeah, I think you take it as it comes with what kind of team you’ve got, offense, the season, everything.” On if there is still room for the offense to grow more with executing explosive plays: “Absolutely. Look, those guys are just getting better and better and it’s just – they’re starting to mesh. Between just the quarterback and them, the addition of (Josh) Reynolds, I’ve talked about (Tight Ends Coach) Ben Johnson just bringing clarity. Look, I think (Wide Receivers Coach Antwaan Randle) El’s doing a heck of a job with those receivers and there have just been so many little details to what we’ve been doing that just needed to be honed in on. And, I think that it just is, we’re starting to clean a lot of that stuff up and the trust is really starting to grow between all of those guys in the pass game. And, certainly the protection makes a huge difference. I mean, we’ve got some guys up front that can protect and that goes a long way. So yeah, I’d like to say, yeah, there is room to still grow. There is room to continue to create explosives.” On if yesterday’s win is an example of the type of brand of football he is instilling in the locker room and wants potential free agents to see: “Yeah, I think so. I think the latter part of what you said I think is a byproduct of what we are. Hey, if that’s inviting to other players or free agents or whatever, that’s great, but that wasn’t my first thought. My first thought is with this team and these players and them knowing that, ‘Hey man, we said we were going to do this from the get-go.’ And, we do, we want to be a physical bunch. We want to play with a lot of intensity. We want to try to control the game somewhat, control our possessions. We want to convert and feel like we can kind of open up the playbook, some of the game plan offensively and defensively. So, yeah. That being said, look, yes that’s more of my brand of football, but I don’t see – if it goes that way, great. But believe me, I’m as eager as anybody else to throw the ball down the field a little bit. So, I’ve got no problem lining up and running it 50 times if you just continue to whoop on somebody. But also, I want to let our receivers cut it loose, too. Let our quarterback throw it downfield because I think we’ve got some guys now that are really showing up. That receiver group, I’ve got a lot of respect for those guys and the way they are playing right now.” On if there are any more positives he took from yesterday’s game that he has not spoken about yet: “No, I mean I felt like most of it was hit. I felt like we set a tone early. There were a couple of things that maybe we didn’t talk about, but most of them we did. But look, offensively for us to come out early and do what we did and convert on third down, that was huge and I opened up with that. I think really just set the tone for us, but then defensively for the fact that we were able to just kind of hem up (Kyler) Murray a little bit and keep him in there and not let them get into the rhythm of their game I thought was huge. But I go back to this, the biggest play of the game in my opinion I think was Amani (Oruwariye)’s interception because it just snuffed out any opportunity for them to get the momentum back or get it going at all. That was huge, and then I loved the fact that at the end of the game, they’re down there and know they’re not going to win the game, but it’s fourth down and we shut them out and not let them in the end zone. It takes a lot of pride and defensively, I just think that says something about those guys.” On the long-term future of S Will Harris after playing different spots in the secondary the last couple of weeks: “Look, we talk about Will a lot, just everything, from safety to nickel to now all of a sudden he’s a corner. Look, have we just dove in-depth like we will when the season is done? No, we haven’t. But yet – and I know this, he was one of the first names that popped in our heads when it was about, ‘Well, who’s going to play corner for us now that all of our guys are out?’ And so, it was like, ‘Hey, let’s give it a go.’ But no, let’s see how this thing goes. And, the funny thing here is we wouldn’t have known that had – we wouldn’t have known any of this had it not been for the injuries and the COVID. So, that is I guess a little bit of silver lining is, ‘Well, who knows? Maybe this guy is a corner. Maybe he is a nickel or maybe he’s a jack of all trades.’” On what he has learned about the roster building process after adding WR Josh Reynolds through waivers instead of in free agency: “That’s a pretty good question and I don’t know if I can give you a great answer on it at this point. Look I know this, I would say this, I’m glad we got Reynolds. That was a good pick up for us and I know that obviously happened later and it didn’t happen in the original free agency, but I would say this, you kind of always know in the back of your head – yes you may think you know something about a guy, but maybe you don’t always know. And, sometimes guys need a fresh start before you really realize who they are. I do know that sometimes you talk about a guy who you like a lot and he’s got all of these qualities about him to really be a leader, really help your team in other areas other than production. And man, it’s not until the guy who is the perceived leader in the room leaves before you really see the full potential of that player come out. And, I think just production as a player is the same. You never know. And, for Reynolds to be able to come here and he wasn’t necessarily the guy out there – I’m just talking about LA in general, forget Tennessee – but Cooper Kupp was the guy and he did all of these things and (Robert) Woods. And so, he was kind of the odd man out somewhat. And for us, he’s a little bit more of a showcase right now and I think that’s big and you can see his confidence has really rose because of it.” On S Will Harris’ performance yesterday playing cornerback: “Listen, I thought he played pretty good and probably one of the biggest things is knowing that this is your first start at corner and you go out there, his name really didn’t come up. And so, I think that’s a major positive and we didn’t talk about this guy getting put in a bind or getting exploited or anything like that. I just thought he went in there and battled. I think it was a perfect game plan for him and the fact that he was open to it, it allowed him to play with his athletic ability and cut it loose and play aggressive and he did that. Shoot, even the penalty that he got I thought was – listen, you live with those. He’s trying to be aggressive, he gets his head back a little late, but those are things to build off of and it’s encouraging to see.” |
