Head Coach Brian Flores Conference Call
(I read that your high school coach – Coach Dino Mangiero – he wass like 80-5 or 90-5. Did you ever lose a game at Brooklyn Poly Prep?) – “In high school?”
(Yes.) – “No, I never lost a game in high school. We had a tie one time in high school; but yeah, I was very fortunate. We had some good teams and a lot of good players.”
(The team was good when you were there, so you’ve never had a losing season in your life in football. Is that correct?) – “That is not correct. (laughter) I played for, obviously Pop Warner; so yeah, I’ve been fortunate to be on a lot of good teams. But ‘never had a losing season…’”
(This is not about you, obviously – this endeavor – but what have you learned about yourself here? Is there a newfound patience or what do you think?) – “I’ve always been the same. I’ve never made excuses. I’ve never complained. I’ve never worried about anything except for the next day and trying to improve and get better, build, and that’s kind of how I’ve approached everything really since those days in high school. That’s what I learned from my high school coach. That’s really my approach. I’m not going to complain. I’m not going to make excuses. I’m just going to try to get better every day and as long as I do that, then I’ve got peace with that.”
(What prompted the decision to go back to QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, especially when you had said something about letting this week play out a bit and you made this decision really before you started practicing this week?) – “Every week, you kind of look at the opponent. You see their strengths and weaknesses and you kind of put them up against your strengths, your weaknesses, and we just felt like that was the best move for this team this week.”
(Does it say anything about just the idea that a veteran like QB Ryan Fitzpatrick would obviously give you a better opportunity to win games, I guess regardless of the opponent?) – “I think that was the case this week. That’s what we talked about. That was the decision we made and that’s why we made that decision.”
(What do you make of this season? I know it’s been tough and there’s been a lot of questions about players’ commitment and just the losing hasn’t been easy. How do you keep this team together and what is your message to keep this team together?) – “I’m here every day. I kind of see the way these guys work, the way they apply themselves in meetings and walkthroughs and practice and the effort they give and all those areas. What I see is I guess somewhat different (than) what you’re talking about. These guys are motivated. They work hard. Right now there’s a lot of adversity in this building and I think that is in a lot of ways strengthening a lot of guys in this building. Hopefully we’ll be better for it.”
(You prepared for Bills QB Josh Allen Week 16 last year when you were in New England. What kind of strides have you seen him make in his game breaking down the first five games of his season this year?) – “He’s definitely standing in the pocket, reading the defense, going through his progression and he’s got a big strong arm and he’s making some really good throws. That’s – I would say – more so than he did a year ago. He would kind of take off and run when he had maybe a little bit more time, and now he’s sitting in the pocket and making those tough throws. He’s still a major threat running the football. That’s something that any team that plays against him has to kind of deal with. I think he’s a good quarterback.”
(What gives you the confidence that this team can have a breakthrough and compete given what the numbers look like, given that the Vegas odds have you as 16 1/2-point underdogs or however many points and people are down on you? How do you keep the outside noise out of the locker room, and what gives you confidence that this team is capable of competing this weekend against a pretty good Bills team?) – “We just worry about the guys in this building. The odds and those things – I really don’t, I don’t even – that’s the first time I’ve heard them this week. I really worry about what’s going on here. I think this team tries to do that and we try to just string good days together. We just had a good practice. We’ve had good meetings. We’ll go up there. We’ll compete. It’s a good team. We know that. It’s a tough team. It’s a physical team. It’s a well-coached team and we’re just going to try to go up there compete and obviously give our best effort and try to come out of there with a victory.”
(As a linebacker at Boston College you played against Bills RB Frank Gore in 2003. Do you remember anything about going up against him?) – “That was such a long time ago. Not really. (laughter) He’s a very good – he was a very, very good player. He was much better than me back then and he went on to have an incredible career. I have a lot of respect for him as a player, as a person, and he’ll be ready to go Sunday. I know that for sure.”
(As somebody very familiar with running a high-level defense, when you look at Bills Head Coach Sean McDermott and Bills Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier’s defense on film, what really stands out about them and what they’re able to do, especially after five games this year?) – “They do a great job with disguise really across the board. I think just from, ‘is it two-high, is it one-high, is the star blitzing, is the Mike blitzing, is the Will blitzing?’ Really what I love (about) watching these guys is they’re all great effort, they’re relentless to the football, they’re trying to punch the ball out and they play together. I think that’s – above all things – they play together as a unit, as a team. You can see that on film. The communication, all of those things are at a high level. As a defensive coach, I have high praise for Sean, Leslie and what they’re doing, and I know for us it’ll be hard to – we’re going to have to play at a high level to compete against that defense.”
DT Robert Nkemdiche
(How did it feel to be back to practice?) – “It felt amazing. Just being able to work, back to being there and being able to get on the field with my guys. (Head) Coach (Brian) Flores – he gave me the opportunity to be here and do that and come out and keep living my dream as an NFL player. It’s amazing. The guys in the training room have done such a great job – staying consistent, staying on top of me to make sure I do everything to get this thing possibly right. It’s feeling amazing. I’m going to keep going, take it day-by-day and just growing and elevating and get ready to get back out there.”
(How much better do you feel physically in terms of conditioning than you did when you first got here?) – “I feel great. It feels good. It feels good. Honestly the work – honestly the whole process of just grinding, I really love it. I’m just going to keep getting better and keep finding ways I can keep elevating and growing physically and mentally as a player, on and off the field, and just keep getting my body right and be ready to get back on the field and have a great [expletive] time.”
(Since you showed up here, you look slimmer. About how many pounds have you shed?) – “I’ve got an eight-pack, I don’t know. (laughter) I’ve been being consistent because they’ve been on top of me and making sure I’ve been consistently losing weight. I’m finally able to move around and actually able to have my feet under me so I can actually do stuff and be mobile. I’m not immobile. I’m able to do stuff so automatically that helps you lose weight and get better and feel better about yourself so you’re not just cooped up and hurt. I’m able to move around so again, it’s getting a lot better and it’ll keep getting better, too.”
(What do you think about the opportunity you have here in Miami? What do you make of it?) – “It’s just the best. Honestly, it’s the best. You have an opportunity and you just want to make the best out of whatever situation you’re in, honestly. I’m here and I’m going to do everything possible in my soul and my energy and my spirit to make sure I’m doing everything I could possibly to do be the best player I can be here, and I will. I’m going to keep going and I’m going to keep going and get out there and dominate and just keep elevating.”
(When you’re healthy, what do you believe are your on-field strengths?) – “Just dominating and being the best player I could possibly be. Dominate and just be very aggressive and a scary d-tackle, and be the best – one of the best – doing it.”
(How far away do you feel you are? Is it like one, two, three, four weeks?) – “I’m right there. I’m right there. I’ll keep getting better and take it day-by-day and stuff like that and keep staying in the treatment room and getting ice on that thing and just staying with (Assistant Athletic Trainer) Jon (Boone) and (Head Athletic Trainer) Kyle (Johnston) and (Head Strength and Conditioning Coach) Dave (Puloka) and all of the guys that are here helping me and just keep climbing up the ladder. It’s a process of course, but the more energy and time you put into it, the better it’s going to be and the more you’ll get out of this. It’s only right to put all of your effort and time and energy into that so you can get the most out, so you can be at your peak of your career. There’s no ‘peak,’ but you could be close and keep growing.”
(What, if anything, do you wish you had done differently in Arizona?) – “I did my thing. I gave it all I could. Things aren’t perfect. Some things happen. Just the little things, little situations. It didn’t work out. It wasn’t perfect but you adapt and adjust. You move on and you just keep getting better. You figure out things that you didn’t do right, things you could’ve done better. In any situation, you re-evaluate yourself as a man and a player, and see what you could’ve done to get better. You take that here, you come here and you just look those things in the face and you take that onto yourself and understand that you’re going to do those things better, and you’re going to make sure that you do those things better when you’re here.”
(Today the three-week window starts. What’s your confidence level that come three weeks, you’ll be able to go?) – “I’m very confident. I was confident on crutches. I was confident on crutches. There was only so much I could do physically on crutches; but mentally, physically and in my soul, I’ve always been confident. That’s just how I am. I’m not just saying like cliché but I always keep a good positive attitude of regardless of whatever because it’s just life. Stay positive, keep going.”
G Michael Deiter
(Is there a change at all now that Head Coach Brian Flores says that QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is back at starter this week?) – “No. Nothing is changing for me or on the o-line or the offense. It’s the same stuff, it’s just a different guy kind of running it, and getting us all squared away. That’s all. There’s not much that changes. It’s the same confidence, same energy, so it’s about the same.”
(Head Coach Brian Flores went back on what he said last week. He said that QB Josh Rosen was starting the rest of the season and now he went back to QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. Is there a responsibility on the offensive line a bit that maybe things didn’t work out for Rosen?) – “Yeah. We definitely – especially me in particular – need to do a better job of protecting him so he can play better and look better and get through all of his reads without someone being in his face. I think definitely we can help. We can definitely make the quarterback look good no matter who it is back there. That’s kind of our job is to give him as much time to make good decisions and be as good of a quarterback as they can be. We can definitely help and we can definitely hurt, it just depends on the day. I would say, especially me, that definitely didn’t help Josh Sunday.”
(Did QB Ryan Fitzpatrick give you guys a spark on Sunday? Obviously you scored a couple of touchdowns, but is it that veteran leadership that gave you guys a spark or was it something else?) – “I just think – I don’t know if it was him necessarily or if we all just cut it loose. We knew we had to make plays. Everyone knew that we had to protect, we had to get rid of the ball, we had to catch the ball and we had to make plays. I think everyone understood it including ‘Fitz.’ He just happened to be the guy in there who was delivering good balls and making good decisions. He definitely helped, no doubt; but it was all of the guys on the offense.”
(Is there something QB Ryan Fitzpatrick said in the fourth quarter when he came into that huddle that helped you guys?) – “No. Nothing in particular. It was just kind of ‘make plays.’ Our only option right now is to try to make plays and try to tie this game up. That was the mindset and he did a good job.”
LB Jerome Baker
(When you watch the game film, are you surprised at what RB Frank Gore can still do?) – “Not at all. I trained with him a little bit this offseason. I’ve been seeing it this whole offseason. It’s definitely going to be a good one.”
(When you say you saw RB Frank Gore this offseason, the way he works out, the way he…?) – “The way he works out, the way he prepares, the way he knows each linebacker in the league and their strengths. He’s not only (good) talent-wise, but his mental game is also up to par. That alone, he might have gotten older, but his mind is still working at 110 percent. That’s really what separates him. He’s smart. He’s smarter than a lot of running backs that you have in the league.”
(Is that what attributes to what I believe is 4.4 yards per carry? RB Frank Gore is still grinding there.) – “Yeah. It’s film study for him. He knows that if you rock over the top too fast, he’s going to hit it right downhill and you’re going to be too late, so that’s four yards right there. He really understands football. Even when he was here last year, that’s all he talked about – how different linebackers moved and things like that. It’s not just talent for him. His mental game is up to par.”
(How has QB Josh Allen changed from what he did to you guys last year?) – “It’s amazing how much he’s developed. He stands in the pocket, he makes those tough throws. He’s always been a tough quarterback. He’s not the one that always just slides. He’ll duck his shoulder a little bit. It got him hurt a few times; but for him, he’s a tough, smart quarterback. You can tell this offseason he was ready to really improve and it’s definitely working out for him.”
(How big of a challenge is QB Josh Allen? He was a big challenge last year they ran for 200 yards. How much of a challenge is it now?) – ‘It’s no secret. Last year it was he might can run or whatever; but he can run. He can break your ankles. It’s just a credit to him, the athlete, the toughness he has. It’s definitely a credit to him.”
(You guys had a few games at home. Buffalo is not going to be an easy place to play. What do you like about going on the road, especially a place like that?) – “We’ve got to stick together. That’s really what it is. There is no pats on the back, there is no going home. It’s we’re out here all together and it’s really time to build as a team. Us being a young team is definitely going to help us.”
QB Josh Rosen
(What’s your reaction to the decision?) – “I’m bummed out, but it’s a part of the process. If (Head) Coach (Brian Flores) wants to make the decision, it’s his decision to make. I just have to hopefully make – I wish I would’ve made it a little tougher on him. But it’s a long season. I’m going to continue to push ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) and be there for him and likewise he was there for me.”
(After having time to let it sink in a little bit, how do you feel you played on Sunday?) – “Bad. Badly. Very badly.”
(A step backwards?) – “Yeah. I would say so.”
(How so?) – “Just from like a production standpoint. On a micro basis, there were a lot missed little assignments here and there. Macro, I really didn’t score points. You gave ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) two or three drives and he put up almost enough to win the game. That’s kind of what it comes down to. I’m disappointed, but it’s part of it. It’s a long process.”
(Do you feel that you’ve earned or that you deserve more of a chance as opposed to three starts, maybe eight starts or six starts or something along those lines?) – “No, I think you earn each start that week. I’m not really entitled to anything or deserve anything outside of what’s been given to me. I’m a member of the Miami Dolphins and whatever they want me to do, I’ll do to the best of my ability.”
(Do you feel that any part of this is personal?) – “Absolutely not. It’s purely – It worked this last game. I wouldn’t like to say, but the decision to flip almost gave us a chance to win at the end of the game. Coach ‘Flo’ (Brian Flores) is (the) head coach, so it’s his decision to make on what gives the team the best opportunity to win. It’s my job to prove him wrong at this point, but I respect the decision and understand it.”
(What are some things you want to work on?) – “Continuing to get better at everything. Mastering the offense. Continuing to understand defenses better, play quicker. I think I can anticipate a little better. I think I slowly need to build a chemistry with all of the guys and figure out what they all do individually really well and how I can – I think I could – Probably if there’s one thing I can pin it down I’d say I’d like to anticipate a little better with a lot of my receivers, but it comes with time.”
(There’s a play in particular about anticipation: the throw down the seam to TE Mike Gesicki. It seemed like maybe there was a window to throw before he had reached it. What do you have to do on that play to be better?) – “Maybe I’m missing the play? The one he was running all the way across the field? Because ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) was in for one where he’s running a seam. I don’t know. Probably. If it wasn’t complete, I probably could’ve done better. Sorry I don’t remember, recall (that play).”
(I know you mentioned last week that you hope to prove to them that you can be the guy long term. How do you think this impacts that?) – “It impacts it negatively; but the degree to which it impacts it I think is still to be determined, and it’s my job to minimize that and still continue to prove (myself). We’re here seven days a week, so I’ll prove to Coach (Flores) that I’m the guy to move forward. You guys see the first couple minutes of practice three days a week, four days a week and the games on Sunday, but we’re here for a lot of time.”
(Where is your confidence level that you can win the job back?) – “I don’t know. I wouldn’t want to put a label on it. I’ll just say whenever the time is ready, whenever I’m called upon or if, then I will be ready.”
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
(What’s your reaction to being named the starter?) – “I’m excited. I told you guys earlier, I just enjoy playing football. I like being out there. It’s a lot more fun for me – whether it’s throughout the week or on Sunday in the game – to be out there and to be playing. Preparation is a lot more fun when you’re the guy. I’ll be a lot happier day today knowing that I’ll be out there and I’ll just try to go out there and be myself.”
(Did you tell your kids yet?) – “Yeah, I told my kids. They’re excited for me. It’s been – their whole life has been the rollercoaster of dad’s career, so they’re excited for me to be out there.”
(Did you kind of anticipate that from the fourth quarter on Sunday?) – “I don’t really – I didn’t have any expectations. Whatever (Head) Coach (Brian) Flores was going to do, I was going to try to do my best job at it and I’m glad he made the decision he did.”
(You obviously know Buffalo. Can you put into words the difficulty of a road team going and playing in that environment?) – “It’s an awesome place to play whether you’re there as a player with the support of the fans or going in there as an opponent in a hostile environment. When you walk in there, there’s not a whole lot of jerseys for your team. It’s all Buffalo jerseys. There will be some 14s but they’re probably Sammy Watkins (jerseys), not Fitzpatrick, and whoever it is now. (laughter) I have a lot of good friends from there – a lot of good memories. One player that I played with there that is in his second stint is Lee Smith. I don’t think anybody else is left. But in terms of that building and those people and the city of Buffalo, I have a lot of great memories.”
(You mentioned there won’t be a lot of Dolphins jerseys but I would imagine there may be one or two Fitzpatrick jerseys in there. What is it like for you when you go into some of those spots where you’ve played in and see…) – “Oh, it’s easy for me to pick out my old neighbors when they wear my jersey. (laughter) It’s either family or old neighbors or something. It is fun. It is fun to go and play in a game like this that is going to be in a great environment. This one is unique in that you have all of these new stadiums that are enormous and it’s almost like the game is secondary to some of the other stuff going on; but in Buffalo, it is all about the game. The fans are so into it – after the tailgating, of course – that as an opponent, you enjoy going in there and getting that feeling, as well.”
(We’ve talked about intangibles at the quarterback position before and I believe at one point in the preseason, you said if it wasn’t for intangibles, you might not be where you are. Among those intangibles, players playing hard for a quarterback or players liking to play for a particular quarterback, where does that rank? And how do you attain that as a quarterback?) – “I don’t think you can force it. I think there’s a naturalness to it. I mean some guys, that’s just what is in them. Maybe it’s the style of play or the way you carry yourself, whatever it is. I think it’s a very important trait to have as a quarterback. I’m not sure it’s one that you can really teach because it’s got to be – you have to be coming from a place that’s organic, that’s real. You can’t fake it. Guys can see that. I think if you’re out there and you’re enjoying playing the game, then that rubs off on other guys.”
(Is that tangible – for everyone to feel and see – in the locker room?) – “I think you’d have to ask them but like I said, I enjoy being out there and I’ve had great teammates over the years that I really had a fun time on the field with.”
(How would you describe your experience here this year? You had to battle for the job, you won the job, then you were on the bench and now you’re back in the lineup.) – “Rollercoaster. (laughter)”
(You’re the right guy for that kind of an assignment, I guess, because that’s been your career, right?) – “Yeah, you just try to – through it all, you just try to stay steady and try to make sure that all of the stuff that’s either going on outside or even inside of the building, it’s not affecting the way that you’re doing your job and the way that you’re approaching your job.”
(For you and QB Josh Rosen, going through that rollercoaster, how challenging is that where you’re starting one week and you never know. You might not be starting again the next week and you have to kind of keep battling for your job.) – “I think one of the most important things in doing that is just the open communication in our relationship. He had even said that he’s cheering for me when I’m in there; and I’m cheering for him. We want to win and we want what’s best for the team. I think that’s an important thing to be open about and to talk about rather than to avoid it and let it be an elephant in the room.”
(The good news is you are playing and you are starting but the bad news is the Buffalo Bills defense limited QB Tom Brady to one touchdown. They’re pretty good. They’re fourth in the NFL in scoring defense. What needs to happen – what do you need to make happen – to make that a good news, good news situation?) – “They are. They’re a great defense. Again, it’s a tough environment like we said. They’re very aggressive. Everybody seems to know their role and what they’re doing, what they’re supposed to do and what they’re asked to do on each snap. It will be a tough challenge for us. Each week I think we’ve tried to really focus on ourselves and getting ourselves better and in-tune with the details and on the same page with communication. It’ll just be another week like that where we’re really – obviously we’re game-planning and preparing for their defense but we’ve got to focus on ourselves and getting ourselves better because we’re still at a point now where we’re still trying to fix ourselves rather than every week going out there and trying to put 100 points on the board.”
(You spoke about your relationship with QB Josh Rosen and your communication with him. How have you helped him kind of handle how the season has gone for him?) – “I think part of it is just being there. He knows that I’m there and he knows that I’ve been through a lot of different things. I wasn’t a first-round high draft pick; but I have been the guy that has been the starter and the ‘franchise guy’ getting paid money and whatever else. So I’ve had the weight of the world on my shoulders at times and I know that as a quarterback, especially as a young guy and a guy that got drafted high, you feel that pressure sometimes. Every Sunday, I have the fate of this whole team on my shoulders and that’s what you do as a quarterback. But if you allow it to overpower you and you allow it to cripple you, it will. So part of it is just trying to play free and trying to really hone in on the details of your job and going out there and executing them. A lot of what I do – I’ll openly answer questions for him but I also think at times, just watching. He’s a lot more talented than I am but just watching certain things about me – maybe things he likes or doesn’t like – and figuring out things he might want to apply to his game or things he’ll try to avoid.”
(How did Head Coach Brian Flores tell you guys?) – “He’s just always been very straight up. He just came and told us.”
(Did you feel the Fitzmagic in the fourth quarter last week and how much more Fitzmagic is in there, do you think?) – “Well, it’s not something that I can just go out there and force and try to hit a home run on every play. Historically, there’s been times in my career where whatever team I’ve been on, we’ve gotten on a little bit of a roll and that momentum is a fun feeling. It’s a fun rhythm to get into. Hopefully we can see a lot more of that and there’s a lot more of that to come.”
(You mentioned the environment of Buffalo and that it’s a fun place to play and a loud place. Does that give you an extra boost to get that momentum going in an environment like that?) – “It’s sometimes tougher because of the communication and those types of things but it’s certainly a game that everybody will be up for. Whether there’s that big flyover or not before the game, the crowd is going to be going nuts and we’re going to be all we have on our sideline and really have to come together as a team and go do it.”
Head Coach Brian Flores
(C Daniel Kilgore went out of the game. Do you have an update on him?) – “Yeah. Dan is one of the toughest guys we have. He’s dealing with something from an injury standpoint but he’s doing everything he can to work his way back. You probably won’t see him at practice today. I’ll kind of give that to you. He’s definitely trying to work his way back and hopefully we see him towards the end of the week.”
(Is it something where you feel like C Daniel Kilgore has a chance for Sunday?) – “Potentially. I mean it’ll be tough but he’s as tough as they come. He’s going to do everything possible to try to get out there so we’ll see.”
(What do you guys think of C/G Evan Boehm at center?) – “I think that’s his natural position. I think he’s started games there before. He’s smart, he’s tough, he’s pretty dependable. I like Evan a lot. We’ve got the next-man-up mentality so he’ll step in at practice today and throughout the course of the week, and he always gets reps in there as the backup center. He’ll be in there.”
(What comes to mind when you think about playing a guy like RB Frank Gore this week?) – “The first thing that comes to mind is I played against Frank in college. It’s actually a pretty interesting story. The game – so the University of Miami is playing at Boston College. Right at the end, they’re up five and BC is going in to score on the 10-yard line. The ball gets tipped up and Ed Reed takes it back and Miami wins and goes on to win the national championship. In that game, Clinton Portis was the back. We were doing a decent job defensively. Portis gets knocked out of the game and everybody is kind of excited, for lack of a better term, because their best player it out and we may have a chance here. It was a tight game. Then some young back named Frank Gore steps in there and breaks off a 20-yard run. He’s been a great player in college. He’s been a great player in the league. Really, as tough, as physical, as productive – he’s a really good back. I have a lot of respect for him as a player. I got to spend some time with him when he was here in the offseason. As a person, he’s an even better person. He’s got leadership, he’s got really everything that you’re looking for in a back. This will be a tough test for us. He’ll be ready to go. He’s always ready to go. He’s been that way since I last put on a helmet for sure. He’s a very, very good player.”
(Did you get a chance to go heads up with RB Frank Gore in that game?) – “No. You know I wasn’t very good. (laughter) I wasn’t in there very much. Not that year, at least.”
(Are CB Cordrea Tankersley or DT Robert Nkemdiche ready to practice or possibly play?) – “You’ll see both guys in practice. They’ll be out there today. It’ll be their first time on the field with the team in pads. These guys have a long way to go. I think a lot of players think they can just step out there and play. I just have a different feeling on that. I think you have to get out there, you have to practice, you have to go through individuals, you have to feel some contact and you’ve got to work your way into this. It will be good to get them out there and get them practicing and get them back into the flow of things. It’s supposed to be a hot day so we’ll see what kind of conditioning they’ve got right now. It will be interesting.”
(DT Robert Nkemdiche looks better right, than when he got here?) – “(laughter) Yeah, he looks better. He’s working really, really hard. He’s done a good job since he’s been here as far as getting his workouts in, rehabbing and trying to learn the system. But it’s still very, very early in the process for him. Today he’ll get out there and practice and we’ll see how it goes.”
(You don’t have to activate them off PUP right…) – “No. We have some time. We have a little time. It’s a good opportunity to take a look at these guys – both ‘Tank’ (Cordrea Tankersley) and Rob (Nkemdiche) – and really kind of get them into a practice setting, some individuals, some team drills, some group drills. It’s been a long time for both guys since they’ve stepped on a field in a competitive environment. I never want to rush things. We’ve got some time. Look, if they look like they’re ready to go, nobody wants to see those guys out there more than I do. But at the same time, this is a hard game to play so we’ll do what we feel is best for them individually and us as a team.”
(What are the challenges facing a running quarterback as big and as physical as QB Josh Allen is?) – “First, it’s tackling. We have to do a great job of tackling the quarterback and really tackling in general. They have good backs, receivers and tight ends. Tackling the quarterback in space, it’s a hard thing. This is a guy – Josh Allen is tough, he’s physical and he’s fast. He can break some long runs if you don’t do a good job tackling and keeping him in the pocket. There are a lot of challenges from that perspective and we’ve got to do a good job as a total team defense to have an understanding of what kind of player we’re going up against and at the same time, taking care of the other athletes on the field. We’ve got to take care of that, as well.”
(How is CB Xavien Howard coming along and how would you like to nurse his injury so you have him for the rest of the season?) – “He’s doing well. I expect to see him at practice today. Obviously he’s been working to get back out there on the field. He’s anxious to get out there. Again, (Xavien is) working through some things and hopefully we get him out there today, throughout the course of the week, and I think every player’s got a little bit of – we want every player out there practicing, but the guys who are nursing some injuries, we try to manage them to some degree. If they can go, we let them go, so it’s a little bit of a feel-out process as the practice goes.”
(Was CB Xavien Howard close to going at any point Sunday?) – “He did everything possible to go. This is a competitive guy. He wanted to be out there. It just didn’t work out; but we’re onto this week and Buffalo. He’s anxious to get out there.”
(Have you made a decision for your starting quarterback?) – “Yeah, we’re going to start ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) this week. (We) kind of came to that conclusion really over the last couple of days. (We) decided that we feel like that was the best thing for this team and give us an opportunity – the best opportunity – for this team to go up into a tough environment and try to pull out a win; and we do that on a weekly basis. What’s the best way, what’s the best grouping, set of players – offense, defense, kicking game – to help us try to win the game? We felt that that was the case this week.”
(Do the players respond better to QB Ryan Fitzpatrick?) – “To me, it’s we need to play well offensively, defensively and in the kicking game. We need to be more productive on offense. We really need to be more productive everywhere; but offensively, we need more production. We got that out of Ryan the other day for a quarter, and we just felt like as we – this game and this week – that was the best chance for us to be productive. We’ll see how it goes. This is a tough team. That’s an extremely tough defense. It’ll be a tough crowd. We know that. It’ll be a tough environment so it’ll be a major challenge, but we felt like given all those obstacles, that Ryan gave us the best chance to be productive offensively.”
(Players responding to a quarterback, though – is that a real thing? Is that something tangible?) – “I would say yes, to a degree. I think it’s a team game, so really players respond to each other and a group; but yeah, the quarterback, I think he’s got the ball in his hands on every snap so he’s got a relationship with the center, the receivers, the backs, the tight ends. So yeah, players – really I would say on every team – they have to respond to the quarterback.”
(What does this mean for QB Josh Rosen?) – “Josh, we have a lot of confidence in Josh or else we wouldn’t have played him. I think for him, it’s got to be a day-to-day improve, get better and continue his development, and that was the conversation I had with him. I think he’s still a young player – a young, talented player – and there’s still a lot of room for development with him. We’ll continue to develop him in practice; but at the end of the day, we’re looking for production at all positions and we felt like playing ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) would be in the best interest of this team.”
(We talked last week and a little bit this week about QB Josh Rosen’s development. That’s the reason why he was playing. What changed I guess in that spectrum?) – “I would say his production in the game, pretty much. I think the way we played at the end of the game, along with some other – there’s a myriad of reasons – but at the end of the day, I felt like we moved the ball better with Ryan (Fitzpatrick) in the game and I think we need to stay with that. That’s really what changed. It’s not a knock on Josh. I think he’s improving. I do, and he’ll continue to improve; but at the end of the day, we’ve got to do what’s best for this team or what we feel is best for this team.”
(Do you have an update on Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks Jim Caldwell? I know we haven’t talked a lot…) – “Yeah, I just talked to Jim (Caldwell). He’s doing well. I talk to Jim a lot. He’s somebody I bounce thoughts and ideas off of, questions about – I try to give him an idea of where the pulse of the team is, and we go back and forth just in different conversations. It goes from situations in a game to personnel to how my family is doing to how he’s doing; but yeah, he’s doing well.”
