Head Coach Brian Flores
(Defensively, how do you think DT Raekwon Davis has played this year and how far is he form where you think he could be talent-wise?) – “I think he’s done some good things this year. I think there’s still a lot of room for improvement from him like most young players. I think he works hard. I think he does a lot of the things off the field that will allow him to make those improvements and as long as he continues to do that the way he’s been doing and even hopefully increase some of those things from preparation – he does a lot of good things but he can always do a better job if he does that and he’ll have an opportunity to get even better.”
(What are your thoughts on C/G Michael Deiter’s transition to center has gone for him? Is he at least an average or pretty good NFL starting center?) – “Look, Deiter’s had an interesting year. He had a good training camp, went down with the injury, fought his way back. I think he’s done some good things. Again, another young player who is making a transition. Prepares the right way, does a lot of the right things and has given himself an opportunity to improve, which he has. Hopefully he continues to improve and we’ve got an opportunity again this week against a good front, a good defense to make calls, protect and block up front against a good team that runs multiple fronts so this will be a big challenge.”
(I know the weather and elements played a factor against Tennessee but this season you’ve got eight games where you guys have produced less than 300 yards of offense. What do you think has been the issue where there hasn’t been some consistency on that side of the ball?) – “Lack of execution. We’ve just got to do a better job across the board. That starts with me. I’ve got to do a better job of getting these guys in a position to have success. Fortunately, we have another opportunity this week to make some of those improvements. That’s across the board, starting with our fundamentals and our techniques. Pass game, run game, play action or whatever you want to call it, we’ve got to do a better job.”
(The run game is obviously it’s a major component of what you guys do and what you guys wan to be. There’s been a commitment to it but the output is below what the league averages. Do you feel like if that improved, that it would help improve the overall offense?) – “Yeah, I think that goes without saying. I think if we made improvements in a lot of areas, it would help the overall offense no different than any other phase. We’re always trying to improve in a lot of different areas – run game, play action, run defense, all of it. It’s all intertwined. Again, we’ve got an opportunity to play well offensively. Obviously, that takes execution, that takes preparation, which we are still going through that this week. Today is a big day as far as that’s concerned and another opportunity against a very good team. We’re going to have to execute and do a good job if we are going to move the ball and be productive against them.”
(How important is it to finish the season strong? You guys did it in 2019 and then fell short against the Bills. Is it important to leave the season with a positive tone?) – “I think it’s always important to put your best foot forward and compete. That’s what this game is all about. So yes, I think that’s very important.”
(One of the themes we’ve been talking about this week is how you prepare for this final game without playoff contention being a part of that. I wanted to get your assessment for how that team and the coaches have really prepared this week and assess how the week has gone for you guys.) – “Really no different than any other week. We go through our early down preparation, third-down preparation, red-area and two-minute preparation. We talk about our opponent and what their style of play is. This is a tough, physical team. They run the football. They stop the run. They force teams to execute. We’re going to have to do all of those things to have success and have production. So really no different from a preparation standpoint.”
(I remember during the offseason, RB Myles Gaskin talked about how the offense could be transformed by the speed of WR Jaylen Waddle and WR Will Fuller, how lanes would be open for running backs. As you look back, and I know you don’t want to look back a lot today, but was losing Fuller a dramatic blow to what you all had hoped to achieve with the offensively, what your, George Godsey and Eric Studesville’s vision was for this offense?) – “Every team deals with injuries, deals with guys out and other guys have to step up and you’ve got to make adjustments. I wouldn’t say that was – we’ve got to make the adjustments. In some instances we did and in some instances we didn’t. Overall, those are things that we will evaluate next week but right now our focus is on the Patriots without Will Fuller like it’s been in previous weeks. That’s where the focus is – how we move the ball against them without whatever players that are going to be out. We’ll do our best to have a productive game.”
(And one last question on the whole WR Will Fuller issue. I know we’ve probably asked you too much about it but since fans ask about this, just to clarify once and for all, is the only reason he has missed the past couple of months because of his finger injury as opposed to any off-field issue? Is it only the finger?) – “Like you said, we’ve had this discussion over and over again. We’re focused on the Patriots. Will won’t be out there with us this weekend and the focus is trying to be successful in all three phases without him.”
(Earlier this week, we were talking to Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Danny Crossman and he expressed his disappointment in the special teams performance. When you guys look at what has been going on in terms of inconsistency all season, have you been able to put a finger on what is the source of where it’s coming from? Is it the changes in the new rules, is it the lack of consistency of people on the units, is it a lack of having a clear returner? Where are the struggles in that phase coming from?) – “I think you always look inward, so I’ll start with myself and the things I need to do to help us play better in really all three phases. Whether that’s schematically or putting players in the right positions. I start there and then kind of look at the rest of it collectively. Are we doing enough to help guys execute? Which obviously we haven’t done a good enough job of that. It starts with me.”
(Following up a little bit on turning our attention to the wide receivers, there was high hopes going into the season because you had so much talent at that position. How would you assess how they’ve done collectively? Have they met your expectations? Have they fallen short? Where do they fall?) – “I would say there is a time to reflect on the season and I think that’s not right now. Right now is the time to focus on the game we have right in front of us, which is against a very good team. And focus on the entire team – not one position and how that position has played, whether it’s offense, defense or special teams. We’ve got a very good opponent ahead of us. I’m just trying to put my energy on that opponent. See how we can get our receivers, backs, tight ends open against a defense that really contests every pass, does a good job in the run game. Conversely, offensively they run the ball effectively and do a good job of throwing it. And they do a good job in the kicking game as well. That’s where my energy is right now.”
(What’s your reaction to WR Jaylen Waddle winning the team MVP award as a rookie?) – “Congratulations to him. But let’s have a good practice today and get ready to play against a good football team and hopefully play well.”
(Given that the playoffs are no longer a possibility, might you be inclined to want to take a look at some of the younger players for this game who have not had as much of a chance to play or is the goal to flat out win the game?) – “The goal is to win the game, so we’re going to play the guys we feel gives us the best opportunity to do that. It that’s a younger player, that’s who it is. If it’s a vet or someone who has played the majority of the season, then that’s who it’s going to be.”
