Opening Statement:
"Alright, let's get rocking. So today for us is like a Wednesday, our competition Wednesday. Then we just flip tomorrow and today for the players from their off day. But this day is where it comes together for us. We fully kick it off, the preparation, the learning, the specific parts of the game plan, all of that begins and each week there's a lot of learning that goes into that plan that matchup, any special checks. So, there's no shortcuts to that and a big responsibility to get right. It's all hands on deck. Jog through pace today and I'll have some more injury updates later in the week on Thursday and Friday because today's a jog through portion and we still got a few guys that I'll have a better sense once I get to Thursday afternoon. So all that said, let's get rocking with you guys."
On what he has learned about offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury:
"A lot. Coming in I knew kind of the background of Kliff and we'd known each other from a football perspective. I think I fully found out what a competitor he is. Like that I think is at the core of really who he is. He comes across in a quiet demeanor externally, but this is a really driven person and so that part of the competitive nature, like you see it sometimes in his play calling. There's like a good anger to it at times. And so I think I found out like this is a real competitor. Loves to attack as we would know, but he gives full support and I appreciate that. I didn't think it wasn't gonna happen, but I did learn that for somebody that sat in the chair, he's got perspective to see things and give insights. I appreciate that about him for sure."
On where he has seen the competitor come out in Kingsbury:
"The competitive moments in practice for sure where it's offense against defense. It could be game days. And so those are the times when it's usually the most intense and I really like that about him. And so the ones where like every Wednesday and Thursday we usually have an offense versus defense competition of some sort. I know that's his favorite practice parts of the week, so it's pretty clear."
On if there is a specific play this year that encapsulates LB Bobby Wagner's impact:
"There's actually one today, Ben. I was sitting in the team meeting room next to [S] Jeremy Reaves and on Wednesdays, which is today is we do tackling and breaking tackles. And so [special teams coach] Larry Izzo and [assistant head coach/passing game coordinator] Brian Johnson present to the team that day. And so Larry on this one for Christmas did like a highlight of the season. And so different styles of tackles, one man tackles, tracking, we have different techniques that we call them all. And as I was sitting next to Jeremy Reeves, I said, look at this and it was the body position, the squareness of [Wagner], the wrapping. And I said, this is amazing. And so he must have been on, if there were a hundred clips of people, like, 'There was 54. There was 54.' And I think it's a reminder of like how square really excellent tackles are. And so, you could see somebody's shoulder turn and he could just have this way that he's placed square and can cover ground laterally. And Reavo and I were just sitting there and I said, 'Man, this is pretty cool.' And so he was just on there a lot. It wasn't by any one, you know, like, 'Oh I'm gonna make a highlight tape of Bobby.' It was just him being him. I think as funny as that sounds, it actually happened this morning with just the amount of tackling that took place because it went from all the way from the opening game all the way through. And so it had a lot of players in it, but he was on there a lot as you might imagine."
On if there is a possibility that RB Austin Ekeler will play again this year:
"Absolutely possible. Yeah. So, Austin is definitely trending in the right way. Workout's are going great. He's in meetings, he's doing all the stuff with us. So yeah, we're certainly optimistic and we'll just play the whole thing out. But like you said, the earliest that he would begin is next week. But, it's been encouraging to see the progress that he's made."
*On what his takeaways are with the run game and on how that aspect of the team can continue to improve: *"Yeah, in fact, we had that same discussion today, Nicki. And I think going into it, I had this talk with the guys. We've got a smart crew and so the pass protection, the blitz pickups I think is good. I said, I wanna make sure we don't miss the aggressive part of it, of thinking to this, what could happen here, what could happen there. Like let's make sure we're sprinting off the ball into our contact. And so that was the message I wanted to give because these are sharp guys. If this guy aligns here, we wanna check to this guy. I said sometimes guys make the mistake, make it full speed. If they do something different, that's okay. And so I wanna make sure that's what we see this weekend. Just that type of commitment off the ball. They're tough, they're physical. I said don't overthink this thing, man. Like we all have a tendency in anything to do that. Let's make sure they feel our pads, our physicality. And that to me was as much as anything. We've got a good scheme. We know how to run, we use the quarterback, we carry out fakes. It's difficult, don't miss the top of the pile. That's the effort and the finishing and the hitting. And so like, this is not to be taken too scientifically. Let's make sure we follow our pads in this game."
On how much it changes up front if DT Jonathan Allen is able to rejoin the team this season:
"Well, we're certainly looking forward to it because we know the caliber of Jon and what he can bring. And so anytime you can add a player of his caliber to it, pass rush, just experience also. He's strong. He's tough. So when that does happen, that'll be something that will definitely bring energy to our defense as well. Much like you know, we added [CB] Marshon [Lattimore] into that space as well, where you just add guys into it. Different for Jon because he was here, but the same effect in a lot of ways."
On if the context of what he needs from his veteran leaders changes going into a potential playoff situation:
"No, and the reason I say that quickly, they've been leaned on in such a significant way of standards and example. And the thing that's been fun to see honestly is the other leaders now that have emerged because of their willingness to share insights and to share ideas. And so like [CB] Mike Sainristil is a full on leader now. And so that's a good thing. [QB] Jayden [Daniels] is a full on leader here as a first year player. So it's hard to lead early. You have to prove it. You have to be dependable, you gotta be responsible for how you can do things and you have to do what you say you're going to do. And so in those instances, guys like that have emerged in that way. And there's a number of others, but them specifically from a rookie class, those two have absolutely stood up to me. I feel like [S] Percy Butler on the special team side has done that. [S] Jeremy Chinn has done that. I see the communication that he now is trying to give to the corners and the communication. When that happens, the other players man, they feel that. Like Jeremy will help me better by the way he communicates. We'd all like to play with people. Hey Dan, look out for this. Like that's a good thing. And so for a new player like [CB] Marshon [Lattimore] or anybody really to come in, like those leading moments, they help. And so to see some of the leadership develop from within that is what makes me most proud. Knowing that it doesn't have to come from me. I give a look or a signal to go and I know that if I get a message to one person, it'll get to the rest of the team by the end of the drill. And so they're all on the same page here. So I like that a lot."
On evidence of his approach to have Daniels' leadership come naturally over time:
"Well, first it's what we stand for. If we're going to have competition as the central theme of the program, then I think it would be counterproductive to say everybody else compete, but you've already got it. I think that would be the wrong message to send when you're trying to establish, you know, some standards that you want to do as a program that's developing. He did it by his work first. And then after that, I think the moments in the game the guys just came to lean on him, trust on him knowing that he does what he says he is going to do. Not to say that every, you know, game is perfect, but they have a lot of belief in him. And I think belief's a really powerful thing because there's that bridge that goes from the gap that says, wanting to win to knowing you're going to win and that's powerful. And so I think Jayden helped that bridge where you're hopeful you want to, to we're going to. And so if you've ever been on a team that you know you're going to, man, that feels a lot different. And so his confidence is a big part of that. And his humility is a big part of that because of all the accolades and the things and the attention that he gets. He's deferral. He doesn't do that. And I think the players recognize that as well. Early on I was worried about as much as you guys would talk about him and watch him at practice, I said, we could have the other 70 guys doing something else they wouldn't even know. But I also knew, well I found out this is a pretty special guy. You know, he already came in with a very mature sense about him. He'd been through some good strong life experiences, but it was a humility and confidence that probably separated himself to be able to lead. Because I think if you do it beforehand, it's not authentic. If you anoint somebody as a leader and they're not, it's bull*. And so the players know that these guys have been bull** their whole life as great players coming up. And so they see through it way faster than anybody else. So if I had done that to them, they said, man, you're not real. And so I wanted to make sure that I stay consistent with that too. And so I also don't want to not allow him to fully develop into a leader he is now. So there's no need for me to guard him from any of that. Like they trust him, they have belief in him."
On if he is seeing everything he has envisioned since training camp at this stage of the season:
"Yeah, I would say I don't think back that far, but it's a great question. The part from training camp I wanted to make sure, and you probably heard me say it a lot, is our identity. And I think that still grows as you're going. I think as we're getting into this second half of the season now, you never want to lose that. Once you have it, can it stay connected? Can you stay fully engaged to how we play, the speed, the physicality, those things that are so important to who we are. I've been pleased to see that stay consistent because if you go like this, you don't really have one. And so that part I've been pleased with to see the team really get connected fast. I would say that even surpassed my expectations. I hoped that would happen. Somebody made the comment, we had our team Christmas party the other night and they said it was less like an office party and more like just a party with your friends. And that made me feel good to know that they've connected on a deeper level than just people that work together. Like they enjoy spending time together. And I think that type of love they have carries over onto the field because they are playing for something bigger themself, which some people think you can't do in pro ball. And I would say, I'm showing saying the other way, I think we can."
On the receiver room stepping up with WR Noah Brown going down and how they will prepare for the Atlanta Falcons:
"I thought [WR] Dyami [Brown], big ball, that one and then JC [WR Jamison Crowder] and OZ [WR Olamide Zaccheaus]. Like OZ, I kind of thought he would, he's such a competitor that other people I think have competed hard or since he's been here from the off season because his standard of going like the [WR] Luke's [McCaffrey] and them, they don't want to not keep up with him. So I anticipated him having, but JC you know, had the hardest road back because of the injury. And I think he showed a lot of grit to say it's hard to be in IR and not playing. And so to stay in it, to stay in it, to stay in it. And then when your number's called to go deliver, I think that's a big deal. But all three of them I thought made some impactful plays. But certainly, the scores by OZ and JC were there. But Dyami also had a couple. A deep ball that we can feel his speed, so to connect on that because quite often a lot of those go to [WR] Terry [McLaurin] and so to him to have the connection on the deep ball, I thought that was big."
On what he's seen from Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr.:
"I think coming into it through the draft process, he was actually here and had a visit with us during the spring as well. You found out this is a rare competitor. We knew his path from college to Indiana and out to [University of Washinton] and he'd had just a fantastic year. Even though they lost, I would say the game against Michigan, where he just stood in and over and over. I thought, man, this guy is tough. We hadn't even looked at him yet, but it captured me into that spot. And so going into the whole process, you knew this was a talented guy, he could deliver, he could process quickly. And so his way of playing is different than our way of playing where we moved Jayden a lot to do that. Where Michael's more in the traditional way, strong arm can rip it to anywhere. So those were the things, you know, we saw in the draft process and then limited stuff during the preseason. We saw some and then a full on game last week and you saw that arm talent and the strength come through full on."
