Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury addressed the media before practice on Nov. 7. Here is a full transcript of the press conference.
On if he's faced CB Marshon Lattimore before:
"We did."
*On what he remembers from facing Lattimore: *"Yeah, 2019 I believe. First year in Arizona. I thought he was tremendous. He walks down and it's not easy to do in this league, play that much man coverage down in somebody's face, but physical, will tackle in the run game. Tremendous man coverage guy, so yeah, I was really, really excited to see that that occurred."
On how much Lattimore can influence what an offense calls:
"Yeah, it's huge. Most of the time you like to see them as X's and O's, but there's those certain players that you have to know who they are and scheme around them. And he's one of those guys, because he is that good of a player and that difficult to kind of deal with when he's able to take away one of your top options."
On T Brandon Coleman and on if he will change play calls because of Coleman's skills:
"Yeah, we're going to try to maximize what he does best throughout. Very athletic and the run game and the screen game and that is apparent when you watch the film. But I thought he battled well. He continues to get better, had the setback in training camp, but since then has just really worked hard, in the meetings, on the practice field to get better. And that's what you like to see is just steady improvement. And you saw that against some really good rushers. He had a couple that he liked to have back, but that was a great group that he was facing, and I thought he battled and competed at a high level."
On how WR Noah Brown is able to draw so many pass interference penalties:
"Yeah, I'm not sure, but I think some guys have it and some guys don't. He's a very savvy football player. That's one thing when we got him immediately, just his understanding of the nuances of what we were trying to do and being able to put his own little spin on routes and concepts and understanding it was through the roof. And that's just another level of that the ball's in the air, he's going back to make plays on the ball and has drawn some huge PI's for us."
*
On if he's noticed the increase in attention around the team and on how QB Jayden Daniels has handled the attention:*
"I mean, I've heard all the answers and all the press conferences. As good as you could possibly imagine, I'd say for Jayden. I mean, that's how he is, nonstop. He defers credit to everybody else and it's just all about trying to get better the next week. And so that's been awesome to see. But not surprising, just kind of how he is handled his success thus far. And since I got here, just the amount of passion the fan base has had has been incredible. I had not been around that where it's just live or die and really longing to be relevant again. And you can feel that it's tangible. And so that's been cool to see that from the first moment I got here. And then to actually have some success early and see people get excited. Yeah, that definitely motivates all of us."
On Daniels' elusiveness:
"Yeah, I think just a feel. He's played that way his entire life. He's very, very fast, obviously. So, he knows what he can get away with and what he can't. And then he also knows protections and he knows when he should be picked up and when he is hot. And so, he can kind of set guys up knowing, 'Okay, that's the free rusher, I can set him up and get out this way or that way.' And so, it's a combination of his knowledge of the system and then just sheer athletic ability."
On the challenges Pittsburgh's defense poses:
"They're really good. [Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive Coordinator] Teryl Austin's done a tremendous job, obviously [Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach] Mike T [Mike Tomlin], the culture he has there, they're very physical, great personnel, play downhill, take the ball away. So, it'll be a huge test. I think making sure we avoid negative plays and turnovers is going to be the key to keeping it a ball game and being able to stay in it."
On what the keys will be for Daniels to stay disciplined throughout the game against Pittsburgh:
"Yeah, just the work he puts in. I think you earn that, right? With how you work and keeping your process the same and not being bored of doing it over and over and over. And that's something that, from what I've seen, he's willing to pay the price every morning early through the evening of same routine, getting better, asking the right questions, putting the work in on the practice field. And when you have those things, the confidence is there and so you don't need to change anything."
On how to prepare for Pittsburgh Steelers LB Preston Smith:
"Yeah, I've played against him before. Very good, powerful, talented rusher. So, it's not like they needed any help with that position [laugh], but they got it. So, that that'll just add to a very tough defense and that to me is, the way those guys, the relentless pass rush, the way they get after the passer and just they fall into sacks. They'll beat you clean and then they'll fall into stuff because of the effort and because the quarterbacks that are able to move, they'll keep chasing them in the pursuit. It's really impressive to watch, it's a credit of those coaches and the players and the culture they've created."
On the team being able to limit turnovers:
"I would just say the individual pride and the collective kind of brotherhood of guys taking it to heart that, 'Hey, when you're carrying the football, you're carrying the entire organization.' And those guys, they own it in practice. They own it in the games and then you have to have some fortunate bouts as well. I mean everybody knows that."
On the running back group:
"Yeah, it's a credit to all of them and they compete well, they communicate well. [Running Backs] Coach [Anthony] Lynn does a tremendous job leading that room, but I think that's the coolest part is just they all support each other. Like when [RB] "C-Rod" [Chris Rodriguez] got in and had some good runs, nobody was more happy for him than [RB] "B-Rob" [Brian Robinson] and that's awesome to see. That's not like that everywhere I've been, but I think that's the message of the competition in that room. They know whoever goes in can do it at a high level and they continue to support each other."
On the strengths of Pittsburgh's defense:
"Yeah, taking the ball away and creating negative plays. They're coverage wise, very sticky in man coverage when they decide to do that. And then the pass rush, it doesn't leave you much room for error, so you have to be very precise. You have to stay on schedule and there's going to be some plays that we gotta find ways to get the ball out of our hands and not take negative plays on first to second down."
On Pittsburgh Steelers LB T.J. Watt and on if he gameplans for Watt specifically when watching tape:
"Yeah, when I'm watching tape, when I'm sleeping all of the above. He's a game wrecker. He is on that level of certain guys around the league, the [Former Los Angeles Rams DT] Aaron Donald's, I know he is retired, but where it's like, 'Okay, going into that week we've got to know where he is at on every play and if we leave one play where he's not accounted for and given extra attention, then that's the play that can change the game.' He's that dominant of a player and he plays with that type of effort. So yeah, definitely one that keeps you up at night."
On if he's more afraid of Watt compared to other rushers around the league:
"I'm pretty fearful of all those guys, so yeah, they all keep me up at night. So, I think we've tried to protect as best we can against some of those guys, but there's a reason they're going to be hall of fame players. I mean, they've have played a long time. They know how to kind of navigate the chips and the edges and still find a way to get it done."
On the test next week for Daniels preparing for Philadelphia on a short week:
"Yeah, it's a test for everybody. I mean, any those Thursday games as far as NFL coaches go, I'd say you kind of just throw your hands up and say, 'We hope we play really well.' Like I've seen times that we didn't practice and you're almost like, 'Well maybe we should just do that shit every week, because it's like we played really well.' But yeah, you walkthrough, you try to have as much carryover and as many things maybe that you've repped and didn't get to in the game. So, you have that backup up there. But yeah, it's never easy. So, I don't think being a rookie is that much different, honestly. It's a new experience every time you get one of those."
On if he changes the way he installs the offense on a short week:
"You just, I mean, me personally, we'll install less, but there's stuff we've had throughout the season that maybe I can go back and find that fits. We've repped it so at least there's a commonality with our players have terminology and execution, they've walked through, they practice it. And when you show the clips from previous practices and to me that has always been something that makes me feel better is at least they've got some live full speed reps before you go out there and try to do it."
On if the offense walks through as much in a short week compared to a full week:
"I do. Yeah, excessively, yeah, I do."
