True practice today. Did you say normal length practices or is typically what you have normal? Is a normal Tuesday? Do you have any sense of zach Ertz and what his situation is going to the opening? What'll monitorum during the week. But he's cleared to go today, so we'll see how how he handles it. Parker Smith is cleared to go today, so we'll see how he handles it. Also, so in the preseason kind of impacted your ability to
judge his progress as a blocker. Yeah, I mean we didn't get him into game, so but I think he has improved. You can tell from a technical standpoint what he's done, and Justin can tell that during drill work what he's what he's done to improve from that standpoint, soaring for a new coach and running ahead the yeah, you don't. You know, you just got some preseason games and obviously I don't think Dan used everything in the preseason,
both offensively and defensively. Um, you know, just because of the how preseason expresses itself. So you got to kind of look at the coordinators and where they came from and kind of match up what you think is going to happen. But they'll have to be some in game adjustments both offensively and defensively in terms of what we're preparing for. He did, but also their coordinator came from Denver, so you know, I think you got to look at
where they all came from. Same thing. Offensively, Kyle's there, but it's not exactly what he did at Washington because obviously Matt Ryan's a little bit different than RG three. But UM, you know, you got a understanding of what they're gonna do. But there'll be things that they show um in the first game that they didn't show in the preseason. We just had him. He was our highest we have everybody rated. He was the highest rated guy that was available after the waiver wire went through, So, um,
you know, we like his arm. He's got a really really strong arm. Uh quickly. Jeff Stoutland knows him pretty well. Was actually at Miami when he played there, so uh kind of know the makeup of the player. UM talked to him back when he was coming through the draft process, so kind of relied on all of our information that we had, But he was the highest rated guy we had that was on the waive of wire. Behind those
decisions to it. Now, I just don't want to have a lot of free agents when season ends next year, next at the end of the season. So say Gardner is the garden now, yeah he's starting during game week. Yah, so we got the game week he's the starting record.
You have advantage back here. First game, did you feel like because he knew what exactly you were going to break the appro game with two guys, So, I mean, you guys jumped in Washington, now, but I mean we did what we did in the preseason though, So it wasn't like we didn't do anything really different in that first game that we didn't do um in the preseason.
So the second there was going to be tested right out of the shoot Lion Leo drones to talk about Roddy White and Tammy and there's a lot of a lot of good players down there, So, um, that's gonna be a big matchup. You know, generating a pass rush. Obviously, pass defense consists of you know, pass rush and pass coverage. So, um, try to get to Matt so we can get the ball out of his hands a little bit quicker than
probably he hopes to get it out. But you know, it depends on how their protection can hold up versus our rush, and then how does our coverage hold up against some really talented receivers, and especially Julio and Roddy those are two of the tops and in a really good pair, you know. So it's not like you can just always single one guy out that we feel like they've got a couple of guys there that you have to really put a lot of attention up. Yeah, we
did a little mind backer. Then you start of the year last year, after the preseason, how confident you go to your pass rush? Where do you think that they are going into We'll see a lot of things Billy did Billy that we didn't do a lot of stuff in the preseason. It was just we did a lot of coverage, did a lot of just four and three man rushes. So, um, you know, try to try to see mix that in with what else we'll do in terms of game playing for Atlanta. But will confident going
in the game. As far as Gordon, what did he do from the time he came in last or I guess last ring now that earned as I did commit. I just think he's a lot more consistent. Um, you know, we were excited with how he played during the end of last year. Now he played an extensive amount after Todd get hurt. So, um, it's got a real good grasp of what we're doing. I think he's a real smart football player. Um. And he's always where he's supposed
to be when he's supposed to be. There's a lot of consistency and Andrew's play earlier about but Cox being able to play every spot on the line? Was he that way when you got here? Did he turn himself into that kind of player? No, I just think I think he was like that. I think he's a multi position player along the defensive front, so can play defensive enforcing, can also play nose force. Um. But I think all three of those guys I think said can do that, and I think Benny can do that also. So um.
But that's what you know, that's what he was like when we got here. He's he's very talented player. Sea last year really shut your offense down better than anybody with win. Was it their personnel or was it something they were doing schematically? Well both. I mean they are extremely talented defense. You know, probably the best corner in the league, best safety in the league. Um, best para safety is in the league. Too, so you know they they had talent across the front. But Dan does a
good job. It's a very sound scheme, you know, and so um it makes you you'll know they'll be prepared, so you know you have to be prepared when you go against them. Can you talk a little bit about your philosophy of good people making good football players and how that applies specifically to Connor Marwin? I just think that's kind of simple. I mean, if if someone is doing the right things all the time, I think what you do off the field carries over to on the field.
So I think Connor's a prime example of that. Play the pass rush of the season, hopefully the same role he had last year. I think he led the NFC in sax So um, you know we're hoping we can get the similar type production ofut of this year. Is there a growth far enough longer you can have a significant roll right down to the shoot? Where does he still need some more seasons in here? I think Eric and have a significant roll right out the shoot? So um,
we're confident in Eric going into this game. He tried so many different combinations in that secondaries. Do you anticipated being a kind of a continuing process for you want to just kind of get settled Monday and go to the same leap and especially in the slot, and uh, whatever's best rust to win is what we're gonna go. With their defense, you know, I think they've got a good rush. The front four can get after the quarterback
just in a four man rush. UM coverage wise, you know Trufon as a kid, I know him really well, played against him when he was at Washington. He did not play in the preseason, but has had an outstanding career so far down at in Atlanta. UM. I think their linebackers are active, and I think they've picked up on what Dan is trying to do. They look sound
and and everybody on the same page. And in the preseason games that we said easily good dynamic pass rusher, you know, think you know, they try to always get him to the open side, so he's not always lined up on one side, so he'll he'll be a that'll be a good test for both JP and Lane. Looking back to year Temple shirt, Rock in the Temple shirt, I like it. You walked off the field the Giants team. Did you visit as much change as there's been as your head in Orlando. I mean I didn't walk off
the Giants field thinking about any type of change. I was worried about the bus ride home, to be honest with And just every offseason there's always turnover on a team. I don't think the turnover when it's finally settled and how many players we have knew was really not any different than any team that this. You know, that's just kind of what happens in this league. That's a nature
of the business. So are you guys, like at the point where you're pretty sure, like what you're gonna do is with regards to like the nicol and there's third safety, or you're still experimenting and or how's that now we get a game plan? What's up? Yeah, if it benefited us, I would, But I don't see it benefiting us. Does it? The Mets on other Laeael Zoe? You know, you just watch how hard they played. Um, you know, got a chance to watch their game on Saturday, and uh, and
I've seen a lot of their games. You know, I go over We have practiced on Saturday on Saturday morning and then we'll go over and catch some games over there. So I've seen him play you know, the last couple of years and I see the team keep improving. He's doing a hell of a job. We're really talking about text messages between two men right now. I said, congratulations on the winning bat. And running backs were banged up one preseason, but you get a sense of their running games, yeah,
because they're rookies, you know. And so you look at Tevin Coleman when he what he did at Indiana, you know, kind of look at that. He didn't play a ton of stunts, but he did play in the last preseason game, so you know, you get a chance to see him a little bit and he's a big, physical back, runs downhill, plays behind his path. So um got a pretty good field just off of what anybody would have with any type of rookie playing, uh, playing in his first game.
But he's a tough, hard nosed, physical running game. Did were a lot of penough surprises where she Bailey wasn't put on the practice squad. What went into the thinking and smiling, you know, pretty more team. We just great every player and we had you know, she did a really nice job here. But when you look at inside receiver, outside receiver, special teams, we just had Freddie and Koran rated higher. Something she needs to do to be in NFL.
We just needs to continue to improve. But I mean it's it's a tough deal now, you know, making an NFL team and uh, whether it's on the fifty three man roster or the practice squad. Um. But he he coming from where he came from. I thought he had, you know, really worked extremely hard at it. I actually talked to a CFL team called about him yesterday. So I hope he continues to play because I think he's got a bright future. But we just go on who we got graded higher and who the best are at
that position. So Johnson said, a three steady transition in the NFL compared to some other players at this position. What do you think the key to that has been? Is it playing with a good line? Is it just something Lane does? Now? I think it's based on the individual, you know, and I think Lane, we were excited that we had an opportunity to get in mind it. We didn't know he was gonna be around when we picked it.
Four Um, but he's got a great skill set. He's tall, he's long, Uh, he's physical, he runs extremely well for someone that size. Um, in the big thing with Lanez, he was just raw. I didn't play, he didn't have a ton of snaps at tackle. You know, he can started off as a JC kid that was a quarterback, then played some tight end, then played some defensive ent and just had a minimum amount of snaps um as
an offensive tackle compared to some other guys. But I think what we saw is a guy that had a great potential and I think he's he's fulfilling that potential right now, who was so raw and inexperienced able to kind of avoid some of the bumps in the road that that a looted with the other guys at those one on one positions kind of. I think he had some bumps when he was a rookie, just like anybody else. But I think it goes to his work ethic and
how hard he works at his craft. So outside linebacker kind of settling on that he had is there's no dry setbacks with Marcus being a guy. It depends really what happens with Marcus health buys. But you know, Vinnie's out there full time now. So um, you got any you got Matt, you got, I mean, you have Vinnie got Brad Jones and you've got Brian Brayman. If Simitty can't go to see Sam play full NFL game, which really hasn't thought it for two years, not very I
mean it's not a big deal. I mean, I'm we're eager to go play. So it's not about watching one guy play, and am I eager to see Sam play as opposed to to Marco play or anybody else that's new or Byron Maxwell. It's we're just excited to go play a game, play exclusively at outside. I did not say that. I said Vinnie's at yeah, in meetings and in practice, but Vinnie can still play defensive line because he has a tad bit of experience at playing the
defensive line position. So when I referenced ten linebackers the other day, less and you were confused, we count Vinnie as an outside linebacker in our mix. We have six outside linebackers, four inside linebackers as six defensive linement. But that doesn't mean Vinnie's not gonna line up on the defensive line in the Atlanta game. So don't come back in on Tuesday and say you didn't say Vinny wasn't
gonna play on the defensive line. He'll play defensive line, he'll play nose guard, he'll play for yes, you will lesson, Yeah, you'll find something to complain about. What time. I mean, he's still getting reps down at the end of Yeah, everybody gets reps. But he's meeting with the outside linebackers now because he's been in the defensive line meeting room for a long time. So he didn't see a lot of wits. He didn't see a lot of witzing. Is that kind of the last thing he has to answer? Oh,
I think he's up blitz. Did you see the Backers game? Yeah, I mean the touchdown passed he threw with a guy and his girl I think was a blitz on fourth and three. So yeah, I mean there were people came after him. Tim get hit around a little bit. Kay, Thanks, Thanks getting sh