Press Pass: Doug Pederson

we just need depth to fill that spot. So, UM, we just got to see where he's at, what is what is uh, what his health is when he gets here, you know, physical all that stuff that we do with players and and uh and then and then slowly working in the spot competing the Jordan he's he's competing. I mean, he's competing for the spot you know right now. Um, you know, Jordan's a starter. And and it just goes

without saying that, you know, in every position. UM. And and just with the with the loss of Joe right now, we just needed we needed, you know, a linebacker and uh, and he was the best available for us. And then look forward to working with him. If Stephen comes in and wins the middle line, could he I think he's athletic enough and smart enough possibly, but right now, that's

not the plan. He's player that played for Jim that you've brought in, which seems indicated a high amount of trust and a jew's opinion from both you and how can you kind of Well, I mean, you know, Jim's had great success with defenses in the National Football League and and his players always played a high level. And uh, you know, any time offensively, defensively, or even in in special teams, if you can grab a player that you've worked with in the past, UM that knows your terminology

and knows your system. Um, I think it's no different than Chase Daniel on offense for me, and and and having guys like that that are very comfortable with your with your with your with your defense or offense. I think I think just just helps um helps the overall learning and helps the overall process of of of the defense. Yeah. Two and a half weeks ago or whatever, it was like, what why, why dude, he's signing? Then? Did you feel

like you can get a pilou what you have? Well? Yeah, I mean, you know, we wanted to give an opportunity these young guys that we had and Joe was actually playing, playing well and uh and doing some nice things for us, So we just didn't feel the need to do it at that time. So Nigel choice, are you concerned at all that comicity time? I am not, and I haven't had any updates on that. Joe has been a core contributor on special teams backup linebackers usually have to do.

That is not a concern of Kine is brought in his backgroup. Well, it's something that when when when I get a chance to sit down with him and coach fifth, I mean, you know, this is a again, it's a team sport and everybody has to um play a big role in special teams and and and I know his past, you know he hasn't played a lot of a lot of areas. But if he can, if he can come in at least give us one one special team's unit right now to begin with um and then and then

we'll see where it goes from there. But you know that is a that is a linebackers in general play and tight ends definitely play you know, the bulk of your special team. So it's something that we have to we have to consider and and get him on at least one core team. How much the role you can Carson do on Saturday? What's the plan for him this week is in the persons a day. He threw a little bit pre practice, he threw some during the practice, but but not in the drills. You know, he was

on the side. Um again he soare you know, which is expected. So we're just going to back him down again today and and and it's just still still a day to day injury. So he won't throw today. If he won't throw today, Um, he threw, he threw saturday, Uh, through through a little bit yesterday and and and sore today. So we'll uh, we'll just keep getting treatment and monitor that. Obviously, it's hitting closer that he had to make good for us decisions. What area you think is the compass right

for you? Kind of whittled down to where you have to get to like yeah, you know, it's it's the it's I'll tell you this, it's the unfortunate part of this business because you want to be able to keep everybody number one. Um. You know, I think if you just look at positions on the football team, I mean offensive and defensive line, you know, there's a lot of bodies there. And there's a lot of um, a lot of uh, good competition at those two spots, you know,

corners another one that that's having having tremendous work there. Um. And and you know, bottom line is it's uh, it's it's the nature of the business. Um. And I'll tell you this. I mean just I've never been a part of this process before obviously, but a lot of times, uh, you end up cutting players that are good players for you, that obviously have success other places. That's again that's just

the nature of this business. And and um, you know, at the end of the day, myself and Howie and the coordinators and you know, we got to make the best decisions for for our team. I don't know's it a good wide receiver position? Obviously you gotta find somebody. But up tough, is it? It seems like there's a lot of guys that's seen there are And again that's that's probably another position that uh, you know we look

at here. Um, you know, particularly the next couple of weeks, and it's tough because you know, you don't you don't carry a ton of receivers and and um, I can't tell you exactly what number that's gonna be whether it's full five or six guys. Um, and it's it's it's uh, you again you want to keep them all. But we got to find the best the best players at every position that you know are going to help us on a game day. And that's that's just the bottom line.

I'm putting together the three in terms of is it all merit based as out before two or do you take an account potential and financials and all that. Well, you look at you look at everything, and especially with young players, you know, their their roles usually our special

team's value for us. And then and then do they have practice quad eligibility you know, I mean that's that's a way to keep uh, to keep guys that that that you want on your team is as solid backups if if the need arises during the regular season, and and um, you know, uh, I don't get into all the number stuff. I mean, I leave that up to Howie and and and you know his team to do that. But again, at the end of the day, we're gonna

find the best. Fifty three going into Cleveland comes to you with a player, Uh, do you have the right to over over for the fifty three to override with. I don't know if it's if it's an override as much as you know, I mean, I'm gonna, I'm gonna voice my opinion on on players obviously, Um I'm gonna, I'm first But first of all, I'm gonna gather all the information on that player. I'm gonna study that player from an X is an over standpoint. I'm gonna, I'm

gonna find history, you know, a personal history. I want. I want to find out about the guy before I bring him into the into the fold. And and um, you know, if it's a if it's a strong recommendation by Howie and his team, then then uh uh. And if it's a definite it's a definite need uh, then then you know you pull the trigger. But uh yeah, I can. I can definitely voice voice an opinion. It's just gonna be one guy or the other as a starter or as the possibility of you know, having some

kind of rotation more talk. Maybe he plays every third or fourth series or something like that, just to keep picks for USh. Yeah, right now, I really can't. It's hard to answer that question until we get him in here and see where he's at physically. Um, you know, he did play you know, a full schedule last year and should be relatively healthy. And then how how well

he fits into the into the system. So, um, we're just gonna get him here one day at a time with him and then get him caught up as fast as we can as as far as I'll bring back where you gonna mix ann with the ones and twos this week? What have you learned about? Yeah, a couple of things that I've learned. Number One, he's you know, he's he's eager to learn, he's wanting to learn. Um, great personality in the room. You know, the guys really

embraced him here and which is good to see. And then and then we just keep you know, I just gotta keep feeding him a little bit of information. You know, you gotta kind of whatever he was taught in Tennessee kind of you know, it's a little different here. You know, what we're teaching and everybody's teaching styles are different and what we're teaching is different. So we have to kind

of find out what he knows. And then and then take what we are running offensively from from routes and and and uh run game and everything, and then just start piecing things together for him and put him in and putting him in a little small packages and just giving him small increments of information so so that we're

not overwhelming him, you know. Right here, after about three or four days described working of course and yesterdays we're going to test him because see where he's at now that he's he's not going to be practicing days I say anything about so he's availability for the rest of the preseasons. What's the plan for him? Now? It still doesn't it still doesn't affect that, you know, with these

injuries against a rib cage injury. So it's a rib and it's it's going to be sore because everything you do and you know, every time you turn the corner and it's affect you. So we just got to continue to monitor, uh, continue to get the treatment, you know, night and day and and uh you know again fully expect him to go to potential. Um. Yeah, I mean to say, you have two guys that one might be better.

Single that help you right now, but you'll really like you've seen a guy think he might be developed kind of like wins. Well, you know, yeah, it's case by case and everybody's a little different. Um, you know, I I I gotta see who can help us right now. Bottom line, I mean we we play, we play in a couple of weeks and and you know, do you

want to plan for the future. Obviously you want to do that, But at the same time, you gotta have fifty three guys that you can plug in at any any and given given uh you know, notice and moment and expect him to play. So um, A lot of times it comes down to special teams value and how well that that and how many you know, core units after that player is is a part of josha is three characters? Thys about forty STAPs first two preseason games we talked about special teams value? Is his value on

special teams? Is it enough for him to feel secure about a roster spout right now or does he need to pick it up offense? Yeah? And you know this week is is different again. You know, as I mentioned, it's it's more of a more of an in season structure and we got to start getting those players. Josh Huff being in that group, um more touches more reps offensively and on special teams. So I would expect his workload to uh potentially increase. Uh this week, you like

to see brand would improved on Saturday night. First, you know what he did first against Pittsburgh. Yeah, you know what I mean he did. He did a nice job against Pittsburgh. And and uh uh you know, obviously the penalties and things like that we have to eliminate, but the fact that uh, you know, put him in situations where he had the ability to uh I'm not gonna say audible because they weren't audible, but based on what the defense um gave him, he was able to adjust

to play and and and things like that. We're gonna give him more of those things this week, you know, more of a more of a game, game plan type a game for him, and and just just moving moving the team. I want to see the completion percentage be you know, sixty five, sixty seven percent. You'd love to see a touchdown pass or two in there. Um, But again, you can't press the issue. You gotta let the game unfold and and again put him in positions to be successful.

Dorson us after your draft A post nine heels aggressive and he took shots down the fields, something that you'd like to see Sam the world. Yeah, and a lot of times too, comes down to the play caller, you know, calling those shots and and how the game is going. And um, you know Sam's mentality, if it's there, he's

gonna pull the trigger. But at the same time, you know, we're not going to force it down the field when sometimes a back or a tight end underneath can be can be the best alternative, you know, in situations like that. But we'll continue to shoot the ball down the field with Lane and again until I get notice from the league office. You know, I'm not going to comment on that any any further. Is that gonna be the way you would have it this year? Exactly? No, I can't.

You know, I'm not gonna say one way or the other. But you know, again, those first two games we played, we're playing a lot of people. You know, we're playing a lot of people. We didn't have a specific you know role for one guy or the next over the next you know. Again, this week, we'll begin utilizing some of our players, you know, differently, um, and the tight ends will be used a little different this week. Thank you.