You and me both good morning. Tell you five running backs? How do you plan use this group? What makes you think of running game better than well I think number one? Um, you know, uh, obviously we're not gonna take five into the into a game. One of them will be down obviously, maybe even two depending on our needs for that for
that particular week. So um, and now that now that we get into these weeks, you know, we begin to game plan a little bit and get a little specific with guys by personnel, by play type, and uh really home that in this week. So um, it starts on Wednesday, we begin our base game plan and then we carry it on to Thursday, Friday, and and uh, get these guys, get these guys going game plan based which ones are up or will that be merit based? Now it's game
plan specific. Um, we go into each game and of course injury obviously plays plays a part of that as we get going. But um, you know, by game plan and and and how we want to utilize uh you know, our running back. Um. So yeah, it's week to week. You have all fifty three healthy when you start practicing
this week for the game. Yes, yes, how the other day said that there there's going to be a focus on developing the guys who they bring back or the guys that aren't starting, guys like a guy like Dylan Gordon, who I know, you guys think I have a lot of potential Bryce Tregs. Who was on your roster last year, Niate Jerry? Who you drafted this year? Is that a Will that be a change in how things are done? Will they get more reps because we don't see your
practical we get more reps? Will they be included more more so? I think with the Yeah, I think with that bottom you know, bottom third or so of the roster, I think I think what one thing I'm going to implement this year is is uh um, actually time time spent after practice with those guys developing those their their talents. Uh They they more than likely don't get it, and they won't get a bunch of reps obviously with the with the offense or defense from a game plan standpoint, Um,
they all the service team reps as you know. But at the same time, we want to make sure that we're maximizing their talents and also maximizing my younger coaches they're on staff and by by developing those guys and spending time after practice for for ten to twelve minutes and just going through drill work specific to what we're doing offensively and defensively. So we don't let those guys just sort of drift by the wayside, so to speak.
We continue to watch their development, watch their growth. How much how much input can a person in your position or Frank Reich's position or gym sports and position have into that development considering your normal responsibilities, it won't fall on the coordinators as much. It'll fall on the position coaches, um and and they're responsible for for detailing the work
of these younger players. And then and then our assistants that are you know, our quality control coaches and offense or defensive assistant coaches will be able to um take these players onto the field after practice and and and put them through some fundamentals and some some drill work that'll keep them keep them coming along. Um, you guys kept two guys who kind of fit in that category, and Denil Humphrey and Shelton Gibson. I mean, how important
is it? I mean the fact that you used to roster spot for those guys but also to develop them and can you know, make sure they can do. Yeah, it's very important that we continue to develop all those guys, especially the two you mentioned, because you never know they're they're one play away from being in a you know, being active, being in a football game. I've been in
that situation before, so I understand. And and so you know, my message to the practice squad players, to the guys on the fifty three that could potentially be a be a healthy scratch on game day. You know, my message is this, you're you're you're a snap or two from from entering a football game. So we have to as as coaches, we got to make sure that we're doing our part by by helping them and developing them so that when, if, and when that day comes, they're ready
to play. So how do you so did you keep these guys who you know, how we can have that long range goal in mind to develop these players, But you have to win each week. You have to look at it that way. How do you look at those roster decisions that might not help you win this week but could help you down the line. Well, I mean, you you it's a little bit of a fine line because I mean, obviously you know, my focus and a coordinator's focus and really the position. Our focus is on
that specific game plan that week. But we also know that a part of our jobs too is to is to maintain um the development of our younger, younger players,
and we just got to continue to do that. And really, you know, I've been on the practice squad, so I understand that it's it's you're you're constantly looking at a card, and it may not be what we do offensively or defensively, but to get those ten twelve minutes after practice repping plays that we do, or a route or a drop by a dB linebacker, I think is just valuable for that person's growth and development, you know, the entire season. He Doug Michael Lombardi took out a bit of a
shot at you, questioning your qualifications. I know you've you've dealt with your you know, sheriff criticism, but uh, I wonder what your reaction is to that when it comes from somebody who's been in the NFL fraternity. I haven't seen the article. I'm not sure what you're talking about, so I don't I don't pay attention to that. I mean, I listen, I'm confident in what I do. Um, he's
not in the building. I coaches, you know, I coach our coaches and coach our players, and I think if you ask any one of our players or assistant coaches, I think they would maybe say something a little bit different. I have not read the article, so I can't respond to It was about your your experience, um, and that you were that you were at least qualified head coach in the NFL and when you were hired comparatively speaking, I guess you were. I mean, how do you respond
to that notion, um about your qualifications? Somebody here, mister Lurie, Howie the guys thought I was qualified, So UM, in my opinion, that's uh, that's good enough for me. Again, this is this organization is uh behind me one hundred percent. And um again, I think you could you could ask the guys in the locker room. And that's my that's my concern. That's my focuss year or two for you, obviously,
alot of upheam will before last season eight days. How do you feel this year as far as the talent level. Do you have a lot of locker rooms? Do you see a big difference? Yeah, I think we're in a better position roster wise, obviously going into this season than we were a year ago. Um, definitely, we had the quarterback situation a year ago and now that's that's behind us and we're full steam ahead. So I'm excited about
this week, this this week of practice. And um, you know, as I said all along in pre pre preseason that you know, just to just to watch these guys perform, and um, you know, put put our guys in position both offensively and defensively to be successful is our job as coaches. But at the same time to be able to let them play free and cut it loose. And um, I'm excited to watch him this week's featured running back.
As far as parrying side, it's want a featured back as far as Parris who marry Um again, it goes back to the game plan. Quite honestly, we understand that that uh La Garrett you know, might be a little different runner even than Sprowls and Windell. So UM, I think it's game plan specific. It's hard to it's hard to go into a game saying, you know, uh La Garrett, you're gonna get X number of touches because you never know what the game's gonna you know, um, what circumstances
might be posed during the game. So, UM, you know it's gonna be it's gonna be a great effort by all all three guys each and every week. UM and uh, UM want to get all of them obviously involved in the game plan to have a dominant Is it better for the Rhythmilly offense to have a dominant running back as opposed to splitting of our by committee? UM, I think you can. I think you can have a you know, a you know, m a runner that you kind of
hang your hat on. Um. And again, I you know, I don't want to just sit here and say that you know, Darren you're obviously a third down guy, or Wendell you're a you're a first, second, third down guy, because you know, uh, we want to get all these guys involved in the game plan. I think it's I think it's important to what we do. And UM, you know, if if La Garrett has the hot hand, he he continues to carry the ball, if it's if it's Wendell,
it's Wendell. So again it's it's I can't sit here and tell you exactly how many touches these guys are gonna get but at the same time, then when we put game plans together, we're very mindful of not only the run game, but also the uh um pass game with these guys too. Were you carry just seven offensive linement on on game days or als or all a seven?
Doug What what have you learned from Alicean Jeffrey from the time he got here to now as you get ready for a week one, I'll tell you one thing is just his um, his attention to detail, his focus, his drive feels like and seems like that he's he's eager and ready to go, kind of chomping at the bid a little bit, you know, with with with my decision to kind of rest him during camp, and um,
you know, he's he's he's obviously a big target. He's um, you know, you just go back and I spent the last couple of days just watching watching his targets over the last couple of seasons. It's just seeing how how he you know, runs routes and and how he uh you know, plays on game day and and uh it's exciting to watch him. He's he's a big physical guy that that we're excited to have on our team and and really look forward to he and Carson, you know,
connecting and doors some good things. It's a long season. This is just one sixteenth though. It all that stuff, But how much how much stuck do you put in to the idea of an opener or maybe a first couple of games setting a tone helping the confidence in the locker room that hey, we can get something done this year. And and so how much do you frontload onto this game? Yeah, you know, it's it's it's a
great opportunity for our for our team. Number one, we haven't done so well against this group, you know, going back a couple of seasons, and obviously you know last year with you know, losing twice, so and we didn't play well down there. Um. So I think it's a thing that it's in the back of our player's mind and it'll be be a focus for them. I think it just kind of it kind of draws you, especially
to open the season with a division opponent. Um And we didn't do so well on the road last year either. So this is, uh, this is something that's important for our guys, for our coaching staff to uh embrace it this year, this this year, this week, um and and uh you know, yeah, you'd love to be able to come away with a victory. And I think that kind of sets the tone early in the season. Thing. How does the head coach prove these qualifies it? Wins and
losses are intangibles or I think both. I mean, listen, it's kind of like quarterbacks. If you don't win the super Bowl, you're never going to the Hall of Fame. I guess so, um, you know it. It wins and losses I think are are the biggest uh you know, biggest indicator. Uh maybe maybe a championship, obviously a super Bowl. Um, It's it's kind of mean to me. It's sometimes amazing how how people put just that. You know, obviously that's what that's what you see as the wins and losses
and and nothing else. Um. You know, I pour myself into these guys each and every day. I want them to see that, and uh, you know, hey, if uh, um, I think you can ask these guys you know how how how well or you know the things I need to work on, Um, they'll tell you, and um, I will also tell you the good that's going on as well. Thank thank thank