Press Pass: Pat Shurmur

considered household names. But certainly I had experience with Sam in his first year in Saint Louis, so feel a great deal about him. And basically, you know, I was able to just give some insight to what Sam was all about as a player, and then all the other stuff kind of happened down the hall from him. How do you look to take um in his last three years when you worked with Saint Louis compared it too when you were working with him, Did you see anything different? Well?

I watched him. He's the same players. He's the guy that's you know, he takes great pride in his work, from whether it's calling to play and making sure the guys get lined up to executing the cadence to you know, drop him back and throwing his ball, handling, you know, his decision making. So I saw, you know, the same the same player. Unfortunately, he just had some injuries and some of those things you just can't control. Just in terms of being a few years older and going through

some of the hard times that he's gone through. I think experience makes us all better, you know, and he's had some you know, it's not it's not always pretty. You know, there's times when you gotta experience. You know. I like to think sometimes when um, you have some things go wrong, you know, it ends up being sort

of a blessing because you you learned from him. And I think just in the time that we've been together here in Philadelphia, I think I think he's uh, he's gotten his body and his knee right and you can see executing out here at a high level. Speaking changes, this team has had a lot of change in the offseason. Nine new starters, maybe ten. If Kiko starts, Uh, what sort of challenges does that present and how's the team

managing that process? Well, I think it would be a challenge if if you didn't train the way we did. You know, we had a great deal of reps in the spring. The way we practice and the way we train, you know, guys get a lot of reps, so new guys and you know, these guys have all played other places before. But the new guys that we brought in were able to get the reps they needed and they got up to speed quickly. What did you think about Ryan Matthews before he came here and has your perception

of him changed now that you guys haven't. Well, I had a little smile on my face when when he came here. I remember when he came out of college, I thought, you know, coming out of Fresno, I thought he was an outstanding running back and we certainly weren't in a position to draft him, but I've always kind of appreciated what he is as a player, and um, you know, he's showing out there that he's a real solid,

sturdy guy. He's I wouldn't call him a downhill runner, but I think because he has really good vision, and he catches the ball well and he does a good job in pass protection. So we're very fortunate to have him,

I think. So. You know, again, you can't control all that, and you know, I've spoken to North Turner about him when we kind of interact at NFL functions, and you know, I know he had a lot of really great things to say, much like Mike McCoy, always a resturance to him when he was here at the same time as your treasurer reporting to Marco where he was kind of been a little there. I don't know manage when all that's going on. You know, I think, you know, we're fortunate.

We've got some really fine players. We brought in guys that we're starting running backs and we have them here, and I think that's great. So um, I think when guys look at making changes or or or moving to another team, they look at the things that are good about an organization, and I think, you know, it says a lot about our organization when we have guys that

that choose to come here. The battle of writing about getting I mean, I know, like Alan Barbie's probably even for do you see back, Well, we're we're working a bunch of guys in there, I should say a bunch, but a small handful, and it's going well, you know again, we're only into you know, really the end of our first week of competition out there, and so it's you know, it's a little too early to tell what's going to happen, but we feel good about the progress that the guys

that could potentially play there are making. A new quarterback, new running backs, change the wide receiver. Could you just describe the level of on the same page this group is Yeah, I'll go back to the answer I gave a little earlier. UM, it's not a big concern for us because we get a lot of reps and they get to do it over and over and over. If we were in a different setting, like in a couple of my former lives, where you don't get as many reps,

then that might be a bigger concern. But for us, UM, you know, I think these guys have picked it up pretty well. To credit to them, they're very professional. I think we have a system that can be learned in a way where they can pick it up quickly. In relation to Josh Hoff that he was going through a process of realizing that this is not an organ's offense, it's a different offense. Where is his development in terms of the offense and understanding, um the plays well, He's

made huge improvements. Um, I think when you look at his game as a receiver, you know, he's done some really good things with his release technique. He's making more plays down the field, and he's kind of a quick, powerful type guy that does a nice job in a run game as well. So he's just developed his total game and I think from an individual kind of a fundamental basis to also being more familiar with what we do. So it's just kind of a well rounded improvement and

we're expecting big things. You look forward on the fielding to show you that. Well, when he's out there playing, you know, the team drills are kind of uncontrolled in some ways. We don't hit the quarterbacks, but there's times when he you know, everything's always dropping, you know, designed to drop back and throw or play action and throw. He's had a handful of plays where he's had to scramble and make a play where it's a little bit uncontrolled both to his right end to his left, which

he's done. And you know, we're just sort of checking off the boxes as we go watch and he's doing a good job with that reputation as an accurate thrower looks like an accurate thrower done. We're completion percentage maybe doesn't reflect that. I'm wondering why you think that is and maybe are the SASA coaches use that you know will be a better determined pay. Yeah, I can't speak to that, you know. There it takes two to tango

when it's we're talking about completion percentages. Um, we do know he's a very accurate passer and in the progressions that we're running, he's displayed an ability to throw the ball accurately and on time for us. How's the progress he's making. He's doing terrific. Um. You know, he came in and a little bit of it's always a little

bit of a slow start. You know, they're on the you know, when you're a high draft pick, you're sort of on the rubber chicken circuit, you know, up to the draft and then you're quickly thrown into competition where there's a lot going on. But he's actually done a really really good job. You can see he's becoming more and more comfortable out there playing end up blocking is a big part of the receiver scheme. How is he in that end of thing? Yeah, he's a tough, competitive guy.

He understands angles and Um, I think he's done a good job with those. He wanted to jump out. Yeah, we really haven't. We really haven't decided at this point. As I mentioned earlier, they're they're just out there battling. It's too early to tell, too early to tell. Yeah, I guess the guys that we're all talking and writing about, um, they're all we are. We feel comfortable with them all being in there. So it's just a matter of us picking one. And that's sort of where we're at right now,

at the right time. And I can't tell you exactly when that's going to be. Sam. He's had a lot of different offenses that he's had to learn. Is that's something that that's kind of stunted us throw to some degree? To No, I think, yeah, you certainly would like continuity, you know, it would have been nice to see what he could have done in the second year of the system we employed when we were first together. Um, But

he's a very smart guy. Quarterbacks get used to learning new things and they take great pride in learning it. Um and Sam's done that. I think, I don't know. I think we're just moving forward with him and he's got all the things we need to get it going. J Kinney is a quarterback learning a whole new position. Um does he have the Has he done enough to giving himself a chance? He's learning two positions. You saw him at running back, We put him at receiver. He's

like that utility infielder. You know, he's kind of Lou Whittaker and Alan tramall wrapped up, you know, in one um. But he's um. Now, he's done a really good job. And he's one of those unselfish players that will do anything to help us win football games. And he's one of those guys you know, we tell we tell all the players, we want you to make our team, and if you don't make our team, we want you to make somebody else's. And that's the way you got to

approach your training. And I think he does that. When you look at Jordan Matthew's production last year and what waves to his size specifically, you know, create problems for opposing Nichols, Well it can be a problem. And you know, being a bigger guy and being a physical kind of released technique type guy, if he gets matched up on on a littler player, certainly, certainly, and it's an advantage to him, but he certainly is nifty enough to to be the guy his size, um so, but it does help.

It's always good to be bigger, you know. Huh yeah. With one running back ahead of him, now there's potential to back ahead. And how do you get him on to feel more? Well, you've seen us, you know, you've had a chance to watch us. Now, we'll line him up in a lot of different places. We'll find a way to get him on the field. We just think that's a smart thing to do. So whether we're handing the ball or throwing it to him, well, we'll certainly make sure that happens. Like who you see, good day,

Trey Burton has done a good job, you know. He he kind of burst on the scene as a guy that you know, kind of came here at the end of the draft and he did a great thing. You know, he's one of those guys that's really talented as a receiver. He's become a better blocker. He had the same kind of offseason mindset that hurtst did. He and Zach I

think have improved their blocking. And then he he made such an impact on special teams that he's always going to be sort of relevant for us and he's done a good job and then looked like he added a lot of home too and a little bit bigger. Yeah. I think he just kind of reproportioned his body, you know, kind of a sports science thing. And yeahkw of a guy. John Moffat came along after ots and minicamping. I'm exactually

about the other guy, the one. Um we're all getting a long here, yeah yeah, all right, yeah right, yeah, you know late, I mean, how is this progress? You see a guy that can potentially line up and start in at he's one of those guys that's in the mix there. I think for him, he's got to do extra on the side to catch up. You know, he's one of only really two players that didn't go through the whole process on offense with us. And uh, but

he's a smart guy. He's been in other systems and you know, it's just a matter of kind of kind of converting what he knew. You know, what did they used to call inside zone that's what we call it now and some of the techniques and so uh and then certainly all the past protection stuff, which is critical. But he's done a good job. And the other tight yes, yeah, the young guys Yeah, we got Tomlinson, Twoks and Um

and Glickert all guys. You know, that's um. They come out of each day and and it's kind of like one day, one day, one does a little better than the other and they're all just sort of in the mix. They're competing, and that's really a good crew of guys. We'll just have to see if somebody can pull out of that. Is it too early to see? You know, two petpactices to see if there's any big difference in zach ertzs blocking TECHNI you do. Let's get placement had placement. Yeah,

we've seen we've seen a difference. You know, a lot of it. You know, a lot of it comes down to your initial footwork. You know, whether you hit the target the right way, and then once you hit your target,

can you finish with your feet you know. I think that's the key thing for tight ends is to make sure they use the right footwork, hit the target and then then finish because a lot of times they're out man or out you know, the guy there blockin's got a little bigger you know, if you go into defensive line room, you know they're all bummed out. If a tight end whips them. So that's that's where you start, if you're working health fields exclusively outside him. No, he's

got some slot work as well. Yeah. Um I think yeah, inside or out, it doesn't matter, jess are a preference with him? Um, where you think his skill sets better? I don't think so. I think he's gotten most of his work outside, but certainly through last year and now through the early camp, he's worked inside. No preference. I mean he's out. He was outsick and then the first day he ended up a couple of day drills through he was just a little bit under the weather yesterday.

Yeah he's better. Yeah, he's here is he doing and outside? And how has he been doing it? Good? I mean I think he's I mentioned earlier, I think one of his strength is his ability to release the line of scrimmage because he's got some initial quickness and a good feel. Um. But yeah, he's worked both inside. Now what do you think so far? Boaster? Right, he's done it. He's fast, he's really fast, and you know he's caught our eye because he's caught the ball well. Uh, he's running the

ball well. And he's one of those guys you know if you give it to him. I think he's got a chance to go to distance. So you know, that's that that's the type of speed that he has. And we'll just see how it plays out. And I'll tell you what, Matt, it's such a night and day difference from from when he got here, you know, when he came here a couple of years ago. He's throwing the ball much better. He's uh, he's playing with a great

deal of confidence. And you know, he hasn't gotten in games you know, of late, and I think if he if he had, you know, we would have seen him, you know, produce um. But he's done a good job. And then Tim, Tim's uh. I think Tim's a little bit of a gamer, you know. Uh. These team settings which are a little bit uncontrolled, he gets out there and makes play so um. And we've seen great improvements in him from his ability to execute our offense. And then he's got out that skill set where if it's

not right, he's willing to take off and run. And when he's running with it, he's like a running back down entirely back. You look at the other way to go. I think as we go through the preseason games, we'll kind of watch how they move, you know, and I think again, that's one of those things that's I'm sure we'll circle back on it here a lot this preseason, but um you know, that's still got to be played out. GJ really doing a lot of things at the link.

I'm doing blitz, pick up, fullback stands yesterday, catch a touchdown. I think the outside of the guy was a quarterback is trying all these things. It's a little gimmicky. He's got no shot, are you Is it the plan to just try him and everything to see what he's best at or if you will already? I think we know he can play quarterback, you know. And then because he's a competitive guy, we're giving him the opportunity to learn and do other things. Um, so he has an opportunity

to make the team. That's basically it. Does he have to have a strength somewhere at some position because you're you're moving around so much. Well, I think a guy that can become in display ability to be multiple makes you better. You know, We're good, all right, guys. Yeah,