In preparing a gameplan for a team that recently changed defensive coordinators
“I think this: You go by all of the film you have. Really in that first quarter, maybe we see some things that have changed a bit. [It’s] it’s hard to change everything in a short time. They have a base front and coverage that they want to play and then they have a sub package and then even more when they play. Then we can do it in the first quarter if there is something different from what we saw on film.”
On whether the team manages the workload of RB JK Dobbins
“He’s a big part of what we do. So every week we look at—a lot of times who’s in the back with the hot hand. But he’s been amazing. So to answer your question: No, that’s not a hot topic with us here. Maybe yours, but not ours. That’s why we’re good. We’re good at rotating.”
In balancing the workload of RB JK Dobbins within the three-back rotation
“Oh, we’re paying attention, yeah, absolutely. Look, it’s always easy to work two (running backs) and it gets harder when you’re trying to work three, but he did a great job.”
On the team’s sack total this season
“That’s all good. Pressures can lead to interceptions, sacks don’t. So you look every week, what quarterback are you defending? We see some mobile quarterbacks from time to time. Maybe you get a quarterback that you know where they’re going to be in the pocket. So I think you have a rush plan based on the offense and who’s playing quarterback.”
On whether the opposing offenses are organized in the team’s pass rush
“It’s definitely the timing when you want to throw the ball. There are quarterbacks who… Last week, it was hard to sack. [Chiefs QB] Patrick [Mahomes]. In other words, he saw the pressures, he saw the man… He had a good clock on his head. So it’s hard for people to process quickly. Now luckily for us, the last game of the game, we got one. I think a lot of it is the offense and the QB. To answer your question, I’m sure there are specific points you emphasize in regards to the rhythm of your throws if you see a team rushing the passer quickly.”
On the development of Panthers QB Bryce Young
“You’ve definitely seen him step up, and he’s comfortable with what they’re doing. It’s an explosive team. I think they’re seventh or eighth in explosiveness. They do a good job mixing play action, the ‘RPO’ (Run-Pass Option) game. They’re drafted well. So all those numbers are different now than they were two years ago.”
How RB Jonah Coleman impressed him despite missing time with injury
“We saw those glimpses in the spring and in training camp and in the preseason. Atlanta, there’s a run, it’s noticeable to you. So one thing that’s unique about him is you don’t often see them in third down protection plans, but he’s a guy we had a little bit of tape. Advanced protection plans, and he’s built to handle something, but enough to know who I have to do. I’d say there’s three backs—we’ve only seen one of them that everyone really has visions, but his versatility, to your point, that’s not always—you can’t stamp that on a lot of rookie backs that you think they’re going to develop in a way that made us feel good that he felt good.
On whether RB Jonah Coleman exceeds his expectations in pass protection
“Yes, his ball skills are good. We caught him with the right pressure there. Yes, he is very comfortable. He is a different class. [of] player than [RB] RJ [Harvey]but there are many qualities to like. More importantly, there was exposure to an offense that sometimes the player doesn’t have that exposure, so you never know for sure. I think we know more from his tape.”
In what allows QB Bo Nix to elevate his play when needed
“I don’t know. I didn’t think he struggled. There’s certain…In Seattle, it was the opposite.”
On QB Bo Nix’s ability to raise his level of play
“I don’t have an answer. I know what you’re asking. I look at it internally myself like, ‘Alright, let’s get going.’ I’ve said it before, I’ll let you know the week we don’t want to get off to a fast start, but not this week. We want to start fast.”
On why WR Jaylen Waddle is dangerous in the low red zone
“He’s a guy who’s really quick to transition. We caught him in a coverage, so he could start and stop and then very quickly outflank the leverage, which he did for a touchdown. I think it was fourth down, but he had a unique change of direction.”
On the key to building momentum and consolidating the win
“In general, you have better teams and great teams can… You can’t be a yo-yo team and expect to win double digit wins. You do the math. So I think what you’re asking is the key to building a great football team and that goes all the way back to bringing in the right people, all those things, the right coaching staff and the right culture. Historically, having a team that’s going through, and my experience is difficult to win. lose–it’s hard to do that and then look back and look at the record maybe every one of those games is a different kind of game.
On if he feels the momentum of the team
“I haven’t felt it until you just mentioned it. Honestly, I’m being dead serious. I know we had a big win against the Chiefs. I didn’t even think about how many it was now. Yeah, you’re just kind of on this next one.”
During the halftime speeches
“Eight minutes is half an hour. We’re always on headsets talking about what’s next. You get a chance for a quick message. [The] defense break up, offense break up, coaches go through very quickly, go to your players. It’s faster. It’s faster than you might think. Every once in a while, there’s a game where you get an extra minute, something happens and then the Super Bowl is completely different where you can change your shirts and everything is more like hockey. Those people have kind of a big gap between seasons. Ours was like, man… I think you just trust your instincts on what you saw, what you wanted to see in the second half. We do it well, let’s keep… Then tune out the scoreboard and just go to the next play. This is very important. It is very important not to let one play bleed into the next and into the next play.
“Usually, we as coaches can sit there and talk about something and it’s not going to happen again. So sometimes you literally go into the next game and know you can address that on Monday, or sometimes it’s something that can come up again. If it’s an offensive play that we run and if we spend a bunch of time—we’ll get that’s cleaned up. Solling that’s cleaned up. I have a plan that I told you before the game and the chair is too heavy.”
As the team prepares to change to a 1 pm ET, 11 am MT kickoff
“It’s new because it’s usually been out West, so we’ll go out Friday night, get up in their time zone, work out, train a little bit. Then we’ll be here pretty much every Afternoon. So whatever it is, your spark or your coffee or us. and this year we’ve got… We’re hoping maybe we can get a couple back there, stay out there, but we’re not going to Charlotte.
With T Garett Bolles’ pass protection at left tackle affecting game planning
“A lot. You can’t chip, nudge everything and you want flare control on the route. A lot of times it might be a rusher that you really want to help. Yeah. I know the whole blind side story, but you want one of those… In other words, the left tackle, there are times when I tell ‘Bollesy’ (T Garett Bolles), ‘Hey, you.” He can do that. Yeah, if we have to do it… Now there are times when [Charger OLB] Khalil Mack lines up there, maybe we move the tight end over there with Mack in protection and just elbow where he is. Last week we had a little protection plan for which [Chiefs DT Chris] It was Jones. So I think that’s the meeting tonight and it’s going to take a while. Yes, we appreciate the skillset he has.”
On whether the upcoming Bye Week will factor into decisions regarding players returning from injury
“It’s simple. Honestly, ‘Is he ready?’ We’re going and if he’s not, we’re gone… Now if he’s ready to go, he’s ready to go. So it’s one or the other. It’s not, ‘Well.’ We don’t have that luxury. Only 17 games. If he’s ready, we treat it like we’re playing… That doesn’t factor into it at all. This is a good question.”
In contact with General Manager George Paton at the trade deadline while preparing the gameplan
“We would meet and meet in the evening. The early part of it, all the GMs, they all talk with each other, but he and I’ll visit daily. So it’s not like it’s consuming two hours. His group is spending a lot of time separate from the time that I’m involved with our group. In other words, they’re doing their evaluation, we’re doing daily will visit, but he and I’m spending a lot of time separate from the time that I’m involved with our group. In other words, they’re doing their evaluation, we are doing daily will visit.”
As for whether “spenders” is a term used around the trade deadline
“Let’s just get them down there sometime.”
On if difficult to discuss in the locker room around the trade deadline
“I always think there are buyers and sellers, right? It’s more noticeable in the last five years than maybe ours… Or at least I notice it more. The teams that play well are the potential buyers. The teams that may not be the potential sellers.”
Turn on if the team views itself as a buyer or spender at the trade deadline
“Well, we’re a team that plays better, so we’re not looking to sell.”
If he thought about kicking the chair and doing so it would aggravate his leg
“No, it’s like a hundred pounds. I thought it was lighter, that’s all. I was wrong. Every seat in there is the same. So it’s not the old one… I need the country, Western, rickety… Yeah, it just blew up.”