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Transcript: Quarterbacks Coach Danny Langsdorf

Eric from BBI : Admin : 7/28/2014 3:31 pm
Quarterbacks Coach Danny Langsdorf

July 28, 2014



Q: How do you evaluate [Ryan Nassib’s] progress right now?

A: I think already in training camp he’s had some excellent throws, much better than the spring. Now there’s been some things he’s missed. He’s had a couple turnovers and some bad throws at times. But overall, I’m really pleased at how he’s been throwing the ball as a whole in training camp. It’s been pretty good.



Q: Can you sense that there are things even daily that he’s picking up within the offense and what would that be?

A: Well he’s getting more comfortable communication-wise mostly, making sure we’re on the same page with the receivers and the protection matches what we’re doing downfield. Those are the things that he’s gotten more comfortable with doing. He communicates well; he’s fast at it. If you watch our practices, he’s moving around quickly, he’s getting the calls made to the right guys under good time, so I like that part of it. He’s not wasting a bunch of time at the line of scrimmage and I think that’s due to how much he’s studied and prepared himself for training camp.



Q: How do you think about it because he’s not throwing to the same receivers Eli is, he’s not throwing against the same defenders, how do you …?

A: Well, yeah, it’s always the toughest part on the backup quarterback because they don’t get as many reps for one, and then they’re always interchanging their personnel. So they’re at a little bit of a disadvantage in terms of the timing with the receivers. That’s part of the deal. They’ve got to be able to adjust and adapt to that, making those changes, and they’ve got to be comfortable with everybody.



Q: Is that part of the inconsistency you think you’ve seen?

A: He doesn’t get as many reps as the ones, and like I said, there are guys changing in and out all the time. Some of the periods that we have, like the one-on-one periods with the receivers, it’s not as realistic for the quarterback. It’s good, it’s great work for the defensive backs and receivers, but in terms of the big picture with the quarterback, there’s no protection, there’s no real sense of timing or urgency there. It’s a little bit skewed. But in his team periods and his seven-on-seven, I think he’s shown an improved ability to throw the ball.



Q: Everyone has noticed how much quicker the offense is getting the ball and running plays. Is there a set time you want to get, or snaps, or is there a goal you want to get?

A: It really depends on the play. Sometimes there might be a play that adjusts a little bit more than another. Sometimes there might be a defensive look that takes a little bit more time to get either handled or corrected. So it’s a little bit hard to answer, although we do want to play with very good pace and tempo and try to put some pressure on the defense.



Q: What does “trust your feet” mean? That’s what Eli [Manning] mentioned a few times.

A: We want our footwork to match what’s going on downfield. If our footwork is correct and such that it’s telling you, “ok it’s time to throw the ball,” then we want to trust our feet and know that it’s time to get rid of it or it’s time to get out of there. So that’s part of it. We don’t want them standing back there and holding the ball, taking sacks. We want him to take his drop and make sure that his feet are telling him, “hey, it’s time to do something,” whether that’s take off or throw it away.



Q: How difficult is that, working with a guy who basically had one way to do footwork for ten years? Now you tell him, “oh you have to change this.”

A: Well I think part of it is having an understanding and being comfortable with where to go with the ball. He’s got a receiver in progression when we’re going to the first read in progression to the second to the third, his feet are telling him which time to move on. There’s some transition from what he’s done in the past, but everybody has some sense of timing in their offense. It’s just a matter of matching it philosophy-wise with what we’re doing.



Q: But it seems like he’s having to adjust more quickly with everything. The call is coming in quicker, he’s supposed to get to the line quicker, so his internal clock has to adjust, right?

A: Yeah, we’d like him to play faster and make quicker decisions and that’s part of it. We’re trying to put some pressure on him to speed up and by doing so we’ll get some more pressure on the defense and make them adjust to us.



Q: It puts pressure on the defense because they have the make a decision more quickly as well?

A: Yup, they have to play faster.



Q: Did you have any preconceived notions on coming into a new operation and coaching a two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback?

A: A little bit. You know, not knowing him and he’s played some very good football. I think he’s been a true professional that way, really eager to continue to learn and progress and kind of see what’s different and see what’s new. That’s made it very easy. He’s a worker. His preparation is excellent. He’s in here early, stays in late, and he’s always asking questions. So that part of it is easy. He’s really kind of a gym rat and he’s always around and interested and loves football. So that’s made that part of the transition very good.



Re: audibles

A: He’ll have the ability to change and correct and adjust for sure.



Q: Anything that has surprised you about dealing with him so far? I’m sure you figured he’d be a professional and be willing, but anything that made you say, “hmm, I wouldn’t have thought that about him?”

A: He’s a better athlete than I thought. You know, sometimes you see a guy on TV or haven’t seen him play much live, and you don’t know exactly what kind of athlete he is, but as you’re around him more and more, he is a better athlete than I expected.



Q: In what way?

A: He moves better. He moves a lot better than I thought. Nowadays, you’re getting so much spread offense and quarterbacks. You get a guy who is running all over the place so you group Eli with a bunch of stiff guys, but that’s not really the case. He is a good athlete, especially in the pocket. We’re not going to run a quarterback draw with him but he moves around pretty well.



Q: I don’t know if he’s ever run a quarterback draw, even a sneak?

A: Oh he’ll probably say he has but I don’t know.



Q: What do you see about Ryan Nassib? Do you see his progress moving along really well?

A: I do. Someone just asked a question similar, but I thought just his throwing ability this training camp, he’s been more accurate. He’s gotten rid of the ball quicker. He’s showing a strong arm. He’s had a couple throws he’d like back, but I’ve been very pleased with how he’s prepared through the summer and come into camp in shape. He’s made some excellent plays: yesterday on the seam route to the tight end. That was a very impressive throw. So I’m pleased with how he’s come along.



Q: You talked about inconsistency from him [Ryan Nassib]. Is that typical from a young quarterback?

A: Yes, definitely. It’s getting familiar and comfortable with the personnel and the changes. All of that lead to inconsistency as well as not playing much. He’s not getting many reps but I think he’s made a lot of improvement since our spring offseason program. You’ve seen it in practice that he’s made some big time throws and good decisions at good speed.



Q: Is it tough to evaluate…if they aren’t getting completed?

A: Absolutely. The other thing that people don’t always see is how the defenses play the receiver. Sometimes that receiver is cut off or is too wide and the window the throw the deep ball is cut down. So it’s not always a quarterback throwing up a jump ball. It’s where we’re placing it and being safe with it. It has to do with the receiver releasing and getting on top of the defender.



Q: This offense is supposed to be a high completion percentage offense. What number seems about right?

A: We’d love to be there at 70%, it hasn’t been done very often. That’s the ultimate goal. But we want to raise his completion percentage for sure. I don’t know about the history, maybe because they took more shots downfield, but we’d love to shoot for 70. I think it’s been eight or nine times maybe. I think Brees maybe has done it a few times lately but that’s an impressive statistic if you look at the history of the league. That’s what we’re gunning for is 70%.


Q: Even in Eli’s [Manning], best years his number has been in the lower 60s because of the shots downfield…

A: You’d like him to be higher than that. I think that if you get quick completion throws in the offense, you can get some of that. But we also want to push the ball down the field and get some big chunks rather than dinking and dunking all day.



Q: Is that something that needs to be addressed in his [Eli Manning] career?

A: We haven’t gotten back on that much. We talked about what we’re looking for and trying to shoot for that 70%. We haven’t spoken much about the history of it but he’s well aware of who’s done it in the past, and what the system can get you in terms of completions. We’re focused on that, doing a really good job in taking care of the ball and hitting open receivers.



Q: Do you feel the combination of Eli [Manning] and the system can do that?

A: Yeah, absolutely.
I remember....  
BillKo : 7/28/2014 4:08 pm : link
two QB sneaks in the Eagles playoff game...OUCH!

He's pleased with how Nassib is coming along  
Jimmy Googs : 7/28/2014 4:12 pm : link
so that is something positive for a kid who has gotten trashed pretty bad as of late...
I find it pretty interesting that they're teaching Eli  
Exit 172 : 7/28/2014 4:37 pm : link
that his feet will tell him when to bail on a play, based on what his feet are doing. Very interesting.
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