Transcript: Offensive Coordinator Ben McAdoo

Offensive Coordinator Ben McAdoo
September 18, 2014

Q: Did it look to you at times that Eli was more comfortable than he has been all season?
A: I thought he had some comfort in his feet. He felt good about where he was going with the ball. That is encouraging to see.

Q: Is that any coincidence that even on the first drive he was hitting Victor [Cruz] on some short passes… Do you think that gets [Eli] going early?
A: Short or long completions early always help. After you get the first couple completions you usually start feeling good about things and get into a rhythm early.

Q: Are you starting to see the offensive line settle down some more?
A: They are making progress like everyone else. Today was probably our best Thursday practice of the year. We completed the ball well. We didn’t have pads on, but we had a good day running it. Yeah, it is good to see the line going.

Q: Do you feel like they have gotten over the hump with being comfortable in the offense and now it is more just executing?
A: We are not quite comfortable yet. We need to be comfortable being uncomfortable is what we need to be right now. We are continuing to grow each and every day. We have made some progress. We are continuing to plug away and we are climbing that mountain and trying to get to the peak, but we are not there yet.

Q: Turnovers were a constant theme here last year… Do you look at it and say there is a theme here that we have to break?
A: Absolutely, three turnovers. There is no excuse for it. It is inexcusable. What it does is deflate the team. It costs you plays. It costs you series and it takes points off the board. It impacts you negatively on the scoreboard. We have to take care of the football; that is number one.

Q: Do you care about the “stories” players tell about the reason behind their turnovers?
A: Obviously you want to eliminate them. You have to teach and coach and you have to demand that things are done the right way. There are probably four things on that play alone that could’ve eliminated the turnover [on Eli’s first INT].

Q: Could you elaborate?
A: Protection-wise, you would like to see guys going above and beyond the X’s and O’s. You would like to see a smoother transition on the combination by number two and three. Simply put, you would like to see the quarterback, if it is not clean, throw it into the first row.

Q: Was that something where Larry [Donnell] was supposed to go out as wide as he did because it looked like Victor [Cruz] almost tripped over him when he was trying to avoid…?
A: We would like to see some width. It is a drive scheme. You would like to see him open the window. How we went about it was not as clean as you would like it to get. For the most part, they were doing what they were supposed to do. How we got there wasn’t exactly right.

Q: What about Victor’s slip?
A: They got their feet tangled up a little bit. Obviously any time someone goes around, good things usually don’t follow.

Q: Was there anything you could even say about Rashad [Jennings’] turnover?
A: Emphasize the fundamentals. Coach the fundamentals. Talk about ball location. There were things leading up to it, preceding it, and things we could’ve done better after the catch. You are always teaching and you are always coaching.

Q: When you are building a game plan and you have a player on the other side of the ball like JJ Watt… What is your philosophy?
A: It is interesting. Each of the games that we have played so far, there have been great players on the other side of the ball. Whether it was up in Detroit or last week. You obviously have to take that into consideration. You can minimize the impact on the game. Be smart the way you call things. Be smart the way you scheme things. You have to minimize their impact. He is a special player.

Q: At the same time, is this a game where you look at Weston [Richburg] and think you would like him to take a big step forward?
A: They do a good job of moving [Watt] around. They are not going to leave him in one spot so you can put in one scheme and try to take care of him and double-team him every snap. Weston is a guy that he is getting better as the season goes on. He has played seven games already. He is not a rookie anymore. He is getting better. He had a good day today. He had a good day yesterday and tomorrow he has to finish the week strong out here on the field.

Q: Have you ever been tempted to take a defensive player and use him the way [the Texans] use JJ Watt?
A: I have done it in my past at the goal line. I have done some things with B.J. Raji and Mike Daniels in Green Bay. Look at those guys; of course, you want to use them. We have some talented guys. JPP [Jason Pierre-Paul]. You could probably throw it five yards over the goal post and he has a chance to go up and get it. There are some talented guys you would like to use. They have a full plate, too.

Q: With Jerrel Jernigan out, what is your level of confidence in Preston Parker and what does he do different or better at some points?
A: We have a next-man-up philosophy. Whoever is next in line gets an opportunity to go play. That is the way we move forward. Preston is on the roster for a reason. We trust him. He can create separation out there. He is aggressive to the ball. We know he is a competitor.

Q: Do you look at him and Corey [Washington] as having two different skill sets?
A: Whether they are outside or whether they are inside, each guy has a unique skill set you can tailor the plan to what they do best. Certainly they are two different players.

Q: Do you ever let yourself look forward to the time Beckham is healthy and what he could add to this offense?
A: No.

Q: Why not?
A: He has a special skill set. He is gifted. He is talented. He is smart. He is conscientious. I am excited for the chance for him to come out here. It has to be painful for him right now. I am not going to put myself or him through any of that. When he comes out here, it will be a good bonus for all of us.

Q: Coming off the second week, have you seen what you need to see to believe this is not a one or two game thing for Larry Donnell?
A: Larry is very focused. He is working at it. It is nice to see a guy that can go down the middle of the field and win for you. He is coming along as a blocker. That has to stay important. The challenge with those guys who are in the passing game, when they become a big part of what you are doing, that is all they want to do. So they have to stay humble and continue to work and grow and be complete players.

Q: What have you seen from John Jerry?
A: John has had a tough road. He has gone through a lot of things here in the last year health-wise. He has fought through them and he is a tough guy. He is a tough guy and a team guy, and he has done a nice job for us lately.