Head Coach Tom Coughlin
Press Conference, October 1, 2014
Coughlin: Good morning. We’re anxious to get back to work in our preparation for a very good Atlanta Falcon team, a team that’s 2-2, the same record that we have. They’re 2-0 in their division. They started the year off with an outstanding win over New Orleans in the division. They did a very good job in the offseason of acquiring veteran players. They drafted well, they all seem to be contributing very well. All three phases are very skilled, including special teams with Devin Hester. We have players who have been listed for a while as being either out or whatever, limited, we do have those people practicing today. Jon Beason will practice, Odell Beckham will practice, (Devon) Kennard will practice, so we’re moving forward with regard to that as well. We’re getting these people on the field and getting started integrating them back into the system.
Q: What kind of challenge is Atlanta’s big play ability?
A: Very skilled, very, very skilled team. Obviously the No. 1 offense in the league. A lot of firepower. Hester now being the fourth receiver, sometimes the third, so you’ve got a lot to defend, no doubt.
Q: Now that Odell has gotten through four or five practices in a row…
A: How many? Not that many now. Maybe two. Math is not exactly… I know, I’m not very good at it, either.
Q: Have you passed the, ‘Let’s try to get him ready,’ to now, ‘we can think about him as part of the game plan,’ or are you still…?
A: We’re in that phase. What we obviously need to do is to see some hard, back-to-back practices, one after the other, which I expect we’ll accomplish this week.
Q: With a guy like him who plays receiver, he doesn’t have to play 50 plays, right? It’s not like an offensive lineman. You can limit him.
A: Possibly, yeah. But you’d like not to go in with that kind of thinking. Let’s play.
Q: … also have a limited package so he doesn’t do everything but he knows what he needs to do?
A: Yeah, but he’s been in every meeting. I would expect him to know everything. I wouldn’t shy away from that. He’s demonstrated an ability to handle whatever’s thrown at him. He’s done that throughout, so I would expect that. Now, under fire with adjustments and signals and things of that nature, we’ve got to see where we are with regard to that, too.
Q: You guys were innovative in the way you were kind of stretching and allowing the players to rest during training camp. Did you continue that through the regular season because only having four guys on the injury report…?
A: That’s basically where we are with the recovery stretch on Mondays. The day after a game, we do continue that.
Q: Do you think that’s helped this year?
A: I’m sure it has. Other than rubbing a little dirt on it, that’s helped.
Q: You have the short passing game, which seems to be the foundation of what you’re doing. Do you envision more downfield developments as the season goes along?
A: Opportunity. When the opportunity presents itself, yes, but forcing it, no, not to force it. I’d like to keep the ball like we were able to do the other night, whether it’s run or pass. The mix has got to be good and it’s got to be there.
Q: If they’re as banged up on the offensive line as they appear to be, do you go after them or do you just do what you would normally intend to do?
A: We’re worried about our team. We’ve got to get our team ready to play as best as we possibly can. They do have some injuries. They’re a veteran (coaching) staff, they’re very good coaches; they’ll take care of their team.
Q: The 2-2 mark felt good to even your record and come back… in terms of momentum, is that part of a message? Like, let’s not let it slip? Because 3-2 is obviously a whole lot more attractive than 2-3.
A: Yes, it is. To just continue to play well and win, that’s what we’re here for. That’s the message – to capture the very good preparation we’ve had for the last couple of weeks, the outstanding leadership on our team, the guys having been very, very focused, the young ones as well as the old ones. We need to continue all those things.
Q: When you look back, did you see anything flip or…?
A: Nothing major, nothing like that. Just played better, prepared and played better, built a little confidence and built a little more.
Q: Does that make you nervous, that you are getting a few pats on the back now after a win against Washington?
A: What pats? Hanlon just tells me that everybody’s just got the sledgehammer out. That’s a good thing.
Q: How does Osi look?
A: Like Osi. Very, very close on a lot of back door plays, which he’s very, very good at. Quick, very fast.
Q: How much has it helped the confidence and the personality of your team that the offensive line, which faced so many doubts from the outside, seems to be a unit working so much better together?
A: They have worked well together. They are getting better together. That has meant a lot. Obviously you’re not going to… we talk about how it all starts there, both defensively and offensively. That certainly sets the stage for others to play at a much higher level.
Q: Do you feel like the combination of the offensive line happened by accident or by some matter of design?
A: By design, by design. Shaking out, looking at various combinations, being able to piece people together who, throughout the preseason, played in different spots. Doesn’t happen right away, but it’s getting there.
Q: How do you assess Trumaine McBride’s performance replacing Walter Thurmond?
A: He did well the other night – strip, fumble recovery, interception. Did very well the other night. He’s a good player.
Q: You mentioned Devin Hester. Do you see the same player you saw three, four, five years ago when you look at him? That Tampa Bay game…
A: You look at the return, you see a very young guy. Fast.
Q: What are the keys for you guys to be able to stop a guy that has that kind of speed?
A: Obviously… I could make some smart remark but I’ll… you do have to, you’ve got to be able to place the ball where you want it placed and cover as well. The same goes for kickoff coverage.
Q: Would you like to see the ball out of bounds more? I know it’s a hard thing to do.
A: It’s not easy. In an ideal world, yeah, sure.
Q: Is Steve Weatherford capable of that?
A: He is.
A: That’s basically where we are with the recovery stretch on Mondays. The day after a game, we do continue that.
Q: Do you think that’s helped this year?
A: I’m sure it has. Other than rubbing a little dirt on it, that’s helped.