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Friday Media Transcript: Offensive Line Coach Mike Solari

Eric from BBI : Admin : 10/13/2017 3:25 pm
Offensive Line Coach Mike Solari

October 13, 2017

Q: What has it been like for you with all the different offensive line combinations?

A: It’s been challenging. It’s been challenging with the offensive line. They’re working hard and next man up mentality. And, again, just the changing of the different positions is an adjustment we’re making. We’re getting better. We’re getting better.

Q: How do you think OL Brett Jones has done at center?

A: Brett has done well. Brett is a hard worker. He’s always prepared. He’s always working hard and did a nice job with learning the offensive technique and the fundamentals. Critical for the center. He’s the kind of leader of the offensive line, making the calls because calls come from inside out and he did a good job. Doing a great job. He’s improved every day.

Q: What’s different when you have OL Brett Jones in the lineup opposed to C Weston Richburg?

A: Well, again, the key thing is – the nice thing about Brett – he works so hard preparing. He’s just like Weston as far as his knowledge, being able to communicate. The most important thing is being able to communicate with that center spot because that’s where all the calls come from – from the ID of the front to the blocking schemes and, you know, each of them have their own compliments what they can do best. But, again, the most important thing, they’re solid football players.

Q: Why do you think your confidence in T Bobby Hart hasn’t translated to the field?

A: I think he’s getting better. Maybe a little bit inconsistent this last week and I think because of the time he – in between the games. I know the second game, he played also. But, the second play he gets hurt and he’s out. So, again, there’s a lapse there and in the NFL if you don’t practice, you lose a little bit of your skill. That’s something that we’re working on hard with Bobby and Bobby has worked hard this week at regaining his techniques and skills.

Q: What kind of challenge does Von Miller present?

A: Unbelievable. Unbelievable. Again, he’s one of the best and I think it’s exciting to be able to play against him. It’s exciting as a coach to prepare against him and he’s dynamic. What makes him dynamic? His first step. His initial quickness. The other thing that’s really impressive about Von when you watch him is all his moves. He can go right into a spin. He can go right into a power. He’s got dip and rip. He’s got it all. And it’s awesome. And he’s special. It’s fun to watch.

Q: How much do you expect the Broncos to move Von Miller around?

A: They’ll move him. They’ll move him. Absolutely, they will move him. They have a very good football staff and they’ll make sure, you know, they’ll make sure they move him because they don’t want you to bead in on him. They move him as well as from a defensive end spot to a three-technique. Over the guards – a three-technique. He’s standing up. But, again, they move him so you can’t lock in on him and double him and chip him all day long to help him out.

Q: Do you feel like you need to double Von Miller as much as possible?

A: Yeah, I mean, he’s a guy you have to adjust for. He’s a guy you have to change up. You double every time? No. I mean, no. But, again, he’s a guy that you want to change up, whether you chip him, whether you slide to him, whether you double him with a tight end chip in, with a back chip in, will you slide your line to them. You have to change up your protection against him as well as moving the pocket, as well as your rhythm of throws.

Q: Is it similar to if you had one guy to be able to follow him all over the place, like a corner?

A: Right. They have the luxury on the other side. They have the luxury on the other side. Again, the key thing is we study each individual, each defensive lineman that we’re going to face or an outside linebacker that we’re going to face. We study their techniques and skills and try to learn and get a feel for them. So, again, every man is prepared for him whatever spot he lines up and you always trust your technique and fundamentals. That’s the most important thing. Trust your techniques. Trust your fundamentals. Trust your teaching.

Q: There’s nothing you can do to force Miller to go to the matchup that you would prefer, right?

A: Correct, that’s in their corner. Again, we understand usually he does line up to our right, we understand that. But you’ll see him also on the left. They move him in a little bit. But again, just like anything else, we always talk about footwork technique and skills. As a pass rusher, it’s the exact same thing. It’s the timing and the rhythm of which foot is first, the hand placement and so forth. So, you get a rhythm also as a better pass rusher on one side or the other. Again, he’s talented, either side.

Q: How frustrating are the breakdowns in fundamentals during the games across the offensive line?

A: Well, how you fix it is practice. How do you fix it? As a coach, as a line coach, that’s my responsibility, is drill work. You’ve got to make sure your drills – just don’t do drills. Your drills are designed, your drills need to change to try to enable that person to achieve that technique, or that movement skill that they need. Each week your skills and your techniques change because of the defensive front. The alignments, the shades, the wider alignments, if there’s variations. Tighter on the line of scrimmage, deeper off the line of scrimmage. So, your techniques, your assignments, your drills change. So, to answer your question, the key thing is to implement your drills on Wednesday and Thursday, so that’s a Thursday in pads, where it’s a look that you’re preparing them to see. Or, it’s a skill that you’re preparing them to achieve.

Q: How much did you need to stay in left tackle Ereck Flower’s ear early in the season to make sure he stayed confident?

A: Well again, Ereck’s working hard, Ereck’s working to try to develop the consistency in his techniques. And I think in his play, you’re seeing improvement in some things that we really want him to do and it’s coming along. Is it coming along quick enough? For a coach, you always say no. But Ereck’s working at it. And as a coach, all you can ask from a player is to work at it, develop the skills, make it a habit. Not just where it shows up once in a while.

Q: Did you worry about his confidence?

A: No. I don’t think so. Ereck’s strong. Ereck’s strongminded. Ereck’s strong and I don’t think that bothers him. He’s looking forward and trying to get better – trying to help us win.

Q: What does D.J. Fluker bring to the table?

A: A physicality. A physicality as a young man. You just talk to him – he’s exuberant with passion. He loves the game, but he’s a physical, tough, hard-nose player and he brings passion. He’s great not only on the football field for us, but he’s great in the locker room. He’s great in the classroom. What he brings as a pro, what he brings is just experience and he loves the game. We love the way he practices and we love what he brings to the table.

Q: Have you seen any drop off in Justin Pugh’s play bouncing back and forth between positions?

A: I think Justin is really working hard. I think Justin is playing at a high level and I say that to you, you know, last year he was banged up a little bit. So, when he came back, like I just said earlier about Bobby (Hart) – when he came back there’s a lot of days he missed practicing, staying sharp and so forth. But, he’s playing at a high level right now and he’s giving everything he has in his technique and fundamentals and finishing, straining, really like what he’s doing in the sense of what he’s bringing to the table. He’s a finisher. And, it’s just a matter of, you know, is lock into a position where you can re-find your techniques.

Q: That’s hard?

A: That’s hard. It’s hard. It’s hard. But, again, most important thing is – these guys here – they’re working. They don’t complain. They’re trying to achieve what we’re trying to ask of them as far as their technique and fundamentals and we’re all working to get better.

Q: What’s it like to have the conversation with Justin Pugh about moving positions?

A: Again, you know Justin. He’s a pro. I mean, ‘whatever you want me to do to win.’ He’s a pro. And, I’m trying to say not only is Justin, but all the men making moves and making adjustments and trying to get the best vibe on the football fields they’re competing and to get better. The nice thing is, is they’re competing and it’s good. It’s what you want. It’s what makes us better.
Damn if everybody is so great why do we stink?  
gtt350 : 10/13/2017 3:49 pm : link
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Great...everybody is working hard  
Rick in Dallas : 10/13/2017 3:56 pm : link
but their technique and game results suck....
Fake news  
Canton : 10/13/2017 4:20 pm : link
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Wow  
jvm52106 : 10/13/2017 4:33 pm : link
I truly think we have the middle school mentality going on here. Oh, you practiced so well this week. Good job team. Our practices are crisp and great.

You worked hard. They all worked hard. You guys are hard workers. Not good workers, not talented workers but hard workers. The world needs ditch diggers too..
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