Wednesday Media Transcript: Head Coach Tom Coughlin

Head Coach Tom Coughlin

November 4, 2015

Good morning. Looking forward to getting outside on this beautiful day and working in preparation for a good Tampa Bay football team. They are 3-4, as you know, they’re 2-1 in their last three games. But for a one-point decision at Washington, they would have won their last three. They’re 11th overall on offense, the fourth-ranked rushing team in the league. Jameis Winston, the young quarterback, has done an outstanding job of directing his team. A very strong arm, a strong runner when he pulls the ball down. Doug Martin, the fourth-leading rusher in the league. Donovan Smith, the rookie left tackle. Charles Sims, the backup running back who does an outstanding job in the passing game. And Logan Mankins, who really does run the show up front for that offensive line.

Defensively, it’s a Lovie Smith defense, for sure. They run very well, they’re very quick, they’re penetrators, the linebacker level is very fast, they do an outstanding job of pressuring the quarterback even with four defenders. They are 15th in the league overall, their 13 takeaways makes them sixth in the league and their nine fumble recoveries makes them first in the league in that category.

Their special teams are outstanding. They’re fourth in the league in punt return, second in the league in kickoff return, fifth in the league allowing only 4.7 yards per punt return, opponent punt return. Their outstanding punt returner and kickoff returner is Bobby Rainey. They have speed and quickness in their special teams unit.

I think a couple of things indicative about this team—four games ago against Carolina, they suffered a defeat, didn’t give up a lot of yards, but were minus-four in the turnover margin. Four weeks later against Atlanta in overtime, they were plus-four and they were able to win the game. So they’ve been resilient. They gave up a 24-0 lead to lose to Washington. They were up 20 points against Atlanta. Atlanta came back, tied the game, they went into overtime and, of course, they won the game in overtime. It’s a good team, it’s an improving team, and we’ve got to prepare ourselves to go to Tampa this upcoming Sunday.

Q: What is it about Jameis Winston that you’ve seen with his progression?

A: One of the things I just mentioned, the minus-four was directly attributed to him against Carolina. He’s taking good care of the ball right now. Because of the strength of their running game, their play action is very good and he has the opportunity to isolate one-on-one with (Mike) Evans or whoever on the outside. He throws the go ball, the deep ball, the post ball, all the deep over routes, the nakeds, the nudes, all of those types of routes he does very well. And if you signify by opening the middle of the field up for him, then he’ll run. He’s gotten a grasp of what they would like to do. He does have a strong arm, so if they’re just spotting up in their routes against zone coverages, he delivers the ball in a rapid-fire fashion to the open receiver.

Q: You left the door open on Jason Pierre-Paul this week. What’s the plan for him today?

A: Practice, he’s going to practice. He’ll practice today, he’ll practice tomorrow. He’ll get a good amount of reps and we’ll take it from there.

Q: He’ll be with the defense?

A: He’ll be with our defense, he’ll also get some scout team reps.

Q: Where’s Will Beatty in his progression here?

A: He’s going to work this week and then the decision is forthcoming.

Q: He’s going to work with the offense or the scout team?

A: He’ll work a little bit with both.

Q: The decision is forthcoming after this week’s game you mean?

A: I think it is right after this game, yeah.

Q: Does any of JPP’s acceleration in workload have anything to do with the problems you’ve been having on defense?

A: No. It has to do with him and whether he’s ready or not. If he’s ready, we’ll play him. If he’s not ready, then we’ll take more time.

Q: This clearance that he’s getting, is this a little surprising to you that he’s been here a week and all of a sudden he’s on the field? A lot of times players take a little time to get acclimated.

A: Check (Greg) Hardy. I think it was the same thing with that, wasn’t it? They had a bye week and he came back. I don’t care about anybody else, it’s the individual. He’s in outstanding physical condition, we knew that. We tried that right away. We had him in pads on Saturday morning, we had him in pads on Monday, so we’re feeling good about accelerating him along. There’s nothing unusual about it when a guy who is in his position is in the condition that he’s in and prepares himself to play—that’s what he’s done.

Q: Is it about his condition or is the issue his hand—how much his hand can handle at this point?

A: I think it’s probably both. All that’s been told to me and all the preparation has gone on to make sure he has a glove that helps him in that regard.

Q: How much reinforcement can you get from Prince Amukamara, Jon Beason or J.T. Thomas? Any of those guys close to coming back?

A: Prince is going to work, but he’s going to work individual and then have a couple of snaps as a scout team corner just to get his footwork going again. But Jon’s not going to practice today.

Q: With Prince, when he does return, is this something he’s going to have to deal with or is the hope that he can be 100 percent?

A: That’s a good question. I’m not a doctor so—he wouldn’t be cleared to play if he couldn’t handle it. He may have to wear some kind of strap or something. If that’s the case, I’m sure you’ll ask me that again when he steps on the field.

Q: Is there any indication that Victor Cruz will practice at all this week?

A: None that I know of. You know what I’m going to do, I’m going to have somebody come in here and answer all the medical. Seriously. I’m going to have somebody do that because I’m not going to do this every time I come in front you now. Tomorrow, don’t ask me this stuff. If you want it today, I’ll give it to you today, but that’s it.

Q: Larry Donnell?

A: He’s not going to practice.

Q: What’s the outlook on him?

A: Week to week, I’m sure. Day to day, week to week, I don’t know.

Q: Rueben Randle?

A: He won’t practice today, but we feel like he’ll move along.

Q: Their ability to make big plays, how important will it be to wrap them up and limit the number of tackles Martin breaks?

A: That’s huge anytime. When you study a guy like Martin, you see that he’s very good at that. He takes a shot, then all of a sudden he regroups and gets you another three. That’s critical anytime, so it’s just as important as it was last week.

Q: Your team obviously didn’t make any moves at the trading deadline, I know they’re hard to make in the NFL. Is not doing something an indication that you and the organization believe that you have enough here to make a run in the playoffs?

A: I wouldn’t comment on the transaction/non-transaction. I’m sure that there were phone calls made, there always are. Obviously, they didn’t work out, but I don’t think anybody is satisfied just sitting there. Are we trying to play as well as we can to get in the playoffs? Certainly we are, naturally we are.

Q: Do you believe that there’s enough here to make that run?

A: This is our team and we’re going to do the very best we can with our team. Right now we’re currently in first place, so let’s stay there.

Q: You have some pretty big names on the sidelines with Jon Beason, Prince, Victor Cruz, Will Beatty, Jason Pierre-Paul. Can you get where you want to go or do you need—

A: We’ve got to get players on the field, certainly they do. Certainly you need them on the field, that’s why they’re here. But at this point in time, many of them are not ready to go, so we do the best we can with what we have.

Q: Do you have any timetable on Cruz at all yet?

A: No.

Q: If you’re without Donnell, what’s your comfort level with Will Tye?

A: He’s done a nice job. He’s played well when he’s gotten the opportunity. Obviously, he got a lot of plays last week in New Orleans, so we feel like he’s got to be the guy. You know what? He’s come along and he improves every week, that’s what we’re counting on.

Q: What’s your confidence level in the defense bouncing back?

A: I think they will bounce back, I think they will. I think what exactly that means, obviously each opponent is a different opponent. I think that the frame of mind will be the right way. I think we’ll bounce back.

Q: Do you make significant changes on that side?

A: No, not significant that you’re going to see.