QB Coach Mike Sullivan
November 16, 2015
Q: You’ve now had a chance to see Eli again for half a season, he’s having one of his best statistical years. Do you see a difference in him now than the Eli you saw before?
A: You know, I think he’s very comfortable in the system. It’s his second year in it and with the receivers and with the scheme and so forth, he’s healthy and he’s still the same tireless worker, the same guy that prepares thoroughly and meticulously and very, very competitive. I think it’s just a combination of all of his hard work paying off and being able to be very comfortable and kind of anticipating things a little bit faster and an awareness of what to expect from the defense and what to expect from everyone on the offense. I think he’s very, very comfortable.
Q: He’s obviously got different pieces around him and with Victor Cruz gone, he’s got different receivers. Do you see signs of him making those guys better players?
A: I think he’s very focused on trying to improve everyone around him. And he’s an excellent communicator even back from when I was a receivers coach in the different system, he was very active in giving feedback to the receivers and to the backs and tight ends about specific things he’s looking for and things to trigger the release of the football and things to anticipate. He’s an excellent communicator and he gives them some excellent feedback, it helps them to improve. And of course, they know he’s the guy who’s getting them the ball, so it probably behooves them to listen, so that works out well.
Q: When you were a receivers coach, was Victor here yet?
A: Victor came in the year that I became quarterbacks coach. Victor was 2010.
Q: You didn’t have a chance to work directly?
A: Yeah obviously closely from when I was the quarterbacks coach. I remember that first game in Metlife there, number three, against the Jets. So very sad for him. I heard the news and wish him the very, very best and keeping him in the prayers. He’s definitely a guy that’s going to work his tail off and try to get better. Hopefully things will turn out well for him.
Q: How do you improve in the red zone?
A: That’s a great, great question. We’re going to spend a lot of time this week as coaches now that the players kind of go their separate ways for the week and really take a hard look at what’s gone well, what hasn’t gone well, and most importantly, the why. Why hasn’t it gone well? Is it a matter of scheme that we just don’t have the right ideas and getting out-schemed by the opponents? Or is it the other extreme where we’ve got some pretty good ideas and putting guys in positions but maybe, whether it’s the turnovers, whether it’s the penalties, whether it’s some poor decision making, or execution, whatever the case may be. But the bottom line is we’ve got to take a look at that and certainly those areas where Eli feels most comfortable and where he’s had the most number of practice reps and he can anticipate things and react and adjust. Because he adjusts so much in this offense, that’s really where we’re going to need to focus our efforts for the rest of the season.
Q: It looked like you were close on a couple late in the game, too.
A: Yes. Yeah, real close calls there unfortunately didn’t go our way. But there’s no doubt that’s an area of emphasis we need to get better at and play a big part in that.
