Thursday Transcript: Special Teams Coordinator Tom Quinn

Special Teams Coordinator Tom Quinn

December 3, 2015

Q: You’re second in kickoff returns, is that something you’ve seen improve as the years have gone on?

A: It started out pretty good, Atlanta where we had some good holes, and would have gotten some more but Dwayne [Harris] slipped on one, so that started out pretty good. It’s hard because you don’t get into a flow because you have one this game, two this game, and you don’t have a whole bunch. It’s been a little bit piecemeal but we’ve been happy with the progress of that. You always feel like you can do a lot better. Obviously there are some games I felt like if we made one or two blocks, it could be a better return average.

Q: As it gets into December, the kicks are going to be shorter, and there will be more chances.

A: Yeah, so you’ll get more opportunities, and we’re starting to see that a little bit. Last week we only had one, so that makes it tough.

Q: What are your biggest concerns with the Jets?

A: Their team speed is really good and they have good size. There are some tough matchup problems, really like their punt returners, really have done well. [Jeremy] Kerley is tough to tackle, you see him break a ton of tackles, and then obviously they have Antonio [Cromartie] back there. He’s a weapon with his speed, so we have to do a good job with our coverage teams.

Q: Montori Hughes, a 350-pund guy, you ever have a guy that big?

A: In the wedge?

Q: Yeah.

A: When I first got here, we had the four-man wedge and we had some bigger offensive linemen, but never 354 pounds. That’s a good size.

Q: What makes him capable of doing that?

A: He wants to do it. Some guys aren’t willing and you have to really (convince) them, but he enjoys it, so that’s always a good place to start. He’s a good athlete for his size and he can move his feet pretty good.

Q: He seemed to get a pretty good hit, at least one, in there?

A: Yeah, on the one return, he got a knockdown, so that was good.

Q: Big advantage though, he probably had 150 pounds on that guy.

A: I think so. I’m not a physics guy.

Q: Is that sort of how it’s going to play out on most kickoffs?

A: No, like this week, there is size versus size, so. We always talk big on little, they’re going to try and run around, so he’s got to do a good job of setting the guy up and getting a shoulder on the guy so you’re not getting a holding penalty.