Wednesday Media Transcript: Head Coach Ben McAdoo

Head Coach Ben McAdoo

August 9, 2017

Q: How do you think Davis Webb responded to the team work he did today?

A: He did a nice job. It was a tough situation to come in, two-minute drill there. We needed a field goal to tie, a touchdown to win, came up short, but it was a good, productive drill.

Q: Has he gotten enough work to play on Friday night?

A: Yes.

Q: Will he play on Friday?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you have a plan for Friday night?

A: There is a plan. We are going to treat it very similarly to the way we treated (the first preseason game) last year.

Q: So that means no Eli and no Odell?

A: We will treat it very similar to the way we treated last year’s game.

Q: What’s the order of quarterbacks after Eli?

A: We are going to go in and look at the tape and see how it transpires.

Q: How did Chad Wheeler do in his first team reps?

A: You know what? He jumped in there and got beat like a drum on the first play. After that, he hung in there nicely.

Q: What have you seen from him overall in camp?

A: I see a young, talented player. He’s a physical player, but he’s a young player that can bend well. He is working on the fundamental part of the game. Seems to get football.

Q: Is that something he earned?

A: I just wanted to take a look at him.

Q: What kind of advice do you give the bubble guys ahead of their first game?

A: We talked about that the other day. There is a lot of competition in camp, so the more competition, the more guys are on the bubble. If you don’t know if you are on the bubble, then you are on the bubble. We talked about how your fears can lead to your greatness, your greatness lies within your fears, so embrace them and compete your tail off on Friday night.

Q: Has Sterling Shepard impressed you at all with how quickly he has come back?

A: He looked good moving around out there today. He didn’t seem to be limited. We are going to take it slow with him like we talked about earlier. He likes football and wants to get back on the field. It is important to him.

Q: Why has this been Eli’s best camp?

A: He is completing the ball at a high percentage, he knows the offense like the back of his hand, and he has been in the offense for four years now, so he has been able to teach others. That is the best way to learn, the best way to master it.

Q: How have you been able to manage four quarterbacks in camp?

A: We have a young guy that we have high hopes for in the future and he is learning the system. He is very good at working behind the scenes and getting the work and the reps that he needs to get. We have two guys battling for a backup spot and we are going to go in and take a look at the film and we evaluate that each and every day. And we have a veteran who needs to get the work that he needs and that is primary for us.

Q: Have you ever had that situation before?

A: We have had battles for backup spots, yes.

Q: I mean trying to find time for four guys logistically?

A: Yes, it is tough in today’s CBA, but that is how it goes.

Q: Do you think you can set the tone with your running game in this first game despite playing so many people?

A: Yeah, we need to come out and run the ball, first group. We will talk later about how many plays we are going to get the first group, but coming out running the football is important to us and it starts with the first time we hit the field together in a team environment.

Q: What can Rhett Ellison bring as a pass catcher?

A: I think he has been underutilized in the pass game. We are going to use him a little bit more and give him some opportunities there. He has certainly shown he moves like a football player in space, so I don’t see any reason why he can’t be a contributor.

Q: What have you seen from Travis Rudolph?

A: I think he is a young player that has had some ups and some downs, but he keeps on coming back every day willing and we are excited to watch him play.

Q: Are there any guys that are definitely not playing Friday?

A: We are looking at that. Not at this point. We are looking at it.