Friday Media Transcript: Tight Ends Coach Kevin M. Glibride

Tight Ends Coach Kevin M. Glibride

October 20, 2017

Q: How much does Evan’s (Engram) role change with all of the wide receivers being out?

A: It increases. That’s certainly the case. But really his role was going to be large no matter what just with his skill set and what he brings to the table. The other guys’ roles are increasing now as well.

Q: Can you elaborate on what he brings to the table?

A: The obvious one would be in the pass receiving game. Speed, quickness, good hands, agility, run with the ball after the catch, his explosiveness. That’s what he brings to the table as far as being dynamic. What he does still pretty well and can continue to improve is his run blocking. Whether if it’s at the point of attack or on the back side. Where he does need to improve is his finish and that’s certainly been addressed. He knows it, he understands that our team needs him to finish better and certainly he takes everything to heart, so he will finish better.

Q: Does he remind you of anybody you have seen over the years?

A: I’d say if you had to compare him to somebody, I would probably say Jordan Reed from the Redskins. That would be the best comparison. But again, he’s a young player and he’s developing. But the sky is the limit for him.

Q: He had a lot of big plays last week on catch-and-runs. Why haven’t we seen as much down the field as we expected.

A: Based on coverages.

Q: How does running more two tight end packages impact your group?

A: Well, they are all excited, I know that. Each week, everything is going to be game plan specific based on what the defense tries to do and take away and where you can gain an advantage. But with having less receivers and having the fourth tight end up with Matt LaCosse, they’re all fired up. They’re excited for each other, they feel like they can help impact the game in a positive way for our team.

Q: Do you feel like teams are playing you differently because of Evan Engram?

A: Not necessarily. Coverages so far have been pretty comparable to what we study going in and the defensive coordinators have stayed true to their colors for the most part. There is always adjustments because they study us like we study them. So whatever they feel like they can gain an advantage, they will and make adjustments that way and then we can counter-adjust right from there.

Q: Do you expect him to be more of a focal point going forward?

A: I certainly hope so. He is one of our weapons.

Q: What did you see from Matt (LaCosse)?

A: He had nine plays. I thought he played pretty well. The one ball that was thrown to him was a low throw, but maybe he could have made a catch, potentially make a play on that play. But I thought he could have gotten out of that route a little faster.

Q: How did he handle being a healthy scratch the first five weeks?

A: He’s a team guy. That’s the one thing you can certainly say about all of those tight ends. They’re team guys. So whatever was going to help the team, he was okay with.

Q: How has Rhett Ellison come along?

A: He’s been very impressive, to be honest with you. He really does a great job in the run game and he’s very precise in the pass game as far as his route execution. He hasn’t had that many opportunities with that many balls thrown his way, but when he does, he continuously sticks his foot in the ground, gets north and south, breaks a tackle and puts us in a good position, whether it’s to get a first down or gains the first down.

Q: Does that surprise you because it seemed like in training camp you guys thought he was going to be more of a pass catcher than he has been?

A: No, it’s just strictly based on coverage dictation. The coverage dictates where the football goes. When he’s been asked to do those and he’s gotten those opportunities and the coverages dictated that it has gone his way, he’s performed well.

Q: Where do you think Jerrell Adams has improved the most?

A: I’d say his confidence in the passing game. There is still some slight hesitation in the run game, but once he knows what he’s doing as far as his footwork, how to get his job done. Once he locks his hands on that defender, he really what we call ‘pounds his arches’ and gets great movement on those defenders. So that’s held true this year as well. The more confident that kid gets, the better off he is going to be. And it is improving.