for display only
Big Blue Interactive The Corner Forum  
Back to the Corner

Archived Thread

Monday Media Transcript: Head Coach Pat Shurmur

Eric from BBI : Admin : 8/6/2018 2:27 pm
Head Coach Pat Shurmur
August 6, 2018
 
Opening: We’re gonna go in pads today and deal with the heat, which is important. There’s a lot of teams practicing in weather hotter than this, so this is apart of training camp. We’ll start working our way toward Cleveland. I know you probably have a lot of questions in regards to how I’m going to play the players. I’m gonna hold that for right now, we’re still in discussions with certain guys and just want to be smart about where guys are physically and if they play and how much they play, so I won’t really have an answer to give you with regard to that question at this point, so if that was somebody’s question, you might have to move on to something else.
 
Q: What was the reasoning for Saquon Barkley to not have any reps on Saturday?
A: Just, again, we’re managing workloads, we take a good look at what they’re doing and he’s fine if you’re asking. Physically, he’s fine.
 
Q: That was the second time in three days that he didn’t do as much as he usually does. Is there…
A: We do a lot of things behind the scenes also that you’re not aware of. Again, I understand – everybody wants to know how many reps and if they were good ones and I get that. I know that’s part of your job and you all have a very keen eye for that stuff, but we’re trying to give the guys the workload that they need.
 
Q: What have you thought about his progress through training camp and what has impressed you the most about Saquon?
A: Well, I think he plays extremely well so it doesn’t look like, at least in the training sessions, he doesn’t look like a rookie to me, so that’s good.
 
Q: You called everybody into a huddle the other day after Eli [Apple] and [Evan] Engram had that little scuffle. What was said there? What was the point of it?
A: That’s between the coach and the players. 
 
Q: How’s Eli [Apple] doing, physically?
A: Excellent. He’ll be out here today. He’s already out there, he’s fine. I know there was a lot of conversation, along the way there was a play-by-play in regards to Eli. Eli’s fine.
 
Q: There’s a lot of talk when you switch offense and defense and you go into a 30 front it’s the big rave. From an offensive line perspective, what unique challenges does playing against a 30 present to an offensive line?
A: Well, there’s certain runs – when you put five men on the line against 21 and 12 personnel, basically, there’s certain runs that work well. There’s certain ways you need to protect. You don’t really want your back getting caught blocking those outside rushers who are basically defensive ends. Those are pressure players and really when you look at those outside linebackers, they have three jobs to do: one is set the edge on the runs, two is pass rush and then the rare occasion we ask you to drop. So you’re looking at edge setters and rushers and so that’s part of the dilemma, so your protection schemes change some, how you run the ball changes some. So for us to be able to get that in practice is huge when we play teams that play five on the line. That being said, most of the time when you go to nickel, teams will show up in a four-man front so we get that part of it as well and it’s very rare you don’t see a team go four down linemen. If you do the math right, you got an extra defensive back, so you take out a lineman.
 
Q: I’m sure guys have been flashing during camp. How much do the preseason games weigh in your evaluations?
A: The games are weighed – it’s a huge piece for us. You’ve heard talk about 11-on-11 drills because they’re uncontrolled and then the 11-on-11 drills where they’re not on the scripts and they’re called like we did Saturday and then obviously the next phase of that is doing it in a game.
 
Q: When you put together your plans for the preseason games, is that really an extension of practice? I know there’s no game planning per se, but how do you kind of approach what you want to see and how you go about getting players work you want to see?
A: Yeah, that’s a good point. I like to see the whole roster. We want to have enough information on the guys that are playing for us to decide are you one of our 53. So we need to see them in games and there’s certain guys we need to see and so it’s very important. We also need to remember that we’re still in training camp and so guys are only going to play a portion of the game. They’re not getting quite as much rest leading up to the game as they would as if this was during the season where you’re really managing that the best you can. It’s kind of we’re in training camp yet we’re playing a game and they’re playing partial amount of snaps as compared to a regular game, so you just deal with it.
 
Q: When you said Saquon [Barkley] doesn’t look like a rookie, is it just looking at mistakes that he does or doesn’t make or is it the total picture?
A: Some of it is not making the mistakes. He still makes mistakes, but all players do. You don’t see him repeating mistakes and that’s good. Sometimes you see rookies get in the feel for things and they just don’t quite get it yet. That’s why it’s important that you practice because when mistakes happen you can correct them so you can move on. If you don’t practice and all of a sudden you’re making them in games, you’re saying, ‘well, we didn’t get a chance to teach him that.’ Players tell you what they need to learn by some of the mistakes they make and then you get them corrected so they don’t happen in the games.
 
Q: Is any of that decreased workload with him, is that management? Is that all set up because…
A: I don’t see it as, I don’t mean to cut you off, but I don’t see it as a decreased workload. There’s nothing wrong with Saquon [Barkley]. We’re just managing his reps like we would any running back.
 
Q: But is some of that, you’re comfortable with the reps he’s getting because he’s not repeating the mistakes so you don’t need to see it over and over and over again.
A: That’s good, that’s right. That’s very fair.
 
Q: One of the toughest assignments for a rookie running back is picking up blitzes. How has he progressed in that area?
A: He’s done a very good job and because of our style of defense and pressure is in our DNA on defense and they’re practicing it, he’s getting a good opportunity to see lots of blitzes and lots of different types of blitzes. He’s done a good job with that.
 
Q: So you’re comfortable with him?
A: Oh yeah, for sure.
 
Q: With [James] Bettcher, there’s a lot out there on how frequently he has blitzed in the past. Is that something you wanted in your defensive coordinator? That aggressive – did you want a 3-4 or did you want a person?
A: I was looking for the best teacher. Again, you’ve heard me say this, it’s the players not the plays. That includes the schemes. I think there are advantages to the way we’re gonna line up and play. I basically told him keep them out of the end zone.
Back to the Corner