Tight Ends Coach Lunda Wells
September 14, 2018
Q: How did you feel your guys performed in Week 1?
A: They did ok, but again, ok is not good enough. You got some things that we worked throughout this week that we tried to clean up, fundamentally and technique wise. As the season progresses, that’s where we got to continue to build our foundation. Getting better with the fundamentals and the techniques. I think that allows us to play pretty well so we can impact the game.
Q: How has Evan Engram developed as a blocker?
A: He’s gotten better, but again, is he where we need him to be at as a team? No, and he’s working his behind off every day, every week to continue to get better with the techniques. He’s done a really good job of understanding the techniques, understanding the footwork and the things that we’re asking him to do. He’s continuing to progress because of his hard work.
Q: As a coach, how do you work with a player who struggles with dropping the ball? What can you do to help fix that?
A: I think with catching the football, some might say is it mental? No, I think with him, he’s been built to catch the football. He has 10-inch hands. I think just like a baseball hitter, just keep getting more attempts at the plate, and keep swinging at it, and you’ll be hitting .500. The biggest thing is for him just continue to catch more footballs. We’ve been emphasizing that during practice. Emphasizing it pre-practice and post-practice with ball drills, even in our meeting room. Just to continue to keep catching footballs. I think that’s the way you get better at catching footballs.
Q: Do you work with Evan to reinsure him on what he needs to focus on and eliminating the negativity?
A: Yeah, at times with guys who are really competitive, at times they put a lot of pressure on themselves, and he’s really competitive. I think the mental approach of being positive, and like you said, pointing out some of the positive things that he’s doing so he doesn’t get overwhelmed with the things that he’s not doing so well. I think that’s very critical to keep emphasizing some of those positive things that’s he’s doing.
Q: What kind of help can (TE) Rhett Ellison be to the offensive tackles?
A: In coach’s (Shurmur) system, he’s always used tight ends in protection. So, I don’t know if I look at it as help to the tackles. I think any guy that has to block those guys has to win their one-on-one matchup. Rhett is a tremendous blocker. He understand things in terms of the techniques that we’re teaching. Protection wise, he’s a guy that allows us some flexibility to execute some things that’s already in our offense. Really, all the tight ends are being taught and emphasize the protection element and the techniques.
Q: What were (TE) Scott Simonson’s qualities that helped him make this roster?
A: Simonson, he’s very tough. He’s very smart. He gives you the ability to be a blocker. Also, being a guy that you can move around formation wise. I think his redeeming quality was his toughness and the ability to be an adequate blocker.
I thought that was weird too. Apples to Oranges.
And Engram needs to just catch the god damn ball. He was specifically picked too early in Rd 1 because he is predominately just a weapon in the passing game.
So be one...