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

Archived Thread

Thursday Media Transcript: Head Coach Pat Shurmur

Eric from BBI : Admin : 6/6/2019 2:34 pm
Head Coach Pat Shurmur -- June 6, 2019

Opening Statement: A little bit shorter today. Again, some more situational work, which we all need. We did some good stuff in the red zone. We did a “move the ball” in the red zone. At the end there, we just did some “move the ball” where Bettch called it on defense and Mike called it on offense. It was very competitive, it was good. At the end there, we had one last play for push-ups with the threes in there. The players asked for it, so it was good. I think we got a lot done this week. I feel really good about how our team is coming together. We have another week of work before we send them on their way. But I think we got a lot accomplished this week. That’s a good thing this time of year.

Q: What do you see that convinces you things are coming together?
A: I mentioned it earlier in the week, I see good competitive play. Both sides of the ball are making plays, I think that’s important. I just see their interaction as a team, the communication on defense, the communication on offense. We got a lot of offense, a lot of defense in. You don’t see a lot of busts. You see just a lot of competitive, good football. As compared to a year ago when we were putting in our systems for the first time, you see improvements that way. Tactically, there’s some things. Certainly, the camaraderie of the team, I think these guys really have a good feeling for one another. They’re tough, competitive guys and you can kind of see them coming together.

Q: How does that work with install when you want to advance with the guys that have been here, but you still have some guys learning for the first time?
B: Well, it’s a slippery slope. I think everybody that comes into a new system, they’ve been in other systems where they had to catch up. For the guys that don’t know it as well, they need to spend extra time learning it. You really can’t slow your roll for the guys that are in it for the second year. It’s a credit to our new guys, they’ve done a good job.

Q: Nate Solder was a guy that was in one system with one quarterback for several years. When you got him, did you get a sense that he had to wean some of that stuff off of him, how do you sense that transition?
A: I think the transition went well. Again, he was one in system, but (he’s) very smart. There’s a lot of homogenous concepts in football. You call it ‘cat’, we call it ‘dog’. It’s just a matter of kind of learning what we call things. I think he did a good job of that. He’s very smart, he works hard. I think it’s probably a better question for him, but I think his transition was good.


Q: What about the stability Solder brought to that position?
B: He’s a pro. I think any time you can add a really good player to your team that’s a professional that’s been through it, not only been through it but won championships. You learn things by being around it and being a part of it. I think all along he’s been kind of able to talk about those things in a positive way, and I think that rubs off on our team.

Q: Is it too early to see that you have the culture that you want around here?
A: I think every year you have to re-establish your culture because you don’t always play the next year with all the same guys from the previous year. That’s always the challenge. I think more was made of it this year probably because we made so many changes. That’s really what the process involved.

Q: What makes Daniel Jones successful at throwing the ball down the field?
A: Well, he’s got a downfield focus. Most often you’ve got downfield routes and you have outlets and check downs, most concepts involve that. He’s got a downfield focus and he’s trying to get a feel for his targets and he’s trying to give them a chance down field and I think that’s good. That’s part of what’s going to help him be successful early.

Q: Odell (Beckham Jr) made some comments about Baker Mayfield’s arm strength being something totally different than what he is used to. It seems like a criticism of Eli, what do you make of that?
A: I would probably think of it as less of a criticism of Eli. He’s getting comfortable with his team, he’s around his teammates, he’s around his new community. I’m happy for him, he’s getting comfortable with his guys. I wouldn’t say it’s a criticism of Eli, it’s more of he likes who he’s playing with.

Q: Which rookies from the draft class have impressed you the most?
A: The guy that’s made huge improvements in my eyes has been Slayton, he’s done a really good job. I think we were all here during rookie minicamp when he kind of had the yips, drops and what not. He’s really smoothed it out and he’s been making plays. He’s the first guy that comes to mind. This time of year, it’s more about throwing and catching and less about blocking and tackling. I think the young guys in the secondary have been competing, all of the new players. That’s a good thing.

Q: The guys have ball skills in the secondary, how does that help you defensively. Instead of going front to back, you can work back to front?
A: It’s important, we all know it’s coordinated. You need to get pressure and knock the quarterback off his spot and make the ball come out a way he doesn’t want it to come out. In the back end, we’ve got to be a good team at disrupting the ball and catching the ball. We’ve been able to see some of that this spring. It’s important.

Q: What have you learned about DeAndre Baker that you didn’t know during the draft process?
A: He is very competitive, he’s very tough. The corners are at a little bit of a disadvantage because there is no bump and run. Part of his charm was his ability to play up on a receiver and bump him. We think we are going to see more good stuff once training camp gets going. He’s very competitive, he picks things up, he works hard. The things you need to see.

Q: What did Corey Coleman show you last year that made you want to bring him back this year?
A: First, he added some dynamic plays to our return game. As we all know, we really didn’t have an established punt returner to start the year, one that we were total comfortable with. He was able to come in and help the return game. He was basically on kickoffs and then he worked on his punts. Then he made a couple plays in the passing game at wideout, he got more and more comfortable. He’s getting more and more comfortable now. I think him having the full process, we are going to see the best of him. He’s the first one to tell you when he came in the league, he had a lot to learn. Now he’s got an opportunity to maybe be a front-line player.

Q: For a kid that was drafted in the first round, obliviously things didn’t go well, is there something about his personality that speaks to that? People talk about chips on shoulders or things to prove?
A: I don’t know that. He hasn’t really talked about having a chip on his shoulder or trying to prove or disprove anything. He’s very inquisitive. Today in the dining hall, he was asking me how we used Thielen and Diggs, who was the Z, who was the X. He’s very interested in all that, he’s learning our system, he’s doing a great job learning it. He’s fast, he’s really a terrific talent, so hopefully we can get him on the field and make a difference for us.

Q: When do rookie quarterbacks generally get a grasp of where everything is and where they need to be?
A: Fortunately for Daniel, he is extremely intelligent. His head is swimming much less than most rookies for a couple reasons. He’s very smart, he was coached extremely well in college, he’s been around it. He’s been coached by one of the best in college. He understands the process. Again, we call it a cat, they call it a dog, it doesn’t matter. He’s been around the process enough to know. (He’s) very perceptive, he doesn’t make the same mistake twice. There’s a lot of things he’s doing out there for the first time. Every once and a while, if you are aggressive, a mistake will happen. He’ll come back in, fix it and the next time he runs that play, he will do it properly. It’s different for all players, when it starts to slow down and the game starts to make sense. Very certain that it’s going to make sense to him very quickly.

Q: Austin Droogsma is a guy with a very unique background, where is he on the football side?
A: You can say he’s got a long way to go. He went to college, he basically intended to play football and then he didn’t. He’s been involved in track in his years at Florida State. He’s coming along quickly, he’s a big guy, he’s a good athlete. He learns pretty well, he’s a guy that hasn’t done it for a long time. He’s doing a good job.
I can't believe that a writer  
smshmth8690 : 6/6/2019 3:01 pm : link
would ask a head coach about a player from another team.
RE: I can't believe that a writer  
jvm52106 : 6/6/2019 3:57 pm : link
In comment 14465082 smshmth8690 said:
Quote:
would ask a head coach about a player from another team.


I am surprised Shurmur answered it but, the answer was fine both for us and obviously for OBJ. However, any answer will bring about those in the media who want to add to it or counter it. You will hear from many who flat out believe it was a shot at Eli.

Personally I don't care about Beckham even a little bit. He was a VERY good player when he played but, he missed a lot of time, lots of series and his antics overshadowed his play a lot and definitely detracted from the team concept (regardless of players saying how he great he was). In any environment the dominant personality gets removed if that personality is counter to what those in charge are looking for and trying to do.
Nice  
Red Right Hand : 6/8/2019 7:51 am : link
"In any environment the dominant personality gets removed if that personality is counter to what those in charge are looking for and trying to do."
RE: Nice  
Diver_Down : 6/8/2019 8:20 am : link
In comment 14466621 Red Right Hand said:
Quote:
"In any environment the dominant personality gets removed if that personality is counter to what those in charge are looking for and trying to do."


Had to dig into the Rolodex to come back?
This whole cat vs dog thing  
Jimmy Googs : 6/8/2019 8:26 am : link
is really confusing...
Corey Coleman  
XBRONX : 6/8/2019 8:36 am : link
worked into the punt returns? He returned one punt. More comfortable in the passing game as the year went on? He caught one pass for eight yards the last three games of the year. I think he could be a surprise, but dont make up stuff.
I really like Shurmur's answers ...  
Manny in CA : 6/8/2019 9:42 am : link

No "coach speak" He's a better version of Tom Coughlin. Players seem to be comfortable to ask him anything - that is BIG.

What do we call a dog?  
CardinalX : 6/8/2019 5:19 pm : link
And just what do they call a cat?
Back to the Corner