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Wednesday Media Transcript: Head Coach Pat Shurmur

Eric from BBI : Admin : 9/4/2019 3:58 pm
Head Coach Pat Shurmur -- September 4, 2019

Opening Statement: I really don’t have anything to lead with. Good walkthrough. We have a couple guys still that you might not see out there. (Darius) Slayton and (Garrett) Dickerson probably won’t make it this week. But other than that, we’ll just see how practice goes today. As we get going here, I’ll let the injury report speak for itself. I’m not trying to be cryptic about it. If there’s a big injury or something, we’ll talk about it. But if there’s a guy that’s going to end up being out there on Sunday, I won’t mess it with it too much. With that, I’ll try to answer your questions.


Q: It looks like you’re going to go into this week with 22 starters. What does that say about the process of keeping these guys healthy, and how much does it ease a coach’s mind knowing you can go in with your best guys?
A: Well, I think that’s important, obviously, to have what you consider to be your best guys. We did have some tough decisions at the end when we put the initial 53 (man roster) together. Some of the guys that are playing missed portions of training camp. As you play through the season, it’s important to still keep practicing. You’re obviously doing everything you can each week to win that game, but it’s a long journey, as we know.


Q: Ezekiel Elliott signed today. What’s your reaction to that, and how do you approach that now?
A: It’s not a surprise. That just adds another outstanding player to what’s really an outstanding offense. They have an outstanding offensive line, they have an outstanding quarterback, they have really outstanding receivers, and they added Jason Witten back to the mix. Like I talked about on Monday, we have to defend that offense, and they’ve added another outstanding player to the mix. We’ll get ready to play.


Q: Will you address that to the team? Did you? Will you?
A: We talk about all of the players that we’re playing against every week.


Q: I believe you have two injured cornerbacks, (DeAndre) Baker and (Antonio) Hamilton. They’re both listed unofficially as starters. Will they be ready to go?
A: Yeah, they’ll be ready to play. You’ll see both of them in the game.


Q: Tight ends last year gave you guys some trouble with the inside linebacker coverage. Obviously, (Jason) Witten is one of the best if he’s still what he was (before retiring). How do you guys improve against tight ends in coverage?
A: Yeah, it’s been a focus, obviously, schematically on defense to make sure we take away the tight end when he’s a primary target. You just work on it. Then we have some things schematically that we can do a little bit differently.


Q: Do you expect (Jason Witten) to be the guy he was before he went into the broadcast booth?
A: Absolutely. I saw him throughout the year last year doing games. He looked pretty fit to me. I’m sure there were a lot of teams that he broadcasted their games that offered him a job, I would imagine.


Q: You weren’t one of them?
A: No. I like Jason. We have a good relationship. He’s where he belongs. He’s a Cowboy.


Q: How important is this game for your team? It’s sort of like a litmus test, even more than normal, just because it seems like this is one of your top competitors in the division. Do you look at it that way?
A: It’s the first game of the year, and we have to put our best foot forward. We have to do everything in our power to beat Dallas. That’s the importance of it. I tell the players all the time, it’s the players, not the plays. So, we have to get the players ready to play and go do it. There’s always some uncertainty in the first game. They’ve probably lined up in a formation and run the ball that they’re now going to throw out of, and they’ve probably lined up in a formation and passed that they’re going to run out of it. We all do all those things. It’s important that we go play hard, we play very fundamental, and we do all of the things you need to do to win games. Take care of the football, defend the run effectively, pressure the passer. Then on the flipside, we have to score points when we get a chance.


Q: With the uncertainty with (Ezekiel Elliott), was there always just one scheme for the Cowboys? Or does he add a wrinkle to the playbook that you now need to add in?
A: No, I think you play team defense. You’re certainly well aware where the outstanding players are on their team. But they sort of simplify it for you because they have outstanding players everywhere. So, you play defense. That’s not the first time I’ve been asked that question about Zeke. It’s sort of like, was just talking to Pat (Hanlon), halftime adjustments. The third preseason game is the tune-up, or the dress rehearsal. You have to play defense. You have to play team defense, and you have to defend everything the Cowboys present. I just mentioned, it’s going to be a big challenge.


Q: You have a pretty young defense. You have guys could be playing starting caliber snaps for a guy at every level, rookies Dexter Lawrence, Oshane (Ximines) and (DeAndre) Baker. How much of a challenge is this Cowboys offense right out of the shoot for that young group, and are you concerned about so many moving parts coming together all at once?
A: That’s the 10th question about that. Yeah, they’re very talented. I think that’s why we have to be really good and fundamental about what we do and buy into the team concept. Then do the very best you can when you’re forced into matchups with their best players. That’s where it comes down to the tactics defensively, and then the players playing their best.


Q: I don’t know how much you’ll be willing to tell us, but you’ve mentioned in the past that you’ve done work on the Cowboys going back months. The roster wasn’t finalized until recently. As they changed, how has your preparations behind the scenes progressed along the way so that you’re current with what they’re doing?
A: I’ll just give you a little background on what our offseasons look like. We do projects on all of our opponents once we know (who we’re playing). We know who they are early in the deal, we just don’t know when and what weekend. So, we know who we’re going to play, and certainly we know who we’re going to play every year in the division. We work on it constantly. There are certain plays and schemes that you run in practice that you’re going to run against Dallas, then Washington, then the Eagles and so on. I’m answering these questions with the idea that we always work on things that are important, things that we feel we’re good at, but also how they apply to the teams we’re going to play.


Q: How much has Dak’s (Prescott) game progressed? Is he the same player he was two years ago, or do you see a different quarterback now?
A: He’s improved. It’s just like any player. He’s an outstanding player. Early on, he did a lot with his legs. It appears to me like he’s more comfortable in the pocket. He can beat you in the pocket as well as running around. He has that ability, too, that a lot of quarterbacks have. The 60-yard check down, where he breaks contain, he’s running around, he keeps his eyes downfield and finds a guy wide open. That to me is a big challenge for a player like Dak. Then he can pull it down and run with it. He’s built like a running back. I think he’s developed nicely for them.


Q: In the past few years that you guys have played Dallas, preceding you obviously, the Giants have went in with an offensive line that was not able to function 100%. How confident are you that you guys have the right guys with this group heading into the first game?
A: Well, we made progress from a year ago, and I’m looking forward to seeing those guys compete. We’ve made progress. I feel like we’re better upfront as a unit, and now we just have to go do it. All this progress we’re talking about now. The rubber is going to hit the road here. We’ve got to go play.


Q: You mentioned before that it’s the players, not the plays. But you as the play-caller, do you feel good about what you have at your disposal? That you can run through your offense as well as you would hope going into a season?
A: Sure. I really like our unit. I look forward to trying to give them good stuff to work with. When I say the players, not the plays, let’s not minimize the tactics involved. But I think what’s important when I say that is we have to do everything we can to help the players play fast and play well. That’s what we have to do as coaches. There are a lot of plays that I’m fond of that our guys would probably not run as well as those plays would be run when I was in Minnesota. You kind of get away from some of that. When you’re thinking about the players, you try to do the things that help accentuate what they can do.


Q: It being the second season opener with the Giants, are there things that you know now that you couldn’t have possibly known the first year? Or are you more convinced about some things as they relate to the opener?
A: I’ve certainly learned a lot about the Cowboys of last year and this year and where they’re at. Their schemes are going to be a little bit different on offense. I’m sure they’ve held back on some things. Very similar on defense. They’re very active on defense at all three levels. But when they’re matched up, they can play extremely well. So yeah, I have a good feel for who they are, and they’re an outstanding team.


Q: After a long offseason of a lot of talk about Eli Manning, where he fits and his future, are you excited to see him play on Sunday?
A: I am. I am, because I’m excited to see a continuation of what was the back half of last season. I’m excited to see that.

Q: I asked Dave (Gettleman) the same question. You’re entering Week 1 of a new season. What to you would indicate progress as you enter the season?
A: Well, you’re always looking to win the game.


Q: Is there a number? Is there a threshold for you?
A: Let’s worry about the Cowboys. Again, I’m not trying to avoid that question. The progress is we need to start playing winning football in general.
Shurmur should be paid a bonus for having to be forced to field  
GeofromNJ : 9/5/2019 12:28 am : link
such inane questions and do it with grace and civility.
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