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Wednesday Media Transcript: Head Coach Pat Shurmur

Eric from BBI : Admin : 10/23/2019 3:50 pm
Head Coach Pat Shurmur -- October 23, 2019

Opening Statement: Saquon (Barkley) was limited today. Just some game soreness. I expect him to play this week though. I’ll answer that question for you. (Corey) Ballentine didn’t go. He’s still in the (concussion) protocol. (Cody) Latimer went. He had just a little thigh bruise. If there’s anybody else you have questions on, I’ll try to answer it. Obviously, (we are) buried in the preparation for Detroit. I think they’re an outstanding football team. They know how to score points. They have really good, talented players on offense. They’re very physical on defense. They challenge really upfront and in the backend, so we have to do a good job of challenging them and doing what we can to get the ball in the end zone. Then we have to get positive contributions from the special teams, like we have for most of the year, and try to eliminate the bad plays there. Even though we’re playing the Lions, a lot of this comes down to it’s all about us, making sure we play consistently physical and do all the right things. I’ll take your questions.

Q: Sterling (Shepard) is still in the protocol, right?
A: Oh yeah, I’m sorry. Yeah, Sterling’s still in the protocol.

Q: Is he feeling better? I know you guys are being cautious with him. Is he showing signs of improvement?
A: Yeah, he’s been out there practicing pretty much full. But he’s still in the protocol. That’s kind of a unique answer to the question, but that’s where he’s at right now.

Q: How quickly can (Deone) Bucannon get acclimated here? He obviously knows the system.
A: Yeah, he knows the system enough to get up and running quickly. We’ll try to get him ready to go for this week if we can.

Q: What did you like about him? Why did you bring him in?
A: Well, he’s tough, he’s physical, he has some familiarity. He played at a high level in Bettch’s (Defensive Coordinator James Bettcher’s) defense, so we felt like he’d be a good fit. Another guy to add to the inside linebacker group.

Q: Why now? He was available last week, too, I think. What made now the right time?
A: Because as we go through it, we just felt like it was the right time.

Q: Do you think that he can help out with your coverage in the second level?
A: Yeah, that’s why he’s here. We feel like he’ll understand where he fits on the run, and then he has the ability to cover.

Q: What’s your understanding of why things didn’t work out for him in Tampa? He had some familiarity there too.
A: I don’t know that. I couldn’t answer that question. We obviously have coaches in our building that have familiarity with him. He was available and healthy. We worked him out and we liked him, so we brought him in.

Q: How much does that resonate, when Bettcher has a player, or you or (Offensive Coordinator Mike Shula) or anybody has a player that they’ve worked with and you guys talk about it, that you can kind of vouch for him because you know him?
A: I think the more you know about people, the better the situation is, to the good and to the bad. This is just one of many players that we’ve brought in. It’s probably a coincidence that he and Bettch have crossed paths. Obviously, Bettch had some conversation with us as to what was good and bad about him as a player. The positives and the negatives. Then you factor it in and you make what’s best in terms of a decision for your roster.

Q: How can he help Alec (Ogletree)?
A: I do think the inside backers work in pairs. I think in terms of their run fits and who they’re covering, much like the safeties work in pairs. I don’t know. A veteran presence in there, obviously. If you believe in experience, that’s certainly something that might help. That’s not to minimize the play of the other guys there. It’s just the guy that we added to that group.

Q: When you give up eight sacks in a game, it’s going to shine the light on the offensive line. Overall through seven games, have they met your expectations? Have they underperformed in terms of your expectations?
A: I’ve mentioned it before, it’s like stopping the run. It’s a team thing. Avoiding sacks is a team thing, and there were a few of those sacks that you would have to attribute to Dan (Jones) trying to make a play downfield and holding onto the ball. One was on a screen. There are reasons why they happen. I think it’s fair to say we need to do everything better on offense than we did last week. But in terms of our expectations, we’ve fallen short and we just need to be more consistent in all areas.

Q: It seems as if the Patriots and the Cardinals both played a lot of two-deep, shell coverage against Daniel. Patrick Peterson said that they saw that on film and thought that was something that they could exploit. What makes it so difficult for a young quarterback, and how do you kind of get him over learning and diagnosing those sort of things?
A: Yeah, I mean I don’t think… It’s good when they play shell coverage for some things. Then shell coverage is not good for other things, especially when you’re trying to come back and get balls down the field maybe. I don’t know what he’s referring to there. I think quarterbacks have to diagnose all of the secondary contours, whether it’s one-deep zone or man, two-deep zone, two-deep man, quarters, inside rotation, corner cushion. The quarterbacks have to diagnose all of that. That’s just something that they have to do.

Q: How do you expect Daniel to respond coming off this disappointing game for him?
A: Well, the disappointment that he should feel should be in the ball security piece. We have to secure the football. The turnovers are the thing that we obviously have to get a handle on. There were throws in the game, in less than ideal conditions to throw, that he made some really good throws. He made some good reads. There were some things that he missed that he’ll continue to improve on. I haven’t seen any change in his preparation from the lead up to Tampa, the lead up to Washington, and then the last few.

Q: DPI (defensive pass interference) challenges. You’re 0-for-4 this year. I think since Week 3, 27 of 28 calls on the field were upheld. Is it getting to the point, I saw what happened with (Janoris) Jenkins last week, it looked like it was nothing there and they still called interference. Is it starting to get to a point now where there’s no point in even challenging DPI unless it’s like a Saints-like infraction?
A: I don’t know that. I trust that the system is in place to help fix errors. I guess there’s the human element involved with what’s egregious. I think as a coach, when it’s a play that’s a big chunk of yardage that could potentially eliminate a score if it’s changed, then you consider it. I think last week, there were four challenges and none of them were overturned. I get the data. But when you’re out there competing, if it’s one in five and it’s a big… I still believe in the system, that it’s there… I think what happens though is… We’ll just have to see how it plays out in the long run. But to answer your question, I still think it’s worth it if you feel like you have a chance to get it. Now we do know they’re very unlikely to change it. I think it’s like 17% in total. I understand that.

Q: You guys are eighth in the league in sack percentage in terms of your defense. What have you thought of your pass rushers? That was obviously a big storyline coming into this year. How have you been effective? What’s been your assessment?
A: I think the guys on the edge have probably exceeded what the outside expectations were. I think I mentioned it throughout, I thought Markus Golden was a guy that has sack potential. I really felt like Lorenzo (Carter) was going to get better and have production. We’ve got guys on defense that…X-Man (Oshane Ximines). You talk about just the edges, and then some of the interior stuff has been good, too, with some of the younger players. I don’t know what to make of it other than we’re comparing something now that was the perception of those in the offseason just looking at the roster. I don’t know what to tell you there.

Q: When coaches look at teams, they always say, ‘Next up’ when there’s an injury. When you look at the Lions and they trade a guy who’s a starter, do you sit there and say, ‘Well, he’s next up, let’s test him,’ or do you just go with your game plan?
A: Your game plan always involves testing guys. That’s just the way it is. Every team is game plan specific in terms of trying to do the things that work against the team you’re playing against. That’s part of it. I can’t speak to the trade thing. That had nothing to do with me. But they’re going to put the next man up, and we’ll just try to do research on the guy that’s playing, see what he’s good at and what he doesn’t.

Q: I don’t know if you saw this but the Jets, they were upset with a mic’d up comment that got out from Sam Darnold. He said he was seeing ghosts on the field. They thought it was unflattering. NFL Films cleared that. Where do you fall as a coach having these discussions with players knowing things are mic’d up on what gets out, what doesn’t get out, what’s appropriate for that stuff?
A: Well, you might expect my answer when it comes to mics. I’m not fond of them. I think there are things that get said and corrected during the game that should be internal in my opinion. I know there’s a… Outside, it’s kind of interesting and nice for broadcasts to see that stuff. It’s hard to play quarterback in this league. He’s a tough, young man. But if you ask me my opinion about mics, I’m not fond of it. Plus, when you have a mic, then some of what you’re communicating at the line of scrimmage now becomes public record. That’s just my opinion of that. What happened in the game, I don’t know.

Q: When you look at Daniel Jones’ ball security issues, how much of it is technique versus not having a good feel for the pressure around him, and if the pressure is what’s maybe causing more of these, how do you simulate that in practice knowing that he can’t be hit, he can’t really be touched. So, how do you go from that?
A: Well, we do work on it. We practice it in drill work. We’re constantly talking about two hands on the ball in the pocket. One of the sacks was him holding onto it, trying to… Saquon was breaking late on a screen, and he’s holding it, holding it, holding it just with the idea that he’s going to (throw it to Saquon), and then he had it knocked out. In all scenarios, it’s always super important to have two hands on the ball when you’re in the pocket because you can’t always count on the fact that they are blocked for a very, very long time. That’s just stuff you work on. It’s part of what a young quarterback goes through. As time goes on, that gets better. But obviously, we want it to get better fast.

Q: Are you comfortable with where you and your group are with in-game adjustments? I ask that noting that the (Chase) Edmonds runs had some similarities, and Chandler Jones was obviously a problem all game.
A: I am. We constantly make adjustments. We change the protection frequently. We do things all the time. In terms of the runs, they were familiar but not the same. They happened in ways that if there’s somebody that made a mistake, it may not be the same guy each time. But you’re constantly looking to adjust, which you do.

Q: Darius Slayton played all but, I think, two offensive snaps for you guys on Sunday. What have you seen from him since training camp that has him on such an upward trajectory?
A: He’s obviously playing more. He’s healthy. We don’t have as many wideouts as we would have in some… I think he’s doing a good job. He’s getting better. He’s found a way to make some plays. I think Daniel likes throwing to him. He trusts that he’s going to be where he’s supposed to be. Again, he’s another young player that’s out there. He sees things each week that he’s maybe seeing for the first time. The fact that he’s getting a lot of reps will help him get better faster.

Q: What did you think of the promotion of Kyle (Shurmur) out in Kansas City?
A: Yeah, that’s good. I’m happy for him. Maybe he won’t be charging us for Uber drivers now. He can buy his own Ubers. No, I’m happy for him. That’s good. Get an opportunity. He’s up. If he gets in the game, I’m sure he’ll do a good job.
...  
Eric from BBI : Admin : 10/23/2019 3:53 pm : link
Q: Why now? He was available last week, too, I think. What made now the right time?
A: Because as we go through it, we just felt like it was the right time.


SMH.
One thing  
huygens20 : 10/23/2019 4:03 pm : link
If you noticed is that Daniel Jones finally used a hard count last game. After weeks of the DL having an edge he drew a couple penalties

They know where he’s weak and they are slowly giving him more and more responsibility
I believe it was the post Patriots loss video conference  
santacruzom : 10/23/2019 4:07 pm : link
Or perhaps the Vikings where Shurmur was making those little noises you might make while trying to find a particular page in a book... those little "choo choo choo" noises you mutter to yourself.

Can't say I've ever quite seen that in a press conference before.
RE: ...  
Andy in Boston : 10/23/2019 4:12 pm : link
In comment 14642678 Eric from BBI said:
Quote:
Q: Why now? He was available last week, too, I think. What made now the right time?
A: Because as we go through it, we just felt like it was the right time.


SMH.


yeah pretty bad. Also....the more we get into Betcher's defense and read pressers, the more you realize how important the inside linebackers are on this defense.
challenging pass interference  
jeffusedtobeonwebtv : 10/24/2019 7:40 am : link
I think he has to learn that the league is not going to overturn these judgement calls.

Will that rule even still be there next season?
On the PI calls  
David B. : 10/24/2019 8:36 am : link
the officials on the field get the call wrong more than 17% of the time, yet they're only going to overturn the call 17% of the time.

That's the NFL for you. Stubbornly wrong to the end.
How can Shepard be practicing pretty much full, but still be in the  
Ivan15 : 10/24/2019 10:12 am : link
protocol. Doesn’t the NFLPA frown on that?

Are practices now so non-contact that the protocol doesn’t matter?
He's likely..  
FatMan in Charlotte : 10/24/2019 10:18 am : link
running just drills.

The protocol only specifically limits contact. And you have to pass protocol to have contact or play in games.
Pass Interference  
Rudy5757 : 10/24/2019 1:37 pm : link
I think they are going to protect the refs as much as possible in this area. if there is contact of any kind even if it is marginal and Pass Interference was called it will stand. if there was zero contact and PI was called it could be overturned.

If no PI was called and it was minimal I think they will leave it and if it is egregious and wasn't called the will reverse it.

I think what the NFL has shown is that it is looking for the obvious miss. You are very unlikely to overturn a call if PI has been called.
RE: ...  
Joey in VA : 10/24/2019 2:17 pm : link
In comment 14642678 Eric from BBI said:
Quote:
Q: Why now? He was available last week, too, I think. What made now the right time?
A: Because as we go through it, we just felt like it was the right time.


SMH.
I actually understand this one. In rewatching the game Peppers played money backer and when he did we got torched on inside runs. My guess is that 21 played himself out of that role and we went after Deone
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