Head Coach Brian Daboll
May 31, 2023
Q: I noticed last week for teams you just did 7-on-7, no 11-on-11. Will you do any or have you guys been doing any 11-on-11?
A: We do walkthroughs with it. So, different things, tempo it down, kind of teach it and review some of the stuff we studied in the offseason. We’ll stay with that today.
Q: Is it much more of a mental camp for the point-of-attack guys as opposed to the skill guys?
A: Yeah, I mean, there’s rules for contact and stuff. So, we just take that out of it and again, teach our concepts, blocking schemes, how to take on blocks, run fits, protection things. Tempo it down a little bit and make sure we get it right so when we get into training camp, when we’re going full speed with pads on, we’ve got something to draw from.
Q: Do you think for the rest of the spring, you’ll just keep it that way?
A: Today we will, but we talk about that each day.
Q: With all players, especially a rookie last year, when they come here, do you at some point sit them down and say, ‘Okay, last year is done,’ and set expectations? Especially with a guy like (linebacker) Kayvon (Thibodeaux) who had such a spotlight on him.
A: I’d say kind of everybody’s the same. We sit down with everybody and talk about things we can improve on, some of the things we did well. Usually, from I’d say year one to year two, for the players that are just getting drafted, they really didn’t have an offseason. They’re learning a brand-new system. They don’t have a lot of experience to draw from in the NFL. And then year two, they can have some experiences to draw from, but you’d like to see a jump from everyone in year one, your rookie class, to year two. It happens at different times. You just get better each day.
Q: How have you seen Kayvon and (offensive tackle) Evan (Neal) come back this year? Any changes in them so far?
A: Again, they’ve had a year under their belt. So, still got a lot to learn. Still young players. But again, they can draw from some of the experiences that they’ve had the previous year. Even just, not in terms of playing right now because we’re out here in shorts and T-shirts, but grasping the material, different questions they ask. They’ve been through some of the stuff, so when they’re watching cutups of things that we did the previous year, they know it. As a rookie, you have no idea what’s going on right now. So, I’d say most players from year one to year two, there’s a little bit more comfort level.
Q: I know Evan thought it was beneficial to make changes to his stance this offseason. What’s your thought on that and is it something you thought of or looked into also?
A: I’d say (offensive line coach) Bobby (Johnson) does a great job with those guys. I’d say he studies all the offensive linemen. He’s with them all day during practice, during this time. I’d say with each player, there’s little things that you try to tweak and coach on, and it’s no different with Evan.
Q: Can you talk about (quarterback) Daniel (Jones) and how he’s been throwing the ball lately? It looks like he’s doing more deep throwing than I can remember, unless my memory is faulty.
A: Yeah, I’d say we just make sure he tries to throw it to the right guy with the right reads. There’s not any emphasis. I think Daniel’s made steady improvements since we’ve been here. He’s throwing to some new players out here. I think that’s important to try to read their body language. Again, we’re trying different things and trying to get to know some of the new players we have, too, and I’d say so is Daniel.
Q: Other quarterbacks you’ve been around, did they do as much away from the building as Daniel does?
A: That position, they’re one of the hardest workers on your team usually. They have the most to learn. It’s a tough position to play. Daniel’s a true pro. I’m not going to compare him to other guys I’ve been around, but he is constantly working. There’re times where I’ve got to say, ‘Just take a little break here.’ He just wants to work, work, work, meet. He’s a true pro.
Q: Last year, you were pretty, in the moment, staunch about the fact that putting (cornerback) Adoree’ (Jackson) back at punt returner was a good idea. In hindsight when you review the year, is that something you would still do, put a valuable player like that back on special teams, or is it something you’d reconsider?
A: I think every year is different. Every game is different. We have a lot of guys out here returning punts right now. We don’t have to make that decision for a while, so we’ll cross that bridge when it comes to it.
Q: You had mentioned with the rookies when they got here at minicamp that you guys were going to be very conscious with how much team stuff they were going to do, how much 7-on-7. As the spring progresses and now you’re two weeks out of kind of sending them away, do you look at the rookies and say you want to get some of these guys more involved in the team stuff to see where they’re at and what you have to work on?
A: Yeah, I’d say our sports science guys, (director of performance/assistant strength and conditioning coach) Sam (Coad) and (assistant strength and conditioning coach Mark) Loech(er), they do a really good job along with our training staff. You have to take into account that most of them haven’t been doing a whole bunch leading up to it. So, each day, we add a little bit more reps each period. Again, it’s maybe a little bit more than it was the first day, and then we reassess it. But the number one thing is to try to get them out here healthy, making sure they’re learning the stuff while they’re able to do it and then hopefully they’re ready to go in training camp.
Q: What do you think of your schedule? A lot of road games and primetime games up front.
A: I’m not focused on it right now. I’m focused on today.
Q: From your experience, do those factors mean anything?
A: You know I’m a one-day-at-a-time guy here. Whatever the schedule is, is the schedule. That’s the way I approach it. Whatever it is, whenever we play, night, morning, Saturday, Thursday, Friday, it doesn’t matter. Just play them when they come.
Q: When you’re able to add someone as talented as (tight end) Darren Waller to the team, what does it mean to have him out here at OTAs participating with everyone, especially because there are veterans that might not do that?
A: He’s been a great teammate since he’s been here. Again, he’s learning us, we’re learning him. It’s a work in progress on both sides, but like I said last week, he’s a true pro.
Q: How would you assess Kayvon’s rookie year?
A: I’m worried about this year.
Q: How much more is there for him in year two?
A: I’d say just like all the other players, we’re just trying to get better day by day.
Q: You added a lot of pieces at wide receiver this offseason. None of them have a proven track record as a true No. 1 wide receiver. There’s a big wide receiver that’s available as a free agent now.
A: How tall is he? You said a big receiver.
Q: I’m talking about (wide receiver) DeAndre Hopkins. He’s pretty tall and he’s pretty good. How open would you be to adding a piece like that now and is that something you guys think you would consider?
A: Yeah, no, I’d say like last year, anytime there’s someone that’s available as a free agent, I’d say (general manager) Joe (Schoen) and his staff are going to look into it and research it. We talk about a lot of different players, so regardless of who it is, that’s part of our job to make sure we’re doing our due diligence.
Q: Do you have any memories of (wide receiver) Parris Campbell when he was coming out as a draft guy and if so, what are they?
A: Yeah, I do. Actually, Joe and I and I think (Bills general manager) Brandon Beane took a trip to Ohio State and went to dinner with him the night before his workout. So, got to meet him then. A lot of times you meet all these players pre-draft and maybe it doesn’t happen that initial year, but they become available a few years from now and you just draw on some of your meetings that you had with them. He was a good young man, smart, enjoyed our meeting. He’s done a good job since he’s been here.
Q: Is that skillset still there, the same skillset that you saw then, or is it advanced because he has that time?
A: Well, I think you can draw on experiences when you’ve played in this league. Again, he’s learning how we do things, we’re learning how he does things. That’s what this time of year is for.
