Offensive Coordinator Mike Kafka
December 21, 2023
Q: What do you expect from (quarterback) Tommy (DeVito) bouncing back from a rough start?
A: Tommy’s approach has been the same. He’s been coming to work and has been studying and prepping, has put together a good couple of days of practice so far. Just kind of capping off today and getting to some special situations.
Q: What have you seen from the Eagles defense this past game compared to the other ones with them switching their playcalling up?
A: I think Dabs (Head Coach Brian Daboll) touched on it a little bit yesterday but with (Senior Defensive Assistant) Coach (Matt) Patricia now calling it and (Defensive Coordinator) Sean (Desai) over the first half of the season, there’s some similarities, a lot of similarities. Obviously, the personnel there, it stays consistent. Coach Patricia – I think there was a couple things that might have felt a little bit different, now into the second week, probably could anticipate a little bit more of things kind of being changed up. We’ve got to be ready for everything. Going to prep through – go through our schemes, go through our personnel groupings, and make sure we’re tied up there.
Q: How does that change – does it change your preparation at all? Are you watching the past week a little bit more closely than you did previously?
A: Yeah, you try to gather as much data as you can from this last week and see if there’s any tendencies there and then look at kind of the scope of the season and see where things have kind of been played through as well. Again, when you have a new play caller, there’s a little bit of unknown and that’s okay, but we prepare our guys the best we can and get them ready for Monday.
Q: Would you agree that – you’ve only been here for last year, with this legacy against the Eagles but handling their defensive front was really the main reason last year when you guys had so much trouble. Would you agree with that? That that is what you saw?
A: That was a part of it. I think we need to work to play better, we didn’t do that last year but that was last year. So, this year, we have (been) putting together a great plan, giving our guys – have a lot of confidence in the plan so they can go out there and play fast.
Q: They have not had a lot of sack numbers despite having stars on that – you know. What do you see from them, and do you think you guys are able to combat that this year? You guys have had some issues, obviously, giving up sacks.
A: They have a really talented front, all across the board. They do a good job of tying in their coverages with their fronts and the things that they present. We definitely have to make sure we’re prepared for that and that’s what we’ve been doing this week in practice.
Q: What do you remember about a young (Eagles center) Jason Kelce? (Defensive Coordinator) Wink (Martindale) was just out here and said he’s almost like (Pro Football Hall of Famer) Peyton Manning changing signals and whatnot. You were, I think, the same rookie year as him –
A: He was one year younger than me.
Q: What do you remember about him?
A: He came in, he was a smart kid. He was a sponge, trying to learn everything. He was also very vocal, just like he is today. He’s a great dude, one of my good friends, so nothing but respect for him.
Q: Wink said he’s mean but smart, like the fans in Philly. Do you agree?
A: He does have a mean streak and he is smart (laughs). I would say that, yes.
Q: (Running back) Saquon’s (Barkley) role has kind of decreased, at least in regard to snaps. Probably after he came back from that injury, What do you attribute that to?
A: I’d say we want Saquon out on the field as much as possible. Saquon will be out there until he needs to get out, until he needs a blow – he needs to catch his breath and get back out there. That’s really how we work out with him. He’s out there as long as he can until he needs a tap, and another guy comes in.
Q: He doesn’t seem to be out there as much on third down now. Is there anything to that?
A: I think just the usage on first and second down and then third down comes around, if he can stay in there, he will. If he can’t, then he’ll come out for a play and then the other guy will step up.
Q: The book on (wide receiver) Parris Campbell’s career was like he was either hurt, or he was productive. He hasn’t been hurt this year. Why do you think you guys haven’t been able to maximize him the way that maybe your intent was when you signed him?
A: I love Parris, Parris is a pro. He comes in, he works his butt off, he studies, he preps, he’s great for the room. I think – and Dabs kind of talked about it a couple days back, it was just other guys are playing right now. I think when his time is called, he’ll step up. Again, every week’s different. The personnel groupings and how we mix and match that changes on a week-to-week basis so this week is no different.
Q: Do you still feel like he can be an explosive player?
A: Absolutely.
