Special Teams Coordinator Thomas McGaughey
December 21, 2023
Q: I mentioned to (long snapper) Casey (Kreiter) that you called him the ‘glue’ a couple of weeks back, I think it was, and it really meant something to him. That group, they go overlooked until something goes wrong, basically, so is that part of him essentially saying to me, ‘Wow, that was really nice of him to say?’
A: Yeah, I mean, his job is a thankless job. Nobody ever mentions the long snapper until something wrong happens most of the time. So, being in that position, doing that job and doing it as long as he’s been doing it and for somebody to acknowledge it, it’s like anything else, everybody wants to be acknowledged, right? Everybody wants to be encouraged. So, when you give somebody that type of acknowledgement and you show your appreciation towards them and what they do in a thankless type of job, I understand it because I was one of them. I was a long snapper before. So, it’s one of those jobs nobody really talks about until something goes wrong.
Q: So, is that top of mind for you with your whole special teams group, knowing we don’t say much unless something goes wrong, someone misses a kick, doesn’t make the kick, that kind of thing?
A: That’s our job, you know what I mean? That’s what we sign up for. So, we understand that. We know what it is. As a coach, you make decisions. I decided I wanted to coach special teams, so I know what comes along with that. I didn’t decide to coach offense or defense. And they understand that, too. In the seventh grade, (kicker) Graham Gano wanted to be a kicker, and he chose that path, right? So did Casey, and Casey was a linebacker and a long snapper. We understand it. That’s what it is, and that’s the job.
Q: Four kickers in a season is what? Fill in the blank.
A: It’s a lot. But I told you this early in the season, I said you don't want to get on the kicker train, because the destination is unknown. Because you don't know. Once that train gets rolling, you never know where it's going to end. But it is what it is, we'll make the adjustments, we won’t make any excuses, just keep it moving.
Q: How are you feeling about (kicker) Cade (York)?
A: Cade’s good. He’s fine. He’s going to be an option for us, so we’ll find out what we’re going to do on Sunday. But he’s doing well.
Q: Could it be (punter) Jamie (Gillan) potentially? Someone outside the building?
A: Yeah, Jamie could kick. He could. So, we’ll see.
Q: You talk about Cade’s technique stuff that you guys were working on when he first came. Where does he stand on that?
A: He's getting better. He’s working at it. Young specialists are always a work in progress, so those guys are always trying to find a routine, trying to tweak certain things and just work on those small details of what he's doing. Being around (kicker) Randy (Bullock) and Graham has been huge for him.
It’s almost unheard of. Even during the offseason, this rarely happens. But he's been taking advantage of it. And I told him, this is a godsend for you to be able to be around two veteran kickers that have had double-digit years that have both started over 150 games, played in 150 games, in the same building as you at the same time. That’s big for him.
Q: You guys probably practice 100 things a year that you never actually use, so what kind of point of pride is it for a coach when it goes well when (wide receiver) Gunner (Olszewski) is the holder and Gillan is kicking the field goal?
A: It’s something that we do practice. It’s not practiced a lot, but it's like anything else. Every so often it comes up. We were ready for it. Jamie did all three in college, so it's not a big deal, and Gunner was a holder in college for three years, his whole time in college. So, it's not a big deal. And he's a great athlete. The hand-eye coordination is there with him, and Jamie’s one of the best ball strikers I've ever coached.
Q: Do you feel comfortable with him outdoors kicking long field goals?
A: Yeah. I’ve seen Jamie drop kick a 60-yard field goal out of his hand.
Q: You have?
A: Yeah. I’ve seen him do it. So, I have no issue with Jamie kicking anything long. That's probably the best thing you can do is kick a long field goal. Jamie's very, very talented.
Q: Did Jamie get dinged on that blocked kick?
A: No. No, that had nothing to do with a blocked kick.
Q: I mean when they ran into him.
A: No. I mean, he hit him, but that’s not when he hurt himself.
Q: Would bringing a kicker from outside still be on the table? You said options, so I’m just curious, what’s on the table?
A: We’ll see.
Q: I know you lost the game, but Jamie kicking a field goal in an NFL game, I know he got a kick out of it. Did you get a kick out of it?
A: Yeah, absolutely. That’s significant. We were trying to go track down the ball. It was big for him, just to be able to kick a field goal being a punter in this league and make it in that environment. It’s pretty cool.
Q: How much did Gunner coming in solve an issue?
A: It definitely helped. It definitely helped. He gives you a guy back there with experience that's been in different situations. He's played in New England, he's played in Pittsburgh, in difficult environments, in wind and conditions. When you get into January, December, those are the types of guys you want back there that have been in those situations. And he played at Bemidji State, so.
