Transcript: Head Coach Brian Daboll

Head Coach Brian Daboll

Q: Can you take us through the decision with (cornerback) Adoree' (Jackson) and the idea that you're bringing him back this close to the season starting?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, like we've always said, we'll try to improve the team any way we can. Obviously, we've had a relationship with Adoree' (Jackson). (Defensive coordinator) Shane (Bowen) has had a relationship with Adoree' (Jackson). He came in the day that he signed, did a little bit of a workout. We've been in contact with his representatives prior to that, and he looked good in the workout, and we got something done. So happy to have him aboard.

Q: Do you wish you had done it sooner? If you're going to bring a veteran like that back, would that have been helpful?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, there's always different times that guys come back, or you release them. That was just something that we thought would help our football team. Again, there's been conversations with him prior to the day we signed him. So, we'll get him back in fold here, catch him up to speed as quick as we can, and see what happens this week.

Q: Do you envision him starting right out of the gate?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I'd say we've got to get him out here and ramp him up and see where he's at, and we'll take it day by day, see where he's at, and how much to play him, how much not to play him. I think that's what we'll do, look at this week.

Q: What do you say to (cornerback) Nick McCloud and (cornerback) Cor'Dale Flott and how much do their roles now change, potentially?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, (it is) Adoree's first day back here, so we'll see where he's at. By the end of the week, we'll determine what we're going to do relative to roster, play time, all those types of things. Those guys are competitors. It's the NFL, so you try to make it as competitive as you can make it, and we'll play the guys we think give us the best chance.

Q: And then in regards to your opponent this week, it's game week now. You're focused on Minnesota. The (Minnesota Vikings quarterback) Sam Darnold you face now, do you expect the same Sam Darnold from two, three years ago? He hasn't started a ton of games since then.

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, when we were doing the quarterback tour back at Buffalo, spent a lot of time with Sam out at USC. Working him out, taking him to dinner, meeting with him on the visits. I've got a lot of respect for Sam. I know he's been to four different places, but he's an athletic quarterback that has a good head on his shoulders, knows where to go with the football. He's surrounded by some really good players at Minnesota and experience helps at any position. But I've always been a big fan of Sam, and he's got a good team around him, a good play caller, and it'll be certainly a challenge.

Q: As you go into this week, do you have a healthy team or is (inside linebacker) Micah (McFadden) still a question mark?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, everybody's getting better. We'll put the injury report out Wednesday, but everybody's getting better.

Q: Is (inside linebacker Darius) Muasau the option if Micah (McFadden) can't go?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, we'll see how it goes this week. Again, we'll put that out on Wednesday. We'll have a walkthrough today. We'll start it up tomorrow, and everybody that's available will be ready to play.

Q: About Darnold again, it reminded me of that scene in Hard Knocks where you guys were going through all the quarterbacks and how many different ones have been coached by different guys and the lack of stability, different teams. How much of a factor do you think that is for guys? Obviously, Sam's career has gone differently than you would have expected in 2018. How much of developing quarterback is stability?

BRIAN DABOLL: I think it's important. Again, not to revisit 2018, but (Baltimore Ravens quarterback) Lamar (Jackson) and (Buffalo Bills quarterback) Josh (Allen) are in the same systems (with the same teams). And Sam (Darnold) and (former Arizona Cardinals quarterback) Josh (Rosen), they're in different systems. (Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback) Baker (Mayfield) has been in a different system. So again, I think every circumstance, every situation is a little bit different. But I thought Sam was a good player coming out of USC. He's certainly been a few different spots but has all the talent in the world. Good young man, good head on his shoulders. Again, each situation is different. You take a look at just that class, it was five (quarterbacks) taken in the first round. Two of them are on the same team and three of them aren't or (have been) on multiple teams.

Q: Then to switch gears, offensive line. What specifically, now that you've had them here and it's game week and, have (tackle Jermaine) Eluemunor and (guard Jon) Runyan (Jr.) added to your offensive line and what is the expectation here for that group, knowing that they just started practicing together? Is it fair to expect them to be game ready already?

BRIAN DABOLL: First of all, I'd say that the players that we've added, (guard Aaron) Stinnie included, have brought veteran presence, leadership and communication. They've played the game, they know how the game needs to be played. In terms of the five players playing, you're always a work in progress. Those players have, when they've practiced, they've all practiced well, albeit not all together, but they've all practiced well. They've come in, they've worked hard, they're smart and they communicate with one another well. The last couple practices we had here before the break, it was good to get them all out there. (You) do everything you can do, that's not just them, that's everybody, to be as ready as you can to go for week one.

Q: I just want to switch back to (cornerback) Adoree' (Jackson) real quick. You spoke, I think it was last Wednesday, you said you had an idea of what direction things were headed at CB (cornerback) 2, was that with Adoree' (Jackson) coming back in mind when you made that statement?

BRIAN DABOLL: We've had conversations, like I said, about Adoree' (Jackson) for, I don't know how many days or weeks before this, but we've had conversations. Until it happens, you don't know if it's going to happen, deals, if you will. I'd say we're healthy now at that spot with (cornerback Cor'Dale) Flott being back and (cornerback Nick) McCloud has been a dependable player for us. Adoree' (Jackson). We'll see where we're at here, but it is good to have Adoree' (Jackson) aboard.

Q: When you look back at (cornerback) Adoree (Jackson)'s tape last year, I think the tackling, I would say probably left something to be desired at times. I don't know if you would agree with that on this Zoom, but is that something that is a focus when you talk to him or something you think needs to be better?

BRIAN DABOLL: I think that's part of playing defense in football, is regardless of any position you play, you have to get the man down with the ball in his hands. That's something we stress for every player. He's been here now for… this is his first day after we saw him when he signed. We'll get him acclimated in the system. It's one thing working out and doing all those things, it's another thing of playing football. We'll see where he's at. I'm sure he'll give everything he can give to try to be as ready as he can be.

Q: Just to go back to (Minnesota Vikings quarterback) Sam (Darnold) a little bit, are you surprised at how quickly teams these days seem to wash their hands of young quarterbacks that they draft?

BRIAN DABOLL: I'd say every place, every organization is different. I don't want to speak for other teams. It's a hard position to play. You prepare as hard as you can play. There's a lot of things that go into the success of a player, not just quarterback. I understand the question because it is the quarterback. Again, every team is different. I don't want to speak for other teams.

Q: Let's talk about your experiences then. The last two, at least, you've had quarterbacks that you've stuck with and developed. What made those decisions for you?

BRIAN DABOLL: Well, that you can develop the player. They've got a skill set that you think you can develop. You continue to work with them and you do everything you can do, whether it's design, whether it's personnel groups, whether it's different types of plays that they feel good about. It's consistent communication and understanding the system. There's a lot that goes into this position. It's not an easy position to play or coach. Again, each player is different. I was around a few of them here the last few years that have stuck and that have played good football. My focus is one, our quarterback, Daniel (Jones), and helping him be the best player he can be. I know that's where his focus is. Two, getting ready to defend the quarterback of the opposing team, which in this case it's (Minnesota Vikings quarterback) Sam (Darnold). In terms of situations and why people are successful and why not, that's a long conversation and probably information when you're not part of that organization that you don't have.

Q: Do you intend to use (cornerback) Adoree' (Jackson) as a punt returner?

BRIAN DABOLL: Potentially.

Q: Do you think he's in game shape? You said he had a good workout. Is he in game shape, football shape from your judgment at the moment?

BRIAN DABOLL: What I also said though was that there's a difference between working out in the offseason and then actually getting here and doing it. Today's a walkthrough. Tomorrow will be like a Wednesday practice. The next day will be a Thursday. It's definitely not the same as going through a training camp and all those things. This happens quite a bit in this league. I know he's worked out. He looked good in the workout, in shape. Now it's getting into football shape as quick as we can get him into it.