Transcript: Head Coach Brian Daboll

Head Coach Brian Daboll

October 9, 2024

Q: How’s (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers) doing?

BRIAN DABOLL: He's doing better. He's still in the protocol. He'll do some stuff off to the side outside with the training staff today. So, day-to-day.

Q: How's (running back Devin) Singletary doing?

BRIAN DABOLL: He'll be out here at practice today. He's improved.

Q: Has Malik cleared some of the steps in the protocol?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, that's why we're going to get him out here on the grass today. So, he didn't do that last week. He's feeling better. But again, I'll take those very seriously and go through each step. But he is doing better. So, we'll see how he does after he does some activity out there on the grass today.

Q: Anybody who won't practice today?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah. (guard Greg) Van Roten, we'll give him a vet day. (Guard Jon) Runyan (Jr.) is sick. He's here, but he's under the weather. And (outside linebacker) Kayvon (Thibodeaux) has a wrist.

Q: Is Kayvon that serious?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I'd say it's week to week.

Q: So, he's not going to be ready for Sunday?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I'd say week to week.

Q: Did Nabers have a chance to before today to run outside at all?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, he's been working with the trainers. This will be a good day for him today to get out there and kind of see where he's at. And again, we'll take it slow. Again, he is feeling better, which is a good sign.

Q: Will Singletary be full or limited?

BRIAN DABOLL: He'll probably be limited. But he's trending in the right direction. Again, let's see how he does.

Q: Sometimes when you say week to week, that can be a long time. I mean, do you think he's going on IR?

BRIAN DABOLL: No, I'll just leave it at week to week.

Q: How did that happen?

BRIAN DABOLL: Happened in the game.

Q: How does it impact the defense then?

BRIAN DABOLL: Well, I mean, look, it's just like the question you asked last week about Nabers being down and Motor being down. If he can't go, then other guys will have to step in and be ready to go and fill those roles. That's why they're here. To come out here and do what they need to do to be as good as they can be.

Q: What have you seen from (outside linebacker) Azeez (Ojulari)?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, Azeez has been good for us. He'll be important if Kayvon's not there. And, whether it's (outside linebacker) Boogie (Basham), whether it's (linebacker Patrick Johnson) Pat, whoever it may be, we have confidence in the guys.

Q: He was able to play through it during the game?

BRIAN DABOLL: He was.

Q: And then he got back here…

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah. And then we got him looked at. Again, week to week.

Q: Does he need surgery?

BRIAN DABOLL: Not anymore.

Q: He already had surgery?

BRIAN DABOLL: He did.

Q: So, he's in a cast?

BRIAN DABOLL: He had it today, in the morning. So, I haven't seen him.

Q: Sometimes with surgery, it might end up as season-ending. Are you certain that’s not the case with Kayvon?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, again, I'm not going to give you a timeline or anything like that. I would just say he's week to week. I'm encouraged with what I've heard. But again, you never know.

Q: So, he could come back?

BRIAN DABOLL: He could, yeah.

Q: What have you seen from your young secondary in recent weeks that the results have been better?

BRIAN DABOLL: Well again, they're young. So, the more playing time you get, the more experience you get, the more you improve. And we've played against some pretty good receivers. (Seahawks wide receiver DK) Metcalf being the last one, (Commanders wide receiver Terry) McLaurin, (Cowboys wide receiver) CeeDee Lamb, (Vikings wide receiver Justin) Jefferson, and now here comes (Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr) Chase and (Bengals wide receiver Tee) Higgins. So, they're improving at their craft. They've been working hard. The communication process, their technique, their fundamentals. (Defensive Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach) Jerome's (Henderson) been working with them. (Safeties Coach Michael) Treier has been working with them. Again, a young group of players that continue to improve. We have a huge challenge this week against this quarterback, who's one of the best in the league and the skill set of Chase and Higgins. They can score at any time.

Q: There's a lot of teams that have a number one wide receiver. How difficult is it when their number two is basically a number one also?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, very difficult. They're two different types of players, both outstanding at what they do. They put Chase everywhere. He can take it from a one-yard pass, 80 yards. Over 4,200 yards, 35 touchdowns, 34, whatever it may be. He's as good as it gets. And then throw Higgins in there, who's a top pick of the second round, who's big. Even when he's covered, he's not covered. It's very challenging. That's why they put up so many points. When you add (Bengals quarterback Joe) Burrow to the mix, who's one of the premier passers in this league, it's difficult.

Q: Can you talk about (defensive lineman) Dexter Lawrence (II), he's been getting a lot of double teams this year. He's fought through those. I think he had his highest number of sacks last week. Can you just talk about his resilience?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, well, I think he gets doubled not just this year. He's been doubled quite a bit of his career. Again, we've talked about him. He's explosive, strong. He's got good length, power. He's smart. Again, that's some of the things that he's going to have to do is be able to fight through those double teams, which he has. It's not an easy thing. I mean, there was times last week where there were three guys on him. So, again, he understands that. When he gets his opportunities, he's got to make them go. Very thankful that he's on our football team.

Q: How much of a setback is it for a young guy like Thibodeaux?

BRIAN DABOLL: Anytime anybody gets injured, you never want to see that. But he'll rehab and do the things he needs to do to be ready to go.

Q: What's been the difference for (cornerback Cor’Dale) Flott the last few weeks? He seems to have sort of settled into a role.

BRIAN DABOLL: Much like the answer I gave you before. These are young players that are out here. They're playing each week. They're improving each week. Experience helps. Being in the film room, working together, communication process of it. But Flott’s done a nice job.

Q: (Wide receiver) Gunner (Olszewski) is eligible to come up this week. I assume he's not. But is he anywhere close to being ready to return? I haven't seen him yet.

BRIAN DABOLL: He's closer, but he's not there yet.

Q: What about (inside linebacker) Dyontae Johnson? Where are you at with him?

BRIAN DABOLL: He's in pretty good shape right now. We're not going to do anything with him as of yet. Getting close.

Q: What's the key to harnessing the success you've had this past week and carrying it forward so you can start stacking?

BRIAN DABOLL: I would say each week is its own week. We've got a big challenge ahead of us against a very good football team. I know their record isn't what they want it to be, but their four losses are one-score games. They've played three games against (Chiefs quarterback Patrick) Mahomes, (Commanders quarterback Jayden) Daniels and (Ravens quarterback Lamar) Jackson. Explosive offense. Good football team. (Bengals Head Coach) Zac (Taylor) does a great job with them. (Bengals Defensive Coordinator) Lou Anarumo. They're a very quality, good football team with a lot of good players. And our focus has to be on us, what we need to do. Have a good week of practice, preparation. Our process has to be right throughout the week, and then ultimately we have to go out there and perform well on Sunday.

Q: Do you think momentum carries for week to week?

BRIAN DABOLL: It's week-to-week business. Each week is different. Each opponent is different. Every game plan is different. The players you're playing against are different. There's different matchups. So really the main thing that we have to focus on is this week, our game plans, the things that we need to execute, understand the matchups that we're going against, and then go out there and perform well.

Q: Despite their losses, they put up plenty of points every week. Do you have to focus more on the red zone this week just to kind of match them?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I mean we focus on it quite a bit. We'll continue to do that. Again, I think each individual area, offense, defense and the kicking game, they're going to have a set of targets that we need to try to hit against this team, and it will be a challenge.

Q: We talked a couple of weeks ago about playing so many young players. When you get to a point in the season, a month in, in five games, you see some of your younger players taking on a bigger role. Can that raise the team when you have guys that maybe you're not counting on for a certain level of performance, and then all of a sudden, a guy like (running back Tyrone) Tracy comes out and does what he does to kind of lift everyone around you?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I mean I think the main thing is each person is on this team for a reason and to make sure they're prepared and ready to go when their number is called. So, whether that was like Tracy last week where he hadn't had a lot of touches and he gets it, or (wide receiver Darius) Slayton, those are two good examples of guys that have done everything we've asked them to do, been ready to go, have worked hard, and when they had an opportunity, made the most of it.

Q: Where do you see (Offensive Line Coach) Carmen Bricillo making the most impact on your line?

BRIAN DABOLL: Well, again, I've said this numerous times. I think Carm and (Assistant Offensive Line Coach) James Ferentz are really good football coaches. They work well together. It's really all phases. There's new offensive linemen, maybe some new techniques here and there. He's a great teammate. Very good offensive mind, too, not just with the runs and protections, but he's all-encompassing in terms of the offensive knowledge that he has. James is a former player that's just played last year, so it's good to have him in the room to relate to the guys. But he's done a really nice job since he's been here. He's a good guy to have on your team.

Q: With Van Roten taking a rest day and Runyan being sick, but just today, Stinnie will be at one spot. Who will you be at your other guard spot on your O-Line?

BRIAN DABOLL: We have enough guys.

Q: Does (Tackle) Evan Neal become an option at guard for you at some point? I know you talk about versatility with linemen. It's hard to keep a guy who's a backup at one specific spot, not cross-train him.

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, right now we have our inside backup players. Evan's been working at tackle. That's kind of the direction that we're working.

Q: I know it's not your team, but when you see a guy like (Former Jets Head Coach) Robert Saleh get fired, is there anything that goes through your head?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, it's an unfortunate part of the business. I've got a lot of respect for Robert. I wish him and his family the best.

Q: How did (cornerback Dru) Phillips and (cornerback) Adoree’ (Jackson) come through on Sunday? Did they do more this week?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, they made it okay. Again, they'll be out here. We'll keep ramping them up, a little bit more probably than Motor, but kind of in the same spot. They'll continue to get their reps, but no setbacks.