Tight ends coach TC McCartney (10.20.23)

Any concerns of losing Harrison (Bryant) to the quarterback room?

“I mean, Harry was more juiced up to throw a toss than I’ve ever seen in my life. So that was fun. I know he likes getting to do that a little bit, so it’s fun to watch.”

 

 I think Alex (Van Pelt) talked about it a little bit, but how did that come about? That all of a sudden he was the guy to do those sneaks and whatever comes off of it?

“I don’t know where that idea originated. Somewhere in the offseason we talked about it and I think it’s just a way to protect the quarterback so he doesn’t have to take some unnecessary hits at times and gives Harrison a chance – you know, gives the defense a different look that they may have not seen from us before, obviously until we did so.”

 

David (Njoku), just how has he progressed in terms of obviously he looks better, but just how has he progressed from a very scary moment to where he is now?

“It all happened very quickly, obviously from the Friday night, I think it was, to playing in the game. A lot of adrenaline there, I think. I think we were very fortunate to have that bye week after, give him some time to recover and just be by himself at his house and just get all the medical treatment he needed. But he looks good now. He’s in good spirits. Very business as usual really.”

 

As his (David Njoku) coach, you’re in the room with him every day. What’s those couple of days like between Friday night, Sunday morning, just from a personal and professional aspect? 

 “Yeah, I mean, it was scary when I first got the news. Saturday morning was the first I had heard of it when I got in the building. And then at that point found out he was okay, but didn’t really know what happened, didn’t think he was going to play in the game. So, then it was kind of once he was okay, it was just scramble mode, trying to figure out to move things around if he didn’t play in the game. And then he came trotting out there during the mock game, said he’s playing.”

 

He’s (David Njoku) obviously very gregarious, a bubbly personality. How much does kind of the room itself and then from there expand through the offense in the locker room? How much do they kind of feed off of that, feed off of his energy that way?

“I think a lot. I think a lot of the guys on our offense, even our leaders are kind of quiet and Dave’s not. And so, Dave’s one of those guys that is able to be heard and he’s kind of a leader in that way that everyone’s not going to lead the same way and he’s kind of going to be more vocal than other guys on our offense. So, I think he stepped in that role in the last couple of years and developed even more so this year.”

 

Overall, what have you been impressed about the way that the tight ends have been able to really be a part of the offense throughout these first six weeks?

“I think it’s hard sometimes. Dave (David Njoku) wants to have all the production in the world. Harrison (Bryant) won the (John) Mackey (Award). Jordan Akins is used to having production. But we’re doing a really good job of playing without the ball, and that’s what you got to do. At times we’re hoping the ball finds us, but the guys just get their job done. I think we’ve seen it, obviously haven’t played perfect, but we’ve played really well without the ball, doing all the things that it takes to be a good offense. Still obviously progressing in that way. But I think those guys playing without the ball has been impressive to me.”

 

I guess because it’s been they have to play more off the ball, I guess?

“It’s something we talk about no matter what’s going on. But, no, I haven’t had any conversations. They know what the deal is. We just beat a really good football team. So I think everyone understands what we’re doing there. They want to win.”

 

Do you get a sense of pride and maybe satisfaction when the run game gets going and a guy like David (Njoku) can set one of the blocks to help that, does that make up for not getting that reception, not getting the ball? Do they play off of that?

“It’s definitely is. We all take a sense of pride from the sideline. You can hear when Dave makes a big block, Jordan (Akins) and Harry (Bryant) you know, talking about it, celebrating. So definitely that. We take pride in the pass blocks, the run blocks, all that. But I think the biggest thing is winning the game. So, when we win the game, it’s all good.”

 

Why is David (Njoku) so good? The team, too. But then David in particular on those tight end screens? I mean, he had the one call back the other day, but that’s something you guys do a lot. Seems like you’ve had some success?

“Yeah. So, part of coming with playing off the ball is we block a lot. And that’s a good compliment to that. The D end, was he going to play the run? Is he going to get off the block? Is he going to try and rush the passer? Well, if he does, then we have the answer in a tight end screen. And then obviously, when he catches the ball, he’s just big and fast.”

 

Indianapolis, so they’re pretty good linebackers with (Zaire) Franklin and (Shaquille) Leonard. But what kind of challenges does that present specifically for you guys as you go into this game? 

“Definitely there are linebackers that play side to side. Sideline to sideline. It’s a structure that we’ve played, a similar structure to our defense, similar to the 49ers last week. So, we’ve kind of had some experience in the angles we have to take and the play style that we have to be good against these guys who can run.”

 

 

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