Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Bubba Ventorne (10.10.24)
I guess I’ll ask the obvious question, with Charley (Hughlett) out, just the comfortability you have with Rex (Sunahara) and how does that make it maybe a little bit easier transition for this game?
“It’s helpful that he was here during the preseason. And we got a lot of work throughout training camp and our operation with the field goal in, with the punt operation. So, the familiarity with Rex in our system is a good thing.”
Have you ever had a long snapper go on IR?
“No, have not. So, we’re preparing Rex to be able to handle this game.”
How did he get hurt?
“It was really friendly fire on one of the punt covers toward the end of the first half. It was the second to last punt of the first half.”
How valuable is Charley in general? I think it’s 152 straight games, so he’s been such a constant for this organization.
“Yeah, he’s a great leader for our group. He does a nice job with — I would say that our communication overall for that unit, both on punts and on field goals. He is our captain. He leads the team, the players meeting on Fridays post practice. He does a good job with those young players and bringing those guys along. So he’s been a great player for our team and this organization for the last however many years.”
So do you guys vote another captain for the time being or no?
“We have not. No, we haven’t.”
No need?
“Not sure. Yeah, I don’t know if we will get to that or not. That’ll be on coach (Kevin Stefanski).”
Bubba, how have you seen guys kind of handle this week with all the adversity swirling around? Just how have you seen guys handle it in the building here?
“I think Kevin’s done a nice job as far as having everyone solely focused on this game. How can we go 1-0 and get this thing rolling? Because we all believe that we need to do more and we need to play better, we need to coach better. And I think that everyone has been receptive to that and understanding that we all just have to do a better job.”
So, you guys signed Tony Brown to the active roster today, just what has he meant as a special teams player for you and what have you seen from him this season?
“Tony’s a really good player for our unit. He has a lot of versatility. He’s a corner, but he plays physical like a safety. He’s tough. Like I said, he is physical. He can run. He has position flex on multiple phases. He’s an impact player for us on our punt unit. He and Mike (Ford Jr.) at the gunner position, those are two really good players on the perimeter and those guys give you a shot to have a successful play on that unit.”
But with Rex, he’s been trying to do this for a long time and hasn’t ever snapped in a game where he’s kind of bounced around for a while. Is that just the nature of that position that there’s not a lot of turnover there?
“There is not a lot of turnover at that spot. And I would say with specialists overall, I would say more snappers and punters. Sometimes it takes those guys to just really get an opportunity to show what they can do. And like you said, there’s not a lot of turnover at those positions and you get comfortable with the guys that you have and the familiarity. But, I mean, credit to him for sticking with it. I’ve seen a lot of guys over the years that have stuck with it and ended up landing jobs. Like one that comes to mind, as a kid that I watched growing up was Christian Kuntz, the snapper for Pittsburgh. Went to my high school, was a linebacker, converted to snapping, didn’t really earn a job until a few years ago and now he’s been a really good player for Pittsburgh. So, I think really a lot of times it just comes down to opportunity and then taking advantage of the opportunity when you get it. So, hoping that he goes out and does a nice job for us.”
Your thoughts on the (Philadelphia) Eagles’ teams and what you guys are worrying about this week or thinking about this week?
“Yeah, so I think that they’re a talented group overall. They’re comprised, I would say they have got a good backer group; 57, Ben VanSumeren is good, 42, (Oren) Burks is a good player. They drafted a kid, the (Jeremiah) Trotter kid from Clemson. I think overall, they are a pretty solid group overall. Obviously, they have a really good kicker in Jake Elliott, and he’s hit a lot of big kicks in his career. So that’s a guy that we’re going to have to account for. The punter does a nice job, Braden Mann, they got him from New York (Jets). And then the returner, there are a lot of returners that they could use. I coached Isaiah Rodgers in Indianapolis. I think he’s a really good player. So there’s a lot of guys we’re going to have to account for and we’re going to have to step up to the challenge and be able to do some things in the kicking game.”
How has Nyheim (Hines) looked so far and how close is he being a factor in this special teams?
“I think he’s improving. I talked to him last night. He feels like this is the best he’s felt since everything had happened, since he’s been back. I think he’s close. Yeah, I think he’s close. And he gives us really the dual returner in being able to do both punts and kickoffs and he can run. And he’s had a lot of production in his career, both with me and in Buffalo.”
Is there a possibility he suits up Sunday?
“I mean, I think there’s a lot of possibilities that could happen. So, I think you just always evaluate as the week goes along and then make a decision at the end of the week. But those things are definitely on the table.”
Bubba with the 50-yard field goals, it’s become more common in the game making the 50-yard field goal. I remember when if you made a 50-yard field goal, that was headline worthy. Not to say that they aren’t now, but are kickers just stronger today than they were in previous generations or why do you think there’s been this increased success from beyond 50 yards that we’re seeing now?
“Yeah, I don’t know. I don’t know if the kickers are stronger. But I will say this, there are a good amount of talented kickers in the league. If you just look around, I mean, we have a good one. Even the teams that we’ve played already to this point. I mean, you have (Brandon) Aubrey, (Daniel) Carlson, those guys are talented. Obviously, Ka’imi Fairbairn has had a really good year already. He’s hit like, I want to say, like almost double-digit 50-yard kicks to this point. I think he has maybe nine or 10. So, he’s been a weapon for Houston. And you know, that position is, it’s a critical position that you have a really good player there because it’s a points position. Sometimes it goes overlooked, but that’s one of the most, if not, the most important position besides the quarterback, I would say.”
How much do you think it is just coaches’ willingness to try the field goal? Seemed like in the old days, not the old days, but you get within the 35, whatever, and like, “Okay, we are in that weird range now.”
“I think it always goes on how the game is being played, the situation in the game. So, I think that the flow of the game, how many points you feel like you’re going to need to be competitive in the game. So, I think that everything factors into it. But yeah, I would say that you’re seeing a lot more attempts from over 50 yards.”
Remember when a K-ball was a big deal? How long ago did that start?
“I’m not sure, but I know what you’re saying, yeah. And there’s a big difference between kicking a regular football and kicking a kicking ball, a K-ball. A huge difference. They feel completely different.”
Which one’s easier then, the regular ball?
“The K-ball is definitely easier to kick than a normal football.”
What’s the difference? Not to get too technical, but what is the difference between the two?
“Well, they allow you to obtain the balls pregame. You have an x-amount of time to work on the balls. What they do is they scrub down the balls where the kicker is going to hit. It just enables the — yeah, there’s a lot of things that go, I don’t know all the mechanics. The equipment guys will be able to tell you more on it.”
What have you seen from Kadarius Toney in his couple weeks practicing?
“That guy’s got a skillset. He’s fast, explosive, he’s really good with the ball in his hands, he can make you miss, he’s hard to tackle, he’s a strong runner. But we’ve seen his development. He was a little nicked up when he got here. Starting to see him more, I would say, in practice. So, he’s a good player.”
You alluded to this earlier, just Kevin’s steadiness when things aren’t going well. You’ve been around a lot coaches. What is it about his character or what have you, that allows him to keep guys focused during these tough times?
“Yeah, I think Kevin has done a really good job since I’ve been around him, since I got here last year. I feel like the one thing with him is he’s consistent in his approach. Both when we win games, when we lose games, it’s always, okay, come in after a win, we’re going to fix the corrections. Come in after a loss, we’re going to fix the corrections and apply them to the next time we’re out there. And I think that he has been consistent with his approach in every facet, even when we haven’t had the results like we haven’t as of late. And then keeping everyone focused on the task at hand. Like right now, what we’re trying to do is win this game, right? Win this game, find a way to win this game and then worry about the next game next week. But we’re just trying to do everything we can to put a good product on the field and beat Philly.”