Head Coach Kevin Stefanski (8.14.24)
Opening Statement:
“Okay, really good work out there with Minnesota. We’ll have another good day tomorrow. Tried to hit a bunch of situations today, normal down in distance, third down. We’ll get in the red zone tomorrow, we’ll do a two minute tomorrow. But I thought both sides had got some really good work in. Obviously, I only saw one side of the field, so I’ll get to watch the tape on the other side here in a minute, but a lot of tape to watch tonight. And then again, get a good day’s work tomorrow with these guys and then play them on Saturday. But I thought their coaches, their players did a great job, got really good work in. I know you guys have questions about Mike Hall. Respectfully, I don’t have much to add. I’m going to let legal proceedings play out, but I understand that you have to ask a question, but I really don’t have much on that subject. But with that, I’ll take any questions.”
Kevin, he (Mike Hall Jr.) is free to be with the team and work out, obviously, right?
“Yes.”
What went into the decision to have him practice today?
“I can’t get into all the details, guys. I’ll just tell you, we’re going to let the legal proceedings play out.”
As a staff, did you feel comfortable having him practice today?
“He practiced today.”
He left practice today, do you know why?
“[He] was injured, but don’t have the details.”
It looked like there were a lot of false starts over there on the offense. Is that just going against a different team or why was the reason for that?
“We need to be way better offensively from an operations standpoint. That was not good. Some of it was the cadence, some of it – they weren’t false starts, some of them were that the tackles were aligned too deep at times so those are all things that are correctable and we will correct them.”
You were working the old guys at left tackle, does that account for some of it, it being different?
“It could, yeah, absolutely. Now that’s no excuse, but it certainly could play a factor.”
Pierre (Strong Jr.) took a huge hit there. I mean, do you guys have some guidelines?
“Yeah, we thud the runner, meaning you can fit the runner up. Obviously, we don’t take cheap shots and those type of things. But it is thud so it’s not tackle, it’s not wrap them up, but it is thud.”
Do you have an update on him?
“I don’t have an update.”
Kevin, what did you think of (Jameis) Winston?
“Have to watch it. There’s a couple really good moments. One moment in particular, threw the ball, really on time and Jamari Thrash did a nice job getting his head around and finding the ball. That was in particular a really nice play on third down, but plenty to clean up.”
Felt like there were some protection issues as well. What did you see that you think you can clean up?
“Yeah, I think it’s twofold. I think they have good rushers, credit to them. I also think that front gives us way more variation than we’ve seen so we need that work. We need to talk through it as an offensive line, tight end group, running back, quarterback, just get on the same page there. Those are all valuable conversations that we definitely need to have.”
Protections been an issue throughout camp or was it mostly today?
“I think today was not a great day for protectionists, but I’d say more from a miscommunication standpoint.”
Can you prepare to start the season without Jed Wills?
“I’m really — what’s today’s date, anybody know? I’m August 14th focused.”
Kevin, when situations like with Mike Hall occur, I know you said you can’t comment, but did you have a discussion with Andrew Berry because I know you had a situation earlier in the offseason where a player had an issue, and he was cut the day after. With Mike Hall, he’s arrested, charged with domestic violence and he plays the next day. Do you have a conversation with Andrew about how to go about it or who came to the decision?
“Yeah, respectfully, and I understand the question, I don’t have much to add.”
Kevin, with JOK (Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah) getting extended today, just your thoughts on the importance of keeping him around for the foreseeable future?
“Very happy for Jeremiah. He’s a guy that, as we’ve talked about, is a great scheme fit for how we play. He’s a great cultural fit and how he is on the practice fields, in the building, you know, really brings the energy to his teammates. So happy for him.”
Kevin, I know you were focused on the offense today, but just from what we were able to see on the defense, seems like Myles Harden was having a very good day. What can you say about the camp he’s had up to this point? I know you’re going to have to watch film from today.
“Chris (Easterling), he’s done a nice job. I didn’t see that play in particular, but I’ll watch, obviously, what he’s done. But he’s a very smart player, has great ball skills, so he’s doing a nice job. We’re just kind of moving him around and seeing if he can carve out a role.”
Denzel Ward had the collision on Monday, is that why he wasn’t practicing?
“He’s in protocol.”
On Martin Emerson Jr., some good battles with Justin Jefferson, talked about being excited for those one-on-one opportunities. Does he speak to his competitiveness in that way, the fact that he’s looking forward to that?
“And that’s the fun part of these days, is that’s great work. You can’t get better work than going up against Justin Jefferson. So to go up against a different team always gives our guys a little bit of juice, but to go up against a player of his caliber. And we think very highly of MJ (Emerson) so it’s fun for these guys to practice their craft against these great players.”
I know you talk a lot about culture and all that, do you worry about the message it sends that even though the legal process has to play out, it appears there weren’t consequences at this point? He (Mike Hall) was just allowed to practice?
“I understand the question. I would tell you, we really just have to respect the process.”
I get what you’re saying, but do you understand that some people take that as a bad look, that a day after he’s arrested for domestic violence, he’s on your field?
“I understand what you’re asking honestly, but for us, we have to trust in the process, and really, it’s that.”
Kevin, what did you think of Deshaun in terms of how he was reading what Minnesota was doing and that kind of stuff?
“They really challenge you. I think Coach (Brian) Flores does an awesome job in a bunch of areas, but one of the key areas that they do a nice job is, they confuse you. They give you different looks, they can blitz anybody from anywhere. So that’s incredible work for us and I thought the quarterbacks, by and large, saw it pretty well.”
Kevin, I know you’re probably going to repeat the same thing but with Mike, if everything goes well physically, since he took that hit today, is the plan for him to keep practicing if he’s available while this process plays out?
“I think, again, not going to talk past today. I’ll just tell you, we need to respect the process here.”
With Jeremiah, how valuable is it to lock up a guy at such a young age, a guy who can be a leader now and in the future?
“You know, he’s still a young player. I think he’s still a player that’s getting better. I think there’s more that Jeremiah can do, I think he knows that. And that’s certainly something he – it’s not like this is just something that he stops progressing, if you will. So, he’s still a young player that’s working on his craft, and we’re excited about that.”
Would you say you take these off-the-field issues on a case-by-case basis? Or do you kind of have the same policy for every player, regardless of whether or not they’re a high pick, low pick or free agent?
“Yeah, I can’t get into specifics, Mary Kay (Cabot), other than to tell you, we’ll continue to let the process play out.”
Did Jed Wills experience a setback in his recovery?
“No, he’s getting close, working very hard.”
We didn’t see Isaiah McGuire?
“Sick.”
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