Head Coach Kevin Stefanski (8.4.23)
Opening statement:
“Fun night last night for, I think, our fans, for our team. But really started out, it was an incredible day. I was very, very, very lucky to be there for the Jim Brown memorial, which was unbelievable. I’d encourage everybody if you weren’t there, check out the video of the speakers. It was incredible. Unbelievable messages from each one of those speakers. I was just, again, humbled to be a part of it. And then into the game like we talked about last night. Was it perfect? No, never is. You have a lot of young players playing for the first time, but I thought the effort was outstanding. I thought all the guys were into it, cheering on their teammates – the guys that weren’t playing so much so that we got a 15-yard penalty or whatever the penalty was at the end. A good night, a late night up and up and at ’em early today. So we have plenty of work to do. And that’s the beauty of training camp. It’s August 4. We got work to do, and we’ll be back in here working tomorrow morning. With that, I will take any questions.”
As far as DTR (Dorian Thompson-Robinson) last night, you talked know, you were not concerned, but you were emphasizing his ganme calling, managing the game, all those kinds of things, which seemed to go well. In terms of his performance, Kevin, what really stood out to you?
“Well, I think the first piece is important, Tom (Withers), is for young players to function. You know, you think that’s something simple, but for quarterbacks and rookies and getting in and out of the huddle, getting in and out of the correct play – run to pass, pass to pass, run to run, those types of things. I thought he did a nice job of operating. And then as you know, it’s fun to see our guys play ball and you’re playing in a game so it’s live. They can tackle you, which doesn’t happen in practice. So, to see the rush, trying to get home, he made a few plays with his feet. He did a nice job. There’s plenty of stuff to clean up, as you can imagine, and that’s definitely what we’re prepared to talk to him about tomorrow, along with a bunch of guys – ‘Okay, here’s what was really good and here are the things that we got to clean up.’”
Kevin, is he beyond your average rookie quarterback, given the amount of starts at UCLA – big program, all those kinds of things?
“I would say that’s certainly one of the things that were excited about being able to draft Dorian was how much football he has played in his life and in that college career. How many times do we talk about banking reps and getting reps in the preseason and getting reps in the offseason? And he’s one that has played in a lot of games and been in a lot of big ones, so I think all of that serves him well.”
Wondering about some of the receivers. First of all, you know, Anthony’s (Schwartz) first touch didn’t go obviously the way that he would have wanted it to. And then Daylen (Baldwin) leaves the game with the hamstring and Jaleon (Darden) was out. So just kind of wondering a little bit about just the state of some of those younger guys on the receiving core?
“Some good moments in that game. Obviously disappointing to turn the ball over twice. We turned the ball over on the first play of the drive twice, which was not very good and we’re fortunate to have the lead there being minus two in the turnover margin for a long time. So that’s definitely going to be a point of emphasis for us is ball security, both when we’ve got it as a quarterback or we have it as a ball carrier, tight end, receiver, whatever it may be. As you know, Mary Kay (Cabot), with wide receivers and training camp, you’re going to have guys in and out and we’ll adjust as necessary. You don’t like to see anybody go down for any reason, but those are things that we have to just continue to work through here, both on the coaching side and on the personnel side.”
Do you have to add anybody? Do you think Daylen will be out for a little bit of time?
“Daylen, unfortunately, is going to be out. I feel for the kid. He’s done so many good things for us over these months. But we’ll add some players here over the next couple of days.”
When you say out, is that like a week-to-week thing, or do you have any time frame on that?
“I don’t have a timeframe, but it’s a significant injury.”
Dawand Jones played every offensive snap last night. Was that sort of the game plan coming in to last night with him and what did you see when you watched his performance that maybe – from what you had seen in training camp to last night kind of impressed you?
“That was the plan. He knew going in he was going to play the whole game and I thought we got an honest day’s work from him. Playing the whole game and not playing football in a little while – as you get into training camp and with the heat, I thought he did a nice job. Again, right now we have plans to make some corrections. There were things that he made mistakes (on) and he also had some great plays, but that’s part of certainly being a rookie. But even being a young player and playing in your first game, you’re not going to do things – not many people are getting 100% grades this morning. So that’s what we do as coaches, we identify some things that we can correct, but he definitely has the desire to correct all those things.”
Hey Kevin, one more on Dawand (Jones). You know he looked like he wasn’t in the best shape when he got to rookie minicamp. So how far have you seen him develop in that area?
“Yeah, he’s working very, very hard in that department and I think he’s making great strides.”
And then with Dorian (Thompson-Robinson), a couple protecting your body kind of things. Were you fine with how he threw his body in there on the block and on one of the scrambles, did he leave himself vulnerable for an extra hit that maybe he didn’t need to take on the sideline?
“The one that was a penalty?”
No, I think it was the one after that, actually.
“Yeah, I think we talk about it, Scott, with the quarterbacks when it’s time to get down and slide when you can. There are other times where you really can’t slide because you’re in a crowd and sliding is going to expose your upper body and your torso to some contact. So those are things we’ll continue to talk about. It’s the first time he’s been tackled since, what, December maybe. So just getting back in the rhythm of that I think is important.”
Hey Kevin, to just go back to Daylen (Baldwin) for a second. I mean, I know he seemed to be making some big plays throughout camp and he hung around last year. Just how unfortunate is it when you have a guy who’s in that fight for a roster spot go down with an injury like this?
“Yeah, it’s no fun, Ashley. You watch these guys, we get to watch all the work that they put in the weight room, in the meeting room, on the practice field, you name it, and Daylen is a guy that’s been very diligent in this building. He’s a guy that all throughout the month of June when I popped my head in here, he happened to be in that weight. So it’s a very unfortunate part of our game, but he’ll bounce back, I have no doubt about that. And that’s just part of the nature of this game.”
And just a clarifying question on the injury in the press box last night, they said hamstring. Is that still what the issue is?
“Yes.”
Okay, so I’ll be the one to ask the Cade York question. Kevin, we see him every practice. He kicks. It’s almost automatic. And then what happened yesterday, almost missed the first PAT. Also, what’s your level of concern? What do you and Bubba think is going on above his shoulders?
“Well, I think I see it very similar to all of our players, Tony. I think it’s the preseason. It’s time to work. It’s time to gain valuable experience both in practice and in the games. But past that, I don’t know that it’s anything for the future that is majorly concerning. He’s a young player that’s working and I know he’s going to continue to work.”
And Austin Watkins, after the game, you seem quite impressed with what he’s done. The fact that he played in the USFL in the spring, he comes in, he looks more polished, perhaps because of that. Is he rising up the charts a little?
“Yeah, I think that’s a fair point you know. You go from playing football right into playing football and you haven’t been on the street for a couple of years or a couple of weeks, whatever it may be. So I think he’s certainly in playing shape and his playing speed has been good. He’s been impressive in the moments that he’s had with us and the game reps and now and then practice reps. He’s done a nice job. So again, he’ll get plenty of opportunities. With what happens with receivers, as we all know, you lose guys for a day or two or whatever it may be, and the guys that are available will continue to be able to show what they’re capable of.”
What did you take away from the play of the interior of your defensive line last night? Seems like there’s a lot of competition in that group for those reserve roles behind your two starters.
“Yeah, again, not perfect, but I thought the effort was definitely there. Guys were getting off the ball, playing physical, really pleased with really how all eleven were running to the ball. So it’s a competitive roster, really. One through 53, as we know. And certainly, there are places where we got a bunch of good players and that’s what this training camp is for. That’s what these practices are for. For the games are for. Let the guys continue to just go show what they can do.”
And I want to ask you about Cameron Mitchell. I know he’s kind of down on the depth chart, but we’ve seen him make some splash plays over the last week or so. Just your evaluation of what you’ve observed from him and is he kind of playing his way onto your radar?
“Young player doing a nice job with the reps he’s getting. For all of our players, young and old, they’re trying to earn a role, and that’s what practice is for. That’s what the games are for. Cam’s done a nice job. He’s definitely made some plays on the ball, which is great. He’s a very conscientious kid, knows that he’s got to be working hard both on defense and on special teams. And I think he’s somebody that keeps just continuing to come along.”
I was asking about Tony Fields. He seemed pretty busy last night. What kind of game did he have and how has he come along for you?
“Yeah, Tony again, has played meaningful reps for us over the years and continues to grow. I think. Played some really good reps last night. Plays fast, plays physical. Somebody that we feel continues to get better with reps, and that’s really what the preseason is all about.”
Hey, Kevin, I want to ask you about a couple of other injuries. Looks like Greg (Newsome) left the last practice were at. Is there anything wrong with him?
“He’s got a groin issue that he’s working through, but he’s continuing to rehab.”
And you said Tyrone (Wheatly) last night wasn’t able to go. Is that a long-term thing or do you expect him back in practice?
“Expect him back.”
And then lastly, Thomas Graham. That ankle last night, is that a serious thing?
“It is, yeah. That was significant. So we’ll work through that as well.”
Did you know Jim Brown threw two no-hitters at Yankee Stadium?
“I found that out yesterday. Averaged 38 points a game in high school basketball without the three-point shot, which is pretty impressive. Yeah, unbelievable.”
There was a lot to take away from that. Kevin, like you, we were honored also to be there. What really stuck with you? He’s a very complex man with a pretty extraordinary life.
“Yeah, extraordinary. Just to be able to make an impact in so many areas, to so many people to so many different types of people. But just the message of human dignity, the message of respecting all people, regardless of where they’re from, what their race is, what they believe in, it just was an empowering message. I was really not only fortunate to be there myself, but to have our players there, to have some of our guys listening to that, I know it had a very, very profound impact on them.”
Kevin, in game zero, you went one-half each for QB three and four. Would you do half for QB one and two against Washington?
“We’ll talk through it, Tony, this week. Obviously, as we go into this first game or the second game, however you’re counting it, we’ll always stick to what we’re trying to get done in terms of the amount of reps that guys need to get ready for September 10. So, I’ll fill you guys in on that as we go. But really the focus for us is we got a nice three-day block here of practices in Berea, and then we’ll start turning our attention to Washington later in the week.”
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