Head Coach Todd Monken (10.21.26)
Quinshon (Judkins) and Dylan (Sampson), it looks like they’re going to practice. Are you optimistic that they might play on Sunday?
“I am.”
With a team like Tennessee, I think they haven’t won back-to-back games in nearly four years. Just how dangerous of an opponent are they to play, maybe with a little desperation?
“Well, I mean, it’s a new coaching staff, new players. I mean, just like here, every year is a new year. So, I don’t know if that means a hell of a lot to them. Doesn’t mean much to me other than new coaching staff trying to establish a culture, develop their younger players, or a young team like we are. And you saw a lot of progress last week. I mean, they won it in team fashion. Played good defense, had a couple of really big special teams plays, they won the turnover battle. So, I really don’t look at any of that. I just look at the players and the coaches, and they’ve got a tremendous coaching staff, not only at the coordinator level, but on down, and a really good young roster that’s just going to continue to get better.”
Todd, what’s most important for an offense when you’re going against a defensive front like them, in terms of disrupting the quarterback? Their production is pretty spread out evenly right now, obviously led by Jeffery Simmons.
“Well, Jeffery Simmons is a great player. His brother played for me at Southern Miss, Dylan Bradley, and was a great player. Didn’t have that same size, unfortunately. I guess you could say that he wouldn’t have come to Southern Miss then, but he was a great player, knew Jeffery when he was trying to decide where to go to college. And he’s not only an unbelievably explosive player, but also very smart, instinctive. If you slide to him, he tries to get his hands up and bat the ball, he tries to jump the snap count. Very, very aware, situationally aware. And then they’ve got other guys that have played in that same style, the attack style front, and again, they’re a lot like us. They’re trying to develop their younger players and try to play a certain style a certain way. And I see an improving unit for sure.”
Todd, this game against Tennessee is kind of similar going into the Jets game, coming off a big divisional win, got another divisional game next. So, do you draw on what happened in the Jets?
“Not really. I mean, they’re all big games. The divisional games obviously are critically important in terms of your goals and aspirations. But ultimately, it’s our job as coaches and players to embrace the process. And we talked a little bit today about; nobody really fantasizes about the work. They fantasize about the win. They fantasize about making a game-ending shot or a kick or a play. Where the real work is, is in your meetings and your prep, how you practice, the notes you take, being engaged every day, taking care of your body. And that leads to all the things that you fantasize about, being in the locker room. So that’s all you remind them of, is how did you get to where you are now? And that’s by work, that’s by diligence, that’s by the process, that’s not by fantasizing about the end result.”
To what do you attribute the fact that Harold (Fannin Jr.) and Deshaun (Watson) haven’t really necessarily been able to connect very well? It’s not that he hasn’t been targeted at all. I think he’s been targeted nine times in the last two games or somewhere close to that. But anyways, they’re not really connecting necessarily that well. And Harold doesn’t have the production, I think, that he probably wanted to have. So, what can you do there and what’s going on there?
“Well, it’s really nothing to do with Harold as much as it is, we’ve got to become more consistent at throwing the football, and at times we’re not connecting with anybody, coaching or playing. That’s all of us. Protection, calls, players, quarterback, everybody. So, when you’re not consistently, like, the first half the other day, we didn’t have a lot of plays, didn’t have a lot of production, so no one’s going to touch it very much. So, the better we get on offense, the more we’re able to stack plays and put drives together, you’re going to see more production by our top-end guys. And certainly, Harold is one of those, along with Denzel (Boston) and KC (Concepcion Jr.). And obviously you’ve seen Jerry (Jeudy) come up big the last few weeks. So that will rise as we get better on offense.”
What are your impressions of Cam Ward?
“Well, it’s hard for me from afar. Like, I really have not studied Cam, and I think it’s unfair at this point in a young player’s career to really judge anybody, I think. I really didn’t, I didn’t do him coming out in the draft. I’ve only heard great things about him. I know people that have been around him in terms of his work ethic, being there early, super diligent, highly competitive. That’s a great starting point for a franchise quarterback. All those things that I’ve heard, and I really haven’t seen a ton of crossover tape. I’ve seen some over the last couple years, and I see a guy that, like I said, is still continuing to develop, as a lot of players that are in their second year are.”
What about Carnell Tate? You guys had him in for a pre-Draft visit. I’m sure you got to talk to him a little bit and studied some of what he brings to the table. What do you notice in his game?
“Yeah. Carnell visited us in Georgia when I was there and really liked him then. Just the way he’s wired. He has an incredible skill set. But I think what sets him apart is the way he’s wired. He’s wired the right way. He’s wired like the guys we drafted. That’s why we liked him so much in terms of how he works, how he loves to compete. The moment’s not going to be too big for him. He’s highly intelligent, and you can see that he’s just going to continue to develop.”
The party at (Deshaun) Watson’s house. I’m sure as a coach you love that, the camaraderie. What comes first? Winning or the comradery?
“The chicken or the egg? You’re trying to get me there, Tony (Grossi). First off, I had no idea. I had no idea you tried to throw the crib out there. That was pretty cool. I didn’t know anything. I didn’t know anything about it until Peter (John-Baptiste) brought it up about five minutes before. We were in the locker room and I think somebody mentioned, postgame, something like party at Deshaun’s or something, and then he said, ‘yeah, come on over.’ And I thought he was just joking. So obviously they went to his house on Monday. Is that what you’re saying? They were at his house on Monday? That’s what we’re getting at?”
Did you get the invite?
“It wouldn’t have mattered anyway. I mean, when they show up here on Wednesday, they expect us to have a better plan than we had last week, so. But I think it’s awesome. I think it’s cool that our guys enjoy spending time together. I think they enjoy spending time together within the building. You would like to think that it’s irrespective of the winning or the losing, but is that a part of it? Of course. I mean, is it more fun to hang out when you’re winning? Of course. But I think guys like to hang out with other guys that put in the work, have embraced the process. And that’s all they’ve done since I’ve been here, so I think it’s pretty cool. I mean, you’d have to ask them in terms of what came first, but I think it’s great that our guys spend time together. The more you spend time with someone, the more you embrace them, the more you connect, the more you grow closer to loving that person, the harder it is to let them down. And I think that’s a big part of it.”
As a coach, how good does it feel for you to show proof that you’ve brought these guys together and created such a close-knit group, and you’re part of that, specifically?
“Oh, I don’t know. You’d have to ask them. I mean, I don’t know what part of that I have, other than I’m only doing what I’m used to doing and being around. And I’ve learned from people. So, I mean, ultimately, our job is to create an environment here where guys feel like when they walk in the building that we have a job for them. And then our sole job is to create the best version of them, and ultimately that will create the best version of us as a team. An environment, I won’t say culture, an environment, where they enjoy coming in the building, and that’s our job is to do that. And I’ve gotten better at that over the years, being around some elite coaches and failing at it at times in my past. So ultimately, though, you still have to win. That kind of goes out the window. That kind of goes back to what Tony (Grossi) said. If they don’t see the fruits of their labor, that becomes very difficult, like anything in life. And fortunately, we’ve been able to come up on the right side of that.”
Todd, with Mason (Graham), I know he practiced last Friday and was questionable going into the Baltimore game, do you feel like with another week of practice there’s a decent shot he could play on Sunday?
“I think so. He was frustrated. He wanted to go. Obviously played for Jesse (Minter) at Michigan, and he wanted to go. He loves playing football. He loves getting out on the field and showcasing his ability. And I know he’s frustrated because he had such a great start to the season, right? I think he’s thankful and I’m thankful that it wasn’t worse. That where he’s at now is that he’s going to have the ability to come back and continue to play at such a high level and continue to develop as a player. I think there’s a pretty good chance we’ll have him this week. I’m hopeful that we’ll see something today and then continue from there.”
Three straight road games here and then you’re home for five weeks, including your bye. Do you do anything to prepare these guys for three-straight on the road? You don’t see that often.
“It’s funny you brought it up. I hadn’t even – I mean, I knew it, but I just really am thinking about today. I’m just thinking about having the best Wednesday we can have and looking at what we repped today out on the field, and that I feel like we’re taking another step forward as a team, especially offensively. So, I really don’t look that far ahead. Obviously now that you brought it up, I do recognize that. I do know that’s the way the schedule was laid out for us. But all we can control is today, really, Daryl (Ruiter). That’s today.”
Some weeks you’ve had the rookie punter on the practice squad, some weeks you haven’t. Is it a workload thing for Corey (Bojorquez)? Is it an extended tryout thing?
“I think we really like Wes (Pahl), and when he’s gone, we like to bring him back just to see him because he’s a good dude.”
So, the fact is that you have to make a decision on (Dillon) Gabriel at least by Tuesday. It’s a roster decision, which is usually the province of a GM. How much do you contribute to it because he is a quarterback?
“Sure. I think we all contribute to it. Head coach, offensive coordinator, quarterback coach, Andrew (Berry). What we feel is best for our team moving forward, and we’re still a week away from that. And when it gets to that day, we’ll decide.”
You guys are second in sacks this season so far, only to the Detroit Lions. No Myles (Garrett) here. Jared (Verse) doesn’t have his first sack yet. What can you say about Rudy (Mike Rutenberg) and how he’s put this whole thing together where you guys are second in sacks right now?
“Done a great job. Rudy’s done a great job. Our defensive staff has done a great job. That was the hope, that when we were able to keep the whole defensive staff together, because you have to have guys that embrace the style that we play, right? And that’s a narrow window, that band is shrinking of teams that play the style. So, it’s a real credit to Jacq (Jacques Cesaire), the coaches, the guys that are scheming it. And I was hopeful that when we were able to keep the defensive staff together, that we would be able to continue what had been started here, right? In terms of that, irrespective of who takes the field. And I think our guys have embraced that. And it’s more than just scheme. It’s more than just individual talent. It’s how they work every day. And just like I said, what’s most important today is how we practice today, right? Like I talked about, the end result, the success you have on the field, the celebration in the locker room, the team dinners at Four’s (Deshaun Watson) crib are a byproduct of us having success on a Wednesday practice.”
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