OC Alex Van Pelt (8.1.23)
What did you take away from how Deshaun (Watson) did in the eight practices at the Greenbrier?
“Just took off right where he was when he left the minicamp, really. Just a lot of great things there at the end of the spring and picked up right where he left off. So, we got a lot of good work there.”
With Amari (Cooper) and Marquise (Goodwin) being out for part of that time down there. What did you see out of some of the younger guys stepping up, and what were you thinking?
“Sure, I thought Elijah (Moore) had an outstanding camp. He’s a guy that can do a lot of things. Very skilled receiver inside and outside – can do stuff out of the backfield. That was impressive to see. For a rookie, I thought Cedric (Tillman) had a really good camp coming in and learning the system, putting all the pieces together. Had his mistakes, but really made some plays on the ball, which was good to see. Daylen Baldwin’s, Mr. Reliable, he’s out there. You can play him in multiple positions. So those young guys got a lot of good reps and did some good stuff.”
How do you go about kind of filling that void that Marquise was supposed to fill? That deep threat, the guy that stretches the field?
“Sure. We just have to find somebody else that can come in and do it. We have able bodies on the roster right now. (Anthony) Schwartz, he’s a guy that can take the top off. Jaelon Darden is a guy that can take the top off. Elijah when we need him to can take the top off, so we have bodies for that style of play. Hopefully, we can get Marquise back and everything’s going to be okay there.”
It looked like in the full-speed red zone drills the defense might have had the better practice.
Do you agree with that?
“Absolutely, and I told the guys this morning, it’s hard. It’s hard down there. You get inside that five-yard line, that eight-yard line, and it’s a pass drill, it’s skeleton. The situations – we had four-point plays the other day. We’re not going to hand the ball off from the eighth to Nick Chubb and let him run in. So, it is hard that the space is smaller. The open receivers aren’t as open. There are contested catches. There are high balls in the back of the end zone and it’s a good challenge for us. We are going to continue to get good at what we do exactly. And then when they play great coverage, it’s hard to win down there in tight spaces. But I told the guys this morning, again, we’re not game planning against our defense. We’re not trying to change plays to win the drill. We’re going to run our plays and get really good at those. And then remember, ‘Hey, we have running backs. We have things we’re going to down in there not just drop back and throw the ball every time.’”
You guys are still a work in progress, but what do you like about this offensive group right now? What are they doing well?
“Work is the first thing. I know we’re a work in progress, but those guys come out and they work every day. It’s really been impressive. We’ve had some really good two-spot walk-throughs in the afternoon periods where the young guys get to go over and call the same plays that the ones are on the other field. We’ve worked blitz, we’ve worked no-huddle, QB runs. We’ve done all kinds of stuff. I think just what we’ve got accomplished in that short time of eight days, I think we feel really good that it was very productive.”
Anthony Schwartz had a tough year last year. What is his attitude like?
“Good, he comes out and works. When he gets out there, he flies around and he definitely shows you the speed that you need. He’s just got to make the plays when they come to him and he will.”
With Elijah, obviously you guys are using him all over the place. What do you like best about him when he’s lined up in the backfield?
“His ability to one, carry the ball and then run routes out of that backfield, you know. If they want to leave a linebacker in the game and try to match up with that, obviously the advantage would go to him. But he does a lot of good things out of the know. We had Randall Cobb in Green Bay and he was in the backfield a lot as a ball carrier, as a bubble catcher – all the things you can do free release and motion them out and create empties. So, he has that versatility where you can hand him the ball as well.”
Do you think you need to hand it to him?
“I would think so.”
Number 80 played a full season in the spring, (Austin) Watkins. Does he look like a player to you?
“Really impressive. Came in late and really picked up the offense. Very few mental errors. Seems to have a good grasp of it, makes plays when they come to him, and he’s another guy that can run. So, I’ve been impressed with his ability to pick up the offense as quickly as he has.”
I’m sure it’s like this with most quarterbacks because of what it takes to be great, but I do see Deshaun doing so many different things after practice, working on just arm angles and hand things, footwork and all that kind of stuff. Is he way up there just in terms of grinding and working extra and overtime?
“I saw the same thing you saw. Those are drills that he stays out late. I think he was maybe one or two guys left on the field the other day. That’s really the guys that are great are the guys that are motivated to work until they’ve finished the day and his day didn’t finish when practice was over. So, you want your leaders to set that example and work extra hard, especially at that position.”
The opportunity seems to be knocking for Jerome Ford to be that number two (running) back behind Nick (Chubb). Just what have you seen from him and what dimension do you think he can bring in that role?
“Yeah, I see a young player that’s really matured over the offseason starting to come into his own as far as his understanding of the system, especially in the protection phase. He has the ability also to come out of the backfield to make plays in the pass game and he has some really great feet and vision in the run game. So excited to see him as we move forward. I feel very comfortable with him as our backup right now.”
How would look at what seems like a diminished value of running backs? When you look at Dalvin Cook, Kareem (Hunt) and Ezekiel (Elliot), how do you see that diminished value?
“That’s not really in my area. I know we have a good one and I’m happy that we do. That’s where that is. It seems to have devalued over the past ten years, but I guess I would say if you went into a season that didn’t have one (a running back), you’d be in bad shape. So, we’re fortunate that we have a great one here.”
I know Jordan Akins hasn’t practiced the last couple days, but what does he add to this offensive passing?
“His strength obviously is in the pass game, his ability to run vertically with speed and his ability to make plays on the ball. His hands are strong. Had a big catch over top of a defender the other day, things like that. He runs really good routes, strong hands.”
Alex, we’re probably going to see a lot of Kellen (Mond) and DTR (Dorian Thompson-Robinson) on Thursday. What have you seen out of both of them in terms of their maturation, their growth that you’re kind of excited to see out there on Thursday?
“Absolutely. Both those guys have had a really good camp. They’ve had limited reps at times, kind of switching days back and forth between who gets those set of reps. For DTR, just continue to grow. Kellen’s a little bit ahead as far as mentally in the system longer. But both those guys, they go out there, they’re exceptional with their footwork, their timing, and their ability to get through progression. So excited to see that live and then add the element of them using their legs as well. I think it’s going to be a fun night.”
I was going to ask you about Deshaun using his legs. What is your philosophy in terms of how much should he run? Do you have to strike a balance between keeping him safe and letting him use that talent that he has? How do you approach that?
“It’s a natural thing for him when he feels that he goes. I think that’s something that’s fine with us. Always encouraging him to continue through the progression, don’t skip a step. And then if you get to the last part of that progression and there’s nothing there, then take off. Continue to coach through the progression and then allow him to be special when he does escape.”
How good will it be for non-starters to get reps on Thursday?
“It is, it’s good. And it’s great that they’re getting the reps Thursday. The practices have been great. Again, I can’t say enough about James Hudson (III). He’s a guy now in year three that’s really figured it out and really matured, and is becoming a really good pro. And then (Tyrone) Wheatley on the other side has done a really nice job as well. So, I like our depth there. It’ll be important, these preseason games to see them play.”
Alex, to go back to Cedric, I know. I think when you guys drafted him, I think it was Andrew (Berry), described his demeanor as he’s going to work first and not really talk. Have you seen that through these early practices?
“A thousand percent. He just goes out and grinds and does a great job – all those receivers. We had a practice the other day, their effort down the field, blocking, it was inspiring to make sure we pointed it out to everybody to see those guys, they work hard. (Chad) O’Shea does a great job with those guys, getting them ready to play. And Ced’s a guy, you know, he’s not going to say anything. He’s going to go out and do his job.”
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