Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey (10.3.24)
Early in the offseason, Deshaun (Watson) was talking about getting more reps, time and how getting back in the groove, playing football would help him a lot. Before games, what have you seen from him that you can build on for the rest of the season?
“I think he just consistently has gotten a little bit more and more comfortable, a little bit more and more decisive and seeing things well, kind of as he’s gone here. Again, when you’re evaluating the decision making and what we’re doing out there, I think the decision making this past game was at a level where we can definitely win some games. And he made some impressive plays for us. So, I think that feel is there. I think you see that the work in the off season with some of the things he’s able to do physically. And we’re just going to keep progressing, keep grinding and make sure that we’re doing the right things in the quarterback room to make sure we’re elevating our game as each week goes here.”
The late game execution, down the stretch, those moments seem to be a struggle for you guys. What is maybe the key part of what is not happening on the field and how do you clean that up to make sure you guys can execute down the stretch?
“That’s a great question. And I think a lot of that is just locked in on situations. This league gets — the situations are so important, and they affect kind of whether it’s decision making, thought process, play calling, execution. So being locked into what the situation is and pushing through that fourth quarter. When you get in the fourth quarter and you’re gassed, that’s why you do the work during the week and in the off season to really lay down a base of fundamentals. A base of things that I can fall back on and depend on. So, we just got to make sure we’re laying that foundation each and every week so that when you get in those situations, when you’re gassed and you’re tired after a long drive in the fourth quarter, you could still operate things with your eyes closed. And that’s the stress and that’s what we’re continuing to grind for each and every week.”
In your view, what went wrong in the fourth-and-three at the end of the game and what should have gone better?
“Yeah, I think again, it’s just our overall execution on that play. It’s hard to get into specifics of scheme and things like that, but I think when you look at it just from a bird’s eye view, big picture wise, from my standpoint, kind of what we were just talking about it, it’s making sure that we’re able to execute those things at a high level no matter what the situation is in the game. And so, whether that’s route technique, decision, blocking, whatever it is, it’s making sure that I get these guys enough reps on in the week so that they feel supremely comfortable to go out and execute with their eyes closed on Sundays. And we’re continuing to strive for that. Obviously, we’re not where we want to be by any means, but we’re going to keep grinding. We’re going to keep working to make sure we’re ready to roll if that situation comes this week.”
Ken, you guys are almost perfect on opening drives, 24 out of a possible 28 points. After that you got 30 points in 42 possessions, so what’s happening?
“Yeah, I think when you look at it, it’s you want to start fast but you also want to sustain and you want to continue attacking and not relax and not have any other thought process of — What we really want to harp with us as coaches, with our players, with our organization, when we’re out there on game day, it’s focus on this play, every play’ and focus on winning that play. And I think if you take that mindset of ‘focus on this play, every play’ and win that play and do my job, good things are going to happen. And I think that’s the continued focus that we got to have so that we could sustain that for a full four quarters, because I think it’s clear that we are capable of that. We just got to get to that level of execution on a consistent basis.”
Ken, this is a veteran team, it’s not a young team and you’ve got a bunch of veterans. You just mentioned about getting that execution on a consistent basis. Setting the injury thing aside, what’s been the problem from that standpoint? You guys spent all off-season getting things all together, training camp and whatnot and then we get to the regular season and just the production has been an uphill climb outside of that opening drive.
“It’s a great question. I think I always go back to; offensive football takes all eleven guys, it really does. And that’s where execution comes from; eleven guys doing their job. And look, we’re not always going to have the perfect play call and we’re not always going to have — It’s not always going to be perfect, and that’s where having a quarterback like Deshaun and having playmakers like we do, a lot of times they can get you out of those things by, just finding the checkdown or escaping or making somebody miss in space, right? But I think when you talk about offensive ball, and to your point, what you’re saying is, it takes all eleven and it takes us as coaches from a preparation standpoint in the week, being detailed but not to the point of where they’re robots. And they could go out and be themselves and because there’s a feel to the game as well where you got to improvise on some things, so you never want to take that away from them. And I think we’ve talked about this with quarterback in the past, but at the same time you want to make sure we’re being detailed in the week, here’s what we want, here’s how we’re going to do it and the execution piece of it. And then on game day, all eleven guys locked in, doing their job, no more, no less at the end of the day.”
What did you see out of Nick Chubb yesterday in his first practice back?
“Yeah, I mean, it was fun to see him back there. It’s definitely a different feel when he starts kind of mixing in and kind of getting in there. So obviously we’re excited that he’s back, kind of getting in the mix and everything. And obviously we’re going to take that day by day and make sure we’re doing everything we can to put him in a good position to make sure he’s ready to go when that time comes.”
How does he look moving around?
“You know, I think it’s one of those things where just from an evaluation standpoint, it’s kind of hard day one, kind of as we go, we’ll see more and more, I think. So, I don’t want to put a finger on it, but it was just, it was fun to see him out there, that’s for sure.”
How much will it help you guys to have David Njoku back if he can make it to the game on Sunday?
“Yeah, I mean Dave is a big piece. He’s a great football player who does a lot for us in a lot of different areas; whether it’s pass game, protection, run game. Gives us a lot of flexibility. I do think those guys have really stepped up and the guys we’ve added. I think AB (Andrew Berry) has done a great job in bringing those guys in. Guys who are smart, tough and dependable that we can rely on during this stretch. But obviously mixing Dave back in with those guys, it can help us and because he’s a playmaker for us in a lot of different areas.”
Ken, as a play caller, and you were that in Buffalo, shouldn’t first down be the easiest down to make a call? I mean you’re not behind the chain unless somebody false starts. So, what is the problem with first downs?
“Yeah, again, I think it just goes back to what we were talking about before. It just, offensive ball is about eleven guys and our execution and everybody being on the same page doing their job; no more, no less. Kevin (Stefanski) has done a great job throughout the years as a play caller. I mean, shoot, as a head coach/play caller. He’s been a two-time Coach of the Year and so I think he does a great job, and I think it’s just getting in that rhythm as an offense and getting that confidence as an offense and sustaining that throughout the game.”
Do you guys’ stats show you’re making more errors on first time downs?
“That’s a good question. I wouldn’t say it’s something where it’s just a dramatic difference, here or there. I think there’s a lot that goes into when a play works and when a play doesn’t work. So, to pinpoint one specific thing I think is hard when you look at the entirety. So, I just, again, I know I sound like a broken record, but it really does. It takes all eleven guys. And usually when a play doesn’t work and you’re having those struggles, it’s one thing here, one thing there. So, it’s just that focus and making sure that us as coaches, we’re being detailed and we’re putting our guys in position.”
When you’re having protection issues on the outside, why not use more tight ends to kind of help out there? Is that just kind of take away from your scheme and the offense design?
“No, that’s a good question. I think there’s a balance there because obviously, when you do that, you limit the number of receivers out on the route. So, I think Kevin did a great job this past week in terms of mixing those protections up. We use some tight ends, we use some – get everybody out, five-man, six-man, seven-man. So just that mix there was, I think, really good for us and helped us there up front. And I think that’s the world you want to make sure you’re living in; you don’t want to live in one world. You want to make sure you’re trying to keep a defense off balance as much as possible by mixing it up, mixing in the chips. Whether it’s chipping both sides, chipping one side, keeping the tight ends in protection, getting them out, five-man pros and relying on Deshaun to make the decision to get the ball out. So, I think there’s a definite balance there that you have to strike because if you’re living in one world, you allow defense to get a beat on you.”
While we’re talking O-line, what do you think of, I know they were tough spots, but Nick (Harris) and Zak (Zinter) being forced in there and then it’s another tough matchup this week if they have to play again.
“Yeah, obviously, it’s nice having Nick around in the building because of his experience and what he’s able to do and he did a nice job stepping in there for us. And you really don’t miss a beat with his smart. Again, I go back to just what we really look for on offense is smart, tough, and dependable, and I really think both those guys are that. So, Nick did a really good job coming in, Zak, as a rookie, it’s been really encouraging, just the progression and just getting better and better, and I think he’s getting more and more confident. I mean, he played against a really good player last week, and obviously there’s things we can improve on and get better on, but I think he fought and used his technique and really battled and played with great effort and strain. And I think that’s the thing you always preach to those guys up front, it’s about effort and strain. You know, at times it’s just a little push at the end to push a guy by so the quarterback can step up. And I think he really embodies that for us, and I think that it’s exciting to kind of see his development and hopefully it continues to grow. And another great challenge this week. I mean, they got two really good defensive tackles and a great rotation, and they are a high effort group. So, we’ll need every bit of that technique, effort and strain this week.”
When you guys are getting blitzed the way you guys have, how much of that responsibility to call and identify that stuff is on the offensive line versus the quarterback IDing it?
“Yeah, I mean, it’s definitely one of those things where you make your calls, and you have your adjustments and things like that. And again, it takes all, especially when you’re talking quarterback and O-line play. It’s being on the same page and there’s no ‘I thought, you thoughts’. It’s communication, it’s being on the same page and then it’s understanding when I do have things picked up and when I don’t have things picked up and making sure I know where my quick throws are and my answers are if I need to get the ball out. So, it’s definitely a dance. You got a dance between the quarterback and the offensive line to make sure… the big thing to me is that protection inside out so that we could step up. And then making sure that everybody’s on the same page in terms of where we’re going and how we’re IDing things.”
How do you guys sort of start game planning for him (Chubb) to be part of your offense? And do you envision when he comes back that even when he’s playing in games, he’s not going to have a full workload?
“Yeah, and to be honest, in terms of the workload and things like that, we’re not there yet. And that’s something we’ll definitely discuss with trainers and everything. There’s a lot of that and obviously a head coach’s decision. And I think he’s got a great feel for Nick and where he’s been in the past. I think that’s something that we’ll definitely get to when that time comes. And right now, our focus is more on Washington and then the problems they pose. But obviously, I think everybody’s got a good plan for Nick moving forward, and it was exciting to see him out there.”
Where do you think Amari (Cooper) is this week, sort of from a headspace standpoint and work standpoint? And how is he looking in the demeanor and everything after being involved in just so many key plays in this game?
“Yeah, I mean, I think Coop is consistent. You know what I mean? Like his approach, his attitude, his mentality, his desire to help our team win, and he brings that to work into the game, every game. He might not be the ‘rah rah’ guy or whatever, but his mentality and his approach is consistent. I love watching him come out to work because he works hard for us in practice. And I think you see that in the game as well. And I know there’s been certain times where it hasn’t gone his way but he’s a pro and he’s the type of player that makes special plays for us. So we’re going to continue to grind, and I think he will, too. And I think that he’s done a really good job so far this week to put himself in position. And when you look at last game, it’s a couple things away from having a huge game. So we’re excited with the direction that he’s taken and the plays that he’s making for us when he gets those opportunities. It’s all about, to me, the quarterback going through his read, making the right decision and giving our guys a chance to make a play. And typically, when we do that, it spreads the ball around.”
Ken, what does it feel like when you’re talking about the importance of endurance to close out a game, when you have one of your star wide receivers, like Jerry Jeudy, come and say, “Hey, I might not be in the best shape in terms of endurance’. How do you as a coaching staff kind of attack that?
“Yeah, I think you build that through just playing and the practice phase of things and going through and making sure how you practice is how you play in the game. And I think J.J. (Jeudy) has done a good job of that and he’s building that endurance and he’s getting to that point. I think it’s gotten better and better as he’s gone because obviously, he did miss sometime early on there. So, I think he’s done a really good job in terms of continuing to work to build that. And you see those guys, they’re doing extra after practice, doing extra between periods, during special teams they’re getting extra routes. They’re doing their part to push themselves and put themselves in uncomfortable situations in practice so that they can be ready for the games. And I think J.J., Amari, Ced (Cedric Tillman), Elijah (Moore), all these guys, Dave is going to have to kind of do the same thing right now because he’s missed some time, all these guys are working to push themselves and making themselves uncomfortable in practice so they can be comfortable in games.”