Offensive Line Coach Andy Dickerson (8.1.24)
It seems like you guys had a moment of silence or a prayer for D’Onta (Foreman). Just kind of what goes through your mind when something like that does occur on the field? When it happens to a teammate?
“Yeah, absolutely. Anytime there’s an injury or anything like that, we’re always hoping for the best. He’s in our thoughts and prayers. Our medical staff and training staff has everything set up to take care of when any of those type of things happen. So, again, it’s just – football’s a game where injuries occur, and so anytime that stuff happens, we’re always hoping for the best, and it was good that they were able to communicate to us and their preparation. Like I said, he’s in our thoughts and prayers.”
What did Kevin (Stefanski) say to you guys? Did Kevin say anything specifically to you guys when you took that knee?
“He just wanted to say, drop a knee, like, let’s get a quick prayer. So, you know, just leave it at that. But, you know, our training staff took care of everything.”
You have (James) Hudson take the first team reps at this period at left tackle. He’s not done that previously before you came, so he’s never played a game at left tackle. It’s always been right tackle. So what went into the thinking of putting him in until Jed (Wills) is in?
“Yeah, no, the great thing about the offseason program is James has come in and he’s worked, and he’s lined up a bunch of that spot, and so feel good about him continuing to take those reps and the way he attacks every day. Along with, you know, Hakeem (Adeniji) and Germain (Ifedi), all those guys are pros, and so, you know, it’s a next man up mentality, and it’s, you know, you never want anybody to be hurt, but the good thing is you can get reps and stack reps, get the communication with the different guys. So, we just try to have everybody available for all those situations, and then the more work you can get and the better, always.”
Dawand (Jones) was kind of in and out, it looked like he hurt his shoulder early on in practice. Do you have an update on him?
“Yeah, that happens. In the middle of a series something may happen. The next guy goes in, you know, the trainer say, ‘Hey, we’re looking at him,’ and you say, ‘Okay, cool.’ You have the next guy ready, and then, ‘Hey, he’s back in’, or boom he’s back in with the next group so he finished out the thing. So as far as I’m concerned, until they tell me different, you know, he finished up that practice, so I feel pretty good about that.”
I mean, he seemed frustrated. He seemed like he really wanted to get back out there, and of course he couldn’t get back out there. So, what does it say about him to fight to play?
“Yeah, you know, football’s a game where injuries happen and different things happen, and it’s like, you know, whatever those things are. And again, I let the experts be expert on that stuff. And, you know, Joe (Sheehan) and his staff do a great job. So, ‘Hey, we’re looking at this XYZ’, great, boom, next guy goes in, Germain Ifedi hopped in there, you know, have all the confidence in him, and then, you know, ‘Hey, he’s back up, ready to go.’ Okay, cool and we get back out there.”
Andy, what do the first few days of pads mean to the offensive line coach?
“Maybe I’m a little different, but sometimes I think walk-through reps are probably some of the better reps because you’re going against yourself a lot of times it’s offensive line against offensive line, understanding the techniques and the things that we’re trying to work. So, I make a big emphasis to the whole room that we get to control and dictate the different techniques and things, and the guys on defense know exactly what we’re trying to do when it’s the offensive line. Again, you love pads, you love, you know, it’s a physical game. So again, setting their pads. But I mean, you have a veteran group. You got Joel (Bitonio), Ethan (Pocic), Wyatt (Teller), Dawand, like all those guys – James has played every single year, started every single year he’s been in the league I’m pretty sure.”
Hasn’t started any games at right tackle, practice reps though.
“That was probably the practice I was watching. Okay.”
He’s played more right than he’s played left.
“Yeah. So, and then those guys are hitting pads, right? These are guys who played and banged and, you know, all those things. So, it’s one of those, you love to have the pads on just because it’s football it’s that physical game, you hear the pads popping, you get a real feel. So, I think anytime you can continue to work your craft in pads, it helps. But, you know, it’s not as big of a deal in my mind, it’s, hey, are they communicating? Are the mental aspects there? Do they make the right adjustments when those things happen? But again, you love seeing people in a good fit, in a zone combination or a gap combination.”
Dawand is a young player. It seems like he has a really high ceiling. So, kind of take us through your impressions of him from afar and how your first few months of trying to get him to reach that ceiling.
“Yeah, I love being around Dawand. He brings a great energy to the room, asks good questions, stuff that you may not think about, you know and try to get clarity. You watch his tape from last year, you see the talent that he has and just like with everybody from Dawand to (Luke) Wypler to even still Ethan and Wyatt, just like the consistency for everybody, just continue to work their craft. So, you know, excited about what he’s been able to do and I’m just continuing to build that relationship with him, learn him and just keep trying to get him to take, you know, every day, if everybody just gets a little bit better than we’ll all get a little bit better.”
(Jack) Conklin hasn’t come out of the building yet. What’s up with that? At least not on the field watching.
“Yeah, so with Jack or anybody who’s not on the field, like either they’re with the strength or with training, whatever their process is, you know, and again, I try to focus on my guys, being newer to this team, and just locking in on the guys that are available there. And again, when he’s in the classroom, he’s asking good questions, you see him talking to the younger guys. I don’t have any more updates on him. I know he’s attacking and trying to get back as fast as he can.”
We asked you when you first got here about taking over for Bill (Callahan). Just how have you seen the guys respond? Because obviously you’re teaching some things that maybe Bill didn’t teach. You’re doing it your way, not Bill’s ways. How have you seen that group adjust and respond to the new way of doing things?
“Yeah, the guys have been awesome. And again, I think I mentioned before I worked under Bill, there’s a lot of carryover, a lot of good things and I’m a big believer if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. So again, maybe some subtleties or little nuances, but I mean, anytime you’re in a room, you get to talk football with these guys, they’re so intelligent, they ask good questions and camaraderie. I mean, we’re in a great setting here in West Virginia at the Greenbrier, just been able to continue to team build and you miss your family a little bit, but then, because I’m new being around all these guys, not just the offensive line, but the running backs, the tight ends, the wide [receivers] – everybody, the defense. It was really a good team building opportunity. So, I mean, I’ve had a blast. The guys are fun, and they ask good questions. They make it challenging and make sure you’re always prepared so you can ask those questions, answer the questions that they ask, but just continue to help those guys. Maybe it’s a little technique or anything and having Roy (Istvan) and Nick (Charlton) in the room as well to help and just everybody, it’s a group effort with the whole thing.”
What’s the update on (Zak) Zinter?
“Zak’s been working hard. You know, we have the rookie meetings, we have the opportunity period. So those guys are, you know, just look at what they’re doing and just try it every day. Like, ‘Hey, here’s one little thing you might want to work on.’ And just ask good questions. Smart, tough kid, is hard working so happy to you know again, it’s just getting more reps and reps and again with the pads on, it does help. The pads do help give a little bit more information, so it’ll be interesting.”
He’s been rep exclusive at right guard so far.
“So far.”
With Deshaun’s (Watson) mobility and also his ability to freelance, escape pressure, make defenses, what type of challenges does that present to you from, I guess, a coaching technique standpoint, because it’s not your prototypical, keep the pocket clean and things like that?
“Run around quarterback, I gotta see it. Yeah you block the guy until they throw the ball. Like that’s the intent, right? We have our calls, we have the protection and again, there’s some, there’s some movement or pocket movement or whatever it is, then you have to stay connected and you have to strain. The ugly strain is what we like to talk about. It’s that finish, that effort that O-lineman are inherently built with. But again, those plays that may take a little more time have a potential to be explosive. So, when you have a dynamic quarterback and athlete such as Deshaun, you’re going to block in strains. So that’s another great thing about being in. Sometimes when the weather is a little hot or something, just continue to press yourself to work and strain. You know, you have coaching O-line, hey, you got a three technique. Okay, well, what’s he going to do after that? Well, you know, you got to set the guy, you got to block the guy, and you got to stay connected until the ball’s thrown. That’s our challenge. So every time we’re up for that.”
Bigger picture when you look at the offensive line as a whole, because you’ve gotten to know them, been in the meeting rooms and been here at a training camp, what excites you about this group? Just with the group of guys you have from veterans to the younger guys, etcetera.
“I mean, I’ve hit it before, but it’s just like, you have the Ethan, you have the Joel, you have the Wyatt, you have Dawand, so you have a spectrum. Just like you said, of old, young, vets, rookies, and then just the way working with those guys, and it’s a fun group. The offensive line, we probably have the most meeting time where we’re isolated just because of the different things that we have to do than what the skill guys do. So, when you’re in that group, like you’re in there for those meetings, you make it a football conversation. So, again, I’m watching film, you might say something, coach something up, and you got Joel Bitonio saying something. You look over, Wyatt Teller’s talking to Javion (Cohen). You got Dawand talking to somebody. So, the fact that you can coach and talk to everybody, and I love when those side conversations are going on because these guys are all football. We’re talking a little tip from Wyatt is great and Joel’s talking to Jack, those little tidbits and nuggets that you only get from playing and that experience so you can challenge them, ‘Hey, no detail’s too small for a rookie.’ And again, Joel Bitonio, one of the first things he says, ‘Hey, I want to be coached.’ So, you have those veteran guys who, even posted, always ask and trying to get feedback. So, love working with a group that always has you thinking about how can I get this guy a little better, make sure I cover this adjustment, whatever those things may be. So, it’s been a blast. We’re very, very happy.”
With Brian Allen out, is Wypler the backup center?
“Yeah, right now we have Wypler running with the twos, Michael Dunn’s played center, we got some of the young guys taking extra snaps. And just so, again, right now, I see it as like a rep chart. You have guys going through, and you just never know what it’s going to be.”
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