Pass Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach Chad O’Shea (11.15.24)
Can you address sort of the emergence of Ced (Cedric Tillman) over the last couple of weeks and how he’s done?
“I’m really impressed with Cedric and his performance on the field. And it’s not by accident. I mean, this is something that has been in the works for a while just because of his work ethic and how he’s improved the things off the field. In the meeting room he’s just been outstanding. He’s really followed in some of the leaders that we have on our team of just how to go about his business on a daily basis. And on the field, he’s had opportunity, and I think he’s made the most of his opportunity. But he’s prepared for the opportunity. And that’s what I’m proud of most with Cedric is that it’s the work ethic and the things that are not seen on game day that’s really allowed him to have the opportunity to be so successful on the field right now for us.”
The last two games, Jerry’s (Jeudy) a guy that’s also seemed like he’s gotten more targets. And I think even after the (Cincinnati) Bengals game, Kevin (Stefanski) pretty much said that Jerry shouldn’t get that few targets. Has that been a point of conversation emphasis in the offensive position room or the offensive coaching staff to get him more targets? And what have you seen lately from Jerry?
“Yeah, each week is so different in our game planning, and we look for specific things and how to win that game. So many things are different from the defensive scheme you play to how you are with your current roster, those things. But Jerry certainly brings a skill set that we value a lot in our offense. He can do a lot of things for us. He’s made the most of his opportunities here in the last couple weeks of some things we’ve asked him to do. And I just think so many times you look at so many different facets of the game plan and we are fortunate at the receiver position to have some players that can go out there and really make some plays for us in different roles. And I think Jerry’s made the most of those opportunities.”
Chad, when we talked to Ced after the (Los Angeles) Chargers game, he talked about just getting more attention from DBs, particularly on those slants and breakers since he runs so many of them. What’s key when you have a younger player who’s getting more opportunities now to sort of adjust to that extra attention from a defense?
“Yeah, it’s a good question, because I think that with catches and with more targets, you bring more attention to yourself. So that’s something that he’ll learn as we go along here. He’ll have to make some adjustments and certainly we look at that as a coaching staff in our game planning of how we can utilize him in his current role and develop more in his role and utilize other players across the formation because Cedric might be getting a certain amount of attention his way, that sure opens up opportunities for others that we have in our huddle.”
We know how much Amari (Cooper) meant to this team. You talked so much about his leadership qualities during training camp and all that. Who has maybe emerged since he got traded as kind of the leaders of this group who are more vocal and kind of leading the charge on certain things?
“Yeah, it’s a group right n. Our current group of receivers they’re a very coachable group, and I think that they all provide leadership in their own way. So, we’ve done this as a collective group. There’s not one in particular person that we all look to for leadership, and I think that’s good. I think it’s good that all of our players share and have some ownership in that leadership right now, and I think that’s important for the group. It’s almost like shared ownership is great for us right now, and they all take a tremendous amount of pride in that role. And I’ve always thought of leadership is, ‘Just go out there and do it and put it into action’. And I feel like our group right now has taken the coaching, they’ve worked extremely hard, they’ve worked to improve, that’s what we’re asking them to do. Whether it’s the first half of the season or the second half, is ‘How can we improve? How can we help the team win?’ And I really believe we have a group that has shared ownership and shared leadership that they’re providing for not only our group, but for the offense.”
What have you seen from Kadarius (Toney)? I know he’s still on the practice squad and if he gets called up or whatever, do you think he’s close to being ready?
“Yeah, Kadarius has worked hard within his role. Obviously, coming into a new system, you need to learn the playbook. Not only learn the playbook but learn how we run certain routes and how we do certain plays. It could be how we block in the run game. It could be a certain specific route that we teach maybe slightly different than other places he’s been. So, there’s always a work in progress and a transition with players to your organization, and that’s been the case with Kadarius. But he’s worked hard on a daily basis and I’ve seen improvement in him, so we’ll see what the future holds for him. But I can say he’s worked hard and tried to put himself in position to go out there and play.”
Chad, how much different, coverage wise, do the (New Orleans) Saints look? Last week, obviously, Joe (Woods) taking over with the defensive calls, plus (Marshon) Lattimore, I know he hadn’t played the week before, but Lattimore having been such an integral part of that secondary for so long? How different were they?
“Overall, there’s a lot of similarities and with Joe taking over to what they were, from a scheme standpoint. Of course, Joe was here with us and I have a tremendous amount of respect for him as a coach and a person. And it’s a team that what they’ve done best in the secondary is they’ve taken the ball away. And that’s something that I know would be a great challenge for us. But scheme wise I would say it’s tough to have a complete overhaul in a system, whether it’s offense, defense or special teams this point in the year. But it’s been a defense I’ve been very impressed with and most impressed with just their ability in the secondary to find ways to create turnovers and take the ball away.”
How about Jamari (Thrash)? How is he doing behind the scenes when we’re not out there? And do you think he’ll get some chances any time soon?
“Really impressed with Jamari Thrash and how he’s worked. I mean, he has had his notebook open from day one and he’s put pen to paper and he listens to everything that’s said. He has worked extremely hard in the meeting room and on the field. I’m looking forward to his future, just because I think that as Cedric has done, he’s worked hard and when opportunity meets the work ethic that they’ve put forth, I think good things will happen.”
It feels like the season has been kind of uneven for Elijah (Moore). How do you think he’s handled the ups and downs from an attitude perspective?
“Elijah Moore has been great. I think he’s been pretty consistent. Every day he’s the same person and Elijah Moore’s work ethic is exceptional. I mean, you guys have seen him on the practice field, work physically but what you don’t see is when we go in those meeting rooms of how hard he works to try to be a great player for us. And I can’t say enough about just his consistency in his personality and what he brings every day of just trying to say, ‘Hey, I want to try to make the team better. Whatever role you guys ask me to play, I’m going to do that, and I’m going to try to do it at my best’. And I’ve been very impressed with Elijah Moore.”