Quarterbacks Coach Bill Musgrave (10.24.25)
Bill (Musgrave), when you look at Dillon’s (Gabriel) progress over these three starts, where have you seen the biggest improvements, the biggest strides forward in his play?
“Well, his comfort level is increasing by the week, less unknowns. I think he’s doing a better job of communicating and making sure his teammates are all in sync, both in the huddle and at the line of scrimmage. So, I think just a natural progression that’s taking place.”
We don’t get to see Shedeur (Sanders), but we’ve been hearing good things about what he’s doing behind the scenes in practice. What are you seeing in him as he comes up that learning curve?
“Yeah, he’s working hard and really learning by the day, by the week. He’s doing a nice job of getting the most out of each and every day and feeling more comfortable with the system.”
When a rookie quarterback like Shedeur isn’t playing in the games and isn’t getting the first team reps, what are the keys to him developing during the course of the week for a longer season?
“Well, I think as quarterbacks, we don’t count the plays – we make the plays count. Whatever plays we get, we are thankful for them, and we just make them count, whether they’re against the first-string defense or Baldwin Wallace JV. Every scrap we get as QBs, we’re going to get the most out of, and that’s the way Bailey (Zappe) is, that’s the way Shedeur does, that’s the way Dillon was back when we had Joe (Flacco) playing here. So, I really like all three of those guys, the way they go about their business in practice. Bailey has played, he started in this league for the opponent that we’re facing this week. But the other two guys, Dillon and Shedeur, are green as grass. I mean, they are, they’re young, this is their first year, they’re learning on the fly, but they’re both really embracing it and whatever plays we get, whenever they take place, we get the most out of it.”
Bill, the state of the downfield passing game has been like a weekly topic, and right now Dillon is bottom of the league in yards per attempt, yards per drop back, air yards per attempt . With the understanding that everything doesn’t fall just on the quarterback. What is Dillon’s role in that, and how can he be better to unlock that passing game?
“I think the more familiarity he gets with NFL defenses and seeing them live and in person, the better he’ll be – not only the down the field ones, but the intermediate and the short ones too. So, the time on task is crucial. This is a lot for any young QB. We’re seeing that in Tennessee (Titans), You see that with the guy at the (New York) Giants, all these young guys, they’re learning on the job. And so, I think Dillon’s part of that group, and I think us as an offense, we’ll get better at the entire passing game the more turns we get.”
And what role should maybe David (Njoku) and Jerry (Jeudy) as some of the veteran weapons out there, what do they need to play in trying to be supportive of Dillon and make sure that they make everything easier?
“Yeah, I like you mentioning the veteran guys, because we’re young. We’re young at the skill position, we got a lot of young guys out there. Even Jamari Thrash, just his second year, but he hasn’t played a lot. So, we’re young, which is exciting. The guys are so eager to figure this all out and get good at this pro football thing. The young guys across the board, tight end, wide receiver, running backs, QBs, we’re young. So they’re getting better, and we’re looking forward to making big strides, starting with this week up there in Foxborough.”
Bill, Kevin (Stefanski), this week, talked about with young quarterbacks, the idea of not being conservative, just to be consistent and teaching them to be smart while they’re aggressive. What does that look like for a young quarterback?
“Well, for all quarterbacks, there’s a balance there. We don’t want to be like, a batter goes up the plate and just doesn’t want to strike out – then you never pull anything, you just hit little nubbers to the first baseman. So, we want to be able to take our cuts, take our chances, try to fit it in tight windows, throw with anticipation, take a chance. But there’s just a balance there of also being smart, and know when where’s a safe place to ditch it when I need to. But also, nothing ventured, nothing gained. So, I think all quarterbacks learn that as they progress and proceed.”
Can you articulate that, or have you articulated that to Dillon, that you guys trust him and trust what you’re seeing and just let it rip a little bit?
“Well yeah, yeah I think you can tell players anything until you’re blue in the face. But they’ve got to experience it, and they’ve got to figure it out on their own time frame, and I think Dillon has a good feel for that. He’s played a lot of football, like we’ve talked about, and our offense, as we can sense, is evolving with the young guys, and we’ve had some turnstile issues there at offensive line. We got a bunch of different combinations playing, and when we get some continuity, we’ll hit our stride.”
Bill, what have you seen in Dillon’s ability to protect the football? He hasn’t turned it over yet. just what have you just seen in that way that he is able to, even if he is under pressure, takes a sack, he is still able to protect the football?
“Yes, that’s a good thing. That’s a good thing, because we know the turnover margin is a crucial component to these games, and so Dillon has done a nice job of making smart decisions late in the down. It’s no fun to eat that sandwich at times, but he’s done a nice job of making sure we retain possession of the ball. We can overcome anything as long as we retain possession of the ball. So, he hasn’t put it in harm’s way too often – occasionally he has. We’ve lucked out on a penalty last week against Miami (Dolphins) when the ball ended up in the wrong hands. So, it’s not like he’s perfect by any means.”
How do you balance that, taking care of the football, but also one needing to, occasionally make changes, especially when you’re trying to open up some of the downfield throws?
“Yeah, I think you just learn that through trial and error. You’re going to learn that through time and taking your lumps at times but also trying to replicate your triumphs.”
How big of a surprise was it when Joe was traded, and then did it take a while for that room to adjust, losing a guy that’s been in the league for 18 years?
“Gosh, it feels like a long time ago. What was it a month ago? Trying to think back to that day, on that Tuesday, I don’t know if I can really recollect the emotions of that day or anything. I know we’re all rooting for Joe because he’s a terrific fella. But the guys, it’s a resilient group. Shedeur and Dillon and Bailey, they’re resilient. And Deshaun (Watson) in there each and every day, and they bounce things off of Deshaun, about all kinds of things – football and offense, defense, quarterbacking related. You can sense I enjoy being in that room with those guys and being associated with them.”
Tommy (Rees) was telling us how instrumental Deshaun has been in helping Dillon, maybe with the installation of the game plan and different things like that. What have you seen there and how has that been working out?
“Yeah, I like when those two birds converse, I like when they’re talking over there. And I try to take myself out of the equation – I don’t need to be there hovering all over them. They spoke a lot during the game, in fact, the other day against Miami on the sideline with Deshaun being there. Deshaun went on the trip with us down to Charlotte to get his achilles looked at, but otherwise he hasn’t been on the road. We miss him on the road, it’s great to have his presence on the sideline for our young group.”
Will he be on the road this weekend with you guys?
“I’d have to check.”
How have you seen him embrace it? Because obviously this can’t be easy for him, but have you seen him embrace his role right now?
“I agree. It can’t be easy. Well, he’s working hard, he’s out there working behind the scenes. I see him in the weight room all the time doing box jumps and doing all the exercises, things that they put them through before his Achilles, and then he’s out throwing some passes. I know at times when we’re meeting or when we’re doing other stuff during the afternoon, he seems like he’s working like crazy.”
Is it intriguing to wonder what he could possibly have left after all he’s been through?
“Yeah, he’s definitely been through a lot. I know he wants to play a lot of football again. He feels like he’s got a lot of tread left on his tires.”
Bill, the last time we talked to Shedeur, he said that not everybody loves how playful he is all the time, and I know you smile when you talk about him and being in that room. But is that something you guys talk about, is that there’s times when he needs to be more serious?
“Well, I think he’ll realize that on his own. We’re all learning each and every day – we’re lifelong learners, and so he, I’m sure, will quarter turn adjust when he needs to. But you have to be yourself – the only thing worse than someone who’s maybe not a natural leader is somebody who fakes it or tries to be somebody they’re not. So, we encourage the players, the quarterbacks, I mean, be themselves, when you do lead, lead in your own natural way. And that’s the authentic way to do it, and that’s always the best.”
To what do you attribute so many drops by the pass catchers this season?
“Well, there’s a lot going on there. Once again, we’re young, and we don’t have a lot of time on task, but I know the guys are trying. We’ve played in some wacky weather, especially last weekend and things like that. The weather is tougher on the receivers than it is the QBs. The QBs try to account for the wind, like you’re up on the tee box and cut it loose. But that ball’s moving all the way to impact, so that’s tougher on the receivers. We know that.”
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