Running Backs Coach Duce Staley (10.25.24)

So how did Nick (Chubb) do in his first game back?

“Did good. I remember coming in here last week and talking to you guys about just excitement as far as in the building and Nick getting ready to play. And the most important thing is protecting Nick from Nick. It’s funny because on the sideline when he did come off, and I’m getting certain personnel ready to go in, every time I take two steps, he was right there. So, I moved to the right, he’s right there. I was like, ‘Okay’… First time I said, ‘I’m all right’. Next time I moved to the left, I turned to my right, he’s right there. I’m like, ‘Nick, how about you go, all right?’ [laughs]. So it was exciting, just the energy that he brought, of course, to the stadium, the energy that he brought to the team and being able to score a touchdown was awesome.”

 

I know you’re not preparing to face him; you don’t have to game plan for him, but as a running back yourself, what makes Derrick Henry so special? When you’ve seen him play, what separates him from all the other greats?

“Yeah, when you turn the film on, of course, you see a back that has great leg drive, hard to tackle, no matter if it’s short yardage, no matter what the situation is, you see a good back that runs behind his pads well. But a lot of people skip over the vision. He has great vision, man. I mean, here’s a guy, of course, you saw it when he was at Alabama, the way he was running those mid zones and gap schemes. He comes to the next level and he’s able to do some of the same things, but the vision is skipped over. I think he has next level vision.”

 

Going back to Nick, when you were watching that film, did you have like a ‘Oh, that’s Nick’ or a ‘Nick’s back’ moment that stood out?

“I had those in practice. Just seeing him run around the way he did last week, just preparing him for the week. And I think Kevin (Stefanski) did a great job as far as putting the plays together, making sure once again, we protect Nick from Nick. Having him as far as being a decoy, going out there and also getting the ball and not putting too much on him. I thought it was a tight game plan. But yeah, I saw Nick last week and I was excited for him.”

 

He was so good. I mean, one of the top, whatever, running backs in the league before the injury. Is it fair to expect him to be the same back again given that it’s two huge injuries on the same knee?

“Yeah, that’s fair.”

 

Do you think he can do that [be the same back again]?

“Yes, I do. And it’s because of how hard he worked, the dedication, the commitment. A guy like that that he shuts down the building and he opens the building. And he puts in a lot of work, a lot of effort, and he’s going to keep doing it until it’s right. So that’s fair.”

 

When we talked to him Wednesday, he said that he saw rust, being his first game back in 13 months, he mentioned tripping over himself. Do you think that’ll go away pretty quick and he’ll get back to having the reps that he’s always had week in and week out?

“Yeah. If you know Nick like I know him, he’s watched that play probably 10,000 times and he’s telling himself over and over again, ‘I got to pick my feet up, I got to pick my feet up.’ But that happens, and you’re excited to be out there. As soon as you see a crack or something that can potentially be a hole, you go faster than usual. So, Nick and I had a conversation about it, and he’ll be a lot better as we go.”

 

How about the fact that you guys are facing the number one run defense? Is that an accurate representation of their run defense, or does it have something to do with how the games have been going?

“No, that’s accurate. A huge challenge in front of us. It’s one you got to get up and be ready for and you got to turn cracks into holes as running backs. And that’s what we talk about in my room, being able to turn a crack into a hole and understand, just take what they give you. If there’s two or three yards right there in front of you, got to go get it. Don’t be looking for the big play. The big play will come.”

 

And what impact do you think Jameis (Winston) will have on the offense this week?

“Well, you saw it in practice also. Just his leadership skills, being able to get the guys together, getting the guys in and out of the huddle, just doing some of those things and also keeping them after, going over plays, making sure everybody’s on the same page. He’s a good leader.”

 

I know you spent a lot of time with Nyheim (Hines) over the last several months. How disappointing was it that he wasn’t able to come back this year?

“Of course it’s very disappointing when as a player you’re working hard, you’re working for the ultimate goal. The ultimate goal is to get back out there and play, of course. And it didn’t work out for him, but I see Nyheim every day. He comes through that door into the meeting room with a smile, and he’s ready to learn. Also, he’s helping everybody in the room. So, he’s still engaged, he’s not letting that bother him and he’s also working his butt off.”

 

You talked about (how) Nick can serve as a decoy for defenses, they’re going to give him a lot of attention. Just how valuable is it to have a guy like that where defenses will give him attention that can open up the game for other people on the offense?

“Yeah, to be a decoy, it speaks about your body of work over the years. And we know what Nick Chubb has been around here. We know what Nick Chubb has been to the league as far as the work he’s put in. But it has to be a mixture. Of course, you want him to be a decoy, but you want him to have the ball, too. So, Coach (Stefanski) and I kind of talk about that and like I said, coach does an awesome job, man, putting him in positions where he’s going to get the ball, but also be a decoy.”

 

Along those lines, did you notice how prominent his presence was in helping the play action game this week? Because it seemed like linebackers had to be a little bit more respective of Nick being back there and it seemed like some things kind of opened up for when Deshaun (Watson) was out there and then when Dorian (Thompson-Robinson) and Jameis took over.

“Yeah, that’s one of the things we talked about and it’s one of the things that we harp on as coaches. Being able to get Nick back, and to your point, with the play actions, the keepers, being able to show that same run action as if he’s having the ball to get those linebackers to step up, to get those safeties to be a little nosy so we can take a shot or even throw some deep overs. I mean, it’s the Nick Chubb effect. So, you get him out there once again, you want to give him the ball, but also you want to use the respect that he has around the league from other coaches and coordinators and players as a decoy also.”

 

He certainly came back willing to pick up the blitz and block, right?

“Oh, no doubt, no doubt. He didn’t have no problems with that.”

 

How tough was that one on the goal line? It looked like he was still kind of going through his fake, but he’s able to turn enough to get a piece of that guy.

“Yeah, that was awesome. And it goes to show you, a lot of times the question is, ‘Will he be hesitant?’, from a player that has a serious injury, or ‘Will he be able to let it go?’. It’s two plays in that game you can go back and look at and you can answer those questions. Of course, the touchdown, when he was able to spin back on the knee and hit it. And that play, of course, protecting the quarterback. Knowing he couldn’t go to the right of him, he had to go left and get back and cut the guy. So, he did that in the blink of an eye.”

 

I know you don’t coach against him in this matchup, but we’ve asked so many people this week just about Derrick Henry and obviously being a running back by trade, just what have you noticed about his game?

“Yeah, I mean, kind of spoke about the vision already, which I think is second to none. But also just, he’s one of those just, you give him the ball, he may get you three. You give him the ball, he may get you four, minus two, next thing you know it’s 60. As a big guy like that, you think, ‘Okay, when is he going to slow down?’ All right, you saw him in Tennessee (Titans) with a bunch of these long runs. ‘All right, man. All right. He’s now in Baltimore, he can’t go 60 anymore. He can’t go 50 anymore.’ Please, he has got it all on film. Seems like he gets better with time.”

 

Nowadays, the running backs they’re out of the league a lot faster. For him to be doing it at, whatever it is, 30, 31? I mean, that says something, doesn’t it?

“Yeah, without a doubt.”

 

We’ve seen Pierre (Strong Jr.) take advantage of some opportunities in the last few weeks, what have you seen from him and his growth since you’ve gotten here?

“It’s a good question. You know, talking about his growth, just coming through the building, being able to evaluate film. I saw a player that had juice, had energy, had speed, had quickness – something that we were looking for at the running back position. And he was able to go out there also and dominate on special teams. So, to see him go out there, dominate on special teams, be tired out there, still come in and have some second and third down reps was awesome. I got to get more out of him. I got to put him in position so he can make more plays. And I will. But, Pierre has been great.”