SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR CHRIS HORTON
Opening Statement: "Looking back at that Cleveland game, I thought there were two plays that I felt like were kind of uncharacteristic of our play and what we expect from our guys, but other than that, I thought our guys came out; they played physical. After we got past those two plays, I was very pleased with what I saw on the tape. What questions do you have?"
What is the teaching point to WR LaJohntay Wester after the mishandled punt? (Childs Walker) "It's just very simple coaching points. The one thing for us, the one thing I tell LaJohntay [Wester] every time he goes out on that field [is to] just keep being great. Ever since he walked in this building, he's done a lot of good things fielding in the ball, getting yards for us and just really being a difference maker in the return game. But as far as that play, that's a learning experience for him. In a situation where the ball's up there, he gets to a spot, and then the ball cuts down on him. If you have to run up to that ball, we always talk about making a decision and making it quickly. That one, the way that ball was coming down, just let it go. We can live with that. We always talk about, at the end of the down, the ball needs to go back to the offense. It's a very simple, easy fix for us. Again, he's done a lot of great things for us, and now we're going to make sure that he can continues to do that."
You say there were two plays that were uncharacteristic, so I take it you were OK with WR LaJohntay Wester fielding that punt backing up at the 2-yard line? Why? (Bo Smolka) "It's a great decision. The ball is under a four-second hang time. The guy punted the ball 65 yards. [LaJohntay Wester] is a play playmaker, and then him getting the ball in his hands, we talk about those decisions. If he felt those gunners down on him, he'll let that ball go. He'll let that ball go. I firmly, truly believe he'll let that ball go, so we're not going to take away the punt returner's ability to make plays when their decision-making has been very good so far, except for maybe trying to field that ball that was coming down. Again, it's a learning experience."
With the punt that WR LaJohntay Wester muffed, was it just the wind or was there something with the way the ball was kicked that made it difficult to catch? (Jonas Shaffer) "It wasn't exotic at all. It's just a normal turnover ball. The ball got caught up in the wind, and it started out to our right, and then boom, it hit the wind and just came down. That's just one that [LaJohntay Wester] has to learn from. [The punter was] a lefty, and so just understanding when that ball's going to cut, just let it go, let it hit the ground, and we'll be fine."
I know for a kicker, the next kick is always the biggest kick, but the 44-yarder to tie the game, that's a pretty big one, especially for a rookie kicker. Knowing as the season gets later, you get into the playoffs, potentially all the high leverage spots, how nice is it for K Tyler Loop to handle that and now have his experience moving forward knowing that he's made a kick like that? (Luke Jones) "Everything that [Tyler Loop] has done up until this point has been phenomenal, and just to be in that moment, in that stadium – which is a hard place to kick in – and make that type of field goal for our team to put us in position, it was huge for him. Those are things that, as we continue to go throughout this season, we're going to lean on him. We're going to need him to do things like that to give us an advantage. So, we were all thrilled for him, and I think that's why he's here, because we know what he's capable of."
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR TODD MONKEN
As far as the red zone over just the past two weeks, have you seen some – I know every play and every drive's separate – have you seen any kind of threads or themes that are similar to why you guys aren't as productive as you usually are? (Jamison Hensley) "It's – and always is with everything that we do – a combination of things in every facet, aspect of what we do. You have to scheme it better, you have to coach it better, and you have to execute it better. And that's really whether you're doing it really well, or you're doing it poorly. You have to look at it and say, 'OK, how can we be better?' And that's just the way it is."
Have you dedicated any more time in practice to red zone execution? (Kyle Goon) "Well, we dedicate [time] every day, every time. We had the same amount of time last year when we were first in the league. [It's the] same amount of time we had last year [that] we dedicate this year to it. We start off the week on Wednesdays, and we do a form of red zone, and then today, we did red zone. Then tomorrow, we'll really hammer in red zone. Like I said, there's a number of things we can do better. Like everything that we do on offense, it starts with me – 'How do we scheme it better, call it better, execute better?' It's all of that. There's not one thing in particular, just like there wasn't one thing last year that was in particular why we were so successful. It was the combination of everything collectively."
As far as QB Lamar Jackson, he's been dealing with a hamstring injury that limited him there. When he came back, has had some knee soreness and an ankle. Has any of his injuries, has that impacted your gameplan or what you guys have done at all? (Jamison Hensley) "No."
With the big fourth-down call last week, utilizing RB Derrick Henry, TE Mark Andrews and FB Patrick Ricard and having those three available; is that something going forward where you can mix and match and use Lamar also as a decoy. With having 'Pat' back, how much of a bigger asset is that? (Jerry Coleman) "Well, I think having 'Pat' [Patrick] Ricard back has been a tremendous boost for us. The things he allows us to do in the run game, [pass] protection, his physicality that he brings is a big part of that. And then anything that we do, it doesn't matter whether it's third down, fourth down, any down and distance, we're always trying to mirror up what we do as best we can. [With] what we've done and what we've presented to the defense, how can we do something off of that? And that [play] just happened to be one of them."
You said the red zone issues are a byproduct of multiple things. Specifically, I guess, with the inability to run the ball down in the red zone, why do you feel like you haven't been able to consistently do that part? (Cordell Woodland) "Well, sure that's a part of it, but that's not the only part of it. We have to run it better, and it's not just the red zone. [It's in] short yardage, in the black zone, on third downs. We always have to be able to run the ball well, and then when we don't, we have to be able to execute in the passing game, which we have in the past. We're certainly more than capable of doing it. But all of us – and I think our guys would agree to that – have owned that. Some of the last couple of weeks have been unfortunate. We got the ricochet off Roger [Rosengarten]'s helmet. A week ago, we had a hell of a two-minute drive and kicked a field goal, but that gives you 0-1 in the red zone. But that was really a hell of a drive, and I'm not making excuses. We have to be a lot better in the red zone, but what matters most – just like any week – is that we're elite this week in the red zone. We're unbelievable in terms of offensive penalties. We haven't had procedural [penalties], and we're not holding. But you know what matters? Is that we don't have penalties this week, that we're great on third down, that we're able to run it this week, that we're able to throw it this week. Just like anything, right? If you go 0-for-4 in baseball the day before, you know what matters now? Fricking today – that's what matters right now, and really that's the way we're going to look at it – you can't carry over stats. We sure as hell can fix it and be really good this week."
Did you have a sense that the fourth-down play to TE Mark Andrews could not just get you a first down but could be an explosive play? (Childs Walker) "At that point you're just trying to get the first down. Let's be really honest here. You know that you have to get the first down, and that started with [head] Coach [John Harbaugh] and a recommendation from Coach Harbaugh. How we do it offensively? It's a collaboration. Everybody has a part of the gameplan. I love it when coaches are part of that, and our coaches are a part of it, because then we all own it. There's good and bad in that. Sometimes it works out great. When we were talking about the red zone, and do we work a little more on it? Well, when you see those plays, that's a byproduct of how we worked it [out] during the week. And that's true. When you are struggling, you need to commit more time to something, and we did. That was just a byproduct of Coach's thought, us bringing it to life, collectively, and then working our rear ends off during the week that if the look came up that we thought we'd get [in the game], that the guys would really execute. I know I gave you more than if thought it would be a touchdown, but obviously, it has to be up there as one of the most exciting moments in how many years of [me] coaching of how important that was at that moment and what we had done up until that point to just not take a hold of that game. We went in that game saying, 'Give them nothing. Give them zero.' And we didn't do that. We gave them life. And for that ['Hurricane' play] to happen was an elite moment."
You had said last week that these plays have to be 'oiled up.' That was the word you used, oiled up to be ready to use them in the game. Do you know, say Friday, do you make that determination Friday or Saturday? We're good with that play if it comes up, or would you scrap it if it hasn't looked good in the week? (Bo Smolka) "I think there's levels of oil, like with any play that we have. I don't think you're ever 100 percent sure. I think you feel very confident that if we get 'X' look, that it gives us the best opportunity to have success, I guess, is the best way to put it. You're never 100 percent, no matter what in life – you're not. I think the more that you work something, and there's nothing more exciting than when you do work something, and you get that look. Because there is no guarantee that you get the exact look, I guess, is the best way to put it. But to get the right look, to have the guys work as hard as they did all week to be in that position, because it does take some choreography. Mark [Andrews] is under center. The spacing of the blocking and everything else, and I know we're continuing to go on about the play, but it's just, like I said, that's every play that we have is that way. There's choreography with it and trying to make sure we execute it at a high level."
I know you're tracking to have RB Justice Hill back soon, but with RB Keaton Mitchell, and the touches he had in the Browns game and the production he got out of it, is that sort of the target of how much you want him involved in the offense? (Kyle Goon) "Well, we'd like for Keaton [Mitchell] to be involved. As I said at the beginning of the year, you guys were around me is we have a good problem. We have a lot of good skill players. Derrick [Henry] is deserving of touches, Keaton [Mitchell] is [deserving of touches], Justice, our wide receivers, our tight ends, and we need to continue to keep Keaton involved. He's shown that – how to be a valuable asset and be explosive for us as a great change up to Derrick."
Just going back to what you were saying about red zone and short-yardage, in particular, among the many things, with respect to the offensive line, is it as simple as sometimes it just needs to be more push up there? Or how do you view that? (Brian Wacker) "I wouldn't say it is as simple as that. As I said before, there's so many aspects or things that go into having success. Like I said, it always starts with me and who we have and how we scheme it and then how we execute it during practice that carries over to the games. That's the way it is. We can coach better; we can play it better. That's the way it works. We win as a team; we lose as a team. We have success as a team. I can't wait to get there Sunday, because it's part of what we do – whatever it is we're doing well at, we continue down that track and keep fighting to be elite at that. And the things we're not, we fight to fix it. And that's what you do, and we'll continue down that road."
Do you think the success you've had with those variations the last two weeks on the short-yardage plays, does that also have the potential of maybe making it a little easier the next time you line TE Mark Andrews up there and just have him go straightforward? Does it have that? (Childs Walker) "I don't know. I would think so, but I don't control what they do defensively. All we can do is plan for what we see on film and what we think gives us the best chance to execute it at a high level. Again, that's all the aspects of our gameplan."
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR ZACH ORR
The New York Jets named QB Tyrod Taylor as the starting quarterback. How big of a difference is it to go against Tyrod rather than if they had stuck with QB Justin Fields? (Jamison Hensley) "I don't think it's a major difference. [The Jets] had one game versus Tampa [Bay Buccaneers] where Tyrod [Taylor] really played the most snaps and pretty much ran a lot of the same offense. Some of the QB-designed runs went away, but Tyrod can still do that. It seemed like their philosophy stayed the same, so we know Tyrod. We're really familiar with him. He's a pro – what's this, his 15th year – so we know he's going to be prepared. He's a hard worker. You're not in this league this long if you can't play. Obviously, he can still play – you can see that on film – so we have to be ready for him."
What do you remember from when Jets QB Tyrod Taylor was a teammate of yours? What do you remember from him, and how has he changed as a player looking at him now? (Luke Jones) "The one thing that stood out to me when I saw Tyrod [Taylor], even though he was the backup quarterback, he was in here early, and he was in here late. Just from afar, that stood out to me as a young guy coming into the league, the dedication and the hard work that you have to put in to stay in this league and to progress in this league. Then he left, [moved] on, went on to be a Pro Bowl quarterback, a starting quarterback for years, and he's still going. [He's] very talented, athletic, can make all the throws, and he's a really diligent guy. He's really smart, so he's going to be prepared. That's one thing that I know he took seriously was his preparation, and you can see that carry out throughout his career."
We only get to see the individual drills in practice. We saw S Kyle Hamilton working with the linebackers today. How hard is it for you, or what's the challenge for you, to decide how to ration his workload? (Bo Smolka) "The good thing about it [is Kyle Hamilton] makes it easy, because he can handle it. It's just phenomenal – the football IQ and the information that he can retain and then go apply it in real time – and you have to give credit to him. He's always prepared, he's always thinking forward, he's always studying, and you have to give credit to [sr. defensive assistant/secondary coach Chuck] Pagano and [defensive backs coach] Donald [D'Alesio]. Those guys prepare him great in the meeting room, so it's not really challenging for me. I'm just like, 'Hey Kyle, can you handle this?' And he says, 'Yes, I'm good.' That's all I need to hear, and he goes out there and executes it. So, hats off to him. It's remarkable what he's able to do for us."
Is it tempting or difficult to not overuse S Kyle Hamilton, from a standpoint of he can do so much, and almost it's like having a new toy in a sense and seeing what he can and can't do? (Brian Wacker) "Yes, definitely. The biggest thing is [Kyle Hamilton] still is human, and you want to let him go out there and go play fast. So, we're definitely mindful of that, and there are a lot more things that we would like to do, but you have to build up to that. Like I said, he's done a great job, and we just continually slowly add more to his plate. He already has a lot on his plate, and I just think that the way the system is built, the way that the coaches coach ,and the way that the players prepare, it allows him to go out there and play multiple positions, because we teach it in concepts, so as long as he understands the concepts, he'll be able to do a lot of different things for us."
Obviously, CB Chidobe Awuzie has really stood out with the pass breakup at the end of the Browns game. Season long, what has he done in coverage that has made him reliable out there? (Kyle Goon) "[Chidobe Awuzie] is a technician. He's really smart. 'Chido,' we're glad we have him. He's a real student of the game, so he's in the room talking about route concepts, splits [and] releases. He's constantly talking to the DBs and the defense about what we can anticipate and what coverage we're in. Then, the ability for him to play the ball down the field – that's what stood out to us, specifically, watching him when he was a free agent; he never panics when the ball's in the air, and that play right there, I'm telling you ... [Among] some of the best of the best in the world, 99 percent of those guys are going to get a PI [defensive pass interference] called on him. The play 'Chido' made, that's one of the best plays I've personally seen as a pass breakup. He's really good for our room, and he's been steady for us the whole year. Now, for some reason, the last couple of weeks, teams have been challenging him, and I'm glad that now the world can start to see his true talent, his true ability, because now, he's getting an opportunity to make plays on the football, and he's been able to do that for us."
I know injuries make this a moving target, but is there a simple, easy explanation for why you think these past five games have gone the way that you guys wanted compared to the first five games? (Jonas Shaffer) "Obviously, we got healthy. We had to make some adjustments. We lost some guys for the year and had to make some adjustments, but I just have to give credit to the players. The players, they've really come together, and they've been leading the charge, holding themselves accountable, holding each other accountable, going out there, putting in the work, going out there and executing, so hats off to them. That's where the credit has to go and then you got to give credit to the coaches just staying together and preparing their guys."
RB DERRICK HENRY
On how RB Keaton Mitchell's increased role in the rushing attack has helped him the last few weeks: "I just think [Keaton Mitchell] has taken advantage of his opportunities. He's been doing a great job. He's a dynamic player that can help us in different ways, and I think everybody is just focused on just playing better than we have before, and he's another asset that can help the offense."
On how plays similar to the "Tush Push" rushing TD by Mark Andrews on Sunday can open up opportunities for the offense: "It was a great play call. It was a great play executed that helped us secure the win. I don't think we all want to get too caught up on it or what's coming next. We're just focused on our tasks and go out there and execute at practice, watch film and cover the details and let it translate to Sunday, but nobody's saying, 'Oh, we need to have the wow moment.' We want to win and dominate."
On if that play gives them more confidence in short-yardage situations: "This must've been the best play you've ever seen in your life, because we just executed the play, and it worked. We always have confidence. It's not because one play went for a touchdown that we don't have confidence. Defenses get paid, too. Sometimes, they're going to get the best of you, and sometimes you will. So that's just football."
On how they can improve their performance in the red zone: "Execution. Us just executing, [and] us being better. It all ties in together. It's just us [being] focused on it and getting better at it and letting the results show. We just haven't been executing [well]. This hasn't been our style of play and the end result that we want."
QB LAMAR JACKSON
On how he is feeling physically: "I'm good. I was able to practice. [I am] good."
On if his recent injuries have affected his performance at all: "If it just happened in the game, probably. But if you were injured, took some time off, and you were able to come back, I doubt it."
On how he is handling having three different injuries over the last three weeks: "It's just part of football, I guess, but I'm good."
On if he's had to learn how to manage his body differently as he's gotten older: "I don't think I'm old at all right now. Not that old?" (Laughter) "I'm not old at all right now."
On if he's had to figure out how to manage his body after having a few injuries back to back: "Yes, but you know, this is my first time dealing with something like this, while I'm playing, at that. We have great trainers and stuff like that. Our staff is good. So, like I said, I'm good."
On if he thinks his new normal this season might include a weekly rest day: "Probably. We'll see how it goes though. [We] have to see how [head] Coach [John Harbaugh] feels about it."
On the offense's red zone issues: "I can't call it. All I know is that we just need to work better [together and] work a little harder. [We need to] put points on the board while we're in the red zone, because our defense is doing a great job at stopping teams and sometimes putting us in a position to score. And we do a great job driving the ball down the field and getting into the red zone as well, but we need to find a way to put points on the board [with] touchdowns and not just letting [Tyler] Loop kick the field goal all the time."
On the reliability of WR DeAndre Hopkins and what he's learned from him: "That's why [DeAndre Hopkins] is going to be a Hall of Famer. That's why he's a Hall of Fame-caliber receiver. The way he handles his business; he's not loud [about or] complaining that he's not getting targets. And when his number called, he's making plays for us. Hopefully his number gets called a lot more, because he definitely has big-play abilities, at all times, really."
On the relationship he has with WR DeAndre Hopkins: "I feel like sometimes it was the coverage, or I feel like I should have made a better throw, like on the box fade. I should have made a better throw right there, and [DeAndre Hopkins] would've had a catch, because I feel like anytime the ball is in his area – [his] perimeter – he'll catch that ball. So, I felt like if it was a better pass, he would've had that. But on one of them, the DB was right there. I'm not going to throw an interception, you're not going to force it."
On if there's ever been a time when he was surprised to be tackled from behind: "Only when I start – when I'm thinking [that] I'm gone, and nobody is chasing me. That's probably the only time. But other than that, no. I don't recall getting caught in the league at all though." (Reporter: Rarely.) "When did I get caught? Rarely? Who caught me?" (Reporter: When you got caught in the Chiefs game when you caught your own pass.) "Oh, that doesn't count." (laughter) "That does not count. Everybody knows that was a touchdown, for real. I didn't even know – he dove, that doesn't count. I didn't get walked down, he was right there already. He was in full stride. I'm looking in front of me, and I'm like, 'Oh, it's [No.] 6.' and I'm like, 'What the...?' It happens."
If he's ever played a game completely healthy this late into the season: "Have I? I believe so. Last year [and] the year before? In 2022, I got hurt, [and in] 2021, I got hurt. But the years before that, yes, I was at 100 percent."
On if he thinks that his decrease in rushing attempts is what is missing from the offense: "No, not really because we have great running backs. We have Derrick Henry – that's what we got him for – because I believe in the AFC Championship, that was a big conversation. 'Oh, we weren't running the ball a lot. Should have given the ball to the running back.' And then we got a guy like Derrick Henry, who came over here and ran for like 1,500 yards [or] 1,800 [yards], whatever it was. And [we have] Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell and Rasheen Ali – we have all these great running backs. So, when my number gets called, we'll see."
On if he feels like the hits he's been taking in the pocket have been harder than in previous years: "Yes, in the pocket, yes. Because when I'm running, I don't think I've gotten hit. Nobody has hit me when I was running, but probably in the pocket. Yes, if I'm not expecting it, [then] probably. But I believe any quarterback who gets hit in the pocket, it's going to be a hard hit though. Defensive linemen are strong, like 300-pounders, 200-and-something pounders; guys who bench a lot, so you're probably going to get hit hard. If you were at quarterback, you'd probably get hit hard, too. But yes, in the pocket, probably, but outside of the pocket, I can move around and won't really get hit. So, I can't call it."
On if he expected the sack made by Vikings OLB Dallas Turner: "God – [Dallas Turner] got me right there. I wasn't expecting that at all. Yes, I wasn't expecting that."
On if he was surprised that Vikings OLB Dallas Turner got fined for his hit against him: "Am I surprised [Dallas Turner] got fined? I don't know. I really don't be paying attention to the rules on defensive guys of what's legal and what's illegal. So, I really can't call it. I'm glad we got the call though. All that weight – he dropped all his weight on me. I was like, 'Damn.'"
On being sacked the same number of times through Week 11 that he was sacked all of last year: "Damn. I have to talk to the offensive line about that. I'm going to holler at my guys about that, man. I am going to talk to my guys about that."
On if he feels any weight from the pressures that he has gotten this year: "It's part of football. Sometimes guys will get you; sometimes they won't. Like I said, I'm going to talk to my guys about that. They probably aren't going to like that, though. You guys are telling me it's 23 sacks; they probably are not going to like that."
On why he thinks that TE Isaiah Likely hasn't had as many catches this year: "We have other tight ends and other guys eating. But [Isaiah Likely] has been coming along as the season has been going on. He was out the first few weeks, but his time is coming. But like I said, we have other guys who've been stepping up and doing their thing. So, when your number's called, I feel like he is going to do what he's supposed to do."
