InmanRoshi
08-19-2006, 02:17 PM
Waived the two guys. Were at 79. Some of the front line players will play more than last week. Some of them will play about a half. Bledsoe will start.
Could Bledsoe play a half?
I don't know that right now.
TO?
I don't think he'll play. He's got some good work in this week, and I don't want to start all over next week So hopefully we can get him some real game action next week.
How much work does a veteran like that need?
More than he has so far. I dont think you can get ready to play pro football practicing 4 or 5 days.
Will anything change your mind between now and Monday?
No.
Do you see anything in your WR depth?
A couple of them are developing, but I still think we need to look in the landscape a little.
Stanley?
Well, like any young player who is playing a defense that is foreign to him, he was 1 gap player in college .. he does have the body type and the physical strength. He is a good worker. He was a pudge ball when we first got him. He's got his weight down 20 lbs. from when we first got him. He's got some endurance. He's a hard working kid, not lazy. But he's not a cinch.
Carpenter?
He got stepped on last week and that slowed him down this week. Hopefully we can get him going better.
Is he behind Bradie or Akin?
He's playing Akin's spot.
How much do your practices change after you leave Oxnard?
Appreciably. We have a short week of practice next week. For all intents and purposes, the major part of two a days is over today. We're not going to have much variety next week, and I'll be concentrating working on less players next week as well, even though we don't have mandatory cut downs coming. I think we need to start to practice the guys who are going to play. I have a few decisions, but I have 39 baseline players now. I'll be at 45 or 47 next week. I just have 4 or 5 positions left to decide, baring injury.
Will you make cuts after this week?
I don't know about that, but I just want to start working the guys who are going to play. If there is uncertainty at a position, I'll give them all a fair opportunity. But that doesn't mean as soon as you see whatever is out there that's the way it is. But I'm going to stop moving guys around. Where you see them next week that's probably where they will stay.
How significant can Ellis be at a new position with only a training camp behind him?
I don't think its really that difficult for Greg to do this. He played that same location on the field, just in a down position. The flow of the game as it comes to him is what he's used to. Obviously the pass coverage is somewhat different. But if he doesn't play well at that spot, I'll be surprised. I've coached that position for 20 years. I know when a player can play it, and I think he can definitely do it.
How does that effect Singleton?
I think that's one thing that I'm happy about. We have some positions with good quality and depth, and that would be one of them. Al is a pretty good player still, and he can help us. If Greg is the starter, Al will be the backup but he would still get some time. He's got a good attitude and very professional. That was a good signing a few years ago. We got our moneys worth out of that.
Is there a chance you might not keep 5 Wrs?
Yeah. I might keep 6.
Is Bobby primarily inside now?
Yeah, we moved him inside.
Is it permanent?
I don't know.
Do you create a 45 baseline first because you can suit those guys up?
Yeah. Deciding on 53 you have some developmental guys. You want to keep the best players you can.
Skyler as punt returns?
In the back of my head, it will probably be Skyler most of the time and Newman can be a trump card. I've had Jamaica working on it too. So I think Skyler and Jamaica are in competition, because I know Newman is on the roster.
Do you expect Witten and Bradie to provide leadership in the 4th year?
Bradie had a good year last year, and I expect him to improve again this year. Bradie has been a methodically improving player. He wasn't as advanced as Witten right out the gate, but I think he can be a good player who knows how to play the game. He's already a good player, but I think he can be a real good player some day. Obviously, Witten has parlayed this into a good financial situation, and I expect Bradie to do it too. They're good friends. Hard workers. No off the field problems. Not flasy. Good solid guys.
Is it easier to make your roster now with more talent this year?
I hope it would be. If you got an extra player or two hopefully you can trade them.
Is it harder to make the team as draft picks?
Sure. But you can have a good overall roster, but one position alone can bring you down. I do think we have some overall depth now. I think that would be obvious if you've been following the team. I'm also happy that we have 3 or 4 unexpected rookies who could make the team. Unexpected guys.
Elam is one and if so why?
Yes. He takes copious notes. He really studies hard. He is extremely, extremely conscientious. Tough. A willingness to tackle. But he gave up a touchdown this morning, now. But he's certainly a player in the mix.
His story at Notre Dame?
I personally had extensive background information on that from people who have tried to turn his life around in Florida. I know these people personally. I've known them for many years. There are a couple of people down there that are doing very, very good work for young men in that area who have had some problems. Its not a business or enterprise, its philanthropic.
How do you balance young guys like Watkins and Elam with a veteran like Coleman.
Its a good question every coach in the NFL has to do. You look at your veteran and your young guys and evaluate where they are now and where they will be 8 weeks from now and hope that you're right. I had a very good 3rd down back at the NYG called Tony Galbreath and he was the all time leader in runningbacks in catching th ball at the time. He was like 230 lbs. And we had this young guy named Meggett. We go into a preseason game and Galbreath picks up several 1st downs catching the ball out of the backfield. And all our coaches, and I'm probably one of them because its human nature, are reluctant to make that change. We know what we have with Galbreath, we don't know about Meggett. But George Young said to me on the plane ride back home “The day Galbreath dies he will still be able to beat someoone out of the backfield, but do you like Meggett?” I said yes, very much. He said “Don't stop progress”. I've held onto that phrase too. I've even got Jerry saying that now. “Is he a progress stopper?”. But you can make a mistake. Hopefully you can sometimes bring those guys back later in the year if you need them. You can put a rookie in and he's not quite ready. You just hope a month from now .. I'm not looking 2 years from now, I'm looking at 6 weeks from now. We're not buying futures here. I don't buy green bananas. I'm always looking for a guy who can help me now, but you have to have a vision for what things will be a month from now.
What positions could you see that decision coming into play?
You can probably look at our team and speculate it.
Could Bledsoe play a half?
I don't know that right now.
TO?
I don't think he'll play. He's got some good work in this week, and I don't want to start all over next week So hopefully we can get him some real game action next week.
How much work does a veteran like that need?
More than he has so far. I dont think you can get ready to play pro football practicing 4 or 5 days.
Will anything change your mind between now and Monday?
No.
Do you see anything in your WR depth?
A couple of them are developing, but I still think we need to look in the landscape a little.
Stanley?
Well, like any young player who is playing a defense that is foreign to him, he was 1 gap player in college .. he does have the body type and the physical strength. He is a good worker. He was a pudge ball when we first got him. He's got his weight down 20 lbs. from when we first got him. He's got some endurance. He's a hard working kid, not lazy. But he's not a cinch.
Carpenter?
He got stepped on last week and that slowed him down this week. Hopefully we can get him going better.
Is he behind Bradie or Akin?
He's playing Akin's spot.
How much do your practices change after you leave Oxnard?
Appreciably. We have a short week of practice next week. For all intents and purposes, the major part of two a days is over today. We're not going to have much variety next week, and I'll be concentrating working on less players next week as well, even though we don't have mandatory cut downs coming. I think we need to start to practice the guys who are going to play. I have a few decisions, but I have 39 baseline players now. I'll be at 45 or 47 next week. I just have 4 or 5 positions left to decide, baring injury.
Will you make cuts after this week?
I don't know about that, but I just want to start working the guys who are going to play. If there is uncertainty at a position, I'll give them all a fair opportunity. But that doesn't mean as soon as you see whatever is out there that's the way it is. But I'm going to stop moving guys around. Where you see them next week that's probably where they will stay.
How significant can Ellis be at a new position with only a training camp behind him?
I don't think its really that difficult for Greg to do this. He played that same location on the field, just in a down position. The flow of the game as it comes to him is what he's used to. Obviously the pass coverage is somewhat different. But if he doesn't play well at that spot, I'll be surprised. I've coached that position for 20 years. I know when a player can play it, and I think he can definitely do it.
How does that effect Singleton?
I think that's one thing that I'm happy about. We have some positions with good quality and depth, and that would be one of them. Al is a pretty good player still, and he can help us. If Greg is the starter, Al will be the backup but he would still get some time. He's got a good attitude and very professional. That was a good signing a few years ago. We got our moneys worth out of that.
Is there a chance you might not keep 5 Wrs?
Yeah. I might keep 6.
Is Bobby primarily inside now?
Yeah, we moved him inside.
Is it permanent?
I don't know.
Do you create a 45 baseline first because you can suit those guys up?
Yeah. Deciding on 53 you have some developmental guys. You want to keep the best players you can.
Skyler as punt returns?
In the back of my head, it will probably be Skyler most of the time and Newman can be a trump card. I've had Jamaica working on it too. So I think Skyler and Jamaica are in competition, because I know Newman is on the roster.
Do you expect Witten and Bradie to provide leadership in the 4th year?
Bradie had a good year last year, and I expect him to improve again this year. Bradie has been a methodically improving player. He wasn't as advanced as Witten right out the gate, but I think he can be a good player who knows how to play the game. He's already a good player, but I think he can be a real good player some day. Obviously, Witten has parlayed this into a good financial situation, and I expect Bradie to do it too. They're good friends. Hard workers. No off the field problems. Not flasy. Good solid guys.
Is it easier to make your roster now with more talent this year?
I hope it would be. If you got an extra player or two hopefully you can trade them.
Is it harder to make the team as draft picks?
Sure. But you can have a good overall roster, but one position alone can bring you down. I do think we have some overall depth now. I think that would be obvious if you've been following the team. I'm also happy that we have 3 or 4 unexpected rookies who could make the team. Unexpected guys.
Elam is one and if so why?
Yes. He takes copious notes. He really studies hard. He is extremely, extremely conscientious. Tough. A willingness to tackle. But he gave up a touchdown this morning, now. But he's certainly a player in the mix.
His story at Notre Dame?
I personally had extensive background information on that from people who have tried to turn his life around in Florida. I know these people personally. I've known them for many years. There are a couple of people down there that are doing very, very good work for young men in that area who have had some problems. Its not a business or enterprise, its philanthropic.
How do you balance young guys like Watkins and Elam with a veteran like Coleman.
Its a good question every coach in the NFL has to do. You look at your veteran and your young guys and evaluate where they are now and where they will be 8 weeks from now and hope that you're right. I had a very good 3rd down back at the NYG called Tony Galbreath and he was the all time leader in runningbacks in catching th ball at the time. He was like 230 lbs. And we had this young guy named Meggett. We go into a preseason game and Galbreath picks up several 1st downs catching the ball out of the backfield. And all our coaches, and I'm probably one of them because its human nature, are reluctant to make that change. We know what we have with Galbreath, we don't know about Meggett. But George Young said to me on the plane ride back home “The day Galbreath dies he will still be able to beat someoone out of the backfield, but do you like Meggett?” I said yes, very much. He said “Don't stop progress”. I've held onto that phrase too. I've even got Jerry saying that now. “Is he a progress stopper?”. But you can make a mistake. Hopefully you can sometimes bring those guys back later in the year if you need them. You can put a rookie in and he's not quite ready. You just hope a month from now .. I'm not looking 2 years from now, I'm looking at 6 weeks from now. We're not buying futures here. I don't buy green bananas. I'm always looking for a guy who can help me now, but you have to have a vision for what things will be a month from now.
What positions could you see that decision coming into play?
You can probably look at our team and speculate it.