I’m excited. The players are in shape. We’re not in pads yet. Tomorrow we’ll start hitting each other. Their attitude is good. I got a good feeling about this team. They want to do well and work hard. We got to get in football shape and put the pads on. Its just one practice, but its one down.
Ever had a first day where you didn’t hit?
No, not before. I wanted to get through the first day with a lot of running in to see where we are as far as being in shape. I think we’re in good shape.
Ellis?
It was to be expected that he would have some pain, we’re going to play it safe with him. Same with Flozell. We don’t want to push him too hard. I think he’ll bounce back and do more tomorrow.
Did it bother you that he didn’t make it through his first drill?
No. He did some pushing and shoving. Brett worked with Marino and he knows this injury. He knew Greg would have some pain starting out. With his work ethic, and we have a specialized guy that deals with this injury, and he’ thinks its going to make it. It helps being the kind of guy that Greg is, that he’ll do all the right things.
Do you think he can go tomorrow
He said he wasn’t sure if he could go tomorrow.
I’m not sure either. I’m just going by what Brett said.
This injury was in November, could this be a full year recouperation?
Not from what I’ve heard. I just got to go with my experts.
Does that concern you with Spencer not being here?
No, because I don’t think Greg is hurt. He may have some pain, but not hurt. The Spencer .. that’s just the business of it. The later they come, the more it hurts … but we’ve had guys come in a few days later and have great years. Now if we start missing preseason games, that’s another thing.
Do you feel the need to call him and tell him to come in?
No, that’s not my place. He’s got agents and stuff that handles all that stuff.
How did you feel coming out on the field.
That’s thelast time I’ll get a standing ovation, I’m sure of that. There’s not another training camp like this. It helps you. You’re players practice better when the fans are watching them. Its great for coaches.
Early relationship with TO?
I don’t think I’ve targeted him more than anyone else. The more they know me and the more I talk to them, the more they’ll find out about me. He or any of the rest of them. I’ve never had a problem with a player really. They all seem to want to do well.
Tony?
He did some good things. The offseason helped him mechanics wise. We got to go through the tape and the specifics, but he wasn’t real rusty. He knew where to go with the football. TO played Z today and played different positions today that he didn’t do last year, for whatever reason. I read some stories that he didn’t know the positions but he played X and Z today.
Tony as a leader?
He’s a natural leader. The players respond well to him. He’s got a charisma about him. And he’s made some plays in the league now. He’s been to a Pro Bowl. He takes command. He’s a strong leader as far as telling people what to do and calling plays. He’s also a real sharp guy, that helps. He commands the huddle.
What gives you a good feeling about this team?
You get a sense of something there with some teams. I get that sense, whatever that is. A little mystic, maybe. There’s a feeling there that they’re all pulling on the same direction and they want to do things and they got some talent. All that combined. I see offensive guys patting defensive guys on the back. They kind of click together already.
Did you bring that out of them?
Part of it is what I do. I think this team naturally progressed that way.
How talented is this defense?
Its hard to tell after one practice. I think we’ll be hard to move the football on, that’s what it looks back to me.
Compare to SD?
We went 4-12 the first year in SD. Most of the talent was on offense. There’s more talent here on defense from last year. I see a lot of talent. A lot more strength on defensive line that I knew we had. LB’s and Secondary look strong. I think we look pretty strong.
Difference between just focusing on defensive guy to being a HC who handles everythging?
I always try to think ahead. I’ve been around some really good HC’s and strategy guys. Dan Reeves was an excellent strategy guy. I wasn’t as involved with the offense much in Denver, and I learned my lesseon. I was more involved in Buffalo.
Will you call the defensive signals?
Yeah, probably. Stu will do it some, but I’ve been doing it for 25 years.
Compare the new vs. old 3-4.
I don’t want to compare. The one I’ve ran has been successful for a long time, and I expect it to be again. We don’t play the same guys the same way. Dave Kreigan at Denver was a NG who stunted a lot. Ted Washington didn’t stunt at all. We played Jamal Williams in a different way than either of them. My philophy is that its not what I can think of, its what my players can do. I fit my scheme to their talents.
Coaching with your son?
It’s a coach to coach relationship. He put the offensive playbook together, if you see how thick it is. He had to draw it all up with the software.
Your dad being there?
Its always special when he’s there. He’s always got something that he’s observed that you have to take notice of. When we were in the OTA’s we were running plays in the huddle, and he said “Why don’t you just have the QB get to the line and audible so everyone has to listen and you can get more plays in?” And I thoguth it was a good idea, so I’ve used it. He told me today he’s glad he’s out of coaching .. I don’t know what that means.
The UDFA quarterbacks?
They were both in our offseason programs. We’ve worked with both of them, and they wouldn’t be here if they didn’t have a chance. We have a limit as to how many guys we can bring to camp, and I’d like for everyone to have some sort of chance to make the team.
What can Lacewell do for you?
What does he think he can for for me or what do I think he can do for me? He probably thinks he can run the whole thing. If he says something, I’ll listen.
Do you go to your dad with specific problems?
No, we just talk about football. Its more about family.
Does it help Tony having wade and Jason both play QB in the NFL?
Yes, both were quarterbacks and students of the game. They can teach and help a young QB. That was a priority, making a young QB better. He’s a good player, but I think he can get better.
What are the mechanics you wanted him to work on?
Get away from the center quicker, although he does get away quicker than others. Some adjustments on some throws. He’s not way off on mechanics, we think we could just help him some.
Did defensive defense him different at the end of the year?
No, I don’t think so.
The Saints put the blueprint on how to beat him?
No, the Saints offense may have set the blueprint on how to beat the defense it looked to me. I’m not going ot get into last year.
Flozell?
No, he won’t be out there tomorrow.
Would you like them back?
Yeah, I would like to see the starters back.
Would you like to see them before you go back to Dallas.
Yeah, sure. I think we got a chance to see that.
Are you more cautious with To with the finger injury?
Yeah, we didn’t know the dr’s would release him for the OTA.
Does Hamlin remind of you of McCree
A little . He’s smart like Marlon, but a little bigger. He’s the QB of the defense, so you want a guy who knows where everyone should be and can anticipate things and tell everyone what to look for. I’m glad we got him.
TO’s last deep catch of practice?
Stu and the defensive coaches got mad at me, because he said you know if you were still a defensive coach you wouldn’t end practice on that play. That a difference between the HC and a defensive coach.
Is PUP an option?
You can put them on training camp PUP and take tehm off. It still doesn’t clear up a roster spot, so it really doesn’t’ mean anything.
Do you know what you have here yet?
to a certain extenet. I need to get them in a game and see how they react in a game. As a coordinator, I like to be on the sidelines to see the players come off the field when the heat is on. The good things I see are their hard work and they’re athletic ability.
How many QB’s will you keep.
It depends on how many I think can play. I may keep only two. Mainly I want to get Tony work. Brad has been in the league so long he doesn’t need much work. Right now we have three guys competing for the #3 spot.
