Nick Sirianni

Q. I know some of it is probably game flow a little bit, but we’ve seen an uptick in under center usage over the last couple of weeks. Why is that, and what are the benefits of it for you guys? (Dave Zangaro)

NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, a little bit of that is just the way the game is played out and different situations that happen in the game. I think we’ve had some big leads here the last couple of weeks that probably make that number balloon even more.

But it’s good to just be multiple in some different things but still do what you do well. And I think we’ve had a lot of success being in the gun and also can have some success here under center. Different personnel groupings give you some different under center opportunities as well. So yeah, I think it’s a little bit of everything.

Q. QB Jalen Hurts used the term that the offense is trending forward, but not quite there yet and still putting pieces together. Where do you think the offense is in its evolution right now, and what are some of the things you think still need a little bit of work? (Jeff Neiburg)

NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, I think it’s trending forward for sure, like [QB] Jalen [Hurts] said. [We] had a nice last couple games where we’ve had some production. You’re always a work in progress. And you’re always working on continuing to figure out things that you do well and continuing to repeat those things.

I think things change week to week. We talk a lot about our identity being tough, and being physical, and playing with high detail, and playing together as a team. I think scheme things change week in, week out based off a lot of different things.

I think that’s just constantly evolving and constantly taking different shapes and forms.

Q. You mentioned yesterday, more than identity, you were mentioning habits a lot. Do you get a sense that the team is where you want them habit-wise, or is that a constantly evolving process? (John McMullen)

NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, I think that it’s constantly evolving. You’re trying to establish your habits each and every day and go through your process each and every day.

What I know we know is that you are going to be what your habits are. If you work hard on tackling, and you work hard on catching the football, then you have a better chance of succeeding at those things.

We just want our habits to reflect the way we play with our effort, the way we look in practice, the way we look with our physicality, the way we look with our detail.

Those are the things we’re talking about, are the habits that you create. You’re going to play how you practice, and so how important practice is for us. So we’re just trying to – your culture is what your habits are, and we’re just trying to be our habits each and every week.

Q. When you are looking at CB Quinyon Mitchell and DB Cooper DeJean, why have they been so successful this early in their careers? Did you guys expect them to have these significant roles this early? (Chris Franklin)

NICK SIRIANNI: Again, when you draft guys, you have high expectations for every guy that you draft. But things kind of play out as camp continues on.

I think these guys have given us confidence in them since the day they got here. I know [DB Cooper DeJean] Coop had a setback with his injury, but as he was able to go, they’ve given us confidence in them.

So I think that it’s not a surprise to us because we see it every day at practice, who these guys are. So excited about where they are. Excited about where they’re going. They’ve got to keep working every day. We know we’re only as good as our next game, which is the next one coming up against Jacksonville.

But excited about their skillset and who they are. I think these guys are ultra-competitive. The moment is not too big for them. They were going against one of the best wide receivers in the NFL yesterday, and they didn’t blink. Got a lot of respect for who they are and how they work.

Q. One of the things QB Jalen Hurts mentioned yesterday in regards to WR DeVonta Smith having the one catch for -2 yards against the Giants was there are a lot of mouths to feed. For WR DeVonta Smith to come back like he did yesterday, what kind of sacrifice does it take for guys like WR DeVonta Smith, WR A.J. Brown, RB Saquon Barkley, even QB Jalen Hurts knowing any particular week may not be their week as far as touches are concerned, and to accept and to appreciate that? (Martin Frank)

NICK SIRIANNI: I think first and foremost, we go into every game plan like, ‘How are we going to get these guys the ball?’ So you don’t really know it’s not going to be your week until the game is going on and the flow of the game happens.

And even then, you might need a big play as the game continues on. Sometimes you don’t know the week is going to play out like that until the game is over. You have some ideas of how they might double guys at certain spots and this and that.

I think that’s the first thing. You don’t know as the week leads up, so everyone is preparing the way they are.

Then I think it takes great selflessness. Being a team is fighting for each other, celebrating together, being selfless, and understanding that sometimes it’s not going to be your turn that week. And all that matters is that we win.

Talking about [WR] DeVonta [Smith], he changed the game in other ways last week against the Giants. It just wasn’t when he was catching the football. Then he’s able to come out and change the game with the ball in his hands this week.

I just think it says a lot about our guys and their selflessness of being able to roll with the punches, and play the next play, and know there are going to be some times like that.

I think it was nice to get DeVonta the game that he had yesterday. I think it showed up in many ways, right? You saw him make an unbelievable touchdown catch in traffic on a jump ball. Jalen put a great ball on him, we had great protection, and [WR DeVonta Smith] Smitty went up and got it.

Then, I loved the third down conversion by DeVonta on the little sideline pass that Jalen put out there for him. And then DeVonta – I showed this in the team meeting today – lowering his shoulder and getting the extra yards needed.

You don’t see that a lot with a guy who’s on the sideline. You see a lot of guys will step out of bounds. But DeVonta is so tough. The reason I say that is because he’s so physically tough, but he is mentally tough, too. There are ebbs and flows of the season. You’re going to have wins; you’re going to have losses. How do you respond?

You’re going to have games where you have no catches, and you’re going to have games where you have however many he had yesterday, 6 for 86. That takes mental toughness to understand that. And he’s not only physically tough, but mentally tough. All those guys have to be in the same boat with him, and they are.

Q. I was curious, with some of the wrinkles that you guys have added to the run game in the last couple weeks, what’s it been like behind the scenes with the coaching staff, especially Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore and Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach Jeff Stoutland, coming up with some of those things and collaborating to come up with those concepts? (EJ Smith)

NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, I just always think about a game plan week of how that goes, and how much work it takes to get to that spot, right? First, it takes the quality control coaches, and the assistant position coaches, and the position coaches breaking down the tape and organizing the tape.

And then it gets to the whole staff, where everyone is sitting in there and talking about what’s the best way to attack. So, it truly is, just like this game, a true team game where it takes all parts to come up with a plan.

Some guys have specialties. ‘Hey, you’re in charge of the red zone. You’re in charge of the third down’ to put that stuff together.

So it’s exciting because we play the greatest team sport there is. And that doesn’t stop on the field, right? That’s down to every part of this building, and all the things that go on to – shoot, all the PR guys, and Bob and his staff that have helped me get ready for this interview and the next one. I think I’ve got, what, ten interviews this week. So just to get ready for all those.

I know you asked about [Offensive Coordinator] Kellen [Moore], [Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach Jeff Stoutland] Stout, and the offensive staff. It’s like that with the offensive staff. It’s like that with the defensive staff. It’s like that with [Executive Vice President/General Manager] Howie [Roseman] and his staff. And then [Executive Vice President/General Manager] Howie [Roseman]’s staff intertwining with the coaching staff.

It’s just the ultimate team game in every aspect.

Q. Speaking of Executive Vice President/General Manager Howie Roseman’s staff, if you look at your trade deadline history, there have been mixed results there. How does that affect the way you view the trade deadline, No. 1? And No. 2, what sense do you have of the necessity for external fortifications here? (Zach Berman)

NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, I love the team that we have. And I think this team is really coming together. With that being said, I know we’re always looking for ways to improve our team. I know [Executive Vice President/General Manager] Howie [Roseman] is the best at that – of always, always, always, looking at ways he can improve the football team. I admire that and value that of how he goes to work there.

But like I said, love the guys that we have. I think we’re coming together really nicely as a team. But we’ll see how this next week plays out.

Q. And the first part of the question, as far as your history with mid-season acquisitions. How does that affect the way you look at it? (Zach Berman)

NICK SIRIANNI: Each year is different. Again, like I said, any way we can make the team better, I’m always up for that.

Q. Wanted to ask you about TE Grant Calcaterra and some of the big plays he made. He’s only had 12 catches, but I think 6 of them are for 19 yards or more. What is it about TE Grant Calcaterra that gives him the ability to turn in those big plays? (Reuben Frank)

NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, [TE] Grant [Calcaterra] has a great feel of how to run routes and how to get open at the top of the route. I think he’s really got good quickness to get in and out of breaks and create separation.

Then I think he has really good hands to finish the catch. I think he’s sneaky. He’s been around [TE] Dallas [Goedert] so long and sees how Dallas finishes with the ball in his hands. I think what we’ve seen from Grant is that ability, too, to get the ball in his hands and finish the run.

I think about the one he had against Cleveland where we got the ball to him in the flat, and he went for 30+ yards on that one. So he’s tough to bring down. He plays nasty, he plays physical. He’s a tough guy.

He’s really done a nice job. I think in any season, there will be injuries that happen. Our guys, from [T] Fred [Johnson] to Grant to [CB] Isaiah [Rodgers] to [G/T] Tyler Steen, have done such a nice job of stepping in and being able to give us opportunities to win and have a chance to win.

Grant is right there at the top of the list.

Q. I don’t mean to get you in trouble here. The G/T Tyler Steen penalty after the whistle, if somebody had the opinion that maybe the referee should have blown that whistle earlier, and that was the real reason for that happening, would somebody be onto something? (Bo Wulf)

NICK SIRIANNI: I went in there today and talked through that and reestablished what the rule is there. One thing we really pride ourselves on is those extra yards we get when we push the pile. So, you preach everyone running to the football and everyone hustling to the football.

So if anything happens, like the ball comes out on the ground, they’re there for that. But also, to be able to push the pile and get the extra yards. And you saw it against the Giants last week, where Saquon had the ball and was probably stopped at about the two yard line, but everyone got behind him and pushed the pile into the end zone. We scored a touchdown off of it.

That’s happened a bunch. We talk about that a lot. And our guys play so hard, and their effort is what it is. We have benefits because of our guys and the way they play and how hard they play.

So now, the rule is that if I’m right behind you, I can get in there and push. But if I’m building up a head of steam and putting my back into the pile, that’s what they don’t want.

So, I get why they called that. I know why they called that. I know why Tyler was trying to get up there and push them further because we praise that.

To be honest with you, sometimes you’re like, ‘Do you want them to blow the whistle?’ It’s sometimes yes, sometimes no. I didn’t want them to blow the whistle in the Giants game because we were able to push the pile forward to get the touchdown.

Had I’ve been able to tell we were going to get a penalty for that, I would rather them blow the whistle there.

Q. It’s similar to the play where WR DeVonta Smith got hurt the first time. (Bo Wulf)

NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, to me, that was a little different because it was just DeVonta and that guy going backwards. This was a little bit more of a scrum in the pile. I saw them as different. I didn’t think of them that way, and I saw them a little bit different.

Q. Out of curiosity, when you’ve pulled most of your offensive line starters and the rest of starters late in the game and left QB Jalen Hurts in, just curious why not pull QB Jalen Hurts as well? (Jimmy Kempski)

NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, I knew we were handing the ball off right there. Just wanted to make sure we were securing the snap right there.

As you could see, it was the first play of their drive where they fumbled, so we were kind of pulling them one by one right there. As the drive continued, Jalen was going to stay in because him and Cam – you always want that quarterback-center exchange. I though it was important there for that to happen.

We weren’t going to put Jalen at risk at that point. He was just going to hand the ball off.

Q. CB Darius Slay said on his podcast today he was getting an MRI in the morning. Assuming that means he was getting an MRI today. Regardless, what’s the latest on his health? And if he isn’t ready to go this week, what have you seen in CB Isaiah Rogers behind the scenes in his preparation that made a big moment like yesterday possible for him? (Olivia Reiner)

NICK SIRIANNI: Sure. We’ll see on [CB Darius] Slay. We’ve got a lot of time before we play the next game. He’s a heck of a player. Played a good game yesterday. We’ll hope he’s back.

To answer your question, I was able to spend 2020 with Isaiah and saw how special of a player he was when we were in Indy together. His speed, his quickness, his knack for the football, and his work ethic of how he is constantly trying to work to get better.

Since he stepped foot in this building and we been on the practice field with him, all we’ve seen him do is make plays and do things that – we’re glad we have him. Again, he gets to go against [WR] A.J. [Brown] and DeVonta so often. That helps him get better.

But he has a unique skillset as far as his speed, his quickness, and then combine that with the way he works each and every day at practice to get better. That’s why we have faith in him.

And I mean, he’s got great toughness. Being able to come back and play after the broken hand, and take another shot to the broken hand couple week ago, and still come back and continue. He’s got great perseverance, great toughness, and he’s done that through his NFL career, on and off the field.