Nick Sirianni
Q. How have the meetings changed in terms of run and pass? Do you have them together because of the difference in how they’re important to each other when you marry them? (Jeff McLane)
Nick Sirianni: As far as team meeting or unit meetings?
Q. Previously, the run meetings were held separately. A lot of them– (Jeff McLane)
Nick Sirianni: That was, at times, in the run game planning, but mostly, it’s always been [that] when you install, you’re in here together. Naturally, it’s the same — it’s very similar as far as [when] you’ll install something, there’ll be a break, and then the offensive line doesn’t need to sit in for the pass drawing. It’s very similar the way the structure of the meetings are going as far as how we install. Obviously, we’re not into a game plan meeting yet. We’ll see how those things go, but [it’s] very, very, very similar as far as the install meetings have been going.
Q. [Run Game Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach] Ryan Mahaffey as a run game coordinator — When you do talk about the run, he kind of leads those conversations? (Jeff McLane)
Nick Sirianni: Throughout this first portion, [Offensive Coordinator] Sean [Mannion] has been leading a majority of the meetings. Sean just shows a very good overall view of the offense. When he comes up here, he has everybody’s attention and is able to talk to every position. I’ve been very impressed by that. It’s one of the reasons we hired him. As far as his expertise, the guys have been really impressed with that. He can sit up here and coach through what the running back’s responsibilities, footwork and fundamentals are in the offensive line [as well as] the tight ends, the receivers and the quarterback, obviously his specialty. That’s really important throughout, especially the first year, just Sean being the majority of the voice that they’re hearing. Then obviously it breaks up into the position coaches, but he’s done a great job of keeping everybody on the same page.
It’s one of the things I’ve told Sean, ‘Man, I think you’re doing such a good job of speaking to everybody in front of the room and showing your expertise in every position.’ We’ll continue to work that way. Throughout the year, things change of how you go about things but he’s doing a great job.
Q. As far as the install process, obviously it changes with the new voice, but does it take longer? Is it different when you’re doing a new type of system? How much of that changes? (John McMullen)
Nick Sirianni: There’s a lot of similarities of how we’re installing. I wouldn’t say we’re in here longer or shorter than what we have been in the past. It’s just important that all the information gets passed on and that we, as coaches, do a great job of making sure that the job description is clear on every play, on every detail. Our guys have been doing a really good — our offensive staff have been doing a really good job of that.
Q. Speaking of the offense in this first full week of training camp, what does a successful week look like to you under [Offensive Coach] Sean [Mannion] with not only the returners, but some of the rookies, [WR Makai] Lemon, et cetera? (Krystle Rich)
Nick Sirianni: When you’re in training camp, it’s so important to put everything out of view except for that particular day. In training camp, there’s going to be good back-and-forth between your offense and your defense. There’s going to be good back-and-forth between your corners and your wide receivers, and your linebackers and your tight ends. What I’m looking for as far as, I guess, to say success of a day, is when we come in here and we watch as a team, are we getting better at the little things? Are we getting better at our fundamentals? Are we taking steps? Are we taking steps with our things that require no talent, our ball security? When I say require no talent, just everybody being on the same page at all times. You’re looking for little progressions each and every day.
It’s a marathon. Some days, it’s going to look like this, and some days, it’s going to look like this. It’s never just a true line. I know we all want it to be that way, especially as coaches, but progression feels like this [gestures], but it’s up a little bit, back a little bit, up a little bit, back a little bit. You’re just trying to get a little bit better each day and continue that mode of you getting yourself better.
Q. What have you noticed about [Offensive Line Coach] Chris Kuper’s approach to his job, knowing that so many of those players have only heard one voice in their careers? (Dave Zangaro)
Nick Sirianni: Just making sure that he is very deliberate of his job description. He’s done a nice job of that. He can only be himself and coach the way he knows how to coach. I hired him for a reason. We were really impressed by him, and we know he’s a phenomenal coach, and he’s doing a good job of building relationships with his players. He’s doing a good job of teaching his players. Obviously, I talk to guys all the time, and I know those guys think very highly of him and have been really impressed early on here in camp and through the OTAs. Building trust is the most important thing. You build trust by your daily habits, you build trust by consistently doing the right things. Those are the things that he’s been doing.
Q. [G] Landon [Dickerson] acknowledged that he came back prematurely from surgery last off season. What do you think is the organization’s responsibility in protecting players from themselves? Have you guys implemented any changes to ensure further protection for them? (Tim McManus)
Nick Sirianni: We always, first and foremost, are going to put the players’ safety at the forefront. We know guys are going to always want to come back before. That’s why we have doctors. That’s why we have all the doctors that we have, the training staff that we have. We’re always thinking about the long-term health of the player and what’s best for the player. At times you’re like, ‘Man, I really want this guy out there in this game because he’s going to help us win this game.’ It’s always been our organizational philosophy to take care of the guys and do what’s best for them to make sure they’re stepping on the field when they can be stepping on the field and when they’re able to.
Q. We’ve seen the early installations of the offense, but what have you seen in terms of how in the passing game things might open up more of the middle? (Brooks Kubena)
Nick Sirianni: Again, just early on, obviously there’s a progression to everything of how we install. I think [Offensive Coordinator] Sean [Mannion] has a good progression of how he’s went about it. We’ll be in day four as far as out there in practice today. So each and every day you guys will see more things because each and every day there’s a new install through the first 10 or so installs. That doesn’t necessarily mean — today is more of a review day actually, but because they’re coming off of an off day and their walkthrough was in their install meeting was two days ago. So this will be a little bit more of a review of some of the things that you’ve seen. But we’re working different things, working different concepts. The guys have done a good job of learning the new terminology. Sometimes I compare that to learning a new language.
They’ve studied hard and I know they’re doing a good job as far as limiting the mental errors and going out there being able to perform. So I think it’s been a good start.
Q. What have you observed from WR Makai Lemon and TE Eli Stowers so far as early in their NFL careers? And what do you need to see out of them in this stage to show that they’re making progress and they’re on the right track? (Cayden Steele)
Nick Sirianni: Yeah, I think you’re just looking for improvement in each and everything. I think both of those guys have a great skillset. I think you’re seeing some of that skillset. Then there’s still some things that aren’t in yet that you’re going to see more of to even show more of them. But I love the way Makai goes about his business and little things like his effort in the run game are awesome. He’s got really good quickness that you’re seeing. Maybe you don’t get to see it every time where he catches the football and where he shows great quickness, but I sure as heck see it on the film. When he’s away from the play, the ball’s not going to him or the coverage takes it away. And then I think Eli has a really good feel for the zone of where to sit in zones and how to get open versus different types of zone coverage.
We know that his athletic ability will [help him] shake free on third down when it is man coverage because he’s quick, he’s fast, he’s explosive. But what I’ve been impressed with him is just his ability to kind of read defenses and find the areas of the zone where he needs to sit and be at the right spot at the right time.
Q. You guys have never thrown a ton to the backs. We’ve seen it a lot out there these first few days. What place does that have in this offense and is something you’d like to do more? (Reuben Frank)
Nick Sirianni: Yeah. I mean, I think that all just depends on the style of, or kind of the mode of offense you’re in at that particular time. It’s different thrown to a back. Obviously when you’re in the gun, when he’s at home, sometimes it’s more of a checkdown of [QB] Jalen [Hurts] going through his progression or [QB] Tanner [McKee] going through his progression or [QB] Andy [Dalton] or [QB] Cole [Payton] going through their progressions and finding the back. We have backs that we feel very strongly that they’re really good at running the ball, but we also know that [RB] Saquon’s [Barkley] had a lot of production in this league with the pass game and [RB] Will’s [Shipley] had production in college in the pass game. We know those guys have that skillset and it’s about finding ways to utilize that. But we know that those guys have the ability, but you always want to be multiple in things that you do and being able to throw it to [the] tight end, throw it to running backs, throw it to receivers, what’s getting you the best matchup that particular week.
We feel like we have good matchups across the field and we’ll see how we use those guys and exploit that week in, week out.
Q. It seems like QB Cole Payton has had more practice reps than we’re used to seeing from the number four quarterback. Why is that? (Bo Wulf)
Nick Sirianni: Again, we really like that quarterback room. My job as the head coach is to be able to provide enough reps throughout practice, whether that’s in training camp or whether that’s in season, to allow guys to develop. I think sometimes you can get very zeroed in, especially in training camp where the ones and twos are just getting reps, especially in the season where the ones are getting reps. I think what we’ve done a good job of here in the past and currently is finding ways to work our developmental guys. Those guys [had] reps in OTAs, but now the pads come on and you’re in the season or you’re in your training camp. [You are] finding ways to get them reps, whether that’s in walkthroughs or whether that’s in developmental periods or whether that’s in with the threes at the end. But I think we’re all excited about that quarterback room and Cole’s done a nice job.
He’s not afraid to rip it in there over top of linebacker. He had those couple picks early on and he’ll learn from those and he has learned from those, but I’ve liked what I’ve seen from him so far.