Head Coach Brain Daboll
Q: Anyone you can identify who's stood out this spring? Caught your eye?
Daboll: I think everybody's done a good job of improving from where we started to where we are now. We talked about that this morning. We made a lot of improvements in a number of areas, both individually and collectively as groups. That's what this time of year is for, and training camp will be here in 34 days, so we have to hit the ground running.
Q: What do you send them off with after this quick practice today as far as the typical - get better, don't get in trouble, all that stuff. Is that your basic message to these guys?
Daboll: First and foremost, what we accomplished in the OTAs and phase one, phase two and phase three, which we put a lot of good work in, we can't lose that in the next 30 days. In terms of our physical abilities, our techniques, our training methods, we have to come back. When training camp hits, I don't have much tolerance for mistakes during training camp. The season is getting close, so we have to be prepared mentally, and we have to be prepared physically, then we have to make good choices and decisions outside of the building. They're used to a routine for the last three months and you have to represent yourself and the organization the right way.
Q: Talked a lot about the plan for Jaxson (Dart) and how you're going to progress him and move him along. When you look at Abdul (Carter) though, is it just kind of go do it?
Daboll: I think all the rookies have a learning curve. Abdul has some special traits about him. Some of them you can see out here, obviously his ability to bend and get off and create some issues in the backfield. But we have to play the run game, we have to play the pass game. He's smart, he's picked up things. We've used him in a number of different areas. I'm glad he's here, he's done a nice job.
Q: With all the additions you made on defense, did you ever sit down with Shane (Bowen) and say alright let's see some of the creativity now with how to use these different guys?
Daboll: You constantly talk about that. Scheme, technique, decision making process and certain down and distances, areas of the field. That's a continual conversation. We'll have those throughout training camp. Shane's done a nice job of orchestrating all those things, as have all the position coaches. There's a lot of good give and take. Marquand Manuel (secondary coach/pass game coordinator), who we brought in from the Jets, who's had a lot of experience, has added a lot of value to our defensive staff. As well as Dre (Andre Patterson) and (Bryan) Cox and all the guys that have been here. But that's a constant communication. Offense, special teams, defense. You really kind of figure out your team throughout training camp, but then early part of the year and then you try to do what they do, well.
Q: We haven't seen Malik (Nabers) practice this spring, how's he doing?
Daboll: He's doing good.
Q: Any concerns about him being ready for the start of training camp?
Daboll: No.
Q: What was the plan with him for this spring then? Is it just a situation where he just needed to rest?
Daboll: Every person's at a different part in, call it rehab if you will or prehab and we just did what we thought was best for Malik to try to get him as healthy as we can.
Q: When did you realize he was going to need the rest? He did a lot of stuff at the Pro Bowl and all, and then the gap to show up here and hasn't really done too much.
Daboll: He's had some issues, like I said, in the past, in college with it. And again, that was the plan that we came up with for him and for our football team.
Q: You said 34 days until training camp. Do you have a date for camp yet?
Daboll: We're real close on that, things change, but right now it would be the 22nd (of July).
Q: Cam (Skattebo) and Darius (Alexander), how are they doing?
Daboll: They're progressing. Again, we got 34 days here. They'll do everything they can do to get ready and hopefully they'll be ready to go.
Q: Did they do something here or did they come in with something?
Daboll: They're rehabbing and doing the things we're asking them to do.
Q: It seems like you err on the side of caution in the spring with putting guys out there, especially in live drills, what's your philosophy on that?
Daboll: Philosophy is if they're ready to go, they're going to be out there and if they're not, they're going to rehab.
Q: Is it the same standard in the spring as it is during the regular season?
Daboll: If guys are ready to go to participate in the things we need them to do, they'll do it. And if we think it's better served that they're rehabbing and doing the things they need to do with the trainers, then we'll do that.
Q: That experience that you said Marquand brings to the secondary, how have you seen that impact Deonte (Banks) specifically?
Daboll: I'd include Jeff Burris in that as well. Those guys have done a nice job. But again, time will tell here as we get going and it's more competitive and we're playing against other guys, but they've done a nice job at this point.
Q: We've seen Deonte and Cor'Dale (Flott) rotate a lot. Do you just view that spot as an open competition?
Daboll: I would say that we'll find out who the starters are at the end of training camp. Guys are getting different reps against different people, not just in that spot, in different areas as well. And we'll give everybody an opportunity to earn their role.
Q: But some guys obviously don't get any reps with the twos, like that spot's different. Paulson (Adebo) doesn't take any reps with the twos.
Daboll: Again, there's open competition in a lot of spots and we'll give everybody an opportunity to earn the role. Whoever earns it will be the ones that play.
Q: That cornerback spot is open?
Daboll: I'd say there's a number of spots open, I'm not going to get into specific stuff. We think a lot of Deonte, we think a lot of Flott. They both produced for us in a number of different ways and they both deserve an opportunity to compete.
Q: Yesterday Russ (Russell Wilson) in his 14th season, I know it's his first year here, he was presented with, well you look forward to taking a little bit of a break now. And he was like, no. Is that just kind of something he said, or do you expect him to take a break?
Daboll: I think he's got a routine after being in the league for 14 years. He loves this whole process, loves the spring with the weight room, loves doing everything he can do to get ready for a season. That's why he's had the success that he's had and I'm sure he'd keep going if he could keep going. But he has a good routine that he's followed for a number of years to get himself ready for July.
Q: Do you think the quarterback position is a little different than most in regards to the information, what you asked from them. With Jaxson, what's your advice for him in the best way to handle the time between now and training camp?
Daboll: It's not much different than the other positions. He's going to have time to work on his craft individually, fundamentally, when he goes away. But he's going to have to do a good job of staying in his iPad, if you will, and reviewing the things that we've covered. You can't have much contact with them during the next few weeks until they get back. The rookies will be back earlier than the veterans. We'll get going with him, but he's got a lot of studying to do. I know he'll do that. He's going to have his playbook, he's going to have his video with him, so grind away.
Q: Do you have exit meetings now and send guys off kind off with a checklist of what you want them to work with? Is it everybody or just select?
Daboll: When they get here, all the individual coaches meet with each player in the room. And then the core special teams guys meet with Ghoby (Michael Ghobrial). They go through a number of things, things that we think they're doing really well or they've done well on tape, whether it's free agent or rookie, someone we had last year and things that we think they need to improve on and focus on throughout the spring. And then at the end of the spring you sit down with them again, all the individual coaches meet with them again and say, okay, this is what we got accomplished. We said A, B, and C need to improve. Look, A, B, and C all improved, but maybe not as much as C. So this is something we want you to focus on over the next 30 days when you come back ready to go. Or maybe there'd be another thing that pops up when you're practicing that you talk to those guys about.
Quarterback Jaxson Dart
Q: (Head Coach) Brian (Daboll) was telling us that he threw a lot at you to kind of see what you absorbed, back it off to bring it back in. What will your process be for the next couple weeks here before training camp starts, after having all that thrown at you to now get ready for camp?
DART: I feel like I've made tremendous strides especially from my first day to now, just being able to understand the pictures of the offense and whatnot. Obviously, I have dive into a lot more but I'm definitely just trying to take it to the next level over the summer. Really just lock in, hone in on as much as I can throughout this time, so that way when I get back for training camp, I'm on an even better level than I'm now.
Q: What's been the biggest or toughest part of the adjustment going from college to the NFL?
DART: I think the biggest thing is there's a lot of times where you're making a throw and you feel confident, and you have guys on the other end who are extremely talented, great playmakers who either break a pass up or make a great play on it. So, I think probably the biggest thing is just the qualities and just the overall athleticism on the other side of the ball.
Q: How much is that something that you, going forward, have to keep an eye on? Like, hey, I can't maybe fit this throw in where I did it in college, maybe, but at this level it's going to be a little harder?
DART: I'm an aggressive player as is, so I think that's definitely something that I have to continue to learn. I think this practice setting is a great time for me to do it. Then obviously you make mistakes, you do some really good things and you get to go back and watch the tape and pick up on the things that you need to improve on.
Q: Is that easy for you to be unafraid to make mistakes?
DART: I think you kind of have to be, that's the only way that you're going to get better as a quarterback. You can ask the best to ever do it, what was their biggest reason of how they're able to improve and develop. Making mistakes and being able to watch it, look back on it, and have a lot of humility in your mistakes. Being able to say I was wrong in this, or I was wrong in that and then being able to be proud of the good plays that you make as well.
Q: Is there a transition about not only being a player, but being a professional? Being here and being away and all the stuff that comes with it, is that something that you're going to have to just get through?
DART: Quite honestly, this is like the most important thing to me. So being able to come to work every single day, I just love it, I love being around the facility. I feel like a lot of times I try to be the last one to leave here and I want to put as much as I can into this. I have a vision and a goal for myself and that goes far beyond just starting here and being in the NFL. I know that for me to do that I'm going to have to put in all that I can.
Q: Have you ever been the last one here? Is it hard to be that? Some guys want stay a long time.
DART: Absolutely, everybody's working hard. But right now, I'm still adjusting, so I don't really have a lot to do other than just to learn football.
Q: Someone mentioned the amount of information that's being thrown at you, and (head coach Brian Daboll) Dabs mentioned that the other day as well. Have there been any times to this point where it's just felt like overload? Like your head was kind of spinning with it?
DART: I'd probably say like my first few days. You definitely feel like you're swimming a little bit in information and things are happening a little faster than usual just because you don't really understand it as well as other people. That was definitely a few things I had to work on. But I tried to do my best to prepare and make strides each and every day being able to feel more comfortable in the offense and improve on mistakes I made from the past day and just try to go out there and make plays.
Q: What's it been like starting your career in the same room as a couple of vets, like Russ (Russell Wilson) and Jameis (Winston)?
DART: It's been great. They've been so supportive of me and I pick up as much as I can off of them and how their habits are. It's great to just sit in the meetings and hear them talk and go over things. I'm blessed to be in a room with those guys, and I feel like there's so much I could take away from them and really excited for the room that we have
Q: They talk a lot about a plan for you, a plan for you eventually on the field. Have they communicated to you what that is exactly or are you sort of waiting for unfold?
DART: I just trust them. They've had this blueprint and they've done it with different quarterbacks and you've seen them succeed at the highest level, so I trust them. For me, I'm just trying to be the most coachable player that I can. I want to play well on the offense. I want to be able to manage it and operate it at the highest level. I know that they definitely do have a plan. I'm just trying to take it day by day and I'm not looking for results immediately. I'm a process driven person, so I'm just taking it day by day, rep by rep.
Q: When it comes to Russ and Jameis and Tommy (DeVito), how much are you talking to them like after meetings or just picking their brains after you've heard them talk and just see them go about their business?
DART: All the time. Anytime that I see them after practices sitting in the meeting room, I try to just sit down and listen. In the meeting rooms, trying to listen and then if I have questions on the field, I got three great guys to talk to and ask for advice from. So, I'm constantly searching for that. I don't have any pride about myself going over to ask questions and I know that I definitely don't know everything, so I definitely want to pick those guys' brains because they've done it at the highest level and even won a Super Bowl.
Q: What's one thing you've picked up from Russ?
DART: I think just the way that he operates the whole offense. He's in such command. Everybody can look to him and feel super confident that everybody's going to be in the right spot. From just the cadences to the motions to the shifts, he makes sure that everything is set and in the right spot. He just has a confidence about him that everybody feels confident when he is out there playing for him.
Quarterback Tommy DeVito
Q: Since you know this offense better than anybody – the other three quarterbacks are all new, have you found yourself at times taking a front and center role? Did they ask you things that they can ask (head coach Brian) Daboll and ask (assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Mike) Kafka, but you're the quarterback?
A: Yeah, for sure. I wouldn't say I take a front and center role. I let the coaches do their thing. They have a process for everything and the way that they're going about it, especially this offseason, everything's kind of been from the ground up kind of thing. Rebuilding, especially with three new quarterbacks in the room, teaching them everything from the basics. For myself, it's been more on the field, outside of the film room, they come talk to me because it's different from someone who's played in the offense before and been back there, not just behind a clicker, if you will. No disrespect to any coaches, but it is different. So I try to give my 2 cents –
Q: Any example you could offer that (quarterback) Russ (Wilson) or one of these guys said to you, like what are you seeing here? What am I supposed to be looking at here?
A: Not so much what you're looking at, it's more of a feel for how things are. Because when things are online, and obviously (quarterback) Jameis (Winston) and Russ have played a ton of football, but it's really about how it looks and feels on the field. So, it's really before they get to feel it for themselves on the field, it's kind of that feedback, which has been very good.
Q: What's this offseason been like for you? Just watching the QB room be built around you and just kind going through that process?
A: Yeah, it's been cool. Obviously, there's a lot of different personalities, as I'm sure you guys have all seen, but it meshes together very well. Like I said, Russ and Jameis have been around for a while. Russ has his deal. I mean, everybody saw the handshake with me and Jameis yesterday, right? His hair and then doing his thing…he's a bottle of energy, if you will. And then (quarterback) Jax(son Dart) just came in. He's a swaggy dude too. So, to have everybody in the room, everybody's very competitive and it brings out the best in us and I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes.
Q: You say Jaxson's a swaggy dude. What's that attitude like for a young rookie coming in? What are you seeing from him with that?
A: Yeah, you have to have that. I mean, for any quarterback, I think you have to have that confidence, especially here in this market with how New York and the fans and everybody's around it. You have to have that kind of confidence because the minute you go on Twitter or read something, everything can go downhill. So, for him to have that coming in, you want to keep him high with that confidence. No matter if he makes a mistake, he's going to make mistakes. I made a ton of mistakes, so did everybody else. When you make a mistake, you're right there on that, you're good, bro, we're on to the next one. For him to have that at this point and continue to have that during training camp, preseason, and when the season comes, it's going to be huge for him.
Q: How is the room? I mean, you've got some personalities. Is it fun? Is it interesting? Is it a little weird? How is the room?
A: It's very fun. I would say we enjoy ourselves in there. It's definitely work comes first, as it always does. But it's definitely fun. We go out, we get dinner all the time. We do different things outside the facility. But I think, like I said, everything meshes very well with, I don't want to say they're 'older,' but Jameis and Russ being a little bit older and me and being on the younger side, it's a fun blend. They have wives, families, that whole thing. Me and Jax don't. It's been – me and Jax might go on Love Island, we've talked about it (laughs). So, you really don't know what's about to happen.
Q: What's your approach to the competition and the reps that you're getting?
A: Yeah, I mean, control what I can control, nobody in our quarterback room, no players can control that. Obviously, we can with our play, but the coaches make decisions – when your number's called, you go out and make the most of it. Kind of the same deal that's happened since I've been here. Stay down, keep working, grinding until it's my time to go. When that time comes, I do my thing. But until then, control what I can control, be the best teammate and help everybody around me.
Q: Are you guys watching Love Island together?
A: We have. I can't say we do it every night, but from time to time if we get an off day (laughs). Yeah, we watch it, we talk about it.
Q: Do you still see a future for yourself here?
A: For sure. I mean the plan has always been to be here, especially when I was a rookie. So trying to continue that for as long as possible and then we'll see where it goes from there. But right now, I'm focused on being present and where I am and be where my feet are. So right now, I'm about to go enjoy this break and then come back for training camp and then we'll go from there.
Q: You have Jaxson over to your family's house for mom's cooking?
A: No, not yet. I've taken him to a ton of Italian restaurants though. We went on a kick (going) to a lot of restaurants. It's kind of been a thing. We need to make a list at this point. But no, not to the house yet, but he will be.
Q: What does he think about the Italian restaurants you're taking him to?
A: He knows how to eat, I'll tell you that (laughs), but so does Jameis, so does Russ.
Q: Do you make the rookie pay?
A: No, no, not yet. Not yet. That'll come at some point. Russ and Jameis have been around for a while too. They're well off (laughs), so they take care of most of them, honestly. But he's loved it. I know he's been in New York before, Jaxson. He's probably had a ton of good food, but there's nothing quite like the New Jersey/New York food market. I don't know. I might be biased, but it's the best in the world.
Q: You just mentioned Russ specifically and obviously Jameis too you've watched for years and he's been in this league, but to now be in this room with guys you've played with the last couple of years, but now this is Russell Wilson. When you were in high school, you were watching this guy, I would imagine over here winning the Super Bowl, you were paying attention. What is that like having him come here? I mean, everybody's talking about his presence and what he means, but for somebody who sees it, you play the same position, but there's got to be a little awe or respect. What do you think about that relationship?
A: For sure. I still tell him I'm kind of mad at him. That whole Super Bowl deal, the roads were closed around here. Everything was so packed when everything was going on. But honestly, Russ is a really genuine dude. It kind of ties back to when I was transferring out of Syracuse, going to Illinois, and my head coach at the time was (Illinois head coach) Bret Bielema, who also took Russell as a transfer from NC State, where Russ was the first college transfer. So, I was really sold on Russ back then from my head coach, Coach B, really sold me on him and that whole process and how that went. I've always been a fan since I was younger. And just to see him operate on a day to day, everybody says everybody's a professional, everybody's a real pro. But if I had to put a person to it, it's Russ. The way he just handles his everyday business, not on the field, off the field, the way he talks to you with intent – it's at a different level than I've seen before, and I'm really appreciative to be around him for the past couple of months and be able to learn that. Because for me, it's taking in as much as I can. Trying to take in a little bit day by day the more that I'm around him.
Offensive Tackle Jermaine Eluemunor
Q: How do you think the spring went?
ELUEMUNOR: I think it went well. It was a lot of competition. Everyone was competing and I think the entire team got better. It's definitely one of the better springs I've been around. It's my ninth year now, so I think it was a really good spring. Good catapult leading to the summer.
Q: What's different or what felt different for you with almost an entire new quarterback room from that perspective? For the offense.
ELUEMUNOR: I would say the leadership, and it's not a knock on anyone, but (quarterback) Russ (Wilson and (quarterback) Jameis (Winston), just bringing a different kind of energy to the building and especially Russ just being out there. To me it was, I've been around a lot of great players, but Russ is just different where this is his life. He lives and breathes this, and he knows everything and everyone's responsibility out there and just how quickly he was able to pick up this offense and kind of make it his own and hone into something. He's a really comfortable and it was really cool to see.
Q: You talked about how competitive it's been, seemed like in the trenches, it was a little more than you see in the spring. What was kind the root of that?
ELUEMUNOR: I think just people are just sick and tired of not being good and it all starts in the trenches. O-line and d-line is where games are really won. We can talk about the receiver room or DBs and quarterback is a really important position, but games are really decided in the trenches and so it was intense, especially with the players that we have on o-line and d-line, but at the end of the day, everyone got better from it.
Q: What do you think those battles will be like in the summer when the pads come on?
ELUEMUNOR: It'll be fun. It'll be very fun. I'm excited for it.
Q: What have you seen from (offensive lineman) Evan (Neal) as he kind of transitions to guard?
ELUEMUNOR: I think that he's truly bought into it, and it's been cool for me to just watch the tape and just, he's a humongous dude. I'm sure you all have seen him, but when he hits you, like holding the bag, you feel the "ugh." It's like, 'oh damn.' And him going out there and being able to not change anything from indy (individual) to the team and obviously him going from tackle to guard is a big transition. And I've done it myself a couple times in my career, so to see him buying into it and to see how serious he's taking it is really cool to see. And I think that he can be a really good player. I was telling him, I was like, if you lock in and you truly buy into this, you can be a really good guard just from seeing how he's done in the spring. I'm excited to see him in the summer and putting pads on.
Q: What are the big challenges he's going to face? As someone who's done that, it's a different position. It really is. What are the big challenges once the pads are on and the preseason games that he's going to be faced with?
ELUEMUNOR: I'd say the speed. Everything at guard is bang, bang. At tackle, it's more patience and you have to be willing – you have to know when to strike at tackle essentially. At guard, those big guys like (defensive lineman) Dexter (Lawrence II) they are on you within a millisecond and you got to be able to figure out what you need to do and how you can defeat them when you are blocking and ultimately win the block within a matter of seconds because if not, then they're going to be on the quarterback. So, I think that he's done a really good job at adjusting to that and really truly buying into guard. And the sky is the limit for him, he's a talented kid and I think that he can be a really good player.
Q: When you say buying in, I mean tackle is, if there is a glamor position on the offensive line, tackle is what people want to be. So is there a certain buy-in mentally to say, okay, I kind of didn't do great there, I'm inside now it's a little bit different. Is that part of the buy-in?
ELUEMUNOR: Yeah, I think that when (offensive lineman) Evan's (Neal) case, he was a five star, five star recruit, was at Alabama. Alabama's left tackle, correct me if I'm wrong, top 7-8 pick. So top eight pick in the NFL draft. You're just used to one certain thing, and you used to playing tackle. And then when they're like, oh, play guard now, there's a decision you have to make. And I had to make that decision too, whether it's like my first couple years in the league, when I got into the league, they were like, you're a guard. I was like, I'm a tackle. They were like, no, you're playing guard and you have to truly be willing to accept that and just clear your mind of everything and relearn everything. And like I said, I think he's done a phenomenal job doing the entry, buying in.
You can see in the meeting room, like the extra meetings he's doing and truly wanting to take that next step to get out in the field and truly help this team win.
Q: Does it take a while to kind of unlearn some of those things when you're switching position?
ELUEMUNOR: Yeah, it is hard to, I mean I had to do last year from going from right to left tackle is hard. Going from tackle to guard to even harder. Like I said, the speed of the game is completely different in there. The knowledge you have to have to play guard, especially in this offense is tremendous. We have really smart guards. Even JMS (center John Michael Schmitz Jr.) is probably one of the smartest guys on the team. You have to be really smart to play that position and seeing him picking up the offense like that and truly buying into it. And like I said, taking it serious and truly wanting to be out there is really cool to see.
Especially young guys like that. It's tough when you want to play a certain position and you get told no, you have to play here now. And like I said, it can go one or two ways. It can be I'm going to do this or no, I'm not going to do this. I'm going to do things my own way. And he's truly bought into the coaching out there in indy. He's truly buying into it, like I said, and this starting to pay dividends for him
Q: What kind of players is (outside linebacker) Abdul Carter going to be?
ELUEMUNOR: I think he's going to be a really good player. It's been fun playing against him. He's an explosive kid and I think that it's really good to have him on this team. I can't really compare him to anyone because he's his own player, but him, (outside linebacker Brian) Burns, Tibs (outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux), they're going to be a hell of a trio.
Q: You mentioned before last that people are sick of losing. Is that a conversation that is had? Is that an attitude that you feel the spring? I mean, what is that bubbling frustration of losing mean?
ELUEMUNOR: I mean going 3-14 is terrible. That first game last year against the Vikings, that was one of my – I was in Vegas, so obviously it's hard to get home field advantage there because its Vegas, teams are going to travel there, right? That game last year, I still remember it and I'm probably going to remember it for a while, and it was the first time in a long time that I've had homefield advantage. The fans out here are passionate about this team, passionate about this franchise and they want to win. But that's the same way we feel too. We know that Colts game, I know everyone comes back to it, but that feeling that you get after you win the game and truly seeing everything you put in the week and all the work you've been putting in, paying off, there's no feeling like it and it's addictive and that's what you want, week in and week out and that's what we want to get and that's what the team wants to become. So, I think that you saw the attendance. I don't think anyone missed OTAs. Everyone was out there.
Like I said, having (quarterback) Russ (Wilson) and (quarterback) Jameis (Winston) has been huge for us. And even guys that weren't practicing, they're still in the huddle or they're still around the team or they're still buying in in meetings, trying to make sure that they're gaining all the knowledge they need to so when they come back out there, they know what to do and there's no fall off. So, I think that I'm not going to make any predictions, but I like this team a lot.
