Assistant Head Coach & Offensive Coordinator Mike Kafka

Q: A big trend has been former players becoming a head coach. You may be a head coach one day. What do you think former players as head coaches bring to their teams that other guys don't who don't have experience playing in the league?

KAFKA: I'm trying to think back, I've been under a couple in my time at Northwestern, (former Northwestern head coach and former linebacker Pat Fitzgerald) Coach Fitz being a former player, former Wildcat, and understanding what that is and I think being with (Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy) Coach Reid, who has played college at a high level and obviously coached for a long time but didn't necessarily play in the league so I've had both experiences in my time and I don't think there's one right way or the other, just different experiences. Each coach kind of brings their own touch and feel to how they approach the game and I think reaching the players, getting them to understand the importance of certain things, whether it's on the field, off the field, the fundamental part of it and just sharing your experiences. I think, for me, that's been probably the coolest thing is being in those same seats with the guys, being in the locker room with the guys, being able to relate to the players and understanding what they're going through. It's not any secret, this time of year right now when cuts are going down, I've been in those positions. I've sat there, I've been cut before a number of times and I've also been part of it where I made the team so I can share that and understand what they players are going through. Those have been my experiences as a coach, as a player. I think there's no right or wrong way to it. It's just what you bring to the table as a person.

Q: Your offensive line has looked pretty good in these preseason games. What have you seen from them and is it harder or easier to draw conclusions about o-lines through preseason games compared to the skill positions?

KAFKA: Well everything certainly starts up front, in the run, the pass game, the screen game, everything. (Offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo) Carm and (assistant offensive line coach) James (Ferentz) have done really good job of getting that group together, getting everyone on the same page and working it's way inside-out from the center, to the guards, to the tackles, to the tight ends being an extension of that run game and the pass game, the running backs, the receivers. We talk about it a lot, being an 11-man operation but it starts with the guys up front, the coaches are an extension of that and then all the skill groups, making sure we're all on the same page. That's just part of – really what we honed down this offseason was just making sure the language that we're using in the huddle, the language that we're using at the line of scrimmage, it all means something so what is that telling the players and how to operate, how to execute their position and role. It's been really good and I think you're seeing it, the players are buying into it and they're' doing well.

Q: Is it any harder with linemen to tell what's going on in a preseason game compared to other positions or is it a similar judgement?

KAFKA: You certainly get a feel for it as a play caller. You see that they're handling it. There's not a whole lot of pressure in some points, so you get a feel for how the rush is going, how the o-line is kind of leaning on the defensive line, kind of moving at the line of scrimmage so that's been really productive and really good this preseason and really through camp.

Q: How would you assess (quarterback) Jaxson (Dart) through these first two preseason games as far as what you liked about what he's done so far?

KAFKA: I think Jaxson's been really good with the opportunities he's had in terms of the run game, the pass game, obviously having some production down field. I think he's just really starting to put together some of the stuff on the offense in terms of just the plays, understanding what we're trying to do on offense and just really – he's done a great job with the leadership part of that and making sure that guys are in the right spot. He's working with guys in that second, that third group that may be young players, other rookies along side of him, other veterans that have played a lot of football as well, so he's doing a great job of kind of leading the group. Again, we talk about an 11-man operation, he's leaning on those veterans, he's leaning on some of the older guys in the room and on that offensive line that have done it and played well and then he's taking it to the next level.

Q: We saw (defensive lineman) Elijah Chatman play fullback. What did you see when you looked at Chat's tape that made you think you could incorporate this into the offense this season?

KAFKA: He did it in college. We went back into the archives and watched some of the stuff he did in college and I think for Chat, just his ability to be another dynamic player like he is on defense. We brought it up to the staff and (head coach Brian Daboll) Dabs and had an idea about maybe introducing him as a fullback and seeing what that looked like, so no better time than the preseason to test it out before the bright lights so we wanted to see what it looked like and I thought he did a really nice job jumping in there.

Q: Dabs mentioned he's been breaking his helmet in practice or games when he's hitting those blocks. Is that physicality something you like seeing from him on offense?

KAFKA: Yeah (laughs), the physicality, you know you see it on defense so it was cool to see it translate on the offensive side and him go stick his face in a block and yeah, he's broken a couple face masks over the course of training camp. He's doing a great job though, really cool.

Q: With (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers) not out there these first two games, what have you seen with how the offense is running without him there as a focal point?

KAFKA: Next man up. That's really been our mentality as an offensive unit, whether any position really. If some guy is not available, then the next guy has got to step up into that role. That's our job as a coaching staff is to make sure we put the right guys in the right spot regardless of the position groups and just being flexible with how we want to approach each game. I know the preseason you're kind of rolling through the different groups – the first group, the second group, the third group, so you're not thinking of it like on a 60-play or a whole game kind of volume, but you still have to work through those substitutions and make sure everyone kind of knows their different roles and different spots that they could be in.

Q: Calling the plays from the sideline, how has that gone?

KAFKA: Just different. Just wanted to test it out, be down with the group. You know, you're on the field for practice and you're talking with the guys, you're communicating so I think it was just a cool transition. Me and Dabs just talked about it, wanted to try it out for the preseason.

Q: So do you know if you're going to continue doing that, or is it still up in the air?

KAFKA: We're still going to evaluate it. We still have one more preseason game left, so we'll evaluate it and talk through it and see what is best for the team.

Q: I have a bigger picture question from your past. Like, obviously (Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick) Mahomes sitting out his rookie year, that's the gold standard of why you should sit a guy. But you were there. What were the benefits of him sitting? Or if he started week one, would he have been as good as he'd become? You know what I mean? Were there benefits that you saw those weeks where he wasn't playing?

KAFKA: Every quarterback is different. You see guys that play week one or are a day one starter. Like, (Washington Commanders quarterback) Jayden Daniels, a guy like last year, it was day one he was the first guy in. But then other players have different trajectories and different, I guess, stories, right? So, I don't think there's a right or wrong way. I think you've got to understand the guy. I think you've got to understand where your team is at. I think you've got to understand how fast of a learner he is or where he's at in his kind of the profile of the player and where the offense is and what you can do with the offense. So, I don't think there's a right or wrong way. I think you just have to have a plan for what you want to do and then just kind of work through it from there and adjust along the way. There's no, like, cookie-cutter way of doing it. Just be flexible with it. Try to work through each of those growth periods. You get through the first part of getting them into rookie minicamp, right? And you're working through all right here's the NFL game, here's what it looks like, here's what it sounds like. Then you get to the phases and OTAs and you get through training camp. Now you're in the preseason. Now everything kind of ramps up a little bit faster each level you go through. And that will happen the same way in the season. So I think in preparing those guys as much as you can, whether it's a quarterback or any rookie young player, as long as you kind of have a plan and you give them the opportunity to kind of see it and make mistakes and go through those learning phases, I think that's where you kind of see the best player show up.

Q: Just with Jaxson, how has the communication been in terms of relaying the plays to him, play by play, and how different do you have to communicate plays with him than a veteran like (quarterback) Russ (Wilson)?

KAFKA: We talk about it a lot in the quarterback room, how he wants to hear certain things. Guys have certain preferences. Maybe they want, 'hey, give me a reminder on this, give me a reminder on that.' Everyone's a little bit different. Really all four guys are different. So that's just part of those open lines of communication between myself and the quarterback room and any given play, how we're talking it. Whether it's on the field and I'm giving it to him in the headset or we come off on the sideline and we're looking at the pictures and getting ready for the next series of things that I'm thinking through. I wouldn't say it's any different than anywhere else I've been. It's just about learning that player and learning what he likes and that feedback loop being connected with him doing the same to me.

Q: It almost felt like you guys were running two different playbooks the other night. Like what you were doing with Russ and then more of a 'collegey' up-tempo style with Jaxson. Is that situational? Is that playing to each guy's strengths? Are we making too much of it or is it really almost two different offenses when you have a guy with Russ's strengths and experience versus a guy with Jaxson's strength and inexperience?

KAFKA: I'd say I think you're making a little bit too much of it, but, I mean, I think we did do two different things with each quarterback. We did up-tempo with (quarterback) Jameis (Winston) and (quarterback Tommy) DeVito as well. I just think we were trying to get a couple things worked on. I think if Russ plays a little bit longer in that game, we're probably getting into the up-tempo stuff as well. So, I don't think it was anything specific for the guys. We had a plan that we were going to kind of work that. It's just the way that the game went, we stuck with it a little bit longer than maybe we were thinking and just kind working, so we were just rolling with it. I think the guys handled it really well. It's not easy with those 12, 13-play drives of up-tempo, fast, but you're pushing the defense. You're pushing yourself mentally. You're getting tired. But I thought the guys did a really nice job, particularly when you're getting those long drives down in the red zone when you're gassed and you're just like, now they go and execute at a high level. It was pretty cool to see. But based on the quarterbacks, I think we've always kind of had that package in our back pocket. We can use it whenever we feel like it. But, I think early in the game, we're trying to get a couple things accomplished and seen. And then as the game kind of developed, we just jumped into it.

Q: And I feel like every coach I've ever talked to starts out his career saying, 'I'm going to adjust my system to my players' strengths.' And then adversity hits, and then a lot of people end up trying to revert to what they know and what they've done. Sometimes you end up fitting a square peg into a round hole. How important is it with Jaxson, especially a quarterback, a rookie quarterback, for you guys to adjust to what he does?

KAFKA: That's just part of the process. It's learning every player, whether it's Jaxson or another rookie or even Russ, a veteran, a long-time veteran. You want to learn those guys. What do they do best? And what do they do really well that maybe they haven't done a lot of in their career that we know they can do well? Like, Russ is really good in the two-minute drill. Historically, he has been. So, like, that's no huddle. That's tempo. That's not to say he hasn't done that a whole lot in his career, but I think he'd be good at it. So maybe that aspect of it shows up and using those other guys in different spots. But when you talk about Russ as a veteran guy being able to do all that he can, he can really do anything, I think, in my heart, I think he can do anything. And then a young guy like Jaxson jumping in, he's learning the NFL game, maybe a little bit more shotgun than he has been under center. That's fine. That's normal. But he's gotten plenty of work under center. He had it all spring and all training camp. And so, it's not that he can't do it. It's just about how much do you want to do and certain plays may marry up with certain things differently. But, I don't see putting really any restrictions on the quarterback room at this point.

Defensive Coordinator Shane Bowen

Q: I'm going to take off my Giants writer hat here and put on my NFL writer hat here for the season preview. I know this is a 30,000-foot question, Shane, but just to the best of your ability, people always talk about how hard it's become to play defense in the NFL today, with all the rules and the motion offenses and whatnot. How have you seen, from the first time you got into the NFL until now, have you changed what you quantify as good defense? The measurements or the idea of yards, maybe you bend but don't break is more okay than it was. How have you seen the definition of good defense change over the years?

BOWEN: Yeah, I think the first thing is they got good players, too. I think they're going to make some plays. To assume we're going to get a three and out every series or hold them to however many yards, I don't know how attainable that is. They're going to make their plays. I think the biggest thing for me, as I look at it, regardless of the rules, regardless of everything else, we got to play to the rules that are there. We got to understand them. We got to know the situations where they come up for us and be able to execute and be disciplined enough to follow the rules. But really, it's about us and how we play defense. We know the different variations that we're going to see in terms of how offenses are attacking. Like you mentioned, the jet motion has become a big thing. The tight end movement, at times, has become a big thing. I think the two-back game has kind of transformed where it kind of got cycled out, and I think it's probably making a cycle back in where teams are having a fullback or using tight ends back there to form two-back. But really, for me, the focus is our guys and making sure we can execute and defend everything offenses are throwing at us, a lot of pre-snap communication, whatever that might be, with all the moving parts pre-snap. I think that's one thing offenses are doing more and more of, to put you in conflict before the ball is even snapped. But it's about us playing defense, executing, finding ways to play the next play when they do make a play, being good in the red zone, being good taking the ball away. I think those are critical now, just in terms of being able to steal possessions or keep them from scoring seven and making them attempt a field goal.

Q: Do you think there is a path forward for defense-first teams to be really good in the NFL still? The way Ray Lewis' (former Baltimore) Ravens (linebacker) or (former linebacker) Derrick Brooks' (Tampa Bay) Bucs, can defense still win big in the NFL, or is it still offense dominated?

BOWEN: Yeah, I think absolutely. I think it's a team game. Obviously, you have to be able to play complementary football when you get a stop or when you pin them back. Hopefully we can keep them pinned back. But I think that's part of it. Each game is kind of different, how it unfolds. Some games are lower scoring, some games are higher scoring, just based on how the game is going. But I absolutely think a defense can still lead to winning football in the league. But again, it takes everybody.

Q: I think we're probably going to have to take your temperature on this every time we talk to you until starters are announced. What's your view on the CB2 battle now with (cornerback) Cor'Dale (Flott) being the guy healthy and (cornerback) Deontae's (Banks) banged up?

BOWWEN: Yeah, hopefully we can get them back here and they can get some work this week. I've been pleased with both those guys throughout camp when they've been able to be out there. I feel like both of them have made some plays. Even going back to the spring, they were both getting their hands on the football. It was good to see Flott on that third down, break up that pass Saturday night. So, I was encouraged by him being back out there and the reps that he did get. So again, it's an ongoing thing. I do feel like they're both, the competition is making them both better. I do. I think there's been production there that we didn't necessarily see as much this time last year from both those guys. I think Flott, just the comfort level of playing out there, he played inside early on in his career. So, the more reps he's gotten out there, the more comfortable he's become. And he's done some good things. He's challenged guys, I think he's showed up at times in the run game for us. Setting edges, being physical, whether it was in practice or the games. So, I'm encouraged by both those guys and hopefully they keep competing here these last few weeks and we'll go from there.

Q: And then (inside linebacker) Darius Muasau, where does he fit? Could you see a rotation at linebacker? Does he have a role on the defense?

BOWEN: Yeah, I think he's another guy that has had a really good camp. He's got a knack for finding the football. So again, got a lot of confidence in him just like I do (inside linebacker) Bobby (Okereke) and (inside linebacker) Micah (McFadden). So, I'm not opposed at all to him getting in there and playing some snaps for us defensively. Trust him. I think he's productive when he's in there. So really encouraged with that group and where they're at and the training camp they've had.

Q: Obviously, we don't have (defensive lineman) Dex (Lawrence II) out there for a lot of this. But what have you seen from your rush defense just through the two preseason games and joint practice especially?

BOWEN: Yeah, I think it was improved. I do. I mean, they ran the ball 33 times. I think they were 4.3 (yards) per attempt. Obviously, like our goal is normally, let's try to keep it around 4 (yards) per attempt. Obviously, depending on how many runs they get, the yardage goes up. Room for improvement. There is. Just consistency with our technique, fundamentals. When we are pressuring, some of the movement stuff can get a little loose at times where you create some space that hopefully you don't always want in the run game. But there's flashes. I think just the consistency with our technique, fundamentals, attacking the line of scrimmage, being disruptive when we can, all those things we've got to continue to work on and build. And each week is kind of a different animal in terms of the run game. What we see week one against Washington (Commanders) is going to be totally different than what we saw on Saturday night. There's going to be some different schemes that we've got to be good on. Again, to me, it always falls back on our ability to play with techniques and fundamentals regardless of scheme, control the line of scrimmage, play square, not create creases. The secondary support is a big part of that, knowing where to fit, the corner showing up, but all 11 guys being involved. And then hopefully we can limit them finding creases. The one thing I've been encouraged about, like the longest run happened late in the game and it was 15 yards. And again, it should have been five if we execute properly. But we really, knock on wood, we've been able to minimize some of the big ones when like the 10 to 12, 15 yarder at times is going to happen. But we've got to make sure we keep them there and not get up to 20 pluses and some of those.

Q: Shane, when we talk about Bobby O, we always talk about his leadership and I think that's pretty much a constant. But what have you seen from just his production and his play this summer that gives you hope that he'll be a better player than he was for you last year?

BOWEN: Yeah, I think just the understanding of offenses and obviously our system, how it correlates. He's in the right spot a lot of the time. He really is. He understands how teams are attacking us. He understands leverage. The length shows up, the ability to corral guys in some space with that length. I think his pass game defense has improved. I think he's been locked in there in terms of matches, whether we're in zone, whether a zone match concept. I think that's improved. As a defense, I felt like we improved that last week from the Buffalo game to this past game (against the New York Jets). So that's something we're going to have to continue to do, making sure we're all coordinated, all on the same page in the back end. Again, back to Bobby, just the leadership, but the communication and then being able to play with some range with his length, hopefully get his hands on some footballs for us as we progress here. That's always been a big attribute of his, and that's something we're expecting.

Special Teams Coordinator Michael Ghobrial

Q: What have you seen from (running back Dante Miller) Turbo as a gunner?

GHOBRIAL: Turbo lives up to his nickname, real speed (laughs). The one thing that you see in practice as well is he has really good practice demeanor so you see the very intentional and deliberate practice habits show up in the game. You see his ability to run by a vice and he's a very willing and physical tackler when those opportunities present itself so excited to see Turbo whenever he gets those opportunities.

Q: Why didn't (wide receiver) Ihmir Smith-Marsette play the other night?

GHOBRIAL: We're confident in Ihmir's ability. He's had a lot of take out there, and really we just wanted to give other guys opportunity. We've been blessed with this roster of having a good amount of returners on this roster. A lot of guys in this league that have done it from the dual-returner ability so we're just going to continue to roll them through and see what some of these guys can do.

Q: If a player can play special teams, it helps his chances to make the team. What's the process like for you guys in terms of how calculated you are on identifying guys and teaching guys who may not have that experience at this level?

GHOBRIAL: So it obviously it starts off with the new league year. When you have those offseason meetings, I think your day to day with the players is teaching them your base fundamentals so really early on, we have everybody in those meetings. We make certain that they understand everything that's required of them from a technique standpoint, from a scheme standpoint, and then we kind of roll that into training camp when we're back. In those moments leading up to training camp, it's really just making sure everybody has a base understanding of what we do, whether you're a rookie, a veteran – the nature of this league is the roster sizes are small on gameday so you have to create a lot of flex with players, you have to create some emergency roster positions where if a guy goes down, you got to make sure this guy understands what he's doing in that role and I think this whole roster has done that. They've kind of bought into it too, just anything that they're asked to do, they've done it a million miles per hour. When we rolled into training camp, it was now a little bit more live bullets. They're executing these techniques, these schemes at a little faster pace and for the rookies, that truly is the opportunity where they start to learn by fire. They're learning going against veterans that have been doing it and that ultimately accelerates their growth mentally and physically as well. They're understanding the speed of the game, the different rule changes of the kickoff/kickoff return from what they were doing in college and then ultimately in the game, it's opportunities to show us that they've gained that knowledge and have been able to produce on the football field in that regard. It is a long and thorough process and the guys have done a great job just understanding the steps and kind of owning that.

Q: Following up on Turbo, is there an intricacy that's involved in being a gunner that we don't see? How do guys pick that up?

GHOBRIAL: The one thing that we try and do with any position is relate it to what they do from their primary position so in terms of what Turbo does a great job (of) as a running back, we try and correlate what he did there and see how we can simulate it with his gunner stuff. For any offensive player, it's ability to get off press. Now, when you're talking about gunner play, it's gunner vs. a vice so gunner vs. two people, so now you have press vs. two people. What are the fundamentals that you have done whenever you're running route on offense, like how do you get open? It starts with a decisive speed release, so that's one thing that he's kind of learned. When he's doing these drills in practice, you're not necessarily going to have 45-50-yard covers on these punts every play so it's breaking down a certain aspect of the gunner play, whether it's releases, and then you go into the set – another aspect of gunner play, which is the in-phase running down the field, and then you go into the third and final, which is the tackling and play-entry phase, so breaking it down in those roles allows those guys to transition if they've never had gunner reps there before. We try and do our best job in terms of translating what they do from a primary positional standpoint to what they do on special teams.

Q: Do you have any takeaways from the first two games about the new kickoff rule? What's been your impressions of the revised rule?

GHOBRIAL: Yeah, so really the biggest rule difference from last year has been where the touchback is now spotted and because there's been a lot more footballs in play, you haven't necessarily felt what a 35-yard line drive start would feel like throughout the entirety of the game. The one thing I will say though is we've hit a touchback, whether it be a yard deep, two yards deep, there has been a touchback where it was spotted on the 35 and you just feel what that does to the defense, and especially with how skilled the kickers are these days, they get a first down and then let's say they go three-and-out after that, a kicker may be in field goal range now. You're definitely feeling the consequences of consistently kicking touchbacks which may translate more to more kicks in play this year.

Q: Was there an exhale when you see your 38-year old kicker, Graham Gano, coming of injury and drill three 50-yarders in a preseason game?

GHOBRIAL: Yeah, I think there's definitely a breath of fresh air when you see a guy perform at what you know he can do and that was something that we saw, honestly, in training camp and in the offseason. It was like, 'Okay, Graham is kicking well. He looks like he's got his leg…' and all that. But ultimately, we're a production-based business so when you do it in the game, you're like, 'Okay, yeah, that's Graham Gano.' And I know that gave him confidence and then obviously, we've always been confident with him and that's a guy that we're fired up to see have success.

Q: What have you seen from (wide receiver) Beaux Collins on special teams?

GHOBRIAL: Beaux is, first of all, the person is built the right way. He wants to do everything right and you can tell he's a football player so I think (he's) instinctual, I think he's tough, I think he's a strong player and obviously, has that long speed so those are all things that can contribute to him being a good special-teams player. We certainly want to continue to see him in those roles but in terms of the person, he's just bought in completely to being the best football player he can be and doing whatever it takes to help this football team so it's cool to see that kid have success and I know he's going to be driven to keep going.

Inside Linebacker Micah McFadden

Q. What have you made of the defensive performance over the first two preseason games?
A: Pretty good. I think playing in these past few games has been good for us just seeing where we're at, getting a feel for the things we need to get corrected, the things we're doing well, just building on top of that. It's been good to see us on film and obviously, we're still working to get better and prepare for game one.

Q. Can you talk about the process that a run defense goes through in terms of gelling together? Does it take a little longer generally as opposed to a pass rush or is there really no difference?
A: I think run defense takes everybody and I think it's a holistic approach of making sure everybody's doing their job. When one guy doesn't have his hat in the right place, it can be the difference between an explosive run and something that can be at the line of scrimmage so I think it's just making sure we're all honed in on exactly where we need to be – the fits, the communication behind it all and taking control of our 1/11th. I think that goes a long way.

Q. Can you say the same thing about the pass rush or is that more of a outside the box type of thing?
A: I mean, it is a little bit different. Obviously, we have to stop the run in order to get to those passing situations where those guys can go hunt but kind of adversely to what I said before, in the pass rush, if one guy wins, it can be a sack so not everybody has to be exactly where they need to be but if one guy goes and makes a play, it can be beneficial for all of us. I think pass rush is just more instinctual and playing fast and those guys going and doing what they do but obviously, we got to get them to that situation first by stopping the run.

Q. The run defense seemed to be the area that needed the most improvement this season. How much does that get brought up between you guys like in order for the pass rush to thrive, we have to be good on the run defensive side first?
A: Yeah, it's brought up a lot. I think our first goal is first and second down and being great there getting the offense in the red where we can dial things up, we can go play fast, we can do our thing on the back end, play with good depth, get underneath the intermediate routes and then let those guys eat up front. I think it's definitely an important focus for us. I think last year we lacked a little bit in that run defense and it's something we want to be great at, something we want to hold a high standard to and I think we're doing a good job holding everybody to that but obviously, there's a lot of room for improvement there.

Q. When you talk about everyone doing their part as a unit, is that what you guys saw when you went back and looked at the film from last season? Just one guy that was off and not doing it as a unit?
A: Yeah, a little bit and I think with that too, there's some plays where three or four guys are wrong and that's when it gets really bad. When three guys aren't doing their job and it creates an explosive and then on top of that we have a missed tackle and the run can go for 30 or 40. I think another big thing in that is if they do get through the line of scrimmage, making sure we get them down for 10 or 12 and those long runs don't turn into longer runs. We can limit the explosive there, so yeah. I think it's been a main focus for us, just tying everybody in together with it is the important part.

Q. What do you guys on defense make of (quarterback) Jaxson (Dart)?
A: He fits our style as a team. He's a dog, he plays physical when he wants to and right now, he's making a lot of great reads, doing his thing out there. He fits in well with our scheme so it's been exciting to see him grow. Obviously, he's learning under two really good quarterbacks with (quarterback Russell Wilson) Russ and (quarterback) Jameis (Winston) back there and even (quarterback Tommy) DeVito just being in the scheme for so long. Those guys help him a lot, but yeah he's improving every week and we see it in practice and in the games as well, so it's been cool to see it translate over.

Q. As far as your room goes, it's your second year in the system. How much more comfortable are you now than you were even towards the end of last year?
A: I think a lot more comfortable. I think year one in a scheme, you're trying to figure it out during this time in camp, putting all the pieces together, still fine tuning some things but going into year two, we're comfortable. We kind of know the entire scheme already and then we go into OTAs and go through that first phase of install and all that. At this point we've put everything in three or four times and just tightening those screws. Like I was talking about earlier with the run game, making sure we're all honed in, we know exactly where we need to fit but yeah, a lot more comfortable going into year two in the scheme for sure.

Q. People always ask if the starters are going to play during the preseason. You guys have been playing and I'm sure it's been nice to go out there and tackle people. Do you feel any differently after the first to games as a defense? More confident that you're closer to where you want to be in Week 1 because you've had that experience together?
A: Yeah, I think it's been good for us. There's a lot of things that show up in the first few weeks of the regular season that just have to do with technique and fundamental and tackling is a big part of that. I think getting these opportunities to play in these first two games and feel the full speed of the game, feel the physicality of it in tackling, bringing guys to the ground. Obviously, we don't get to do that during practice but I think it's important to get these reps during preseason so that we can go into the regular season ready for it.

Offensive Lineman Jermaine Eluemunor

Q: Obviously it's preseason but the offensive line has looked pretty good. What do you think that's meshed so well even without (offensive lineman) Andrew Thomas?

ELUEMUNOR: For me personally, I don't really put too much stock in the preseason. I think it doesn't really count for much. Obviously, it looks good but you can't really base things off preseason. I think everyone individually is doing what they're meant to be doing and we practice hard going against a really good defensive line so that helps too but I wouldn't put too much stock in the preseason because you don't win any Super Bowls in the preseason. Sometimes, technically you're not going against their best players, so for me personally and the standard I have and I'm sure the standard we have in the o-line room, we're not really looking at it too much. Obviously, it's probably cool for the fans to see the o-line perform like that but as an o-line, we have such a high standard and where we want to be that we're just going out there and doing our jobs.

Q: Do you see the pieces there that gives you confidence that when the games do count this could be a solid unit?

ELUEMUNOR: I think it's going to be a great unit. Me personally, I think we're going to have a great offensive line. I don't really put, like I said, too much stock in the rankings and stuff like that but I think we're going to have a really good unit. We have the pieces, we have the depth and we have the coaches in place where we work really hard in practice. Like I said, we're going against really good defensive line so that's really helping us also because how many times are we going to see a d-line than what we're going against? (Defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence II) Dex, (outside linebacker Brian) Burns, (Outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux) Thibs, (defensive tackle) Roy (Robertson-Harris), (outside linebacker) Abdul (Carter), (defensive lineman Rakeem Nuñez-Roches) Nacho, that unit is really good freaking unit so we're taking game reps every single day when we put the pads on and even when we're just in jerseys and helmets, so we're getting ready for the regular season but I'm really confident in this unit.

Q: Over the years, you've played with a lot of quarterbacks. I'm sure you had a little skepticism when they brought in rookie (quarterback) Jaxson (Dart). What has he shown you so far?

ELUEMUNOR: I wouldn't say it was like, 'You've got to show me.' It's more so, 'let me see what you can do,' and I've watched him in college. I don't really watch college football like that, but I was kind of intrigued by Dart when he was at Ole Miss, I wanted to see what he could do. He had like a certain aura about him. It kind of made me want to watch him play and the games I did see him play, it was just phenomenal reps. He's a tough guy, sometimes he has to take hits when he's running down field but he gets back up and gets all hyped up and as an offensive lineman, you build off that when you see your quarterback running down field and taking a hit and getting back up and acting like it wasn't really anything when you know he probably felt it. He's a really good player. I think he's going to be really good for this team and just the progress he's made throughout the offseason and from OTAs to minicamp to training camp, you can see his progression. You can also see the way he's catching up with the speed of the game because from college to the NFL, the speed is a huge jump and I had to learn that personally but he's starting to catch up fairly quickly which is really cool to see. Some of the throws he makes, you're just like, 'Damn. This is going to be a good kid.'

Q: Obviously, it's not your decision to make but do you feel like he would be ready if needed to play and to start?

ELUEMUNOR: I think all our quarterbacks will be ready. They all have experience. Obviously, (quarterback) Jameis (Winston) has a bunch of experience, (quarterback Russell Wilson) Russ – ton of experience, Dart is getting experience, (quarterback Tommy) DeVito has a ton of experience so this is a really good quarterback room and if God forbid anything happened, any of those quarterbacks would be ready to step up and lead this team.

Q: What'd you see from (offensive lineman) Evan Neal getting in there at right guard for the first time?

ELUEMUNOR: I think you can see his confidence growing. From practice to the game, in my opinion, there's a difference because there's a different intensity out there. In practice you can mess up and you can mess up because it's practice, but when the balls are flying and everything's on the line, you have to go out there and be perfect because if you're not then comes down to a strip sack or the quarterback getting hit and God forbid getting hurt or a run stuff in the backfield. Those plays are crucial, especially as an offensive lineman so his confidence is growing for sure in that position and just his demeaner. He came in and I didn't sense any drop off from when (offensive lineman) Greg (Van Roten) was in there. He really wants to be successful, and I can see him putting in the work and really putting in the study time to so it's really cool to see that start pay up for him. I think for him, I'd just say keep going and keep growing that confidence because once we get to the regular season, I know we're going to need him and we play some good d-lines this year so that strength and size and ability is going to pay dividends for us.

Q: Would you say that confidence grew just over the course of the game? He allowed that one QB hit but then was pretty quiet on his end the rest of the game?

ELUEMUNOR: I think as an offensive lineman sometimes, our coach (offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo) says that you're not going to be perfect and you have to be ready to reload in a sense where something may not go your way and you have to be able to come back the next play and just drop it and forget about it. Really, you have to have short-term memory loss as an offensive lineman because one play may be crappy and the next play, you have to go again. You have to go again and again, and again. It's not just one or two reps as an offensive lineman. Sometimes 60, 70, 80, 90 so you can't let that one play effect the next and Ev did a really good job of that in the game on Saturday.

Q: As a veteran right tackle, how can you help guys like Evan Neal who's switching positions essentially being basically a rookie at guard? How can you help him during games on the field make that transition?

ELUEMUNOR: I know with my experience playing guard and tackle in this league, I know the pressure that can come with playing guard, but I also know how at tackle, things are a little slower to develop. At guard it's right away and that d-tackle's going to be on you within a second, maybe half a second at tackle. At guard, things are quicker to develop so when Ev is in there, I'm able to kind of help him with different things, remind him to communicate, maybe just backing up off the ball a little bit so we can be on the same level and just kind of instilling confidence in him. I've done that since I've been here. I sent him a text when he first got here just telling him I believe in him. I want him to be successful. I'm not here to get him out of a job. I want to see him be successful. I feel like as an older guy and a guy in my position, it's my job to help bring the younger guys on. Me wanting to be the player I want to be this year, in order to be great, you just can't be great on the field, you have to be great off the field too, you have to be a great leader, quote on quote. For me, I really want to see the young guys come along because it's only going to help this team and benefit, us and them, in the long run. It's cool being as old as I am playing still and just playing how I am so I'm able to help the young guys too and just instill confidence in them and just show them that like the question before, it doesn't matter if a play goes bad or you mess up on something. You come back the next play and sometimes it's gone as long as you win the game. Now, if you mess up multiple times and it happens too many times but with Ev, he's done a really good job of silencing the noise and just moving on to the next play, having the next-play mentality or like I said, having a one-play mentality where nothing matters other than that one play and then the next play and then the next play and the next play. Our young guys in that room are doing a really great job of that.

Q: I'm wondering if you hear the play call, you're whispering stuff to him out of the huddle or saying something to him in the huddle, or do you just sort of wait until after the game or on the sideline? How does that interaction go?

ELUEMUNOR: No, he knows his stuff. He knows his stuff, which is really cool to see that. You can see if a guy is in the playbook and really taking the time outside the building to study, which he is because guard in this offense has a lot of knowledge and a lot of things you have to know. It's a hard position to play in this offense. So, Ev is really taking that upon himself to put the time to study. And once he gets out there to not slow him down. If you don't know what you're doing out there, it'll slow you down and you'll see on the offensive line how big or how much it will slow you down. So, Evan's doing a really nice job with that. I think that it's starting to pay off for him and it's going to keep paying off as long as he stays on the right track.

Q: You mentioned with Jaxson his aura, what about him gives him that aura and can that aura be contagious with teammates at times?

ELUEMUNOR: Oh, a hundred percent. Every team starts with the quarterback. The quarterback is the most important position on the field – other than tackle, in my opinion. But the quarterback, that's the commander in chief. You're going to go as far as your quarterback takes you, and Jaxson just has this thing about him where you just want to play hard for him, and you want to see him be successful and you want to do everything you can to make sure he's successful as an offensive lineman. So, it's really cool to see that. I haven't been around many of those guys, but we have a bunch of those guys on this team right now. All four of our quarterbacks have that same aura about them, which is really cool to be around because I haven't really been around that much in my career other than when I was in New England with (former Patriots quarterback) Tom (Brady) and I was in Baltimore with (Ravens quarterback) Lamar (Jackson). But it's been rare that I've been around this many great quarterbacks or potentially great quarterbacks. So, for me as an offensive lineman, it only motivates me to be even better and just go out there and be as great as I can and lock down everyone who I can.

Q: Since we're talking about quarterbacks, you saw (quarterback) Russ (Wilson) from afar. I'm curious, over the last couple months has it matched up what you thought of Russell Wilson? How is he different maybe than any of the quarterbacks that you've had and how are his interactions with, I've heard he's pretty intentional in terms of talking to individual guys. I'm curious, have you seen that across the board? Is he like that with the entire line or does he take you guys individually sending texts and stuff like that?

ELUEMUNOR: Yeah, Russ has a super high standard and he's a perfectionist, so it's really cool to see how he's dialed in with every single position. The receivers running the correct route so he can get them the ball on time, the tight ends running their route. And just the little details that he's making sure they remember that can't affect us winning game or losing the game. And then also with the offensive line, making sure that we're on our Ps and Qs and just a little bit of effort. There was a play in that game on Saturday where he had that bomb and I'm just jogging downfield. And then I was like, oh, we're good, and I slowed down a little bit, but we were trying to go fast. So, for me, I need to get to the line. But then also just knowing that at tackle, his thing is the tackles, they set the line obviously, so you have to be the first ones out there to kind of see everything going on. He has a high standard and just the throws he can make and the type of person he is, and player he is, it just makes me want to go out there and be great for him. He has such a high standard, he's been to the peak. He is one of the great quarterbacks of this league, and he is continuing to be great, and I think he's going to be real great this year. So, it just motivates me to go out there and be the best player I can be. I haven't hid it from you, I want to be great this year too. So, to have a guy like that with the same mentality, the sky is the limit, but like I said, he's already been to the sky. So, it is really cool to be around a guy like that. I haven't really been around guys like that in my career. I've been around Tom, I've been around Lamar, but I haven't started with them. So for me, I only count quarterbacks that I've started with and Russ is one of the very, very few that I've been around where I can just say, damn, I have to be out there and I have to be great for him and I want to be great for him because I want him to be successful and for him to be successful, I have to go out there and do my job at the highest of levels. So, it's really cool to be around him and be his teammate and be his right tackle.

Q: Did he say something to you? Was that in your head on the 80-yard pass play?

ELUEMUNOR: No, he said something because that's the standard. There's a standard that we have around here now, and there's also just attention to detail with him. He's a really detailed guy and even the smallest things are the difference between winning and losing and he knows that. He's really starting to drill that into everyone out there. Even the guys who aren't out there know that if they do get out there with him, they have to play to a certain standard because he's not going to accept anything less than that. That's really cool that Dart is around that too. That's starting to wear on Dart too. And (quarterback) Jameis (Winston) is the same exact way. He's a perfectionist and he wants things done a certain type of way because that's the difference between winning and losing. So, the quarterback room – and (quarterback Tommy) DeVito's the same way too, but we have a really good quarterback room or a great quarterback room that is starting to rub off in the entire team and I think that people will see that this season.

Offensive Lineman Marcus Mbow

Q: What's it been like for you to get these last two weeks of game action and finally kind of get a taste of NFL O-line play?

MBOW: It's been great. It's great to just be able to play football again. It's been fun to be able to play against somebody in a different color jersey. So, it's been great for sure.

Q: What have you learned about where your game is at just after kind of going back and watching the tape on these games?

MBOW: A lot of things to learn still, of course. I feel like there's a lot of room for improvement in the consistency area. Just keep stringing things together with my footwork and my hands. But I feel like there's a lot of places to go. Good start so far.

Q: What have you made of the opportunity of slowly working your way up the depth chart, even playing some left tackle there the other night?

MBOW: I mean, I just go out there and try and be the best version of myself each day. Not really paying attention to where I'm at. I just want to be the best football player that I can. So, just doing what I can each day to get better and whatever comes with it.

Q: When asked to evaluate yourself, you kind of mentioned what you thought you had to work on. What do you look at and think you're doing well when you went and looked at the tape really from the preseason and joint practices and training camp?

MBOW: I mean, getting the job done first is the most important thing. Make sure you're blocking your assignment and blocking it well. I'd say that it has been a good start for me as well. But there's things like technique-wise that I'd like to clean up and just staying consistent throughout the game.

Q: Just curious what it's like not just adjusting to the NFL but having to play both sides. Correct me if I'm wrong, you mostly played right tackle in college, right?

MBOW: Yes.

Q: So, what's it like getting that work on the left side lately?

MBOW: It's cool. It's nice being able to go from both sides left to right without too much of a hiccup. But I think it's a good opportunity for me to be able to showcase my ability and be able to get work in both positions. The more you can do, the better.

Q: You make it sound kind of easy, but guys usually say it's a pretty drastic change though, right? How have you been able to perform just as well on both sides?

MBOW: Just being able to trust myself, trust my technique, trust my ability, stick to the fundamentals, and not try to get too crazy with things. I try not to think of it too much as a challenge or how hard it is and just play football, you know what I mean?

Q: Obviously, (tackle) Drew (Andrew Thomas) hasn't been on the field, so you may have like maybe learned from that way, but just having a guy who's, you know, as productive as he's been in the league, how has he been able to help you? Because, again, it's not like he can do it on the field, but maybe in the meeting rooms or behind the scenes.

MBOW: Yeah, I love getting advice from Drew. I mean, he's a fantastic football player. Anything, anytime I have the chance to ask him about what he's seen or what he's seen on film or what he saw at practice that day, I do because I respect his game and I respect his opinion. So, yeah, I'm always picking his brain.

Q: Just to follow up on that last question, what's something that Drew has told you that was kind of like an ah-ha moment for you?

MBOW: I'd say there's just been a lot of small things here and there when it comes to technique, like when it comes to my pass set or my hands or my placement of my hands. I'd say one of the biggest things is telling me to slow down, not trying to always snap out of my stance, be so explosive out of it, play at your tempo. You don't always have to try and be the fastest out there.

Q: And some people say that for a young offensive lineman in a rookie season, that power can be more overpowering and speed can be more overpowering. What have you found to be the toughest challenge for yourself, power or speed?

MBOW: Between the two, I'd probably say power.

Q: Any particular reason why, technique or moves that guys have put on you?

MBOW: I mean, I'd just say that's harder to deal with than speed. Growing up playing basketball, I feel like I have a better chance of mirroring somebody. But I'd say power for sure is the harder one to deal with.

Q: You kind of came in with (quarterback) Jaxson (Dart). He's part of that rookie group of yours. I would think you have a good feel for him. You've spent a lot of time with him in practice. What's he like? How would you describe his personality and sort of his voice in the huddle?

MBOW: He's confident in the huddle. I know there's a lot going on back there for the quarterbacks and whatnot. I feel like he's done a great job of staying cool, staying composed, and leading the offense when he does. He's a funny guy. He's great to be around. He's a good person. So, I'm glad he's on our team.

Q: How does he maybe compare with his personality and the way he handles it compared to some of the other quarterbacks?

MBOW: I'd say he's a younger guy. So, he's funnier at times. The older guys are maybe more mature at times, but Jaxson is funny. I could say the same thing for myself. Rookies are rookies, but there's veterans in the room, and you can tell the difference sometimes as to how each one carries himself. But I think Jaxson's a great guy to be around.

Q: Just wanted to follow up on that. What was he like when you guys were running that up-tempo no huddle on Saturday? I guess how he's handling that and commanding. I think you mentioned he was calm, but what he's like in that situation.

Q: Yeah, I love playing with Jaxson. He takes command. Kind of like I said earlier, he knows what he's doing. He gets everybody where they're supposed to be, and he gets the job done. So, it's great being able to play with a quarterback like that and come in at the same time. We're close, so it's awesome.