Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator Mike Kafka

Q: What did you see from (quarterback) Russ' (Wilson) tape after watching it back?

KAFKA: Yeah, I thought the unit as a whole was really just kind of choppy. I think we will continue to grow and get better with it as we work as a unit. But I think there's a lot to look forward to and had a great week of practice. So, we're really focused on that right now.

Q: With the run game, what did you see about it just not being as effective as you wanted it to be?

KAFKA: Yeah, we just missed. We missed on a few things, whether it was a block here or a read key here. Certain times of calling it. So really everybody just kind of getting back on the same page. And that's what we focused on this week in our run game meetings, our game pods, just working through those details and making sure we're all straight on the execution.

Q: A follow up to that would be Russ's career, he's mostly a good play action quarterback. How much did not being able to establish the run like that take away from what you wanted to do with Russ?

KAFKA: Yeah, that's a great question. There's certain elements of that that show up in the game. Things kind of declare itself. You obviously want to be able to be multidimensional on offense and be able to run the football, attack the inside, the outside, downfield, make them defend the entire width and depth of the field. So, when you kind of get out of those certain situations, it's tough. And so we've got to do a better job on first and second down. We have to do a better job early in the game, get into a rhythm and get our guys going.

Q: Along with that, Russ has a long history of throwing the moon ball deep pass. I think statistically, I think there was only one ball thrown more than 20 yards down the field. Was that more just about situation? Was that about not having time for him to do that?

KAFKA: I don't know about that. It felt like we had a few more opportunities than that. But yeah, it's part of the game. If you have a matchup, our guys, we've been preaching it all season, let's take a matchup down the field. So, we like our receivers. We like our ability to block up front. We like our backs. So, if we have matchups across the board, sure, we're going to be aggressive.

Q: What happened in the red zone? I think it was especially the low red zone. I think if my math was right, you passed it 12 of 13 times in the red zone. Obviously, it didn't work out. So what happened? Did you get away from what you wanted to do down there?

KAFKA: No, I think we had a really good plan going into it. Just didn't really get the execution we needed. They had a couple of good change ups on defense. They did a nice job. So, I think those are great learning experiences. We have a bunch of stuff in the plan. Today's a red zone, third down day as well. So, we'll go work those.

Q: What was the thought process on the first red zone play you ran with the throw to Marcus Mbow?

KAFKA: Yeah, you look at it when you start evaluating the tape and you see maybe there was an alignment that we thought we could take advantage of. The first game of the year, there was a little bit of, they could adjust this way, we thought we had a good look and a good play. And so, we went and called it. We were trying to be aggressive with it. It didn't work out. First down call, you have the ability to use those types of calls because really the defense doesn't know. Are you running it? Are you throwing it? They did a nice job playing it. So, hats off to them. But yeah, we're going to continue to be aggressive, and try to be as creative as we can and score points.

Q: How different did their defense look in week one without (Green Bay Packers defensive end) Micah Parsons from the one you saw for three years?

KAFKA: Listen, this is a really talented team. I mean, I know Micah is a heck of a player. This team is stacked across the board up front. Those two interior guys, they can get after it, (Dallas Cowboys' defensive lineman Kenny) Clark. This is a good defense and it is well coached. (Cowboys' defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus) Flus does a great job of getting these guys in different types of coverages, different types of zone coverages, pressures. Then we have a long history of going against him when he was in Indy and in Chicago. So, these guys are going to be ready to roll. So, we got to get our stuff right and cleaned up. And that's why we're practicing. I'm looking forward to today.

Q: DaRon Bland might be out. Does that change anything?

KAFKA: We'll just continue to monitor it. Obviously, you don't know. I heard the report, too. But we'll just monitor it and see what that looks like come gameday.

Q: Kenny Clark, just talk about the problems that he presents.

KAFKA: Yeah, I mean, obviously in Green Bay, facing him the last few years, he's a problem. He's a good player. So, we have to make sure we know where he's at on each play. I know getting inserted into the scheme, I'm sure there'll be some carryover from the stuff that he did in Green Bay. But he's a heck of a player. He has a great motor. This guy plays his butt off. Yeah, it'll be a great challenge.

Q: How did Sunday go just from being on the sidelines? Obviously, you were doing it all preseason, but just a regular season.

KAFKA: Yeah, I thought it was smooth. I think we were able to communicate with the players, make some adjustments. Up until that last drive really, it's an eight-point game. So, we were just really right there, just couldn't get enough going early. But I think we'll change that. We'll change the tides. We had a good week of practice yesterday, a good walkthrough. The guys are detailed. They're into it. I have a lot of optimism and I'm really excited about today. This will be a great day in terms of our red zone, third downs. Like those are critical situations that we got to knock out. The guys had a great meeting. So, we'll go put it in, look at the corrections and come tomorrow, we'll look at some more situations. Just keep on stacking those days. I think that's been kind of the mantra in our room as an offensive unit is we have a good day, or we have an issue, let's get that thing fixed and let's go stack it and continue to be positive and get better.

Defensive Coordinator Shane Bowen

Q: What did you think of your defense's performance when you looked back at last week?

BOWEN: I think we could have played better, obviously. Really disappointed in the four-minute at the end of the game down there. I think red zone, we've got to improve, we've got to tighten some things up down there. Quarterback scrambles showed up and some of those were in situations where I think we we're going to be able to affect him and just made some bad decisions and he was able to get out. I was proud of the way they came out and fought in the second half. Strung some stops together there, kind of kept us in the game there. Wish we would have finished the fourth better. I thought we tackled well for the most part until late in the game. That one drive, that's when it showed up. We had a couple of missed tackles there. Obviously, the Deebo (Washington Commanders' wide receiver Deebo Samuel) touchdown and the little pass out to Ekeler (Washington Commanders' running back Austin Ekeler). Then at the end of the game there, the missed tackle on the running back in the four-minute. But a lot of things to improve upon. Excited to get back out here today and work and continue to improve and make sure we're coordinated all on the same page, able to execute. But again, it's one week, we've got to be able to turn the page and excited for this opportunity this week.

Q: There's been a lot of talk this offseason about how you get the edge rushers all on the field together. People were looking at (linebacker) Abdul (Carter) playing 50% of the snaps thinking that's low. How did you feel about his workload?

BOWEN: I think that's something that's going to evolve as we go here. Again, the first game for all those guys. A lot of factors going into that game with their offense, the tempo, different schemes, everything that comes into play with that. I think the tempo kind of handcuffs you a little bit with how much control we potentially have over that at times. But I think each week it's something we're going to look at just ways situationally that fit that we're able to hopefully utilize those three guys, whether it's together, separately, but continue to evolve as we go. We'll see where that goes. It might be totally different this week just in terms of count and where it stands. I think it's week to week with that. I was pleased with Abdul with what he did when he was in there. I think he was effective. You felt him out there. And same with (outside linebacker Brian) Burns and (outside linebacker) KT (Kayvon Thibodeaux). I thought both those guys did some good things.

Q: How much does (inside linebacker) Micah's (McFadden) absence change the defense? And does it, on the flip side of that, give you an opportunity to maybe get more snaps for Abdul and for those three guys together?

BOWEN: Yeah, that's a good question. Got a lot of confidence in (linebacker) Moose (Darius Muasau). He went in there and I thought he did a good job last week, for the most part. He's done really well last year when he played for us, and then throughout training camp this preseason. But yeah, Abdul's got the history of playing off the ball, so that's something we've got to consider, got to look at. Another way, as you've said, to potentially get all three of those guys on the field. I think all those guys have versatility to do some different things for us that we've got to continue to explore. By game plan, what we're seeing, first, second down versus third down. What are those situations on third down? All that stuff kind of comes into play.

Q: Does Abdul playing special teams affect his defensive snaps, his on-ball defensive snaps?

BOWEN: I think it adds to it. Just what they're asking him to do on teams, and I'm not even 100% percent sure what all he's doing, what all four phases he's involved in there. But again, it's just added plays, right? It's added plays, and some of those plays are long plays. They're long running plays. For us, I think it's probably more in the moment, just if we get a feel based on that as it plays out where he's at after that play, potentially, or before that play. So, I think that varies. I wouldn't say we put a lot of stock into that, just in terms of it's adding to his play count, and we've got to be aware of that.

Q: I don't know if you have a number in mind, but fair to say I think it was eight snaps together for those three guys, whatever percentage that is. Fair to say you want more than eight together for those three guys, or more than whatever percentage that is?

BOWEN: I think as the game goes, that kind of dictates it a little bit, what you're able to get from those guys and what personnel groups you're able to get them in on. That plays a part. But yeah, anytime we can get those three on the field, I think it's beneficial for us in certain situations, right? It could be not very beneficial in other situations, just depending on how teams are attacking us at the time. Something we've got to continue to look at and make sure we find those opportunities when they're there.

Q: What he did at the end of the first half, was that normal? Abdul I'm talking about. When (Washington Commanders' quarterback Jayden) Daniels threw the ball out of bounds and got the penalty. Abdul came in waving his arms, do you know what I'm talking about?

BOWEN: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I think it was a unique play, because it was going fast. Their tackle didn't move, the tackle got stuck based on the count. He was running free. I think part of that was Daniels' ability to be elusive and escape, so a lot of factors probably went into that.

Q: Might have forced the penalty.

BOWEN: Oh yeah, no doubt.

Q: (Cornerback Cor'dale) Flott, (cornerback Deonte) Banks. Banks played I think like 11 (snaps). Was that kind of scheduled or was that sort of like the flow of the game, the way Flott was playing? How did that work out?

BOWEN: Kind of based on our game plan going in, what we wanted to do with those guys. I thought they both did a really good job. I know Flott gave up the one and kind of got turned around there, but both those guys did a good job in the opportunities they were given. Again, I think that's another week-to-week thing, just based on what we feel is best for us going into the game. Who's best utilized based on skill sets, whatever else. The game plan, that plays a part of it too. So, that'll be a pretty fluid thing as we go.

Q: What is the thought process there having one guy play most of the snaps on early downs but you bring someone totally different in to play on second and third downs?

BOWEN: First and second down is a different game than third down a lot of times, just in terms of a lot of things. The whole playbook's open, for the most part, for the offense. What they're able to see. Just what we're playing, I think that plays a role too, like how we're planning to attack teams. So, there's a variety of reasons that kind of go into that. Again, I think they both earned the opportunity to play, that was part of it too. They both earned the opportunity to play and that's something we're just going to have to keep looking at as we move forward here.

Q: With Muasau, just how much confidence, I guess if that's the word, just from him playing last year, starting, wearing the green dot, how much does that give you confidence if he has a bigger role, that he can step in and do what he needs to do?

BOWEN: Like I said, I've got a lot of confidence in Moose. He was thrown in the fire Week 1 last year, if you guys remember, and started for us his very first game. I thought he progressed, I thought he improved throughout the season, I thought he developed throughout the season. And again, out here at training camp, practice, everything else, encouraged by him, encouraged by this opportunity for him to go out there and take advantage of it.

Q: What did you see from (Dallas Cowboys' quarterback) Dak's (Prescott) film just last week? What stood out to you about Dak last week?

BOWEN: He's an elite quarterback. When he's in rhythm and he can get the ball out of his hands in a hurry, he's accurate. So we're going to have to do a good job trying to affect him as best we can. But again, he's got a ton of weapons. You talk about obviously (wide receiver CeeDee Lamb) CeeDee, you've got (wide receiver George) Pickens, you've got (tight end Jake) Ferguson. (Wide receiver KaVontae) Turpin's getting a little bit more tick for him now. It's going to be a big challenge for us. Hopefully we do a really good job finding ways to affect them.

Q: You want to keep guys fresh, you want to pay attention going in, all right, what's their snap count, we don't want to burn these guys out. But also as the game is going on, you want your best players on the field. That's something I'm sure that you talk about game plan wise. Is it an evolution during the game? Are you guys looking at numbers?

BOWEN: The position coaches have an idea of that, the guys up in the box. I think part of it is just feel for the players too. Like where they're at as they come off the field, how they're feeling. Last week was a little unique too, because they weren't huddling. So just the tempo, the on-the-ball, the urgency, everything that comes with it, that can add an element of draining, on top of it being the first game. I think early on in the season it's something you definitely have got to be conscious of as a staff early on. But again, I felt like all those guys, for the most part, when they were in there, they were going and they were able to go. Like you said, in critical situations, we want our best players on the field.

Special Teams Coordinator Michael Ghobrial

Q: What was the thought process behind (punter) Jamie (Gillan) doing the first kickoff and then (kicker) Graham (Gano) doing the other ones?

GHOBRIAL: Yeah, so Jamie showed us that he could have some flex to be able to punt and kickoff throughout the offseason, and I think it's valuable whenever you have a guy that has the ability to do more than just one thing, especially when it comes to punters. The more flex that position specifically has, the more valuable he is on the roster. I have two guys back there that know how to be able to place it all over the place and that's something that we'll always look for to use.

Q: So, they could both keep doing it?

GHOBRIAL: Yeah, they very well could both be up every game.

Q: What about the use of (wide receiver) Wan'Dale (Robinson) on kickoff returns? That's not something we've seen before.

GHOBRIAL: Yeah, he did it in college and he has a special skill set obviously with his speed, his toughness, his communication, and he has some definite conviction. I believe that when he has the ball in his hand, he has the ability to hit the home run ball consistently and any chance you have to put the ball in a playmaker's hands, you're going to try and do so. We've got to do a little bit better job blocking, but you see that there's creases for him to hit and he's willing to do so.

Q: Back to Graham and Jamie just for a second. I know they could both do it. Is it strategic? I don't expect you to tell us what you're looking for, but it's not just, okay, we're going to throw this guy out there. I would imagine they can do it differently when they have different strengths as far as a kickoff.

GHOBRIAL: It's pretty surprising that they both have the ability to do everything that the other person does. Obviously, one is a righty, and one is a lefty, but in terms of being able to put the ball all over the place, they both can do it. Sometimes it's a feel thing. Who's feeling it right now? Who's gotten a lot of rhythm in the game? It sometimes could be scheme. It could be sometimes based off of feel.

Q: We've never seen it. What made you land on doing that?

GHOBRIAL: It was just throughout the offseason, Jamie showing us the ability that he can. For me, a guy that, like I said, has the ability to do it and could stay fresh throughout the game, I think that also allows him to stay warm during the game. There's going to be some games where he won't punt at all. There's going to be games where he'll have to punt. The whole aspect of keeping him warm, keeping him in the game, I think, is something to be said about that.

Q: How much did you have to politic to get (outside linebacker) Abdul (Carter) on your punt block team? Is it technically a punt block team or is it a one-man punt block team? Everybody else is doing whatever they need to do.

GHOBRIAL: I'll start off by saying I'm glad he's on our team. He's got a special skill set, as we all know. The speed you see with him coming off the ball as a defensive player and rushing punts, he has that ability. I think above all that, I believe above all that, he truly wants to do it. He is a student of the game and wants to continue to study. We'll always take a commonsense approach depending on volume, depending on week to week, whether we can see him doing it or not. He definitely has a skill set to do it and it was cool to see him have success pretty early on in his career.

Q: Normally when we see a team call a punt block, we're used to seeing guys loading the box. It really just seemed like it was almost like, alright Abdul, your job is to go block the punt and everybody else was carrying on. Is that not the way it was?

GHOBRIAL: The thing with him is I think his superpower obviously is his ability to go and get the ball. Whether that be a quarterback or whether that be the punter punting it. He is a special athlete. He was a former receiver. He does a good job in coverage. He does a good job in staying in phase with people if he was going to hold somebody up. He has that versatility. Again, the cool thing about him is you can ask him to do a lot, and the athletic traits show up in whatever you ask him to do. His versatility to me is very valuable on that unit because he has to be able to do everything that we're asking the other guys to do. Just one of those seems to stand out a little bit more, but he does have the ability to do everything.

Q: How and when did that become an idea? Does it date back to the pre-draft process or is it something like you were able to sort of convince him or did (head coach Brian Daboll) Dabs come to you and say I want to use him here?

GHOBRIAL: Throughout the offseason, you just see across the league there's certain players that are on those units at times. (Cleveland Browns' defensive end) Myles Garrett, (Houston Texans' linebacker) E.J. Speed, guys that when they're rushing punts or holding you up or bullying you back, they make you think on punt, 'How should we stop this?' Obviously when I'm evaluating these guys coming out of college, you see the get off, ou see the ability to bend. You're like okay, if I'm able to use him, this guy can do that. The one thing that was eye opening to me is not necessarily the want to, but his ability to do other things on that unit and other things on other units.

Q: Is that the same idea with (outside linebacker Brian) Burns? He was out there for one also, right?

GHOBRIAL: You talk about two unselfish teammates and the nature of any special teams play, it could change the momentum of a game. When you have players that want to do that, it speaks volumes to who they are as people and competitors. I'm fortunate as a coach that I have players on our roster that truly love football.

Q: Abdul said afterwards, I asked him are you just doing it based on your athleticism? He said no. He said I'm studying it. I really am looking at technique. How much have you seen him work on that? How much have you guys worked on that? It's not just Abdul being Abdul, it's also Abdul studying that position and what it takes to block a punt.

GHOBRIAL: In this league, there's a lot of skilled football players. Abdul, we believe, is truly skilled. You can't get away with skill alone. There is a preparation process that requires these players to be able to play fast. That is practice habits, that's in the meeting room, that's in the playbook. Abdul embodies all those things. He takes all those to heart because he knows all those contribute to his ability to have success on that unit. I believe success is no accident. He truly showed up doing what he was trained to do. That's pretty cool as a rookie that a player can show up his very first NFL game in the regular season and trust his preparation and see that come out with success.

Q: What about Graham? He hit from 55 yards the other day. He's had a couple of injury plagued years. We haven't seen him hit the ball like this in quite a while. Is it just health or is there something about his preparation that helps him?

GHOBRIAL: I've said this before, he had a tremendous offseason. He was able to truly work on his craft throughout the whole offseason, which I think helped him go into training camp with a lot of confidence. Also, you just learn from year to year. When you do have an injury, you start to evaluate everything that's part of your process. You see little things that you can potentially tweak to make you the best football player on game day. Those are all things that I believe that he held true to his heart. He looked at it, we studied it together, and he was able to come up with a good plan from week to week. It's cool to see him have success. That being said, with Abdul, with Graham, the beauty about the National Football League is you've got to show up every week. This week we have a tremendous challenge with the Dallas Cowboys, obviously with (Dallas Cowboys' wide receiver) KaVontae Turpin being the best returner in the National Football League, and you have (Cowboys' placekicker) Brandon Aubrey that is basically in field goal range once he gets to the logo. Those two players I truly believe are impact players on the roster. Then you see other players on the roster show up as well. We have to make sure we show up this game and handle our business.

Q: That stadium, as we've seen in the past, the games are usually the 4 o'clock kickoffs or 3 o'clock kickoffs there. You guys are early this year. I'm curious, I know a lot was made last year of the sunlight and the way things came in. Is that something that you've had to research for an early game in that stadium and what it's going to be like for your units especially as the game goes on?

GHOBRIAL: Yes, absolutely. We always look at every stadium, even our home stadium. At the beginning of the week, in the middle of the week, at the end of the week, and see how that's going to transform. Whether it's indoors or outdoors, we do our process to truly not make it a surprise come game day. That being said, we'll walk out there pregame. We'll take a look at everything. We'll see what could potentially be an issue. No different than any other stadium. We'll move forward from that.

Q: How unique is, obviously Graham is on a different work program, he's said stuff like that when he kicks and when he doesn't. How unique is that or have you had kickers who have done this before of when they kick and how much they kick and saving his leg or making sure he's healthy?

GHOBRIAL: That's not unique. I think every kicker I've been around doesn't kick every single day of the week. If they do kickoffs and field goals, or even punts for that matter, if you do all three consistently, it's equivalent of running a marathon. You have to give those guys their rest. Sometimes on their rest days, they're doing muscle memory dry swings, or they are going through the rhythm of aligning on a hash and working their steps, seeing their angles. Every kicker I've been around, regardless of the National Football League, college has kicked two to three times a week. That's pretty consistent with what we have here and everywhere else I've been.