Head Coach Mike Smith
Q: How much has it helped that the veteran guys who were here have bought into the new guys who are trying to mesh and gel with this team?
A: “I think that it is very important that your offense, defense and special teams units really understand what we are trying to get done. I think it helps that the veterans have seen how the system works and how we put things together. I think it is a big plus for us.”
Q: Defensively, what is the formula you use for trying to figure out how versatile guys are and how important is that as you move into the regular season?
A: “Well, the fun part about coaching is when you are able to really accentuate what the players do well. You don’t really want to talk about what they are doing wrong. We can look at that and then try to put those guys in the right positions. We know we are eventually going to get down to a 45-man roster. On game day, you have to have the ability to cross train the players so they are able to play multiple positions. You don’t want to get caught on Sunday when the game counts and not be prepared for the different situations that may arise. We have tried to teach our guys from the beginning that outside linebackers have to learn to be inside linebackers and corners have to learn to be safeties and nickel backs. It is something that we have done while we have been putting our units together.”
Q: After the first unit gets off the field Thursday night, what would you like to see from the guys who are fighting for jobs?
A: “The first thing that we are looking for is execution. The next is guys who are able to win their individual matchups. They are going to be put in situations where they are going to have to fight the guys across from them. It is important that we evaluate how well they do that.”
Q: As you go into the final preseason game, would you assume your window is a little bigger in terms of how many roster spots are open?
A: “Most definitely. I think we are in a different place than a majority of teams throughout the league. We talked to the players earlier in the week about the year after the Super Bowl. There were only three roster spots that were open. We knew who the 49 guys were going to be. That is not the case here. Our guys have worked extremely hard and competed. That is the thing that is difficult for the coaching staff and the personnel. We have to make those hard decisions and it is coming down to the wire. It is a very important game for a number of the guys on this team. It is important for them to perform well. Not only for our football team but because the other teams in the league are watching the tape of our preseason game. If there is not an opportunity here, there may be one somewhere else.”
Q: What do you think about those guys like (Kroy) Bierman and (Brent) Grimes who are not as well known but are trying to make a name for themselves in this league?
A: “I think it really comes from what is inside. It doesn’t really matter where they have come from. There are no real secret players anymore. The scouting departments do such a great job scouring the entire country. It doesn’t matter what school you have gone to. If you have talent, they will find you. It is a matter of what is in the heart and what is in the head. You have to instill the system in them. You have to make sure they have the right attitude and that they want to go out and compete everyday. We have been talking about competing since day one. We have talked to our players about how we want to get better everyday.”
