Q&A w/Dick Vermeil (8/25)
 

Q&A with DICK VERMEIL
Aug 25, 2005, 4:29:52 PM


Q: You mentioned you were going to play your starters the first half and maybe into the third quarter this week. You said you were going to mix some young guys in with them. Who did you have in mind?

DICK VERMEIL: “We’ll determine that from this afternoon on. Sometimes when you’re planning to use a younger player you’re really just taking out a vintage player a little sooner. Will Shields will probably get about 20 snaps, so somebody will have to go in and play. There are some guys we would like to play with the other people.”

Q: Kris Griffin’s MRI yesterday?

VERMEIL: “It did not affect his Achilles tendon. It was a muscle area that is a very rare injury, so we don’t know what the rehab procedure is yet. At least it’s not serious.”

Q: How long do you expect him out?

VERMEIL: “We don’t know. We don’t know much about (that type of injury.)”

Q: What about Dante Hall who hasn’t practiced this week?

VERMEIL: “He’ll probably not play. He’s getting better, but it’s still sore. If it was the opener then he’d probably play.”

Q: Do you think Kendrell Bell will get 20 snaps?

VERMEIL: “I don’t know yet. He may not get any snaps.”

Q: Oh, so he may not play?

VERMEIL: “He may not play.”

Q: Why? Was there a set-back today?

VERMEIL: “No. I don’t know if he’s ready yet to just turn it all loose.”

Q: You seemed more optimistic about it yesterday.

VERMEIL: “Yeah, because I liked what I saw on video tape. We just want to make sure he’s 100% ready in his own mind as well as physically.”

Q: Any concern about your number two cornerback spot? It seems like McCleon’s been picked on the first two games.

VERMEIL: “I don’t believe that’s true at all. I don’t know where you get that. I know he was blamed for the touchdown (called back) last week and it was not his fault at all. He was actually a rolled up corner and the safety was supposed to be there. But there was nobody in the flat so he stayed with the receiver but it was the safety’s responsibility to make the play.

“Dexter’s played well and I’m pleased with him. I’ll tell you Washington’s done some good things, too. Benny Sapp’s had a good camp. I feel a little bit better for our corner situation than I did coming in.”

Q: Is there some doubt that Kendrell Bell won’t be ready for the opening game, or do you expect him to be out there?

VERMEIL: “I expect him to but we’re not going to put him out there unless he’s really ready. We brought him here to play and made a real commitment to him.”

Q: What do you need to see from him to be convinced that he’s 100% ready?

VERMEIL: “That he can play without favoring his old injury. As soon as we see that then we know he has confidence in it and go from there.”

Q: Has he re-injured anything since then?

VERMEIL: “No.”

Q: Do the doctors want him to be cautious; do you want him to be cautious?

VERMEIL: “I think a combination of everybody starting with us and Kendrell. A player knows when he’s really ready and when he’s not ready. Yesterday he jumped in there and he flashed around. You could see it. He has movement just like Derrick Johnson does and those guys are rare. But he showed some signs of not really wanting to use everything yet, just turn himself loose into the contact area. When we put him in the ballgame we want him to do that.”

Q: There was some question about his shoulder when you signed him – that it might not be 100%. Did he lead you on that it was and wouldn’t be a factor this year?

VERMEIL: “He passed our physical. Anyone who passes our physical I assume he’s going to be able to play.”

Q: What are the chances of Freddie Mitchell making this team?

VERMEIL: “Not real good right now. I expect to see him on the field working next week.”

Q: Is Kris Griffin likely to make the team before this injury?

VERMEIL: “He had a good chance, a very good chance. Some guys only need the opportunity.”

Q: How has Lawrence Tynes looked this week?

VERMEIL: “17-for-17 yesterday. He’s doing great.”

Q: Are you still thinking about bringing in some competition?

VERMEIL: “We may take a look at some guys but that would be true for all positions.”

Q: After Trent leaves the game Saturday night are you going to use Jonathan Quinn?

VERMEIL: “We don’t have much choice right now.”

Q: Do you need to start getting him ready in case?

VERMEIL: “It’s amazing how well he’s done. You watched practice today and it’s amazing his recall and ability to step right in and play. Of course, he was in the same offense in Chicago last year and here he has a better supporting cast in terms of offensive line. He’ll play.”

Q: You said you wanted to see the offense get more in synch this week. What else are you looking for in the game this weekend?

VERMEIL: “As I told the squad, we expect to end up being a pretty good football team. Sooner or later your performance has to match your expectations or you have to see signs of it. Last week I thought we saw some signs of it: we had a shutout the first half with the defense. That’s a good sign. So, that helps you. Now we want to see some more things like that this week against a real good football team.”

Q: Do you think you can get enough pressure just from your front four without having to blitz?

VERMEIL: “I’m concerned about that. Against this offensive line, maybe not, especially if Jared Allen is not in there because he’s our best pass rusher. Carlos Hall is ready to go, but their offensive line is one of the better offensive lines in football and that left tackle is one of the three or four best offensive tackles in football. That’s why they give him all the money.”

Q: Are you thinking of bringing in any defensive linemen?

VERMEIL: “We might bring some guys in to evaluate and see if they fit in our scheme if we got a guy hurt. But that would be true of some other positions as well. Anyone we have a good rating on, let’s say a rookie that’s cut and we had him rated pretty high, we might take a look at him. Last year we signed Lional Dalton in a similar situation when he was out there and we brought him in and he made a real contribution. There’s always that possibility. You can’t turn your back on that possibility; we have to form a stockpile of possibilities.”

Q: So there’s nobody at any one position?

VERMEIL: “No.”

I think it's about time to turn Kendrell Bell loose, whether he is ready or not. I think Vermeil and company are being a little too picky. Bell could be favoring his shoulder the rest of his career...What's another week going to do??

Bell at 90% is a lot better than most LB's at 100%.

OK, I am officially worried about Kendrell Bell. Apparently he is damaged goods.

Good news on Tynes. I really have no idea what to expect with Bell at this point, good or bad...

Was reading on the steelers board about bell not thinking he was ready to play even when the doc said he could.Hence the nick name hang nail bell.This is starting to look bad for KC.

I don't mind them being overly cautious. The guy has practiced full time, and has put in all the work. I really think Vermeil, Gun and the Training staff are being a little too cautious with him in terms of contact. If it's going to get re-injured, it going to get re-injured, be it against Seattle or NY in game one.

I wonder if they'll post the Q&A with Bell.

He didn't do a real good job of answering the questions and it was hard to tell if the problem is him or the training/coaching staff.

At this point, I think it's safe to say they are being less than honest about his status...like they are putting it off till the season starts, to keep everyone hoping for the best.

How can you say that when he's been held out from contact??? He most definately has not put in "all" the work. He's put in all the work except contact. :shake:

I doubt it...

Just seems that Bell would want to get in with some live play with his team before the W L'S count.

VERMEIL: “I don’t know yet. He may not get any snaps.”

Q: Oh, so he may not play?

VERMEIL: “He may not play.”

Q: Why? Was there a set-back today?

VERMEIL: “No. I don’t know if he’s ready yet to just turn it all loose.”

Q: You seemed more optimistic about it yesterday.

VERMEIL: “Yeah, because I liked what I saw on video tape. We just want to make sure he’s 100% ready in his own mind as well as physically.”


OF COURSE! ROFL This is just plain funny now. I read an article that quoted Bell saying he was ready. He said something like," Come watch. :shake:

You always want to start off with a full house on opening day. :banghead:

In TC, the team hardly hits anyways. Everyone just wraps up. ESPECIALLY THIS TRAINING CAMP. So yes, I can say that because Bell has put in just as much work as any other D player, and maybe even more. Bell didn't miss a practice in TC. Many other D players were given a day or two break. Browning, Siavii, Hicks, Dalton, Woods, McCleon, Fujita....They were all given a day or two of no practice at all.

Yup, I'd like to see them start off with a damn victory.

something's wrong, I guess we'll eventually find out...it better not be he is a WASTE of MONEY and TIME.

I have this feeling that you'll be saying the same thing once he starts missing games. :hmmm: It's so obvious there is a problem.

You changed things - you said "all" the first time. I still can't see how you can now rationally say he has put in just as much work as any other defensive player when he has been held out from contact? And just yesterday he was held out of 11-on-11 drills. How many of those has he been held out of? So again, your statement is not accurate - even though it's been softened from "all" to "as much work."

You, like the rest of us, don't have a clue here - and it's obvious. I'll still stand by my original take since day 1 of BELL = DAMAGED GOODS.

D.V. still doesn' know for sure if he'll play in the opener? Get real already.

How can you possibly say I don't have a clue? I watched the guy practice live, and I've been to camp the last 4 years. Do you actually know how much they hit in TC?? Very little. I guess if you want to really be picky, Bell hasn't put in ALL the work because he didn't participate in the MAYBE 2 practices that were totally live. Other than that, he didn't miss a practice.

Bell looked healthy in my eyes. Obviously there is a problem with the shoulder. Could be cautionary, could be more serious then expected. All I am saying is that from watching him live, he looked as healthy as an other LB, and has put in the work this summer.

Q: Any concern about your number two cornerback spot? It seems like McCleon’s been picked on the first two games.

VERMEIL: “I don’t believe that’s true at all. I don’t know where you get that. I know he was blamed for the touchdown (called back) last week and it was not his fault at all. He was actually a rolled up corner and the safety was supposed to be there. But there was nobody in the flat so he stayed with the receiver but it was the safety’s responsibility to make the play.

“Dexter’s played well and I’m pleased with him.



Oh really Dick? Hmm...thats kinda funny. I don't remember McCleon playing well at all. Please Dick, please inform me on how McCleon has played so well. If I were you, I would be shitting in my old man diapers right about now for even thinking that Dexter is probably the same player as he was last year, injury or no injury. For the love of God DV put in Benny Sapp!

Q: Is there some doubt that Kendrell Bell won’t be ready for the opening game, or do you expect him to be out there?

VERMEIL: “I expect him to but we’re not going to put him out there unless he’s really ready."



translation:.....he's still injured...wonderful

Well, he is right that we need to give McCleon safety help. There's no way he's gonna be able to go a whole game without getting some safety help. That's gonna be on Greg Wesley's behind. As some have said, the team has to work together to make up for Warfield not being here, and I think some of that responsiblity is gonna fall on the safeties.

What do you want Dick to say? McCleon's confidence is shot(as well it should be) and the last thing Dick needs to do is say that McCleon is terrible and ruin his confidence even more.

works for Tynes?

ROFL

True

If McCleon is that horrible that DV needs to cover up how ****in terrible he really is, then he needs to be cut or something. Put him in nickle situations where he belongs. DV needs to ****in grow some nuts and cut his beloved players that can't play. I love how he is stubborn and won't admit that he's wrong about players. Notice how DV always says this in the offseason, or other press conf. "I believe our players and defense can get better, because they have to." How many times have you heard DV say that, hes been saying that for the last 3 seasons. Face it DV is one of the worst defensive minds in the NFL if not the worst.

IMO if Gun wanted Sapp, Washington, Hodge etc in there they would be. I don't put this all on DV.

If they were doing it DV's way, like last year, Guns's argument with Kawika never happens.

Surtain, Knight, Bell, Hall and DJ probably wouldn't be here.

I'd like to see Killian get some snaps instead of Quinn anways.

I am sick of DV and his covering up for crappy players. It is just like when he praised Greg Robinson. McCleon has not played well, Tynes has kicked like crap, and there is obviously something wrong with Bell.

I feel like I am listening to someone running for office every time he talks.

The Sports Spot with Jack Angry reported the Trent Green has a sore shoulder as well.

Trent didn't seem to concerned but I thought that it was worth mentioning.

Will you be willing to do the same if McCleon plays well in the regular season?

More from Vermeil:

We're just saving Bell for the important games like the Superbowl. We don't want to show our opponent what he's capable of. If we can get one game out of him this year, it was well worth the 2.5 million.

Dexter McCleon is fine. When he gives up 150+ yards of recieving, it's the safety's fault. It's the safety's job to cover Dexter's man, while Dexter's job is to try and stay within 15 yards of the receiver. We just need to do a better job of coaching.

If we're going to be a Superbowl team, at some time we have to win more games than we lose. Especially in the play-offs. Right now we should be in the Superbowl, but we've had an odd pre-season schedule, where it rained a few days. That's hard to overcome. We've also been mistreated by the schedule we've been given. Real Superbowl teams don't get there by being better than all the teams they face. They get there by getting a pile of cupcakes gift-wrapped on a silver platter. I'd also like to complain about the roster limits. Every other team has somehow learned to live with the same limitations, but I feel that it's a good excuse for why I can only build half a team. Did I mention we have the players, but need to do a better job coaching them?

I said, you like the rest of us, don't have a clue so I included myself in there as well. Yes, I know there is limited hitting in TC and I know you were there and have seen it first hand. I also stated in another post that you are pretty credible so that's why I can't understand how/why you keep insisting that Bell will be fine when he's been held out of the limited contact in training camp. Being able to move well in shorts is far different that being able to do so in pads.

Now, D.V. is sensing that Bell is holding back and just last week Bell instructed folks to "watch" him and see for themselves if he could play. Way too much smoke to not be an issue IMO.

I'm not being picky, at least I don't mean to be - the fact is Bell is not right and this is the FIRST time that I've seen where you have even hinted that there could be a problem.

I'm telling you, DV is fucking with the media.

They probably won't play him until the regular season because they know if he gets injured, their LB corps isn't nearly as good. I think he's fine, they are just holding him out. They aren't concerned about his current health status, they are concerned about what might be. I've been wrong before, though...

The Emperor has no clothes! I respect your opinion but I strongly disagree. I feel they're more concerned with what might never be. :banghead:

I hope I'm right. Who knows. :(

My sentiments exactly, maybe the holder figured it out.

Well even if you're wrong it could work out in the future. I mean we never got Dillon, but we got Priest!

Jeezus, this is supposed to be a LB we're talking about, and yet the sumbitch is so fragile he can't have any contact all through training camp and preseason?!?!!?...

If he was dead, Dick Butkus would be spinning in his grave...

Unfortunately I am afraid you are correct. We can only hope that he is just a player that hates the preseason work and will come around for the games.

Cody and Dillon want to wish you a very merry fuck you.

I know 1 person that hopes this as well.........someone ordered his jersey. This could make him a tad pissed....oops, the beans spilled...;)

:clap: Nothing like Christmas in August...

:p

Wha-huh?

Why in the world would they puposely hold him out and limit his reps when he is trying to learn:

1) new defense- not much experience in the 3-4 alignment
2) new team
3) new players
3) new coaches

Help me out...

Heh. Good luck.

More DV translation:

"We trust and rely on our medical staff to screen players who are not able to play. In this case they f'd up. Excuse me while I go stick my foot up some doctor's ass!"

mere humans can not understand DV's plan...only he knows that in the 3rd dimension of Eldar, on the planet GFDRGHEap, on an island in the Sea of Futility, Bell is healthy and ready to play.

Eldarians laugh at pre-season.

I never insisted anything. I just posted my opinion on what I saw of Bell at camp. I do feel as though I know a little bit more about Bell because I've seen him live this TC. The last time most people on this board saw him play was 2003.

Bell may very well miss 16 games...I'm just telling you the feeling I got of Bell, watching him two times a day for a week straight.

Man, I don'y know WHAT to think anymore. The fact that Bell was going to play tommorow and now is not, doesn't sit well with me.

You could hear the frustration in Vermiel's voice yesterday during his interview.

I'm assuming you meant 4-3, since we don't play a 3-4. He played his entire college career in a 4-3.

LOL Good stuff

That rocked

Yes. thanks.