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.