Hammock Parties
10-25-2005, 06:06 PM
Q&A WITH COACH VERMEIL
Oct 25, 2005, 6:13:42 PM
Q: How was your practice first day back?
D. VERMEIL: “We hadn’t been on the field since the last play of the game last Friday but it picked up and I think we got something done.”
Q: You had a couple of guys who didn’t practice today. What’s the status of McCleon for Sunday?
VERMEIL: “Dexter’s questionable but there’s a much better chance that he’ll play this week than last week. John Browning is questionable; he didn’t practice today. We held Willie Roaf out because his hamstring was bothering him a little bit yet. He’ll practice tomorrow. Jerome Woods is questionable but I think by tomorrow he should be able to work. It’s his hamstring.”
Q: Even with Dexter maybe playing this week is Eric Warfield still your starter?
VERMEIL: “Right now, yes, because it’s unsure whether Dexter can go. We would like to work Dexter some at nickel when he gets back.”
Q: Did Kevin Sampson practice today?
VERMEIL: “Yes, he practiced full speed. Like he said, he was weak and his fundamentals were terrible. But he’ll catch up.”
Q: If Samie Parker is going to be out very long can you talk about how your wide receiver rotation is going to work?
VERMEIL: “Well, we’ll play Chris Horn and Mark Boerigter and Dante Hall – those three guys along with Eddie (Kennison). They’re the only ones we have on the active roster.”
Q: But Eddie stays at the ‘Z’ position?
VERMEIL: “Eddie stays there and Boerigter will back him up and Chris Horn and Dante will share the ‘X’ position in the slot.”
Q: Do you like the idea of rotating receivers in and out too like you do other positions?
VERMEIL: “We insist on blocking and running plays so every play is like a pass. They’re all going down trying to block somebody. That’s tiring as well and many times we’ve had a receiver take himself out of a ballgame and we haven’t thrown him a ball yet. He’s been downfield chasing safeties and corners all over the field trying to block them. That’s exhausting. We allow them to come in and out that way.”
Q: A year ago you talked about Dante Hall having some troubles accommodating some of the demands of being a starting receiver and a returner. Can you talk about what the difficulties of getting it all understood?
VERMEIL: “There weren’t any mental difficulties – just physical. He’s not the biggest guy in the world although he is 190 pounds; most people don’t realize that. But it takes a toll because he’s a fine blocker; I mean, he’ll get after you and go right at those safeties right underneath their chin. He’s doing that, running pass routes, and we require that every pass receiver on every route goes full before because Trent might decide to move the ball over in that direction. So they all are working all the time, then you’re returning punts and kickoffs and if it’s a day you return a lot of punts you just run out of steam.”
Q: Can you give an update on Ryan Sims?
VERMEIL: “Making progress, good progress. In fact, I think he has the (foot) cast off and is back in meetings. They’re a little bit optimistic right now that we can get him back, but I want to see it before I believe it.”
Q: Get him back when?
VERMEIL: “In a few weeks.”
Q: How much of an impact can he make after missing so much time?
VERMEIL: “Well, if he can get back in his football playing shape at least he can make an impact in rotation. He’s not going to be what he was in the opener; he was a dominating player in the opener but it didn’t last very long. I don’t know how long it will take.”
Q: What have you seen in your years of coaching of a guy coming back off something like this? Does it take too long to make a real impact?
VERMEIL: “I haven’t seen anybody come off that kind of injury and come back and do it. It’s usually been a lingering thing. It all depends how severe it was in the first place. Right now the doctors are optimistic that he can get back and play.”
Q: Would it be better to IR him and bring in someone who’s healthy who’s not here right now?
VERMEIL: “Those are easier things to say than do many times.”
Q: You must be proud that Lawrence Tynes, your kicker, was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week?
VERMEIL: “Very pleased for him. You know, I think every kicker goes through some real lows in his career, especially getting started. Sometimes he goes through two or three poor periods within the first couple of years. The good ones I’ve been around go through a barrier and when they break through that barrier they start becoming what they had the ability to be all along because they gained some confidence and self-esteem and are very sure of themselves. They aren’t going to make 100% of them, but they have to get through that barrier. I’d like to believe that Lawrence went through that barrier the other night. He kicked himself through it. He’s missed a couple and he’ll probably miss a couple more. It’s just the nature of that position. But I do believe because he has been patient and we have been patient and have stayed together that eventually he’ll ascend to being one of the leading kickers in the league.”
Q: I guess the low point for Lawrence was after that exhibition game where you said he was “in the tank.” Those are pretty harsh words coming from your boss. Do you think that might have been something that gave him a kick in the pants?
VERMEIL: “I’m as honest as I possibly can be with players, so it’s very hard to misunderstand. Either you’re doing wonderful, very good, not quite good enough or you’re in the tank. I think people in the long run – although sometimes it hurts feeling a little bit – know where I’m coming from and know I care. They know I appreciate what they’re going through, but sooner or later you have to do what you’re paid to do. Right now, he’s doing what he’s paid to do very well.”
Q: Eric Warfield was telling us that even though he worked hard off the field and tried to stay in shape that he realizes that you don’t really get that football edge without playing football. Do you agree?
VERMEIL: “No question. He worked very hard out there today. I watched him personally a lot. I zeroed in on him. He knows he has to keep getting his skills back to what they were when he left training camp.
“Now, training camp wasn’t a great training camp for Eric. He did his thing but when you know you’re not going to play, and you know you’re going on four weeks suspension, and you know you’re going to lose a lot of money it takes a little edge off. He went through his work but the focus and concentration it takes to be a corner – a real good one — takes more than that. I think that’s where his mind’s at right now.”
Q: With him knowing that he’d be missing the four games, how much has that hampered the development of your secondary?
VERMEIL: “I think Dexter’s (McCleon) done a good job. He’s done what we’ve asked him to do. The great thing about Dexter is he’s almost mistake free. No one’s perfect, but both from a mental standpoint and technical side you can play very efficient with a guy like Dexter back there. I mean, he’s lined up and started in two Super Bowls. I have great confidence in him and trust him. He’s been there and done it. If something goes wrong…hey, we beat corners from time to time, too. Whether Eric Warfield can get back to the level of his playing better, only time will tell.”
Q: Kind of lost on Friday night was the play of the secondary. You didn’t have an opposing receiver go off for a lot of yards.
VERMEIL: “Only the one big catch. He had one catch for 11 yards and that was with eight minutes and three seconds to go in the game. The big part of the coverage (success) was the rush and the pressure. They did a good job. Also remember, we batted a few down. You know, that’s a big play. If you bat a ball down on third down it’s like a takeaway. You’re punting the ball to Dante Hall and unless you don’t block somebody in the back you have a good chance for a return.
“I think it was a combination of pressure, batting the ball down, and some good coverage that worked out very well. I have some respect for Gus Frerotte because he beat my Super Bowl team and beat ‘em on the last play of the game. So, I know he can do that and I was concerned.
“We gave Sammy Knight the game ball – the whole team got a game ball but we took specific guys and gave them a personalized game ball for their accomplishments. Casey Wiegmann got it on offense: 84 snaps and graded out 90% and with those great big nose guards there he did a good job. Of course, Lawrence Tynes got the special teams game ball.”
Q: Is the secondary getting better?
VERMEIL: “I believe they are. Of course, I always see things as getting better. Sometimes I’m a little blind, but I just feel that we are getting better.”
Oct 25, 2005, 6:13:42 PM
Q: How was your practice first day back?
D. VERMEIL: “We hadn’t been on the field since the last play of the game last Friday but it picked up and I think we got something done.”
Q: You had a couple of guys who didn’t practice today. What’s the status of McCleon for Sunday?
VERMEIL: “Dexter’s questionable but there’s a much better chance that he’ll play this week than last week. John Browning is questionable; he didn’t practice today. We held Willie Roaf out because his hamstring was bothering him a little bit yet. He’ll practice tomorrow. Jerome Woods is questionable but I think by tomorrow he should be able to work. It’s his hamstring.”
Q: Even with Dexter maybe playing this week is Eric Warfield still your starter?
VERMEIL: “Right now, yes, because it’s unsure whether Dexter can go. We would like to work Dexter some at nickel when he gets back.”
Q: Did Kevin Sampson practice today?
VERMEIL: “Yes, he practiced full speed. Like he said, he was weak and his fundamentals were terrible. But he’ll catch up.”
Q: If Samie Parker is going to be out very long can you talk about how your wide receiver rotation is going to work?
VERMEIL: “Well, we’ll play Chris Horn and Mark Boerigter and Dante Hall – those three guys along with Eddie (Kennison). They’re the only ones we have on the active roster.”
Q: But Eddie stays at the ‘Z’ position?
VERMEIL: “Eddie stays there and Boerigter will back him up and Chris Horn and Dante will share the ‘X’ position in the slot.”
Q: Do you like the idea of rotating receivers in and out too like you do other positions?
VERMEIL: “We insist on blocking and running plays so every play is like a pass. They’re all going down trying to block somebody. That’s tiring as well and many times we’ve had a receiver take himself out of a ballgame and we haven’t thrown him a ball yet. He’s been downfield chasing safeties and corners all over the field trying to block them. That’s exhausting. We allow them to come in and out that way.”
Q: A year ago you talked about Dante Hall having some troubles accommodating some of the demands of being a starting receiver and a returner. Can you talk about what the difficulties of getting it all understood?
VERMEIL: “There weren’t any mental difficulties – just physical. He’s not the biggest guy in the world although he is 190 pounds; most people don’t realize that. But it takes a toll because he’s a fine blocker; I mean, he’ll get after you and go right at those safeties right underneath their chin. He’s doing that, running pass routes, and we require that every pass receiver on every route goes full before because Trent might decide to move the ball over in that direction. So they all are working all the time, then you’re returning punts and kickoffs and if it’s a day you return a lot of punts you just run out of steam.”
Q: Can you give an update on Ryan Sims?
VERMEIL: “Making progress, good progress. In fact, I think he has the (foot) cast off and is back in meetings. They’re a little bit optimistic right now that we can get him back, but I want to see it before I believe it.”
Q: Get him back when?
VERMEIL: “In a few weeks.”
Q: How much of an impact can he make after missing so much time?
VERMEIL: “Well, if he can get back in his football playing shape at least he can make an impact in rotation. He’s not going to be what he was in the opener; he was a dominating player in the opener but it didn’t last very long. I don’t know how long it will take.”
Q: What have you seen in your years of coaching of a guy coming back off something like this? Does it take too long to make a real impact?
VERMEIL: “I haven’t seen anybody come off that kind of injury and come back and do it. It’s usually been a lingering thing. It all depends how severe it was in the first place. Right now the doctors are optimistic that he can get back and play.”
Q: Would it be better to IR him and bring in someone who’s healthy who’s not here right now?
VERMEIL: “Those are easier things to say than do many times.”
Q: You must be proud that Lawrence Tynes, your kicker, was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week?
VERMEIL: “Very pleased for him. You know, I think every kicker goes through some real lows in his career, especially getting started. Sometimes he goes through two or three poor periods within the first couple of years. The good ones I’ve been around go through a barrier and when they break through that barrier they start becoming what they had the ability to be all along because they gained some confidence and self-esteem and are very sure of themselves. They aren’t going to make 100% of them, but they have to get through that barrier. I’d like to believe that Lawrence went through that barrier the other night. He kicked himself through it. He’s missed a couple and he’ll probably miss a couple more. It’s just the nature of that position. But I do believe because he has been patient and we have been patient and have stayed together that eventually he’ll ascend to being one of the leading kickers in the league.”
Q: I guess the low point for Lawrence was after that exhibition game where you said he was “in the tank.” Those are pretty harsh words coming from your boss. Do you think that might have been something that gave him a kick in the pants?
VERMEIL: “I’m as honest as I possibly can be with players, so it’s very hard to misunderstand. Either you’re doing wonderful, very good, not quite good enough or you’re in the tank. I think people in the long run – although sometimes it hurts feeling a little bit – know where I’m coming from and know I care. They know I appreciate what they’re going through, but sooner or later you have to do what you’re paid to do. Right now, he’s doing what he’s paid to do very well.”
Q: Eric Warfield was telling us that even though he worked hard off the field and tried to stay in shape that he realizes that you don’t really get that football edge without playing football. Do you agree?
VERMEIL: “No question. He worked very hard out there today. I watched him personally a lot. I zeroed in on him. He knows he has to keep getting his skills back to what they were when he left training camp.
“Now, training camp wasn’t a great training camp for Eric. He did his thing but when you know you’re not going to play, and you know you’re going on four weeks suspension, and you know you’re going to lose a lot of money it takes a little edge off. He went through his work but the focus and concentration it takes to be a corner – a real good one — takes more than that. I think that’s where his mind’s at right now.”
Q: With him knowing that he’d be missing the four games, how much has that hampered the development of your secondary?
VERMEIL: “I think Dexter’s (McCleon) done a good job. He’s done what we’ve asked him to do. The great thing about Dexter is he’s almost mistake free. No one’s perfect, but both from a mental standpoint and technical side you can play very efficient with a guy like Dexter back there. I mean, he’s lined up and started in two Super Bowls. I have great confidence in him and trust him. He’s been there and done it. If something goes wrong…hey, we beat corners from time to time, too. Whether Eric Warfield can get back to the level of his playing better, only time will tell.”
Q: Kind of lost on Friday night was the play of the secondary. You didn’t have an opposing receiver go off for a lot of yards.
VERMEIL: “Only the one big catch. He had one catch for 11 yards and that was with eight minutes and three seconds to go in the game. The big part of the coverage (success) was the rush and the pressure. They did a good job. Also remember, we batted a few down. You know, that’s a big play. If you bat a ball down on third down it’s like a takeaway. You’re punting the ball to Dante Hall and unless you don’t block somebody in the back you have a good chance for a return.
“I think it was a combination of pressure, batting the ball down, and some good coverage that worked out very well. I have some respect for Gus Frerotte because he beat my Super Bowl team and beat ‘em on the last play of the game. So, I know he can do that and I was concerned.
“We gave Sammy Knight the game ball – the whole team got a game ball but we took specific guys and gave them a personalized game ball for their accomplishments. Casey Wiegmann got it on offense: 84 snaps and graded out 90% and with those great big nose guards there he did a good job. Of course, Lawrence Tynes got the special teams game ball.”
Q: Is the secondary getting better?
VERMEIL: “I believe they are. Of course, I always see things as getting better. Sometimes I’m a little blind, but I just feel that we are getting better.”