Press Release: #Redskins Quotes - Gruden, Cousins - Steelers Quotes-Tomlin, Roethlisberger

[TK]

September 7, 2016

 

Head Coach Jay Gruden

            

On RB Matt Jones and WR Josh Doctson:

“Yeah, Matt Jones practiced today. We’re still taking Josh slowly. He did some individuals work and some other stuff so we’ll have to wait and see.”

 

On the left guard position:

“Right now, Shawn Lauvao is starting. Spencer [Long] is coming back from his ankle. He looked good today, but still those two guys are doing a nice job.”

 

On DE Kendall Reyes:

“He’s working off the field right now and we’ll look at him again tomorrow. He’s got an extra day, which helps us, especially with him.”

 

On Reyes’ exact injury:

“Groin.”

 

On how Jones looked today:

“Good. He looked good.”

 

On if Doctson had a setback:

“No, it’s day-to-day as far as how he feeling and that stuff. It’s a unique deal and we’re still trying to figure out the best way to approach it.”

 

On what he has seen out of DE Ziggy Hood:

“Yeah, he started out… we weren’t sure what to expect from him. We knew that his pedigree was great. He was in Pittsburgh and did some good things there, missed a lot of the year the year before. So we signed him to a futures [contract] and he came in and couldn’t really do a lot in OTAs, but he’s a very smart player. [He] picked up the defense, but once we got the pads on him was really when he stood out. The one-on-one drills, the team drills, he was in the backfield being very disruptive. It was a consistent thing. It wasn’t like one day he did well and the next day he didn’t do anything. He was consistently a nuisance and a problem for our offense. He’s earned his way into the starting lineup.”

 

On what C Kory Lichtensteiger brings to the team:

“I think just the whole scheme of playing center. Ability-wise, Josh [LeRibeus] did a nice job, but as far as making calls and communication and the snap count, the snaps, just the consistent play of the center position, Kory brings that to you. He’s a veteran. He knows defenses, he knows fronts, he knows how to communicate with the other guys. We can change things in the blink of an eye with him in there, and then the snaps are always on-point. So he’s the guy that the quarterbacks I know feel like they can sleep well at night when he’s the center. He’s just a consistent, good, all-around football player.”

 

On Lichtensteiger being effective despite his size:

“Yeah, he’s not the biggest guy but he holds his own as far as when he plays against big people. But his strength is obviously getting up to the next level. He’s got great quickness at the center positions. He’s able get to the next level especially with those runs, and then pass protections, he does a nice job of fitting his hands and competing. So the strength of his game is getting up to the next level in the running game. And in pass protection, he does an excellent job of getting to the right people and sitting in there.”

 

On the matchup between CB Josh Norman and Steelers WR Antonio Brown:

“Yeah, we’re more interested in the Steelers versus the Redskins, really. He’s just a major part of their team and is somebody that will alter your game plan. He’s that type of receiver and that type of talent. So, we’re going to be aware of where he is all the time. Whoever’s on him, [Bashaud] Breeland, [Dashaun] Phillips, [Quinton] Dunbar, [Greg] Toler, [Josh] Norman, it doesn’t matter. He’s going to be a great challenge for all of them and hopefully they’ll be up to it.”

 

On improving the run game:

“We just have to do a better job. Everybody – tight ends, running backs, linemen, quarterbacks getting us in the right run. It’s a great challenge for us, especially against this defense. They were excellent in yards per carry against them last year, and they always have been pretty dang good against the run. I was in Cincinnati for three years playing against them and you feel like beating your head against the wall calling a running play against them sometimes. They’re strong and they’re physical, but it’s a great challenge for us. It’s something we have to do; we have to do to make sure we stay balanced. We have too many weapons as far as our play-actions are concerned. We don’t want to put too much pressure on drop back every time because they have a great blitz package and they can rush a passer. So, it’s important for us to be balanced week-in and week-out and not be one-dimensional.”

 

On what makes Brown so good:

“Why is he so good? Just look at his numbers. He’s been consistently productive in the passing game and in the return game, but his routes before he even gets the ball in his hands—he’s a great route runner. He’s not afraid to go across the middle, and then when he does get the ball in his hands, hold your breath. He can make people miss and he’s a danger, every time, anywhere. Quick screens, down the field throws, across the middle, sideline routes, there’s really nothing that you say, ‘OK, this is his weakness.’ He doesn’t have any, so he’s just a great all-around player.”

 

On if RB Robert Kelley’s role will be similar to Jones’ role last season:

“Yeah, I think so. I think this day and age in pro football, the days where running backs get the ball 35 times, I think are numbered. I think you need to have two or three backs to keep them fresh, especially when you have a guy who’s proven out here so far what type of vision he has and the power that he has in the hole. Time will tell. Monday Night Football’s going to be a great challenge for a rookie free agent out of Tulane. We feel like the mentality that he has and how far he’s come along from OTAs to training camp, we feel like he’s ready. We wouldn’t put him in this position if we didn’t.”

 

On if Shawn Lauvao starting at guard over Spencer Long is related to performance or health:

“Health-wise initially, but both performance and health. Shawn has done an excellent job. We weren’t sure how Shawn was going to recover from his feet issues and he’s come back in a big way. He was our starter before Spencer became the starter when Shawn got hurt and Shawn has proven he’s back in tip top shape and done an excellent job. I feel great about both of those guys, I really do. I wouldn’t bat an eye whoever w in there – Spencer or Shawn – but we run out on the first play of the game against Pittsburgh, it’ll be Shawn this week.”

 

On if Long has shown enough that Gruden would be comfortable playing him at center:

“Absolutely. He has, and it’s not an easy transition, we figured that out. He is still a work in progress but we feel like his upside at center is great, we really do. He’s going to continue to get a lot of work in practice and if his number is called – hopefully it won’t be – but if it is, he will be ready. He’s a great asset for us on the offensive line because he can backup both guard positions and he can play center as effective as our starters right now and not many teams can say that.”

 

On the importance of home field advantage:

“I don’t think we will have a problem there. I would like to think our fans are going to come out in big time numbers. There is a lot to be excited about this year. Pittsburgh Steeler fans do travel well, but I imagine our crowd will be the majority. I would sure as heck hope so. Home field advantage this day and age in pro football I think is the greatest advantage in all of sports. Home field, man, it makes it very difficult for the opposing offense to communicate. A lot of silent stuff, defensive line can get off the snap a lot better, and the momentum swings are huge when you’re at home. We were 7-1 at home I believe last year and it’s an advantage we take very seriously and we’re proud of.”

 

QB Kirk Cousins

            

On not having a lot of reps in preseason games:

“I think it’s not a big deal in the sense that I have gotten a lot of reps in practice and I do feel well-prepared. Having been a backup in previous years, I probably got less reps going into the season, so from what I am accustomed to, I feel ready to go. It is just going to come down to on Monday night, in the moment, making the right decisions.”

 

On the weapons available to him: 

“It has been well-documented how much talent there is and not just talent but experience. I think it is very helpful to have DeSean [Jackson], Pierre [Garçon] – I’ve been playing with the two of them now for a third season really when you look at it. Vernon [Davis] has played a lot of football. Jordan [Reed] really now, it has been at least three seasons, so you just have that experience. And then [Jamison] Crowder was so productive as a rookie with really no foundation, and now with a foundation you’d like to think that he could take another step forward, so it’s exciting. And we’ve said it, I remember, since the spring, that there is only one football to go around and my job is to be a good distributor, get the ball in their hands and let them see what they can do. I’d love to give every single one of them a great chance to help our team win.”

 

On C Kory Lichtensteiger:

“Kory makes a big difference for our offense because the center, similar to the quarterback position, is more than just a physical talent position. It’s quite a bit of mental, making calls, and being composed and being able to identify fronts and pressures, and then knowing what the proper call is in a split-second. I can’t afford to wait. I have got to react to his call and then make my decisions. So he’s got to be a quick thinker and those guys are hard to find. I think they have tried to replace Kory and it’s been hard to do because he’s very good at that part of the game. You can’t just roll anyone out there. You need someone who can accurately shotgun snap, who can effectively snap the football consistently. There are a lot of nuances that go into playing the center position and it’s hard to just plug a guy in who may not have had a lot of experience doing that in the past.”

 

On if his mindset changes going into games that could potentially be a shootout:

“I think the short answer is no. I don’t suddenly try to anticipate what’s going to happen that hasn’t happened yet and then change my approach. I think that I study the game plan the same way every week. I react to what needs to take place. I always have to be situationally aware. In the first quarter in a 0-0 game, you may make different decisions with the football than in the fourth quarter, down by, you know, seven points, with only a few seconds to go. So you have got to understand the situation of the game and that always affects things, but I prepare the same way and will react to whatever the game dictates and requires.”

 

On the Pittsburgh defense:

“I think they’re one of those defenses that hasn’t just been good or consistent for just a few years but – I would argue – decades. Always been well-coached. They play very, very hard. They play fast. I just think it’s a culture and a defense that they can plug people in that may not be very experienced or that may be new, but they can still be very effective. It’s a challenge for us. They’ll bring a lot of different pressures and fronts and personnel groupings. We’ve got to be on the screws when it comes to recognizing those things and reacting accordingly. I have a lot of respect for their defense and they’ll present a great challenge.”

 

On how the run game can improve this season:

“I don’t know that I have a tight answer for that… I look at my role in the run game. So my role in the run game is to get us into the right plays and not be running the ball into bad looks. My job is to be excellent with my backfield action so hopefully I can, in my fake, hold the defensive end or hold the players so that they’re not running against a guy who’s unblocked. So I look at what I can do to help the run game. Outside of that, I don’t try to focus too much on what other people’s jobs are, but we do have good talent. I think if we can throw the ball effectively, that probably should help the run game in theory and we’ll continue to try to do that and trust that if we do, good things will happen.”

 

On WR DeSean Jackson:

“When he wants to be elite, he’s elite. He’s the real deal on every single route in the playbook, in the route tree. He can run every single one of them. He plays bigger than his size. He’s made some catches here in the preseason that show that he plays much bigger than his size. I’m just continuing to build more and more confidence in him and really believe that when he wants to be elite, it’s as good as anybody out there.”

 

On the change in mindset entering this season as the starting quarterback:

“I think having the whole offseason to prepare and to be solidified in your role has helped, but it’s all talk. You know, we talk about how the skill position players should be better; that should help us. We should be more explosive. And I don’t want to create an environment where these expectations are now we can’t meet them, because we’re just supposed to complete every pass now and play perfectly. ‘Kirk had all this time as the starter now, and he has so many weapons to throw to that he should go 50-for-50 and throw for 500 yards.’ It’s not going to be that. But, there’s no doubt that the circumstances seem to have been set up in a way where I don’t have many excuses, you know? We have a great opportunity to go be effective and play well and that’s exciting and something for our fans to be excited about. But, we’ve got to go out and prove it. You know, we’ve got to go out and play well and right now it’s just talk and it doesn’t mean a whole lot. So, check back with me in several weeks down the road. You know it’s a long, long season and a lot of games and we’ll see where we are come January.”

 

Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin

            

On the challenges of Week 1:

“I think the first game is less about the people that you play and more about you doing you, us being detail-oriented from an assignment standpoint, playing hard, communicating well, not being highly penalized. I think we all – and when I say we, I mean all 32 teams – really have a similar challenge this week that we need to be a tough team to beat and the first thing to do that, the first element of that, is not beating yourselves.”

 

On DE Ziggy Hood:

“Ziggy was always a hard-working professional. So it is no surprise to me that he is still sustaining himself and being helpful to a football team.”

 

On what made Hood an effective pass rusher:

“Just his general approach to work. He has always had a good natural get off. He’s always working at his craft, he realizes that his professional detail is an element of it, and when he was with us, that was always his approach to getting better.”

 

On the ability to replenish at the wide receiver position:

“I just think that is a part of today’s NFL. Players are going to come and go not only at the receiver position but it’s our charge to continually develop talent and whether it is draft picks or practice squad players or guys that you pick up through another avenue. We are continually working to develop talent because we acknowledge that change is a part of our game.”

 

On why it happens specifically with the wide receiver position:

“Because that’s the position you asked about [laughter]. I don’t view that position any different than the other ones to be honest with you.”

 

On what changes if CB Josh Norman follows WR Antonio Brown or stays on one side:

“We don’t care because we don’t have any control over that. We try not to waste time worrying about things that are outside of our control. They’ll determine how they utilize Josh and his talents and we will adjust.”

 

On the 1995 VMI team and his experience with Falcons Head Coach Dan Quinn:

“We were both young guys excited about coaching and getting into the profession of coaching. We worked hard and we worked together, we helped one another. I had known Dan because during my senior year at William & Mary, he had been a volunteer coach there. We had a past experience. I think it helped us to work well together and to teach one another and to grow and it was a good environment for young people. I think Coach [Bill] Stewart had a lot to do with that. He was very hands on in terms of our growth and development as coaches.”

 

On William & Mary Head Coach Jimmye Lay**** and the longevity of his career:

“He is a special guy and knowing him, that’s not surprising, particularly because I am aware of his love for that university, his alma mater as well. It’s just a very exciting thing to know that that’s a place that you can call home. There’s been generations of football players that can go back there and see familiar faces and that’s the consistency that he provides and we are all appreciative of it.”

 

On QB Kirk Cousins and the legitimacy of his success last season:

“I don’t know what people are looking for. He threw for over 4,000 yards and over 25 touchdowns. The last six games of the season his quarterback rating was over 100. He needs no endorsement from me.”

 

On the younger wide receivers such as Markus Wheaton and Eli Rogers:

“They are all capable men. They all have different skillsets in terms of the stress that they bring to the table and it is our job to put them in a position to do what it is they do. All the guys at the position have had really good training camps and preseasons and we are excited about going into the stadium and putting it all together.” 

 

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger

            

On the Steelers replenishing at wide receiver:

“Well, I think guys come in and they see the work ethic. They see what this offense has the potential to be and it makes them all want to be the best.  I think we do a great job of getting guys in here that are unselfish and want to just do whatever they can to help the team.”

 

On WR Antonio Brown setting the expectations for the receivers:

“Well, he’s the trend-setter, you know? He’s the barometer for what those guys all try and do. He works his butt off every single day and I think those guys see that and want to try to strive to be as good as he is. So that makes them work that much harder.”

 

On how he maintains his body throughout the year at this point of his career:

“Try not to get hit [laughter]. You know, it’s one of those things, you’re constantly learning and evolving, trying to understand the offense, get the ball out of your hands, call a quick pass. You know, learning massage therapies and chiropractors and all those things as well.”

 

On if he uses a hyperbaric chamber:

“I haven’t done the hyperbaric chamber. I’ve heard a lot of things about it. I’ve kind of, like I said, ventured and I’ve got a guy that comes [and] works on my shoulder and my body, a masseuse and those kinds of things. Diet is obviously important as you get older, so I’ve gone to a lot of extents. I think every year you take another step towards perseverance.”

 

On what he uses as motivation:

“More Super Bowl titles. Having two is great, but I think every year every team should be striving to win it. That’s my goal. I want to win as many as I can. I’ll take that over any individual title or any individual accolades, whatever it is. For me, it’s all about trying to win championships for this organization and the fans.”

 

On playing against brash cornerbacks like Josh Norman:

“You know, you can’t get sucked into that game. If you try to do that, that’s when they…when the game falls apart or the defender gets you. That’s what they want. Individual part… this is the ultimate team sport. I’ve been playing long enough not to fall into that trap of—whether it’s a corner, whether it’s a linebacker, a trash-talker, I’ve just got to keep about my business. I’m not going to worry about trying to beat Josh. He’s one of the best in the business. Him and AB [Antonio Brown] will I’m sure have plenty of talking matches and jabbering back-and-forth. For me, it’s about trying to go out and just beat the Redskins.”

 

On if young players think success comes without work, and how he can keep them grounded amidst Super Bowl expectations:

“Well, I don’t think anybody has that mentality around here. You know, this organization, I’ve been blessed to be here for 13 years now, and whether it’s the people that came before me—way before me—whatever it is, there’s just a different mindset around here that nothing is handed out. You work your butt off every single day. You know, going into the season, everybody’s tied for first place. You know, everybody should be a favorite for the Super Bowl because no one’s played a game yet. So, we take the mindset of trying to get one game, try to get 1-0, and that’s goal number one. So, no one around here is thinking anything other than that.”

 

On what the Redskins defense will look like with Norman and how different it will be from last season:

"It's hard because you’ve got a new guy coming in and the preseason is the preseason, but I would assume… We have to go into this with the approach that he may stay on our right or he may follow AB [Antonio Brown]. We have to be prepared to make sideline adjustments. We anticipate a lot of single-high stuff because they’ve got the personnel to do it. He is able to take over his side of the field and that gives them freedom to let DeAngelo [Hall] or David [Bruton Jr.] or those other guys just kind of roam around and do things that make them so dynamic and explosive. We are just going to have to try and be ready for them and make the on-field adjustments or on the sideline as we go."  

 

[Reaper Skins]

16 hours ago, TK said:

 

16 hours ago, TK said:

 

 

On the matchup between CB Josh Norman and Steelers WR Antonio Brown:

“Yeah, we’re more interested in the Steelers versus the Redskins, really.

 

 

Awesome answer.  Cut the head off this storyline now before the season starts.  Team mentality got you success last year.  Team mentality will get you success this year. 

 

Also, I completely forgot that we went 7-1 last year at home.  When's the last time that happened?  Huge upgrade that hasn't gotten enough attention.

[Cooleyfan1993]

49 minutes ago, Reaper Skins said:

Also, I completely forgot that we went 7-1 last year at home.  When's the last time that happened?  Huge upgrade that hasn't gotten enough attention.

We went 6-2 actually. Losses against the Dolphins (week 1) and cowboys (first matchup in December).