2024-08-26 12:15:02
“Obviously didn’t win the game there but pleased with the effort. Guys were flying around, which we were excited to watch. They fought to the end there. It was a good trip for us, coming out here a couple days early, got a lot of work done. Got over to the University of Washington over there. Had a walkthrough over there, got some work in over there. So appreciate U-Dub (University of Washington) and Coach Fisch for taking care of us while we’re here, but got some really good work tonight and then we’ll get on that airplane and head home.
You know, the game, again, like I said, want the results to be different but pleased with the effort, just going to some of the guys we rested. Obviously considerations with some of the guys dealing with injuries, and then got some guys in and got them out after what we thought was some good work. With Deshaun, just with considerations to the guys who were out on offense, not just the offensive line, but just didn’t feel like it would be best to put him out there in this setting. Very, very confident in the amount of work that he’s gotten to date throughout the spring and summer and he’ll be ready to roll Week 1. With that, I’ll take any questions.”
Deshaun wanted to play, didn’t he?
Did you have to kind of talk to him?
“Yeah, our guys are competitors and like I told you guys, you always have to take all the information that comes in and he’s played in the preseason before, but I felt like in this situation with the guys who were going to be unavailable, just felt like it was best for him to rest.”
And then how did you think that when Dorian came in and replaced Jameis, what kind of start do you think he gave the team?
“Yeah, had some nice moments. Obviously a really nice play on that throw down to Jamari Thrash, taking a hit as he threw it. Performed well, and, again, this goes back to Dorian’s done a nice job the second he got cleared which was back in June maybe, finally getting back out there and he’s done a nice job since.”
What about Jameis Winston? The most we’ve seen of him.
“Yeah, operated well, had a couple nice throws down the field in particular, some explosives but did a nice job running the offense.”
Coach, you have had six games with Deshaun two years before coming into year three. In a general sense, what do you know about Deshaun as a quarterback and what are you still hoping to glean from just more experience on the field?
“Yeah, I think we’ve had a lot of time together as an offense, as a teammate with this team. He’s a winner, continues to win games for us. I’m excited for him with all the work that he’s put into this offseason, I’m excited for him.”
In terms of his arm soreness, he came back on Thursday. We weren’t out there but he came back on Thursday, right?
And he did everything? So you feel good about how his arm feels right now?
“I do. I do. Yeah, I feel great.”
So practice he’ll practice full go next week?
Is that a relief to you to know that your QB1 feels good?
“Yeah, but he’s felt good, really. Coming off the surgery, he’s put himself in position. Obviously you’re going to have days where, you’re not feeling great but he’s pushed through, practiced well, he’s excited.”
I know you had a couple injuries in this game. Anything to worry about with D’ Onta and Pierre Strong Jr.?
“He has a rib injury. I don’t have an update yet on that one.”
Okay, and both of these guys suffered concussions?
“I think they’re in the protocol. Yeah.”
Tyler Huntley had a few [plays] down the field, isn’t that what you’d expect of a five-year veteran at that point?
“Yeah. Snoop’s (Huntley) played a lot of good football for us, a lot of good football in his career. He’s a playmaker. You saw it. It was on display tonight when things aren’t there, he finds a way to make a play, so I thought he did a really nice job.”
Did he make things tough on you? I know Andrew said before the game that you guys would probably keep three quarterbacks.
“Everything’s tough, honestly. Every decision’s tough and that’s the — that’s a good roster. That’s a good problem to have when you have tough decisions to make, but, you know, I did tell this football team and I’m very, very appreciative of the hard work that these guys have put in, again, going all the way back to April. They’ve done everything we asked them to do.”
And why did you want to see — [Inaudible].
“Yeah, and he wanted to. He wanted to get at least one kick in there.”
Is Denzel still in the concussion protocol or is he not ready to —
“Yeah, I don’t have an update just yet.”
And I don’t want to spin it too far forward, but do you anticipate an influx on the line guys coming back after this game now and rejoining —
“I do, I feel good about getting some guys back next week and certainly going into the Week 1. I do feel good.”
Can you characterize your preseason, whole training camp? Where do you want to be —
“Well, I think you have to use all these days to your advantage. I think next week is a big part of it. I think those four days that you get before that break over Labor Day I think are really important so we’ll cover a lot of ground, situational football, getting guys up to speed so we have a lot of work to do even next week before Labor Day.”
With the uncertainty of top quarterback you would obviously like to resolve this year, how much does it mean and how much effort did you put into depth with Jameis, with Huntley that if you need to draw from that depth…
“Yeah, I wouldn’t characterize it from previous years. I would just tell you I feel really good about all four of those guys. I think they’ve all done a really good job going back, again, throughout the entire offseason program, not just in these games, in practices, that they’ve done in the building. I think it’s a really, really strong group.”
Are you pretty confident that Deshaun, as he moves forward, will have a few more bodies at left tackle there to make sure he’s well-protected?
“Yeah I think guys are trending are in the right direction. I’m pleased with how they’re work and then we’ll see kind of how the next few days go.”
Do you think you have to look outside at all for a running back with Pierre also having a rib injury, or do you think you guys are going to be okay?
“That’s a good question. I think we’ll know more in the next couple of days, but I think we’ll be okay. I do.”
