Here’s what Dan Quinn had to say as the Falcons returned to practice on Thursday:
Opening Statement:
“It’s a Wednesday in the players' world for us. Love the energy that the guys brought into today and all that it means. We have a saying that the process takes care of the learning and all the game planning and all of that, there’s a series of steps that each player and coach gets underway to make sure we’re at our best on Monday night. We know what that looks like. You don’t have to look ahead, you just have to nail those things today. Each of us are working on some part of our game that we can identify and say that this part of our game can get better and that constant improvement is right in the front of our thinking. I’m proud of the team for the work that they do in that area. As we start our process this week, knowing that we’re getting ready and all the little details that go into it, we’re really pumped to see our fans on Monday night. I know there’s been a big push for a blackout with everybody for what they’re wearing so I know that they’re going to provide the energy and we’ll do our part to make sure all of our details are on point and the process takes care of it.”
On the Giants linebackers – Alec Ogletree and Olivier Vernon and how they’ve been playing the run:
“Yeah for sure we’ve played against Ogletree and it’s the speed and length that really jumps out to me over the years of how he’s playing. Then they’ve got size inside. They’re bigger than most fronts when you look at who they have inside at both base and nickel package. Then for a long time I’ve been impressed by [Landon] Collins and the way that he’s down in the box much like our team features a strong safety on the edge that’s certainly how they use Collins as well.”
On potentially getting Derrick Shelby and Grady Jarrett back this week – what would that mean for his defense:
“I think first things first with Grady, he’s the one that kind of sets It off for us up front. His communication, his ability to be able to penetrate as an inside guy definitely helps. He’s really busted it trying to get back. We’ll take a good look at him starting today and give him a little bit more work each day and if we can get him back I think you guys know the style of player he is and that would definitely give a shot to us in terms of adding another guy that can penetrate and disrupt that’s really about the core of who we are upfront.”
On whether he’s ever experienced injuries like this before in his career:
“Not that I can think of. Certainly, when it comes up you adjust and you adapt and you put the best plan in place. It was good from over the last two weeks, we were able to feel a grove and stay in it to speak for the guys who were active from one week to the next week. They get extra reps, they get extra time playing together so I'm not surprised that the communication defensively picked up, as Kazee was getting some more turns into that role. That was a big emphasis, you knew how disappointed I was on our communication against Pittsburgh and we made such a big push on that I thought that part of the game really came together. That’s where I was at with it, but past that we understand is part of it. We were glad to see for a week or two here, no big changes, from the week prior.”
On the learning curve with the players coming up given the injuries: "That's the challenge to say, you've heard us use the term, they need ten thousand kicks together to get it right. Well, that's not going to happen. So how do we increase that to make sure even if you have to take some things out, to make sure it's done exactly right. Although we haven't had maybe this many injuries, we certainly have had new players playing, whether it's a young player or not. What I consider to see some of the things that won't show up on the stat sheet for improvement, where are the fundamentals. Where's the communication. How does that part help defensively. On the offensive side, getting in the run game, the coordination, all of that together. We're pretty pumped to see, we feel like we can make a big jump. The transition happens in those moments. Like okay, now we're ready to nail it. We're ready to finish on it. Those are the things that we need. It was good to see some of the guys answer like they did."
On whether there have been instances that a safety would have the radio like Damontae Kazee recently:
“Not yet there hasn’t been, that I’ve been a part of. I’m sure around the league there has been. He was going to be a big part of the plan and that communication, we wanted to make sure he was at the front and center to understand how important that was. It’s not to say that we’ll do that every week, but if we needed to and that’s what we felt was required for that game, but that won’t be the case every week.”
On Matt Ryan's numbers being identical as they were when he won the MVP years ago: "I would say one of the things that I really admire about Matt is his consistency as a player and it kind of goes all the way back to his process. I wish you guys can almost see him for a day and all that goes into him getting ready, the details that he goes through. More often than not you just see a stat line that says okay he was 23-of-27 and this big day. But also what's there and what the coaches grade is times we threw it, was it the right decision and more often than not it was. For instance in last weeks game, as they were grading those guys, nearly all of them were the right spot, right decision, the no flinch throws, getting hit. I think that consistency is something that's earned, not in one day or even one season, he has shown that he's consistently ready to battle. And consistently ready to do what's necessary to play at a really high level. He came into this season with already high expectations, he's pretty accustomed to that. He knows he holds himself to a really high standard and those around him, he does too. So I'm definitely encouraged about what we've seen so far and we think as an offense we can make a big jump to play better."
On Damontae Kazee stepping up, can he talk about Ricardo Allen being so helpful: "That's one of the things that I'm really proud to see how other teammates effect one another, you see Deion Jones doing a presentation to the linebackers. You see a guy like Ricardo trying to find his influence on the team. It's not always easy but I think its what makes being a part of this team special. Guys like Deion, and Ricardo and KeKe (Keanu Neal) and others, you see Andy Levitre here today. He's not here to rehab, he's not here to rehab. He's here to share some of that influence. Andy's got a tricep injury and it's in the healing part, he's not here to say okay I'm going to start on my rehab, he's here to provide some influence to the offensive line to guys like Wes (Schweitzer) so that's a pretty cool message to show how far you're in for your guys. You may not be able to have the same influence that you had a month ago or two months ago but you're still going to have that impact. You can imagine as a player on the receiving end of that, how special that is because knowing that everybody supports the hell out of you. Knowing you don't have to worry about yourself because everybody is supporting you that much. We're encouraged by Kazee, he's proven he can be a ball hawk. Over the last the last few weeks he's gotten his hands on a few. Now he's going to continue his development and I think you're going to continue to see him grow and get better in the job."
On the progress of the tight end group with Austin Hooper and Logan Paulsen especially in the red zone:
“Logan, when we came in, we knew the toughness, that part was for sure. I’m going to give you two stories about him. And Austin, I’ve commented on the work that he and Matt (Ryan) have put in together this offseason. The extra time, the extra thing. When Steve Sarkisian, or Greg Knapp or myself, any of those guys, weren’t around, it was just those two getting better on specific things. I’m not surprised that their connection has been pretty strong, from the beginning. Now on the other piece with Paulsen, he’s had an impact on all of the tight ends. I could remember a time in camp, some of the older guys, we sent them out to dinner together. He said hey do you mind if I end up staying back and I said yeah because I didn’t know what exactly for. He said I’ve been in all of these rookie meetings, and I’d like to make sure I stay consistent with that and I’d like to say. He wanted to make sure that he was going to provide his influence with them. He had taken on such a mentoring role, he just didn’t want to miss a step along the way. Those are the things that don’t show up on the stat sheet but you see Logan and Austin communicating as its going. We brought him in here to see if we could add some punch at the position and he’s provided that and a lot more. I’m encouraged by the group, it’s part of the fun of our offense we’ll try to attack in a number of different personnel groups. You’ll see three tight ends on the field, two tight ends, one tight end, and two backs, one back and four wide, five wides. When we mix all those groups together, now it’s different ways to attack in different groups. By design, that’s the style that we see as the most difficult to defend. There’s a number of different ways to attack and a number of different people to do it. If you want to take away one player or one specific scheme, Matt has the capacity to say now here’s where we’ll attack. Here’s where maybe a team will be weak and we’ll go after them there. It’s definitely by design and everybody’s role could be different, game to game based on how we want to feature personnel groups.”
On losing Matt Bryant – will that change his game planning and aggression: "For sure I had such a high trust in Matt. In those moments, yeah, that will definitely come into play. As I'm getting to know Giorgio (Tavecchio) more, I'll have trust as we're going. Certainly with Matt Bryant, in those moments when you know in this space he's at a very high percentage I'll still stick to the guns of what I think is the best spot. That's not an indictment on Giorgio. I want him to be the best version of him and not come in like well Matt would have made it from here. I want him to say, we're counting on him to be really consistent and do a good job. I wouldn't ask him to do the same exact jobs."
On Deion Jones recovery been and whether he sees him being able to practice when he’s able to:
“The part of the process is on target in terms of what the doctor's guidelines are. It’s a little trickier in terms of the guidance because there’s a window you can use, you don’t necessarily have to use all of it. As we’re getting closer to there, I’ll give you an update. But at this point, he’s onto an excellent trajectory of where we expected him to be at this point.”
On his window beginning next week:
“It’s a 21-day window but you don’t have to use all 21. You can start that 21 days at any point. The restrictions are eight games. But you don’t have to start the 21-day window. You wouldn’t want to start it with him not being able to go. It’s just an example of this was the eighth game so this is 21 days. It’s more of the games that you should follow and not the windows.”
On whether that would be when he’s able to practice:
“You really just focus on the eight games because the practice portion isn’t as critical to the guidelines.”
On Julio Jones saying he’s not a stats guy and his communication with him:
“In neither instances is he saying I need to get more involved. Sometimes I’m not a big stat person in that regard. I know he’s nearing the top of receptions or yards in that way. He’s definitely a factor in game planning wise. He’s been as big a factor in third down for this year compared to years past so those things I’m happy about. You’re probably referring to the scoring and that’s always in the front of our mind to get going. He’s not a guy that asks for certain things, only one time in four years he said I’ll make it or he’s going to come to me on third downs. He’s always in the front of our minds in the game planning side of things.”
About the Author
