October 23, 2025 • 11 mins
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels addresses the media on Thursday, October 23, 2025.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Afternoon. Goodn't you great?
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Thanks for asking, maybe just the thought on I think
the conversation is DrAk and just his decision making when
it comes to sliding running. How much is that an
ongoing week to week, day to day type of conversation.
I mean, we certainly, I think we've addressed what we
(00:25):
think the right thing to do is.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
I think he.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
You know, he's a competitive guy, you know, and I
think certainly making sure that he's available for the team
is the priority. So you know, he's got a balance
doing the things that help us make really good plays
in those situations because he's an athletic guy who's gonna
(00:49):
be able to make some things happen when he runs,
versus making sure that he protects himself at the end.
So you know, certainly he's seen him too. So it's
just about making a good decision in the moment each
time you do it. And and really that's a good
way for a quarterback to put the team first in
(01:10):
that situation. You know, just remind yourself that, you know,
if I'm not out here, then you know, I can't
really help us win. So we'll keep addressing it. But
think he knows to talk about.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
The broadcast about STEP's abilities to shoot theages from a
wide receivers perspective, what does that need and why is
steps in there in there? It takes time to learn.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
We can talk about it all we want in the
meetings and and show them examples of that. Defensive backs
in those contested catch situations are usually taught to mirror
the hands of the receiver, so as soon as you
bring your hands up, then they can either go through
the pocket, bring some a hand down, try to get
the ball out, because you're basically telling them that the
(01:55):
ball's arriving. And so I think the really good receivers
that you see in this league that in a contested situation,
especially on the boundary that's where normally they take place,
they just basically hold it to the very last second
and don't give the defensive back any opportunity to play
through the pocket and create an incompletion. So Randy was
(02:18):
spectacular at it, probably the best I've ever seen when
we had him here, And I know I didn't teach
them how to do that, so it was just, you know,
these guys are really skilled guys, and when there's a
ball in the air and they see it and they
know they're in tight situation like that, it's really up
to the guy to try to hide the fact.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
That the ball's coming, you know, in the air.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
We last week we talked about the back shoulders, and
this one's a different type of play where the corner
really you can tell them when the ball's coming, or
you can try to hide it as late as you can.
And I thought Steph did a great job on the
one on Sunday, Josh.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
How formidable is Cleveland's front four?
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Like you look at them on the team this week?
Very This is bigger challenges we've had all year, no question,
just I think they're the front four is exceptional.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
And it's not just Miles.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
I mean, he's one of the truly great players in
the league, no question about it, and presents all kinds
of issues. But I think their front in general is
very disruptive. There's a penetrating front. They're going to try
to get into the backfield and create negative runs. They
this as good of a pass rush as we've seen.
Uh In total, linebackers are super fast, and because you
(03:38):
spend so much time trying to block the four guys
on the ball, they have a lot of opportunities to
run and tackle, you know, and they do a great
job of that. They're very very fast, all of them.
Young kid inside does a great job of getting everybody
connected and set in the defense. Secondaries sticky in coverage.
(03:58):
They play a good chunk of man and man coverage,
probably as much as we've seen from any opponent this year,
blended in with their different zone calls. And they also
are very adept at reading the fact that the rush
is getting close. And so the sign of a good
defense to me is when they're all kind of connected
together and when the rush is getting close to the quarterback.
(04:21):
It seems like the secondary always knows it, and so
then they get tighter and then they're ready for the
ball to be thrown. So just i'd say, and coach
Schwartz has always.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Done a tremendous job.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
So this is one of the best coached units in
all of football. Certainly the way they play, physical, fast, aggressive,
really good football players at all three levels, challenging on
every down, don't give you anything easy. So this is
and obviously statistically pick one, you know, and they're at
the top of the league.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
So regarding Jim Schwartz and his use of Garret.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
What what's you're doing differently with Miles Garrett?
Speaker 1 (04:58):
He you know, he you want him to be in
one spot, but he's not, you know, so.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
That you start with that, you know, you know, it's
always a little simpler if you can say, well, he's
going to be in this spot only, and that's not
the case. You know, more one spot than the rest.
But we've shown our guys they're all going to have
to block him, and they're all gonna have.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
To be ready to block him.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
So moving him is one thing, you know, And and
he understands how people try to play him.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
You can just see the player.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
We played him a number four or five years ago
and you just see him when you're watching film. Now.
He's grown too because he can tell what people are
trying to do to disrupt him. So he's got counter
moves to their counter moves. And it's pretty cool to
watch that match matchup happen from game to game with him.
But he's he's in. He can he can win on
(05:53):
the interior, he can win on the edge. He can
play on the right, you know, he certainly plays on
the left. So I think moving him in helping him
find some opportunities to get singles is certainly the sure.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Of their goal, and they do a great job of it.
One game was a lot more efficient than students. What
was working.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
How do you ensure you can keep the ball rolling against.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
The formidable defense? I thought, you know, the guys deserve
all the credit.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
You know, again, we've we've stayed patient and consistent with
our approach in terms of trying to improve the things
that make the running game go, you know, and it
really it's not a it's not a complicated formula. It's
just getting people blocked, staying on blocks, playing with great
effort and finish good technique and fundamentals. You know, the
runners reading it right. I thought Andre really did a
(06:40):
good job of pushing the pile a few times.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
And created some dirty yards.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
But I just you know, the guys are continuing to
work at those kind of things. You know, there's no
short shortcut to to getting better at something, and especially
in the running game when it requires a level of
physicality and toughness. You know that we can't always practice
and pads. So you know, I thought our double teams
were you know, a little bit more consistent. Thought we
(07:04):
had some good blocks from the receivers at the second level,
and I thought they running ran hard. So you know,
just got to keep keep doing it.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
This week will be a.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Totally different style of defense, you know, So this is
gonna be a little bit of a different challenge, but
a huge one.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Nonetheless. Factors in the run game, But did you see
any you know, common themes scheme wise that kid a
lot of success inside zone and success rate on some
power stuff is higher than outside. Is that the offensive
line finding out what it's good at or is this
still too much noise within the numbers to say, Okay,
we know we're best at.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
I think, well, I think you're we're always learning about
what we're I think we know what we're.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
What we've shown to be best at yet.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
But I think there's a lot of reasons to continue
to try to get better at other things, you know.
I mean, everybody loves it when we run a boot leg,
but you can't can't run boot legs if you don't
run the place that the bootlegs come off of. So
you know, you got to continue to try to work
at some of those things if they're giving you something
over here. Same thing with play action passes when you're
running interior run, you know you can. You know, Mac
(08:11):
Collins had a thirty yard gain on an inside you
know run action and we hit him for a you know,
inside pass and it's you know, that's great, you know,
but if you never run that run, then they're not
going to play that, you know, that way. So I
think there's a balance between continue to try to work
at something that you're you just don't think that you're
ever going to turn the corner on and the other
(08:32):
things where you're saying, you know what, we're close on this,
we just got to do a few things better. And
I would say this is too early in the season
to cast the die on something being you know, we
got to throw it out and never come back to it.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
You know. So I think we know what we've done
best so far.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
I think there's other things we want to try to
improve and get better at. I don't think that's dissimilar
to any other year that I've coached, though. I mean,
you usually are better at something in October than you
are something else, and you know, at some point here
you make a decision about whether or not to continue
to do it or not.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Is there anything specific with Trevion Henders and that you're
looking to see and maybe get him more involved or
was it just kind of circumstances in this last game
of these. I think it was really circumstantial.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
I mean Madre Madre Runners are kind of you know,
he just got you get into a rhythm, and sometimes
that happens, you know, And I know Travion's let us
and carries and other games, and certainly Mandre did last week,
so you know, there's nothing specific. I think all those
guys are continuing to work really hard. They play an
(09:32):
active role in us improving ourselves in a running game.
You know, everybody wants to point out, you know, this
block or that block or what have you, and there's
there's a read element to it, and there's a there's
a cohesion that has to exist between the blockers and
the runners. So I think our runners are continuing to
really work hard at that meeting together with the guys
up front.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
I mean, that's the way you get better. So expect
you know, all those guys.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Dottrell went in there and did some good things at
the end too, So continue to expect the runners to
be pretty said something after the game the other day
about how you know he's not trying to be to
check down Charlie.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
I think he was asked about throwing balling out of
the field. Is this a week where you might encourage
him to maybe as good as he's been down the.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Field, dial back some of his aggressiveness just because the
opponent you're facing tends to get into the.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Backfield pretty quickly.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Yeah, I think I think the opponent always has something
to say about how long you can hold it.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
There's no question about.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
That, and I think I think I didn't hear the comment,
but I think that in general, you know, look, if
he has a chance, great, and you know there's certain
plays where you call him and you don't expect the
ball to go forty yards down the field, but the
defense gave him an opportunity, and I think you don't
ever want to take that away from the passer. Is
(10:48):
his ability to see the deep part of the field
and see the coverage and then it presents an opportunity
even though maybe he didn't call it for that reason,
and then all of a sudden you take advantage of it.
So I think we want to continue to do that.
And I think the biggest thing is is if he
starts making mistakes.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
And I'm not talking about just Drake. I'm talking about
any quarterback.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
If they start to make mistakes throwing the ball down
the field into coverage and there's a bunch of interceptions
and really bad decisions, then you know you're probably forcing
the ball too much. If you're throwing the ball well
down the field, it probably means the passers seeing it
well and then trying to take advantage of it when
it's presented. And I think that's what we want them
to continue to do and understand that the rush will dictate.
(11:29):
You know at times, especially this week, you know that
we may need a few of those Charlie checkdowns. Okay, yep,
thanks a lot.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Thanks
Afternoon. Goodn't you great?
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Thanks for asking, maybe just the thought on I think
the conversation is DrAk and just his decision making when
it comes to sliding running. How much is that an
ongoing week to week, day to day type of conversation.
I mean, we certainly, I think we've addressed what we
(00:25):
think the right thing to do is.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
I think he.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
You know, he's a competitive guy, you know, and I
think certainly making sure that he's available for the team
is the priority. So you know, he's got a balance
doing the things that help us make really good plays
in those situations because he's an athletic guy who's gonna
(00:49):
be able to make some things happen when he runs,
versus making sure that he protects himself at the end.
So you know, certainly he's seen him too. So it's
just about making a good decision in the moment each
time you do it. And and really that's a good
way for a quarterback to put the team first in
(01:10):
that situation. You know, just remind yourself that, you know,
if I'm not out here, then you know, I can't
really help us win. So we'll keep addressing it. But
think he knows to talk about.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
The broadcast about STEP's abilities to shoot theages from a
wide receivers perspective, what does that need and why is
steps in there in there? It takes time to learn.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
We can talk about it all we want in the
meetings and and show them examples of that. Defensive backs
in those contested catch situations are usually taught to mirror
the hands of the receiver, so as soon as you
bring your hands up, then they can either go through
the pocket, bring some a hand down, try to get
the ball out, because you're basically telling them that the
(01:55):
ball's arriving. And so I think the really good receivers
that you see in this league that in a contested situation,
especially on the boundary that's where normally they take place,
they just basically hold it to the very last second
and don't give the defensive back any opportunity to play
through the pocket and create an incompletion. So Randy was
(02:18):
spectacular at it, probably the best I've ever seen when
we had him here, And I know I didn't teach
them how to do that, so it was just, you know,
these guys are really skilled guys, and when there's a
ball in the air and they see it and they
know they're in tight situation like that, it's really up
to the guy to try to hide the fact.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
That the ball's coming, you know, in the air.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
We last week we talked about the back shoulders, and
this one's a different type of play where the corner
really you can tell them when the ball's coming, or
you can try to hide it as late as you can.
And I thought Steph did a great job on the
one on Sunday, Josh.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
How formidable is Cleveland's front four?
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Like you look at them on the team this week?
Very This is bigger challenges we've had all year, no question,
just I think they're the front four is exceptional.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
And it's not just Miles.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
I mean, he's one of the truly great players in
the league, no question about it, and presents all kinds
of issues. But I think their front in general is
very disruptive. There's a penetrating front. They're going to try
to get into the backfield and create negative runs. They
this as good of a pass rush as we've seen.
Uh In total, linebackers are super fast, and because you
(03:38):
spend so much time trying to block the four guys
on the ball, they have a lot of opportunities to
run and tackle, you know, and they do a great
job of that. They're very very fast, all of them.
Young kid inside does a great job of getting everybody
connected and set in the defense. Secondaries sticky in coverage.
(03:58):
They play a good chunk of man and man coverage,
probably as much as we've seen from any opponent this year,
blended in with their different zone calls. And they also
are very adept at reading the fact that the rush
is getting close. And so the sign of a good
defense to me is when they're all kind of connected
together and when the rush is getting close to the quarterback.
(04:21):
It seems like the secondary always knows it, and so
then they get tighter and then they're ready for the
ball to be thrown. So just i'd say, and coach
Schwartz has always.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Done a tremendous job.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
So this is one of the best coached units in
all of football. Certainly the way they play, physical, fast, aggressive,
really good football players at all three levels, challenging on
every down, don't give you anything easy. So this is
and obviously statistically pick one, you know, and they're at
the top of the league.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
So regarding Jim Schwartz and his use of Garret.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
What what's you're doing differently with Miles Garrett?
Speaker 1 (04:58):
He you know, he you want him to be in
one spot, but he's not, you know, so.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
That you start with that, you know, you know, it's
always a little simpler if you can say, well, he's
going to be in this spot only, and that's not
the case. You know, more one spot than the rest.
But we've shown our guys they're all going to have
to block him, and they're all gonna have.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
To be ready to block him.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
So moving him is one thing, you know, And and
he understands how people try to play him.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
You can just see the player.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
We played him a number four or five years ago
and you just see him when you're watching film. Now.
He's grown too because he can tell what people are
trying to do to disrupt him. So he's got counter
moves to their counter moves. And it's pretty cool to
watch that match matchup happen from game to game with him.
But he's he's in. He can he can win on
(05:53):
the interior, he can win on the edge. He can
play on the right, you know, he certainly plays on
the left. So I think moving him in helping him
find some opportunities to get singles is certainly the sure.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Of their goal, and they do a great job of it.
One game was a lot more efficient than students. What
was working.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
How do you ensure you can keep the ball rolling against.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
The formidable defense? I thought, you know, the guys deserve
all the credit.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
You know, again, we've we've stayed patient and consistent with
our approach in terms of trying to improve the things
that make the running game go, you know, and it
really it's not a it's not a complicated formula. It's
just getting people blocked, staying on blocks, playing with great
effort and finish good technique and fundamentals. You know, the
runners reading it right. I thought Andre really did a
(06:40):
good job of pushing the pile a few times.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
And created some dirty yards.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
But I just you know, the guys are continuing to
work at those kind of things. You know, there's no
short shortcut to to getting better at something, and especially
in the running game when it requires a level of
physicality and toughness. You know that we can't always practice
and pads. So you know, I thought our double teams
were you know, a little bit more consistent. Thought we
(07:04):
had some good blocks from the receivers at the second level,
and I thought they running ran hard. So you know,
just got to keep keep doing it.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
This week will be a.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Totally different style of defense, you know, So this is
gonna be a little bit of a different challenge, but
a huge one.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Nonetheless. Factors in the run game, But did you see
any you know, common themes scheme wise that kid a
lot of success inside zone and success rate on some
power stuff is higher than outside. Is that the offensive
line finding out what it's good at or is this
still too much noise within the numbers to say, Okay,
we know we're best at.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
I think, well, I think you're we're always learning about
what we're I think we know what we're.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
What we've shown to be best at yet.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
But I think there's a lot of reasons to continue
to try to get better at other things, you know.
I mean, everybody loves it when we run a boot leg,
but you can't can't run boot legs if you don't
run the place that the bootlegs come off of. So
you know, you got to continue to try to work
at some of those things if they're giving you something
over here. Same thing with play action passes when you're
running interior run, you know you can. You know, Mac
(08:11):
Collins had a thirty yard gain on an inside you
know run action and we hit him for a you know,
inside pass and it's you know, that's great, you know,
but if you never run that run, then they're not
going to play that, you know, that way. So I
think there's a balance between continue to try to work
at something that you're you just don't think that you're
ever going to turn the corner on and the other
(08:32):
things where you're saying, you know what, we're close on this,
we just got to do a few things better. And
I would say this is too early in the season
to cast the die on something being you know, we
got to throw it out and never come back to it.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
You know. So I think we know what we've done
best so far.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
I think there's other things we want to try to
improve and get better at. I don't think that's dissimilar
to any other year that I've coached, though. I mean,
you usually are better at something in October than you
are something else, and you know, at some point here
you make a decision about whether or not to continue
to do it or not.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Is there anything specific with Trevion Henders and that you're
looking to see and maybe get him more involved or
was it just kind of circumstances in this last game
of these. I think it was really circumstantial.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
I mean Madre Madre Runners are kind of you know,
he just got you get into a rhythm, and sometimes
that happens, you know, And I know Travion's let us
and carries and other games, and certainly Mandre did last week,
so you know, there's nothing specific. I think all those
guys are continuing to work really hard. They play an
(09:32):
active role in us improving ourselves in a running game.
You know, everybody wants to point out, you know, this
block or that block or what have you, and there's
there's a read element to it, and there's a there's
a cohesion that has to exist between the blockers and
the runners. So I think our runners are continuing to
really work hard at that meeting together with the guys
up front.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
I mean, that's the way you get better. So expect
you know, all those guys.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Dottrell went in there and did some good things at
the end too, So continue to expect the runners to
be pretty said something after the game the other day
about how you know he's not trying to be to
check down Charlie.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
I think he was asked about throwing balling out of
the field. Is this a week where you might encourage
him to maybe as good as he's been down the.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Field, dial back some of his aggressiveness just because the
opponent you're facing tends to get into the.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Backfield pretty quickly.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Yeah, I think I think the opponent always has something
to say about how long you can hold it.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
There's no question about.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
That, and I think I think I didn't hear the comment,
but I think that in general, you know, look, if
he has a chance, great, and you know there's certain
plays where you call him and you don't expect the
ball to go forty yards down the field, but the
defense gave him an opportunity, and I think you don't
ever want to take that away from the passer. Is
(10:48):
his ability to see the deep part of the field
and see the coverage and then it presents an opportunity
even though maybe he didn't call it for that reason,
and then all of a sudden you take advantage of it.
So I think we want to continue to do that.
And I think the biggest thing is is if he
starts making mistakes.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
And I'm not talking about just Drake. I'm talking about
any quarterback.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
If they start to make mistakes throwing the ball down
the field into coverage and there's a bunch of interceptions
and really bad decisions, then you know you're probably forcing
the ball too much. If you're throwing the ball well
down the field, it probably means the passers seeing it
well and then trying to take advantage of it when
it's presented. And I think that's what we want them
to continue to do and understand that the rush will dictate.
(11:29):
You know at times, especially this week, you know that
we may need a few of those Charlie checkdowns. Okay, yep,
thanks a lot.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Thanks
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