November 24, 2025 • 13 mins
Interim head coach Mike Kafka speaks to the media Monday from the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Here everyone, So, you know, made the tough decision today
to let Shane go as a defensive coordinator and effective immediately,
We're gonna We're gonna let Charlie Bowen run the run
the defense as our defensive coordinator. I got a lot
of faith in Charlie, and you know, obviously these decisions
aren't easy. And Shane's a good person, he's a good man,
(00:21):
he's a good coach. Just the results just weren't where
we want him to be. And so Charlie is gonna
kind of step up for us and rally the group.
The defensive staff will rally around Charlie and and put
together a great plan. I got a lot of confidence
in the room and a lot of confidence and our
staff to do that.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Brian, Hey, Mike, Hey, run Uh what changed since last night?
Speaker 3 (00:51):
I believe you were asked.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
I wasn't there, but I believe you were asked last
night about Shane and you said he had a lot
of confidence in Sheane going forward.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
You know, I just had an opportunity to to watch
the tape, look back at a few weeks, watch a lot,
watch a lot of the defense, watch a lot of
what was kind of going on the communication and just
felt like this was the right time to do it,
you know, when when you got it, When I got
the job, you know quickly, I didn't want to make
a lot of rash decisions and jump to anything really quick.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
I wanted to have some time to.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Sit back, evaluate, to look at it and kind of
figure out what what the best, best, best thing to
do was. So, you know, wanted to be, wanted to be,
you know, calculating how I handled it, and you know,
I thought that today was the right time.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Understood, And then why why Charlie, Because like obviously, when
I look at this, You've been with Eggs and Dre
for four years, so I assume you have pretty you know,
longer relationships with them. And Mark Kwan's actually cold plays before.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
I think in the NFL with the Falcons.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
So what made him the the right the right choice?
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Yeah, I mean, you're right.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
I have a lot of experience on that defensive staff
with Dre, with Mark Kwan, with Eggs, Like, those guys
are gonna do a great job and they're going to
be a great asset for Charlie. I have a lot
of faith in Charlie and the things that he's brought from,
you know, the pedigree that he brings, bringing it coming
into this defense. I think he's a smart, smart coach.
I think he's detailed, he's aggressive, and his room has
had a lot of production, and I think he's ready
(02:19):
for the task. And I know he's ready for the task.
And so he's gonna he's gonna jump in. He's meeting
with the staff right now, and these guys will get
rolling for him.
Speaker 5 (02:27):
Thanks Mike, Pattie traina good morning, Mike, how are you?
Speaker 4 (02:31):
Good morning Mike.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
Last week and Pat Fitzgerald in to watch a couple
of practices. I know he's a mentor of yours. He's
also from the defensive side of the ball, and I'm
just wondering, you know, is he someone who maybe would
lean on in this time, given Charlie doesn't have really
a lot of experience as a defensive ordinator. Maybe, as
you know, have Pat as a consultant if you will.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Coach fitz is a good friend of mine, you know,
just just visiting, but he really won't be involved in
terms of like our staff, and then.
Speaker 5 (03:04):
In terms of you know, Charlie's experience. Again, he's never
been a DC at I don't think any level. That
being said, do you anticipate maybe a little bit more
support if you will in the play calling process from
those who have done it or for a collective group effort,
maybe yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Well Charlie will call it and then I think the
one of the strengths our defensive staff has is a
lot of really smart coaches in that room that can
put together a great plan for him and support them
and myself included. You know, I'm part of that. How
can I be an asset for the defense? How can
I be an asset for the offense? How can I
be an asset for the special team? So it's all
hands on deck. Everyone's going to be a part of it.
(03:41):
The players are including this as well, and so we
all got to take ownership of our individual jobs and
then our collective jobs as a unit.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Thank you, Thanks Mark Cannonzero.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Hey, Mike, I'm just curious.
Speaker 6 (03:58):
I mean, you spoke about looking at the film, having
a chance to look at the films since since yesterday
afternoon last evening, what are the things that have disturbed
you the most about what's been going on with the defense,
particularly late in these games.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
As you have had time to assess what you've seen.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Here's what I'm excited about, as I saw a group
of guys, a group of men, step up and battle
and take a really good team toe to toe. And
so there's a lot there's a lot of good things
that came out of that game from the coaching staff.
I think there's some areas where we can continue to improve,
and we'll have those meetings today. We'll go through, we'll
find where we can just build this a little bit
of an edge on defense, offense, and special teams, and
(04:35):
then we'll go and put together a great plan for
practice to attack those edges and figure out where we
can just where we can just find a way to
just get a little bit better. And so that's going
to be our focus. That's going to be our messaging
to the coaches and the players. No one's panicking, everyone's
no one's you know, going down the dumps where our
spirits are are high, our spirits are confident, and now
it's about putting together a great plan then go and
(04:57):
execute that.
Speaker 6 (04:58):
If I could just ask a follow regarding offense, Uh,
it just seems like your offensive line particularly has been
has been really good for the for the most part
of the season, and particularly yesterday, I thought, can you speak.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
To what the good things that you guys did on offense.
Speaker 6 (05:12):
I mean, obviously, you know the result of the game
is what is in everybody's mind most but it seems
like you guys have been kind of wasting some very
good offensive performances this year. Well, you know, a year
in a year after you struggled offensive a little bit
the previous two.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Yeah, I'm very I'm very pleased with how our offense
is playing.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
Not satisfied yet.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
I think there's a lot of things we can get
better at, but our offensive line is playing really well.
And that's hats off the karm and James, you know,
in the old line room, and then the players obviously
going out there and executing. But hats off to those
guys they've taken upon themselves to really lead that group,
lead the offensive group, and set the tempo for the unit.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
Thanks Mike.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Thanks at Valentine Morning.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
Mike morning.
Speaker 7 (05:57):
Hey you just got this job too weeks ago. How
difficult is it? This is the first time you've had
to do this and with another coach. How difficult of
a day is this for you?
Speaker 4 (06:10):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Well, it's it's it's it's certainly tough decisions to make.
My thoughts are with with Shane and his family. I think,
you know, you try to make decisions that are you know,
the best for the football team, and that was a
decision I made today. But my thoughts are are still
with Shane. I have a lot of respect for him,
working with him, a lot of respect for him and
his family, and you know, I wish him the best
in the future.
Speaker 7 (06:31):
Schematically, how much can Charlie change at this point and
is there anything specific that you're looking for to change
on the defense?
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Yeah, So we're going to give Charlie the reins to
go and make the corrections that he see fits for
the defense, whether it's personnel, whether it's scheme, whether it's
communication calls. And so he's going to have to work
hand in hand with the with the whole defensive unit
to make sure that it's his vision on how he
sees it. And obviously I'll have my anger print on
there as well and be there and trying to be
(07:02):
an asset for the for the group as well.
Speaker 8 (07:04):
Thank you, Tom Rock, Mike with the with these your
decisions alone or who would you.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Do work with on this?
Speaker 4 (07:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (07:12):
My decision, my decision to make this move.
Speaker 8 (07:15):
And you talked about you know what what Charlie's uh
gonna bring? What what kind of identity do you want
this defense to have on the under him now for
the last month.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
And a half. Yeah, I think you know.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
And again this is all pretty fresh right now. We're
getting we're getting on the same page. He's still meeting
with the staff. Guys are still reviewing the tape as
our offense, defense, special teams unit. But we have a
great plan. We had a great vision. We've had a
great conversation this morning about what that would look like. Again,
that's something that we're going to build in the house
and build with the players together as as a group
and as a team.
Speaker 8 (07:47):
Do you think, I mean, do you have time to
build it in five weeks wherever where many games you
have left?
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Yeah, we're gonna have to have to figure that out.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Leonard, Hey, Mike, how's it going?
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Hey?
Speaker 9 (08:01):
Pat?
Speaker 3 (08:03):
He said it was your decision.
Speaker 10 (08:04):
Did you consult with Joe Shane on the decision to
fire Shane Bowen?
Speaker 4 (08:09):
Absolutely?
Speaker 1 (08:09):
I mean all those decisions that go through the football
side of it, you know, I have conversations with with
Joe and make sure they we're both on the same
page and united on it.
Speaker 10 (08:18):
And did you consult him on the decision to make
ball in the interim defensive coordinator?
Speaker 3 (08:23):
Say that again?
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Yes, oh, yes, yes, yes I did. Yeah, all those
all those conversations that whether I'm thinking it happens throughout
the week, Any of these decisions on playtime scheme thoughts.
I mean, we talked about some of the trick plays
before the game when I was gonna call those. So
he has some anticipatory things and when he's up in
the box he can see how the flow of the
game's going. But yeah, any of these kind of big
(08:47):
decisions that that that come up, those are conversations that
we had. We had him, you know, talked about him
after the game, talked about him this morning, you know,
and just making sure you know we make the right
decision for the team.
Speaker 10 (08:59):
And on Dexter Lawrence, were you were you told by
the medical staff he was not available due to that
injury at the start of overtime? Were you told by
his position coach he wasn't available? Was he the one
who said he wasn't available? How did that go?
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (09:12):
The community the communication was brought up to me, and again,
he was a guy that was battling through this game,
this injury, and you know probably was was just just
toughed it out for us and was trying to give
us everything he had. And so the decision was just
to kind of play him in like those past situations,
you know, second and longs, third and long, so he
can be a factor on a limited snap count. And
(09:34):
I thought that was the right thing to do and
handle him. And the hats off the deckster for toughing
it out and working through that, because he got dinged
up pretty I mean, this guy was like in tears
on the sideline, just wanted to be out there with
the players and gave us, gave us his all.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Last one.
Speaker 10 (09:49):
If you don't mind you said, Drew Phillips came back
into the game. When he went down, it looked like
he was motionless for about ten seconds.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
What was his injury and why why did he go
back in the game.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Well, our medical staff checked them out and cleared them
to get back in the game. So you know, I
trust what they what they saw. I know they you know,
he went into the tent, went through the whole procedure,
and I was aware of it, and you know, the
medical staff cleared them, so we're going to put them
back in if that's if that's what our medical professionals recommend.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
Was that was that a concussion protocol clearing or was.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
That for some other I think it's I think it's
just like their normal procedure any kind of headneck they
go and do those testing. I mean, I'm not one
hundred percent sure and all like the concussion protocol procedures,
but that's like pretty common practice. Anybody that goes through
head and next stuff or gets dinged like that, they're
going to check them out.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Thank you, Thanks, We'll take two more. Jordan ran on,
Hey Mike, what's going on?
Speaker 11 (10:44):
Hey Jordan, apologies if you already answered something like this
for I jumped on a few minutes. I uh, why
not wait until after the bye week so you at
least have a little more Do you have the kind
of have the two weeks?
Speaker 3 (10:57):
That what made you want to make this move?
Speaker 4 (10:58):
Now?
Speaker 1 (11:00):
It was just I thought, I just really feel like
this is the right time to do it. And gives
charl we have a long week this week. He's got
some extra time here on a Monday night to get
organized and get with the staff. So just felt like
this is the right time to do it and and
give our team the best opportunity to win.
Speaker 11 (11:17):
And I'm also curious, I know you talked about obviously
you talk through and everything with Joe, where does ownership
stand in these kind of decisions in regards to coaching changes.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
Its fine, ya, They're they're tied into all the all
of our decisions that we make. You know, we talk
it through me and Joe on the football side of it,
and then you know Joe, Joe loops them in, but
loops them in all our decisions. So they're they're on
the same page and and they're they're supporting us.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
And then just.
Speaker 11 (11:43):
On the injury front, is are you still just it's
fanning and fouls. He's the only one that kind of
came out with something that might be you know, significant
long term here several weeks.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Well, I'm not sure on the timetable. Well, he's going
to come in today and check them out. But he
was the one that kind of let the game last
week or yesterday. Excuse me, yep, appreciate it, Mike, Thank you.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
Last one.
Speaker 9 (12:06):
Bruce Back, Hey, Mike, where do you go from here
with this team. What are your goals like as you
go down the stretch.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Now, our goal is to go want to know this
week that's our only focus is to find a way
to win this one game and find a way to
win today.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
So our prep.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
You'll see a bunch of players coming in today, getting
some workouts in, start getting ahead of or look at
the review of the tape from yesterday, find ways to
get better. They'll be in the billing tomorrow. We'll be
able to give those corrections then start getting the head
start on our next opponent. But that's that's really all
our focus is on, just today and this week.
Speaker 9 (12:43):
Your offense has outperformed your defense for much of the year.
Do you still believe there's a solid relationship between the
two units.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
Or do you think there's a fractured side to it.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
We're a team and it's a team game. That's the
it's the greatest team game in sports. Offense, defense, special teams.
We all got to find a way to win this game.
And it's never about one unit. It's never about one person.
It's never about one player or coach. It's about the team.
It's about everybody being on the same page. Everybody, you know,
making sure that we have our we have our details right,
(13:15):
our the the UH and and ability to perform when
we need to perform at the end of the game.
So that's where we're at right now, and as a team,
we'll continue to find ways to do that. Be creative
in our practice routine, be creative in our installations, be
creative in our meetings, and then being going to being
creative and being detailed and executing on game day.
Speaker 9 (13:36):
And finally, might put your message to the fans here
as you go down the stretch from your from your viewpoint.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Yeah, our our our goal is to win, is to
find a way to win this week, and so our
that's our mission, and we're gonna turn over every stone
we can. We're gonna give it, We're gonna detail out
as much as we can. We're gonna put our players
in the best position we can to find a way
to win this week.
Here everyone, So, you know, made the tough decision today
to let Shane go as a defensive coordinator and effective immediately,
We're gonna We're gonna let Charlie Bowen run the run
the defense as our defensive coordinator. I got a lot
of faith in Charlie, and you know, obviously these decisions
aren't easy. And Shane's a good person, he's a good man,
(00:21):
he's a good coach. Just the results just weren't where
we want him to be. And so Charlie is gonna
kind of step up for us and rally the group.
The defensive staff will rally around Charlie and and put
together a great plan. I got a lot of confidence
in the room and a lot of confidence and our
staff to do that.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Brian, Hey, Mike, Hey, run Uh what changed since last night?
Speaker 3 (00:51):
I believe you were asked.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
I wasn't there, but I believe you were asked last
night about Shane and you said he had a lot
of confidence in Sheane going forward.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
You know, I just had an opportunity to to watch
the tape, look back at a few weeks, watch a lot,
watch a lot of the defense, watch a lot of
what was kind of going on the communication and just
felt like this was the right time to do it,
you know, when when you got it, When I got
the job, you know quickly, I didn't want to make
a lot of rash decisions and jump to anything really quick.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
I wanted to have some time to.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Sit back, evaluate, to look at it and kind of
figure out what what the best, best, best thing to
do was. So, you know, wanted to be, wanted to be,
you know, calculating how I handled it, and you know,
I thought that today was the right time.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Understood, And then why why Charlie, Because like obviously, when
I look at this, You've been with Eggs and Dre
for four years, so I assume you have pretty you know,
longer relationships with them. And Mark Kwan's actually cold plays before.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
I think in the NFL with the Falcons.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
So what made him the the right the right choice?
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Yeah, I mean, you're right.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
I have a lot of experience on that defensive staff
with Dre, with Mark Kwan, with Eggs, Like, those guys
are gonna do a great job and they're going to
be a great asset for Charlie. I have a lot
of faith in Charlie and the things that he's brought from,
you know, the pedigree that he brings, bringing it coming
into this defense. I think he's a smart, smart coach.
I think he's detailed, he's aggressive, and his room has
had a lot of production, and I think he's ready
(02:19):
for the task. And I know he's ready for the task.
And so he's gonna he's gonna jump in. He's meeting
with the staff right now, and these guys will get
rolling for him.
Speaker 5 (02:27):
Thanks Mike, Pattie traina good morning, Mike, how are you?
Speaker 4 (02:31):
Good morning Mike.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
Last week and Pat Fitzgerald in to watch a couple
of practices. I know he's a mentor of yours. He's
also from the defensive side of the ball, and I'm
just wondering, you know, is he someone who maybe would
lean on in this time, given Charlie doesn't have really
a lot of experience as a defensive ordinator. Maybe, as
you know, have Pat as a consultant if you will.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Coach fitz is a good friend of mine, you know,
just just visiting, but he really won't be involved in
terms of like our staff, and then.
Speaker 5 (03:04):
In terms of you know, Charlie's experience. Again, he's never
been a DC at I don't think any level. That
being said, do you anticipate maybe a little bit more
support if you will in the play calling process from
those who have done it or for a collective group effort,
maybe yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Well Charlie will call it and then I think the
one of the strengths our defensive staff has is a
lot of really smart coaches in that room that can
put together a great plan for him and support them
and myself included. You know, I'm part of that. How
can I be an asset for the defense? How can
I be an asset for the offense? How can I
be an asset for the special team? So it's all
hands on deck. Everyone's going to be a part of it.
(03:41):
The players are including this as well, and so we
all got to take ownership of our individual jobs and
then our collective jobs as a unit.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Thank you, Thanks Mark Cannonzero.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Hey, Mike, I'm just curious.
Speaker 6 (03:58):
I mean, you spoke about looking at the film, having
a chance to look at the films since since yesterday
afternoon last evening, what are the things that have disturbed
you the most about what's been going on with the defense,
particularly late in these games.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
As you have had time to assess what you've seen.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Here's what I'm excited about, as I saw a group
of guys, a group of men, step up and battle
and take a really good team toe to toe. And
so there's a lot there's a lot of good things
that came out of that game from the coaching staff.
I think there's some areas where we can continue to improve,
and we'll have those meetings today. We'll go through, we'll
find where we can just build this a little bit
of an edge on defense, offense, and special teams, and
(04:35):
then we'll go and put together a great plan for
practice to attack those edges and figure out where we
can just where we can just find a way to
just get a little bit better. And so that's going
to be our focus. That's going to be our messaging
to the coaches and the players. No one's panicking, everyone's
no one's you know, going down the dumps where our
spirits are are high, our spirits are confident, and now
it's about putting together a great plan then go and
(04:57):
execute that.
Speaker 6 (04:58):
If I could just ask a follow regarding offense, Uh,
it just seems like your offensive line particularly has been
has been really good for the for the most part
of the season, and particularly yesterday, I thought, can you speak.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
To what the good things that you guys did on offense.
Speaker 6 (05:12):
I mean, obviously, you know the result of the game
is what is in everybody's mind most but it seems
like you guys have been kind of wasting some very
good offensive performances this year. Well, you know, a year
in a year after you struggled offensive a little bit
the previous two.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Yeah, I'm very I'm very pleased with how our offense
is playing.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
Not satisfied yet.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
I think there's a lot of things we can get
better at, but our offensive line is playing really well.
And that's hats off the karm and James, you know,
in the old line room, and then the players obviously
going out there and executing. But hats off to those
guys they've taken upon themselves to really lead that group,
lead the offensive group, and set the tempo for the unit.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
Thanks Mike.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Thanks at Valentine Morning.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
Mike morning.
Speaker 7 (05:57):
Hey you just got this job too weeks ago. How
difficult is it? This is the first time you've had
to do this and with another coach. How difficult of
a day is this for you?
Speaker 4 (06:10):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Well, it's it's it's it's certainly tough decisions to make.
My thoughts are with with Shane and his family. I think,
you know, you try to make decisions that are you know,
the best for the football team, and that was a
decision I made today. But my thoughts are are still
with Shane. I have a lot of respect for him,
working with him, a lot of respect for him and
his family, and you know, I wish him the best
in the future.
Speaker 7 (06:31):
Schematically, how much can Charlie change at this point and
is there anything specific that you're looking for to change
on the defense?
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Yeah, So we're going to give Charlie the reins to
go and make the corrections that he see fits for
the defense, whether it's personnel, whether it's scheme, whether it's
communication calls. And so he's going to have to work
hand in hand with the with the whole defensive unit
to make sure that it's his vision on how he
sees it. And obviously I'll have my anger print on
there as well and be there and trying to be
(07:02):
an asset for the for the group as well.
Speaker 8 (07:04):
Thank you, Tom Rock, Mike with the with these your
decisions alone or who would you.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Do work with on this?
Speaker 4 (07:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (07:12):
My decision, my decision to make this move.
Speaker 8 (07:15):
And you talked about you know what what Charlie's uh
gonna bring? What what kind of identity do you want
this defense to have on the under him now for
the last month.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
And a half. Yeah, I think you know.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
And again this is all pretty fresh right now. We're
getting we're getting on the same page. He's still meeting
with the staff. Guys are still reviewing the tape as
our offense, defense, special teams unit. But we have a
great plan. We had a great vision. We've had a
great conversation this morning about what that would look like. Again,
that's something that we're going to build in the house
and build with the players together as as a group
and as a team.
Speaker 8 (07:47):
Do you think, I mean, do you have time to
build it in five weeks wherever where many games you
have left?
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Yeah, we're gonna have to have to figure that out.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Leonard, Hey, Mike, how's it going?
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Hey?
Speaker 9 (08:01):
Pat?
Speaker 3 (08:03):
He said it was your decision.
Speaker 10 (08:04):
Did you consult with Joe Shane on the decision to
fire Shane Bowen?
Speaker 4 (08:09):
Absolutely?
Speaker 1 (08:09):
I mean all those decisions that go through the football
side of it, you know, I have conversations with with
Joe and make sure they we're both on the same
page and united on it.
Speaker 10 (08:18):
And did you consult him on the decision to make
ball in the interim defensive coordinator?
Speaker 3 (08:23):
Say that again?
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Yes, oh, yes, yes, yes I did. Yeah, all those
all those conversations that whether I'm thinking it happens throughout
the week, Any of these decisions on playtime scheme thoughts.
I mean, we talked about some of the trick plays
before the game when I was gonna call those. So
he has some anticipatory things and when he's up in
the box he can see how the flow of the
game's going. But yeah, any of these kind of big
(08:47):
decisions that that that come up, those are conversations that
we had. We had him, you know, talked about him
after the game, talked about him this morning, you know,
and just making sure you know we make the right
decision for the team.
Speaker 10 (08:59):
And on Dexter Lawrence, were you were you told by
the medical staff he was not available due to that
injury at the start of overtime? Were you told by
his position coach he wasn't available? Was he the one
who said he wasn't available? How did that go?
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (09:12):
The community the communication was brought up to me, and again,
he was a guy that was battling through this game,
this injury, and you know probably was was just just
toughed it out for us and was trying to give
us everything he had. And so the decision was just
to kind of play him in like those past situations,
you know, second and longs, third and long, so he
can be a factor on a limited snap count. And
(09:34):
I thought that was the right thing to do and
handle him. And the hats off the deckster for toughing
it out and working through that, because he got dinged
up pretty I mean, this guy was like in tears
on the sideline, just wanted to be out there with
the players and gave us, gave us his all.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Last one.
Speaker 10 (09:49):
If you don't mind you said, Drew Phillips came back
into the game. When he went down, it looked like
he was motionless for about ten seconds.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
What was his injury and why why did he go
back in the game.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Well, our medical staff checked them out and cleared them
to get back in the game. So you know, I
trust what they what they saw. I know they you know,
he went into the tent, went through the whole procedure,
and I was aware of it, and you know, the
medical staff cleared them, so we're going to put them
back in if that's if that's what our medical professionals recommend.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
Was that was that a concussion protocol clearing or was.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
That for some other I think it's I think it's
just like their normal procedure any kind of headneck they
go and do those testing. I mean, I'm not one
hundred percent sure and all like the concussion protocol procedures,
but that's like pretty common practice. Anybody that goes through
head and next stuff or gets dinged like that, they're
going to check them out.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Thank you, Thanks, We'll take two more. Jordan ran on,
Hey Mike, what's going on?
Speaker 11 (10:44):
Hey Jordan, apologies if you already answered something like this
for I jumped on a few minutes. I uh, why
not wait until after the bye week so you at
least have a little more Do you have the kind
of have the two weeks?
Speaker 3 (10:57):
That what made you want to make this move?
Speaker 4 (10:58):
Now?
Speaker 1 (11:00):
It was just I thought, I just really feel like
this is the right time to do it. And gives
charl we have a long week this week. He's got
some extra time here on a Monday night to get
organized and get with the staff. So just felt like
this is the right time to do it and and
give our team the best opportunity to win.
Speaker 11 (11:17):
And I'm also curious, I know you talked about obviously
you talk through and everything with Joe, where does ownership
stand in these kind of decisions in regards to coaching changes.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
Its fine, ya, They're they're tied into all the all
of our decisions that we make. You know, we talk
it through me and Joe on the football side of it,
and then you know Joe, Joe loops them in, but
loops them in all our decisions. So they're they're on
the same page and and they're they're supporting us.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
And then just.
Speaker 11 (11:43):
On the injury front, is are you still just it's
fanning and fouls. He's the only one that kind of
came out with something that might be you know, significant
long term here several weeks.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Well, I'm not sure on the timetable. Well, he's going
to come in today and check them out. But he
was the one that kind of let the game last
week or yesterday. Excuse me, yep, appreciate it, Mike, Thank you.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
Last one.
Speaker 9 (12:06):
Bruce Back, Hey, Mike, where do you go from here
with this team. What are your goals like as you
go down the stretch.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Now, our goal is to go want to know this
week that's our only focus is to find a way
to win this one game and find a way to
win today.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
So our prep.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
You'll see a bunch of players coming in today, getting
some workouts in, start getting ahead of or look at
the review of the tape from yesterday, find ways to
get better. They'll be in the billing tomorrow. We'll be
able to give those corrections then start getting the head
start on our next opponent. But that's that's really all
our focus is on, just today and this week.
Speaker 9 (12:43):
Your offense has outperformed your defense for much of the year.
Do you still believe there's a solid relationship between the
two units.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
Or do you think there's a fractured side to it.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
We're a team and it's a team game. That's the
it's the greatest team game in sports. Offense, defense, special teams.
We all got to find a way to win this game.
And it's never about one unit. It's never about one person.
It's never about one player or coach. It's about the team.
It's about everybody being on the same page. Everybody, you know,
making sure that we have our we have our details right,
(13:15):
our the the UH and and ability to perform when
we need to perform at the end of the game.
So that's where we're at right now, and as a team,
we'll continue to find ways to do that. Be creative
in our practice routine, be creative in our installations, be
creative in our meetings, and then being going to being
creative and being detailed and executing on game day.
Speaker 9 (13:36):
And finally, might put your message to the fans here
as you go down the stretch from your from your viewpoint.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Yeah, our our our goal is to win, is to
find a way to win this week, and so our
that's our mission, and we're gonna turn over every stone
we can. We're gonna give it, We're gonna detail out
as much as we can. We're gonna put our players
in the best position we can to find a way
to win this week.
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