December 22, 2025 • 14 mins
Interim head coach Mike Kafka speaks to the media Monday from the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, Mikey, how's it going.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Hey, haven't just curious when you went back to look
at the tape just kind of what stood out about
what Minnesota did exactly to kind of confuse you guys
with these jackson a little bit and make the passing
game struggles as it did.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
I thought, I thought to start the game, I thought
our running game really took off and was a really
big asset for us in terms of just having control
of the down and distances. I think when you look
at it, the passes and just some of those unfavorable
situations where it's second and long, you know what I mean,
where where we have a couple like Cover zero answers
whether it's an alert or a check to you know,
(00:39):
they were able to kind of you know, hit us
on a couple, whether it was Cover zero or some exotics.
So it's to stand out of those situations in general
is going to be important for us moving forward. But
we are to look at that, get some you know,
at least communicated with it across the group, and that's
something we can continue to get better at and and
get cleaned up for us.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
And also, have you seen anything in these three games
since since back have you seen any commonalities to where
the offense maybe hasn't been able to kind of get
on track the way it's been. Is it a matter
of just these defenses with you know, Vrabel and Floors
or are there any commonalities you're seeing just any three
games you think?
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Not really, I really, I think it's a lot of
the self inflicted stuff. And again, we're all in this
thing together, whether it's coaches, the players. I feel like
it's some of us just just as a group, you know,
not executing at the level that we're expecting to execute
at and the standard that we have in the offensive
room is sky high. So we just got to continue
to clean those things up and get better.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
Thank you, Thanks at Valentine.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Mike, how are you great?
Speaker 5 (01:41):
Good?
Speaker 6 (01:42):
I just have I have two for you. A lot
of guys leave the game yesterday with with injuries. Do
you have anything at all, you know on guys like
Cordale and guys like JMS at this point?
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Yeah, Well, so we're still waiting for some of the
imaging and stuff to come back from the docks, but
I'd say the majority of those guys are going to
be day to day. You know, I wouldn't ruin anybody
out today. But you know, we're still waiting on some
imaging and some testing.
Speaker 7 (02:07):
Okay.
Speaker 6 (02:08):
And the second thing I had for you is there
is a sort of piggybacking on Evan a little bit.
There is a narrative out there that that Jackson is
regressing or not playing as well now than he was
earlier in the year. How do you see that, you know,
in terms of his development.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Yeah, I don't. I don't see it that way. I mean,
I think every game is going to be different. You know,
how we play each game is going to be different.
How we how we think is good, what's going to
help us win the game is going to be different
each week. And I think the last couple of weeks,
you know, we ran the ball almost thirty times. So
when you run the ball thirty times, that's you know,
limits some opportunities for the past game. And there's some
games we're gonna have to, you know, use the pass
(02:51):
game a little bit more.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
So.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
I think there's a way to win every game. You know,
early in the week, you build a game plan around
how you think you're going to win the game, and
then you have the compliments and things built off of that,
and then in game you've got to go and adjust
and find those solutions in game based on the stuff
that you have and the stuff that you put in
and the system within your working within. So you know,
I don't see that as a regression for Jackson, to
(03:15):
be sure. Maybe the numbers aren't what they had been
in the past, but I think he's playing well. He's
playing at a high level. There's certainly things that he
can continue to improve on, and we've talked through those
and as a group too. But when I look back
at it, it's really this is eleven man operation on offense.
So it's not about one person's production or it's about
the whole group, and it's about the whole team. So
(03:37):
whatever we got to do to win the game, that's
what we're trying to do. And so yeah, I mean
at some point things like numbers and all that will will.
I'm not as concerned about the numbers, to be honest
with you. We're looking to find a way to win
a game, and Jackson's on board with that. He understands that,
and so that's kind where we're at. Thank you, Thanks
(03:59):
Ran definitely, and Mike Ron.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Does what you said about day to day and imaging
and all apply to Andrew Thomas to it just didn't
single him out. So he's obviously a big one.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Yeah, yeah, he'd be in that group.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Okay, Obviously you've been in this spot before where these
late season games kind of take on different meaning for
the fans than people in the building. This game is
going to get a lot of attention this week because
of the NFL draft and the number one pick. Do
you address that with the guys to block them, to
block that out? Is there any form of like rallying
(04:39):
cry in that, like everybody's treating the winner the loser
of this game as the winner or except the people
in the building, Is there any is there any way
to use that to your advantage?
Speaker 3 (04:49):
I guess no. Really, the only messaging today was just
focusing on today and the corrections from from yesterday's game.
You know we can can say stay consistent, how we
can be more detailed, and then really the main message was,
you know, let's not leave the building today without getting
some of those things corrected so that we can move forward,
turn the page and put together our best game plan
and effort versus the Raiders.
Speaker 6 (05:12):
Understood.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
Thanks mine, Thank you, Dan, tag In and Mike just
curious from gameplay perspective, obviously it's a very run heavy
on early downs. Why not mix in more play action
if you're gonna establish that.
Speaker 8 (05:25):
With the run.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Yeah, I think there was a time and a place
for those and those like calculated shots. I just felt
like in the flow of the game, the runs were
so efficient and effective that you know, you know what
kind of stopped with them. So I felt like we
were getting really good production on first down, which was
really to me, the biggest part of the game as
we talked about it, and I even mentioned in too
(05:47):
a few of my press conferences earlier, was to get
back on track offs those second and long staying out
of those situations. So if we can stay positive on
first down and keep us into favorable second downs and
favorable three downs, and that would give us an opportunity
to continue to be successful. I think the run actions
kind of came to us a little bit later, but
we used a couple of them. I think one of
(06:08):
them we end up getting sacked on it. But you know,
we want to mix those in, no no, no question,
and it will continue to do that and marry those
things up. But the way that that kind of package
ended up evolving for the game. You know, quite frankly,
I didn't really see myself using it as much as
we really did because of the early success it had.
I had a few more different personnel groups in mind
(06:30):
to jump into, but it was so successful early we
kind of hung with it and had some some good
compliments built off of it. So that's really kind of
where my mind went in the flow of the game.
Speaker 6 (06:39):
Gotcha.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
And then one other injury question because we haven't asked you,
but it since I have on Saturday, what we wanted
into putting Cavon on IR It seemed like he was
working to get back, so I'm just curious.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Yeah, he was. He was working really hard, and I
know he wanted to get back for the group, just
you know, medically and you know, just talking with him.
He really wasn't there yet to be back for the
last couple of games, so it just didn't make sense
to put him at risk for potentially a longer term
injury and re kind of redoing it. So, you know,
he battled everyone was working hard and he's working hard
to get back, but it'll just be after the season.
Speaker 8 (07:10):
Thanks Thanks Adi, trainer, Hey Mike, how are you, Hey, Patty,
I have a couple for you kind of related Jackson.
When he came in, I believe he had done a
lot of his work from the shotgun, and obviously in
the NFL, you have to be able to work from
the gun, you also have to be work to work
under center. Can you just talk a little bit about
(07:32):
the challenges of working with a quarterback who maybe doesn't
have as much experience working under center and just you
know what you go through with him.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
The only thing is is I wouldn't say it's a challenge.
I think it's it's probably a little bit different for him,
but he enjoys it. He likes it. He likes me
under center. And that was one of the things we
talked through over the bye week was you know that
we're building in some tendencies. Hey, we're in the gun,
it's probably a pass. We're under center, it's probably a run. Okay,
So how do you and match you know, being under
(08:02):
center and still be able to have you know, your
run action game, your naked game out of that or
in the pistol, you know, just those type of things.
So there's ways to kind of supplement it. And yeah,
We know Jackson spent the majority of his time in GUN,
but I think it does give you an advantage. You're
able to go under center or being the pistol. I know,
the run lanes and the run angles are a little
bit different than you are and gun when you're offset.
(08:23):
So there's a few things that in our mind kind
of go into it. But for Jackson and his development,
like he feels comfortable underneath, he likes it, he likes
the play action, he likes how it influences the second
level and third level linebackers, So that gives us an
advantage and he's continuing to grow with it.
Speaker 8 (08:39):
And what if you see though from him working under center.
You know you mentioned the comfort level. Obviously, where can
he still grow in that regard?
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Yeah, no question. I think that the run action fakes
is getting his head and eyes around quick finding that flat,
the flat defender, the hooked curl defender. I think just
the fundamentals of it are continuing to grow, and you're
seeing that the more comfortable he gets with being underson
and using those fakes. Yeah, you turn your back to
the defense, but now the defense has to respect the
round again. We're running the ball at a you know,
(09:07):
a higher tick normal that's going to make those guys
step up. And now you can use those those run
actions to Dan's question earlier, and so I think it's
just mixing and matching those and being really smart and
how we shape the game plan and how we can
compliment each other and both the run in the past. Thanks,
thank you, We'll take two more.
Speaker 5 (09:24):
Paul Schwartz, Hey, Mike, how you doing. Hey, Paul, Hey,
I got a couple for you. You obviously had a
relationship with Jackson as an offensive coordinator. Brian Dabele had
a relationship with him as a head coach and you know,
a quarterback guy. Also, when you took over as the
interim head coach, did you see the need to change
(09:45):
your relationship in any way. I mean, obviously you had
a relationship before, but to change it more more intense,
more distant, more head coachyt you know anything like that.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
No, That's one thing I'm most proud of is keeping
our consistent, our consistency with our meeting times. You know,
sometimes I'm you know, I spend the majority of the
time in the offensive room in general, while while Tim's
kind of going through the installations and I'm still standing
up there and installing stuff. But you know, I do
have to make sure I, you know, dedicate some time
to the other phases as well. That's just me, just
(10:18):
time management part of it. But I'm always in the
quarterback room and talking with those guys, and you know,
continue with our routine in terms of meeting with him,
going over the game plan, going over the answers post practice,
during practice, making sure I get some of those adjustments
and stuff done. So I'd say, sure it's changed a
little bit just based on the nature of the role
(10:39):
right now, but it does. It's really like wide scale
hasn't changed that much. Yeah, okay, thank you.
Speaker 5 (10:45):
As far as the last two games for Jackson, you know,
there have been rookies who have been a guess to
take a seat sometimes and say, I'm not saying I'm
advocating this, but I'm saying it has happened in the past. Okay,
let's let the rookie maybe these out. I don't imagine
you have thought of that in any way, shape or form.
You can tell me if you have, and would there
(11:06):
be anything to sitting Jackson these games or you know,
and maybe taking a step back or do you think
full throttle ahead, these two games.
Speaker 8 (11:16):
Are going to be great for him.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Yeah, Paul, I'd try to go with the ladder that
we're full three, full throttle ahead. Jackson's run the ship.
That's no question about that.
Speaker 5 (11:27):
And one other thing you mentioned yesterday when you asked
about some defensive things and you said, well, I was,
you know, doing this, I was doing that, I was
you know, I mean, is it is it part of
the head coach that you're learning these things that, especially
in game you're the play caller and and you know
you can't oversee everything all the time. And is that
a great challenge.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Yeah, that's a great challenge. And you're absolutely right. And
you have to have great trust in the coaches and
the coordinators on the other on the other phases to
make sure that they're dial in and make sure they
don't need me like that's really the most important thing.
Is I just want to make sure I'm an I
said to them if they have a question or if
they're you know, making sure we're all in the same
the same wavelength in terms of how I see the
game going. As I'm managing the game, you know, even
(12:09):
though I'm still talking to the offense. I'm still kind
of got, you know, one year to the defense their
communication and then hitting them between drives as well. So
there's you know, there's certainly some communication that I got
to juggle, but it's part of the role. It's fun.
It's been great. The guys have been awesome and responding
to it and the communication, the dialogue that we've had
has been excellent. So hats off to the guys upstairs
(12:31):
for number one, keep me on track with the game
management part of it, and then just the communication and
dialogue with the coaches offensively, defensively, special teams. It's been really,
really clear and really clean. Thanks Mikes.
Speaker 7 (12:44):
You last one, Charlotte Carroll.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
Going k Charlotte.
Speaker 7 (12:49):
You guys have been pretty fortunate just to have like
the line consistency all season. How did you see Jackson
handle yesterday with three of his starters out? And I guess,
what do you do differently? Or do you do and
they think differently for rookie QB in that situation, especially
when it's someone like your left tackle who's such a
stall wart.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
Yeah, we've had we've had this. The situation has come
up in the past for us. I think it's just
we have a lot of trust and the guys that
are stepping in, so you know, they have a great
deal of responsibility in terms of understanding the game plan
and going out there in execution. But our level of
trust in the players that we put out there is
sky high, so you know, they really didn't feel like
we need to skip a beat in terms of how
(13:27):
we played the game, or at least our intent for
how we wanted to start the game and get into
the game. Obviously, you want to adjust based on how
things are going or maybe a certain players you know,
doing really well or struggle a little bit, how can
we help, But didn't feel like that through throughout the game,
you know, And so I just, you know, I think
the way the game kind of went, and it got
(13:49):
right down to it, three minutes and twenty seconds left
with two timeouts at the minus forty. You know, your
twenty five yards from game time field goal, sixty yards
from a game winner, put the ball in Jack and Dartan.
I mean, that's I'll take that any day of the week.
Hey, Mikey, how's it going.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Hey, haven't just curious when you went back to look
at the tape just kind of what stood out about
what Minnesota did exactly to kind of confuse you guys
with these jackson a little bit and make the passing
game struggles as it did.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
I thought, I thought to start the game, I thought
our running game really took off and was a really
big asset for us in terms of just having control
of the down and distances. I think when you look
at it, the passes and just some of those unfavorable
situations where it's second and long, you know what I mean,
where where we have a couple like Cover zero answers
whether it's an alert or a check to you know,
(00:39):
they were able to kind of you know, hit us
on a couple, whether it was Cover zero or some exotics.
So it's to stand out of those situations in general
is going to be important for us moving forward. But
we are to look at that, get some you know,
at least communicated with it across the group, and that's
something we can continue to get better at and and
get cleaned up for us.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
And also, have you seen anything in these three games
since since back have you seen any commonalities to where
the offense maybe hasn't been able to kind of get
on track the way it's been. Is it a matter
of just these defenses with you know, Vrabel and Floors
or are there any commonalities you're seeing just any three
games you think?
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Not really, I really, I think it's a lot of
the self inflicted stuff. And again, we're all in this
thing together, whether it's coaches, the players. I feel like
it's some of us just just as a group, you know,
not executing at the level that we're expecting to execute
at and the standard that we have in the offensive
room is sky high. So we just got to continue
to clean those things up and get better.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
Thank you, Thanks at Valentine.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Mike, how are you great?
Speaker 5 (01:41):
Good?
Speaker 6 (01:42):
I just have I have two for you. A lot
of guys leave the game yesterday with with injuries. Do
you have anything at all, you know on guys like
Cordale and guys like JMS at this point?
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Yeah, Well, so we're still waiting for some of the
imaging and stuff to come back from the docks, but
I'd say the majority of those guys are going to
be day to day. You know, I wouldn't ruin anybody
out today. But you know, we're still waiting on some
imaging and some testing.
Speaker 7 (02:07):
Okay.
Speaker 6 (02:08):
And the second thing I had for you is there
is a sort of piggybacking on Evan a little bit.
There is a narrative out there that that Jackson is
regressing or not playing as well now than he was
earlier in the year. How do you see that, you know,
in terms of his development.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Yeah, I don't. I don't see it that way. I mean,
I think every game is going to be different. You know,
how we play each game is going to be different.
How we how we think is good, what's going to
help us win the game is going to be different
each week. And I think the last couple of weeks,
you know, we ran the ball almost thirty times. So
when you run the ball thirty times, that's you know,
limits some opportunities for the past game. And there's some
games we're gonna have to, you know, use the pass
(02:51):
game a little bit more.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
So.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
I think there's a way to win every game. You know,
early in the week, you build a game plan around
how you think you're going to win the game, and
then you have the compliments and things built off of that,
and then in game you've got to go and adjust
and find those solutions in game based on the stuff
that you have and the stuff that you put in
and the system within your working within. So you know,
I don't see that as a regression for Jackson, to
(03:15):
be sure. Maybe the numbers aren't what they had been
in the past, but I think he's playing well. He's
playing at a high level. There's certainly things that he
can continue to improve on, and we've talked through those
and as a group too. But when I look back
at it, it's really this is eleven man operation on offense.
So it's not about one person's production or it's about
the whole group, and it's about the whole team. So
(03:37):
whatever we got to do to win the game, that's
what we're trying to do. And so yeah, I mean
at some point things like numbers and all that will will.
I'm not as concerned about the numbers, to be honest
with you. We're looking to find a way to win
a game, and Jackson's on board with that. He understands that,
and so that's kind where we're at. Thank you, Thanks
(03:59):
Ran definitely, and Mike Ron.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Does what you said about day to day and imaging
and all apply to Andrew Thomas to it just didn't
single him out. So he's obviously a big one.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Yeah, yeah, he'd be in that group.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Okay, Obviously you've been in this spot before where these
late season games kind of take on different meaning for
the fans than people in the building. This game is
going to get a lot of attention this week because
of the NFL draft and the number one pick. Do
you address that with the guys to block them, to
block that out? Is there any form of like rallying
(04:39):
cry in that, like everybody's treating the winner the loser
of this game as the winner or except the people
in the building, Is there any is there any way
to use that to your advantage?
Speaker 3 (04:49):
I guess no. Really, the only messaging today was just
focusing on today and the corrections from from yesterday's game.
You know we can can say stay consistent, how we
can be more detailed, and then really the main message was,
you know, let's not leave the building today without getting
some of those things corrected so that we can move forward,
turn the page and put together our best game plan
and effort versus the Raiders.
Speaker 6 (05:12):
Understood.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
Thanks mine, Thank you, Dan, tag In and Mike just
curious from gameplay perspective, obviously it's a very run heavy
on early downs. Why not mix in more play action
if you're gonna establish that.
Speaker 8 (05:25):
With the run.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Yeah, I think there was a time and a place
for those and those like calculated shots. I just felt
like in the flow of the game, the runs were
so efficient and effective that you know, you know what
kind of stopped with them. So I felt like we
were getting really good production on first down, which was
really to me, the biggest part of the game as
we talked about it, and I even mentioned in too
(05:47):
a few of my press conferences earlier, was to get
back on track offs those second and long staying out
of those situations. So if we can stay positive on
first down and keep us into favorable second downs and
favorable three downs, and that would give us an opportunity
to continue to be successful. I think the run actions
kind of came to us a little bit later, but
we used a couple of them. I think one of
(06:08):
them we end up getting sacked on it. But you know,
we want to mix those in, no no, no question,
and it will continue to do that and marry those
things up. But the way that that kind of package
ended up evolving for the game. You know, quite frankly,
I didn't really see myself using it as much as
we really did because of the early success it had.
I had a few more different personnel groups in mind
(06:30):
to jump into, but it was so successful early we
kind of hung with it and had some some good
compliments built off of it. So that's really kind of
where my mind went in the flow of the game.
Speaker 6 (06:39):
Gotcha.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
And then one other injury question because we haven't asked you,
but it since I have on Saturday, what we wanted
into putting Cavon on IR It seemed like he was
working to get back, so I'm just curious.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Yeah, he was. He was working really hard, and I
know he wanted to get back for the group, just
you know, medically and you know, just talking with him.
He really wasn't there yet to be back for the
last couple of games, so it just didn't make sense
to put him at risk for potentially a longer term
injury and re kind of redoing it. So, you know,
he battled everyone was working hard and he's working hard
to get back, but it'll just be after the season.
Speaker 8 (07:10):
Thanks Thanks Adi, trainer, Hey Mike, how are you, Hey, Patty,
I have a couple for you kind of related Jackson.
When he came in, I believe he had done a
lot of his work from the shotgun, and obviously in
the NFL, you have to be able to work from
the gun, you also have to be work to work
under center. Can you just talk a little bit about
(07:32):
the challenges of working with a quarterback who maybe doesn't
have as much experience working under center and just you
know what you go through with him.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
The only thing is is I wouldn't say it's a challenge.
I think it's it's probably a little bit different for him,
but he enjoys it. He likes it. He likes me
under center. And that was one of the things we
talked through over the bye week was you know that
we're building in some tendencies. Hey, we're in the gun,
it's probably a pass. We're under center, it's probably a run. Okay,
So how do you and match you know, being under
(08:02):
center and still be able to have you know, your
run action game, your naked game out of that or
in the pistol, you know, just those type of things.
So there's ways to kind of supplement it. And yeah,
We know Jackson spent the majority of his time in GUN,
but I think it does give you an advantage. You're
able to go under center or being the pistol. I know,
the run lanes and the run angles are a little
bit different than you are and gun when you're offset.
(08:23):
So there's a few things that in our mind kind
of go into it. But for Jackson and his development,
like he feels comfortable underneath, he likes it, he likes
the play action, he likes how it influences the second
level and third level linebackers, So that gives us an
advantage and he's continuing to grow with it.
Speaker 8 (08:39):
And what if you see though from him working under center.
You know you mentioned the comfort level. Obviously, where can
he still grow in that regard?
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Yeah, no question. I think that the run action fakes
is getting his head and eyes around quick finding that flat,
the flat defender, the hooked curl defender. I think just
the fundamentals of it are continuing to grow, and you're
seeing that the more comfortable he gets with being underson
and using those fakes. Yeah, you turn your back to
the defense, but now the defense has to respect the
round again. We're running the ball at a you know,
(09:07):
a higher tick normal that's going to make those guys
step up. And now you can use those those run
actions to Dan's question earlier, and so I think it's
just mixing and matching those and being really smart and
how we shape the game plan and how we can
compliment each other and both the run in the past. Thanks,
thank you, We'll take two more.
Speaker 5 (09:24):
Paul Schwartz, Hey, Mike, how you doing. Hey, Paul, Hey,
I got a couple for you. You obviously had a
relationship with Jackson as an offensive coordinator. Brian Dabele had
a relationship with him as a head coach and you know,
a quarterback guy. Also, when you took over as the
interim head coach, did you see the need to change
(09:45):
your relationship in any way. I mean, obviously you had
a relationship before, but to change it more more intense,
more distant, more head coachyt you know anything like that.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
No, That's one thing I'm most proud of is keeping
our consistent, our consistency with our meeting times. You know,
sometimes I'm you know, I spend the majority of the
time in the offensive room in general, while while Tim's
kind of going through the installations and I'm still standing
up there and installing stuff. But you know, I do
have to make sure I, you know, dedicate some time
to the other phases as well. That's just me, just
(10:18):
time management part of it. But I'm always in the
quarterback room and talking with those guys, and you know,
continue with our routine in terms of meeting with him,
going over the game plan, going over the answers post practice,
during practice, making sure I get some of those adjustments
and stuff done. So I'd say, sure it's changed a
little bit just based on the nature of the role
(10:39):
right now, but it does. It's really like wide scale
hasn't changed that much. Yeah, okay, thank you.
Speaker 5 (10:45):
As far as the last two games for Jackson, you know,
there have been rookies who have been a guess to
take a seat sometimes and say, I'm not saying I'm
advocating this, but I'm saying it has happened in the past. Okay,
let's let the rookie maybe these out. I don't imagine
you have thought of that in any way, shape or form.
You can tell me if you have, and would there
(11:06):
be anything to sitting Jackson these games or you know,
and maybe taking a step back or do you think
full throttle ahead, these two games.
Speaker 8 (11:16):
Are going to be great for him.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Yeah, Paul, I'd try to go with the ladder that
we're full three, full throttle ahead. Jackson's run the ship.
That's no question about that.
Speaker 5 (11:27):
And one other thing you mentioned yesterday when you asked
about some defensive things and you said, well, I was,
you know, doing this, I was doing that, I was
you know, I mean, is it is it part of
the head coach that you're learning these things that, especially
in game you're the play caller and and you know
you can't oversee everything all the time. And is that
a great challenge.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Yeah, that's a great challenge. And you're absolutely right. And
you have to have great trust in the coaches and
the coordinators on the other on the other phases to
make sure that they're dial in and make sure they
don't need me like that's really the most important thing.
Is I just want to make sure I'm an I
said to them if they have a question or if
they're you know, making sure we're all in the same
the same wavelength in terms of how I see the
game going. As I'm managing the game, you know, even
(12:09):
though I'm still talking to the offense. I'm still kind
of got, you know, one year to the defense their
communication and then hitting them between drives as well. So
there's you know, there's certainly some communication that I got
to juggle, but it's part of the role. It's fun.
It's been great. The guys have been awesome and responding
to it and the communication, the dialogue that we've had
has been excellent. So hats off to the guys upstairs
(12:31):
for number one, keep me on track with the game
management part of it, and then just the communication and
dialogue with the coaches offensively, defensively, special teams. It's been really,
really clear and really clean. Thanks Mikes.
Speaker 7 (12:44):
You last one, Charlotte Carroll.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
Going k Charlotte.
Speaker 7 (12:49):
You guys have been pretty fortunate just to have like
the line consistency all season. How did you see Jackson
handle yesterday with three of his starters out? And I guess,
what do you do differently? Or do you do and
they think differently for rookie QB in that situation, especially
when it's someone like your left tackle who's such a
stall wart.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
Yeah, we've had we've had this. The situation has come
up in the past for us. I think it's just
we have a lot of trust and the guys that
are stepping in, so you know, they have a great
deal of responsibility in terms of understanding the game plan
and going out there in execution. But our level of
trust in the players that we put out there is
sky high, so you know, they really didn't feel like
we need to skip a beat in terms of how
(13:27):
we played the game, or at least our intent for
how we wanted to start the game and get into
the game. Obviously, you want to adjust based on how
things are going or maybe a certain players you know,
doing really well or struggle a little bit, how can
we help, But didn't feel like that through throughout the game,
you know, And so I just, you know, I think
the way the game kind of went, and it got
(13:49):
right down to it, three minutes and twenty seconds left
with two timeouts at the minus forty. You know, your
twenty five yards from game time field goal, sixty yards
from a game winner, put the ball in Jack and Dartan.
I mean, that's I'll take that any day of the week.
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