October 2, 2025 • 8 mins
Special Team Coordinator Michael Ghobrial speaks to the media Thursday from the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Went into decision to go with you last week.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Yeah, you know, a couple of things.
Speaker 3 (00:05):
I think, Uh Coup obviously is a very accomplished kicker,
and Uh there's still like an acclamation period where that
guy has to get used to the operation of snapping
uh hold obviously, and the more time on task, I
think that transition could happen for him. I think Coop
Uh Jude just obviously having been here, understood the operation
time a little bit more and we just felt like
(00:26):
he gave us the best chance to win that week.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Is that still a week to week thing for you
at this point? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Absolutely, you know, I think although Jude did a really
nice job for us and excelled with everything we were
asking to do, I think, ultimately, you know, you still
treat that like a competition in every week is a
new week, and we'll take a common sense approach as
we have more discussions as a coaching staff later in
the week.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
With Deontay, what did you see from him just as
a return man?
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Tay is obviously a gifted athlete.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
He has the elite top end speed, he has the
frame that you'd want in a returner, and he showed
us that he has good ball skills. You know, the
ability to have good catch mechanics is always number one
priority for me as a returner. The second thing, when
the run skills shows up, and the frame shows up
and the speed shows up, you're like, Okay, this guy
(01:15):
has a chance to do it, and you know he's
done it before in his career of just playing football.
He showed us a lot of promise throughout training camp,
through through these past few weeks, and it was cool
to see him get a couple explosives last week.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
He's fire up to do it.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
And there's also something to be said about a player
that genuinely wants to be back there and do it,
and he's well liked by his teammates, so there's something
to be said about the guys wanting to block for
him as well. So it was cool to give that
guy an opportunity and cool to see him have success.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
Did he approach you guys about that or or is
that something that you guys went to him about.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
A combination of both.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
You know, it was probably a few months ago our
returners were catching off the jugs machine and you know,
he kind of came up to me. He's like, you know,
I could do that, and I said, don't don't tempt
me right there, you know, because obviously he has a
h the skill set to do it. And then he
was back there just catching it very free and easy,
and I was like, Okay, let's start working with him
(02:12):
a little bit more.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
And that's something obviously he had a lot of success with.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
On Sunday, you.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
Put a different guy back there next to Gunner each week.
What has it been like rotating that.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Do you think he could be the answer there potentially?
Speaker 3 (02:27):
You know, I mean every week is a new week
in terms of what players were able to use in
that phase, just because it deals with what we're doing
offensively and defensively as well.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
It's a credit to the team.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Number One, those guys have understood conceptually what we're asking
that specific position to do. So whenever you see returner
by committee and each of those guys show the ability
to do it, you're like, Okay, these guys are starting
to understand the scheme, they're starting to understand how blocks develop,
and it was really cool to see in that frame.
So you know, we'll have more conversations at the end
(03:01):
of the week. But you know, Tay is definitely a
guy that you know could do it at a high
level for a long time.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
I don't know if we'll get a chance to talk
to you next week because it's a short week. But
have you been watching the Eagles blocks? And how much
of is that on your mind?
Speaker 3 (03:16):
I mean, at least no, I mean to be honest,
the My focus is always one one day at a time,
one week at a time. So we have a great
challenge ahead of us this week, you know, playing in
the Superdome, and you know the Saints historically have have
played good special teams at a high level for a
long time. So we got to make sure that you know,
(03:37):
we're locked into this week, this opponent, and right now
because they have a dangerous returner back there in Rashishahid.
They have a lot of good core players that you know, play,
play their tails off and have production. They pressured kicks well,
they've blocked a ton of kicks. So really our focus
is on excelling versus the Saints and handling our business
in that frame.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
What was the a conversation like when you had the
fourth down to get their forty fifty eight yarder on
Sunday obviously punted, but was there any talk about trying
to field go there.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Yeah, I mean we always have discussions as coaches throughout
the game just in terms of situation, and like I've
said before, it kind of deals with, you know, how
we're playing defensively, how we're playing offensively. Field position was
a premium that game, so whether we punted on a
short field or whether we wanted to attempt a field goal,
that just dealt with the score.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Differential and the flow of the game.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
And it was cool to see, uh, you know, our
guys make a couple of plays and obviously bounce back
after they made a couple of plays as well.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Much more differently is when I mean, I think it's
kind of obvious the punt from your heels on the
inline like that.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
What does that change for arts for Jamie?
Speaker 3 (04:43):
But operationally, yeah, I mean, number one, it's quicker because
the spacing is a little bit tighter, so the snap
gets to the punter quicker. And obviously protection is a
premium back there because you don't have as much space,
so you know, the ability to speed up in those
in those cases. And then Jamie, I mean, I can't
say enough good things about how he punted his tail
(05:04):
off last Sunday, and that specific punt will always stick
out of my mind because he's able to flip the field.
You know, you talked about creating a game changing play.
I really feel that was one. And then to see
our coverage unit, you know, cover with ultimate effort and
technique and spreading the field, and those guys put that
(05:25):
whole play together, which was a long lasting play. So
it was cool to see all those guys executing. A
credit to Jamie of punting it well in that situation.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Man Hurts is kind of a big guy. He made
that last tackle on that last punt that pended back.
How impressive is that? Very impressive?
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Yeah, very impressive.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
You know, obviously everybody respects his physicality, the way he
approaches a game.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
He's a super smart football player.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
And you know, the cool thing about him, because he's
played so long in this league, I truly believe that
he understands he doesn't have to go and reach for plays.
He has to be in position, and when he's in
position to make the plays that are he's supposed to make,
he shows up and he does it. And he made
a hell of a play tackling that returner.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
In that regard, why do you think your coverage you
had to been playing well so fine.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
A couple of reasons.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
I think it starts with, you know, the kickers, you know,
placing the ball correctly. But also there's a mentality that
our guys have started in body, you know, understanding that
this is the first play of defense, whether it be
on punt or kickoff, and every week is a new week.
Like the success that we've had the past few weeks
in terms of our coverage phases is not necessarily indicative
(06:37):
of what we're going to do the next game, you know.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
And I think the way that our.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Guys have approached every week, how it's been a next
snap in clear mentality.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
There they flourish for the opportunity to be out there again.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
And it's really cool to be in the huddle right
before they take the field because you see the level
of concentration. You see the level of intensity those guys
have and a genuine, a genuine appreciation for their teammates
because they want to do their job so the other
person next to them can do their job as well,
and if that returner goes to their spot, they're ready
(07:10):
to do it. If the returner goes somewhere else. It's
a byproduct of what that other teammate did. So, like
I said, we got to continue to work. Yes, there's
been some successful plays that we've had, but every week
is a new week and we got to show up
today and have a great day of practice.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Goby Jude hit a couple of touchbacks last week.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Was that part of the plan or is that you
a young kicker still working to develop his placement.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
You know, the hard thing about that kickoff is you
definitely don't want to kick it short, and when you err,
sometimes you error with a little bit of adrenaline, kicking
a little deep, and that's just the nature of this
rule is when you're trying to put it in place,
sometimes they'll carry a little bit deeper and going to
the end zone and it's credit to their returners to
making the smart decision and taking a knee.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
But there are times that.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Will kick touchbacks as well.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
So you know, the biggest thing for him is just
understanding how those two differentiate and when we kick a
touch back, to be able to kick it out in
the back, and.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Then when we put it in play, to be able
to put it in play.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
But that's something that every kicker in this league is
gonna have to continue to work on
Went into decision to go with you last week.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Yeah, you know, a couple of things.
Speaker 3 (00:05):
I think, Uh Coup obviously is a very accomplished kicker,
and Uh there's still like an acclamation period where that
guy has to get used to the operation of snapping
uh hold obviously, and the more time on task, I
think that transition could happen for him. I think Coop
Uh Jude just obviously having been here, understood the operation
time a little bit more and we just felt like
(00:26):
he gave us the best chance to win that week.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Is that still a week to week thing for you
at this point? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Absolutely, you know, I think although Jude did a really
nice job for us and excelled with everything we were
asking to do, I think, ultimately, you know, you still
treat that like a competition in every week is a
new week, and we'll take a common sense approach as
we have more discussions as a coaching staff later in
the week.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
With Deontay, what did you see from him just as
a return man?
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Tay is obviously a gifted athlete.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
He has the elite top end speed, he has the
frame that you'd want in a returner, and he showed
us that he has good ball skills. You know, the
ability to have good catch mechanics is always number one
priority for me as a returner. The second thing, when
the run skills shows up, and the frame shows up
and the speed shows up, you're like, Okay, this guy
(01:15):
has a chance to do it, and you know he's
done it before in his career of just playing football.
He showed us a lot of promise throughout training camp,
through through these past few weeks, and it was cool
to see him get a couple explosives last week.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
He's fire up to do it.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
And there's also something to be said about a player
that genuinely wants to be back there and do it,
and he's well liked by his teammates, so there's something
to be said about the guys wanting to block for
him as well. So it was cool to give that
guy an opportunity and cool to see him have success.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
Did he approach you guys about that or or is
that something that you guys went to him about.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
A combination of both.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
You know, it was probably a few months ago our
returners were catching off the jugs machine and you know,
he kind of came up to me. He's like, you know,
I could do that, and I said, don't don't tempt
me right there, you know, because obviously he has a
h the skill set to do it. And then he
was back there just catching it very free and easy,
and I was like, Okay, let's start working with him
(02:12):
a little bit more.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
And that's something obviously he had a lot of success with.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
On Sunday, you.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
Put a different guy back there next to Gunner each week.
What has it been like rotating that.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Do you think he could be the answer there potentially?
Speaker 3 (02:27):
You know, I mean every week is a new week
in terms of what players were able to use in
that phase, just because it deals with what we're doing
offensively and defensively as well.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
It's a credit to the team.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Number One, those guys have understood conceptually what we're asking
that specific position to do. So whenever you see returner
by committee and each of those guys show the ability
to do it, you're like, Okay, these guys are starting
to understand the scheme, they're starting to understand how blocks develop,
and it was really cool to see in that frame.
So you know, we'll have more conversations at the end
(03:01):
of the week. But you know, Tay is definitely a
guy that you know could do it at a high
level for a long time.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
I don't know if we'll get a chance to talk
to you next week because it's a short week. But
have you been watching the Eagles blocks? And how much
of is that on your mind?
Speaker 3 (03:16):
I mean, at least no, I mean to be honest,
the My focus is always one one day at a time,
one week at a time. So we have a great
challenge ahead of us this week, you know, playing in
the Superdome, and you know the Saints historically have have
played good special teams at a high level for a
long time. So we got to make sure that you know,
(03:37):
we're locked into this week, this opponent, and right now
because they have a dangerous returner back there in Rashishahid.
They have a lot of good core players that you know, play,
play their tails off and have production. They pressured kicks well,
they've blocked a ton of kicks. So really our focus
is on excelling versus the Saints and handling our business
in that frame.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
What was the a conversation like when you had the
fourth down to get their forty fifty eight yarder on
Sunday obviously punted, but was there any talk about trying
to field go there.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Yeah, I mean we always have discussions as coaches throughout
the game just in terms of situation, and like I've
said before, it kind of deals with, you know, how
we're playing defensively, how we're playing offensively. Field position was
a premium that game, so whether we punted on a
short field or whether we wanted to attempt a field goal,
that just dealt with the score.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Differential and the flow of the game.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
And it was cool to see, uh, you know, our
guys make a couple of plays and obviously bounce back
after they made a couple of plays as well.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Much more differently is when I mean, I think it's
kind of obvious the punt from your heels on the
inline like that.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
What does that change for arts for Jamie?
Speaker 3 (04:43):
But operationally, yeah, I mean, number one, it's quicker because
the spacing is a little bit tighter, so the snap
gets to the punter quicker. And obviously protection is a
premium back there because you don't have as much space,
so you know, the ability to speed up in those
in those cases. And then Jamie, I mean, I can't
say enough good things about how he punted his tail
(05:04):
off last Sunday, and that specific punt will always stick
out of my mind because he's able to flip the field.
You know, you talked about creating a game changing play.
I really feel that was one. And then to see
our coverage unit, you know, cover with ultimate effort and
technique and spreading the field, and those guys put that
(05:25):
whole play together, which was a long lasting play. So
it was cool to see all those guys executing. A
credit to Jamie of punting it well in that situation.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Man Hurts is kind of a big guy. He made
that last tackle on that last punt that pended back.
How impressive is that? Very impressive?
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Yeah, very impressive.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
You know, obviously everybody respects his physicality, the way he
approaches a game.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
He's a super smart football player.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
And you know, the cool thing about him, because he's
played so long in this league, I truly believe that
he understands he doesn't have to go and reach for plays.
He has to be in position, and when he's in
position to make the plays that are he's supposed to make,
he shows up and he does it. And he made
a hell of a play tackling that returner.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
In that regard, why do you think your coverage you
had to been playing well so fine.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
A couple of reasons.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
I think it starts with, you know, the kickers, you know,
placing the ball correctly. But also there's a mentality that
our guys have started in body, you know, understanding that
this is the first play of defense, whether it be
on punt or kickoff, and every week is a new week.
Like the success that we've had the past few weeks
in terms of our coverage phases is not necessarily indicative
(06:37):
of what we're going to do the next game, you know.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
And I think the way that our.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Guys have approached every week, how it's been a next
snap in clear mentality.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
There they flourish for the opportunity to be out there again.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
And it's really cool to be in the huddle right
before they take the field because you see the level
of concentration. You see the level of intensity those guys
have and a genuine, a genuine appreciation for their teammates
because they want to do their job so the other
person next to them can do their job as well,
and if that returner goes to their spot, they're ready
(07:10):
to do it. If the returner goes somewhere else. It's
a byproduct of what that other teammate did. So, like
I said, we got to continue to work. Yes, there's
been some successful plays that we've had, but every week
is a new week and we got to show up
today and have a great day of practice.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Goby Jude hit a couple of touchbacks last week.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Was that part of the plan or is that you
a young kicker still working to develop his placement.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
You know, the hard thing about that kickoff is you
definitely don't want to kick it short, and when you err,
sometimes you error with a little bit of adrenaline, kicking
a little deep, and that's just the nature of this
rule is when you're trying to put it in place,
sometimes they'll carry a little bit deeper and going to
the end zone and it's credit to their returners to
making the smart decision and taking a knee.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
But there are times that.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Will kick touchbacks as well.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
So you know, the biggest thing for him is just
understanding how those two differentiate and when we kick a
touch back, to be able to kick it out in
the back, and.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Then when we put it in play, to be able
to put it in play.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
But that's something that every kicker in this league is
gonna have to continue to work on
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