ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR DAVE TOUB
Q: What did you see from Spencer Shrader that made you want to sign him?
TOUB: “Every year we rate all the kickers coming out. A lot like (Harrison) Butker, he (Spencer Shrader) was our number one guy coming out, we had him number one on our list. He was a guy obviously we targeted, we looked at and we liked him early and then he was on the practice squad, so we took a shot and got him. We’re happy we got him. He’s got a strong leg. We haven’t seen a lot of him but in practice, he’s looked really good.”
Q: On kickers seeming to have more powerful legs nowadays.
TOUB: “I mean the guys are so much – we’ve had this conversation before. I mean the guys are – they’re powerful. The leg strength is really off the charts so it’s not unusual – I mean the guys have to be able to kick a 50-yarder now to be considered an NFL kicker. Then, it comes down to accuracy after that, obviously consistently with the pressure and weather and wind. All those things come into play.”
Q: Do you agree that every yard matters?
TOUB: “Very much so. The last two games – I mean for us, winning field position, that’s the number one thing that we try to do. The last two games, we haven’t won the field position battle. That’s something that you know obviously we’re striving to get on the right track.”
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR STEVE SPAGNUOLO
OPENING STATEMENT: “Alright, a little uncharted waters for this year, (we’re) a little disappointed in last week. Listen, we’ve put it all to bed and flushed it away and now onto another good football team. They don’t get any easier and I know what their (the Carolina Panthers) record says, but (the) quarterback’s (Panthers QB Bryce Young) playing really good and (the) running back’s (Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard) a good player. I think these young guys on the outside are getting a lot of confidence so that’s what we’re getting prepared for. With that, I’ll open it up (to questions).”
Q: Are you satisfied with what you’re getting from your pass rush?
SPAGNUOLO: “Look, the numbers say that you wouldn’t be. Now, I don’t measure everything on sacks, you know that. That particular quarterback (Bills QB Josh Allen) and a bunch of these quarterbacks we’ve played, we’ve had to play a certain way and sometimes you’re not getting four and five guys turned loose. I think you guys (the media) know what I’m saying, and it makes it hard. This guy makes one guy miss and we’re off point (and) he can – like he did on that fourth down play. We’re hoping to crank it up and get the so-called numbers where we want them or at least get the hits, the pressures, getting the quarterback off his spot, those are the things that we need to get better at.”
Q: What have you seen from the recent success of the Carolina Panthers?
SPAGNUOLO: “Listen, they’re playing confident. Listen, they can be a scary bunch when you have a bunch of young guys that have a lot of confidence – they’re coming off a bye week, I’m sure (Head Coach) Andy’s (Reid) talked about all of that. We’re in tune to it, our eyes are open, (and) nobody’s overlooking this particular unit that we’re going against. All we handle is the defense, right? I think this quarterback (Panthers QB Bryce Young) feels really good about what he’s doing. I think they’re doing really good things with him. If we don’t go out there and play our best football, that won’t be good. Any team in this league can make you look bad.”
Q: How do you get your defense to ramp up during November and December football to prepare for a playoff push?
SPAGNUOLO: “Well, one of the things (that) we try to do is simplify at times. I think sometimes when you simplify, you play faster. There’s been a little bit of that direction this week. We’re always going to be multiple because we believe in putting pressure on the team that we’re playing, but if everybody can just be on point and just stay in their lane, do their job – we talk about that all the time. When we play our best is when the unit chemistry is like that (meshed hands together), not anybody trying to do their own thing. We haven’t had a lot of that this year so if we can get back to that and not make those mental errors, I think we’ll be okay.”
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR MATT NAGY
Q: On the evolution of Noah Gray.
NAGY: “He (Noah Gray) really has. He’s been somebody that – since I’ve got here, I’ve really taken on to what he’s done as far as the details, his practice habits, his in-game adjustments (and) his making plays when given a chance. You see what he did last week in Buffalo, he made some nice plays. He’s Mr. Consistent, I think it’s very valuable and he’s probably one of the more underrated and underappreciated guys – from outside of this building – when you look at what he does.”
Q: How do you see your running back rotation working with Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt when Isiah Pacheco returns?
NAGY: “It’s a good problem – I don’t see it as a problem, I used that word, but for him (Isiah Pacheco) to be able to get back into the mix – I always start off with, number one, who he is a football player. What he does for our offense is great stuff. I mean, he’s growing as a young kid (and) as a young football player in this offense but then you also take his personality, his demeanor, his fire, his energy (and) you throw that into the mix with Kareem (Hunt) and the other guys, it does nothing but help you. Whenever that is, whether it’s this week or next week, you know, he just brings positivity and I’m just happy for him to be able to get back.”
Q: How do you approach building on the final touchdown drive for this week and the rest of the season?