HC Jonathan Gannon joins the media from Training Camp

HC Jonathan Gannon joins the media from Training Camp

Happy Tuesday everybody. Just so you guys are aware, um couple guys won’t be out there today. JJ Russell, concussion, 14 concussion. Um 98 his knee, 80 with the quad, and 59 with a thumb. But uh all those guys are doing a good job. The guys there uh that haven’t been out there for the majority of camp, they’re all doing well, too. Um taking it one day at a time with those guys. Um, just so it gives you a little bit of an update there. What do you guys got? On 18. Uh, he’ll be out there today. Thought you would have inferred when I said no 18. Love you, dude. With uh with with Justin, are is it just something trying to be careful with right now? Yeah. Yeah. What changes this week as far as the process gearing up for a game on Saturday? You know, that’s a that’s a really good question, Bo. Not not much. Um, to me, I told him last night, this is still training camp, you know what I mean? So, we’re going to go at it. We’re going to compete this week. We’re going to load them up with the the proper amount of volume. Um, as it, you know, compared to the first couple weeks there, first three blocks. We need to keep upping our volume. Um, and we’re gonna just we’re going to keep, you know, doing what we’ve been doing, sticking to our process. Does it does it make it a little easier having numbers for these games that you’re able to do that in practice and and still not worry about what happens in the games? No, I think because if you actually look like um you know depending on how many g we always take everything based off like 65 plays in a game kind of deal, but you look at um the volume throughout a week, three days of practice, a walkthrough in a game. Um we need to keep increasing to even get near that. Um and we get around 90% I want to say off the top of my head before we play week one. So, it’s we’re in training camp and we’re increasing our reps. Everybody, ones, twos, and threes. Is there a point this week where you tell guys what their expected workload will be on Saturday? I told them last night they’re going to play. The starters are going to play. Yeah. What uh what made you decide to change that up this year as opposed to two years this year? Last year. Yeah. I think it’s the best thing for our team this year, honestly. you know, Teao, I think, uh, we’re at a good point with our health. Um, we’re at a good point with our development. Uh, and I think that’s, you know, this year with our team, uh, it’s the best thing to do for our guys. When it comes to Kansas City, they play a lot of their starters, a little bit more than most teams. How valuable is that for your defense to get a look at it? Yeah, I I haven’t talked to Andy if they’re going to play him or not. I know, you know, what he’s done in the past, but honestly, not too concerned. You know, I’m more concerned with us preseason one. I assume starters that includes Kyler a little bit. Yeah. You have a a snap count, quarter, anything like that yet? We got a plan, but that that won’t get uh etched into stone until these next three days happen. Um just because you don’t know what’s going to happen these three days, you know what I mean? The health of your team goes into that, too. but got kind of a plan in mind. Um, but that’s that can change too midame honestly. Um, so I feel good about it though. What are the things that you’re assessing uh especially with the starters in a preseason game that might be different than a training camp setting or even a joint practice setting? Well, it’s live. Um, so I do think that’s the best form of evaluation, the best form of learning, uh, where growth can take place. Um, but I want to see us operate, you know, um, make sure that we’re doing the right things. And again, we’re not game planning, you know, we’re not going to game plan Kansas City or the or Denver or Vegas. So, it’s really kind of about us, you know what I mean? Make sure that we’re learning from from those reps, everybody, not just the ones, the twos, and the threes as well. Mson’s taking over the green dog. We’ve heard a lot of good things about him handling that. um from like the mental side of it, like what goes into having to receive the call related to the defense and still having the the coaching ear until 15 seconds. Yeah. Um you know, like uh in the huddle, a lot of guys you can, you know, two ways to go about it. But a lot of guys can like tune out certain things because it doesn’t relate to them. So maybe it be the front. Once they hear the front, they really don’t care about the coverage. Certain calls, certain calls, they got to hear the whole call. Uh, honestly, I think it’s really just mastery of the calls and the system and the checks and the cans and the alerts. So, um, but he’s done a really good job with it, Donnie. He he, like I said, and that was where I really had my eye on during OTAAS after the first couple practices. I’m like, what are we worrying about? You know, he’s fine. Um, and he’s continued to get better um throughout training camp. I know the Dline got after him I think day two and we haven’t really had a hiccup you know since then. So u but the like any game or like anything like there’ll be some mistakes in there but he’s doing a good job with it. He really is. When it comes to a guy like David, how valuable is it to have a guy that can handle so many different spots on the field, not just physically, but mentally as well? Well, yeah, big time. When we got other guys, not just Zav, too, you know. Um, I always say like let’s make sure we’re putting those guys in positions where they can be successful. Um, but it also you got to weigh as it relates to other people too around them, you know. Um, so it’s, you know, you got to you got to kind of fit the pieces to the puzzle when it comes to that stuff. But he’s a he’s a valuable piece for us. There’s no doubt because he can do a lot of things and he’s smart enough to handle it. So, but we use other guys in that similar role as well. Will had a nice interception on Saturday. He’s been running with the ones. What would you like to see from him specifically Saturday in his first game? Uh technique, consistency. Why do you think some guys show up whether it’s in pads compared to shorts or on game days compared to practices? Probably their brain performance psych. During uh during practices, we see you kind of walking around a lot, different position groups and stuff. When you’re in a practice, especially when there’s 90 guys here, how do you decide what you want to get your eyes on during a during a given day? Typically gut. Um but um sometimes I know that’s a good question, Teao. Sometimes I know um what the drills are going to be, what it’s coinciding with um you know with what’s going in that day or corrections that are being made um that you know we the coordinators and the position coaches, myself, we sat down and said, “Hey, these guys got to do this better. We need to drill it differently or find another drill for this or whatever the case may be so we can get this combo double team block better. Let’s drill it differently.” And I’ll typically have my eyes on those things. um just to see the response from the players honestly. So, uh that’s a good question, but a lot of times my my instinct, you know, or what I want to watch that day, honestly. Do you ever do you ever get the sense when you’re over watching whatever particular group that any of them notice you’re there? Like is there ever a situation where it’s like I had a guy that I I used to work for a guy that says you would think that he he was mad at me one time cuz he didn’t think my tempo was high enough when he came and watched and he said you would think that when the head coach walked over there position coaches you’d pick up your tempo when you’re coaching your drills. That always was ingrained in my head. Um no I’m not. Those guys uh the coaches know I completely trust what they’re doing. None of them are looking over their shoulder. I’m honestly watching the players. You know, Connor talked a lot about Trey to play a lot this year. Just what have you seen so far in his development and what makes you believe that he can add more to his? He’s doing a good job. He is. Um just his understanding of the of everything that he’s doing that Audreyy’s teaching. Audrey is doing a really good job with all those guys. Um but you know, everything from his tracks to his vision to his pad level to the timing of the play. um that’s helping him, you know, we haven’t tackled yet, but uh helping him look like he’s a step ahead of last year. And I think a really big piece, what he’s done a good job is protections, you know, cuz you know, that’s a hard thing for some guys at times. Um, and that can, you know, help increase your role if we feel confident that you can do the right thing and not just mentally get on the right people, um, but physically, you know, block the right people. Um, so I think he’s doing a really good job with that. Both both J and Trey have said the line, we have two RB1s this year. Has that been the message from the coaching staff to those two guys? Um, not from me. um it’s compete for your role, you know what I mean? But I think uh probably what they’re alluding to is both of those guys is they both want to play and they think they both can impact the game in a positive way and I agree with them. When you tell the guys last night that the starters are playing, do you did you sense any kind of reaction from anyone? Yeah, they wish it was today. Then we had and then we had the rookie show, so it went from serious to not so serious. Anybody shine in the rookie show? Anybody? Yeah. Um Will Johnson did a good job. Um Oscar and Bryson did a good job. Elijah Simmons did a good job. And the O line did a pretty good job. Did Elijah sing? He sang. He sang. And then like it was so good. He got a standing ovation and then he was about to sit down and they said, “Get back up there and keep singing.” So, it was it was good. We had some dessert food trucks out there. A little bit of a take a breath before this week because they know it’s it’s serious and we got to be locked in now. With so much going on training camp, obviously you said first preseason game coming up. How important are those moments for you guys? Yeah, I think, you know, I don’t, you know, the best teams care about each other, and I think that’s just a way for those guys to have a little bit of fun, raz each other a little bit, but uh, you know, Josh Marin, our player programs guy, he he does a good job. We know the vets take that to heart. They want to see him do a good job with that. You know, if you’re a Cardinal here, I tell those guys, make sure you do a good job with that because you’re not going to get hazed. We don’t do that. you’re not going to do, you know, you might have to buy a dinner here and there, but um that’s kind of a right of passage, I guess. You know, I had to do it as a new coach way back when for Munch. We don’t do that anymore. I don’t even know what Debo would sing. What did you say? I forget. I don’t want to tell you guys. Coach, thanks. It was It was probably good. It was probably good. Thank you guys. Thanks, Yeah. A little bit.

HC Jonathan Gannon joins the media from Training Camp

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