Kevin O’Connell on Patriots Joint Practices, Injury Updates, Receiver Group, Brian Flores Leadership

Kevin O’Connell on Patriots Joint Practices, Injury Updates, Receiver Group, Brian Flores Leadership

Good morning, good afternoon. Um, you know, very much looking forward to today, have been for a while. Going to be two great days of work. Uh, there’s a reason why the Patriots are here. It’s starts with their head football coach, uh, and the organization itself. Uh, got so much respect for Braves and and our relationship over the years. And um we had a really good experience in 2023 uh when he brought his football team here and and uh you know he was one of my first calls soon as soon as he got the job uh to talk about having them come here and a lot of familiar faces and and very much looking forward to both of our teams getting two days of really really good work. This is such a critical time for uh for our team and I know it is for theirs um as well. Uh did want to update you guys just we’re going to hold a couple guys out of these practices. Obviously just an update on Justin. You’ve seen him starting to take part in walkthroughs. He’s definitely progressing um and doing a great job there and we you know we hope to kind of reassess early next week and see if we can maybe start building on that workload. But he’s been uh he’s been fantastic through this through these couple weeks and expect that to continue. TJ Ham and Andrew Van Ginkle dealing with a couple different things health-wise. You know, I want to let them settle down over the next week. I’ll keep you guys updated on those. And then Harrison Smith dealing with an illness will not be here today. And then Levi Drake Rodriguez, you know, little uh ankle coming out of the game, small ankle thing, but we want to see what his availability looks like for the rest of the week on into the game uh Saturday. And then just before I take questions, have not had a chance uh to uh talk with you guys since, you know, we put out the statement on Rond Del Moore. We wanted to make sure that uh you know, we had the total eval on on that and uh you know, he was placed on injured reserve crushed for Rondell. Um all he had done since he had gotten here is do everything right and was progressing. Um, and as I told him, you know, we don’t always have answers and things don’t always need to make sense uh to us, but um I have no doubt that Rondell will um be back better than ever and and be ready to continue his football journey. Uh in addition to that, you know, waving Brian Ba yesterday. um they’re, you know, one of uh a guy that I’ve become so close with and a guy that’s really had uh you know, a unique journey here through his time and and really became a guy that uh you know, I really felt personally invested in and and still do, which is why, you know, the timing of the move and a lot of things to give him the best possible opportunity uh to continue his career and uh you know, find the right place for him and I know he’ll do that. We did sign Cam Gil, outside linebacker, and Max Tulie brought back. Um, so you’ll see those guys out today and getting comfortable with everything and and from there, uh, I will take some questions. On more, was it ACL or what what exactly was the, you know, I don’t want to, you know, it was, uh, it was a significant knee injury, you know, that will keep him out for the definitely the 2025 season. Kevin, just where you at with the receiver depth in the punt return spot right now? Yeah, we’re going to, you know, obviously Rondell was part of that. That’s why he was out there, you know, catching catching that punt that he did when he got hurt. Um, we’ve got some other guys we want to make sure we get game reps for, uh, in addition to the reps out here and through the next couple weeks. And uh we definitely want to the pump return spot is is uh you know up for grabs and we’ve got some talented guys maybe without the experience level that uh you would always want but at the same time the upside and the ability should be a really good competition and you know with that third receiver spot um you know it’s still kind of it’s still the same thing. I think there’s guys that have done some really good things all across the depth of that receiver room and we’ll continue to give guys opportunities to go make plays and and they’re going to get some great work against a really good secondary next couple days and on into the game on Saturday. What are your goals for JJ McCarthy for these two days? Yeah, I think uh you know we talked about coming out of Saturday as a checkpoint. I think this is another one um from a standpoint of getting two full days of a ton of reps for the ones. I love how I love our plan um for these two days. Um you know, with today being a little bit more of the kind of field work and some third down and and we’ll finish it off with with our first two-minute and then tomorrow work down into the red zone and and uh get another two-minute to finish. But it’s going to be extensive, a lot of situational weighty down type stuff, which uh will be will be great to just see. And as I told our whole team, it’s, you know, it’s still it still is practice, but at the same time, we’re playing against an opponent and and we want to see the ability to to handle it all. Success, you know, they make a play, can we move on to the next next down and and just get back to doing the simple things really consistently, doing your job that you can control every single snap. And um I thought the way the the offense procedurally uh played out on for the first preseason game with really all new quarterbacks was uh I liked the way it ran start to finish. Limited penalties on Saturday, which I know I talked to you guys about. Uh I think all that kind of stems from the composure and and the ability for the quarterback to run the show and he did a great job of that. and checkpoint two, it should continue and and and just continue to see um improvement, but also opportunities for learning moments that have been so critical throughout training camp and led us to where we are right now, which is feeling really good about where he’s at and just continue on that training camp journey. Would you consider this week a checkpoint for Christian? Say that one more time. Would you consider this week a check of sorts for Christian? I I think CD is different. I think he’s I you know he’s really the fact that we’ve gotten as much work for him uh this early in August and even shoot I think his first reps you know might even have came before we turned into August. Um so we’re going to be you know we want him to get out there. We want him to get some work and it’s CD’s at the point in time in his career where I I think you know he’s in he’s in anticipation for for what’s out ahead. But ultimately I think uh you can leave it. It’s all good. You ultimately uh not on that one. Not on that one. you your head shots on there as a guy to look out for, but other than that, um, but no, CD’s kind of total trust in where he’s uh where he’s at along the process and and timeline wise and all that. Uh, you know, I think it’s important that uh we assess it as we go with him and and constant communication with Tyler and and building up that workload, but also understanding we’ve got a lot of time until uh until things get real with with Brian Flores. now he’s back for your third season as defensive coordinator. How important has his leadership been in the building and just building the program that you guys have here now? Yeah, I think you know I for me having somebody uh on the defensive side like Brian is it’s the starting point. It’s not just that he’s been a former head coach. It’s not just that, you know, he has total command of that side. It’s also the dynamic between him and I. uh how we’re in, you know, we build everything um in total lock step from how we’re going to do things to what our installs look like on both sides. Um you know, he’s a he’s a big picture thinker uh that is incredibly detailed and prepared every single day. Um and I feel so fortunate to to have that that type of person to lean on in that role and and beyond the scheme and the X’s and O’s and his ability to lead, teach, and motivate. um to have that resource for me has been has been huge and um our dynamic, our relationship, it continues to build and one I’m very fortunate for. What makes the second and long situation so important for you and also what are your thoughts on setting pressure early against an offense versus more traditional training call setting it later in the town? Yeah, I think uh you know I’m probably the wrong guy to ask being the head coach of a Brian Flores le defensive team because first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh down. Um there’s there could be pressure. You know, the the rhyme and reason is there. Um but we’re trying to play our style of defense, you know, in regards to that. But I think that that period is always a good one to get um in addition to some of this. So there’s different types, right? You’re going to have your normal down work where, you know, you’re going to be calling some first and 10, you know, staying on track plays where that’s runs, play pass, keepers, screens, you know, maybe some, you know, purposeful drop back pass. But then when you’re in that second down uh sequence, you know, that can go one of two ways. That’s a that’s a weighty down in my opinion to get back on track down that uh you know you’re trying to you’d love to convert right there a one play conversion and get a new set of downs but at the same time there’s a game within that game of trying to set up the the best possible uh third and third third down distance that you can and defensively it’s a goal and opportunity to try to activate a place to apply pressure to an offense in long yardage situations where your pass rush and coverage can marry together and potentially you know have an impactful down, turn the football over, create as much uncomfortableness for the other side. And and that’s why I think it’s a good thing to practice with an organized way. We do it a lot here and Graves was great about it. We’re going to do it both days. Um and then ultimately you you know you conclude that normal down work with the second and 10 and then we play out the third downs and then you come together and uh unscripted call it periods are uh as you know those are really good for for both sides because you don’t know the DNDs. You got to play the snap out each one as its own. You got to respond to the the down and distance. You got to play on a play clock. You got to substitutions on and off from the sideline. and it’s as close as we’ll get in those periods to uh you know getting these guys reps Saturday in the preseason game. That’s why you can really look at it as an extension of the preseason game in a lot of ways just under a controlled environment where we can maximize the work and limit the potential of losing guys. So I I think that’s a great question and it’s purposeful why you know Ves and I spent a lot of time talking about how we put these days together. That’s why we’re doing it uh with each other because you know we can have those conversations and dialogue and then it’s reflected in uh the opportunities we can provide our players in these days. Kevin, you had the chance to obviously spend time with Drake May before the draft last year too. As you guys are putting and you and Mike are putting this together, how much do you talk about, you have both have young quarterbacks trying to get probably some similar things out of it. How do you structure practices with that in mind? Yeah, I think you know the week two helps. We’ve had really three weeks now since things things got going. We’re through the first preseason game. So, there’s there’s been enough work now where you can kind of assess uh you know what you’re going to ask them to do. Um obviously we there’s going to be some things unscouted looks all over the field today. This is not something where there’s 10 weeks of film on both sides and we can anticipate um exactly how personnel are going to be used. We can anticipate uh some tendencies and things like that. It is not that. Um, so it’s it’s one where you’re, you know, I think we’re both looking uh for and I don’t want to speak for for Braves, but I think we’re both looking for uh a lot of the parts of things that they can control to consistently be to the standard that we ask and and then be able to evaluate the post snap work uh to to have a great understanding of where the players at and and while we still have uh a nice runway here leading up to the regular season of how we then need to prepare from there. Um, but yeah, it’s it’s something that, you know, Drake obviously got some uh some good experience last year. He’s in a new system this year. Uh JJ didn’t have the work last year, but he’s in the same system for the second year. So, there’s differences, but uh I think both organizations are really excited about the players. So, it’s going to be fun to watch those guys compete. Conversation with the guys at all about playing with intensity but not letting it boil over today. Is that sort of just implied or is that something that just might happen? We had some conversation. We did. Um, yeah, we have standard rules of operation and it’s it’s, you know, I I believe a lot of the things that you’re looking for from play style and uh uh, you know, what your what your team looks and feels like, I believe that should happen between the whistles. I believe that should happen with an understanding of the rules in engagement. Um, you know, although, uh, you know, it’s two teams practicing against one another, it still is practice. They have a very similar way that they go about the, you know, we’re not tackling to the ground. It’s a thud period. When we’re in the team periods, we don’t want to take cheap shots. We want to stay off the quarterback. Um, and then in regards to inevitably when, you know, any any competitors are on the field, uh, there’s going to be a bunch of whether it’s one-on- ones, team periods, whatever, there’s going to be a bunch of times today where things push, uh, you know, to that line. And then it’s on the leadership of your team and and the discipline of your team to uh show up in those moments and not let it get to a place where it could impact guys and and and you know whether they play or not in the game, whether they get to finish practice or not, you know, as critical as these reps are, we better not be willing to throw it away, you know, out of an emotion of of a single play or a single response to anything. Just line up and snap the ball and let’s get some work. uh you know, you if you’re truly a team that wants to go where I think both these teams wants to go, um you should be able to go beyond that and focus on what really matters in these two days. Uh very easy to say right here at the podium. Um let’s see how these two days go. But I do know the leadership of both teams, coaching staffs, um and the head coaches, uh we’ve got a great plan and we great understanding of how we want these two days to go and and we’re going to, you know, operate accordingly. Thanks everyone. Go ahead, Don. What step do you need to see from the backups this week? I mean, you know, JJ’s going to get his reps, but do you have a certain level that you want? The quarterbacks are all back and the quarterbacks. Yeah, I think I think uh it’s it’s a lot of the same things. You know, it’s a lot of the same things. They won’t There’s not these rep the reps, as you guys will see, are tied directly to a lot of the first team guys, and it’s built that way because of how we’re going to handle the game and all that stuff. But, um, they’re still going to get opportunities and and they’ve got to go in and do what they are trying to do every single day, which is the same things all quarterbacks should be attempting to do, which is step into the huddle, command the huddle, um, have total ownership at the line of scrimmage pre- snap, and then how much of that can you carry over to doing your job post snap um, consistently over and over and over again, and and uh, you know, not I talked to these guys a lot about my personal journey of getting in there and, you know, try every every shot play I was throwing it deep. Every every third down I was throwing it into tight windows and trying to win the Super Bowl on on one particular play today is is not what I recommend for those guys other than continue to do your job, make great decisions, put the ball in play, and uh you know, see how many times you can stack good plays Together.

Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell addressed the media from 2025 Training Camp ahead of joint practices with the New England Patriots.

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