We are All in This Together | Press Conference

We are All in This Together | Press Conference

Okay. Um, it’s been a tough 24 hours to say the least. Um, I think everybody here understands um, the opportunity that Brian gave us to come here and help him um, with the football team and this organization. Um, so it’s been tough and uh, that goes without any hesit. You know, that’s just the way it is. But this is this is the business that we’re in. We all understand this. I’ve been in a long time and I you understand that um things like this come up. It’s a bad part of the business and when I look at it, you know, it’s not just coaches, but there’s families involved, there’s kids involved, things like that. So, it’s a tough situation for everybody. But, uh that being said, I think, you know, um I’ve got a job to do now and I’m excited for that opportunity. It’s an honor and privilege to be standing here in front of you guys today um and leading this organization. Uh we got a lot of hard work ahead of us. Um but the one thing um you know I’m I’ve talked to the staff already. I’m going to talk to the team tomorrow about you know togetherness. You know we got to stick together. That’s the only way to do it is stick together. You know we all have a part in this where we are today. It’s not just Brian and that’s the unfortunate thing in this business that happens and we all have a hand in it. Every player, every coach, every person in the organization, we have to hold each other accountable. So, we all have to be accountable for everything we’re doing on a daily basis. So, that’s two things, you know, the togetherness part of it and the accountability moving forward. Um, those are two big things that I’m going to stress to everybody because uh it’s a bad feeling when you see someone um that’s such a good person like Brian um have this happen to. But we all have to understand, hey, we’re all in this together and we all have a hand in it. Okay. And with that being said, I want to kind of lead into one thing um with regards to our fan base. I I understand the frustration. our records what it is. But I can promise you, okay, we’re gonna work our tails off, you know, every day we walk in this facility as a coaching staff, as players to go out there and do whatever we can, okay, to give us our best opportunity to win a football game. That’s what it’s all about. It’s about winning, okay? So, we got to go out there and play with great energy, great effort, play with the swagger. um complimentary football, all three phases playing together. That that’s the that’s the big thing. We all understand where we are and that we’ve struggled on offense. We got to fix that and that that’s the number one thing we got to do right now moving forward is is we got to fix and clean up some things on offense and um but we got to it’s compary football and that that’s you know sticking together as a football team. But when you play complimentary football and you help each other out, good things are going to happen. So to the fans, hey, we’re we’re going to go out there. We’re going to fight fight fight our tails off and get rolling. Why do you think the offense has had such troubles and and what’s the first step in trying to change it? Well, there’s a number of different things. It’s every game it’s been something different. You know, you look at that and that’s like you put a game plan together and the things that work, things that don’t work. Uh we got to execute better. That’s everybody. That’s all 11 guys on offense of going out there and doing their jobs better. Um it’s not any one person. It’s it’s everybody’s in it together. If we all just eliminate a couple mistakes here and there in a game at different times and we all play better, we’ll have better results. You said yesterday that you might want to implement some some changes, work with Cam a little bit for some change. Can you maybe give us a kind of a broad idea of what you might like to see there? Well, I think, you know, um we’ve got to I’m a big believer, um as as we go moving forward, uh you always got to think um players and not plays. And I think we guys got to you look at this and we got to decide, okay, moving forward. And it’s early in the week still. So each week you you look at what a defensive scheme, what they’re going to run, what do our players do best. So, you know, we got to sit down and and like we’ve done the last, you know, couple hours this morning, getting into the game planning against a good New England team. Um, is is what does Cam do best and what do we do best as an offense? And that that’s but that’s going to be every week. So, that that’s the big thing when we go in there, we got to look at our look at our scheme. What are we doing? Um, and it’s going to change from week to week on what we do best. What allows quarterbacks to grow in your what allows quarterbacks to grow in your opinion? and just what are you planning on doing maybe differently or additionally? experience there. There’s nothing like experience. And um you know, I’ve been doing this a long time. And when you get into a new system, whether you’re a veteran or you’re a rookie, especially a rookie at any position, it takes time to get used to the game. And I know you’ve you’ve had a ton of success in college, uh regardless of what position you’re playing. Then you get to the NFL and everybody’s good. And the talent level, you know, any Sunday, you go out there and win any football game on Sunday. you could you see how the league’s already happened that what’s going on you know through six weeks so far. Um people call them upsets this and that but it’s if you don’t play your best you’re going to get beat. Uh or if you go out there and play your best game you’re putting yourself in a position and then it comes down to you know situational football. Are you executing at the critical times of the game? Are you making that kick at the end of the game to win it? All those little things. So, there’s so many different things that go into it, but there’s a developmental phase and there’s a growth of players of, you know, of, you know, we’re always going to look at regardless what our record is, we’re trying to play better the next week. That that’s the number one focus every regardless what your record is, you’re trying to improve. Even in games late, um, you know, I was very fortunate to work with Dan Henning. And you know, I was kind of raised by Dan Henning and Richard Williamson and Caroline A long long time ago when I wasn’t gray, you know. Um, and they always talked about with the team that listen, you’re always playing for the next week or the next series regardless what the score is, you know, if if you’re ahead. Okay, now you’re getting a four-minute situation. You’re you’re doing certain things to always get better u regardless what the situation is. So, we’re we’re going to look for, you know, how do we get better every week? That’s Chris. How do you keep a coaching staff that’s now kind of in limbo at the end of the season and players who may not know what their role is beyond this year? How do you keep them dialed in and focused and bought in? That’s easy. This is the NFL. We We all have a job to do. We got the greatest job. I mean, this this is I mean, I absolutely love coming to work every day. I think the character of our football team. I mean, the type of players we have, I mean, getting to know uh seeing what Jeff does every day, every there’s a reason why he goes out and dominates every game. The way you see him at the end of games on the sideline with the offense as they’re coming off regardless what the score is. Um, the players that we have, and that’s just that’s just one guy that I’m mentioning. Um, there’s a lot of guys, the veteran players we have here, they know what it means to play this game every day. So, you can’t take anything. I look, I mean, every game’s a gem. You go out there and you never know in this business when it’s going to be your last snap. You don’t know that. There’s injuries that happen. There’s things that come up. So, that’s you you you we have the wrong people in this building if if they don’t approach every day, you know, with the right way. Once the decision was made, how did you go about communicating with the rest of the staff? And what is the status of of the the remaining coaches? Well, there’s um as you all know um we have parted ways with Bill Callahan and I’ll leave it at that. Um but the rest of the staff is staying the same. So uh in the afternoon um after they talked to me um about this opportunity that I’m honored to have um we I got the guys together. We had a quick little meeting and I’ve met with guys, you know, last night obviously and today kind of about what direction we’re heading and uh the changes we’re going to make and and how we’re going to do things moving forward. So, is Board Green still calling the plays or Yes, he is. Is Scott the offensive line coach? They’re going to they got I’ve got two great offensive line coaches that are going to work together. Um the great thing about um the two of them is that, you know, they’ve learned from one of the best to ever do it. I mean, Bill was a phenomenal football coach, a better person. Uh, my office is right next to the offensive line room, so I heard all those meetings and everything all the time when I was in my office, and I’ve got all the confidence in the world in those two guys of leading that room together. Um, I’m big into everyone doing this thing together. Um, with Luke and Randy, you know, more in the run game with those guys. Um, we all did it together um, in the past, but just, you know, I want everyone to kind of be in it together. That’s the one thing. Mike, what was it like when they approached you about this? Sorry. What was it like when they approached you about this? And did you ever think that this could have been a possibility when you took this job? I never thought of this when I took the job back when I first talked to Brian. Oh, last off season, uh, this was the last thing I thought I’d be doing. How about Mike? I guess you’re ahead. Go ahead. Sorry. Just to follow, what was it like yesterday when they approached you about this and kind of give us an idea of how that went down? Well, you know, unfortunately when you hear the news like I talked about how it’s been a, you know, a hard 24 hours, you know, up until I’m talking to you guys right now, um, there’s always that first initial reaction and I and listen, I’ve been there before, you know, I’ve been doing this a long time. I’ve seen a lot in the business. So, um, I feel for for for Brian. Um, but I also know once I talk to Mike and Chad, the opportunity I had that I’ve got a job to do now. How much money? And so, you know, we had a great conversation u with I’ve had a great conversation with the two of them. Um, once they kind of talked to me about certain things and um, I’m excited for the opportunity. How much, Mike, I guess, your past experience as a head coach helped you step into this job and and kind of knowing how to handle things and and maybe lessons you learned then? It’s invaluable. because nobody knows until you’re in this role. You think you’re ready. You got no clue. There’s so many things that come up on a daily basis that you have to deal with. And you know, I was young back in 2013 when I first got the job in San Diego. And the things that come across my desk, I’m I’ve got to I’ve got to answer this. What What are you talking about? I mean, isn’t that his job to do that? You’re the head coach. Um, so there’s just so many things whether it’s the practice schedules, it’s game days, it’s the offseason, it’s travel, there’s so many things you have to do. Um, and then with the the roster, players, families, there’s so I mean game day, there’s so many things that come up, but that that’s, you know, my four years working with a great organization and the way we work together and the way the Spanos family treated me, Tom Tlesco and stuff, I’ I’ve learned so much from them and it’s going to really help me in my situation. Now, your time in Jacksonville and working with I said, “What about your time in Jacksonville and working with Trevor Lawrence? How do you think that might apply to to working with Cam here and how that might help? Well, you know, I think if you go back to our um Jack our first season in Jacksonville in 22, um we we we didn’t necessarily light it up early in the season. you know, Trevor kind of he was learning a system and there’s certain things uh you put a new play in possibly and all of a sudden you put it in for a game plan and then it’s a completely different look and he may not play as fast and then all of a sudden we get back from London, whatever week that was in the season and we go on a run and the rest is history with what we did um by winning the first playoff game and then obviously losing the divisional round. But it’s it it takes time. Um but that’s you’re looking that’s what I kept on telling Trevor. I’m gonna tell Cam, I talked to Cam yesterday. It’s going to be the same thing. It’s every week you’re getting better. And you asked earlier about, you know, you just got to learn as time go, you’re gonna at one point at some time during the year, it’s going to slow down for him, but right now it’s going really fast. Came’s uh tendency to drift, this proclivity to throw while he’s falling backwards. How much of that can you fix week to week week to week and drill that he doesn’t fall back into habit? Well, I think that that’s one thing we have to clean up and uh there’ll be certain thing and we talked like I mentioned we talked last night a little bit couple things and then on a weekly basis uh we’re going to be brutally honest with the players like I told you we’re going to hold them all accountable. So there’s certain things that uh you’re always going to in individual period you’re going to clean up all those things and that’s going to there’s going to be certain things that are going to change from position. I know you’re asking about Cam, but that’s with the entire football team when something comes up and you see kind of what happened uh the other day in the game where there was some drifting and then the ball security in the pocket, things like that. We got to clean up and that’s our job as coaches and that’s the challenge every week what you’re doing with players and that’s that’s what we love to do. Mike, you’ve had a lot of success with different quarterbacks from Trevor back to Jake Delone. There’s two other good ones in between, too. Yeah, exactly. Is there a common thread because they’re very different. Is there a common thread of what makes a quarterback at this level good? And what do you stress to Cam about getting him to that place? Well, if you go back to I mean, I’ve had a lot of great ones. Remember the first day when I was 28 years old and young, I had Steve Berlin, you know, and then we went from there and then we ended up I ended up having Jake Delhomme. We went Super Bowl with Jake Delhomme and uh because of that I ended up going to Denver and um I worked with Tim Tibo, you know, we went on that run back in the days with Tim and then um Pton Manning, not a bad guy. Uh Philip Rivers. So, I’ve I’ve coached some of the best in the business and I think they all have a and there’s many other guys, some backups and other roles that they had and guys that, you know, Trevor Simeon, you know, it was great to work with him in Denver. You know, he had a lot of success there. Unfortunately, we didn’t win enough at the um in 17. Um but it’s, you know, I’ve had a great group and I think they all have a burning desire to be great and and they’re all different. And I think all those guys were also not only did they have a burning desire to win, but they were great leaders in their own way. Uh there’s a number of different ways to lead. Um and it’s you know at number one it’s going out there um you know in moving the ball up and down the field and having success on the field. And then you you get to a point you know a lot of those guys they don’t say much but when they when their tone of their voice changes you know that hey we better pick it up. You talked you talked about your relationship with you talked about your relationship with Brian and as he reached out and and told you, “Hey, good luck with this.” I know it’s in a kind of an awkward situation, but you heard from him. I I talked to Brian yesterday while he was still here. I went and talked to him. We’re close and I can’t I I can’t thank him enough for the opportunity he gave him he gave me to be here. Um, so we had a we had a great conversation. How well do you think it wasn’t easy, but it was a good conversation. How well do you think Cam has handled the constant fine-tuning of the integration of him as a player with what you guys are trying to accomplish schematically and and how do you guys think you’ve handled as a coaching staff trying to figure out what he does best? Well, that that’s that’s going to be our number one focus is, you know, how do how do we get Cam to be more efficient, you know, and and have more success. But it’s not just him. There’s 10 other guys in the field with him that have got to do their jobs better, too. So, it’s we got to we all have to do our jobs better. coaching, playing everybody. Um, but I think there’s the good and the bad and as a young player, as a rookie, there’s going to be some bumps in the road. It’s it’s going to happen. I mean, it doesn’t matter what position you’re going to play in this league, especi quarterback’s the hardest position to play. So, you know, there’s there’s some really good things and then there’s some things that you want to say, what are we doing? And but our our the number one focus has got to be okay. How do we minimize the mistakes and get more of the good, you know, more production and but that that’s that’s all 11 on offense working together um and being more efficient. Will you pretty much leave the defense and special teams alone or will you be be involved in those matters now that you’re the interim head coach? Well, as a head coach, you are involved in everything, but I’ve got all the confidence in the world in our coaching staff that they’re going to do a great job. And, you know, we had a great meeting last night uh when every when the dust settled on everything. We had some time to kind of sit down as a group and uh we met and briefly talked about what we’re going to do moving forward and then we had some more conversations this morning with everybody uh at different times. I’m going to go and talk to everybody. Um so, it’s been good. Earlier this year, you had one of your opponents, they said that you guys looked flat pregame and then Sunday, Jeffrey Simmons said, “Hey, we had a a worst week of practice and we’re flat on Thursday.” What can you do about that? And I mean, what are your thoughts on on those comments? Well, you know, your opponents can say what they what they want to say. Um, I I don’t I don’t agree with it to be honest with you. Um, I think if you look at how we’ve practiced, our players work their tails off. Uh, they they work extremely hard every day. Okay. And the situation last week where the first couple plays of period, uh, not we want to know, but I love the fact that at practice somebody stood up and said, “Start it over. This is not good enough.” You know, we got to fix this. This is not acceptable. And there’s a certain standard you have to have. And that’s like I mentioned Jeff earlier that that’s I love that that he you know it’s like I talked about that that’s the accountability factor if he wants to he wants to win so bad you know he’s a great example to look at from any player on this football team and say if we all play if we all work as hard on a daily basis and go out there and play the way he is playing on Sundays great things are going to happen for this organization. So I I you know I understand the frustration. Um but so last night Chad and last night Chad and Mike sat up there and and just talked about we got 11 games left and they want to see growth and improvement. So I I guess our question to you is why do you believe that you were the right person to yield those results leading this team? Well I I think um my track record speaks for itself. Um when I when I say that the experience I’ve had since 2000 in every role um and worked with a number of different player different players, different positions um and you see the success the players have had and it’s like any other if you go back to any season there’s the ups and the downs of any season. Um and when you look at where we’re heading that that’s what like I talked about earlier, we’re going to look to get better every week. You know, how do we grow as a football team? How do we get better every week? How do we play complimentary football week in and week out? And listen, it it’s tough to win in this business. You got to go out there and play your best. And there’s certain weeks where certain phases of the three phases you have, someone’s got to carry it. There’s got to be there might have to be a big return in the kicking game, uh, a block kick, whatever it is, stop, a two-minute stop or a two-minute score or a field goal to win it, a four-minute situ. There’s so many things that come into it. Um, but I I think with all the experience I have and what I’ve done is I can help everybody, you know, through the situational things moving forward and do all those things. Mike, to build off of that, it’s been almost a decade since you’ve been in this position to build a franchise. I know you’re focused on a game plan and a game this week, but did you think you’d have an opportunity like this again? And how much do you embrace the opportunity to prove the type of head coach you are in this league? Well, like I mentioned earlier, uh, when I first came here, I never thought that this was going to happen here. Um, would it be a goal of mine to say one day again I’d be a head coach? Sure. That’s what everyone wants. You know, I’m I’m a leader. I love to lead. I love to work with the players, work with the coaches, work with the entire organization. Um, you know, we got great people here in the organization. I mean, there’s so many good people, not just I’m not talking the coaching staff and the players. I’m talking the entire organization as a whole. just how I like I said, I enjoy I love coming to work every day. It doesn’t matter who it’s with, you know, what department it’s with. We got great people here and that’s what I love being a part of that and being able to lead everybody. Um, and it’s an honor and it’s a privilege to be standing here in front of you guys today saying that I’m going to lead this organization. Last one, John. Speaking of your timeline, Mike, I know there’s about three or four years where you were out of coaching there for a while. I wonder what kind of perspective that you might have gained during during that uh I guess time off and and was there ever a time where you weren’t sure whether you’d be getting back into coaching at all? Well, I mentioned to you earlier um about how families are involved and in this profession we spend a lot of time away from our families and so that gave me an opportunity to spend time with my daughter Liv and my son Luke, my wife. Um, so I loved it because and you can see why I got emotional is because for from 2000 to 2018 I wasn’t around a lot and so it gave me an opportunity. My daughter was at um in the University of Arizona so I got to spend a lot of time the parents weekend. Um, I got the greatest wife in the world. And so, I mean, I loved it. I hate to say it. And I missed the game. I really did miss the game. And, um, I talked a couple times to people about joining it. Um, joining their staffs and for one reason, it didn’t work out. But, I wouldn’t trade it for anything because I got to spend a couple years with three of the my I mean, that’s what I live for. So, right. Thank you everyone.

Titans Interim Head Coach Mike McCoy addresses the media on Tuesday at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park.

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