Dennis Allen speaks with the media to kick off the team's return from their bye week.
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00:00 How's everybody doing?
00:04 Good.
00:05 Yeah, there you go.
00:06 I like it.
00:09 Go ahead, fire away.
00:12 Is there anything you guys kind of pointed to in the five?
00:15 Yeah, look, there was certainly a lot of things that we looked at.
00:19 I mean, I think, you know, we've kind of been a little bit of a tale of two teams
00:23 in that, you know, the first part of the season, you know,
00:26 struggled offensively, you know, over the first five games
00:30 and defensively played pretty well.
00:34 That's kind of flipped a little bit over the last five weeks.
00:37 So, you know, we've got to, you know, be able to kind of continue some of the
00:42 things where we made some improvement offensively
00:45 and certainly there's still some things that we need to do better.
00:48 And we need to get back to playing, you know,
00:50 the type of defense that we played earlier in the season.
00:53 So that was probably the biggest thing that kind of stood out to me.
00:56 I assume when you guys go through that there aren't like eureka moments
00:59 or whatever, but like do you find like specifically,
01:01 you're like, okay these are –
01:03 Yeah, and I'm not going to go public with, you know,
01:06 all the different things that we kind of came up with.
01:09 But, you know, I did think we identified a few things that, you know,
01:14 will help us improve.
01:16 And so now we got to go out there and do it, you know.
01:22 But yeah, there's not like, you know, this, you know, aha moment
01:29 that oh that's the one thing that if we just do that we're going to be fine.
01:34 I mean, there's a few things that we've got to be better at.
01:37 Is that kind of what makes you think of Carl Latimore?
01:40 Yeah, look I think Michael Thomas and Latimore,
01:49 these are injuries that are going to take some time.
01:51 So, but I think other than that, I think we're in a pretty good spot.
01:58 Like do you anticipate IR as a possibility?
02:00 Yeah, I don't know, we'll see.
02:02 And then second opinions that you think I have as to what you want to do?
02:06 I think everything kind of –
02:07 I think we're all on the same page in terms of where we're at.
02:10 And is Carl already completed all the steps?
02:14 No, we still got to be able to go through practice and all that.
02:18 So, and I can't really comment on it.
02:23 He's in the protocol.
02:26 How much of the self-sketch is trying to figure out
02:29 if Derrick's new to this team?
02:30 What it's worth for him?
02:32 What's not worth it?
02:33 Yeah, I think there's a lot of that that goes into it.
02:37 You know, there's a lot of factors that you take into account.
02:41 You know, certainly he's a big part of it
02:44 in trying to put him in positions that he's most comfortable.
02:49 And get him to continue to improve.
02:54 Like I said, I think when you go back and you look at it
02:57 from a statistical standpoint, you know, over the last five weeks,
03:02 we've done some really good things offensively.
03:04 And yet we still need to be more consistent there.
03:09 I think a lot of the issue has been just our ability to play
03:19 complementary football, offense, defense, kicking game.
03:25 You know, and so, like I said, when we're playing well,
03:32 you know, defensively, it's been pretty good.
03:36 Obviously it hadn't been that way over the last month.
03:40 And then offensively, I think we've improved a lot.
03:44 So, we've really got to find a way to get the, you know,
03:49 first five weeks defense to show up
03:51 and the last five weeks offense to show up
03:53 and see if those two units can play together as a team.
03:56 And I think if we can do that,
03:58 then we'll see a lot better results.
04:02 [Inaudible]
04:07 Yeah, look, I think step up and make the plays
04:12 that are there for him to make.
04:14 Execute his assignments.
04:16 Continue to come in here and work hard.
04:19 I thought there were some good things
04:20 that he did in the game the other day.
04:22 And then there's some things that, you know,
04:24 he could be better at.
04:26 So, I think with any young player,
04:28 we just want to see him continue to improve, you know, daily.
04:32 [Inaudible]
04:39 Well, look, we thought he was a talented player.
04:42 And really liked the skill set, liked the size,
04:48 liked the length, liked his ability to transition
04:50 in and out of routes.
04:53 You know, needed to see him play a more physical play
04:55 in the football.
04:56 I think that's still an area
04:57 that he can continue to improve in.
05:00 But, yeah, we like the thought of the player.
05:03 Just the role that you maybe envisioned for him on draft night,
05:06 does it change or does it --
05:08 with Thomas out or does it kind of more crystallize
05:11 now that he's in the off season?
05:12 Well, look, I mean, I think, you know,
05:16 obviously when Mike went down in the game,
05:17 his role, you know, increased.
05:20 I think that kind of position is, you know,
05:26 is the position that we see him playing.
05:27 So, yeah, I would say that, you know,
05:31 he would have to have an increased role.
05:34 You're obviously going to face a team
05:35 that stubbornly sticks to the run
05:37 and that's kind of their identity.
05:40 Do you have a good evaluation of your run defense?
05:42 Does it matter the teams you face this year?
05:44 You haven't faced a lot of the top-rushing offense.
05:46 Yeah.
05:49 Look, I think we got 10 games into the season,
05:51 so I think we have a pretty good evaluation of where we're at
05:55 and what we need to do better, what we're doing well.
06:01 So, yeah, I think, you know,
06:02 I think we have a decent feel for where we're at
06:05 in terms of run defense.
06:06 We're going to get tested.
06:09 I think this is one of the better
06:10 rushing units in our league.
06:13 I think they block it well up front.
06:16 I think they have a couple of runners
06:19 that I think, you know, are really good runners,
06:23 a little bit different style,
06:25 but yet really, really good runners
06:27 and really effective runners.
06:29 I think they do a good job of blocking on the perimeter,
06:32 which, you know, that's always something
06:34 that leads to, you know, explosive runs.
06:39 And I think they're athletic at the quarterback position,
06:41 which, you know, is something that you have to account for.
06:45 What is that about?
06:46 I mean, you guys made a lot of changes up front.
06:48 Obviously, do you feel like the running defense
06:50 is close to where you want it to be?
06:52 No, against running back, not just the quarterback.
06:55 Yeah, I think the running back runs
06:58 have overall been pretty good.
07:02 You know, it's never good enough.
07:04 I mean, you're always looking at how can you improve.
07:08 But I think overall, the running back runs
07:10 have been pretty good.
07:13 It's a lot of the quarterback stuff
07:15 that's really kind of gotten the rushing stats
07:17 a little out of whack.
07:19 But -- And look, I think we identified a few areas
07:24 where teams are trying to attack us,
07:27 you know, whether it be in the run game or the pass game.
07:29 So, there's a couple of things I think,
07:31 you know, from a fundamental standpoint,
07:34 from a schematic standpoint, that we've got to --
07:37 you know, we're looking at.
07:39 What did you guys like about Jessica Paul?
07:43 I think skin's on the wall, veteran.
07:47 I think he's a guy that still has, you know,
07:50 obviously, I think he still has the ability to play.
07:53 He was productive last season.
07:57 And so, I think, you know, it's a good opportunity
08:02 for us to bring him in,
08:04 have him, you know, start out on the practice squad,
08:06 and then we'll see where it goes from there.
08:08 What is your vantage point on 18 sacks to 10 games?
08:13 I know a lot of that is the ways you've defended certain teams.
08:16 Yeah, look, I mean, I think we needed to, you know,
08:23 be able to affect the quarterback a little bit more
08:24 from a pressure standpoint.
08:27 I don't think it's been what we need it to be.
08:32 And so, you know, it's obviously something
08:35 that we've put a lot of thought into,
08:39 and we'll need to affect the quarterback
08:43 more from a pressure standpoint,
08:44 you know, in the second half of the season.
08:47 What's the evaluation?
08:48 It sounds like you guys feel like offense is on there.
08:50 What's the evaluation of Derrick through first time here?
08:56 Yeah, I think as the season's going on,
08:58 I've seen improvement out of Derrick.
09:01 You know, there's still things that,
09:04 you know, you'd like to see better.
09:07 But I think, overall, he's been efficient.
09:10 I think he's protected the ball.
09:12 He's been able to take some shots down the field
09:15 when they've presented themselves.
09:18 And so I think, look, like a lot of our team,
09:22 I just think we'd still like to see,
09:25 you know, more consistency in the passing game.
09:28 There's a lot of elements that go into that.
09:30 But I think, overall, I think Derrick's done a good job.
09:34 On the first place,
09:36 there were a few guys that were kind of confident.
09:39 Yeah, look, I told the team today, okay,
09:44 we're not relying on help from anybody.
09:46 So we're relying on the guys in this room.
09:53 And we don't need help from anybody.
09:54 So it's really on us.
09:58 Now, obviously, that makes the difference
09:59 with the competitive protocols different.
10:01 As a quarterback, does that affect
10:02 how you kind of go about your preparation?
10:07 No, I don't think so.
10:08 I mean, the protocol's the protocol.
10:14 Now, obviously, the fact that we've had a bye week,
10:16 we've had a lot of extra time.
10:18 So without getting into too much detail,
10:21 I don't think it affects much.
10:24 With Marshall Hondens at the Gibson,
10:26 is that a situation where you feel like people might be there?
10:30 Yeah, there'll be somebody playing out there, you know.
10:35 Yeah, we'll have a plan for guys to go in and play.
10:38 And I think we got, you know,
10:40 some good options in the secondary,
10:43 guys that can play corner, nickel, those types of things.
10:46 When he goes down, does that put any more pressure on them
10:48 as they're trying to get more pressure in that sense?
10:51 I think any time you lose a player of that magnitude,
10:53 I think it puts, you know, a lot of pressure
10:55 on a lot of other guys.
10:57 You know, some other guys are going to have to step up.
11:00 You know, whether it be the individuals
11:04 that are replacing, you know, an injured player
11:07 or, you know, other guys in the unit
11:09 are going to have to step up
11:10 and play at the top of their game.
11:15 And so I think that's what we expect.
11:19 Cam Jordan has never been a guy who's measured in sacks alone,
11:21 but what kind of season do you think he's had
11:24 when you throw that number in the bin now?
11:26 Yeah, look, I mean, I think he would say that,
11:29 you know, he thinks there's more opportunities out there
11:31 to get the quarterback on the ground.
11:34 And I think, you know, that's been something
11:38 that we've discussed is, you know,
11:40 when we have opportunities to,
11:43 whether it be finish on the quarterback,
11:45 make a play, whatever the case may be,
11:47 you know, we've got to capitalize
11:48 on those opportunities.
11:49 And so I think he's still playing the run really well.
11:54 I think there's some opportunities in the passing game
11:56 that I think he can affect the quarterback a little bit more.
11:59 I've been following the game.
12:03 Yes.
12:06 Yeah, I think, you know, both of those guys
12:08 are, you know, going through the rehab process,
12:12 and, you know, I think they'll probably miss some time.
12:15 I'm going to mention this, but how far along is their --
12:20 Yeah, I can't get into those specifics.
12:24 The Falcons naming Brenner.
12:26 What are the tendencies?
12:29 Are you guys knowing that they're going
12:31 to run their first offense here?
12:34 Yeah, look, I mean, obviously, we've had a chance
12:38 to watch how the offense operated with,
12:41 you know, both quarterbacks.
12:44 So you kind of have an idea, you know, what they like
12:47 and how they're going to operate.
12:49 I mean, obviously, you don't know the exact plays
12:51 or personnel groupings they're going to utilize.
12:54 But, yeah, I think, you know, it kind of helps a little bit
12:58 just knowing kind of who you're expecting to see out there.
13:04 I've seen -- Look, I've seen a lot of good things
13:07 out of Desmond Ritter.
13:08 I mean, I've seen him, you know, manage the offense,
13:12 control the offense.
13:13 They do a really good job, you know,
13:14 in terms of the play-action, passing game.
13:17 When they're running the ball well
13:19 and able to get the play-action, passing game going well,
13:22 it's tough to defend.
13:26 I think his legs are an asset for him,
13:29 something that he's --
13:31 You know, particularly when you look down there
13:32 in the red area,
13:34 his ability to, you know, run the ball down there,
13:37 I think, has been highly effective.
13:40 I think, you know, look, I think probably the only knock
13:45 that you would say that you'd see with the quarterback
13:48 is, you know, he's turned the ball over a little bit too much.
13:50 And other than that, I think, you know,
13:53 I've seen a lot of really good things.
13:54 And, you know, I thought when they went to him
13:57 at the end of the, you know, Arizona game,
13:59 I felt like they were more efficient offensively
14:03 in that situation.
14:05 All right, guys, thanks.