Dennis Allen discusses Week 14 win and more on Derek Carr and Erik McCoy's heated exchange.
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00:00 Yeah, I'll just open it up to questions.
00:02 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:06 >> Anything better or worse come from the review than how you felt immediately
00:10 after the game?
00:11 >> No, I mean, look, it was pretty much kinda, as I looked at it,
00:18 obviously, look, we won a game in our league, but
00:23 three touchdowns, so it obviously wasn't all bad.
00:29 There were some things that we've gotta improve on.
00:32 I do think there's still some things that have stood out to me,
00:35 like our red zone offense has been much better the last two weeks.
00:38 I think we're seven out of our last eight in terms of being able to score
00:44 touchdowns in the red area, I think that's improved.
00:47 I thought our pass defense was really good in the game.
00:54 And I thought from the standpoint of just being able to win the field position
00:58 battle, I thought that was a huge factor in the game.
01:01 I mean, our starting field position ended up being the 43-yard line.
01:05 Theirs was the 23-yard line, so
01:09 we played a significant portion of the game when they were in the field.
01:12 And now, I think still third down has to be better,
01:19 really on both sides of the ball.
01:20 I think that was a contributing factor to us kinda losing the time of possession
01:24 battle.
01:26 A lot of those third downs, particularly on defense,
01:30 came on third and short, which is where we actually have been pretty good in that
01:36 area, but we didn't stop them on third and one.
01:38 I think they were five to five on third and one, so
01:41 they were able to keep some drives alive that way.
01:44 Overall, defensively, I thought they were 3.8 yards per offensive play.
01:52 So the problem was they had too many plays, and we didn't have enough plays.
01:57 And I think third down was a big factor in that.
02:01 >> Last night was too early to ask you about Zach Vaughn, so I wanted to ask
02:05 again, now that you've gotten to see the film, how did he grade out with what felt
02:08 like a more focused pass rush?
02:10 >> Yeah, I mean, that was kinda the plan,
02:13 was to focus him more on being a rusher.
02:17 I think he's been effective in that role.
02:21 I think there's some times where he's gotten back there,
02:23 got the quarterback off the spot.
02:24 And then some things that don't really even show up,
02:27 but something that we kinda lacked a little bit is when we do get the quarterback
02:31 off the spot, and the quarterback does get outside the pocket, he's got the speed and
02:35 athleticism to force the throw away rather than end up being a quarterback
02:42 scramble or something of that nature.
02:44 So I just think having a little bit more athleticism,
02:47 I think it's been beneficial for us in terms of trying to be able to pass.
02:52 >> You did feel comfortable last night saying that there was a possibility or
02:56 a great possibility that we would see more of sort of the pass rushing role
02:59 from him moving forward.
03:00 Is there a reason that he didn't fit into that role before?
03:03 >> Well, look, I mean, I think his linebacker snaps have become a little bit
03:09 more limited, and so that opens him up a little bit more to that pass rushing role.
03:16 I don't see him as a full-time defensive end, because I just think from
03:21 a size standpoint that's difficult to do with that size, play a full-time
03:27 defensive end position, particularly in the run game, things like that.
03:31 So when you get teams into a little bit more of a passing situation,
03:36 there's a bigger role for that player.
03:38 >> And is that why you feel that the linebacker snaps have become more limited?
03:41 You mentioned that, is that a reference to passing?
03:43 >> Well, look, I think some of that has to do with,
03:44 I thought Nephi Sewell came in and played really well last week.
03:47 And I think he earned more opportunities to play in the linebacker position.
03:50 Now, they played the whole game in sub-offense,
03:55 which limited our ability to get Nephi in there a little bit more.
04:01 But I think you'll see Nephi probably play a little bit more
04:05 in our regular packages when they get into 12, 21,
04:12 those type of personal meetings.
04:14 >> How much of that too is you guys are maybe looking for
04:17 a solution to spark that pass action?
04:20 >> I think that's part of it, right?
04:22 I mean, we kind of went through a significant portion of the season and
04:29 you know that, well, we're not getting to the quarterback as much as we need to.
04:33 And yet we've had some spurts throughout my time here where we
04:40 haven't sacked the quarterback as well and
04:41 then all of a sudden we have a few of those breakout type games.
04:44 So, but yeah, that's part of it is we feel like we've gotta affect
04:50 the quarterback more, I feel like we've kind of been able to do that.
04:56 We did that in this pass game and although our sack numbers were where you
05:01 would have liked for them to be against Detroit, but I do think there was some,
05:05 a little bit more effect on the passer in terms of the rush.
05:09 >> Just a quick, Brian Brizzee,
05:11 kind of got shook up on that last offensive play of the game, is there?
05:15 >> Yeah, look, I mean, kind of hurt his shoulder, but
05:19 everything really checked out fine.
05:20 So, based on the information that I have today from the trainers,
05:25 don't really think that's gonna be an issue.
05:27 >> Was Groovey's leg bothering him, not just the field one, but
05:31 his kickoffs didn't seem to be as deep as- >> Well, look,
05:33 that's been something that he's been dealing with the last couple of weeks.
05:38 And it's limited his ability on kickoffs a little bit.
05:43 So, but I think that's gonna continue to get better.
05:50 >> I know we asked this after the game, but reviewing it and
05:53 talking with Derek after how he felt, I mean, did he feel limited physically in any way?
05:57 >> Yeah, look, he certainly wasn't, in my mind, 100%.
06:04 But he was more than healthy enough to go out there and play.
06:08 And it wasn't his best performance, it wasn't our best performance offensively.
06:15 So we've got to make some corrections.
06:18 And fortunately, we get to do that off a win, and now we get ready for New York.
06:24 >> I know last night you asked about Jimmy Grimmie, so
06:27 you don't wanna dwell on the past.
06:29 But when he has three touchdowns on five targets,
06:33 I mean, what is the explanation for
06:35 what you haven't seen from him to give him more than five targets?
06:38 >> Yeah, I mean, the number of snaps that he's played has been limited,
06:48 even in the last couple of games.
06:50 But one thing that we feel like, man, there's an area of the field that we feel
06:54 like this player can help us, and that's in the red area.
06:57 And he's done that in the last couple of weeks.
07:00 And but there's a lot of other snaps that go along in the game,
07:05 other than just the red area.
07:07 So I think we gotta continue to look at that balance.
07:11 But I think he's earned the right to get some more snaps.
07:17 >> And while being fair to the player, I mean, is he not an effective enough blocker?
07:23 Is the speed when there's a lot of field,
07:27 he's probably gonna run deeper routes.
07:30 >> Yeah. >> And what is it that keeps him off the
07:32 field?
07:33 >> Well, I think we've got some players at that position that have kind of
07:37 defined roles and things that they can do.
07:41 And really it's kind of ends up being about opportunities.
07:46 Jimmy's gone out in the last couple weeks and had gotten more opportunities.
07:49 He'd taken advantage of those opportunities.
07:50 So when you do that, I think you should get more.
07:53 So I think that's what we'll look at as we move forward.
07:57 >> Not to fully reprise the Derek Carr and Eric McCoy thing, but
08:01 just so that it's addressed.
08:02 Was there any additional conversation that has taken place between you and
08:07 either player or the team in regards to that?
08:09 >> Yeah, we'll keep those conversations in house.
08:12 But yeah, I think that whole thing's been addressed.
08:14 I think it's time to move forward from there.
08:17 >> Fair to say that everything, not to pander for the details or
08:22 hammer for the details, but fair to say that it was come away in a positive way.
08:25 >> We're definitely moving forward.
08:26 >> Yeah.
08:27 >> With Blake's mistake, was it just the leg that you mentioned before or
08:32 what did you see on the mess?
08:34 >> Well, look, I don't think the whole operation was very good.
08:37 I mean, snap, hold, kick, I thought all of it was not very good.
08:42 So I think all three elements had a part in that kick not going through.
08:51 Look, I mean, you get feelable of that distance inside of what it is for
08:56 an extra point, that's really inexcusable.
09:00 So it would have got to be better.
09:02 >> He's missed another one inside there, that same distance as well.
09:05 I know you stress patience with a guy like that, but when it's that close,
09:10 did that change the patience factor?
09:12 >> Listen, I mean, he understands that he needs to kick the ball through the uprights.
09:16 I think we all know that.
09:19 I think he's a really talented young kicker.
09:24 Sometimes with young players at any position,
09:27 you're gonna have some ups and downs.
09:29 I've seen a number of kickers in our league that have had early struggles,
09:34 that are extremely talented and go on to have exceptional careers.
09:38 So we're gonna let him fight through some of these struggles a little bit.
09:42 Hopefully, he'll continue to get better and we'll have some more consistency.
09:48 >> You said the season doesn't have the nice clean even quarters anymore,
09:53 but last quarter of the season now,
09:56 we want to see a football game kind of here in the [INAUDIBLE]
10:01 >> Yeah, look, I mean,
10:02 our mindset last week was going one and
10:05 just focusing on Carolina and winning a game at home against Carolina.
10:11 That was our focus last week.
10:12 Our focus this week is gonna be on the New York Giants and
10:16 try to win that game at home.
10:18 And we're not gonna look too far into the future about anything else.
10:21 We're gonna focus on task at hand and
10:25 try to build it on and get another win.
10:30 >> You mentioned two starters in the second there, and
10:33 it looked like a lot of guys had good coverage yesterday.
10:37 Just talking about that unit.
10:39 >> Yeah, look, I mean, I thought our pass defense was awesome in the game.
10:42 I thought our guys got up and challenged.
10:44 There's a couple of plays, obviously, that we'd all like to have back.
10:50 But I thought for the most part, there's a lot of contested throws.
10:53 And I thought our guys got up and
10:58 competed against them and challenged them at the line of scrimmage.
11:01 And I think those, when you're able to get a little bit of pressure on the quarterback
11:06 and you're able to challenge it at the line of scrimmage,
11:08 it leads to some pretty good results.
11:12 We had a number of opportunities on the ball.
11:16 I do think there was probably a couple opportunities that I thought maybe we
11:20 could have taken advantage of and turned it into interceptions.
11:23 But I thought overall, the pass defense was really good.
11:26 >> Can you speak to their ability to make plays on the ball?
11:30 I think we got three guys in the top 20 of the NFL right now in passes defense.
11:34 And one of them is Yadda, that's played a ton this year.
11:38 >> Yeah, well, look, I think that really has been a position that we've had some
11:43 depth at, and Ike's come in and done a really good job.
11:48 And he's been called upon to go in and play.
11:51 And for you to be able to make plays on the ball,
11:55 you have to put yourself in position to make plays on the ball.
11:58 And I think the style that our guys play,
12:02 it's an aggressive kind of get up on you type of style.
12:05 Leads to us being tight in coverage a lot, and guys making plays on the ball.
12:12 So I think they work extremely hard on that.
12:14 I think Joe and Marcus and the rest of the guys that work with the secondary,
12:19 they put an emphasis on it.
12:21 And I think our guys have improved in that area.
12:24 >> Can you talk about being tied to the division and
12:29 how, I know every game's important.
12:32 But it seems like those division games down the stretch are gonna be extremely,
12:38 extremely- >> Be extremely,
12:40 extremely important if we take care of business this week against the Giants.
12:46 You know what I mean?
12:46 So I think kind of in answer to your question,
12:51 that is like, yeah, the margin for error is extremely small right now.
12:56 And we need to make sure we're taking advantage of every opportunity.
12:59 And so we need to focus in on the Giants and
13:04 trying to get a win against those guys this week.
13:05 >> Where did you see that really limited the offense's production on Sunday?
13:11 >> Yeah, look, I think there was a number of things.
13:13 I thought the biggest thing is, I don't think we ever really,
13:17 and I said this last night, we never really got into a good rhythm in the passing game.
13:22 Look, in visiting with Pete, there's some things that we probably could have and
13:29 would have done a little bit differently.
13:31 I think particularly our drop back passing,
13:34 I thought some of the things that we were able to do play action wise.
13:40 There were some things there that we took advantage of.
13:45 I think drop back passing, I didn't think we were as good as we needed to be.
13:51 Whether it be throwing it, catching it, protecting it,
13:54 there's a lot of factors that go involved in that.
13:56 But I thought that was an area that we struggled against.
13:58 >> Was it, I know you specified a couple of elements of it, but
14:01 what happened with the blocking scheme, with the play designs?
14:04 I know you said that Deacon was really good in the past, but
14:06 in what specificities did they, in this training, were they able to do?
14:10 >> Well, look, yeah, I mean, I think they got a couple of guys that can rush
14:14 the passer, which created some challenges.
14:16 There was a little bit of knockback at times.
14:18 And then I thought they had some tight coverage in some areas that we didn't get
14:24 completions in.
14:24 So, and then when we did get completions underneath,
14:28 I thought they did a pretty good job of coming up and making tackles.
14:31 So we knew it was gonna be a challenge trying to throw the ball against
14:35 those guys, particularly with some of the weapons that we
14:40 didn't have available to us or not quite at 100%.
14:43 But yeah, we didn't do a good enough job in the drop back passing game,
14:50 but yet we made enough plays to win the game.
14:53 >> And I'm sure the boost is in both for your team as a special team,
14:56 as a co-brand, and the offense is struggling like that.
14:58 They're able to do enough to put the team in position to score.
15:01 >> Well, I think that's what you have to do.
15:02 There's a lot of times you play games and
15:07 not all three phases are operating at the level that we need them to operate at.
15:14 And so the other phases have to be able to pick up the slack.
15:17 And I thought defensively and in the kicking game,
15:21 I thought we were able to do that yesterday.
15:23 >> Go ahead, Ed.
15:24 >> I know everyone knows this is a tough league, it's a tough game.
15:29 But do you think, looking back on it, do you think the last few
15:34 months have been harder than you would expect?
15:37 You ever get frustrated by that at all?
15:43 >> Yeah, look, I mean, you get frustrated with not coming away with the victories.
15:48 That gets frustrating.
15:51 But yeah, this league is hard.
15:53 And we were just talking today, I mean,
15:55 I think there's 13 teams that are within one game of 500 in our league.
16:00 So almost half the league is sitting in that position.
16:04 And that's the way our league is designed, and that's the way our league is.
16:08 And we've gotta find a way to create a few more opportunities for
16:13 ourselves so that we end up winning some of these games.
16:17 And that's the difference between being a playoff team and not a playoff team.
16:23 >> Putting aside what happened after the play with McCoy and Carter,
16:25 could you just kind of take us through the sack and what led to the big blitz?
16:29 >> Well, yeah, I mean, I think we just got beat.
16:34 We just got beat, and their guy made a nice play.
16:40 He beat us, got back there and got a sack.
16:42 So sometimes that happens.
16:45 But it wasn't a missed assignment.
16:49 We just got beat.
16:50 >> When you don't have Taysom, does that complicate the game plan?
16:54 Cuz you don't have another one of those that you can just plug in.
16:59 >> Yeah, yeah, well, I don't know if complicate the game plan is the right word.
17:06 And yet, look, in every game and every game plan,
17:11 you're trying to figure out ways that you can utilize your players to put yourself
17:16 in the best position to have success.
17:17 And certainly, Taysom's a player that we've had a lot of success with
17:21 in the things that he can do.
17:24 And I think he puts a lot of stress on the opponent,
17:29 whether it be him as the personal protector on the punt team, or
17:33 whether it be him lining up as a tight end, or lining up in the backfield,
17:39 or lining up at the quarterback position.
17:41 I just think there's a lot of preparation that goes along with all of that stuff.
17:45 And so I think when you don't have a weapon like that, I think,
17:50 I don't know if it complicates our game plan more, but
17:54 it simplifies their game plan a little bit more.
17:58 >> We've seen a couple of times this season,
18:01 James come out to do the kneel downs.
18:05 And I believe it was earlier on in the season, we saw Derek do it early on.
18:08 Is there something that, is there a criteria that leads to that decision at all?
18:13 >> There's not really anything involved in that.
18:15 Yeah, I mean, if you put James out there, he would take those snaps.
18:18 So that's all it was.
18:21 >> Derek mentioned that he had had two previous rib fractures.
18:24 I can't remember if ribs was ever on the injury report, but
18:28 when did they occur and why was it not?
18:31 >> Yeah, I really don't know the answer to that.
18:38 I'm gonna assume that this all started back in Green Bay.
18:44 But I can't give you an answer to that.
18:48 >> I assume- >> Cuz I don't know the exact answer,
18:49 I mean, as to when it was.
18:51 >> I assume that means though that ribs were never something that took him out of
18:56 a practice snap or made him questionable for-
18:58 >> No, it's really been the shoulder or
19:01 the concussion.
19:02 >> Is this- >> Go ahead, Ed.
19:05 >> Coach, it's not often you win in this league when you give up 204 yards rushing.
19:11 >> Yeah.
19:12 >> How big a negative was that, do you think, and how fixable is it?
19:18 >> Well, look, in terms of run defense, I'd say the number one thing we've
19:24 gotta do is we've gotta do a better job in terms of space tackling.
19:29 When you really look at the game, there's a couple opportunities that we
19:34 have a chance to get a player, whether it be the quarterback, or
19:38 whether it be the running back, or whether it be the receiver on the reverse,
19:44 that we have potential opportunities to get a guy down in space.
19:49 And I think that's really where we've had our biggest issues is space tackling.
19:54 And so, look, we've gotta continue to work on that,
19:59 so that we can get guys down in an open environment and minimize gains.
20:08 Because when you look at our run defense,
20:10 you'd say there's a lot of plays that are really good.
20:14 And then we have a couple plays that we miss a tackle in space,
20:18 and those are things that become explosive plays.
20:22 So I do think that we need to be better in terms of controlling the line of
20:26 scrimmage, knocking the line of scrimmage back, being able to get off blocks.
20:31 I think that's something that we have to be better at.
20:34 I think it's hard to win in our league when a team is one dimensional.
20:42 So whether it be they're one dimensional in the passing game, and
20:45 they're gaining a lot of passing yards, and they can't run the ball, or
20:49 vice versa, which I think was the case in the game yesterday.
20:55 They were a one dimensional team, and they were able to run the ball a little bit.
21:01 But I also think that's difficult to score a lot of points just through
21:05 the running game.
21:07 You're gonna have to throw the ball in our league to score any significant
21:11 amount of points.
21:12 So is it a concern?
21:14 Yeah, it's a concern.
21:15 We need to be better there.
21:18 But I thought overall, look,
21:23 they were 3.8 yards per offensive play.
21:25 So overall, it was pretty good defensive performance.
21:30 >> So the same guys getting blown up up front, right?
21:33 >> No, no, now, can they be better there?
21:36 Absolutely.
21:37 I think the longest run, I don't think we fitted up exactly how we needed to.
21:43 We have an opportunity to get a guy down at about 10 or 12 yards.
21:47 And you don't like that, but yet you can survive.
21:53 But we've gotta minimize those being 40 or 50 yard games.
22:01 >> Dennis, if Lin Bowden's not a guy you look at his frame and
22:06 say he's like your blocking receiver.
22:09 But yesterday you guys motioned him into the backfield and
22:11 he blocked on the inside of it.
22:13 What is it that makes him capable in that arena?
22:17 >> Yeah, look, number one is willingness.
22:22 You know what I mean?
22:24 That's the number one factor in that is you gotta be willing to do those things.
22:31 And I think he's tough, I think he's competitive,
22:34 I think he's willing to do whatever we ask him to do to try to help us win.
22:39 So, and I appreciate that about him.
22:41 >> Are you able to take us through what happened with the challenge?
22:47 It's hard to tell from up in the press box.
22:50 >> Yeah, so, well, A, we didn't get a great view of it.
22:55 And I got a view of it right prior to the snap.
22:59 And I threw a freaking lob up there rather than just slamming it on the ground and
23:06 didn't get it out in time.
23:08 And it was really, I was basing it off of one look that I got on the Jumbotron
23:14 right before the snap, and it looked to me like he had the ball in the left hand.
23:18 And it's where the ball crosses the sideline, so I thought he was short.
23:21 But we really didn't have a good view upstairs.
23:25 And if I'd have done a better job of just getting it out and
23:30 throwing it on the ground rather than this freaking lob I put up there,
23:34 we might have gotten it.
23:35 >> While we're talking about officiating, what's the-
23:38 >> Don't get me in trouble.
23:39 >> [LAUGH] >> I don't think I will.
23:41 >> All right.
23:42 >> What's the threshold where a rugby putter forfeits the ability to be rough?
23:49 >> Yeah, it's kinda like the quarterback when he's on the move and
23:54 throwing the ball, he's got the two-step protection.
23:57 You can't hit him in the head or neck area.
24:01 I think we gotta, I just wanna get with the league on that and
24:08 have them kinda explain to me what they saw on that play.
24:15 You can't go in there and just, the thing that I thought was,
24:20 I thought it was a little late, I thought it was after the two steps.
24:25 And so we'll get an answer from the league on what they thought.
24:31 >> As far as, you said all these teams are around 500.
24:35 Have you given much thought to what it takes to break out,
24:39 I don't know if that's the right term, but what it takes to elevate from that?
24:45 >> Yeah, look, it really takes everybody doing their job.
24:51 And it sounds simple, it sounds cliche, it sounds whatever you want it to be,
24:58 but that's really what it's about.
25:00 It's about consistent execution.
25:04 And because in our league,
25:08 it's these games come down to one score.
25:15 Much like most of the games that we play end up coming down to one score.
25:19 And so a fundamental, a technique, a play here or there makes the big difference.
25:26 So yeah, it's not some miraculous formula that kinda puts you over the top.
25:34 It's really just coaches, players,
25:36 everybody doing their job at the level that it's needed to be done at.
25:42 >> What are you seeing from teams the last couple of games as far as maybe
25:46 copying each other to attack your beats in the right game?
25:49 >> Yeah, I don't know that I see anything that,
25:55 of significance that we're seeing
26:00 the same plays over and over.
26:05 Yeah, I don't think I'm seeing a lot of that.
26:10 And yet, it's pretty standard in our league in terms of the run game.
26:18 They're gonna, we got a lot of the stretch zone running crunch,
26:24 as we call it, because they brought the tight end back to seal the edge.
26:28 So that was a big part of what their running game was this week.
26:32 And we've seen that play throughout the course of the season.
26:36 It's pretty standard in our league.
26:37 >> Has that played with a lot against your defense or
26:39 is it kind of just a toss up as we dance to this?
26:44 >> Well, I think there's been some times that it's been a good play and
26:47 sometimes it hasn't been a good play.
26:49 >> Did you go back and- >> One time for one more.
26:51 >> Did you go back and review to see if you think you would have won that challenge?
26:54 >> I think I would have won it, yeah.
26:57 >> Yeah. >> Yeah, I do.
26:58 I think I would have won it.
26:59 I think it was about half a yard short.
27:02 So we then had to defend what was a fourth down, right?
27:08 So which we would, I would take my chances.
27:11 All right, thanks guys.
27:14 >> Thank you.
27:14 >> Thank you.
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