Chris Tabor Exit Interview
Chris Tabor Exit Interview
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00:00 >> Obviously wrapped it up with the guys, had an opportunity to visit with them and
00:05 now you're kinda in that, what I say, weird part of the NFL.
00:11 If you don't go to the playoffs, you're in such a routine all during the week.
00:15 Now all of a sudden it just stops, and that's where we're at.
00:19 So I'm sure you have some questions, so go ahead and fire away.
00:22 >> Chris, you were obviously here the last few years, got to know Scott really well.
00:27 I know you guys have dealt with a lot of adversity this year.
00:30 Can you talk about what your relationship was like with him?
00:34 >> I had a great relationship with him, got a lot of respect for him.
00:37 And as in anything, it's always tough when there's a departure and
00:45 you won't see him every day and those type of things.
00:47 But very thankful for the time that I had with him.
00:51 >> Chris, you guys really seemed to stabilize on special teams in
00:55 the last couple of years, looking back, regardless of what happens,
00:59 what will that group mean to you and where are you proudest of?
01:03 >> Proud of all those guys, played a lot of guys this year.
01:08 And I was very appreciative of how those guys raised their level and
01:12 they kept getting better, saw some young players getting better.
01:15 And that's the fun part of coaching.
01:19 I know sometimes you don't get always the results that you want, but
01:22 we saw some incremental improvements and real pleased with that.
01:27 >> Have you met with Tapper and kind of what he or
01:33 anybody said about the future of the coaches that are still on the contract right now?
01:39 >> I haven't met with him regarding that information and
01:44 today's been kind of a hectic day.
01:46 Got in, you watch the tape, and then you go through exit interviews and
01:50 the players are coming through and have an opportunity to visit with them.
01:53 So that's kind of really where the focus has been all day.
01:56 >> I know you like to stay in your routine, but
01:57 what's the plan for you for the next few weeks?
02:00 >> I try to, for the couple days it's kind of nice to take a break.
02:07 Then after that, I think the wife wants to, says hey,
02:12 you might wanna go do something because I get a little fidgety because I'm out of
02:15 a routine, so I have to kind of try to find a new routine.
02:18 I'll find one.
02:18 >> Chris, Hayden Hearst thought that maybe there were too many
02:25 voices in Bryce's ear this year among staff members.
02:31 Any thoughts on that, sentiments, kind of what went on on that side of the ball?
02:37 >> No, I don't have any thoughts on that.
02:40 I think when the change was made, I still stayed in my special teams area and
02:46 let each side of the ball work there, so
02:48 I don't have an opinion on what he said there.
02:52 >> With the interim role, I'm assuming that you worked a little bit more with
02:56 Avero throughout the season.
02:57 I mean, you worked with him obviously throughout the season, but
02:59 maybe you got maybe a better glance at what he does.
03:02 What does he do well as a coach and as a coordinator?
03:06 >> He's a good football coach, more importantly, an even better person.
03:09 And I just really like the way that he handles himself.
03:14 I think that whole defensive staff, they do a great job with regards to getting
03:18 guys to play, but their organization of how they do things.
03:22 I mean, they're very efficient and it's a lot of fun to watch and
03:26 very appreciative to have the opportunity to be with those guys.
03:29 >> How will this work operationally, Chris, with these guys,
03:33 these assistants now that the season's over and there's not a full-time coach?
03:40 I mean, are they maybe around here?
03:43 I mean, do you know?
03:44 >> Yeah, I can only speak from experience on that from whether it was last year or
03:50 previous organizations that I've been with.
03:52 Typically what happens anyway is it's at the end of the season,
03:55 everyone kind of decompresses for a couple weeks.
03:59 And you're still in a little bit of a holding pattern, but
04:03 at the same time, you're still working on football, working on your craft,
04:06 getting cut ups, because you're trying to stay in some type of routine.
04:10 And I think that every guy kind of handles it differently.
04:13 >> Are you and Dan Morgan kind of working on personnel things right now,
04:17 just sort of organizationally to get ready for the off season?
04:22 >> To be honest with you, I haven't even visited with Dan yet.
04:24 Like when I say it's been a hectic morning, it's been a hectic morning.
04:27 [BLANK_AUDIO]
04:30 >> Coach, have you always been able to stay calm and positive, or
04:34 is this something you've learned throughout your career?
04:36 >> No, I think that's who I wanna be.
04:39 I learned a long time ago,
04:43 I know that sometimes I can probably be a little colorful on the sideline.
04:48 But really, I wanna stay positive.
04:52 If a guy makes a mistake or whatever, he didn't do it on purpose.
04:56 When I make a bad call, I didn't do it on purpose, really didn't.
05:01 And we're playing a kid's game.
05:04 And like I always say, it's about the relationships, and that's what's important.
05:08 >> Speaking of the relationship, I talked to Bryce, I talked to JC, and
05:13 also A.K.E. and they said one of the most important things that helped them get
05:18 through this tough season was the brotherhood in the locker room.
05:23 >> It was a tight group, it really was.
05:25 And I think we talked about it in the locker room a little bit last night, and
05:29 then we talked about it one more time in the team meeting today.
05:32 That room's gonna change, but your memories are not gonna change.
05:36 And I think those guys have done a great job.
05:41 And it wasn't just the offensive guys and defensive guys, the special teams.
05:46 It was everybody.
05:48 You can walk in there and watch an offensive lineman wanna play Eddie Pinheiro
05:52 in ping pong, and they're laughing and having a good time.
05:57 I think you have to have that foundation in order to
06:02 start building to where you wanna go.
06:04 >> Chris, are you glad to have had this opportunity despite the record?
06:11 >> No, I am.
06:13 I think as a coach, and just you can say, well, he's been in a while.
06:19 You're still trying to get better and you're still chasing things.
06:22 And this opportunity has allowed me to do that.
06:25 There are things that came across my desk that I didn't even know took place,
06:30 even being in this business a long time.
06:33 So very grateful for the opportunity.
06:36 Obviously, you always hope that you win more, but I thought that we got better and
06:41 showed some improvement.
06:42 And I was very appreciative to the guys for getting that done.
06:45 >> Have you gotten your fill of the position, or has it left you hungrier for
06:47 more?
06:48 >> I've always wanted to be a head coach, so
06:50 that's, I think, something hungry for more.
06:54 >> Did you express that today?
06:57 >> I have a visit with him.
06:59 >> Let's wrap up with Mike.
07:01 What's the one memory that you're gonna take away from this season,
07:05 from either as the special team coordinator or the intermittent coach?
07:08 Or is there the one thing that you latch onto that will always remind you of this
07:12 group?
07:14 >> Boy, that's a great question.
07:15 That's a tough question, cuz you think of so many things.
07:19 Really, going, to be honest with you, thinking about this,
07:27 didn't like the way we played in New Orleans.
07:31 Wasn't real happy after the game on that one.
07:35 And then to be able to look those guys in the eye and say, guys,
07:38 we're gonna win this next game.
07:39 And go through that process the next week, and then you show up Sunday,
07:46 and it's a rainstorm, windstorm, everything else is going on.
07:50 And it's all we have.
07:51 And we end up winning the game, and
07:53 to be able to celebrate in the locker room cuz we all did together.
07:56 That was going back to that brotherhood.
07:59 That's where it really surfaced.
08:01 It was pretty neat.
08:02 >> Thank you, coach.
08:04 >> Thanks, everybody.