Kevin Stefanski Press Conference November 1, 2023
Kevin Stefanski addressed the media on Wednesday ahead of the team's Week 9 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals and provides and update on quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Transcript
00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:10 Yeah, as you can imagine, I always just kinda keep it day to day and
00:25 we'll focus on today.
00:26 He'll be out there and we'll see how he does.
00:29 >> Are you making quarterback decisions today?
00:31 >> Correct, I'm not making any game day decisions today.
00:33 >> Who's number one, full time back or second quarter back?
00:40 >> PJ remains a backup, yes.
00:41 >> When you have a young quarterback like PJ,
00:45 Amari Cooper, does he have sort of like an influence over him?
00:51 And I'm asking because there was a play near the goal line,
00:55 you were breaking the huddle and Amari said something to PJ.
01:02 And then PJ throws the ball to him and he had the line open.
01:06 So does he have kind of like that influence over a young guy?
01:10 >> Well, I would tell you Amari has seen a lot of football in his career and
01:15 he's got a great insight with the quarterbacks.
01:18 Those conversations happen in every game on the sideline,
01:21 those conversations happen with me.
01:24 Amari comes up to me every game and tells me what he's seeing and
01:27 I listen because he's got a great view of it.
01:30 >> Big difference between Clayton Toon and Kyler Murray,
01:34 how challenging is it?
01:36 I imagine you're prepared for both.
01:39 >> Yeah, we don't expect to know until 90 minutes before or
01:41 if they decide to name somebody.
01:43 So you prepare for everybody, you prepare for
01:45 Jeff Driscoll who's on their roster now as a practice squad player.
01:49 So we go do our homework on all of them, there's tape on all of them.
01:52 Obviously understand Kyler Murray is a great, great football player.
01:56 I've seen him firsthand, he's great.
01:59 Toon is a kid that we did a lot of work on, coming out,
02:03 can make every throw, athletic, good decision maker.
02:07 So we have to be prepared for all of them.
02:09 >> Have you checked my phone?
02:11 >> I haven't checked my phone, not yet.
02:13 >> Are you saying that PJ will be the starter this week if Deshaun can't play?
02:18 >> Correct.
02:18 >> And the fact is though, none of those three more fouls has played a downed
02:22 this year.
02:23 >> Correct.
02:23 >> So what about that, Jeff?
02:25 >> Well, I think there's tape on all of them through into the preseason, Tony.
02:29 And I think every week,
02:33 every team in some form or fashion is dealing with injuries.
02:36 We're no different than that.
02:37 So the other team does their homework.
02:40 They pull up tape from previous games, if you will, and
02:44 try to understand what their strengths are.
02:47 So that's what we're doing.
02:48 >> There is an injury and where, what's his status as of right now?
02:53 >> Yeah, he's working through a neck injury, but I'd say he's,
02:57 we'll just rest him, but I feel good about Zedarius.
03:00 >> How do you feel about not ending up with a veteran quarterback now,
03:04 even though you guys are gonna try to get one?
03:07 But do you feel comfortable for the rest of the season with what you've had?
03:10 >> Yeah, I think like I mentioned to you, Mary Kay, I like our roster.
03:14 I like the guys we have.
03:15 >> Does Cedric Tillman have an opportunity to do more of what we've seen?
03:20 >> He does, yeah.
03:20 And obviously you guys saw the trade with Donovan, a guy that we all love.
03:26 Having seen him grow up in this building,
03:28 had some really, really great moments for us, so wishing him the best.
03:32 But it does open up an avenue towards playing time for Ced and
03:36 for some other guys as well.
03:37 >> Did he get, so to speak, as far as this year,
03:41 did you just seem to get the targets at any opportunities?
03:46 >> I wouldn't read much into that.
03:48 Small sample size, obviously had a couple things going on
03:50 throughout those games, but I wouldn't read much into it.
03:55 >> Do you need to get Austin Blodkins off the practice squad?
03:59 >> I think we'll see.
04:00 Those are all conversations that you have each week.
04:04 Austin does a nice job for us throughout the week.
04:06 >> Does he make that trade with knowledge that one is under more involvement?
04:13 >> Well, I think you, yes, of course, you know if you do that,
04:15 that does open a pathway to getting Ced more involved.
04:19 >> [INAUDIBLE]
04:29 >> I don't know if anybody knows that yet
04:31 until he takes a snap.
04:32 I know he's supremely talented, can make every throw, great movement skills.
04:36 I mean, he's a great football player.
04:38 >> [INAUDIBLE]
04:40 >> Don't know, yeah, good question.
04:41 Yeah, but that's football.
04:44 I mean, you go into week one sometimes with a quarterback who's in a new system.
04:48 You just, you do your homework based on what the system is, but
04:53 you have to be prepared to defend it all.
04:55 >> [INAUDIBLE]
04:58 >> In some ways, yeah,
04:59 I mean, they'll have a quarterback under center that hasn't been under center for
05:02 them just yet.
05:02 >> [INAUDIBLE]
05:05 >> We're in the shotgun.
05:06 >> In practice, I guess it's the women's time.
05:09 It makes you think that he's ready for it.
05:12 >> Yeah, I've seen it in games, I've seen it in practice, preseason games it is.
05:18 Reason we like the kid when he's coming out, I mean, he's big physical ball skills.
05:23 So he's been working very, very hard.
05:26 Have not to date been able to get him going, and a lot of that becomes roster
05:31 based on who's available, and you can only bring so many to the game.
05:35 But he's remained very diligent, works hard at it.
05:38 >> What has been the reason for such success running the ball since the buy?
05:45 >> Always a combination of things, but I'd give credit to the players,
05:49 first of all.
05:50 I think the schemes, the technique, those type of things,
05:55 that they're executing the plan.
05:56 I think the coaches put together a really good plan.
05:58 And I really trust our guys.
06:02 I trust the guys that are blocking, be it the offensive line, tight ends,
06:06 wide receivers, you name it.
06:07 I think we have some diversity of skill sets with our runners.
06:11 >> So you two talk, how did that conversation go from your vantage point?
06:15 >> Yeah, I'm not gonna add much to my conversations with our guys.
06:18 Kareem's a pro.
06:19 He's done a good job for us.
06:22 >> Okay, in the past, how did you catch up with that?
06:25 It seems like you could always settle the offense down during a game,
06:29 go in a series, especially after a run.
06:32 Can you still get the confidence to do that on this committee?
06:37 >> Yeah, I mean, I just saw Nick.
06:41 Obviously, Nick's a special player.
06:43 And when we talked about it way back when, you don't replace him.
06:47 But I have a ton of confidence with our guys, and I mean, all three of them,
06:51 with Jerome and with Kareem and with Pierre, I have a lot of confidence in them.
06:53 >> When you say we gotta eliminate those turnovers,
06:57 wouldn't that be a way of doing it?
06:59 >> Yeah, I mean, eliminating interceptions, potentially, yes.
07:02 But we talk a lot about with those giveaways, just ball security technique.
07:06 We just have to be better in our technique.
07:07 >> On Monday when we talked to you, you were not ready to commit to PGA stills.
07:14 Did you go back and study more film and realize that, or why did you?
07:18 >> No, I would, again, wouldn't read much into that.
07:20 Just every week gonna make decisions when I have to and each day.
07:26 >> Kevin, as we're saying, after the game that you guys just worked our screen game
07:30 all the time in practice, but what goes into making it as effective as it was on
07:34 Sunday?
07:35 >> It's always a matchup based thing for us.
07:39 You're trying to, different defenses allow for different screens, if you will.
07:46 But then, I beat the players and the coaches up, just we beat the players up on
07:51 the details and the nuance of that game.
07:53 And I say it all the time, it takes all 11 to get any part of your offense going.
07:59 Certainly, the screen game, you have to have all 11 guys and
08:02 sometimes it's the receivers running their routes at full speed.
08:07 Little things like that, I think, landmarks and timing,
08:10 it's just it's got to be so precise.
08:13 But it's really a game to game proposition.
08:16 >> In trying to avoid a repetition of the Indianapolis experience with Watson,
08:20 have you changed the process in evaluating quarterback?
08:25 >> Yeah, I think every week's different.
08:27 When you're working through an injury, every week is different and
08:30 how you feel day to day.
08:32 So this week's just completely different in my perspective.
08:35 >> [INAUDIBLE]
08:41 >> We'll see, I think this week we'll see over the next couple days how they respond.
08:45 >> [INAUDIBLE]
08:55 >> Yeah, I would tell you,
09:10 like I mentioned earlier, I like our team.
09:13 I like our guys, I like our locker room.
09:15 There's things that I know we all can do better and we will.
09:19 Andrew and the personnel department, they work on those things.
09:23 It's a 365 day thing that they're working on.
09:27 So that doesn't change.
09:29 But I would tell you, I do like our roster.
09:31 >> You talk about set up, you sleep at David Bell,
09:34 like another young guy who would be in line to get more touches.
09:36 What have you seen from him so far this year?
09:39 >> Yeah, it's a good point, Ashley.
09:40 He's been very dependable like he is, does the right thing,
09:45 catches the ball when it comes his way.
09:47 So has proven to be a dependable player for us.
09:50 >> [INAUDIBLE]
10:00 >> Yeah, we have other options there as well with our roster.
10:05 We'll talk after.
10:09 >> [INAUDIBLE]
10:14 >> Make sure they're physically ready to go in practice.
10:16 But how do you keep guys like that mentally ready when they're not getting
10:19 a lot of in-game activity to be ready for their moment like this?
10:23 >> Yeah, that's something we talk about a lot, Kay, I'm just staying ready.
10:27 And it happens, every position,
10:30 you don't expect maybe a guy to have to play in week one or week ten,
10:34 whatever it may be.
10:35 And I think you see guys that stay ready.
10:38 And it may be as simple as when you're not in on a particular play in practice,
10:42 you're paying attention.
10:43 And you're standing next to your coach and you're putting yourself in the game,
10:46 as we call it, and getting those mental reps and watching the plays unfold.
10:50 And sometimes you'll see some of our players stand behind the group and
10:54 literally go through the play while it's taking place,
10:56 even though they're not in.
10:57 So it's part of being a pro is getting yourself ready,
11:00 cuz you just don't know when that number's gonna get called.
11:03 >> That's right, cuz of experience running back,
11:06 your runners seem to be giving you a head help at this point.
11:10 >> Yeah, I think, as you know, with the practice squad roster,
11:13 at the size that it is, I think you're always trying to bring in good football
11:16 players, guys that may help you down the line, guys that will help you in practice.
11:20 He's somebody that has played well in his given moments and opportunities.
11:25 So just trying to make sure that we're always looking for
11:28 ways to add to the roster.
11:30 >> [INAUDIBLE]
11:37 >> Yeah, I think it all helps.
11:38 I think, like we mentioned, he's making progress, he's working through it,
11:42 working very hard, both in this building, out of this building,
11:46 really around the clock.
11:46 So I think all of the time, all of the rehab continues to make a difference.