Head Coach Jeff Fisher Monday Press Conference (video)
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Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher – News Conference – November 11, 2013
(On how OL Rodger Saffold played at right guard)
“‘Rodge’ did a nice job considering he was just in there for a week. ‘Bou’ (Offensive Line Coach Paul T. Boudreau) did a great job preparing him, worked really well with (C) Scott (Wells) and (RT) Joe (Barksdale) and he’s only going to get better at it. There’s little things to clean up, as you would imagine, the technical things. But, I thought overall he did a pretty good job in there.”
(On if moving Saffold to right guard was to get the best five offensive linemen on the field)
“Yeah. We discussed it real early last week and felt like that would be a good option. He’s playing really well coming off the injury and then would get an opportunity to play at tackle and kind of alternate with Joe, he was playing well. And Joe’s playing good, so we felt like let’s put the best guys out there.”
(On if they will stick with that lineup moving forward)
“Yes. At this point we’ll stay with it, yeah.”
(On if watching film was more enjoyable after winning this week)
“Yeah, but as coaches we still have to be realistic. We have to be critical and grade and look at the mistakes and things and there were some things that need to be cleaned up. The second half of the game was different, particularly because we got up and what the score was at halftime. Then, you’re playing against the clock, but I’ll start with special teams. It was an outstanding job on special teams. (Special Teams Coordinator) Coach (John) Fassel and (Assistant Special Teams) Coach ‘Bou’ (Paul F. Boudreau) did a great job with the plan. Guys were running free and just carrying over what they’re learning on the practice field into the game. Everybody took turns. Everybody was involved. (S) Cody (Davis) had some big plays. It was just good to see everybody involved. We punted the ball well, covered, and we returned it well. It was a good overall day for us.”
(On if the young players on special teams are improving in the area of penalties)
“Yeah, they’re learning. They’re learning how to do that. We had the one penalty to start the game, (RB) Isaiah’s (Pead) penalty, which was unnecessary. Sometimes it’s called, sometimes it’s not, but he overcame that. With respect to Isaiah, he wants to get on the field and we told him, ‘You have a role as a back and you have a future here as a back. But, you want to get on the field, you’re going to have to do some stuff on special teams.’ So he’s been working really hard the last couple weeks at it, got his opportunity, and really did a nice job. Really proud of him, the way he played. They couldn’t block him and he filled in for guys when guys went down here and there. So, he’s off to a good start from a teams’ standpoint.”
(On if it was the first time Pead has played special teams, with the exception of returning)
“First time he’s done it, yeah. Participated in punt return and kickoff coverage and those kinds of things. Yeah.”
(On if Pead’s penalty on the opening kickoff was because he was talking to the Colts’ returner)
“Yeah, he just went by and said something. I think the officials…they were going set the tone early. Sometimes you see that, it’s not called. It happens all game long. This officiating crew was adamant about taunting and those kinds of things. They were on top of everything, to say the least.”
(On if QB Kellen Clemens is improving over the course of his last three starts)
“Yeah, he’s improving. You can see our third down efficiency is getting better. Both of (WR) Tavon’s (Austin) touchdowns were third down plays. He’s keeping drives alive and he’s doing a good job in the run game too with the checks, has a really good understanding. Now, it was a difficult day in the run game yesterday because the line of scrimmage was loaded up and they were stunting, slanting, and doing all those things. But, he’s doing a nice job.”
(On what it is about Clemens’ personality that has players rallying around him)
“He’s got that kind of personality. He’s one of those guys that expects you – if you’re working or you’re meeting or you’re practicing, to do the best you possibly can. He’s got a subtle way of going about that. He encourages guys. One thing, in the huddle – the call’s made and as the huddle’s breaking, and on the way to the line of scrimmage – he’s with the young guys out there. He’s always offering reminders – remember this, this, this, that – and it makes it a little easier on guys, especially the young guys.”
(On if he expects teams to load the box after what RB Zac Stacy has done over the last six games)
“Yes, but we’ve got to, particularly in the second half just because the score, it was obvious that we needed to run the football to run time off the clock, but we still…we got in the four-minute situation and (RB) Benny (Cunningham) breaks a big run. So, we still kept the ball for over three minutes in that four-minute situation at the end of the game. We’re seeing eight-man fronts. We’ve been seeing eight-man fronts for the last five or six weeks. We’ve just got to work a little harder, a little better at what we’re doing up front, but our numbers were there yesterday from a number of carries and from time of possession. Things like that.”
(On RB Benny Cunningham getting back in the lineup)
“Oh, yes. Screen pass and then the ‘four-minute’ run was big, it was big for us and for him. In addition to that, the things he’s doing on special teams, too. He’s making plays, he filled in when ‘Gio’ (S Matt Giordano) went down as a personal protector, he went in and stepped right in and got everything done under difficult circumstances because you expect them to try to rush the punt at that time in the game. Benny’s doing everything we’ve asked him so far.”
(On if he told WR Tavon Austin not to take too many chances like he did on his punt return for a touchdown)
“Yeah. If you’re going to do it again, I want the same results, but he’s making good decisions. What happened after that, obviously, they changed their philosophy and they end-over-end pooch punted just like we’ve seen the last couple weeks, so it ends up being a fair catch game. But, in those situations where the ball’s not fair caught, he’s come alive. Guys get that, and they know every time the ball’s put in the air that he’s got a chance to return it.”
(On why the referees picked up the flag and overturned a pass interference penalty against the Rams)
“It wasn’t pass interference. They conferenced and got it right, and that’s the good thing about conferencing at times. You’ve got a back judge seeing this and then you’ve got a side judge or a field judgeseeing the play and saying, ‘No, no, no, it wasn’t. He arrived the same time the ball got there, it was a good hit, he wasn’t early.’ It wasn’t D.P.I. (defensive pass interference).”
(On how Austin got open for his two touchdown receptions)
“Well, go to Carolina – he got open and it was called back because of tripping and then we had him open last weekend and we missed him, so he’s getting open. It’s just, obviously, (QB) Kellen (Clemens) made a great throw on the deep ball and then, of course, on the shallow cross on third down. We’ve been doing that and they, for some reason, dropped coverage or didn’t have anybody on the back side. That’s the risk that you face when you’re playing man-to-man against us is that there’s going to be guys that are going to get open. In his case, run after catch is a huge threat.”
(On how the receivers are dealing with the run heavy offense and decrease in touches)
“They’re fine. What’s important to them is us having a chance to win ballgames, and if it’s going to require them to block, then they’re going to block. We don’t have those ‘I want the ball’ – they all want the ball, but they understand that whatever it takes to win is what we’re going to do. And if they have a 10 catch day or no catch day, as long as we’re in the football game it’s OK.”
(On if they will get any injured players back after the bye week)
“We have a chance. (TE) Lance (Kendricks) is going to practice this week with a cast, so we’ll see how he is this week and next week and then we’ll continue to rehab (S) T.J. (McDonald), which he’s getting close. He had a really good pregame workout there yesterday. (G) Harvey’s (Dahl) coming on so we’ll see. It’s a big week for us. We’re going to rest some people, keep them off the field, and work some of the younger players, push some of the younger players and just do some different things. Kind of assess the individual needs of the players and then our individual needs offensively, defensively and special teams and then go about that.”
(On if McDonald has to start practicing exactly six weeks after his injury occurred)
“It can be longer than that.”
(On if he’s seen receivers improve as blockers)
“Yeah, they’re all getting to where they need to get to. Last week on Benny’s (Cunningham) long run, as I mentioned, Tavon (Austin) started that run and he’s blocking a linebacker, so yeah, they understand what they do. (Wide Receiver Coach) Ray (Sherman) does a good job with them, and they understand when you’ve got a chance to spring a back, obviously you need to execute.”
(On if it is hard for receivers to get used to run blocking a lot)
“No, they block. Everybody that we’ve drafted was a good blocker in college. They have to block to have to block. It’s not something that all of a sudden happens in the National Football League.”
(On the practice schedule for the week)
“We’ll go Wednesday and Thursday. The players are entitled to four consecutive days off during the bye week, so they’ll be off Friday through Monday.”
(On if the team’s inconsistent performance is frustrating for a coach)
“No, since Carolina and losing (QB) Sam (Bradford), as I mentioned, we’re throwing the ball to the end zone two weeks in a row to win and to tie. And then we come back here and we just kept playing. Guys are working hard playing and practicing and feel like we can match up against anybody. So, ups and downs from wins and losses, yeah, but from effort and execution, it’s consistent, it’s steady and I think we’re seeing improvement.”
(On if he’s seen the team steadily improve)
“Yeah, every week’s a challenge. Yesterday, our defense against the run, if you take the quarterback’s rushes away, the running backs had a total of one yard rushing yesterday, so there’s an improvement there. Granted, the game got out of hand and they didn’t have the attempts in the second half, but what you want to see is you want to see consistency. I don’t want 200 yards this week and one yard next week and averaging 100 yards a game rushing. Obviously, you want to see consistency there, so there’s improvement. We’re seeing it. I think you look at our (defensive) end play, the linebacker play, yeah. As I mentioned, (S) Rodney (McLeod) and the safeties are improving as they play more and more each week. (CBs) ‘Tru’ (Trumaine Johnson) and ‘Jenks’ (Janoris Jenkins) are battling outside and getting better each week and with their technique and carrying over what they’re doing on the practice field into the game.”
(On how OL Rodger Saffold played at right guard)
“‘Rodge’ did a nice job considering he was just in there for a week. ‘Bou’ (Offensive Line Coach Paul T. Boudreau) did a great job preparing him, worked really well with (C) Scott (Wells) and (RT) Joe (Barksdale) and he’s only going to get better at it. There’s little things to clean up, as you would imagine, the technical things. But, I thought overall he did a pretty good job in there.”
(On if moving Saffold to right guard was to get the best five offensive linemen on the field)
“Yeah. We discussed it real early last week and felt like that would be a good option. He’s playing really well coming off the injury and then would get an opportunity to play at tackle and kind of alternate with Joe, he was playing well. And Joe’s playing good, so we felt like let’s put the best guys out there.”
(On if they will stick with that lineup moving forward)
“Yes. At this point we’ll stay with it, yeah.”
(On if watching film was more enjoyable after winning this week)
“Yeah, but as coaches we still have to be realistic. We have to be critical and grade and look at the mistakes and things and there were some things that need to be cleaned up. The second half of the game was different, particularly because we got up and what the score was at halftime. Then, you’re playing against the clock, but I’ll start with special teams. It was an outstanding job on special teams. (Special Teams Coordinator) Coach (John) Fassel and (Assistant Special Teams) Coach ‘Bou’ (Paul F. Boudreau) did a great job with the plan. Guys were running free and just carrying over what they’re learning on the practice field into the game. Everybody took turns. Everybody was involved. (S) Cody (Davis) had some big plays. It was just good to see everybody involved. We punted the ball well, covered, and we returned it well. It was a good overall day for us.”
(On if the young players on special teams are improving in the area of penalties)
“Yeah, they’re learning. They’re learning how to do that. We had the one penalty to start the game, (RB) Isaiah’s (Pead) penalty, which was unnecessary. Sometimes it’s called, sometimes it’s not, but he overcame that. With respect to Isaiah, he wants to get on the field and we told him, ‘You have a role as a back and you have a future here as a back. But, you want to get on the field, you’re going to have to do some stuff on special teams.’ So he’s been working really hard the last couple weeks at it, got his opportunity, and really did a nice job. Really proud of him, the way he played. They couldn’t block him and he filled in for guys when guys went down here and there. So, he’s off to a good start from a teams’ standpoint.”
(On if it was the first time Pead has played special teams, with the exception of returning)
“First time he’s done it, yeah. Participated in punt return and kickoff coverage and those kinds of things. Yeah.”
(On if Pead’s penalty on the opening kickoff was because he was talking to the Colts’ returner)
“Yeah, he just went by and said something. I think the officials…they were going set the tone early. Sometimes you see that, it’s not called. It happens all game long. This officiating crew was adamant about taunting and those kinds of things. They were on top of everything, to say the least.”
(On if QB Kellen Clemens is improving over the course of his last three starts)
“Yeah, he’s improving. You can see our third down efficiency is getting better. Both of (WR) Tavon’s (Austin) touchdowns were third down plays. He’s keeping drives alive and he’s doing a good job in the run game too with the checks, has a really good understanding. Now, it was a difficult day in the run game yesterday because the line of scrimmage was loaded up and they were stunting, slanting, and doing all those things. But, he’s doing a nice job.”
(On what it is about Clemens’ personality that has players rallying around him)
“He’s got that kind of personality. He’s one of those guys that expects you – if you’re working or you’re meeting or you’re practicing, to do the best you possibly can. He’s got a subtle way of going about that. He encourages guys. One thing, in the huddle – the call’s made and as the huddle’s breaking, and on the way to the line of scrimmage – he’s with the young guys out there. He’s always offering reminders – remember this, this, this, that – and it makes it a little easier on guys, especially the young guys.”
(On if he expects teams to load the box after what RB Zac Stacy has done over the last six games)
“Yes, but we’ve got to, particularly in the second half just because the score, it was obvious that we needed to run the football to run time off the clock, but we still…we got in the four-minute situation and (RB) Benny (Cunningham) breaks a big run. So, we still kept the ball for over three minutes in that four-minute situation at the end of the game. We’re seeing eight-man fronts. We’ve been seeing eight-man fronts for the last five or six weeks. We’ve just got to work a little harder, a little better at what we’re doing up front, but our numbers were there yesterday from a number of carries and from time of possession. Things like that.”
(On RB Benny Cunningham getting back in the lineup)
“Oh, yes. Screen pass and then the ‘four-minute’ run was big, it was big for us and for him. In addition to that, the things he’s doing on special teams, too. He’s making plays, he filled in when ‘Gio’ (S Matt Giordano) went down as a personal protector, he went in and stepped right in and got everything done under difficult circumstances because you expect them to try to rush the punt at that time in the game. Benny’s doing everything we’ve asked him so far.”
(On if he told WR Tavon Austin not to take too many chances like he did on his punt return for a touchdown)
“Yeah. If you’re going to do it again, I want the same results, but he’s making good decisions. What happened after that, obviously, they changed their philosophy and they end-over-end pooch punted just like we’ve seen the last couple weeks, so it ends up being a fair catch game. But, in those situations where the ball’s not fair caught, he’s come alive. Guys get that, and they know every time the ball’s put in the air that he’s got a chance to return it.”
(On why the referees picked up the flag and overturned a pass interference penalty against the Rams)
“It wasn’t pass interference. They conferenced and got it right, and that’s the good thing about conferencing at times. You’ve got a back judge seeing this and then you’ve got a side judge or a field judgeseeing the play and saying, ‘No, no, no, it wasn’t. He arrived the same time the ball got there, it was a good hit, he wasn’t early.’ It wasn’t D.P.I. (defensive pass interference).”
(On how Austin got open for his two touchdown receptions)
“Well, go to Carolina – he got open and it was called back because of tripping and then we had him open last weekend and we missed him, so he’s getting open. It’s just, obviously, (QB) Kellen (Clemens) made a great throw on the deep ball and then, of course, on the shallow cross on third down. We’ve been doing that and they, for some reason, dropped coverage or didn’t have anybody on the back side. That’s the risk that you face when you’re playing man-to-man against us is that there’s going to be guys that are going to get open. In his case, run after catch is a huge threat.”
(On how the receivers are dealing with the run heavy offense and decrease in touches)
“They’re fine. What’s important to them is us having a chance to win ballgames, and if it’s going to require them to block, then they’re going to block. We don’t have those ‘I want the ball’ – they all want the ball, but they understand that whatever it takes to win is what we’re going to do. And if they have a 10 catch day or no catch day, as long as we’re in the football game it’s OK.”
(On if they will get any injured players back after the bye week)
“We have a chance. (TE) Lance (Kendricks) is going to practice this week with a cast, so we’ll see how he is this week and next week and then we’ll continue to rehab (S) T.J. (McDonald), which he’s getting close. He had a really good pregame workout there yesterday. (G) Harvey’s (Dahl) coming on so we’ll see. It’s a big week for us. We’re going to rest some people, keep them off the field, and work some of the younger players, push some of the younger players and just do some different things. Kind of assess the individual needs of the players and then our individual needs offensively, defensively and special teams and then go about that.”
(On if McDonald has to start practicing exactly six weeks after his injury occurred)
“It can be longer than that.”
(On if he’s seen receivers improve as blockers)
“Yeah, they’re all getting to where they need to get to. Last week on Benny’s (Cunningham) long run, as I mentioned, Tavon (Austin) started that run and he’s blocking a linebacker, so yeah, they understand what they do. (Wide Receiver Coach) Ray (Sherman) does a good job with them, and they understand when you’ve got a chance to spring a back, obviously you need to execute.”
(On if it is hard for receivers to get used to run blocking a lot)
“No, they block. Everybody that we’ve drafted was a good blocker in college. They have to block to have to block. It’s not something that all of a sudden happens in the National Football League.”
(On the practice schedule for the week)
“We’ll go Wednesday and Thursday. The players are entitled to four consecutive days off during the bye week, so they’ll be off Friday through Monday.”
(On if the team’s inconsistent performance is frustrating for a coach)
“No, since Carolina and losing (QB) Sam (Bradford), as I mentioned, we’re throwing the ball to the end zone two weeks in a row to win and to tie. And then we come back here and we just kept playing. Guys are working hard playing and practicing and feel like we can match up against anybody. So, ups and downs from wins and losses, yeah, but from effort and execution, it’s consistent, it’s steady and I think we’re seeing improvement.”
(On if he’s seen the team steadily improve)
“Yeah, every week’s a challenge. Yesterday, our defense against the run, if you take the quarterback’s rushes away, the running backs had a total of one yard rushing yesterday, so there’s an improvement there. Granted, the game got out of hand and they didn’t have the attempts in the second half, but what you want to see is you want to see consistency. I don’t want 200 yards this week and one yard next week and averaging 100 yards a game rushing. Obviously, you want to see consistency there, so there’s improvement. We’re seeing it. I think you look at our (defensive) end play, the linebacker play, yeah. As I mentioned, (S) Rodney (McLeod) and the safeties are improving as they play more and more each week. (CBs) ‘Tru’ (Trumaine Johnson) and ‘Jenks’ (Janoris Jenkins) are battling outside and getting better each week and with their technique and carrying over what they’re doing on the practice field into the game.”