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Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis – Conference Call w/ St. Louis Media – 11/25/15
(On how QB Andy Dalton has matured and developed the last couple of years)
“I think Andy has continued to grow each and every season we’ve had him. He’s continued to evolve from being the young quarterback, to the starting quarterback, to the leader of the offense, to virtually the leader of the football team. He’s gone about it the correct way by earning it.”
(On if they’re hungrier coming in against the Rams after a loss)
“Every time you go on the field, if you don’t play well enough you lose. Got to come back and go to work and figure out a way to do it better.”
(On TE Tyler Eifert and the progress he’s made)
“He’s really played as we expected. He was a great prospect for us and did a good job as a rookie and unfortunately didn’t get to play a lot last season. He’s really worked hard through the offseason with his surgeries and the rehab and so forth, and has come back and really been a very productive part of our offense.”
(On if this is what they envisioned Eifert would be doing)
“We really envisioned it literally when we drafted him. He’s met our expectations.”
(On how to handle a traumatic situation like his team faced a few years ago with Chris Henry)
“Every player there has a different relationship that they had with (WR) Stedman (Bailey) and that’s what we found with Chris. You felt like you knew who Chris was close to and who was close to Chris and his family, but with the loss of Chris…in his passing we found there were more, it was a lot deeper than we knew. Where guys spent a lot of time together with he and his wife and kids and so forth that I was unaware of. We had to give everybody their space and their opportunity to really mourn Chris’ passing in their own ways.”
(On if he did extra things in terms of making counseling available to the team)
“Yes, we did. We did all of the above. We actually attended the funeral as a football team and staff and then we literally traveled to San Diego on Friday that week, and so when we traveled with people with us. It was an eventful week.”
(On what he sees from the Rams defense)
“They’re well put together. They’ve got good players. They’re obviously very explosive up front. They’ve got guys in the secondary that play the ball well and will hit you. We’ve got our work cut out for us.”
(On if the quarterback situation with the Rams makes it more difficult to prepare)
“They’re going to run their offense. Their offense centers around No. 30 (RB Todd Gurley), No. 11 (WR Tavon Austin), the tight ends and the other receivers that they put out there. But, those guys touch the ball the majority of the time and we’ve got to do a good job of defending. They’ve got a great scheme and we’ve got to do a good job of defending it.”
(On if he thinks that his team can be a contender in the Super Bowl this year)
“Well, our goal right now is to beat the St. Louis Rams. That’s all I can worry about and from that point, win our division. Those are the two things that count right now for us, so you earn your way to the Super Bowl by doing things that, and not us sitting here wasting time talking about that.”
(On how much the continuity has helped him in build the Bengals program and build consistency and how much the patience of ownership and management has helped him put the product on the field that he likes)
“Well, I think we restarted again in 2011, myself and everybody in this building. I chose an opportunity to come back here, rather go somewhere else. We were able to work it out, and a lot of people have to change addresses. But, at that point, myself and the way we started again…we started again with new players and new approach and appreciative of everybody who bought into that. It’s paid off.”
(On how DT Geno Atkins has made his mark on the defensive line this season)
“Geno just, he’s done a really good job of playing inside. He does a great job with the running game. He’s obviously…he forces the issue in the pass game from the inside out. He’s a smart guy. He understands the offense and what they’re trying to get done. I’m really pleased with him and the job he’s done this season.”
(On if he sees any similarities between Atkins and Rams DT Aaron Donald)
“Oh, no question. Aaron’s an excellent player. He was an excellent prospect coming out of Pitt. He’s got a fine, fine career ahead of himself.”
(On the reason for TE Tyler Eifert’s success in the red zone)
“Well, he’s had a couple of isolation things - no question about that. But otherwise, we want the quarterback to read it out and then take his choice in coverage. Tyler provides a big target with his height and his ability and range to go up and get the ball.”
(On if he had any concerns with Eifert coming back from the injury and if he thought he was 100 percent going into this season)
“Well, we thought he was 100 percent. We ended up…we put him on the IR/designated to return last year. Then, when things didn’t seem to be coming around, we kind of bit the bullet and said, ‘OK, now go get yourself fixed and rehabed and we’ll be ready for this season.’ He did a great job of that.”
(On if Eifert is the perfect match-up problem for other teams)
“Well, he is. He’s a difficult player because he does a great job of in-line blocking. He’s a good in-line receiver from his normal tight end spot and yet, has done the things that he’s done on the outside on the perimeter.”
Bengals TE Tyler Eifert – Conference Call w/ St. Louis Media -11/25/15
(On the importance of this game against the Rams)
“Yeah, I mean, we’ve tried to keep the same tone even when we were winning. Now, we’ve lost two games. It’s the same message every week is that one game at a time, one team at a time and that’s all you can worry about. So, we’re going to keep that mentality.”
(On how his team views the loss to the Houston Texans)
“I think they’re a better team than what their record shows. But, yeah, we just didn’t get it done on the offensive side of the ball. Definitely a game that we felt like going into, that we should win. So yeah, just didn’t play well enough to win I guess.”
(On the loss at Arizona)
“Yeah, it’s always tough when you come back and then it’s kind of all for not. We need to play better earlier in the game, have that same urgency that we have late in the game when we have to score points. We have to have that same mentality throughout the game, so need to be better there.”
(On what this season has been like for him in relation to what happened last year)
“Yeah, it’s been great. I mean, for me, missing a whole year kind of gives you appreciation for where you’re at and what you’re doing. For me, it’s just been good to be back out on the field running around with the guys, putting in the work and grinding through a season. Sometimes you might think it’s easy because you’re not doing anything; you’re just watching from the sidelines. But, it’s a lot harder than going through the grind of the season with the guys and playing with them. So, it’s been awesome.”
(On the feeling he had last season watching the season end the way it did in the playoff loss)
“Yeah, for me, when things were going well, it was the easiest because happy for the guys, happy for the team and we’re winning, playing well. When they were losing, I don’t know how much help I would’ve been. It’s just kind of that helpless feeling that you want to get in there and help your guys win and play with them. So, that was the hardest part, just when things weren’t going well for us last year.”
(On if his rehab process was complicated)
“Yeah, it was because I had two surgeries within probably six weeks. One on my elbow, one on my shoulder, so once my elbow got good enough to sort of function, then they went ahead and did my shoulder.”
(On if he’s had any lingering effects from his surgeries)
“No. Not at all. In camp, my elbow got a little sore and that’s why I decided to put on the elbow brace. I was kind of reluctant to wear that. I didn’t want to wear it. But ever since I put that on, I’ve had no problems and really not any soreness. It’s been great.”
(On if there is a blessing in disguise being able to watch from the sideline)
“Yeah, I don’t think…obviously, you never want to get hurt. But, if you’re going to take a positive away from it, it’s just taking a step back, having that whole year off to where all you can do is watch. Sometimes you’re in camp or in practice, the season’s getting late and all you want to do is maybe take a day off or hang out. But, that’s just…when I was hurt, that whole year all I wanted to do was practice and get back in there. So, it really just gave me kind of new appreciation for the position I’m in and not take anything for granted.”
(On if the success he’s having this year is something different or just a natural progression of where he was at the end of his rookie year)
“Yeah, I think for me, I have confidence in my ability and know that I’m a good player. But, it seemed like my rookie year I was splitting time with Jermaine Gresham. Had an OK year and then last year, I didn’t play at all. So, it’s really kind of been, ‘This guy’s got potential and could be really good, but we just haven’t seen it yet.’ So, for me, to go out there and play well and contribute to our team winning games has been good.”
(On if he’s become the red zone specialist)
“Yeah, I guess that’s what you could call it. I just run the routes that are called and hope (QB) Andy (Dalton) throws me the ball. I mean, there’s nothing, not really doing anything special and hoping that the offensive coordinator calls in a play that we could take advantage of and score a touchdown. So, for me, I don’t feel like I’m doing anything out of the ordinary. It’s just plays are called and the defenses that are being ran and Andy’s throwing me the ball.”
(On what he thinks has helped QB Andy Dalton have the success he’s had this season)
“I think Andy, he’s in his fifth year now and he’s been growing ever since he got in the league. He was a young quarterback there for a while and I think he’s always been a really good quarterback but that confidence, this year, he just seems so much more comfortable on the field, in the huddle, taking command of the offense. I think he’s learned a lot and when he’s playing well, that always helps give you confidence and helps you move forward and keep playing well.”
(On what challenges he thinks the Rams defense presents)
“What we’ve seen so far is that they’re a physical group. They fly around, a lot of really athletic guys on that side of the ball. We’ll just have to match that intensity. We’ll watch more film as the week goes on, but those are the things that really stood out to me.”
(On if he thinks his team can win the Super Bowl)
“Yeah. I think for a while now that we’ve talked about how talented we are. Obviously, we know that talent doesn’t win Super Bowls. But, if we can combine that talent…we’ve worked hard. We’ve played well. If we could just continue to grow this season, get into the playoffs and make a run, I think we have what it takes.”
(On if it’s tough to get over that hump to take the next step as a team)
“Yeah, I think people always are focused on the Bengals making the playoffs and then losing that first game. Then, for us, it’s a new year and our goal is making the playoffs to begin with because that’s a task in itself and make the playoffs and go from there. So, I think we’ll be alright.”
(On how QB Andy Dalton has matured and developed the last couple of years)
“I think Andy has continued to grow each and every season we’ve had him. He’s continued to evolve from being the young quarterback, to the starting quarterback, to the leader of the offense, to virtually the leader of the football team. He’s gone about it the correct way by earning it.”
(On if they’re hungrier coming in against the Rams after a loss)
“Every time you go on the field, if you don’t play well enough you lose. Got to come back and go to work and figure out a way to do it better.”
(On TE Tyler Eifert and the progress he’s made)
“He’s really played as we expected. He was a great prospect for us and did a good job as a rookie and unfortunately didn’t get to play a lot last season. He’s really worked hard through the offseason with his surgeries and the rehab and so forth, and has come back and really been a very productive part of our offense.”
(On if this is what they envisioned Eifert would be doing)
“We really envisioned it literally when we drafted him. He’s met our expectations.”
(On how to handle a traumatic situation like his team faced a few years ago with Chris Henry)
“Every player there has a different relationship that they had with (WR) Stedman (Bailey) and that’s what we found with Chris. You felt like you knew who Chris was close to and who was close to Chris and his family, but with the loss of Chris…in his passing we found there were more, it was a lot deeper than we knew. Where guys spent a lot of time together with he and his wife and kids and so forth that I was unaware of. We had to give everybody their space and their opportunity to really mourn Chris’ passing in their own ways.”
(On if he did extra things in terms of making counseling available to the team)
“Yes, we did. We did all of the above. We actually attended the funeral as a football team and staff and then we literally traveled to San Diego on Friday that week, and so when we traveled with people with us. It was an eventful week.”
(On what he sees from the Rams defense)
“They’re well put together. They’ve got good players. They’re obviously very explosive up front. They’ve got guys in the secondary that play the ball well and will hit you. We’ve got our work cut out for us.”
(On if the quarterback situation with the Rams makes it more difficult to prepare)
“They’re going to run their offense. Their offense centers around No. 30 (RB Todd Gurley), No. 11 (WR Tavon Austin), the tight ends and the other receivers that they put out there. But, those guys touch the ball the majority of the time and we’ve got to do a good job of defending. They’ve got a great scheme and we’ve got to do a good job of defending it.”
(On if he thinks that his team can be a contender in the Super Bowl this year)
“Well, our goal right now is to beat the St. Louis Rams. That’s all I can worry about and from that point, win our division. Those are the two things that count right now for us, so you earn your way to the Super Bowl by doing things that, and not us sitting here wasting time talking about that.”
(On how much the continuity has helped him in build the Bengals program and build consistency and how much the patience of ownership and management has helped him put the product on the field that he likes)
“Well, I think we restarted again in 2011, myself and everybody in this building. I chose an opportunity to come back here, rather go somewhere else. We were able to work it out, and a lot of people have to change addresses. But, at that point, myself and the way we started again…we started again with new players and new approach and appreciative of everybody who bought into that. It’s paid off.”
(On how DT Geno Atkins has made his mark on the defensive line this season)
“Geno just, he’s done a really good job of playing inside. He does a great job with the running game. He’s obviously…he forces the issue in the pass game from the inside out. He’s a smart guy. He understands the offense and what they’re trying to get done. I’m really pleased with him and the job he’s done this season.”
(On if he sees any similarities between Atkins and Rams DT Aaron Donald)
“Oh, no question. Aaron’s an excellent player. He was an excellent prospect coming out of Pitt. He’s got a fine, fine career ahead of himself.”
(On the reason for TE Tyler Eifert’s success in the red zone)
“Well, he’s had a couple of isolation things - no question about that. But otherwise, we want the quarterback to read it out and then take his choice in coverage. Tyler provides a big target with his height and his ability and range to go up and get the ball.”
(On if he had any concerns with Eifert coming back from the injury and if he thought he was 100 percent going into this season)
“Well, we thought he was 100 percent. We ended up…we put him on the IR/designated to return last year. Then, when things didn’t seem to be coming around, we kind of bit the bullet and said, ‘OK, now go get yourself fixed and rehabed and we’ll be ready for this season.’ He did a great job of that.”
(On if Eifert is the perfect match-up problem for other teams)
“Well, he is. He’s a difficult player because he does a great job of in-line blocking. He’s a good in-line receiver from his normal tight end spot and yet, has done the things that he’s done on the outside on the perimeter.”
Bengals TE Tyler Eifert – Conference Call w/ St. Louis Media -11/25/15
(On the importance of this game against the Rams)
“Yeah, I mean, we’ve tried to keep the same tone even when we were winning. Now, we’ve lost two games. It’s the same message every week is that one game at a time, one team at a time and that’s all you can worry about. So, we’re going to keep that mentality.”
(On how his team views the loss to the Houston Texans)
“I think they’re a better team than what their record shows. But, yeah, we just didn’t get it done on the offensive side of the ball. Definitely a game that we felt like going into, that we should win. So yeah, just didn’t play well enough to win I guess.”
(On the loss at Arizona)
“Yeah, it’s always tough when you come back and then it’s kind of all for not. We need to play better earlier in the game, have that same urgency that we have late in the game when we have to score points. We have to have that same mentality throughout the game, so need to be better there.”
(On what this season has been like for him in relation to what happened last year)
“Yeah, it’s been great. I mean, for me, missing a whole year kind of gives you appreciation for where you’re at and what you’re doing. For me, it’s just been good to be back out on the field running around with the guys, putting in the work and grinding through a season. Sometimes you might think it’s easy because you’re not doing anything; you’re just watching from the sidelines. But, it’s a lot harder than going through the grind of the season with the guys and playing with them. So, it’s been awesome.”
(On the feeling he had last season watching the season end the way it did in the playoff loss)
“Yeah, for me, when things were going well, it was the easiest because happy for the guys, happy for the team and we’re winning, playing well. When they were losing, I don’t know how much help I would’ve been. It’s just kind of that helpless feeling that you want to get in there and help your guys win and play with them. So, that was the hardest part, just when things weren’t going well for us last year.”
(On if his rehab process was complicated)
“Yeah, it was because I had two surgeries within probably six weeks. One on my elbow, one on my shoulder, so once my elbow got good enough to sort of function, then they went ahead and did my shoulder.”
(On if he’s had any lingering effects from his surgeries)
“No. Not at all. In camp, my elbow got a little sore and that’s why I decided to put on the elbow brace. I was kind of reluctant to wear that. I didn’t want to wear it. But ever since I put that on, I’ve had no problems and really not any soreness. It’s been great.”
(On if there is a blessing in disguise being able to watch from the sideline)
“Yeah, I don’t think…obviously, you never want to get hurt. But, if you’re going to take a positive away from it, it’s just taking a step back, having that whole year off to where all you can do is watch. Sometimes you’re in camp or in practice, the season’s getting late and all you want to do is maybe take a day off or hang out. But, that’s just…when I was hurt, that whole year all I wanted to do was practice and get back in there. So, it really just gave me kind of new appreciation for the position I’m in and not take anything for granted.”
(On if the success he’s having this year is something different or just a natural progression of where he was at the end of his rookie year)
“Yeah, I think for me, I have confidence in my ability and know that I’m a good player. But, it seemed like my rookie year I was splitting time with Jermaine Gresham. Had an OK year and then last year, I didn’t play at all. So, it’s really kind of been, ‘This guy’s got potential and could be really good, but we just haven’t seen it yet.’ So, for me, to go out there and play well and contribute to our team winning games has been good.”
(On if he’s become the red zone specialist)
“Yeah, I guess that’s what you could call it. I just run the routes that are called and hope (QB) Andy (Dalton) throws me the ball. I mean, there’s nothing, not really doing anything special and hoping that the offensive coordinator calls in a play that we could take advantage of and score a touchdown. So, for me, I don’t feel like I’m doing anything out of the ordinary. It’s just plays are called and the defenses that are being ran and Andy’s throwing me the ball.”
(On what he thinks has helped QB Andy Dalton have the success he’s had this season)
“I think Andy, he’s in his fifth year now and he’s been growing ever since he got in the league. He was a young quarterback there for a while and I think he’s always been a really good quarterback but that confidence, this year, he just seems so much more comfortable on the field, in the huddle, taking command of the offense. I think he’s learned a lot and when he’s playing well, that always helps give you confidence and helps you move forward and keep playing well.”
(On what challenges he thinks the Rams defense presents)
“What we’ve seen so far is that they’re a physical group. They fly around, a lot of really athletic guys on that side of the ball. We’ll just have to match that intensity. We’ll watch more film as the week goes on, but those are the things that really stood out to me.”
(On if he thinks his team can win the Super Bowl)
“Yeah. I think for a while now that we’ve talked about how talented we are. Obviously, we know that talent doesn’t win Super Bowls. But, if we can combine that talent…we’ve worked hard. We’ve played well. If we could just continue to grow this season, get into the playoffs and make a run, I think we have what it takes.”
(On if it’s tough to get over that hump to take the next step as a team)
“Yeah, I think people always are focused on the Bengals making the playoffs and then losing that first game. Then, for us, it’s a new year and our goal is making the playoffs to begin with because that’s a task in itself and make the playoffs and go from there. So, I think we’ll be alright.”