Jerry Gray (Secondary/Cornerbacks Coach)
On what his schedule is like now, not having a head
coach:
"Right now I think you self scout. You look at what
you did during the season: how you got beat, how people tried to
attack you. You have to have those reports because those things help
you for next year."
On the staff meeting with Coach Gibbs when he
announced he is retiring:
"He thanked all the coaches for their hard work and he
appreciated us for what we’ve done. You look and you know he’s sincere
as far as what he’s doing. Just from being around him for a couple
years, I know that he puts God first, his family second and work
third. If any man is going to stick by that and your family needs you,
you have to go."
On if he was surprised by Coach Gibbs’ retiring:
"To me, I don’t think you ever have an inkling that a
guys is going to do that but I think what you do is respect what his
decision is. His decision is sincere and you could tell it was from
the heart. He thought about it and he knows the ramifications that it
puts all the other coaches in."
On if it slows the coaches down now not having a
normal direction or schedule set:
"Not really. I think this is my second or third time
going through something like this, not with a guy retiring but what
you do is make sure you keep yourself busy. You’ve got to have
yourself ready to go because when they do bring another guy in if
you’re not prepared to go then you’re going to be behind. Then you
don’t want to try to be playing catch up."
On his level of concern regarding a coaching change:
"The powers that be are going to make that decision.
You have to live by it. If they make a coaching change from the inside
I think it’s good, and if they make a change from the outside then you
have to adjust and go on."
On if he agrees with the players endorsing Gregg
Williams (Asst. Head Coach-Defense) as the next head coach:
"If the players can make that decision I think it
would be fine, but I don’t think they are going to be making that
decision."
On thinking about his future:
"To me, it’s not my decision. The thing you have to do
is keep yourself busy and do the job that you’re supposed to do. I’m
doing those things so I don’t get caught off guard because you just
never know. Last year you look around and see a 14-2 coach get fired.
You never know how these things are going to shake out but you have to
keep faith and go on."
"I think you get judged by what your guys do on the
football field and if someone wants that than they will make a call
for you."
"I really liked Coach Gibbs. I think the guy is
sincere and you really don’t know what’s going to happen. I think you
have to play it by ear. To me, if you’re going to start panicking
right now, you should have started to panic when we lost those four
games in a row. And to me, because we didn’t do that you have to have
some staying power. If you have that, then if the owners like what you
did, they’re going to keep you. If they don’t, they are going to let
you go anyway."
On Gregg Williams’ experience as a head coach in
Buffalo:
"When you first go in (to Buffalo), you knew there was
$19 million of dead money and you had $22 million over the cap and you
really don’t know how that affects your team. But then you know you
have to cut a lot of players, a lot of Pro Bowl players. I watched
that go on and we were 3-13 the first year. Coming back the second
year we were 8-8 and the next year 7-9. To me, I think if a 7-9, 9-7,
or an 8-8 team you’re just about getting to where you’re going to go.
Most teams will keep head coaches like that. They decided not to and
to me I think they are still kind of looking for another head coach to
get them over the hump and they’ve been through two or three head
coaches right now."
On if he feels Williams was the reason behind the
improvement Buffalo saw during his three seasons as head coach:
"Yeah, if you look at it and take the first year out –
with all the trouble Buffalo had the first time going in – and only
count the second two years, he was 15-15. If you’re going to fire a
coach for being 15-15, there’s something wrong."
On the play of the cornerbacks down the stretch:
"I think the guys kind of stepped up. We really missed
Carlos Rogers (CB, #22) because I thought Carlos was just getting into
his groove of making plays. I saw him make a big play in the Arizona
game in a two minute situation and the next thing you know he torn an
ACL. So we picked up Leigh Torrence (CB, #29) in the offseason and he
stepped in and did a great job. He played in a lot more three-corner
situations with LaRon (Landry, S, #30) in the middle of the field and
that gave us a chance to put cover patterns out there. To me, I
thought we really, really did a good job. Is there room for
improvement? Of course. I think technique-wise we could be a lot
better. We could be a lot better with our eyes. And those are the
little things that you work on and I really think we can take another
step forward, like we did in Tennessee, of not just being satisfied
with giving up 200 yards a game but you want to get around that
150-160 a game in the air and still stop that run. I think you can
really dominate then."
On what he meant earlier about "self-scouting":
"(For example) right now I’m (going) over the screens.
I’m looking at all the screens that teams did against us and what you
do is say: Ok, did any screens break out? What was the problem? Who is
the culprit? Was it the defense? Was it the player? Then I’m (going)
over the two-minute. So I’m going through all two-minute things. What
happened in two minutes: Was there touchdowns in two minutes? Was
there field goals? Did we do a good job? And now I present that to
whoever comes in because you have to be prepared for all those things
because if you’re not good in screens, everybody is going to screen
you. If you’re not good in two-minute, you have to get sacks in
two-minute and get turnovers and I think we did a pretty good job this
year."
Earnest Byner (Running Backs Coach)
On if he had any indication that Coach Gibbs would
return next season:
"Well you always look forward to next year in this
profession. You try to plan and look for direction and that kind of
stuff. We were all hopeful because that keeps consistency for sure. So
yeah we were definitely looking forward to next year with Joe. There
were some things that were said. We all had some feelings and
indicators when you look back. The reality is – as a matter of fact
even Coach Breaux no more than a week ago was
talking about some of the things that we would try and
do coming up – so definitely we were looking forward to trying to make
this thing happen."
On if it’s difficult waiting for decision to be made
about the next head coach:
"In my mind – and for a lot of people it is difficult,
don’t get me wrong – but things always have a way of working
themselves out. They will work out. Everything will be ok and life
will continue. We will make the best of this situation one way or
another, whether it’s here or if people have to move on. Changes are
going to happen in this League. The level of people coming in and
going out it’s there every year. This happens to be one major one when
it comes to the head coach but we have to make the best of it either
way."
On the energy amongst the coaches and how they are
moving forward:
"There’s been some buzz. Guys are talking about it and
also talking about the indicators that they all saw and some things
that happened at different games that kind of said this might be
coming down the pike. Again, that’s part of the reality. I think we
all go through it each year anyway when you do have some uncertainty.
We are going to definitely cherish the moments we’ve had with Joe. For
me, personally, it’s been a real good growing and learning experience
to be able to watch Joe from a coaches’ perspective. He retired once
before on me. I was a player. And at that time it produced some
uncertainty and some nerves but this time there was a sense of peace.
And I think that’s mainly coming from him and a lot of the things
we’ve had a chance to learn from him."
On his schedule now:
"I have to focus on what I have to do. I have to write
my reports about the year. As a matter of fact I am going to give
suggestions about what I think needs to be done from a player
perspective but also from a coaching perspective. There are some
things we could definitely do to help with this situation. I think
it’s not going to be a difficult process keeping this thing going,
whomever it is. I know some of the things that I would institute, some
of the things that I feel are missing for us to continue on and go to
the next level."
On how important he feels keeping consistency and
hiring in-house would be:
"It’s always if you can do that. I’m reading a book –
"Good To Great" – it talks about some of the things those companies
did and one of the things they did do was hire from inside because a
person that is inside already knows the good things that the team, or
the company, has but also knows some of the things they could do from
a need-to process because they know. They already know the issues, the
people: what people are in the right positions, who are the people
that are the right people on the bus. So, I think having someone from
inside is something that could help with that process and could help
the continuity."
On if he thinks continuity is more important because
of the late season run the team had:
"I think it’s important in general. I think the guys
were unanimous about what they thought was needed. They spoke about
Gregg (Williams, Asst. Head Coach-Defense) but also there are some
other people on the staff that have some good ideas about what needs
to be done, who are probably qualified as well. But Gregg has a lot of
support from a lot of players and a lot of people on the coaching
staff as well. Gregg is one of those guys who has a real good
understanding of the team. Whatever Dan (Snyder) decides will be for
the best and Dan has said he wants to keep continuity. And Gregg is
one of those guys who definitely has an understanding about what’s
needed to be a coach."
On Clinton Portis (RB, #26) this season:
"Clinton was third overall in total yards and finished
the season really, really strong. He started off a little bit slow but
the way he came on is what we needed as far as the team was concerned.
He was third or fourth in the League over the last four weeks and that
right there is the type of effort that we needed to make the run. I’m
really, really proud of Clinton and the overall leadership he showed
especially after Sean (Taylor) passed. He really stepped up and was
really, really accountable."
Bill Lazor (Quarterbacks Coach)
On if he has spoken to Jason Campbell (QB #17):
"Jason came in this morning. He has been doing his
rehab, so he has been working a lot downstairs. He stopped in to talk
a little bit. It is probably difficult for guys like him just like it
is for the coaches."
On if Jason is concerned about his future just like
everyone else is:
"You would have to talk to Jason about that. Every guy
on the roster is probably concerned. I went through this one time in
Atlanta when the head coach was gone. I think everyone gets some
concern because really in the end the head coach is a real reason
everyone is in the room; coaches, players and a lot of people in the
organization. With Jason I tried really hard - especially at the end
when he got injured - I tried really hard with him to talk about and
deal with the long term. I think that is important for Jason. I think
it is important for this franchise, for him being here and for him to
always keep that perspective. Certainly he wanted to play in every
game. It was probably tough for him the night before the Seattle game
and on the sideline of that game, seeing all that excitement and
wanting to play. I think everyone involved hopes that Jason has a lot
of opportunities to do that."
On how much Jason can benefit from watching film of
Todd Collins (QB, #15) operating the same system:
"I think as unfortunate as it is at the time when you
are not playing, if you can take a real mature stance about it and
once you catch your breath and the pain of the injury subsides, most
guys can really learn a lot from that kind of situation. I’m sure he
wanted to go on. We talked about it a lot and he did a great job of
continuing to work mentally in the meetings and when he was able to on
the field. From the first day that Todd has been here it has been a
real big help for Jason."
On if Jason has pointed out anything to him already
after watching Todd play at the end of the season:
‘We talked about some specifics. I won’t go into the
specific things but day-to-day as we talked Jason was still very
involved in the meetings as far as asking questions and answering
questions. There is no doubt that he continued to stay real involved
mentally. I think time will tell how much he takes from it. I think
Jason did a real good job keeping perspective on the big picture. I
think he will continue to be great and get even better as he goes
forward."
On how important it would be for Jason to stay in the
same system:
"He talked about that this morning. He said he has
been in a whole bunch of systems in what seems to be a short number of
years. That is not up to me and it is not up to him. It is up to other
people and they will make the right decisions."
On his uncertainty about a new coach coming in:
"It will have a big impact on him (Jason), me and
everyone here. That is how this business goes. Probably all of us have
been through it before. No one really enjoys it at the time.
Hopefully, just like in past changes that have occurred, I have been
able to look back and say the right thing happened for whatever
reason."
On if he noticed any indicators that Coach Gibbs might
retire:
"Everyone that knew his family situation knew that it
was probably difficult at times for Coach Gibbs. I think everyone
respects what he has had to go through. I know I have personally
enjoyed the four years I have been with him, the four great seasons. I
have had a chance to learn a lot of great things as a person as well
as a coach. I will cherish a lot of the memories. Hopefully I was able
to give him back some good service for all the things he gave me."
On his thoughts about the speculation that either
Gregg Williams (Assistant Head Coach – Defense) or Al Saunders
(Associate Head Coach – Offense) could possibly become head coach:
"I have been around a lot of places and speculation
and usually unless the persons that are making the decision have
anything to do with that talk, it is just kind of wasting time. I will
let those people make those decisions and I will deal with it as it
comes."
"I think they both would do a great job. I respected
all of the coaches that have been in the building. Certainly their
names are getting thrown around a lot here probably because of their
past head coaching experience. I am not going to add to any
speculation. I am just interested to see it get over with soon."
On what he is working on right now:
"As far as the specifics, that is what I am taking a
lot of my time doing is going back through the film. Sometimes it is
easier after the fact to go back and watch all of the film with a
different eye than you do when you are preparing for a game. We will
look at every play that he (Jason) played just like we did last year.
We will go through every mechanic and every technique. There will be a
whole long list of things and we will prioritize those and we will
have some fun chipping away at it. I think my opinion and as you watch
the video is a lot of things that we stressed were things that he took
real serious and took ownership in improving are things that showed up
on the video. I would expect that the goals that we work out with him
are the things that he will work real hard at. The kind of person he
is I think he will make great strides."