Q&A with HERM EDWARDS - 8/9
Aug 10, 2007, 12:14:58 PM
HERM EDWARDS: “I thought we had a good practice last night and today was more situation [offense and defense] and really trying to rest the guys. We’ve got to prep hard after [Cleveland] because we get back Saturday night late; they’re off Sunday and then we leave Wednesday [close camp]. I’m going to have to change the schedule Monday and Tuesday ‘cause we have to travel twice to Cleveland and Kansas City.
“Now, we’ll find out how we’re going to play.”
Q: What are you looking for from Brodie [Croyle] on Saturday?
EDWARDS: “His ability when he’s in there to move the team, to make some throws on third down and score some points.”
Q: Does this begin your evaluation, your true evaluation of whether Brodie can be your starting QB or not?
EDWARDS: “Or Damon [Huard]. Yeah, in the fact that now we’re going to play. You have to surround them with a cast of players that they have the ability to be successful with. You can one-side anything you want in life if you like. What you’ve got to do with this is you’ve got to make sure they’re playing with the better receivers, the best offensive line we can put in front of them. If you don’t do that you hurt their ability to play well. So, we have to manage that first and then it’s up to them to go out.
Q: Huard’s going to play then?
EDWARDS: “Yeah, we’re going to try to get him a little bit.”
Q: All four of those [QB’s] will play then?
EDWARDS: “Ah, yeah, we anticipate that.”
Q: The change in format next week.
EDWARDS: “More conducive to how we practice in Kansas City [during the regular season].”
Q: You said you weren’t going off the [practice cards] but you did today?
EDWARDS: “Yeah, because [Cleveland] is the 3-4 [defense] and that’s not fair to the offense since they haven’t seen one. We had to at least line up.”
Q: Anyone you’re real interested in looking at this Saturday, how they’ll do in a live situation?
EDWARDS: “There’s a few, but I don’t want to name them because when you name them it’s like school. The kid that brings the apple is the teacher’s pet. I’m not going to name a player or two because that’s not fair. The rest of those guys will know. You’re not going to tell them, but I want them all to play good. I really do.”
Q: Alphonso Boone going to play?
EDWARDS: “No.”
Q: Think he’ll play against Miami?
EDWARDS: “Yes.”
Q: Is Boomer [Grigsby] injured?
EDWARDS; “He had a little [injury] on his rib, but we’ll decide before the game.”
Q: What kind of camp has Patrick Surtain had?
EDWARDS: “Had a good camp. Came in and got down on this weight and really has done some things we feel that he can do well. He’s working on his technique and that’s what the veteran player has to do. When you get a little older in your career you have to become a very good technician, especially at that position. The corner position is just one step away from a guy catching a touchdown on you.”
Q: How would you characterize his year last year?
EDWARDS: “I thought he played pretty good. We asked him to play nickel and he played in a system that he hadn’t played in a whole lot. You know, he was a man-to-man kind of guy. He played in a system that featured a lot of bump and run with help over the top at times. They did a lot of bracketing of receivers.
“One thing about Pat Surtain: he’s a pro and a coachable guy who wants to do the right thing. It’s good being around him. He shows the young guys what it takes to be a pro.”
Q: What about Jeff Webb?
EDWARDS: “Tight hamstring. He just didn’t do anything today.”
Q: Talk about the defense’s progression?
EDWARDS: “In practice they’ve done some good things. I addressed them today and what I expected from them. It’s hard because I expect a lot out of them. I’m putting a lot of pressure on them early and they know that. There’s a standard they have to meet if we’re going to be one of those defenses. It’s an every day thing, not a sometimes thing, not every other play. They’re coming but now we’ve got to play together.
“Any defense, any football team is all about trust because we don’t play with the ball. On defense everyone has a responsibility to make this thing work, whether the run or the pass game. It’s about trust and about guys understanding that all you have to do is your job – you don’t have to worry about what the right corner’s doing, the right corner doesn’t have to worry about what the three-technique guy’s doing. Just do your job and you have to trust the other guy to do his job. The more we play together the more they will understand that. If they don’t understand that they can’t play in this system.”
Q: Your goal is be good on both sides, right?
EDWARDS: “That was my mindset when I arrived here. I think we’ve closed the gap on how I want these guys to play. You’re only as good as the next guy by you. They’re starting to understand how I want things to be done.