Opening Statement:
"Let's get started. Captains and all these guys started their football journey in Texas, so I think that was kind of cool. But, offense will be [G] Chris Paul thought, what a great story man, just staying with it. He's been impactful in the run game and just, you know, pumped to see him continue to develop and grow and playing right next to [T] Laremy [Tunsil] in the run game it's been big for us. On the defensive side it'll be [OLB] Von [Miller] and right out of DeSoto where there is a, man, it's a football town, and so pumped to have him in as a captain heading into Dallas now. Special teams would be [S] Tyler Owens, so another guy whose grown up in Plano East, and he's been relentless and one of our heavy hitters on special team. So those are the guys there. We're only going to rule one player out, give you the injury update. So, that'll be [WR] Terry [McLaurin]. And as far as everyone else, we'll kind of work through tomorrow to get there and then heading into the game. We hit a bunch this week on our complementary ball. The things that we're going to do to really be our best and most aggressive, right from the beginning. So those are a couple of topics and I'll get it rocking with you guys."
On what WR Deebo Samuel Sr. did in practice:
"Yeah, so he was able to get reps today and that was the plan to see where it'd ramp up and so it was nice to see him kind of get the full complement of stuff today."
On why McLaurin is still unable to play:
"It's frustrating for him because he's working at it hard and with an injury like this, this is a speed player and so on movements where you're jogging or not, you know, fully there, it's just not ready yet. And that sometimes happens when you have a soft tissue injury and you're wanting to get there, but you have to push it at the top speeds. And so sometimes, that's an acceleration. Sometimes it's deceleration, how hard you have to plant and turn. So, like I said, he's working at that hard. He is frustrated but we're closer and as we've been going week-to-week, it can be difficult on an injury that you have to test and push at high speed and you need volume at it, you need reps at it and it's good to see him running routes and doing that. But once we kind of got to that space, we're just not all the way there yet."
On if everyone except for McLaurin is good to go:
"Terry's the one I'm ruling out. That would be awesome. I would love that. We'll get there."
On if he expects G Sam Cosmi to play:
"He had a really good week, so both him and [CB] Jonathan Jones I thought really nailed the week, the preparation. So, we're going to meet together tonight, but he threw a great week, so I'm pumped."
On if McLaurin's injury recovery has lasted longer than expected:
"Yeah, and I think, you know, like the easy question was like, 'Why not IR?' Well two ways. Like, you don't want to go there if he's earlier and then like all of a sudden, after two or three, you're like, man, that's there. So, it's like that fine balance when you're right in the space. And so, I think that's, you know, they're not just as easy as, 'Hey, this is no matter what two weeks or four weeks.' When it's really a longer one that makes those decisions easier but for a player with his speed, that's the part, and he hasn't been injured a lot, thank goodness. And so, learning how to go where it is, what it feels like, but for a speed, like it's just different. You know, it's not playing guard or defensive tackle where those are things that you can work yourself through, but man at receiver and corner and those spots, like that's a lot harder and I'm glad to see the routes and the speed, but we also want [guys back] as long as we can too. So, as frustrating as it is for him, we're just not there yet, but we're pushing and I'm hopeful that it's sooner than later."
On the team's current identity:
"Yeah, it's almost like an incomplete grade in a way. And the reason I say that is what I had told the team on Monday is like a complementary ball. When we see it, we know what it looks like. Too many times where we have and it's been up and down and you can win a game, you know, where you're off here and there, but to be consistent with it, it has to be all the time. And I think that's where we've been like the inconsistent part of identity. Sometimes, man, that's it. I'm pointing it out and so that's what I'm working hard to make sure we get to that spot where it's all the way through and once we hit into that space then I want to see sustaining it. And so, I've seen it then this, seen it and this, and so that's my goal. It's incomplete right now because at six games in, we've had sometimes where that's exactly what we want, and then there's some others that doesn't look like it. And so, I just try to point it out and punch our way through it to make sure that like, that's what I believe in, you practice, you keep digging at it and you're finding it along the way. There's people that are starting to make their marks, which I like too because they're demonstrating more times, more spots to go do it and that only adds to it. But yeah, we've got to find it week after week after week."
On being consistent with complementary football:
"Yeah, there was one thing, I mean, I'd already have my hand on it. Not happy with where our turnover margin is, to be six games in and be in the minus. You've heard me talk a number of times, it takes both sides to make sure we're getting into the plus. So, that one is top of the pile for me, top of the pile, and you got to keep battling to go do that and demonstrate it over and over. Saw a step forward with LA with it and there's some others where we had chances to get it, but we didn't, but we've got to make sure there's great decisions with it as well. So, that's at the top of it. We'll be at our best also in tackling, breaking tackles. So, those are two margins that I look at a lot, the turnover margin and the tackling margin because I feel like on the field position, I'm pleased with the kickoff coverage, the kickoff return teams. I want to see us pedal downhill, meaning I like where we're at and continue to push that spot but those are two of the ones that are right at the top to me. Then the third one is the explosive play margin, where when you win those in the game, you win your tackling battle, you win the ball battle and you win the explosive plays, that's where we can hit our spots. So, those are three spots that I dig in hard with the team each and every week. And when we hit those consistently, the story kind of writes itself, but we have not hit those consistently and that's what we're aiming to do."
On what he's seen from the Dallas Cowboys on tape:
"Well, kind of in the different phases on the special team side with [Dallas Cowboys WR KaVontae] Turpen, I'm assuming being back we know full well what he can do as a returner, both on the punt return and the kick return side. So, he's got quickness, he can get out to the edge. Defensively, I've been impressed by the front, they're a hard charging group, playing a lot of guys to go. I'm familiar with a lot of them with [Dallas Cowboys LB] Dante [Fowler Jr.] and [Dallas Cowboys DE] Sam [Williams] and [Dallas Cowboys DT] Osa [Odighizuwa] and some others. So, I know the stylistic way that they play. And so, our front and theirs, that's what I'm looking at in the matchups, can our run game and the play pass be like we need it. And then offensively it feels like [Dallas Cowboys QB] Dak [Prescott] is just anticipating really well in terms of throwing and delivering the ball to the right spot. The receivers, the tight end, they're all in there. And then the running back, well, I didn't have a chance to work with, coached against him when he was at Denver with [Dallas Cowboys RB Javonte] Williams. I thought he was early on, that was a tough tackle, and I see that same play style and attitude from him. So, that's what I see from the group and then what's also fun about division games, the players know one another a little better too, although the play calling is different from them this year from offense and defense and special teams, but there's still a familiarity when you go against the division teams. And so, for us to get back in the division, man, it's cool."
On WR Robbie Chosen:
"The part for him that I've been impressed by is the ability to come and just learn it this quickly. Many early mornings you see him in with either [Wide Receivers Coach] Bobby [Engram] or Dre [Offensive Assistant Andre Coleman] or late at night. So, you can tell this is a hungry player to prove it. When he came for the workout, you could see an intensity about him when, 'I want this shot, I want this moment, I want this chance.' And I appreciate competitors like that because when you have something to prove, it's right there and you're not on a team and you want it badly. So, I felt that his hunger index is high and so I've been pleased with what I've seen from him at practice. And so, he's a guy that's making his move."
On the injuries so far this season:
"Yeah, when the adversity comes there's always a contingency plan of how you want to react and how you want to, not really react, as much as respond to what you need to do and to that spot. And I've got confidence where he is heading into the week, but there's also a plan and how do you adjust and how do you improvise into those spots. On the other side of those injuries are some good things that come when people are gaining experience and playing. It's difficult to go through and as guys are starting to make their way back, that's a good thing for us. But as far as it goes, contingency planning, we'll be prepared if that happens."
On WR Treylon Burks and on an injury update:
"So, we're excited he's here. He's somebody that from Adam's [General Manager Adam Peters] side and the scouting we're excited. The coaches were excited. So, he had a couple of trips that he went to visit and we just wanted to lay out, 'Hey man, this is what it would look like here and how we would feature you to go.' So, we're very excited. Today was my first – he came for a workout, but today was my first day spending a lot of time with him and we're very excited. And so, he'll go kind of the same process that Robbie went through a couple weeks ago, just the extra work to get there and learn it and that's what it's all about as this chapter and starting from here, we're really pumped that he's part of it."
On WR Jaylin Lane this season:
"Yeah, you're exactly right. And coming in, we knew from the return side, that was clear from the clips from Middle Tennessee and at [Virginia] Tech. Where I think I've seen the most growth from him is in the route running and the techniques there. And so, you've seen him apply the actual, whether it be drill work or the coaching techniques into it. We had a play yesterday, even in a two-minute, we're assimilating an end of the game play. And so, the details that went into that, the route, the catch, getting it clocked to go, he's really thriving and it's nice to see there's a lot of space for him to grow but we're really pleased with where he is at."
