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OC Kliff Kingsbury  | 'Brian's a tremendous short yardage runner'

10.03.24_KLIFF%20KINGSBURY%20PRESS%20CONFERENCE_mp4.mp4

Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury addressed the media before practice on Oct. 3. Here is a full transcript of the press conference.

On what he sees in Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson as a quarterback today:
"I haven't really watched him to be honest. We've been watching their defense, but when he was in Houston [Texans], I saw the talent. It's undeniable. Clemson. Was always a big fan, so I'm sure he'll get rolling at some point. It just happens sometimes. I know they have injuries and stuff, but I haven't studied their offense enough to really know kind of what's going on with him."

On QB Jayden Daniels receiving awards and accolades:
"Yeah, like I said all along, the consistency and approach is the most exciting thing I've seen from him, regardless of if we win. That first game, we didn't play as well and he showed up at the same time and worked just as hard as he has on the games that we've had success. So, that's who he is. He wants to be great. He's paying the price to be great and we're gonna have bumps in the road. He's gonna keep working hard and we'll see where it goes. But, the humility, the way he handles himself, the way he works. As an offensive coach, that means a lot to us as a staff, the way he shows up and tries to earn it every week."

On what he knew of RB Brian Robinson Jr. before getting here and what he has learned from him through the first four weeks:
"Yeah, it's funny how the universe works because he came to Arizona. I actually went to dinner with him and we really hit it off. He's got that infectious personality. He loves football, always smiling, always laughing. And I know he probably wanted us, I thought we were gonna go get him and I think he was kind of mad at me for a bit. But we've worked that out. But he is one of the most physical runners I've seen. I think the stuff he can do in the pass game is underrated and we gotta continue to find ways to get him touches."

On when he realized what Robinson Jr. could do in the pass game:
"Yeah, as soon as the first day of we were allowed on the grass, just watching the ease with which he catches ball, the route running. He's very talented, he's a skilled athlete. Just happens to be a big physical running back, but he can do it all."

On their success in short yardage situations:
"Refer to the previous question [laugh]. Brian Robinson. Yeah, I mean, O-line's coming off the football. They're playing tough physical football. [Offensive Line Coach] Bobby Johnson, [Run Game Coordinator and Running Backs Coach] A-Lynn [Anthony Lynn] have come up with some great schemes on the shorty yardage. And then I think Brian's a tremendous shorty yardage runner and then having a quarterback that has the threat to pull it at any time helps as well. You kinda add a hat in that scheme when he is a threat to do that and combination of those things is helping us stay on schedule."

*On what makes Daniels' deep ball so effective: *"He works at it. That's all I can say. I mean, he stays after and he practices those throws and he gets his receivers day in, day out. And he's got great command, have a great touch. And so I just think that's one of those things you're only gonna get good if you continue to practice it and work at it and get the timing with your guys, and he's been doing that."

On what about the offensive line has pleased him the most:
"I would say just the way they play together. I think we know they weren't the most hyped up to start the season, I should say. But they've really taken pride in their approach as a unit and their physical nature and finishing plays and toughness and their communication is awesome. We'll have plays, we don't get to maybe run full speed but only walk through, and that group takes pride in being able to go out there and execute at a high level still. And it's as good as I've been around in that regard as far as picking things up and sorting out problems on the field and in game."

On if he is surprised by how well they've done this early and how much are walkthroughs a help:
"Yeah, I just look at it [as] try to get better every day. So, I really have focus this year on the output and not the outcome. I think I got the other way in Arizona at times and it's you can do what you can do. You put in the work and you show up on Sunday and try to play your best. So, we'll try to get better every day, and that's been our focus. And in college, I just got to a point coaching at Texas Tech where the guys would lose interest. You kept them in the meetings too long. So, I like to break those up and get them on the field and in the meetings they'll nod, say 'Yeah, coach, I got it', and they don't really got it. But if you get them out on the grass and you talk them through it and you walk through, it tends to stick a little bit better."

On how the virtual reality tools has helped the quarterbacks on the field:
"Yeah, I'm all in on it. I mean, it's an unbelievable technology. I compare it to like a quarterback flight simulator. I mean, they don't go get trained in real planes. They do their fight simulators every year or however often they have to do it. And he has that thing on all the time. He can see our reads, our routes, he hears my voice in it. So, it's as real as you can be getting game reps and your mind doesn't know the difference. Your mind thinks you're doing it. So, it's been really impressive. I mean I made a huge component of it after being around him and watching how he utilizes it and just seeing how the game slow down because of it."

On if the technology is applicable to other spots beyond the quarterback:
"Yeah, definitely. There's the running backs with the blitz pickup up. There's linebackers, I think seeing back field sets and route combinations. So I think it'll continue to progress. It's a very unique technology, and it's definitely for the quarterbacks, I think more effective than them just watching the film. I mean, they're going through their reads, they're going through their progressions, they're seeing it. The first time I put it on, I backed into the wall because it felt like the rush was coming. So it's got some real life stuff to it."

On if skilled position players getting downfield to make blocks was a point of emphasis and his impression of that group:
"Yeah, it has. Appreciate you actually saying that because when we first got here, that was our whole mantra was we showed a bunch of clips of the [San Francisco] 49ers and [San Francisco WR Brandon] Aiyuk and [San Francisco RB Christian] McCaffery and all those guys and how they play without the football, and that's been our deal. People are gonna have their chance to make plays with the ball, but how you play with the football is gonna define our team success, not our individual success. And they bought in and we pointed it out and showed it. And that has been probably the coolest thing for me about being here is watching those guys play for each other, play without the football and try to make it about the team."

*On what he has seen from the Cleveland Browns' cornerbacks: *"Yeah, they're good players. [Cleveland Browns CB Denzel] Ward's one of the top guys in the league and he has been, and they ask him to play a lot of man coverage and those guys have held up and done a nice job. It's a really good defense, aggressive style like [Cleveland Browns Defensive Coordinator] Coach Schwartz has been throughout his career and it'll be a huge challenge."

On how starting with baseline concepts with Daniels has contributed to their early success:
"Yeah, I mean, I think you gotta try and make him feel as comfortable as possible early so he can go play at a high level. But he's picked it up quickly. I mean, we started there, but we put a lot on him. He continues to handle it and play at a high level and it's because of his preparation, the time he puts in. And like I said, we're gonna have bumps in the road and we're gonna have ups and downs, but he's putting in the work week in and week out. I went through that with [Arizona Cardinals QB] Kyler [Murray] when we first had him just saying, 'Hey, we're gonna get stuff in that he's comfortable with and allow him to play fast and play at a high level'. So, I learned some lessons from that and then just try to be better this time around installing it with him."

On what receiving the game ball for the win against the Arizona Cardinals felt like:
"I mean, it was cool of [Head Coach] "DQ" [Dan Quinn] to do that. It was a bittersweet game just because you see those guys before and after, the [Arizona Cardinals S] Budda Baker, [Arizona Cardinals RB] James Conner, Kyler, guys who laid it on the line for you for four years. I mean, there's a lot of history there. So to see those guys and talk to them before and after the game makes it a little tough because as a coach, they sold out for you, they laid it on the line for you. But, it was a cool moment just that DQ thought of me and that the team cheered and was into it."

On the process to improve the offense each work:
"Yeah, I think as you go, you figure out what you're good at and what you should do more of and less of. And then week in, week out, we have a great offensive staff that comes up with great thoughts. I mean, it's a collaborative effort even on game day, I'm asking, 'Hey, what do y'all think about this?' And they had play ideas and thoughts. So, I think more than anything we're just trying to maximize our personnel and get better every day. That's been DQ's deal is we're gonna show up, we're gonna work hard, win, lose, or draw. We're gonna show up the next day and do it again. And I think these guys have bought into that."

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