Coach Mike McCarthy Press Conference (August 4) — Pittsburgh Steelers

[0:00] Mike, Omar and Andy have drafted a lot of offensive line [0:04] but with high picks in the last couple of years. [0:06] What have been your first impressions of that group [0:09] and what's it like for you as a head coach to walk in [0:11] and know that that foundation has already kind of been laid for you? [0:15] Yeah, definitely. [0:15] A lot of value there, a lot of talent, very important. [0:21] I've always adhered to the statistics of how many starts, [0:27] consecutive starts that you have with your offensive line. [0:30] It equates to winning, has for decades in our league. [0:35] So trying to establish a starting five is something you're always going through [0:39] in training camp, but most importantly is the depth. [0:42] I know my recent experiences, we've played a lot of offensive linemen, [0:48] so that's why you hear me talk about position flexibility so much. [0:52] It's critical, particularly the 17-game season. [0:55] So I really like the group, but I think yesterday, [1:00] being the first day in pads is a real starting point of who we are [1:04] and who we want to be and we've got a lot of work to do. [1:06] Mike, when you talk about playing a lot of offensive linemen, [1:09] do you mean in case there's injuries or do you like to kind of move them [1:13] in and out at different points just to create, maybe to give a guy a rest [1:16] or something like that? [1:17] You're talking about, yeah. [1:17] Well, you had just said historically you've used a lot of offensive line. [1:24] Well, no, just my experience in Dallas, we had a lot of injuries to the offensive line. [1:28] That's what I was referring to. [1:29] But I think you asked me, someone asked me the first day about the position flex, [1:35] and you really see it in the drill work. [1:38] So we're trying to work different combinations of guards and tackles, [1:41] and it's more who they play next to and just the footwork because it's different. [1:45] When a player has to play to the left side and then move to the right side, [1:49] so particularly young players, if a guy has guard, tackle, flex, [1:53] going back to the player acquisition process and to draft, [1:57] that's why you look at tackles. [1:58] You want to draft tackles and have the ability to move them inside [2:00] because you like to be able to train these guys left side or right side, [2:05] left guard and left tackle or just to try to keep the footwork cohesive [2:10] because, you know, a lot of these conversations that we have as coaches [2:15] is the training, you know, and the training has to fit the scheme. [2:19] You know, everybody has a good scheme. [2:20] There's no such thing as a bad scheme, but does the training fit the scheme? [2:24] So when you did the two offensive lines, first left, first team, second team, [2:28] side by side, is that something you've always done [2:30] or do you do that because of your time frame? [2:31] Yeah, I'm trying to get as much reps on. [2:33] We're trying to get as much fundamental work on tape. [2:36] You know, we've invested the money and the extra cameras and so forth, [2:41] and we actually, you know, the one drill screwed up yesterday. [2:43] So I mean, those are some of the little things we need to do better [2:47] just from an operations standpoint. [2:49] Yeah, we're trying to get the speed of what we're going, [2:51] but we want the quality of it. [2:53] But definitely, we want these young guys to, you know, [2:55] not stand in line and get one rep in a one-on-one drill. [2:59] We'd like everybody to get five, six, seven reps in it. [3:01] So it's all about the video. [3:03] It's the most important video is of themselves. [3:06] So we're just trying to build those libraries, you know, [3:08] the teaching atmosphere and just trying to heighten that as best we can. [3:11] Michael Johnson said that he worked really hard on his pass protection [3:14] and pass receiving during the offseason. [3:17] Are you seeing evidence of that so far? [3:18] Do you still see a path for him for a place here? [3:21] Yeah, definitely. [3:22] I mean, it's so early. [3:23] I understand why we're asking the questions, [3:26] but, you know, we had a meeting, you know, going on these meetings. [3:29] We've had one padded practice, and, you know, [3:32] this is not really a time to do player evaluation. [3:35] I'm not picking on your question, but I'm happy with the energy. [3:39] I'm happy with the approach. [3:41] The overall practice was not where you liked it to have been, [3:46] but we looked like a team that was in pads for the first day [3:48] in a new environment as far as what they're being asked to do. [3:52] And so we need to take a big step forward. [3:54] You know, we need to practice, you know, it needs to be a lot cleaner today [3:58] because that obviously will give the quality, particularly in the team periods. [4:02] Our emphasis today is red zone, so you'll see a bunch of red zone reps today. [4:07] So that's our focus. [4:08] We're still on the last day of the limited time. [4:12] You know, we're 120 minutes today, [4:13] but we'll do much more work than we did yesterday. [4:16] Do you have anything on Cole Burgess after his injury yesterday? [4:20] Yeah, I think that, you know, there'll be some news here coming out. [4:23] Just in respect of the players and, you know, injuries, particularly in training camp. [4:27] But, you know, I'll let the players handle that. [4:30] Mike, what was it you think Rico Dowdle is such a good fit in your offense [4:35] and early on how he's fit with his new teammates? [4:38] Rico's a hell of a football player. [4:40] I mean, you know, when I view the running back position, you know, [4:44] the first question I ask when we're doing the evaluations, [4:47] can he play all four downs? [4:48] You know, Rico was a young player for me in Dallas. [4:51] You know, had injuries his first two years. [4:54] I mean, you could see the toughness, the instinct. [4:57] You know, I think the first time he touched the ball, [4:59] he took a kickoff about 60, 70 yards. [5:02] So, I mean, he's just a hell of a football player. [5:04] And then, you know, he worked his way up behind two veterans, you know, down there. [5:09] And then when he got his opportunity, you know, he's a 1,000-yard rusher. [5:13] He did the same thing in Carolina. [5:15] So, to be able to get Rico here and to pair him with Jalen, I mean, [5:19] it excites me because I know my personal preference as a play caller, [5:24] I don't want to have to worry what back's in there. [5:26] So, you know, if it's third down, I just – we run our stuff. [5:30] So, and both those guys give us that flexibility. [5:33] You know, they're both – you want to get – you want them to touch the ball, [5:37] especially in the first and second down. [5:39] They're good out of the backfield. [5:40] So, you know, we've really got a dynamic one-two punch, in my opinion. [5:45] Mike, when you talk about investing money in cameras [5:47] and all of this extra kind of tech, [5:49] have you considered or have you used GoPros with quarterbacks on their helmets [5:53] or consider using virtual reality as a part of your quarterback school? [5:58] Not right now. [5:59] But, yeah, I think those things have all – are part of it. [6:02] My experience has been, you know, endabbled in those things, you know, [6:08] for decades, frankly, when that stuff all first come out. [6:12] You know, what I've found is a lot of those tools are probably better [6:16] for their external work, you know, because when you're together, [6:20] the time that you do have when they're in the building, [6:22] it's so important for them to be, you know, connected to, you know, [6:26] as a group, you know, developing the whole quarterback room and so forth. [6:29] But, yeah, I'm a big fan of all those things. [6:31] I think there's some great technology out there. [6:33] It seems like Pat Graham likes to be aggressive with this guy's type of thing. [6:38] First off, that's what you want out of your team defensively [6:40] and then as an offensive guy, how does that stress an offense? [6:44] It's awesome. [6:45] This is incredible work for us offensively, and I know we're stressing them too. [6:48] This is what you want out of training camp. [6:51] You don't want to ever have to get to a point in training camp and say, [6:54] hey, can you give me, you know, this scheme or this formation [6:57] or this stress point. [6:59] The offense gives the defense that, and defense has definitely given us that. [7:02] You know, what I would refer to this as an install phase. [7:05] We call it recall just to, you know, play on words. [7:09] But, you know, especially for the rookies, you know, [7:12] they're getting a new game plan every single day. [7:14] So, you know, that part of it's good. [7:16] But the pressure work is incredible. [7:19] You can't have enough pressure work, [7:22] especially when you're getting pads as a football team. [7:25] Mike, Aaron was pretty outspoken yesterday on the Pat McAfee show [7:28] about a couple different things. [7:29] Just hear a comment on that or your perspective and thoughts on, you know, [7:34] guys sharing their opinions on different topics. [7:36] Yeah, definitely. [7:37] I think, you know, Bernard, you know, had the statement. [7:39] I think that really sums it up. [7:42] You know, these are grown men. [7:44] They all have different opinions. [7:46] There's no question about that. [7:48] But, you know, at the end of the day, my job is to keep it about football, [7:52] keep the focus on winning. [7:53] That's why we're here. [7:54] You know, we have a good locker room. [7:57] You know, we have a player council that's in place. [8:00] You know, we had our second meeting yesterday. [8:02] And so, you know, I think we're in a good spot. [8:04] Mike, when you talked to Pat yesterday, [8:05] he expressed the excitement to get ready to work on the red zone [8:08] because he said that he feels that, like, [8:10] there's been a growth in how they move down the field [8:13] and they just want to finish stronger in those two-minute drills. [8:15] Have you seen that growth that you like as far as getting up to the red zone? [8:18] And is that where you kind of want it to be for this stage of training camp? [8:22] Definitely. [8:22] I think the work in the spring is evident. [8:24] I think it's clearly evident. [8:26] You know, I can't – I'm not into comparables from last year. [8:29] I know this training regiment, you know. [8:32] Our players did the work. [8:33] You know, they hit the numbers that we needed to hit in the offseason program. [8:38] There's a few things we didn't accomplish, which, you know, [8:41] we did the first couple days there in helmets, you know, [8:44] with the end-of-the-game situations. [8:46] So, yeah, definitely. [8:47] No, we're definitely in the key spot. [8:49] And at the end of the day, you know, our guys know the scheme. [8:53] You know, they know the techniques. [8:54] But it's time to play them. [8:56] You know, the communication, the speed of it, you know, the alignment. [8:59] You know, that's why we talk so much about the pre-snap. [9:02] You know, when your pre-snap's clean, good things happen. [9:06] So we just got to keep stressing each other on the communication part of it. [9:09] But, yeah, definitely. [9:11] I feel good about where our defense is. [9:13] Two more. [9:14] I'm sure you've seen a lot of rookie receivers come in over the years [9:16] and try to learn Aaron's signals and everything he kind of wants [9:20] at the line of scrimmage. [9:21] How has Jeremy done with that thus far? [9:23] And how have you taken it up? [9:25] I mean, he's done a good job. [9:27] But, you know, he's got a new challenge today. [9:29] You know, there's going to be more things that go on down in the red area. [9:33] You know, so. [9:34] And that's a hard balance, not only just for him, for all the guys. [9:37] You know, because it's, you know, it's an at-the-line-of-scrimmage football game. [9:43] And it's been like that for a good 15 years, 20 years. [9:46] So the ability to play fast, play clean at the line of scrimmage, [9:50] stress the defense, you know, signals and all the things that you refer to. [9:54] You know, it's a process, you know, [9:56] and it's always harder for the younger players. [9:57] Mike, last one. [9:58] Eric Harmon was a big boost for the run defense when he was on the field. [10:02] They were one of the better teams at stopping the run. [10:03] When he was off, it kind of hurt them. [10:05] What has he shown you this early in training camp, [10:07] especially with yesterday's work, about where he is as a player [10:10] and how excited you are to see him? [10:13] Yeah, when I look at Derrick, you know, [10:15] and definitely in the evaluation process, [10:17] and, you know, they all look a little different when they put the pads on. [10:21] You know, and he's definitely one of those guys. [10:24] You know, he's an impactful player. [10:27] You know, and the same thing with KB Benton. [10:28] I thought both those guys, you know, their ability inside to twitch, [10:32] you know, some of the explosiveness getting off blocks, [10:36] I thought that showed up. [10:38] So I think both those young men are off to a good start. [10:40] All right. [10:41] Thank you. [10:42] Thanks.