Zac Taylor Press Conference - November 11

[0:21] were here the other day but not everybody okay we'll just take a day [0:32] today with him no I think right now he's on IR and we'll just see how the [0:40] recovery process rehab process goes as we get down the road here but that [0:44] timetable's to be determined no weeks still weeks for him yeah let's let's [0:49] clear through the IR window and it'll definitely go beyond that and then we'll [0:53] gather more information as the season goes we're close you know not today [0:59] specifically but very very shortly I think a couple of those guys will those [1:04] conversations we've had a couple of those guys we'll see where it's at Zach you [1:09] guys are preparing for your second straight up primetime game two of three [1:12] straight are you guys just been able to prepare for these big typesetting games [1:18] with Joe Burrow saying over the offseason if this is what we really want and you [1:22] guys have been playing like it off to your best start since 2015 and you know [1:25] just kind of preparing for the Steelers but you know second straight of three [1:28] straight up primetime yeah I guess I I don't really look at that way it's fun [1:33] for the opportunity I think it's fun for our fans I mean these primetime windows [1:36] our players do embrace it but it doesn't change anything as we go through the week [1:39] we still follow our same process we gotta do a great job it's a really good team [1:43] they're on a four game winning streak just like this so they have a lot of [1:46] confidence right now they're playing a high level they're relatively healthy as far as an [1:50] NFL season goes and so we've certainly got to work cut out for us and and we've [1:54] got to maintain that confidence that we've worked to establish and have a [1:57] great week and get ready to go Al said you were at the front end or maybe even a [2:02] pioneer of taking care of players and making sure that they're right what's [2:07] what's you know the key to that what might be anything to enable this week yeah yeah [2:14] it's a balancing act certainly to make sure you're getting the physical work [2:18] that you feel like you need to go play the game at the same time you do look at some [2:21] position groups and oftentimes I look at our o-line and d-line and there's a lot [2:26] of impact veteran players that we have that they need to understand the game [2:31] plan they need to go through the motions a little bit with some walkthroughs and [2:33] make sure they understand it that way but the physical reps aren't always as [2:36] critical once you get to this point in the year you kind of know who you are [2:39] you're obviously tweaking some scheme stuff but so we're trying to balance that [2:43] as best we can especially over the last week this week next week in terms of [2:48] schedule to make sure we get the right amount of work I stress a lot about it I [2:51] mean quite frankly nobody else needs to worry about it but making sure that [2:56] we're always getting the right amount of physical work but also on Sunday that [2:59] our guys are as healthy as possible and play with as fresh legs as possible [3:03] because we got really good players and you don't want to detract from that in any [3:07] way because of how we practice what's like the biggest stress what's just I mean [3:12] yeah I would love to have a hundred full-speed reps a week and that's just not [3:15] the reality of how you're gonna do it you know so that isn't beneficial for the [3:19] players I when I script I make certain the receivers are only getting the reps [3:25] they need I don't want to just waste them running down the field all day and [3:27] and then they're gassed on Sunday and so they may tell you that I still do that [3:31] sometimes but I do I do put a lot of effort we all do as we script to make sure we [3:36] take care of those guys and they get the reps that are essential given the [3:39] abbreviated schedule is it an advantage to play a team that you know so well team [3:43] you just played a month and a half ago yeah it probably probably different than [3:48] playing like an NFC team that we haven't played in a long time you know you at [3:51] least are able to get started a little quicker because you know the personnel [3:55] you're always gonna make sure you come through this the scheme of what they're [3:58] doing and you know they obviously have new coaches and it's on they've evolved [4:03] as the season goes they're getting comfortable some things that are maybe [4:06] different than what we did a couple weeks ago when we played them so you want to [4:09] make sure you stay fresh on that but in terms of personnel you feel like you got a pretty good [4:12] understanding who they have how do you feel your depth edges post deadline looking [4:17] forward down the home stretch here yeah I feel good you know obviously we tried [4:22] something yesterday and Duke was very explicit with me when he came and spoke [4:27] to me of how he wanted this portrayed and I'm not comfortable doing it but I'm [4:31] gonna do what he asked you know and we did make an effort to kind of put some [4:35] depth in there in place of Cassius as we got into it obviously was gonna be a [4:39] little more costly than we initially anticipated so he's really apologetic [4:43] about it and wants to make clear Philly was a great trade partner it was on our [4:47] end and that's just the way things go but certainly have a ton of confidence in [4:51] our front office and how they do things and they've given us the players that [4:54] have allowed us to be six and two right now and playing at such a high level so [4:58] we'll put that behind us and move forward and and just get excited for this game on [5:02] Sunday in our locker rooms in a great place right now no I didn't I didn't even ask the [5:07] question it doesn't really matter to me you know it probably took three minutes [5:09] of my day yesterday away from watching tape so got a lot of faith in how those [5:14] guys operate and we'll just move forward with it [5:16] you know one of the few teams that sir Pat the teams have the records you guys are [5:22] yeah why did that end up in the case over the course of the day I just I really [5:26] like where we're at I think Duke really likes where we're at and I think you can [5:30] talk to players in the locker room they really like we're at so this is a team [5:33] with a lot of confidence right now I know it's a fun period of time you know the [5:37] weeks leading up to the trade deadline for fans and able to generate a lot of [5:41] media attention off of it but the truth is we we do really like where we're at [5:45] our guys are playing with a high degree of confidence and we'll just continue to [5:48] move forward and got a huge one this week and and you know we're not gonna have [5:52] any distraction around that how important is it knowing that it's a fine line [5:56] between adding talent and not disrupting the chemistry you guys have developed [6:02] there is that fine line absolutely and but it's no different you know we're [6:06] always looking at the waiver wire every single week we're always looking for [6:08] practice squad additions subtraction so the trade deadline is obviously the [6:13] biggest thing that can impact your season but but we I think our guys always [6:17] do a great job of how can we always tweak the roster look at everybody who's [6:21] available to make sure that we're what our best going forward it's also a lot [6:25] different though if you're making a significant trade like a lot of other [6:28] teams did yesterday and you've got to move players currently on the roster to a [6:32] different role yeah we're in a great spot you know we were at this point in [6:35] the season where we're at their roster where we're at their health obviously [6:39] it's not perfect with the health but it's about as good as you can ask for [6:42] getting through week eight and so I'm just excited all that behind us we have a [6:47] tremendous opportunity Sunday here at home and our focus should be on that [6:51] right now our fans getting prepped during the week to make as much noise as [6:54] possible on Sunday night let's getting prepped to make sure we give them [6:57] something to really be loud about so we can do everything we can to even up the [7:01] series of Pittsburgh how do you prevent any negative effects of some of your [7:05] defensive end saw you guys straight for a defensive end yesterday and now they're [7:08] kind of back in the hole they were in yeah I would hope that everybody in [7:10] locker room wants us to be at our very best and trust that we're always doing [7:13] things to make sure we're as good as possible and we had open a roster spot so [7:17] it wasn't it wasn't going to be addition and subtraction it was just going to be [7:22] somebody that we've already put on IR so I think we're in really good shape [7:25] there how comfortable you're some of the other contenders in the AFC making very [7:30] notable Jacksonville I mean all those teams how do you react to seeing the AFC [7:35] loading up I think the beauty of it is I just worry about us and making sure [7:38] we're we're at our best on Sunday when we play Pittsburgh and the next team will [7:43] play after that are we as good as we can possibly be and put herself in a [7:46] position to beat another great team with great players that's every week and so [7:49] people add and subtract with injuries and additions in the trade we don't get [7:54] caught up in that for one second we're gonna go out there and be at our best [7:56] we want to be a team that people really worry about the players we have I think [8:00] we do have that team right now that when we step on the field it's a little bit [8:04] to take a deep breath and and let's see what these guys have in store for you so [8:07] if we focus on that I think we'll be in great shape throughout the year [8:10] yeah you know we talked back then there were some penalties that set us back as [8:29] well you know that that stalled out some drives for us and made things difficult [8:33] speaking of their defense their fronts tremendous you know and and so again [8:38] that's they prevent a lot of chat they present a lot of challenges for you and [8:42] if you do things like that to make it even easier for them and shame on you so I [8:45] think there was a couple things in that regard that hurt us I'm sure there's a [8:50] couple things that that had they lost the game they were they were [8:52] disappointed about how they did so both teams I think are focused on cleaning that [8:56] up and playing much better here in week nine back to the this the roster again [9:03] are you how comfortable are you with just three quarterbacks obviously Josh that's [9:09] been more the norm for us Josh had played so well I mean he is he's obviously a [9:16] roster caliber quarterback we just weren't in a position to do that so we were [9:20] very fortunate to have him on the practice squad it felt great about Sean [9:25] Clifford too so we felt like we absolutely have had the best quarterback [9:30] room in the NFL top to bottom I still feel that way very happy for Josh you know a [9:35] guy who's such a professional I'd never been around him before we're the same age [9:40] you know he he got drafted in Tampa you know a year after I'd gotten released [9:45] there so we're I mean that timeline matches up very closely but we're just [9:50] really impressed by him and and would have loved for him to be able to stay here but [9:53] I'm also really happy that he's getting opportunity to go to Arizona and we'll be [9:57] pulling for him is there a concern about a like a hangover effect with the week [10:02] that y'all had now kind of settling back in going up is there a kind of concern about [10:06] that as you start the week that's our job to make sure that's not the case you know [10:09] we looked long and hard at our schedule and how we're going to operate today and [10:13] tomorrow and made the decisions we made I feel good about them we'll see but I [10:18] trust that our players are going to get themselves ready to go for this week [10:21] and us as coaches getting ready to go as well what do you like about Newton that he's [10:24] kind of stepped up and up in your slot guy I think he's just been a great [10:27] addition over there on defense plays with a lot of fire it's really important to [10:31] him emotional player does his job does exactly how we want him to do it so I [10:35] think that he's he's been a good addition over there and helped us what do you see [10:38] as his biggest improvement since he's coming to the league I think with anybody [10:42] just he's got a lot of experience in our scheme now so he operates with a lot of [10:45] confidence when he's out there playing getting to his landmarks tackling the ball [10:49] carry that's moving field tackles that were really impressive and provides a [10:53] spark too you know he's a guy that plays with a lot of energy and so when he's [10:56] when he's playing well like that I think it sparks the team seems like primetime [11:01] games here have really earned a reputation league-wide for being special what [11:06] stands out to you particularly with a white bangle I do think that stuff that I [11:12] honestly never really cared much about because I'm so focused on the team [11:17] walking on the field and playing well but it's been spectacular I mean really [11:21] over the last six seven years and that's that's I know Elizabeth has played a huge [11:27] part of that and all the people under that umbrella I get a lot of comments from [11:33] visiting coaches after the game after the week you know I've never been here in [11:37] Cincinnati that was really impressive atmosphere our fans really show out for [11:40] it they embrace all the different colors we ask people to wear they embrace the [11:43] jerseys we wear so I it's it's a really awesome scene happy to be part of it I [11:50] don't focus too much on it when the games go so there's a lot of things that [11:52] happen that I'll notice but I do know that our players get really excited about it [11:56] generally play well when we have these primetime games and our fans perform very [12:00] well and give us give us a significant advantage [12:03] go back to go back a little bit what's the conversation like in terms of when they're [12:08] looking at potential players to add what's your input kind of been like as you go [12:12] through that process yeah I try to keep as minimal as possible because we're [12:15] always in a game week too and so I that's the beauty of our relationship [12:19] with those guys upstairs Duke and Steve and Trey and pots and all the other guys [12:23] that are up there of hey let me let me know where you need me and we'll watch [12:28] you guys if we need to obviously as you guys have learned I get annoyed [12:32] answering those questions leading up because I just want to focus on our team [12:36] as it is right now and I just have so much confidence in them operating the way [12:40] they do that I just get to do my job and so for the two minutes at a time you [12:46] know on a day like yesterday when I get pulled up to talk about somebody that's [12:48] it I get to go back and do my job and so I don't worry too much about it because [12:52] you just get so much confidence in how they operate [12:54] the continuity of this season are there ways beyond that that you have seen them [13:01] get even better this season in the way that they've done [13:04] in been in past um we've just been so fortunate with continuity and and I think [13:10] with every game that they play together and every every ref they take and every [13:15] look they get together they they talk about it and they approve on it and if [13:18] they don't get it right it really bothers them you know and it bothers them to [13:21] their core and it's going to carry over to their there's a night dinner and all [13:24] the stuff that they do together that's going to be a big topic of conversation so [13:27] anytime you got linemen that take pride in that um probably more so in the [13:33] the negatives that they've had than the positives that's that's a good thing for [13:36] the coach because they want to clean that stuff up and [13:37] obviously the way the amount of times we throw the football directly shows my [13:43] confidence I have in our offensive line because if we weren't if I didn't have [13:46] that confidence then we wouldn't do that we'd be looking at other ways to [13:49] manufacture yardage and points and we operate the way we do because I got a lot [13:53] of confidence in how they do it like you saw this but like Mike Tomlin said he said [13:58] first of all if you don't have a four-man rush you're running to the beach [14:01] trying to stop these guys is that how you look at it if a team can't get to you [14:06] with four they're toast it's our starting point is we're always judging the [14:13] front four that they have you know and Pittsburgh's always been there at the [14:20] top they've all that's always been the first thing that jumps out and that's [14:23] not to minimize the seven players beyond that six players because sometimes [14:26] they put five that that does not minimize that group it's just more of a the guys [14:32] up front do a tremendous job and they can get pressure for and that they'll [14:36] supplement in other ways as well but it's always really impressive and yeah [14:41] I've always I've always enjoyed watching teams from outside the division come in [14:46] here and dip their toe in here and and playing some of these fronts that we have [14:50] in the division and then learn some lessons and happen move on but you learn a [14:53] lot of lessons over the years playing Pittsburgh's front I mean it's taught me [14:56] a lot about how to how to scheme up some stuff and some protection stuff just [14:59] because of the problems they put down 2019 I learned a lot of lessons that I [15:03] never did again from 2019 game in Pittsburgh and so I think it's the first [15:09] time Tom has done a Steelers game since he left oh what was it like playing against [15:16] yeah you you're always gonna have a team that's prepared and ready to go you [15:20] knew especially in the Bengals Steelers divisional games they they did whether [15:27] they're having a great season or a mediocre season like you were gonna get [15:31] their best that was never gonna be an easy task and so you always took a lot of [15:35] pride and getting ready and I know it means a lot to our fans I understand how [15:39] much this game means for fans in the city and so you you don't take that for [15:43] granted either you're playing for a lot of people in these types of games and so [15:47] we're willing to put in the work and want to go there and win well I think [15:54] that's pretty clear you know it's through eight games we're in a position [15:58] where we don't need to be pulling against other teams right now we get to [16:01] pull for ourselves and we get to handle our business and take it one game at a [16:04] time and after this game the outcome will be what the outcome is but I just [16:09] think right now we're we're excited that we're in a position where you don't have [16:13] to cheer for other teams you get chances to control control what you can [16:16] control with a Marius what was unique about scouting and he was kind of unique [16:21] prospecting yeah 24 and what do you feel like you learn and wild card because he [16:27] was really talented and in whatever this the seven to nine games that he had [16:32] started and played in so you could see it on the tape it's just for a coach the [16:37] sample size is really small and nerve-wracking our scouts that absolute [16:42] conviction that he was going to be the player that he is I mean 100% conviction so [16:46] of course was I was I 100% comfortable taking a guy that hadn't started a 12 [16:52] game season I can't say that I was but you could see the talent and you could hope [16:58] that it was going to translate in something really special but our scouts [17:01] had absolute conviction that that was the right pick that he could be at the [17:05] level that he's playing at all pro type of player like those words were spoken [17:10] and those words are rarely spoken you know you're always kind of measured with how [17:14] you're approaching a young player and I know that they those guys that go into [17:18] Georgia and pots and Trey and Duke and all those guys they had this type of [17:22] conviction about him [17:25] at the end they bring us in a little bit I think that's just called swag [17:30] understanding it's a week-to-week league every defense is different Chase Brown had a close to [17:39] bronze and he wanted us better games can that carry over is it a reset every single no I think well [17:44] yeah it is a reset I mean this is one of the best rush defenses in the league right now and so [17:48] it doesn't always okay the scheme doesn't always carry over things that you're going to do against [17:54] Atlanta necessarily versus Pittsburgh and so you have to look at it that way to but but I do feel [17:59] like we've got some confidence with some we don't necessarily run the ball 30 times all the time [18:03] you know as much as I mean Pittsburgh ran it what 30 something against Cleveland for 200 [18:08] we haven't always leaned into that so there's not as much opportunity for Chase but I thought [18:13] he did a great job I thought that the line did a great job open up some of those holes for him [18:18] and he hit it with a ton of confidence and so I've got a lot of confidence to Chase now he's [18:23] playing right now and all the different things he does for us in all three phases of protection [18:26] past game and rushing coach Joe Flacco's done it all won it all talk about what he means to Joe Burrow [18:34] being on the sideline just having that intellectual capital to tap into yeah I'm not the best one to [18:40] ask about that I said Burrow would be able to answer that better I'm not over there as much during the [18:45] course of the game when I'm over there it's very specific to talk to Joe Burrow about some thoughts [18:49] that I have or I'm talking through the headset to Brad to articulate it so that's just kind of the [18:54] setup that we have so I'm not going to give a great answer Flacco's been tremendous in our building in [18:59] our locker room I'm very confident Burrow would tell you that you know some of the two cents that [19:03] he throws it in the quarterback room and all that but I think we're very fortunate to have him in the [19:08] room and I'm sure Burrow could give you a better answer than I could thank you Zach obviously the [19:13] offense has been phenomenal this year and the defense has made strides too especially in the second [19:17] half against the Falcons what are some things you're liking about the defense that you've been [19:21] seeing so far this season I think they've had some challenging opportunities I thought B. John [19:25] presented in the whole offense presented a lot of challenges just like this week you know I mean [19:29] this is a really well-rounded offense the quarterback the back a ton of the talent they have the skill [19:35] position their lines playing well they're rushing the ball well they can beat you in a lot of one [19:39] situations on the perimeter so I it's another task for our guys that that I'm excited to watch them [19:46] rise up to the opportunity and and play the way that we knew what they could play thank you