By Mazvita Maraire Posted on

What the Seahawks coordinators said in their weekly press conferences

The Seahawks’ 30-24 victory over the Tennessee Titans was a much-needed bounce-back win. The offense had zero turnovers. Jaxson Smith-Njigba set a franchise record for most receiving yards in a season. The defense tugged at times but rose to the occasion when needed. Here is what offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and defensive coordinator r Aden Durde had to say during their weekly press conferences.

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR KLINT KUBIAK

(On the ground game against the Titans)

“That’s something we stress with our guys, production and yards per play is really important. It’s not one thing, but our guys executed well, that’s when you have your opportunity to go out and execute. I thought our guys did a good job, they prepared the right way. There’s plenty of things that we would like back, to do better in that game. However, I see our run game in general getting better.”

(On whether they go into games with a target number of yards) “

No, we don’t. Obviously, there are markers you’re trying to hit around the League, but you’re just trying to get the most per play.”

(On how Cam Akers can help the team)

“We’re happy to have him. I just met him, saw him on the practice field. I have a lot of respect for what he’s done throughout his career. I think with us having an injury, it’s a great pickup and I’m excited to see what he can do for us. So, to be determined.”

(On the challenge Minnesota’s defense presents)

“It’s an aggressive scheme, an aggressive group of players. I have a lot of respect for the way that they go about their business. They attack the ball and cause a lot of negative plays, so it’ll be a challenge for us.”

(On what stuck out about Sam Darnold last season with Minnesota)

“What sticks out is his approach was just advanced. Obviously, really well coached there (Minnesota). You could tell he was very on the details, extremely mature. He knew he was taking over a franchise, and he acted accordingly. The last time I was with Sam (Darnold), obviously, he was in a different situation, but he knew that he was ready to take the opportunity and do everything he could to be successful.”

(On how Sam Darnold played against the Titans)

“That was a good game. The team won, and the offense did a good job. I think Sam (Darnold) made good decisions, moved the ball up and down the field with the offense. Every game, there’s decisions that you want to get back. He had a couple of those, so did I. But I thought he had a good game.”

(On Sam Darnold having very few rushes this season)

“I think Sam (Darnold) is as good an athlete as there is in the NFL. Obviously, he throws on the move as good as anybody, in my opinion. I think that’s just a testament to the ball coming out on time and him making really good decisions in the pocket, and us having the protection for him to do that.”

(On if he wishes Sam Darnold would have rushed for the first down on the play against the Titans)

“Yes and those are things we talk about. He’s an aggressive player looking to make the throw on the run, but there’s plenty of times where we’d like him to keep running. He might have ran that one in. Easy for me to say, with a clicker in my hand on Monday morning. He was the one with the hopes of the organization in his hand, making split decisions, and he’s making really good decisions, and I’m proud of the year that he’s had, and now’s the time of year that we have to be at our best, and he has to be at his best. He knows that, and that’s what we’re up against, excited to play this game this week.”

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR ADEN DURDE

On Byron Murphy II’s progress)

“I think it’s not just more reps, it’s more experience. As he gets into this, he’s getting more confident. He’s got some really good vets to watch and understand how you prepare for a week. The outcome of that I see is that he plays the game freer right now, and it allows him to showcase a lot more of his talents that he has, but he put himself in a box sometimes last year, but he was doing everything. Right now, he’s out of that, he’s playing a bit free, he’s enjoying football, and you can see it.”

(On keeping Byron Murphy II in on more pass rush downs)

“He’s earned the right to rush. He does a huge job to allow us to rush because the way he plays the run.”

(On why he had all the players who have recorded a half a sack this season raise their hand in a meeting)

“To show how important it is to understand how you have to do your job when you rush the passer. Mike (Macdonald) says it all the time that it’s like a ‘12 as one’ pass rush. Everyone is a rusher, and everyone is a dropper in this defense, and to do that, it comes with responsibility. You can’t go outside. Pass rushing is a little great because you follow lines, but you create space. You are attacking somebody, so you have to play off each other. That understanding of doing that down after down and doing it as a unit, that’s what we were talking about.”

(On when he had all the players raise their hand) “I think it was after the Arizona game at home.”

(On Byron Murphy II’s fourth down stop against the Titans)

“When we’re talking about confidence, if you watch he was moving on that play, and the intent that you move with, it allowed him to take off another blocker. The guy pulled and he hit his guy and then he created some penetration vertically and he took off another guy and then the guy came back down on him, and they just ran into him. You talk about those short yardage situations. For those guys, they have to play in a ‘take a shot’ mentality whilst doing their job because the line of scrimmage has to move backwards. They’re going to get the yardage they need to follow. When he’s moving with that intent and he’s moving and understanding what’s coming and he’s using all the information that’s given to him, he can execute it like that. That’s what the coolest thing is. His talent is through the roof now. If you add the professionalism and the intent behind everything, suddenly you start getting the player that we’re seeing.”

(On if he wants the players to take a “gamble” on those plays)

“No, it’s not about taking a gamble. CP (Chris Partridge) does a great job of getting these guys ready in short yardage and it’s understanding what your job is and the certain techniques on how you do things in those situations.”

(On if this is the widest distribution of sacks on the defense)

“No. That’s where I think working with Mike (Macdonald) is like I’m learning. I’ve come from a place where a high percentage of the sacks come from the front. They still do it here, but everyone is involved. Everyone is understanding. Over the last year, I’ve really changed some of the ways I think as well because it brings the whole defense along with it. And it was cool learning that from Mike.”

(On how rare it is to get everyone to buy into the team-wide philosophy)

“That comes from the top. That comes from the culture that Mike’s (Macdonald) creating here. I think you’re doing everything you can to win the game. If you can do those things and you see the outcome, then you get more buy-in and more understanding of why we do things and what you’re doing. When you get set up for success, it helps you, and the guys are doing that.”

(On how important it is to get the buy-in from the players during the offseason)

“When you get to that, I think Mike (Macdonald) does a great job of sharing his vision on a daily basis and understanding where we’re going. If you just be yourself every day, you’re the same person, you’re asking the same points and you’re pushing people the same way, I feel in this league and in the other football leagues that I’ve coached in, that people want to go in the same direction. They want to come together. When you add the connection and the things that are going on here, you’ve got a chance to all be driving in the same direction, and you feel those things here.”

(On Quandre Diggs’ return)

“Yeah, it was cool. That’s the first time we met. I spoke to him when we first got here and then obviously he went to Tennessee, but it was cool to meet him and kind of get him in the building. I’m excited for him.”

(On if Quandre Diggs will play on Sunday)

“I think he’s got to get into the system. He’s come from a similar system, but I think as he comes, what’s feasible for him is that his experience, his understanding of playing championship level defense, his understanding of things doing it the right way and working with the guys and integrating himself, that will all come.”

(On D’Anthony Bell’s performance last Sunday)

“He’d done a great job. You talk about those next men up and you’ve asked me about those things, but he came in, and I thought he tackled well. I thought he communicated on an elite level, and he was ready for that opportunity, and he’d done a great job.”

Discover more from Cascadiasports.net

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Leave a Reply