Alex Van Pelt Press Conference October 26, 2023
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:10 >> It seems like you really more than anyone understands kind of what DeTron is
00:21 going through when it comes to the shoulder and people questioning whether or
00:26 not he actually should be playing or not be playing.
00:28 Can you talk about how you really get it?
00:31 >> Yeah, I mean, it's a tough spot to be in.
00:34 I mean, like I said last week, he's a thrower.
00:36 And when you can't throw at 100%, then it's tough to go out and play.
00:41 It's not by lack of want, I can tell that.
00:44 I know he's frustrated.
00:46 I know he's trying to do everything he can to get back on the field with his
00:49 teammates.
00:49 And he showed that last week.
00:52 He came out and fought through, got back, had some practice time late in the week
00:57 and tried to be out there on Sunday.
01:00 I know he's frustrated.
01:01 It's just part of the deal.
01:02 I mean, when he's healthy, he'll be back.
01:04 And we just can't wait to get him healthy.
01:05 >> He said he thought he was ready and then he realized he was not ready.
01:10 What did you guys think?
01:11 Did you think he was ready and realize he wasn't ready?
01:13 >> We were hoping.
01:14 You see the practice on Friday, it was better than Thursday.
01:17 Two more days of rest, maybe it'll feel a lot better on Sunday.
01:21 And then he took the hit and the hit was really for us.
01:24 It was like, all right, let's put PJ in there and let him heal up a little more.
01:30 He didn't look like himself early.
01:32 He had a throw there that was probably a little short than he usually would throw.
01:37 So those are some of the things that went into that decision.
01:39 But Hatsaw, he tried to get back.
01:42 He did everything he could to be out there.
01:44 And then the hit happened and we just held him after that.
01:48 >> How do you guys gauge this?
01:48 Cuz he's gonna get hit again.
01:50 >> Sure. >> He's back out there.
01:51 >> Absolutely.
01:51 >> So, I mean, how do you know?
01:54 >> Every hit could be a big hit.
01:56 You don't know what's gonna happen.
01:58 It just so happened it happened to aggravate the shoulder again.
02:00 So again, I think when he feels like he can throw it 100%,
02:04 the hits will just be what they are at that point.
02:08 But- >> He's gonna be 100% this year.
02:10 >> Yeah, I mean, that's part of it.
02:12 But what's that percentage that gets him back out on the field where he feels like
02:15 he can compete?
02:15 That's the thing we're looking for and that's where he's trying to get to.
02:19 I've been in that situation.
02:20 I had an AC third degree in a preseason game in Denver.
02:25 I sat out most of the year and
02:26 I ended up starting three games at the end of that year.
02:29 And I was not 100%, and it's not a comfortable feeling as a thrower to go out
02:32 there and have to throw a 25 yard comeback.
02:34 And you know that you don't quite have that arm strength at that time to get it
02:37 there. So I can definitely say I've sat in his
02:39 shoes and it's not a comfortable feeling.
02:42 Again, when he's healthy, I can't wait to get him back out on the field.
02:46 >> No, on that, even by the first pass, it wasn't a big hit.
02:49 But did you know on just Julian Blackman's interception that he just did not have
02:54 the possibility?
02:54 >> That's what it looked like.
02:55 He was trying to juice it out there and it fell a little bit short.
02:58 So that's when we kind of, I don't know if he's quite ready to be out there.
03:03 And we want to give him every opportunity to, he's our leader.
03:05 But it just didn't happen on Sunday.
03:08 So get him back in there, get him healthy, get him in the rehab,
03:12 do his rehab process and go through that.
03:14 And again, can't wait to get a healthy Deshaun back out on the field.
03:18 >> So he wanted to go back out in the game.
03:20 How hard did he fight to get back out there?
03:23 >> Deshaun's a great teammate, great person.
03:26 He respects obviously the coach's opinion, I think, and kept, talked to him.
03:30 And I think at that point he actually had an idea of how he felt and
03:36 probably felt like that was the best decision for the team at that time.
03:38 But again, he tried everything he could to get out there last week and
03:42 got there, and then just didn't pan out.
03:47 >> Knowing that he's just starting this week for you guys,
03:49 how helpful is that in this process this week?
03:51 And again, just gaining his comfortability with this offense.
03:55 >> It's huge.
03:56 He took the reps last Wednesday, and then really split them up on Thursday and
04:01 then take them on Friday.
04:02 So having a full week of practice will only help.
04:05 Now this will be his third time going in,
04:07 third week of preparation where he's getting first team reps.
04:10 Yesterday's practice was really sharp.
04:11 I was really impressed with him and the offenses in general,
04:15 how we performed yesterday.
04:16 So that's an indication, we just keep getting better each week,
04:19 each practice, just keep training up.
04:22 >> I would say they did pick up Frank Clark, I'm not sure if you prepared for
04:26 that, but besides that, they have 11 different guys who have had sacks.
04:31 So they come from everywhere, obviously.
04:33 Is that a challenge mostly on the line to identify where it's coming from or
04:37 the quarterback?
04:38 >> It falls on everybody, really.
04:40 The receivers, not so much, but the protection backs,
04:43 the tight ends when they protect the quarterback.
04:46 They have good scheme, they have a very active front.
04:50 There's a lot of movement, their pressure packages are good.
04:53 So we have to be on top of our game.
04:55 That's one thing we talked about, playing out there is not easy.
04:59 So letting these guys, especially the guys that have not been out there,
05:02 give them kind of an idea of what's coming.
05:04 Until you actually hear that and the noise and
05:06 you can't hear a thing in the huddle, we really gotta focus on our preparation.
05:10 So when we go there, it's not really thinking about the play, it's reacting and
05:14 understanding, hey, I only heard one word, but I have to put it all together.
05:17 So just trying to get those guys ready to go out and operate on the road.
05:21 >> Alex, those first three quarters, actually both games,
05:26 PJ looked a little shaky, but then two game winning drives.
05:30 What is it about him and the clutch that makes him good?
05:34 >> Yeah, it's not perfect, and we know that.
05:36 We don't expect it all to be perfect, but he's a gamer.
05:40 He really does step up in the big times of the game.
05:43 Really two big throws in that two minute drive last week,
05:46 get a big throw in the week before.
05:48 So we're getting it done, I'd like to be cleaner earlier.
05:53 But when it comes down to it, I'm really proud of this offense.
05:57 I think it was a 12 play drive at the end, fourth and one.
06:01 Just the resiliency and the toughness and
06:03 the never die attitude of this team in general.
06:05 But really proud of that offensive group and PJ.
06:08 >> Deshaun obviously went through his normal pregame routine and everything.
06:12 After the pregame was over,
06:14 did you guys feel like you saw what you wanted to see out of him during that?
06:19 >> Felt like it was good enough to give him a chance to go out there and start.
06:22 Yeah.
06:23 >> PJ, Alex, your number one focus with him,
06:27 limiting the cutting back on those turnover worthy plays.
06:30 >> Absolutely, yeah, absolutely.
06:32 You just keep talking about making great decisions.
06:35 If we can go into Seattle and not give them the ball at all on our side of
06:39 the ball, it gives us a chance.
06:41 So just talking about how important it is, making great decisions.
06:47 The interception that he had in this game, it was just a throw that just
06:52 leaked too far back inside, it was a compliment.
06:54 A couple of things on the other side, but that was a chance there that just,
06:58 it wasn't a decision, the decision was correct to throw it.
07:01 It was just where the ball ended up landing on that long interception.
07:04 But he understands that, he's played a lot in this league.
07:08 He's played games, he's done one, two for us.
07:11 So he knows what to do.
07:13 We just gotta, we need to go out and play that perfect clean game where we have a
07:17 nice clean slate at the end of the day.
07:19 >> Alex, I wanna ask you about the rushing attack.
07:22 Obviously, the first couple weeks with Nick healthy, there were some big numbers.
07:26 But that room's obviously gotten a little bit thinner, and yet still effective,
07:30 efficient right now, number two in the AFC rushing ball.
07:33 What do you generally attribute your rushing success as a team to right now?
07:37 >> It's a team stat for all of us, that's receivers on the perimeter,
07:41 that's everybody up front, that's the runners.
07:43 We've always ran the ball well here.
07:46 I think Coach Callahan has great scheme, great technique in his teaching.
07:50 It's definitely a strength of ours.
07:53 And then the guys that step in, Kareem really ran hard.
07:56 The last two games, I was really proud of the way he's running the ball.
07:59 And then Pierre comes in, and he hits a couple big ones in that two minute drive.
08:04 Jerome, the same thing there.
08:06 So it's a little bit by committee right now, but that's fine.
08:09 We got three backs right now, we'll get Jerome back.
08:11 We'll have some guys up this week, but I think it's a little bit everything.
08:16 We run the ball well.
08:17 I think it's well coached here through scheme and technique, and our guys buy in.
08:22 >> Are there many guys you'd rather give the ball to on fourth and
08:24 one than Kareem Hunt?
08:26 >> Not in that situation, absolutely not.
08:27 That was a kind of situation where we knew that was gonna be a call on
08:32 the fourth down.
08:33 We were trying to score before that, but
08:35 we knew if all else failed we were gonna run one of our signature plays.
08:38 >> Is it tough sitting there just kind of like you know you can get it in if you're
08:41 on the ball, but kind of waiting and then holding on to that?
08:44 >> Yeah, I thought Kev did a great job.
08:46 They got the ball back with 15 seconds.
08:48 If we'd scored on first down on a pass play or
08:49 something would have happened there, we'd give them more time.
08:52 So we felt good about how we ended that drive with as less amount of time on
08:55 the clock as we could.
08:57 >> Where are you when Mario doesn't get a target for, I don't know if it's a whole
09:00 half, but it's a lot of that percent at least, and then it happens,
09:04 you say okay, let's make sure we try to get the ball.
09:07 >> Yeah, absolutely, not something that again, Kev does a great job of that
09:09 during the course of the game.
09:10 Who's touched the ball?
09:11 Who do we need to get touches to?
09:13 Who do we need to get going?
09:13 Sometimes Dave will be a guy who'll say, hey, let's see if we can get Dave going.
09:17 Let's see if we can get a Mario ball.
09:18 Those are our leaders.
09:19 So when those guys touch the ball, good things generally happen.
09:21 But it's definitely something that's on the back of coaches mind.
09:24 >> When you look at the, what challenges does Bobby have?
09:29 >> Yeah, man, guy's been around forever, just torturing me for years now.
09:32 Played a lot of in Seattle.
09:34 Really distinctive, really smart linebacker,
09:36 just understands exactly the fits and the blocking schemes.
09:39 And he's slippery inside the box.
09:41 He plays, that Mike linebacker spot, he's uncanny.
09:45 He knows what runs are coming.
09:47 I mean, he's a good guy in the pressure game as well,
09:49 they like to bring him a lot on pressure.
09:51 So just a solid veteran, that's tough to,
09:54 I see a lot of football in his day.
09:56 And it seems like the game slows down for him.
09:58 >> Beyond the way, three straight weeks,
10:00 opponents have not had 250 yards of offense against them.
10:04 They seem to be playing well cohesively.
10:06 What's unique about the way they defend that is challenging?
10:10 >> It's sort of that Seattle scheme a little bit, much like last week,
10:13 with Gus Bradley in Indianapolis, a lot of three deep zone.
10:16 Kind of a lot of vision defense do a great job of keeping all eyes on
10:20 the quarterback, and they squeeze and funnel everything from outside in.
10:24 I think getting Adams back helps him, gives him a big presence down in the box.
10:29 He's a physical player.
10:30 But that defense is playing at a high level and has been for last three weeks.
10:35 Big challenge for us to go out on the road and face these guys.
10:38 [BLANK_AUDIO]
10:40 All righty, thanks guys.
10:41 [BLANK_AUDIO]