DENVER BRONCOS QUOTES (10/11/17)
HEAD COACH VANCE JOSEPH
On the practice report
“[WR] Cody Latimer was ‘DNP’. [QB] Paxton Lynch was ‘DNP’. [RB] Jamaal Charles was ‘DNP’, vet day. [CB Aqib] Talib was ‘DNP’, vet day. [NT] Domata Peko [Sr.] was ‘DNP’ with a vet day.”
On his approach to the New York Giants’ injuries
“How do we approach that? We don’t. It’s really about our football team each week and that’s been explained to our football team. Our only goal each week is to play our best game that we can play. That doesn’t change who we’re playing, if they have issues or if they don’t have issues. It does not matter. It’s about our football team each week playing our very best football game we can play.”
On WR Isaiah McKenzie getting close to scoring and his opportunity to get more offensive reps
“He’s close as a punt returner. You watch what he did last week versus Oakland, he had a big return called back. He’s a young player so he’s still learning the entire offense. We’re putting in a couple of plays each week for him to suit his skill set. As we play more he will get more opportunities offensively, but especially with the punt return units.”
On McKenzie’s skill set
“He’s got a fun skill set, which is speed. He’s got speed and he can make guys miss one-on-one. It’s absolutely fun to gameplan for him. He’s a smart guy and he’s very engaged. He wants to do more for us. Yes, it’s been fun.”
On today’s practice
“We had our best Wednesday of the year today. Obviously it’s beautiful out and we had some snow on Monday. When you’re indoors, you’re on turf so that can affect the player’s mindset. Today, it was awesome today. It was a beautiful practice.”
On preparing for the Giants
“That’s a good question. We have to put ourselves in [New York Giants Head Coach] Ben McAdoo’s shoes. He has to use his resources. Their tight end, their two backs. [RB Shane] ‘34’ Vereen is a guy who can do multiple things in the run and pass game. We have to put ourselves in his shoes and kind of figure out what his plan’s going to be versus our defense. It’s going to change some, but the foundation of what they’ve done the last two months, that can’t change. What’s next for him? We have to get ahead of that and have an answer for it.”
On TE Evan Engram
“Speed and he can stop and start his guy. Great ball skills. What shows up is a guy who can create issues for you with a backer or a safety, if you’re not ready for that challenge. If you watched the game last weekend, the third or fourth quarter, he’s actually playing the ‘Z’ receiver. He looked very comfortable doing that. That’s one thing that we have to prepare for, him being a receiver for the time and not being a tight end.”
On the difference between today’s practice and previous ones
“I think the difference is that we’re off a bye so guys are feeling good. We’ve got very few injuries, knock on wood, thus far. It’s beautiful out, it’s nice weather—that helps. I think it’s just guys being fresh and being excited about playing a football game again. We’re in a good spot right now. We have to continue to do more and push our guys to continue to focus, push forward and get better every day.”
On if focus at practice will be a problem as the weeks go on
“No, that won’t be a challenge. That’s on the coaches. That’s on myself to keep pushing guys. How we practice, I think working Wednesday, working Thursday and having recovery Friday, that’s part of it. We’re doing that schedule to keep guys healthy and fresh all year.”
On the Giants suspending Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
“It does not matter. Our only concern is the Broncos. Who they’re playing with on game day does not matter to us. Concerned with the Broncos only.”
On the defense adjusting as the game goes on
“Game planning. It’s strictly game planning. If you give a team something different in the first couple of series and force them to adjust, that’s a problem for most offenses. If you give them the same thing they practice all week, that’s a problem for you. It’s really [Defensive Coordinator] Joe [Woods] and his staff’s game plans to throw out our curveballs the first couple series. Even in the second half, to save a curveball for the second half of the football game. Give them something different and make them readjust. That’s strictly game planning.”
On NT Domata Peko Sr.’s positive energy
“That’s huge when you have a veteran player that is so engaged every day, who loves coming to work and loves to practice. His personality, I mean he’s the same guy every day. He’s been that way since I’ve known Domata in ‘Cincy’. He’s a guy who loves playing football. He’s a great teammate, great locker room guy and he loves to play. That’s important for our players.”
On if he’s ever seen anything like the Giants losing four receivers to injuries on Sunday
“No, not I have not. Strange. Again, that’s their issue not mine.”
On giving veterans days off
“It’s important. We’re playing football, it’s a physical game so you’re going to have some injuries. What they (the Giants) went through on Sunday, you can’t prevent that. I think having a plan for the entire year helps to keep players healthy. It’s Jamaal Charles not working on Wednesday, Talib not working on Wednesday and Domata not working on Wednesday. It’s having recovery day on Friday. Long-term you have to plan early for that. You can’t at Week 10 say, ‘OK, let’s back Talib off.’ Because he won’t make it and Jamaal Charles won’t make it. I think having a plan and sticking with it through the good times and through adversity is important when you have a plan to keep guys healthy.”
On where he learned how to manage players off the field as he does
“Just over the years. Taking certain things from each guy you were with. [Senior Personnel Advisor Gary] Kubiak was great at that, with managing players, taking the pads off at certain times and having walk through Friday’s. [Cincinnati Bengals Head Coach] Marvin [Lewis] in my second year became really good at it—we had our best year that year with Marvin. The first year we were really beat up. The second year he pulled the pads off on Friday and had a recovery Friday. We won 11 games in the row and a healthy football team. It’s a combination of guys that I’ve been with.”
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