Q&A with HERM EDWARDS - 8/11

Aug 11, 2008, 6:32:04 PM

Highlights

Q: Now that you’re down to one practice a day for three straight days how is it going?

HERM EDWARDS: “I anticipated that. Most teams, I think, are doing that because of 80 players. I did not know this team when I got here because there were so many young guys. We were in the rebuilding mode. We had to go two-a-days early and that was understood. After that, it dawned on me that these guys were going to be physical. So, what you have to do is get time in the classroom to teach.

“I think sometimes when you say one-a-days it’s like they’re sitting on golf carts and playing golf. They’re not. We met all this morning, had lunch, and then went to practice. The meeting time is invaluable for young guys. I don’t think you ever get enough of that time. I think the veterans get a little tired of it if it’s the same system. But it’s not the same system – it’s a new offensive system - and I think everybody and then it’s important that they go on the field and transfer what we’ve learned in the classroom.”

Q: By this time in camp you usually have a pretty long list of guys who are seeing the doctors. Is this about one of the shortest lists you can ever remember in this time period?

EDWARDS: “Yeah, it is and I think the way we’ve done it has helped us. I’ve been very careful of that and trying to practice a certain way to get the physical-ness in practice that you need and then give them a rest. I think the players appreciate that. They get wore out if you hit them all the time. So, you have to do things where it’s not hitting, it’s just mental or how fast that you practice. We’re always constantly teaching fundamentals and techniques. But today was a physical day and they knew it and tomorrow will be another physical day and then Wednesday will be, too. We’ll tune it down after that.”

Q: Does it make more sense to go one hard practice as opposed to two practices that aren’t so hard?

EDWARDS: “Yeah, with so many young guys we’re in the classroom in the morning and that’s the key: classroom work. But you’re right, then you come out and have a two hour practice and it’s what we’re going to do tomorrow.”

Q: How long is Donnie Edwards going to be out?

EDWARDS: “I would say he’s out this week. By next week I think he’ll start to come around.”

Q: Do you expect Dorsey to play at all on Saturday?

EDWARDS: “We’ll see. I’m always cautious. He needs to practice and I don’t want to put him in harm’s way if he’s not 100%. It was good to see him out here today. Tomorrow we’ll give him a little more.”

Q: What have you seen out of Devard Darling so far? Does he look to be a good compliment to Dwayne Bowe?

EDWARDS: “This last game we didn’t get any throws to him but he’s done well in practice. We’ve got to get him the ball in the game. He’s picking up the offense and he’s a good special teams player too.”

Q: When you did see Glenn in actual team stuff what did you think?

EDWARDS: “He was okay. He’s a big physical man. That’s one thing he can do. He plays on the other side of the line of scrimmage. Those young guys who play inside the tackle have to come up with pass rushing skills. That’s the hardest thing for those guys. He understands blocking. He understands the running game. He’s very powerful. It’s going to take time but eventually he’s going to have to learn how to beat the guard one-on-one in pass rushing. That’s something he didn’t do a lot of in college. He was a two-gap guy. They didn’t put him on the edge, so it’s something new to him.”

Q: How’s the defense coming along?

EDWARDS: “There are still some things in the run game that we’ve got to get corrected: the gap responsibilities of the linebackers, then eight-men-in-the-box. We knew that and that’s a part of building. We’ve got some young linebackers who are playing a lot.”

Q: Who’s ahead: offense or defense?

EDWARDS: “The veteran guys and the guys who have been in training camp are ahead of the young guys. That’s what you see. It’s according to how many young guys are on the field at the same time and on one side of the ball. That’s where you see a lot of errors but we’re trying to correct them. We’ve got a long way to go and we know that.”

Q: How would you handicap the Cox vs. Mandarino situation?

EDWARDS: “I don’t handicap them; I just let them play. The thing that we have to do is give these guys the ability to get on the field and play and compete. After that it’s production.”

Q: What would Vermeil say if he heard you were only practicing once a day in training camp?

EDWARDS: “He taught us two and a half hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon. But you had 125 guys and it’s different today. You could do it then.

“When you think about back then: you have to practice that long if you’re going to be fair to everybody and let them practice. I think that gets a bit overblown. Now, as far as taking the pads off then, you didn’t do that until after the game or the practice. You always had your pads on.”

Q: What would he say about the 80 man limit?

EDWARDS: “Dick had to deal with it here but you had the World League so you had some exemptions. I learned a lot from Dick as a football coach, as a player and as a man.

“I’m not complaining. That’s what the rules are and we all have to abide by them. It’s okay. We all knew it was coming and it’s fine.”