 getting a buy the first chance that there is a buy is it one of those things that with the way your team is right now health wise that it's it's okay to have a buy this early yeah man I think you can always find an argument for the buy whenever it is and an argument against it I mean you could find a million different things of whenever it is and this is when it falls and certainly we'll use the time to do best to our advantage to try to get guys back healthy give some guys some rest that have played a lot of football for us and you know see if find ways to improve. Just getting that win before the buy is that I don't want to say minimize but that does that put some of the areas for improvement and better perspective for you? Well I think we're always going to be looking for for ways to improve or things that you know we can do to help our players help our team and you know win you know whether that's taking care of the football or you know protecting the quarterback tackling X plays a lot of you know everything that we potentially could work on you know we'll try to focus on and see if we can get it done you don't have a whole lot of time it's you know we pick up a practice on Wednesday and you know we'll pick one up on Monday coming back but you know I mean this isn't going to be a week that we're going to be able to scrimmage. All the injuries that you guys have had this year but last year and having to add parts here and mix people in and out how important has it been that Ryan has been able to constantly answer the bell and be under center every game? Well his toughness is certainly you know appreciative you know I appreciate it I know the football team appreciates it you know to be able to stand in there and you know get hit and try to you know work through his progression and you know take care of the football and all those different things I think that the more times that the quarterback gets hit in this league the more turns he had for air so we have to we have to work on that we have to improve that but it's been great that he's been able to to exhibit that kind of toughness you know and make plays to help us win. What helps you get to the bottom of the X plays that you've given up? I mean it just you know there's there's only a few things that you can look at is it you know a mental error or is it just a scheme beater or you know was it just a technique error or physical error where a guy you know somebody got beat or there you know the quarterback had had time or missed tackles you know so you know we do all that in a self-scout and and go from there. At this point it's a mix of there always it's always of a collective of all those things. You feel like Caleb is it physical at all you know in terms of the X plays and getting beat or is it more of a you know technique thing with him or just you know we have to clean up some of those things and not get not get beat and not give up you know plays over our head you know for for anybody involved and we'll keep working on it. You just talked about confidence being built by repeated success. You repeatedly have been able to win these games shorthanded. How much does that play into your team's you know confidence going in knowing you're missing this guy that guy. Well I think that they want you know they they fight and they compete and I love that about them. They're not afraid to play in a close game if it gets to that you know we would rather it not. We've said that numerous times but they they understand what the situation is what it requires you know whether that's offensively in a four minute drill or defensively to be able to execute in the end of the game and you know I think just the guys that are in there each week I give a lot of credit to the coaches to be able to you know get some guys ready that maybe haven't been with us for for a long amount of time you know then ultimately the credit goes to the players on the field that are doing it so well on third down defense yesterday and how big a key you think that was to it's a huge key to be able to affect the quarterback I thought we mixed some coverages I thought you know it was a good mixture of man and zone and when we brought some pressure or when we dropped out of there I thought that was a good mix and then guys were you know trying to do their job to either affect the quarterback or or be in the right spots in coverage you mentioned this this offseason what a priority red zone was I was trying to remember the figure that you used for how much the game is played there and also if you increased your emphasis on red zone this this offseason yeah probably 30% of the game is spent in the red zone or on third down and that's a large chunk of it we we have to be better offensively on third down that's about being in third and manageable and eliminating the third and long situations that that the number everybody's numbers aren't very good so you know right now our focus is going to be about you know staying on track on schedule offensively to create some of those you know third and three third and two third and five situations and then convert them and then just trying to find ways to get down to the red zone where we've been really good seeing rewards I guess from all that time that you focused on the red zone well I mean I think so I mean we've been you know pretty good I think guys understand where they're supposed to be and you know I think Ryan's done a good job of distributing the football we've run it in when we've had opportunities to as well the whole line look like a job both Jeff and tear and it caused a little confusion what was the basis of that and how unusual to drop the two biggest guys maybe in that situation well I'm just trying to pack the paint just trying to give them a different look and not not being the same thing probably what you know not what they were anticipating well they were close you know not as close as David but they were close no he's leading the league leading the team in pbu's though he extended his lead and and pass breakups I reminded everybody that again well he's got good good power good burst you know he's continuing to help us and impact the game and and play strong against the run and and try to get a push and you know had a you know got a big holding call the other day so you know I think he's a very improved player for us probably one of our most improved players and you know that's a testament obviously tear and and the defensive staff I thought that you know Dylan had some some good plays I thought you know going against a very good front interior rushers and active linebackers and thought that he went in there and played well enough for us to win just you can't say enough about his competitive spirit I mean he's not the biggest linebacker but he plays with relentless effort great instincts you know just love being around him every day you know just the type of person that he is and how hard he plays and how important it is to him you know this I know that this football team means a lot and you know he means a lot to us what's that oh yeah yeah I mean just you know he's just trying to you know he's an instinctive player you know he sees the ball and he goes and gets it and sometimes he's in the right place and sometimes he's not and we have to have to live with that but he plays very very aggressive and downhill on the runs and you know he is you know sometimes you know that's how I go sometimes you jump it and they throw it there and then the other time you know you jump it and they throw it back side like once did yesterday so they came back and he made the right play at the end um well I mean I would probably disagree in that statement we've tried to protect those guys and you know whether we're we're chipping for him or you know got a titan over there but again you can't you can't chip for everybody and we're trying to do the best that we can to protect the quarterback you know I thought that there was I thought he settled down I thought Dennis really settled down I don't think that any of us offensively started out very well and I think that we were able to you know get Derek going a little bit you know we were able to get into the drive you know made it made a great play on the screen came back and followed it up with down trell and unfortunately some of those runs that we hit you know they called us for a penalty for whatever reason I'm not sure what they saw but that's what they saw so it was good to see Dennis settled down but you know we'll have to be better collectively to help a quarterback not get hit as many times that he did I mean hopeful you know I'm in hopeful but we'll have to see we haven't been out in practice and you know we'd love to have them all back you know so when we get them back we get them back there are chances some of the guys who've been on IR since the start like bolder and a race you might might be closer to coming back there's a chance I don't know what percentage but they can come back but I just don't know if they will and I guess the guys that are that are banged up will stay here during the by just continue rehab and and try to get themselves ready that they're playing for the bar yeah that's their plan as they they have a responsibility to football team that when they can't perform and do their job that they they stay here and get treatment I don't think they're gonna have much of a vacation outside of 460 great circle leaning on Josh a couple with a couple call-ups I know that would have been his last call you went with Fitz instead and didn't wind up targeting what was kind of the basis for that just to decide you know I mean we gave Josh a an opportunity a couple weeks ago give it as one and and we'll see where it goes after this bye week okay I mean you know again those did okay just making sure that everybody's on the same page and doing a job and you know but I thought that there we had some good plays and a couple plays I thought he could have made and I'm sure he thought so as well well I thought that yesterday we expect more you know we really do I think that some guys are covering you know really well you know we get three tackles from from a tight end you know I think he can kick it better I thought our kick off coverage I did what we asked him to do which was go down there with some speed and you know they were excited about covering kicks but you know Stoney has had it you know up to this point of some some really really great kicks and I don't think yesterday was his best day admittedly he'll tell you the same thing so we just got to get some more hang time on him and give him guys opportunity to go down there make place I think it's third and goal the delay game did you have an opportunity to call time out there I just thought Ryan was snapping the ball I went around turned around till docked like hey we're gonna go for three you know we'll kick a field goal and then you know Ryan didn't like what he saw and you know we'll just you know have to make sure we adjust and and make sure that we're all on the same page that Ryan doesn't think I'm calling a time out when I'm talking to to the special teams coordinator about the plan well I think it always is I mean I think we're always trying to conscious of what we're we're doing well and how we can continue to do it well but also you know who who can continue to help us you know who should play more who's earned a right to play more you know maybe who should play less so those are decisions that we have to make we've had a couple of these usually quick turnaround games with division opponents you know I'm sure they'll have you know they may have some personnel things that have changed we'll have some things that'll change but you know the core of who they are you know won't change and and how they want to be physical and I'm sure some plays they'll come up with both games that were the same and we'll just have to see what it looks like when we get into the game and not be able to predict hey this is how it's gonna go they could do some things differently and we may have some things that are different as well you've kind of been very complimentary of Hassan and his ability as a blocker and pass pro he only had two snaps but is that something that could potentially be something that you look for going forward is getting him more involved as a way of protecting some of those guys and improving protection yeah they could yeah I mean he was close to a punt you know I think we're close to a couple punts you know Sam came through there on the first one Lonnie came through I thought that was a good plan you know they have a good punter and you know our ability to pressure him probably forced him into some of his not best punts and you know we just had a few you know hit the ground which you know you'd like to make sure that we're going up there and catching all our punts So we've got to say just you're in the locker and that's good to win obviously but there's still way more for this team to do a lot of is it encouraging that you can win three in a row knowing that your best football is still definitely out in front of us? I hope it's still in front of us I do I'm confident that it is you know it's just you know it's hard they bust a run and it could call back for you know a block in the back or whatever they you know they call you know or Derek's close to squirting through on a run and gets tripped up there by the corner which you know still a great run but you know we've seen him you know break through there and really make some magic happen and defensively it's like just continue to do what we're doing but limit some of the X plays if we can do that a lot of three and outs doing a great job of stopping the run you know lately I mean we obviously had the the opening week you know mistakes in the run game but other than that I think we've really played the run pretty aggressive and pretty physical and pretty sound so special teams looks like it's it's trending in the right direction didn't get an opportunity to have any kickoff returns or any real punt returns but I thought our coverage units were we're good and they're working off each other so there's a lot of things to improve you and your staff this team survived so many injuries is there a danger of thinking what we did it last year we'll be able to keep doing that this year or is it just keep your head down and keep working yeah I don't think we ever think like just because we did something last year last week that you know we're just gonna roll it out there and be able to survive that's that's never been our attitude here every week is a huge challenge in this league games are close always very competitive so very thin margin for air of winning and you know we'll try to do everything that we can each and every week to to be prepared and then adjust to the way things are going Kevin Byrd has said that you know through the tough times there's never any finger point or anything like that how proud are you of that locker room to where you don't have that situation unlike some other team well I try not to focus on you know what other teams are doing I focus on really what we're doing but I am extremely proud to always coach these guys and you know if we're gonna share in the success you know we're gonna have to share and and maybe the the times that aren't so good you know to help everybody through and you know that that starts with me that makes sure that you know we're all accountable for what we're doing and that we're getting them the information that they need and to survive and you know really just that's the that's the culture that we talked about is making sure that you know no matter what comes up it doesn't waver your belief doesn't waver and the things that you know are important don't waver you've seen from Ben Benow to play week in and week out I'm sure has helped him get the groove is he progressing as you thought he would yeah he is and you know every game I feel like he takes a step somewhere which is important and you know he's played a lot of football for us this year and we're counting on him to help us and continuing to trust him and he's doing some really good things yeah find a way to to be and continue to find ways to be impactful in all place you know sacks are great and we're always talk about sacks and it's a big stat in this league but you know it's the little things how can we be impactful in the run game how can we be impactful maybe a play going away you know those are the things I'm looking for how can we be impactful in fourth and one or maybe it's a run and not a pass so those are the things I'm harping to him and the things I'm excited to see yeah it's just it's about focusing on the process you know not looking behind you not looking in front and just focus on what the task at hand is and the task right now for him is just to get healthy and so dominating that day by day and making sure he progresses and he's doing everything he can to get back and he is he is when he comes back he'll be ready to go yeah I'm pleased with the way he's progressing and just like I was talking to he just needs to now continue to focus on the little things and the ways he can help every play we ask him to do whether set the edge impact the play that's maybe a not a pass you know we talk about Saxon this league it's a big it's a big stat a big number that people talk about but it's the other things I want to see him focus on and continue to improve with yeah it like the biggest thing about past rushes they work together so when you have guys that are disruptive like those guys that opens it up for the edges when you guys when you have guys that are disrupted on the edges it helps the guys inside so it is a it's a commonality of everyone working together and kind of being in the same page and then rushing together knowing who you're next to you and knowing who's across from you and those guys have gelled really well at home being a husband you know it's life with there's always something that we can improve as human beings on and when we come to athletics and sports it's it's it's really fun coaching a person who again has had as it has much individual success as he's had throughout his life to find little things that he can find and we can talk about it and figure out ways to work or and I even like it very brave cause a professional initiative sometimes I got in my mind what I want to work on and he'll come up and I want to work on this today and you know I don't have all the answers as a coach is you know my job is to figure out what's going to make them better and if they certainly find something that they think they can improve on well he's the one out there so why not listen to him at times and do what he needs to do to make him feel confident in what he's doing how great has it been to see Don Trell Hillier just get involved in this offense you know just the way that he can be shifty and quick and and also you know involved in that pass-catch game it's awesome you know a year ago at this time Don Trell was at home hoping and wishing that someone would give him an opportunity and you know credit to John and Braves and their staff of finding him and then he's just done a great job of coming in doing whatever we've asked of him and he's kind of carved out a role for himself and he's taken full advantage of each opportunity he gets and it's what is really unique is to see how he and this group of all kind of come together and they pull for each other because again a year ago at this time I mean he spent one year or excuse me one week in a room with Derek we signed him last year the week of the Colts game the second Colts game in October and Derek was there and then all of a sudden Derek was gone and it's a whole new group of guys so he's done a great job of just this group of coming together and pulling for each other and wanting the best for each other so he's been a pleasant guy to have in a room he's awesome person you know like I talked about Derek Don Trell's an awesome guy they help each other and it's been fun watching them jail it was it was a heck of a play you know I mean there's a lot of things involved with that play in terms of being to see it being able to have the body control and then be able to get your hands in the right place to make the play there's a lot of good things that showed up in that one particular play. Nick and Robert had about 80 to 90 percent of the snaps yesterday is that was that by design going in or is that just kind of how things worked? No we try and spread the wealth if you will but not in this particular game we just kind of how I played out with some of the personnel groupings and all those other things. I came in here a kind of late though but just talking about NWI and just that play. Is that what he is now? NWI? It's easier for us now it's the last day. How fun is that for you as a coach to see a play like that and pretty hard when how he had to turn around too? I think for me it was just how pivotal was pivotal was in that point in the game. He's been a guy that's been consistent for us all year long and to see him be able to come up with the plays is good because you know he's a guy who puts him work in. We're competing we're battling that's the one thing we stress with the defense no matter what happens we keep fighting and just keep playing and guys play the next play but the one thing we just got to clean up is the you know explosive plays in the deep ball getting thrown over my head. I know Caleb hadn't played a whole lot in football and sometimes shows and other things he does that I'm sure you like. How do you keep him on a steady path and how do you kind of think he's playing with these five in? We just got to keep working you know you come out here every day you come learn from your mistakes and come in practice and correct them and hopefully when we get in the game you know what happens in practice translates to the game and it's not just with him but with everybody you know it's just too many big plays being you can't live like that as a defense so we got to clean that up. Is that as part of the position as any to try to learn on the on the fly learning game against the world that's one of the mistakes that can be so significant? Well it's an important position on the field because we're the back line of the defense so we're giving up you know mistakes on us it's going to lead to an explosive play where you know if you're the front you got the linebackers to cover we can cover the linebackers but on us in the back end we miss a tackle whether it's a run or if the ball is being thrown you know with a last line of defense and that's that's part of you know playing DB in the NFL and we got to be you know we got to own that we got to be better at that because we got to keep the ball in front of us and make teams go the long hard way. Is there any lessons for him in particular that that are just I'm sure you've gone over some of the things at the same time or some of the things just not quite getting through or just what do you think? Well it's just we just got to continue to work and continue to better get better and stress what you know we're talking about in the meet rooms on the practice field about just keeping the ball in front of us playing what our technique and just understand what we need to get done and the main thing is not giving up the explosive plays and this is not just one person this is everybody in the back end that we just have to be better. I guess Mike reminded us today that Thierre, I guess he leaves the team and he be used, does he remind guys in the room of that? Oh trust me he does. He can't stop talking about it but he's really doing a good job of of doing what we what we preach and work on as far as getting in the throwing lanes and getting his hands up if you can't get a sack and he's also doing a good job of pressuring the quarterback so I mean he's playing really good right now. He does a lot of dirty work and sometimes he's going to get an over the last couple weeks and he's starting to get You know what I think he's having confidence I think coaches have confidence in him and his teammates have confidence in him so he's doing a lot of good things and again and you mentioned it the things that I'm most proud of for him don't show up in the stats of how he's taking up these doubles and and doing a good job of letting these linebackers run free to make tackle so I mean we've played really good in the run game the last few weeks and and he's a big part of it. You don't teach that that's just who he is and he's done that since he's been here he's done it for the last you know four years. How remarkable is it? How do you see him go out there you know like on the sideline and everything because one thing he said is there's undying belief in everyone. Have you seen him go out there and just really like fuel that belief that you guys are off and so. Yeah he's always at it you know he he he goes in each game the same way the same mindset he's routine based he prepares each week and make sure that the communications there throughout the week with his teammates and he goes out and performs it and you know I really appreciate his consistency. How remarkable is it that with all the injuries this team has had that he's been able to answer the bell and been able to make every start in the last three years. That's a credit to him you know he you know the way he takes care of himself. His diligence his routine same guy every day approach his competitive nature and his overall toughness and courage you know are things that are really cool traits that Ryan has those are innate traits that he has. Was there ever been a time when he got hit and you thought he wasn't going to get up? You know you don't want to ever get used to seeing your quarterback pick himself up. But you know he sends to get up thank goodness and it's been a lot of start to a lot of consistency there at that position as in regards to that so it's all been positive. How did you see him from Dylan as as guard as opposed to Takahashi made the transition? Well I just yeah I mean that's a good question I think he's um he's a big body and um and I think he's getting better at using his hands and staying in front of people in past pro which I think would less space inside as to his advantage. But he's a gamer I mean you know it doesn't matter who he's playing or when you tell him he's got to play he goes just like he did versus Niners last year. How much help were you giving Dennis yesterday with the quality people that were coming in? Yeah I mean it's you know it's it's so hard because there's so many things that go into that. I don't I think we in starting with Todd and obviously Vraves Todd Downing does does a better job than anywhere I've been and given our tackles help with chips and you know what we call chips and bangs and stuff like that. Then there's times where from you know it's impossible to do it every time. So do I think he was given help? Absolutely. I just don't think we did a good job protecting. But he was given opportunities to get help and just like we were right tackle and stuff like that and we just didn't quite do a good job yesterday. Did you see the snaps piled up from Nicholas Petit? How do you feel he's coming along as far as the progress that he made? Yeah I think yesterday he showed improvement at tackle and protection. I thought he used his hands better. I thought he was rerouting the rush better and that's something we really focused on last week and I thought that showed up. I was proud of him from that standpoint. You know with all rookies it still comes down to consistency and being a pro as we can all imagine. I've never obviously played it but just watching these guys and coaching on this plane at that really high level on a consistent basis and I think he takes strides every game. How about Dylee on the other side? Yeah he's done a nice job for us coming in with Taylor going down and yesterday was a tough day for him. I expect him to bounce back but he got off to a slow start and I think it's just kind of piled up on him a little bit. But he's got a big challenge. This will be a great time to have a bye week and figure out how to get back on track and continue to improve.