Michael Clay: Morning, morning, morning y'all. How are you doing?
Q. Let's talk about Cordarrelle Patterson. I think he's probably the most unique kickoff returner. A lot of times you just want to kick it out of the end zone. But he'll take it nine yards deep. How do you have to emphasize him as a kick returner?
Michael Clay: I mean, you always got to respect a guy with eight touchdowns like that. I mean, he's one of the greatest kick returners in my time.
He's big, fast, he hits it downhill. I mean, like you said, he lines up at nine yards, and when he hits it, he hits it.
But regardless of who's back there, we emphasize the same message. If they want to bring it out, we got to make sure we're doing a collective effort to tackle. If we get touchbacks, great.
But you never know. He can jump and catch it at 109. We got to make sure we're down there doing our fits and making sure it's a collective effort.
Q. (Question concerning J.J. Arcega-Whiteside.)
Michael Clay: J.J. did an unbelievable job. I mean, he's a big wide receiver. He has a big athletic ability and he has all the want-to, really, of embracing it.
Just like everyone else on the team, they kind of embraced the special teams role. My job, Tyler Brown, and Joe Pannunzio, it's just to keep it transparent with the guys, what we expect of the guys. And they could take it how they want.
But I think everybody has done a great job, especially J.J. saying, Hey, I can do this and I can help the team. And it's a team game.
You can put everything aside, but if you want to help the team, that gets us better and better as the weeks go on.
Q. (Question concerning two players fitting in on special teams.)
Michael Clay: Obviously, it's a whirlwind for them, they just acquired in. But it was up to us to get them up to speed on everything. Especially the basic concepts.
We have a very simple scheme. So it's not hard to do that. But it's just getting them to the comfort level. And it happens in the NFL.
It happened with us, myself last year in San Francisco. So it's not like something I'm novice to. But just getting their comfort level up to where they can play fast. If they can play fast in this league, they'll be just fine.
Q. Were you asked to watch film on their performance in the preseason on special teams. And if so, how did they stand out?
Michael Clay: Oh, yeah, I watched film on everyone. There's some guys that stand out, some guys that kind of go under the radar.
But what they ask me to do, I'm going to do my due diligence and find out what their strengths and what they can really excel at, and help the team.
And that's what my job is to do. And those guys have taken ahold of the reigns and are ready to go out there.
Q. (Question concerning the special teams returner.)
Michael Clay: Yeah, you know, with both those guys, I mean, we've had a plethora of guys who can return and take a whole bunch of reps.
And they've all showed in practice situations, in game situations that they're ready to go, regardless of where we put them in. If that's a returner or someone else, both Jalen and Kenny have done a great job so far.
In terms of who's going to be out there on the first punt return or kick return. I think we're going to let that be a guessing game until Sunday on 1:05.
Q. In Reagor's case, what does he show you in terms of a catch and decision-making?
Michael Clay: You know, I think with him, it's just his comfortability of seeing the ball off the foot.
Obviously, last year, he had a little bit of a hand injury and everything. But this year, he's really excelled of just seeing the ball off the foot.
And I think, once again, it comes back to that confidence level and comfort level. You know, If I get my feet there and see it all the way through -- because he has all these explosive intangibles when he does get it.
And the first thing is first, catch the ball. So he's done an unbelievable job of embracing it and taking it to a whole new level of catching and mechanics.
Q. Who would you say is your fastest guy on the coverage units?
Michael Clay: Fastest guy? I mean, that's a good question. If I were a betting man -- that's a good question.
You know, I think everyone's -- they get off at the same. A little bit of different speed come game day. Some guys have better adrenaline in practice and game days, but I think a lot of the guys that do play with speed all end up in the same type of category running down there.
Q. With that said, though, you know, you take special pride in gunners. Is there a player that you use as an example from your past at gunner when you break down film or show guys the proper technique?
Michael Clay: Yeah. I've been fortunate enough to be around some really good gunners. And it's not guys I have experience with. It's all around the NFL.
The guy I probably show most is Raheem Mostert in San Francisco. We've had him here as an undrafted free agent.
But just showing how -- you know, if you just run without any regard, it's going to come down. I always tell the guys, Hey, the easiest tackle is a fair catch. If you get in a guy's face, you don't have to put your body through the harm. So that's a big coaching point I'll have for the guys.
And just to get back to Bo's question, but I would probably say Quez. And I've had -- Tarvarius Moore, as well, at Southern Miss. And those are guys that I do show, but I also want to show our guys.
You know, showing our guys, them making plays, getting off a release. Just that. You know, because once you come back to the confidence, the comfort level, I'm, like, All right, I can do this when my name is called there.
Q. I know you don't want to give up the returners for the competitive advantage. But if there's a high leverage situation, how do you handle that with Nick? Do you have different options and figure that out beforehand? Could it be somebody different?
Michael Clay: Yeah, we talk about that. You know, we always have a game plan starting from Monday or Tuesday and getting through situations. Like, if it's a high level situation, Who do we want out there between myself, Nick, and Howie, and, like, who do we want to put out there and give us the best opportunity to win?
So we do have those conversation in those high risk, high-level areas for who's going to go out there for the punt or kick return?
Q. Is there any soreness for Jake?
Michael Clay: Not that I know of. I talk to him every day. He's been kicking the ball great. He's ready to go. I know he's been chomping at the bits since the end of last year. So we're really happy with what Jake has been doing and I think he's excited to go into Atlanta and show off what he can do.
Q. How about for you personally, what's your significance for the first game?
Michael Clay: That's a very good question. You know, to be honest with you guys, I haven't really thought about it too much.
My main focus is just getting these guys the game plan, getting them ready. I'm sure Saturday night I'll get a few texts or calls on a -- from family and friends, like, Hey, how do you feel?
But for the most part, I'm going to keep my same routine regardless of the title I have. I'm going to go out there and go out there with some sort of cool confidence and, you know, keep that -- I'm going to keep it within myself.
I'm not a very loud vocal guy. But I think if I can keep that on the sideline, I think that's a cool effect for the guys.
And I think if we have a good game plan, we can have it all taken care of and I don't have to worry about the extra nerves that go through with it.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports