Q. So you guys had a lot of changes. You lost a lot of guys in free agency. Added guys like Justin Evans, Nicholas Morrow. Was there something in particular you guys were looking for? Anything character-wise, personality trait-wise?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, always, always looking to bring in the right type of guy. We always look for the same thing: Football IQ, character. We're looking for people that love people, that are tough, competitive.
Those are traits that we're always going to look for in players. We feel like not only are these guys -- and obviously talented, right? We feel like they're talented and also have that, and we're excited to work with them having them be Eagles this year.
Q. A couple weeks working with Sean Desai, what stands out the most and what have you learned about the player profile?
NICK SIRIANNI: You know, obviously really he's super organized, right, and has a process for everything, and I really appreciate that about him. I see the defensive guys grinding and working really hard. He works hard.
Obviously super talented as far as why we hired him in the first place with his scheme and his thought process on defense. And so just getting to see that more and more. Obviously we're just getting on the same pages of my visions for the defense. Obviously I hired him to do a job, but still have to give him the visions that I have for certain situations, different things I want to see out of the defense. So getting on the same page there, it's been fun know doing that. He's done a great job so far.
As far as the player profile, obviously there is a lot of similarities because it's a similar defense. That's one of the reasons -- obviously Sean was the best guy for the job, but there was also not going to be a lot of change as far as the base part of the defense.
Obviously there is going to be different, slightly different things that we're going to do, so the player profile, the traits that we're looking for, are similar, so just making sure we have the right person in there.
We did that with every candidate for all the positions that we hired, and so we knew we were going to get a top notch person when we hired him.
Q. (Regarding building a connection.)
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, you know, I mean, in the town that I live in, I had some of the new guys over to my house to watch the opening night of March Madness. That's the fun part about it, is building the connections, even ones that are starting from scratch.
So there are different things you have to do. I haven't told anybody this yet, but I want to get a hold of Doc well before a game and maybe bring them over and shoot a little bit with them. They need to know too I'm the best shooter on the coaching staff, so that would be something that I want to do that would be fun.
So just things like that. Going to try to do as many things like that as we can. Very similar to what we did when we first got here. I think that was something we did. Now, what was different about that when we first got to Philadelphia is none of our families were here. We were going to dinner on Fridays when we weren't going home to see our families or going to Top Golf, bowling, whatever we were doing.
And so it's just doing those things again. It's good, because you do want to do those things, and sometimes I think if you're -- if there hasn't been any change, oh, we don't need to go do this. This is forcing you to go out and do those things again.
Looking forward to a playoff basketball game or something like that that we'll all go to. Doc said we were going to get to the Super Bowl, so maybe go see them in the NBA finals.
Q. What happened with Dennard?
NICK SIRIANNI: As we went to fill out the staff and get the new defensive coordinator, you know, we went through a lot of the different people. Dennard was one of those guys that we interviewed, because he had a lot of good ideas, he's a great football coach.
At the end of the day, obviously mutually parted ways with Dennard getting a good situation. Not that anything happened. We obviously loved our time with him. The players feel very strongly about Dennard, how good of a football coach he is.
It was just best in that way that we parted ways there in that situation, but wish him nothing but the best.
Q. Did you want him to stay?
NICK SIRIANNI: I won't get into all that. Yeah, of course you always want good coaches on your staff, and Dennard is a really good coach.
Q. Is there something about the profile of a college defensive coach that appealed to you in this coaching search?
NICK SIRIANNI: I just know there is good coaches at every level. I was looking for the best coach period. What has to happen, when you're a position coach -- I always say to the guys, hey, there is multiple ways you get guys better. Four really distinct ways you get a guy better.
One, opportunity. The opportunities we provide to them in practice with individual, with developmental periods, things like.
Position coaches don't have a lot to do with that. That's a schedule that I'm coning up with, and obviously bounce everything off each other, but that's my schedule. That's opportunity.
Two is the weight room. The develop and the strides they make in the weight room. And so position coaches don't got a lot to do with that. You're there to support them and encourage them, but there is not a ton you're doing there except for the support. That's the strength staff we hired.
Three is the scheme. Obviously we all contribute to the scheme of everything we're going through to get the scheme, and the position coaches do contribute to that, but the coordinators really have the final say, as we know.
Last one is fundamentals, right? And that's all the position coach. So the position coach's main job is to be able to be good at fundamentals, add value in the scheme, and so what we were looking for is guys that were going to get the players better fundamentally, and that's what we felt like we believe we brought in.
Q. What is your level of comfortability if Cam were to move to guard?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, you don't have to get into leader at the clubhouse at this point. We will always see what we can do to play the best five we have, and Cam has a really good year of sitting behind of the best players in franchise history, one of the best centers in the history of this game.
We are ecstatic to have Jason back. He does so much for this team, on the field and off the field and leadership roles with his play.
Cam just will continue to learn from him.
And sure, we'll see what is the best situation for Cam and the team, but we have a lot of the confidence in Cam. We're excited that he can play multiple positions.
So to say leader in the clubhouse at this particular point, we still have a lot of things to go through before we have to make any decisions on that. You know, we'll see. We'll see where we go with him.
Excited that he's on our team and excited that he adds major depth to the team.
Q. How much work did he get at guard last year?
NICK SIRIANNI: A good amount. Stout does a ton of cross training. You're trying to cross-train those guys, especially the guys that are backups. So we feel good that he can play multiple positions. Like Jack Driscoll can guard, can play tackle. You like that versatility in your guys, and we feel like Cam has that.
Q. (Regarding personnel changes going on.) (Indiscernible.)
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, that's a position that's not easily attainable, right? There is a lot of guys out there that -- we're just happy we have those two guys with the talent that they have and the leadership qualities they have and the connections that they have, right?
Those two guys are tight. You see them -- I think you see Slay a lot saying how much he appreciates James. And we know James is a little more quiet, but I know how much he appreciates Slay as well.
To have those two guys back, to have so much ability back there and leadership ability also. I think Slay leads. He's got the C on his chest and he leads, and James leads in a slightly different way, by example.
Again, you get their style of play and you also get their leadership, so obviously huge to have them both back.
Q. What's the story with Brian Johnson? How did he first get on your radar and what convinced you that he was the right guy?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, you're just looking for good coaches no matter where you can find them. I've had a lot of success like with getting guys from the college side, starting with a guy on the Colts staff. When we first for to the Colts we hired Kevin Patullo who had done a stint at Texas A&M and we wanted that style.
They had Tom Manning, who's now back with the Colts as their tight ends coach that was a college teammate of mine who was offensive coordinator at Iowa State.
And so we saw the dividends that that paid when we got to Indy with the different style of things that we were able to do, with the addition of things that we had already done. And then so that was a similar philosophy. We were looking for the best coach, as I said to Zach. We were looking for the best coach in that scenario and Brian was the best coach for the quarterback job.
And then essentially, why do you promote somebody? Because you're confident that they can do the job that they're getting promoted to. How do you know that? You know that because you're on a two-year interview. I been on a two-year with Brian and he just shines every single day.
Obviously Jalen's play, we're a product of the way our players play on the field, and his player has played great and continues to develop. Brian has a great offensive mind. We're in there with -- when you put together a plan -- I know every place is a little different, but when we, the Philadelphia Eagles, come up with a plan, we're all sitting in there coming up with a plan. It was me, Shane, Brian, Kevin, Jason Michael, Aaron Moorehead, Jemal Singleton, Stout. It's everybody sitting in that room.
You hear the ideas that Brian brings to the table on a consistent basis, and you know you're confident that he's going to be able to go in there and step in and do the job.
It's been fun getting to go know him these last couple years. He's just a really good coach and happy he's on our staff.
Q. What kind of player are the Steelers getting with Isaac Seumalo and Nate?
NICK SIRIANNI: Obviously Nate wasn't with us last year, but I can only -- I think the world of both of players. Isaac was a big part of everything that we had done the last five years. I've only been here to two, but Isaac has been awesome.
Going out there and plays his hardest every day. He's smart. He's tough. He's physical. Obviously we'll miss him.
Then Nate, I just think Nate adds great value, depth, always fits in well with the guys, and they really like him. Nate played a lot of valuable minutes for us and a lot of valuable games for us in 2021. Dating back I can't speak of that, but in '21 he stepped in and did a lot of good things when we were in a run to get into the playoffs.
So I think the world of both of these guys as people, I think the world of both those guys as players. I wish them the best. It's tough when you lose the relationships, but I'm happy for them in the sense that they got a good opportunity.
Q. (Indiscernible.) Curious when you review the year he had, how do you think he played and what are some things you think he needs to improve on?
NICK SIRIANNI: We're in a little slightly different off-season than we have been in the past with us going so long and then also hiring new coordinators. We kind of got a late jump.
So we did it a little bit different. Usually I think a lot of people's process is you split the day and you spend the morning in draft or reviewing film and the afternoon in the draft process or whatever. We're heavily into the draft.
We got time. Last week was our last week kind of evaluating players. Now we'll continue to scout different guys that pop up and circle back around. We'll get into a heavy dose of evaluation coming up for the next four weeks or so before the players get in.
But so a lot of evaluation of our season is still to come. But Quez, yeah, he did a lot of things that really affected the game that don't show up in the stat sheet, right, with how he stretches the field. A lot of the balls AJ caught over the middle, if you look at the tape, you see Quez running through the middle of the field to pull a safety out of there, and it really stretched the field to make sure the window is open there.
So I would say the difference this year and last year was opportunity. He didn't have as many opportunities, right? We tried to be up front about that as much as we can and say, hey, this pass game runs through them and Quez, you're going to have to make plays when it's time to make plays.
What I think he was probably frustrated with he didn't make the amount of plays he made last year. He did have some timely plays for us, but sometimes what happens is when there is a play with everything on the line, you throw to AJ, Dallas, Devonta. That's not an indication that we don't trust Quez. It's an indication that our pass game runs through those three guys.
So I know Quez wanted to make some of the plays he felt like he didn't. I think also what he's saying is he's taking ownership and accountability of him getting better and not looking at anybody else. That's what you want from your team, everybody to look in the mirror and say, how do I get better? How do I help this team win that last game?
We got a long way before we'll be with that position again, but how do you get better to help our team win this game or that game or get better in practice?
And so Quez is embodying what our team embodies. The accountability of how he gets better, and only worrying about that and trying to get better for the sake of the team.
Q. Is Blankenship ready to take a step up?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, I think Reed did a nice job last year of playing a lot of meaningful plays and starting games last year, so no doubt we have confidence in him. We had confidence in him on a 16-14 last year to start games, so we have a lot of confidence that he can do the same thing this year.
You know, one thing with Reed you notice right away is he was shining when those pads came on in training camp practices, where you knew you had to keep him around because you knew he could be really good. Gannon and Dennard... (video glitch).
Q. Miles Sanders is gone. What gave you confidence to go with Rashaad Penny? Also rumors about Zeke being interested. What do you think about that as well?
NICK SIRIANNI: Obviously wish Miles the best. Rooting for him. Any time you lose a player you're sad because you lose part of that relationship of seeing them every day.
So really rooting for him and his success. We feel really good about the room as it is right now. Love the addition of Rashaad and wanted to coach him for a long time. He was playing at San Diego State when I was with the San Diego Chargers, when it was still San Diego Chargers, and was able to see his career as college player and always thought very highly of him and the teams that he was on.
And so excited about that addition.
Really excited. We all saw Kenny Gainwell have a really good playoff run and it seems like every time Kenny is in the game he makes plays, in the passing game or run game.
Boston being back is huge. I think that's somebody that you always want to have on your team. Really glad we have him, especially because I know how much Shane likes him, too. I don't know if there was anything going on, but I remember Shane always saying, man, I love Boston. We all love Boston. He just provides great depth.
What was awesome about Boston last year is he had the limited opportunities to make plays, but when he did, he made them. Then he found a niche as a kick returner, and I thought that was great.
Trey Sermon, really excited about him. I can't tell you how many times in practice -- and Trey didn't get an opportunity to showcase his talents except for the game against Jacksonville.
But I can't tell you how many times at practice he made a cut or you just saw him in his pads or he made a play on a screen or whatever it was. You're like, man, this guy, got a chance to be really good. Wish we could get him touches, but we couldn't do it last year.
So I'm really excited about that room. You know, really excited about the guys we have in that room. Obviously think you asked me about Zeke Elliott. He's a heck of a player. He is obviously a great, great player that I've had the opportunity to watch from our sideline four times in the last two years.
Just think he's a really outstanding player.
Q. You mentioned the shortened off-season. Obviously there is an emotional toll that goes with the Super Bowl and not winning that game. How do you navigate that?
NICK SIRIANNI: I think you're obviously disappointed that you got that far, but so I was -- my brother asked me to text his nephew who was playing in the state championship basketball game last week in the state of New York. I texted him and I said, hey, I've been in regional championship games in basketball while I was in high school, I've been in national championship games as a coach, and I've been able to coach in the Super Bowl and it's always about the journey. Go enjoy the journey. The journey is a lot more sweet when you win it.
And they actually won. I don't think it had anything to do with my pep talk, but they won and I was happy for them.
But it is, it was a special journey. I think when you look back at it you know it's a special journey. The other thing it does is builds your hunger of wanting to recapture whatever you can.
Again, we won't talk -- you know us. We're not going to talk about the Super Bowl, Super Bowl, Super Bowl. Got to get back to the -- you're not going to hear us say that. You're going to hear us say we got to go attack the next segment of our process, right, which would be the off-season program which will be OTAs and different things.
What it does is you get close and it just fuels your hunger. You know the steps you had to take to get there and you know that every detail matters, and you're going to go and try to recapture everything you can as far as the work to put in.
I think that's what it does, it just makes you more hungry. That thing of Jalen talking, he's like, I'm not hungry, I'm starving for this shit. You guys all saw that.
I think that just makes you more hungry, makes you more starving. I know that's the sentiment of the guys that we have in that locker room, the sentiment of the coaches, I sure know it's the sentiment of me, just more determined than ever.
Q. Nick, the numbers dictate that the Super Bowl loser does not get back next year. It's only happened twice the last 28 times. Why do you think that's the case? You talk about trying get the guys energy moving forward. Why and how do you do that?
NICK SIRIANNI: I can't answer that. All I can answer is that when we -- one thing I always admired about our team last year was we put together -- Howie did a great job of assembling all the guys we had on that team, and what was very evident was you heard a lot of people talking about us in the preseason last year. Oh, my gosh, this is a super team. Look at all these guys they have.
I remember Jason Kelce very vividly going, I don't care who is on this team. It's going to take the work every single day to get to where we want to get to. That was the message over -- that's why we have great captains and leaders on this team -- that was the message over and over and over. It felt like that's what we were saying after every training camp practice, right?
It doesn't matter who you assemble. It's about the work that we have to put in to get ready to play our first game and second game and third game and so on and so forth.
I think we'll bank on that, too, next year. I don't care what happened last year. We don't care that we went this record or played in the Super Bowl or anything like that. We don't give a crap about what the numbers say of who was able to get back to the Super Bowl.
All we're going to focus on is, hey, here is what the numbers say. Here is what we would love to do again, but it's going to take day in, day out work.
I know that's cliche, but when you can set your sights narrow as far as here is what we're on focusing on today, it helps you stay focused on that day and continuing to build and build and build.
Q. When you talk football with Jalen, what do see out of him around the facility?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, that he's still in there work ing hard, still lifting and working like a maniac in the weight room. You know, just getting after it.
Again, people have asked me how good Jalen Hurts can be? No one knows what his ceiling can be, but God willing he can reach it because of all the factors he has.
He's not all of a sudden different because he is still putting in the work like you have seen him put in the work the last couple years.
Q. Howie has been pretty open...(indiscernible.) Will that change the way you approach how you use him, especially in it the run game?
NICK SIRIANNI: No. We'll do -- part of what makes Jalen special is everything that he can do.
We'll do what we have to do to win football games, no matter what that is. Jalen does a lot of things special and we'll try to showcase all the things he does special and try to recap the things that we did last year with him and try to add some new wrinkles with different things we do.
So yeah, we'll do what we need to do to win games and. We have a special quarterback and we'll use his special ability.
Q. (Regarding Marcus Mariota.) What information did you get about the way it ended with the Falcons?
NICK SIRIANNI: Say the first part.
Q. What made Mariota the choice for backup quarterback?
NICK SIRIANNI: Gosh, I've been wanting to coach him for a long time. Frank and I went and worked him out in 2014 at Oregon at a private workout, and we just thought the world of him as a person. Obviously his play spoke for itself.
He's very talented in a lot of different things he can do. He's played good football in the NFL. You know, I'm not a guy that always says that you have to have the same type of quarterback. You just want the best quarterback available to be able to go out there and win games.
Now, with that being said, there is a lot of things that we can recapture with Marcus being the backup that Jalen brings. So a lot of different things, right? That could be Jalen's sore -- you know, the Giants game this year, he's sore of something and now you have the ability to bring some of the run game in with Marcus.
So that's a positive part of it.
Again, I don't think that's the main like your looking for as is backup.
We're just happy that we have Marcus, a starter in this league with the ability that he has and the person that he is, and we're excited to have him on this team. We obviously have -- Alex Tanney played quarterback with him at Tennessee be. They were teammates. They're friends, right?
Jason Michael was his coordinator and also his quarterback coach.
Kevin Patullo was on this staff in Tennessee also. So there are relationships with Marcus. Of course you call everybody around and talk to them about the person, but you have personal relationships that he's stepping into because he's been with these guys on staff.
And so we were really confident in the person and the work ethic and the person that you're getting and the player you're getting with Marcus.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports