Q. (Indiscernible.)
SEAN DESAI: Yeah, I think that's it. You see the versatility, you see quickness. He's smart. He's picking it up really well. It's just about like other guys that are young, just keep trying to stack reps for these guys and put them in competitive situations to get them to compete.
It's nice to get one-on-ones and things like that going too, so you see everybody a little bit that way.
Q. Saw Nolan Smith getting some work at a linebacker yesterday. What was behind that? Is that part of his skillset?
SEAN DESAI: Yeah, I think it's just we're just trying to get guys reps at different spots. In certain periods, like 7 on 7, we can get some of these OB's some work in coverage. We can do that, and try to strategically put them in some different spots to keep it same-as for them.
It's just trying to keep testing out different combinations of guys in different spots.
Q. How do you think he translates to that position, and what about him makes him a good candidate?
SEAN DESAI: Yeah, I think right now it's just we're still in the kind of formative evaluation phase to see our best combinations, and so we don't know until we stack reps. We he might have had two or three reps at it the other day or something like that, so we got to keep putting everybody in those different situations.
You saw some other guys in those roles, too. We will be able to keep testing that out. It's early.
Q. What did you do 2021 to unlock Robert Quinn(indiscernible), and is that something you can do with Haasan Reddick?
SEAN DESAI: I don't know if I had the magic key to unlock Robert Quinn. I mean, Robert is potentially a future Hall of Fame pass rusher. We were able to create different matchups and had great success doing that here recently, so hopefully we can just keep trying to leverage matchups and put guys in position when they're down to win.
We talk about that a lot on defense. There is different times that different people have a chance to win, whether it's a DB or a rush guy, and when it's their chance, it's time to go.
Q. Last time you kind of unveiled a big nickel with three safeties. What do you like about that or is that just...
SEAN DESAI: Yeah, it's just the similar thing to these other packages where you're just trying to find matchups. So when you get some guys in those roles and that can cover tight ends, it is just trying to leverage the matchups and our talents to find the best combination of 11 situationally.
So we are just going to keep toying with that stuff early in camp. We got three or four weeks to figure out those matchups.
Q. When do you anticipate Haason will be full participant in practice?
SEAN DESAI: I don't know. When Tom and the trainers tell me he's full go for practice. He's doing a great job around the building, really sharp, really engaged in meetings.
And then everything that we're adding to him, whether it's Indy drills or 7 on 7, he is really doing a good job with that. I'm really thrilled where he is. When they say he's full go, that's when he's full go.
Q. So you don't anticipate him missing reps early on will impact his play?
SEAN DESAI: I hope not. He's a pro's pro, and that's what happens in this league. Guys know when it's time to be ready, it's time to be ready. When you don't get the physical reps you got to get the mental reps, and he's doing a great job of embracing that.
Q. (Indiscernible.)
SEAN DESAI: Well, by call we got a lot of different types of zones and mans that we kind of we play. Really the overall philosophy is trying to get the guys to play as fast as they can given the call and really empowering them the tools that they need by play to do that.
So there will be times that you'll see some man stuff, times you'll see some zone stuff, but it's really based on how we want to pick up routes and how we want to leverage our defense in certain spots.
Q. (Regarding Slay and Bradberry.)
SEAN DESAI: We're at the point -- it's funny, we had a unit meeting last night and we talked about that. This defense is built to leverage people's talents, and the faster we grow in it, the faster everybody will be able to figure out where they can go take their shots and leverage their talents, and we'll give them those liberties.
But we have to grow together. We can't have 11 guys going rogue. We won't have any guys going rogue. It's about all 11 playing as one.
When everybody is on the same page and relating to each other, that's how you create some dynamic defensive plays.
Q. Yesterday Jalen Hurts mentioned that he's been using you an resource a little bit. He did that with the previous DC too. What's you relationship been like with him, and what kinds of things has he tried to learn from you?
SEAN DESAI: Man, I tell you what, he's a stud. He was just in my office one day I think during dinner time and I was watching tape. All of a sudden he's just standing there at the door. I'm like, what's up?
He just started asking questions. I told him I love it. I love it. He's so sharp, so bright, and you see now -- being a part of the organization you understand why he's so special. From afar you see it, but you don't really know until you're a part of it.
The way his brain works, the questions, types of questions that he asks, you could tell that he's just trying to elevate his game to the next level. It helps me. I told him that. Those questions are important for me to know because our job is to impact the quarterback. We want to do that.
When you're a top level quarterback like he is, I want to get in his brain and learn what's helpful. Are we doing something that we think is helpful but really ain't? So I think that dialog is great, and he knows he has an open door. When he has the opportunity to come and talk ball with me, it's there.
Q. Sean, as coordinator, we talked to Jason Kelce last week. (Indiscernible.) What's your philosophy? How do you handle the D-line, edge rushers...
SEAN DESAI: Yeah, I try to be present. You guys see me at practice. I try to hit all the Indy drills. I try to course go to all the meetings every day. I want the guys to see me, I want them to be around me, I want them to feel comfortable with asking me questions, I want the coaches to feel comfortable.
Like I'm not there to criticize or anything. I'm there to add whatever I can add to a meeting. Oftentimes, if I can't add something, I won't. I'll just sit there an take notes.
I'm learning also. It's about me learning the players and coaches and us being in this together. So my philosophy is I try to be as present and accessible as I can be to everybody.
Q. (Regarding defensive backs, Slay, Bradberry, Avonte. (Indiscernible.)
SEAN DESAI: No, I think they're all doing a good job. Like you said, you listed them and they're all showing their talent at different points in camp. Right now it's about consistency and stacking the reps. This is the second or third day of padded practice. We got to keep tracking those reps, and to be at a high level definitely you got to be able to sustain consistency over a long period of time.
That's what we want all the players to do. Day in, day out, rep in, rep out day one, day two, day three, how can you stack the days mentally and physically. That's part of the evaluation of these guys.
Q. Haason, what stood out to you about the depth?
SEAN DESAI: My gosh, you want to talk about a deep defensive front unit. It's pretty special how Howie and Nick have built this roster. We're really deep, and that's a cool thing to have. It's fun. It's fun to be around that.
Q. You mentioned (indiscernible.) Just the whole group of guys, what do you see from that whole group and what do you look for in a corner that maybe indicates...
SEAN DESAI: Yeah, great question. What I've seen from that group is that they've all gotten better. They are really taking to the teaching that we're doing. There are some things that we like to teach as a staff at that nickel position.
That nickel position is such a marquee position in this league, because there are so many matchups created there. We want to be able to respond to those issues and teach the guys how to respond to that, and really that's what we look for. Everywhere. We look for really good football players. That's the first thing.
If you're a really good football player, we'll teach you how to play football within this defense. That starts with high instincts, high brains, quickness, foot speed. All that is it looking for all these things, so we're looking for all those things.
And then that's how you can move guys. When they're really good football players, my experience has been they can be really good football players anywhere you put them on the field.
Q. (Indiscernible) got some reps with the first and second defense now. I guess what's his progress look like to you, and is he kind of...
SEAN DESAI: Yeah, same. I mean, he's doing well. You see his speed and ability to break on balls and aggressiveness. He's still got to clean up some mental things, but that's okay. We're all there. It's practice seven or eight of camp. There are just things we keep progressing.
The exciting thing for him is he's starting to feel more comfortable every day. So just like all the young guys. They're starting to feel more and more comfortable and you start to learn the next level of football. What is the offense really trying to do to you. You can't play every play the same way because the offense is doing different things.
It's just the elevation of our knowledge that way.
Q. What made you want to have a designated (indiscernible) coach and...
SEAN DESAI: I've had the experience doing -- opportunity at places I've worked at, whether it was in my job title or not, that I've taken on that role. I think the nickel is a marquee position in this league. I think they need specialized training.
If you lump them with safeties and corners and go through those Indy drills, you miss out on it. That's kind of the reason of why. I'm really appreciative to Howie and Nick for allowing that position to be created. It is unique. Not many people have that.
I think it's been a great blend, because Coach McDonald is still running the room, but now he has opportunities and built a great level of rapport with Coach Johnson and Coach Williams where he can trust them and they can go do the drill under his vision of how he wants that done.
That's what it's about, right? It's about empowering guys and getting all the guys, detailing their teaching and fundamentals and techniques to the best we can so it gives them the best chance of play.
Q. Limited amount of training camp practices, particularly here. What's that been like for you, trying to implement a new defense and how are you making up for it?
SEAN DESAI: Yeah, I mean, that's the name of game as a coach. You adjust and adapt to whatever it is. Hasn't been any different. I've been around schedules similar to this in my career. I mean, once you get the schedule -- Nick is great with that. We had the schedule back in April or something of what this was going to look like.
So you plan for it, and that's it. I don't think that's any concern or issue. It's great. I love the schedule. It's great. Players love it. It's friendly for them. We're able to integrate it appropriately.
Q. A lot of nickel questions, but one more nickel question. You said it was specialized in the training and all that. Does that mean you want to clearly define outside guys and inside guys?
SEAN DESAI: No. I think the way we teach, and our philosophy allows for a lot of versatility, and that's some of the questions you guys have asked. And so we take pride in our teaching. We try to be highly detailed in meetings and really organized, and the players understand the standards at each position and the techniques that we're teaching.
We feel that's what allows for versatility and moving the players.
Q. Shaun Bradley, former Temple guys coming into year four. Has carved out a special teams role in the past. Where do you see him in terms of linebacker, defense?
SEAN DESAI: I think he's doing well. I think overall, like there is really not -- you guys might think it's enough, but from where I am, everybody is doing a good job really trying to master their roles and techniques in the defense.
So when you do that, you see that's why they're playing fast right now in the field. Can they be better? Yeah. It's practice eight. I can be better as a coach. I screwed up a substitution yesterday in 7 on 7 in a scripted period. Like I can't do that.
There is all these things that we can be better at, but these guys are really taking ownership of it. And that's really what we're looking for right now, taking ownership and taking command of the defense. And all those guys, Shaun included, is doing that.
Q. Did Nick yell at you?
SEAN DESAI: I think so. And I yelled at myself. That's what it is. It's accountability. Part of our five pillars is you got to take accountability when you screw up and I'm not immune to that and the players know that. They'll hear from me every day when I screw something up. That's okay.
Q. The competition right now for starting spots, is there something specific you're looking for?
SEAN DESAI: No, I think we'll know. It's early and the guys know that. The competition is going to keep rolling. We're not in the business of making decisions too early. We are going to make them.
And usually in my experience when there is a high level competition, it promotes everybody's game, everybody's level gets better, and over time, when you let it sort itself out, it sorts itself out. Everybody knows where it should fall. We're not in any rush.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports