Q. Before free agency, you're looking at players the team might be targeting, watching them. I know you're a lot busier now than February, March. But as the trade deadline comes up, do you get asked to watch players they might be interested in trading for?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, any time we're talking about a player, yeah, Howie and I watch it and he'll put me on the radar of it and say, hey, watch this guy.
Then we'll talk about it. We do that with everything. We talk about everything. So the process in that is no different than free agency, college scouting, trades, everything.
Q. How many guys you looking at?
NICK SIRIANNI: (Smiling.)
Q. Nick, when it comes to offense in general, max protection, what are some of the pros and cons from your perspective when you use max protection?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, you know, there is different varieties of that. Are you max protecting because they're bringing more than you can block? Are you max protecting to sell a play-action, right? So there is different varieties of that.
You know, I would say the main things that -- you asked about the negatives of it?
Q. Yeah, both.
NICK SIRIANNI: Positives, there are times you keep the pocket firm. There is also times that -- I'll give you one of each. You keep the pocket firm and then there is sometimes you get poor matchups.
That could be either way. But you get a known rusher on a non-offensive lineman. So there are many pros and cons to everything in this game. Those are two things right there.
Q. How many of the changes we've seen offensively since the bye week are a direct result of input from players?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, we talk about everything together. We go through our processes together. Same thing, I won't say, hey, this percentage or that percentage or anything like that, but you try to evaluate as a coach what your players do well.
You do that based off practice. You do that based off games and what you're being successful at and what you're not being successful at.
You do that also by talking to the players. How do you feel about this? How do you feel about that. It's a both/and and we're all in this together. We win games together, we lose games together and get to the best answers together.
Again, it's just why it's one of the greatest team sports there is.
Q. Can you see Ben's role moving forward and even beyond this year either going offense or defense? Is there any way you think he can expand his offensive role?
NICK SIRIANNI: He's doing a good job of things we're asking him to do. We'll see how this goes. The things that we're asking him to do he's done a nice job at. He's one of our best special teams players.
Ben has been exciting to watch. I think that's where the excitement to use him a little on offense has been, his success on special teams.
When he's had an opportunity to play linebacker he's done a nice job there, too. We need that depth at that position and his athleticism at that position.
So we'll see. I like what we're doing with him right now. Won't get into where he meets and everything like that, but I like what we're doing and see how the year progresses.
Q. In the last couple weeks, Tyler has filled in for Mekhi. Have you seen something in Tyler's game the last few weeks that he's improved on a lot from the summer?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, I think in the past game I thought you saw a lot of movement, displacement. Any time he had to block down on a tackle, I felt like he was getting really good displacement in that game.
I think that's something that he's working really hard at. Always known he had the ability to be able to move guys, and I think it's just come together for him these last couple weeks. You notice it in practice and carries over to the game.
He's done a nice job, and I think that we all have a lot of confidence in him. His teammates have confidence in him, and they should because he's stepped up and he's performed and helped us win some football games because of his play.
Q. Past few years what perspective have you gained on LeSean McCoy's career here that maybe you didn't know from afar?
NICK SIRIANNI: You know, man, I was able to follow his career quite a bit. I was at UIP when he was at Pitt. Then his brother, right before I got there, played at UIP. So a lot of the guys that I coached with or still played there were friends with his brother, so there was a natural following there of us watching him.
So I was able to see a lot and I always thought how special he was with the ball in his hands, making guys miss in space. I remember watching him play -- there was a big time game they had against West Virginia. I remember watching him play in that game. He just had this special ability.
So I think that when I got here I knew a lot about him, but then when you get here, you hear how great of a player he was and one of the all-time greats for the Eagles. My number was 25. I always like guys that wear number -- I have a special thing with the guys that wear number 25.
And so again, knew a lot about him prior to coming here and just thought how awesome he was with the football.
And then I think the main thing that I probably -- to answer your question, the main thing I've probably learned is that snow game that I always hear about, that snow game against was it Detroit, of how everybody is slipping on the field and he's making these cuts at full speed.
That's the special type of player he is. And I've gotten to talk to him multiple times and I think so highly of him. Always appreciate his support when he's talking to me about the team as a former Eagle.
And then interestingly, when we first got to Indy he was at Buffalo in the snow game when Buffalo played Indy, and I remember him making those cuts in that game as well.
Again, just awesome with the ball in his hands. I don't think he put the ball on the ground very often, but we talk about the ball a lot. He's a little loose with it. (Smiling.) Just kidding.
He knew how to take care of it and knew when to get take care of it, how to get the ball away. Man, he was a special guy to watch. Really excited for him.
You know, man, you go through these things and then your number -- you go into the team's Hall of Fame and that's pretty special.
Obviously a special career by him.
Q. You've often talked about the collaboration on offense with you and Kellen. As you guys have figured it out offensively the last three games, are there any stories you can share that remind you of why you wanted him to be a part of this offense?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, I think Kellen is a great offensive mind. I think sometimes in football, I know in football, it's like it's the consistency is what I admire and the daily grind, not the ah-ha moments.
Especially as coaches. We don't go out there and make plays, right? But I think it's just his consistency, his mind as a football coach. Super sharp. Constantly looking for ways to get better. I'll go into his office and he's always watching tape.
If I go into his office he's always watching things that help him grow as a coach, too. Not necessarily even just tape of the opponent, but tape around the league or tape of -- his brother puts a lot of good football out there, watching that in colleges.
Always admired the guys that have had the success they've had in this league but still look to grow. Kellen is right at the top. He's one of the better coordinators in this league. And I'll say the same thing for Vic.
But really pleased with those two guys in the daily work they have. Again, I think it's about their daily habits and their daily work. Can't say enough good things about those two guys.
Q. We've seen Jalen Carter miss a couple practices over the last three weeks with the shoulder injury. What's the best way to explain what's going on there?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, you know, obviously you miss when you aren't able to go, and so and then obviously us being smart with limiting him to make sure he's ready on Sunday practice.
But that's always a fine line, Tim. You got get the guys ready for Sunday mentally and physically, but you also got to get them ready for Sunday physically, right?
So it goes a little bit, like, hey, we got to get him to practice so he's ready to play. But, hey, if he practices here will we have him at full strength?
So always a fine line there, but I think he's done a nice job as far as when he hasn't been able to practice being in it mentally. I think he's continuing to get better and I'm just looking for him to continue to have this consistency as a football player. Practice is going to help him, and then playing in those games will obviously continue to raise his level of play.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports