Q. Some players with days off --
LOVIE SMITH: We have a plan for a few of our guys that are coming off injuries. It's a scheduled day off for Derek and a few others but you can see the days we've asked him to play, he's performed well and getting better. Learning, growing, love what he's doing.
Q. Have you been pleased with his kicks?
LOVIE SMITH: Yeah, they are playing their end and they are one of the guys, then all of a sudden, boom, it's that time. Last play of the game, we need our kicker to come in, put it between up rights, did he that. So big plans for him. We expecting big things from him this year.
Q. What have you seen from --
LOVIE SMITH: He's on record of being a pass rusher in the league. So I mean, that's why we signed him. You know, to bring another local guy back home, he's a legitimate pass rusher, so we'll have a plan for him.
Q. Talk about the best secondary in the red zone, a lot of red zone packages?
LOVIE SMITH: Well, just in general, you know, most quarterbacks will tell you they would like for you to line up and show them pre-snap what you're going to do. Most defenses aren't going to do that.
So some days out here, is a day that we are going to be doing a lot of disguising. Other days like today, you didn't see any. I mean, it's just a vanilla day today. Still kind of come down to you get in position and making plays. Sometimes you're going to put, for me, want to put the defense in a tough situation. Where the offense knows, you have to make a play, man on man.
Q. Have you ever had a conversation with a guy about how he's performed in practice? Is that a constant conversation with guys or checking in with guys every now and then?
LOVIE SMITH: You kind of ask the question, it's constant feedback on how you're doing, really from play-to-play. A guy does something we don't like, that should be corrected then.
We watch video. Everything we do, we video and then like off-days when you have a chance to look at more time, maybe some individual things, and that's just getting ready and we are preparing guys, getting ready for the first preseason game and then of course what they put on video, we'll put a little bit more into it once it starts happening for real against an opponent.
Q. What are you looking at going into the preseason, first preseason game, and in that game, what are you looking for as far as your team standpoint compared to going up against another opponent?
LOVIE SMITH: Any time they keep score, you want to win but that's not the total focus. Live tackling the quarterbacks, cut blocking, all of that. So what I want to see in the game is how guys finish and it's more about the individual play before we collectively put the team together.
So that's what I can't wait to see. We are going to try to give as many guys an opportunity to play as possible and if we win at the end of the day, that's fine, but it's something bigger we are trying to get accomplished.
Q. Garrett Wallow, what has he shown you guys for more playing time?
LOVIE SMITH: You get playing time when you get opportunities and you do something. You know, show up -- show up, making plays, just that. And when you get an opportunity to do multiple things, the more things you can do, the better you are at helping our team and staying on our team.
Q. How is the competition for the slot receiver?
LOVIE SMITH: We have a legitimate competition I feel like at just about every position. So that, again and what you want to see right now, no medals and the guys have their bodies in good shape to be able to perform once we get to New Orleans.
I can't say that I'm disappointed in my position. Our guys are getting themselves in position now to play and play well but I know what to do. You know, now it's about having ability to go out there and do it.
Q. Anybody in particular who has stood out to you, any particular players? Are there a few that you can point out?
LOVIE SMITH: You know, I kind of hate to say, until you finish a play, you never know. Like for our quarterback, they know we are not going to touch them. Receivers know we are not going to hit them. Defensive linemen know that you are not going to get cut.
So trying not to put too much into it right now. We just want to make sure that the guys are practicing hard and know what they are doing, and then we'll get to that next phase. After that first preseason game, I can talk a little more. That really tells you, everybody, where they are.
Q. What goes in the preparation of being able to manage these guys, especially in this heat?
LOVIE SMITH: Well, first off, to me, football is hard. So you got to grind a little bit. You know, like right now, you know, typical game, some of our guys are going to maybe play 70 plays. Only way you get ready to play that, you've got to grind in it, the heat. This just makes you stronger when you go through a little adversity. That's what they are doing. Training camp is not designed to feel great every day. We want them to spin. We want them to empty the tank every day they come out here. We have been around it a few times and we're right on course, I'll just say that.
Q. That's the old school mentality?
LOVIE SMITH: That's old school but it's new school. It's winning football. That's old and new. To do well and to be able to finish, you've got to put work into it and that's what we're doing.
Q. How did you see his transition --
LOVIE SMITH: Well, he knows more the rules on how we play it and just think of an infant, and with a big body, that's where he is. But the guy is so eager to learn and he has ability. So we're going to love just kind of working with him this year. You know, the question was asked, who have you seen that's made a lot of progress throughout, he has a long ways to go but we have seen a lot of improvement from him.
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