Q. When you kind of reviewed the film, I guess what was your takeaway on the issues in the red zone?
SHANE WALDRON: Just it was almost similar to talking about third down in the past where felt like we had a better third down day in the field there.
The red zone, just couple things each trip down after that first trip in which we were able to get the touchdown that prevented us from getting points, whether it's the penalties or the just some negative plays there.
So just, again, great week to work on those issues, fix any issues that came up in the game, and then move on and move forward to the Cardinals.
Q. Given how much conversation there has been around that, is there a point where it becomes overemphasized or it's in guys' heads too much, or is that not a thing?
SHANE WALDRON: Yeah, I'll reference the Detroit game where we had a similar offensive look there getting in it the red zone a few different times, including at the end of the game, and we are able to finish there.
Unfortunately this past week they got the best of us in the red zone. You had the five trips there and only getting the one touchdown. That's not what we're looking for. Something we'll look it fix, but not something we feel like is a problem, because we have had the experience down there and come out on the right end of that scenario right there.
So just working to fix it. Not putting stress, not making it bigger than it is, and trying to find as many championship opportunities throughout the course of the week in practice, every game that we play, where we keep all these opportunities that come up in the mindset of, hey, they're all the same. You're prepared for it. You're ready for those moments.
Every now and then they don't go our way, and then you move on to the next one so you don't let the last experience in a negative impact your next one.
Q. You mentioned third down was a little better. What did you like about that?
SHANE WALDRON: I thought we had some good individual one-on-ones. Guys are battling in the protection world right there. Bobo had the good run after catch after he was able to convert on the third down kind of in that high red zone, strike zone area there.
Geno playing in a good rhythm on third down. Something we'll look to continue. Like I said, then add the, okay, let's get back in a balanced world in the red zone there, which includes being able to run the ball, being able to take those completion plays and add those all together and just keep working to bring together an offense that is balanced and that continuity throughout the course of the four quarters of the game.
Q. Has it been a challenge with just the continual moving parts on the offensive line when it comes to those situations?
SHANE WALDRON: I think the guys have continued to do a great job with the next-man-up mentality. Up front it was great to get Charles back in this past game here playing left tackle. But all the guys that have been in and out have done a great job. They're working and working to correct anything that comes up within the game.
The thing that I compliment those guys on is their effort and their attention to detail throughout the course of the game, on the sidelines the able to fix any issues that might come up.
So they're doing a good job of holding things together. Again, Evan Brown did a great job of keeping the group together, taking that leadership role, keeping everyone moving in the right direction.
Like I said, the goal this week, we'll do a better job finishing like we talked about down in the red zone, and standing up here and it's a little bit different outcome, different discussion. Can't change that. All we can do is learn from it.
I think those O-linemen have done a great job moving around. Guys have played a lot of different spots, which long-term will help us down the road where guys have that game experience.
Anthony Bradford is getting better every day. Getting in there at guard and getting more and more reps and accumulating more and more looks against NFL defenses and fronts. Excited to see as these guys continue to grow where they end up.
Q. Since you lost the tackles week two, how much of a challenge has it been when it help with pass pro with the extra tight ends or when not to? How to employ those?
SHANE WALDRON: Yeah, I think any time you start your plan, whether the starting tackles are in there or the backup tackles are playing like has been the case in the past few weeks, I think it all starts with that protection plan, understanding that each week what the defense is going to present. This week with Nick Rallis, the challenge of the different structures along with the great rushers that they're going to have and figuring out, okay, what's the balance in there? Do we need to help guys because of the scheme, because of personnel?
I think that's a weekly thing we look at, regardless of who the starters are along the offensive front.
Q. How much does that plan change in game the last couple weeks?
SHANE WALDRON: In the game, within the game, I think one thing we do is go in with a pretty good volume, and then we were able to shift or pivot based on the feel of the game, where things are going.
And then there will be certain scenarios where you're going to go with your best plays, and feel like you give yourself the best chance, and if the game is tilting in a certain direction or a blitz package is tilting in a certain direction, trying to preemptively call the plays that are going to have a little bit more help, maybe one side or the other. You know, trying to account for that and letting the guys play.
Q. Geno was really hard on himself after the game and again when we talked to him today. Do you ever talk to him about that? Obviously not everything is his fault.
SHANE WALDRON: Yeah, it starts with all of us because we're all in this together. Geno does a great job being the leader of our offensive group, but we talk about that accountability and what can every individual do starting with the coaches to help the players be in a better position to succeed.
Then as an individual player, what was your role in every individual play and looking to say, what's my accountability, how can I help the team win right there, and then trusting that the other ten guys on the field are looking at every one of those plays and looking inwardly first and then helping each other out picking each other up.
So I love the fact that Geno has that great accountability. We know he's competitive and is always looking to do right for the team, do right longer, and as many opportunities as he has to say, I can bounce right back, and that's one thing I've never worried about wit Geno, is his ability, whether it was a great game or game we didn't come out with the outcome we were looking for, by the time we hit that Wednesday he's moved on and taken the corrections. He knows what he can do to help himself and the team be better. I think that's where we are right now.
Q. What did you make of his performance?
SHANE WALDRON: Overall I think he did a great job until we got into the red zone, and I think that was more a cumulative effort, starting with me with putting guys in better positions in terms of some of the play calls, and then obviously executing down and ending with touchdowns rather than field goal attempt or ending up stuck in the fourth down situation.
I think with Geno, again, just showing that he can handle all the situations, all the plays, and, again, just like we're trying to do on offense, I think just putting together that complete game would be the thing we look back at and want to improve on moving forward.
Q. I think you guys are eighth in scoring despite having the third down struggles. What's your thought on just what the offense can be if you guys are able to clean up that area?
SHANE WALDRON: I still feel great. We got skilled players and offensive linemen, and whether it's the running backs, tight ends, receivers, they can execute at a high level.
So each week we've talked about maybe different areas as far as situational football that have taken a dip and then risen back up. We mentioned the third downs this past week. Did a better job there. The red zone took a little bit of a dip where we had had some success earlier in the year there. The first and second down execution has been maintained at a pretty high level right there.
So I think just putting all things together through the course of one game is really what we're striving for on offense. I think when we get to that point, as coaches, as players, then I feel like we can be competing with anybody in the league from a defensive standpoint.
Q. You said the red zone stuff starts with you. What needs to change on your end?
SHANE WALDRON: Yeah, I think I'll be critical on myself of looking back through every single game and the could have, would have, should have. But not necessarily just the could have, would have, should have, but like is there a better answer that we can give a player in a certain situation.
I felt like towards the end of the game there was a couple opportunities maybe I could have helped out the guys a little bit better with the calls. I think they did a nice job with their scheme at the end of the game there, particularly on the way they played the third down call down there in the red zone.
So just looking at those, being really hard -- like I said, looking inwardly first. What can I do to help the guys be better. What can we do as coaches to help them be better. Having that accountability and then that appreciation for how hard it is for those guys to go out and execute versus all these things, how can we get them in a place where they felt comfortable with everything every single week.
Q. The penalty that Ken got, what was he supposed to do different?
SHANE WALDRON: Yeah, I'm going to stay away from that one. Apologize.
Q. What is Jason Peters' readiness to play?
SHANE WALDRON: I think he's done a great job. Needed a little bit of a ramp up period here, and he's gotten there. So I think when that opportunity comes, he's got the offense down now, he understands the calls. Kind of came in here with at that great base knowledge of knowing what to do, so feel good about him whenever that moment comes for him to step up and be part of the active game day roster.
Q. The cadence, like green, 18, whatever teams use, do you know the origin of where that started?
SHANE WALDRON: The origin of the cadence? Gosh, that's a great question. Do you have the answer on that one?
Q. No.
SHANE WALDRON: Oh, man, I feel pretty good about where some of the systems came from, but as far as the cadence, I don't know the different ones. I think just as a product of everyone's own experiences you carry over some the cadences that you picked up from the start.
For me, a lot of the cadences have been very similar in some of the places I've been. Then you get together with the quarterbacks and come to an agreement of what -- because player ownership of the cadence is paramount. Coach really doesn't have much impact on the cadence. You're not out there playing.
So for us, it was a collaborative effort when I first got here of blending the cadence and making sure we're on the same page. I would love to get a little report on the origin of the cadences there, especially I'm sure it's changed and adapted.
I would love to know who the first team was that had to use the silent cadence. Some pretty good football history behind that question.
Q. I'll let you know. How do you decide what colors...
SHANE WALDRON: I can't give away our cadence while I'm standing up here. No, every team has a different system with what their verbiage does or doesn't mean within the cadence. Like I said, I think we settled on ours and have a pretty good system we feel good about.
Q. You said better play calls in the red zone. Do you mean protection? Scheme? Choice of routes? What is your perspective?
SHANE WALDRON: I would say all of the above. I think, again, putting our guys in the best position to succeed at the end of the game. I think there is an opportunity here and there on a couple of those without getting into scheme specifics where I can do a better job and will do a better job moving forward.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports