EDDIE FAULKNER: Before we get started, couple things I want to say. Number one. I'm super excited about the opportunity. Thankful to Coach Tomlin, the Rooney family, Omar, anybody involved in this decision to give me an opportunity. Super excited about it.
That's the first thing I want to say.
Second thing, Matt Canada is a friend of mine. Like we're friends. I care about his wellbeing. I care about his family. Our wives are friends, our parents are friends, our kids are friends kids. We spend a lot time together. Love the dude. I couldn't say enough good about Matt Canada.
So it's a little bit bittersweet in that way because when you sit back and see all that goes on and all that's being said about him in the offense -- and we all, and I'm speaking for the offense, the staff -- we all felt that and we're all part of that. Nobody is absolving themselves from anything that has happened in that regard. We feel like we let him down.
I got to say that, because that's what a real one would do, and he's a friend of mine and that's not going to change.
So I got to get that off.
And then the third thing is, you know, I feel a little bit sorry for ya'll. You got two light skinned brothers playing as coordinators and ya'll got get them pictures right. My wife going back and forth with TA's wife, talking about, oh, I guess your husband is my husband today. So you'll have to get that right so we can stop having them conversations.
I wanted to say those things, man, just get it out in the open. Matt is my guy. That ain't going to change just because we fell on some rough times. I stand by that.
Q. What kind of imprint would you like to put on this offense?
EDDIE FAULKNER: I think one thing Coach said in his press conference about why I was put in this position is my communication ability with people. That's always been something that's come natural to me, something I enjoy doing.
I think anybody who has played with me in the past would tell that you that Coach Faulk is a good dude, a good guy to play for. I'm really thankful for the fact that Coach noticed that, time well spent here in Pittsburgh, and so that's super exciting to know that and gives you confidence moving forward and being in front of the group.
Q. What does this opportunity mean to you on a personal level?
EDDIE FAULKNER: It's awesome. The way this all happened, there was no time to get caught up in any of that, you know what I'm saying? We got to play the Bengals in a couple days. That was it. That was my sole focus. There was really no like, oh, this could segue into this or that. This was all about getting ready for the Bengals, and that has been my only focus, I promise you.
Q. What's the dynamic like between you Sully on game days? You guys be in communication?
EDDIE FAULKNER: Absolutely. Absolutely. Like when I talked to the guys the other day, one of the first things I said to them is talked them about good teamwork is communication. I don't care if you're talking about within your family, you got to communicate. That's player to player, coach to player, coach to coach.
So he and I are going to work real hard to be in lock step with each other. On game day, any play caller wants to be narrowly focused on what he needs to do and I'm not going to interfere with that.
At the same time, we're going to have enough conversations so when we go into that game atmosphere we're all on the same page when the chips start to fall out.
Q. What about during the week? What are your responsibilities? What will you do day to day?
EDDIE FAULKNER: So day to day I'm organizing everything. I'm running the meetings. I think Coach mapped it out. Everything a coordinator would do, that's what I've been entrusted to do.
Q. How does the way that you're organizing things, how much of that was a foundation you made using the running back room? Coach said he really liked how you were using and running the room. How much of what you're doing now did you start there?
EDDIE FAULKNER: Just me in general, I'm a detailed guy. That's how I operate. I'm probably on the spectrum somewhere. In all seriousness, that's how I have to operate. That's how I operated the running back room, so that's how I'm operating anything that has to do with the offense or staff. To make sure we're squeezing down being tightening up, closing all the space so when we go into a game the guys can execute and play fast. That's the focus, and I feel like I can bring somebody to the table in that regard.
Q. On game day, where will you guys physically be?
EDDIE FAULKNER: I'll be right there close to Sully, you know what I mean? Like I said, he's going to want to be locked into the game and seeing what he's seeing and dial the plays up. I don't want to interfere with that. I wouldn't want that to be the case for me.
So we'll be next to each other and have conversations in between series to map a plan forward and we'll roll.
Q. So to be clear, on the sideline?
EDDIE FAULKNER: Absolutely, yes.
Q. For the guys who may been in your room, what did you tell them about how you're going to lead and what they can expect from you?
EDDIE FAULKNER: I want to be myself. What they're going to get, I feel like if you get around a bunch of different good capable men, you empower them to do their job.
We got a bunch of really good coaches all across the board. We got guys in our auxiliary staff who have been coordinators for a long time. Why wouldn't you use all of those resources? That's what I'm doing.
So I told the guys that's what we're going to do. I talked to them about communicating with each other. It comes back down communicating. How can we funnel our energy to communicate for a better product? That's it. That's where my main focus is going to be to make sure we're in lock step and guys are coordinated that way.
Q. How do you change how you improve without disrupting and throwing too much new into the mix with seven games left?
EDDIE FAULKNER: What I'm focusing on going back to the detail conversation is trying to take all the space out of it. So maybe been some tweaks in meeting schedules among coaches or players, just as we see fit. We also got to be really able to adjust with those things in the sense that times change.
This is Thanksgiving weekend for example, so the dynamics of the meetings and things like that may change, but we can't lose what we're trying to achieve out there on the field.
So that's the main thing that I think I'm bringing to the table, is just an organizational piece to make sure we're do thing the Is and crossing the Ts.
Q. So no big picture tactical changes?
EDDIE FAULKNER: No, I mean, you can't. We are in the middle of the season. You got to roll with what we been doing, putting game plans together, what our guys can execute, and we're going to continue to do that.
Q. Talked about your friendship with Matt. Who do you think other than him in your career either as a player or coach have you taken things from, have you learned things from? Who has been those guys for you?
EDDIE FAULKNER: I have several, you know what I mean? It would be one of those situations if I start naming them, I'm like dang I forgot to say such and such. If any of them are watching this they know who they are.
I'm thankful for them as well. Longest ride, I wouldn't be in this position without them.
Q. You got into coaching pretty young. Did you always know that was something you wanted to do?
EDDIE FAULKNER: I did. I did. You know, I'm a son of an educator with my parents, my mother, and always kind of took a liking to being able to affect lives. There was probably a point in my career where if you asked me if I wanted to coach in the league I probably would've said no because I felt like there was such an impact you could make with younger guys in the college level.
I quickly found out you can make probably a bigger impact with professional athletes.
So for me, that's always been the deal, being able to affect lives, being involved with those guys, and then football be a by-product of developing that.
Q. What has worked so well in the running game in recent weeks, and how do you augment that with the passing game?
EDDIE FAULKNER: It's hard to quantify and say because we come in every day to go to work, and we're chipping away every day in how we can get better.
That might be a tweak in a meeting, might be a tweak in a scheme or blocking scheme. The techniques they're playing up front is going to require us to block something this way. So just trying to get really, really detailed, keep the guys together, let them talk to each other on what they're seeing, and then trust in what we see when we go out there and go and execute.
So that's going to always continue to be the thing throughout.
Q. How would you describe your relationship with Kenny? Does he need to sort of evolve?
EDDIE FAULKNER: I think we have a good relationship, but it's the dynamics of it have changed because of the role I'm in. But I don't plan on doing anything crazy in the sense of, okay, all of a sudden now you listen to me. Kenny and Sully got a great relationship. That's why Kenny is in the role he's in. They'll continue that relationship.
Obviously in decision making types of circumstances I'll be involved in that because that's my job title now.
Q. You mentioned a couple of light skinned guys as coordinators. There aren't a lot of minority offensive coordinators in this league. I know you're trying to stay in the moment, but do you think this is something that it's impactful?
EDDIE FAULKNER: I mean, I would be lying if I said I didn't think it was a blessing. I totally understand that. I'm at the point in my career where I totally understand the opportunity that's there.
At the same time, it's not clouding what the task at hand is. The task at hand is beating Cincinnati. Period. I'm not caught in that.
Q. Mike said must score points and must engineer victory more fluidly. Like you said, you were a part of Matt's staff and hasn't happened to this point. My question is how do you envision that happening the rest of the season?
EDDIE FAULKNER: I'm going to empower guys around us. I'm going to have lots of conversations with them. We're going to do the our Is and cross our Ts the best we can in the hope we go out and put a good product on the field and execute and score points like you said.
If it don't turn out like we want, we get back in the lab the next week and do the same thing and just keep on trying to tweak the product until it's what we desire.
To be honest with you, I don't know if it will ever gets where you desire because you're always seeking excellence. That's where we are.
Q. You envision keeping the Najee/Jaylen split shared workload going forward?
EDDIE FAULKNER: We need both them guys, you know what I mean? Like it's really that simple to me. So that's what we'll continue to do.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports