Q. (Question off microphone.)
HEATH FARWELL: I knew that question was coming. Yeah, he's doing a good job. He's doing a really good job. But the reality is every single one of these guys are competing against all these other rosters. We're going to keep taking a look across the league. Right now he's our guy, and let's see what he does with it. He's going to get a lot of opportunities today. He'll get all of them. He'll get off the kickoffs today as well as on the preseason game this week. We'll see what he does with it.
Q. Right now what's working in Ryan's favor? What's he doing that you like the most, both in terms of field goal extra point team and kickoff?
HEATH FARWELL: He's got elite leg strength. That's hard to find across this league with not only kickoffs but field goals, as well. Great leg strength, accuracy is improving. He's doing a good job for us, so we're happy where he's at. So like I said, let's see where he goes with it. I think he's had a really good camp, and he's put some good stuff on tape, and like I said, I love what Elliott was doing. They had a great competition, but unfortunately the situation is what it is. But let's see what Ryan can do with it.
Q. This has got to be the tallest kicker-holder combination in the NFL, right?
HEATH FARWELL: Absolutely. They're giants. They're giants. They look like they could play other positions on the field. That's a good thing. I'd rather have that with the leg strength both those guys have. That's a big part of their size for sure.
Q. Last week you gave a couple of young guys some love for the work they've been doing on special teams. It looked like on Monday night the guys were getting after it a little bit in some of those drills. Did anybody else catch your attention, trust to earn that trust from you?
HEATH FARWELL: They all improved, whether it's those young rookies or some of the veterans. We had some good competitions out there. We had 11 guys reach their all-time max speeds, and that's just not this season, that's the last two years.
I think that's a credit to those guys. They're working, practicing really, really hard, competing. That's what we're looking for, who's going to compete. That was under the lights. That was a cool atmosphere. But guys are starting to really feel that pressure, and that's -- we want to see what they perform under pressure.
Yeah, we had some great battles. Some of the young players, Josh Thompson did a good job, Montaric has done a good job. Those guys are all really stepping their game up, trying to prove they can play on Sundays for us. Those are two guys right there that I think have really stepped it up and they're coming along really nicely.
Q. Looked like Tyrell Adams and Chapelle Russell were getting after it on Monday night. What do you like about those guys out there?
HEATH FARWELL: Yeah, Deuce and KC had some good battles, TA, those guys are battling. That's the reality of this team is there's 90 guys out here now, and we're going to get down to 53 here real quick in the next couple weeks. It's a matter of they're feeling that, and that's a good thing. That's a really good thing.
They understand the urgency of it, and so guys are battling, but I think the best part is they battle out there in that one-on-one drill and you saw some tensions, all that good stuff, some good competition, and then we go to a punt drill and they have to work right next to each other and communicate and they were helping each other, and that's what the team is about. We can compete against each other, get each other better, then we're having to punt and I'm having to work with the guys right next to me as a guard or a tackle or a wing and I have to work with him and communicate with him and be on the same page.
Q. Jamal Agnew has been working his way back, but when he's healthy does a kick returner have such a thing as a green light to return at any time he wants? Do you believe in that? Does that exist?
HEATH FARWELL: I love it. When you have a guy like him back there, as far as I'm concerned, I trust him to make good decisions depending on that hangtime. But yeah, I'm going to give him the green light. He's a guy that I trust, making great decisions. He's shown to be an elite returner in this league for a long time. Yeah, we're lucky to have him, and he'll definitely have the green light to bring him out.
Q. There's always something you have to worry about, but how comforting is it when you have the punter and the kicker and you don't have to worry about those guys?
HEATH FARWELL: That's huge, and I would also add the snapper. Those are the three positions that -- those guys, to have a solid group you can trust is so valuable, so I can worry about the other guys. I have a million other positions I've got to worry about even just even in the preseason of getting 11 on the field, which is such a tough task for special teams coaches at times because there's so many guys up and down and rosters and all that. To be able to trust those guys to do their jobs every single time and then I can focus on the coverage units a little more and punt protection, all those little details, it's so valuable.
Q. Can you do some things on punt coverage based on the fact that Ross is down there sometimes? He's kind of sneaky and getting involved in getting downfield after he makes a snap.
HEATH FARWELL: Yeah, some of these other guys on punt team would probably be sad to hear this, but Ross is leading our team in tackles in the preseason. He's a fantastic cover guy down the field. We don't do anything different as far as our coverage, but I think it'll affect other teams. They're going to have to account for him. A lot of times you get those snappers run free and just to have your returners make him miss, that doesn't happen with Ross.
It's something they're going to have to game plan and be aware of where he's at and probably have to put a body on him like you do the other linebackers and interior guys.
Q. To be clear, when you talk about those guys reaching max speed, you're talking about guys on coverage down the field?
HEATH FARWELL: Yes, and that drill we did the other night, that one-on-one drill, we had 11 guys reach their all-time max of the last two years, so that just shows you the ability to compete, where our guys are at physically going into this camp. I think it shows what they're realizing what it's going to take to not only make this team but to also make this team get better is the way we have to practice. I think that's super important. It's something I don't take lightly. I think it's something that we can't miss as a group, and it's something we're kind of celebrating, that this is what it's going to be to take us to where we want to go.
Q. Gunners in a lot of the special teams units tend to lean toward those defensive depth positions, but are any of those backup receivers in the conversation for some of these gunner spots and different spots on special teams?
HEATH FARWELL: Yeah, we have a couple young receivers that can do it. Tim Jones has done a good job out there. Kevin has done a good job. We have a couple guys that have stepped up to do it, and I know a lot of times it's Rudy out there, it's Claybrooks out there, but those young guys are competing just as much, and they're getting better. That's the cool thing. I think we have a good group of depth at that gunner position that have all done really well, and you saw some of that the other night. But even in the preseason games they've done a good job out there.
Q. Joint practices next week; how beneficial are those for your special teams unit?
HEATH FARWELL: I think they're huge. There's so much we can't do just because of depth. We're having these guys run down the field, a million reps just because you wear them out. They can't run, and scout teams it's tough for. So to be able to compete against another group, it'll be fantastic to compete. You saw the competing the other night. Well, it'll be even more when you're competing against another jersey color. I think it'll be a great test for our guys and a young team, that's what you need. Let's see what they do versus another team. It's another kind of preseason game-ish to kind of evaluate.
Q. Do you have to pay close attention to a depth chart, not the special teams depth chart but the offensive and defensive depth chart to know, okay, I love this guy on special teams but he might not make the team?
HEATH FARWELL: Yeah, I don't necessarily look at the depth chart, but we have great communication between all three coordinators, and Trent and Doug, as well, of who they like, who I like, and kind of work together on it because it does factor in. If it's somebody that Press likes, then I'd better give him some more reps to see what he can do for me, and vice versa. We work really well together. If somebody I like, well, he'd better probably look at him more at a certain position on offense. Those are things we look at all the time. That's what good staffs will do is communicate and try to get those guys in those positions, and it's part of evaluation.
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