Q. You expect everybody to be here today? Anybody missing or excused.
DOUG PEDERSON: The only one that won't be here today is Cam. He's been traveling -- with the new baby and everything he has been going back and forth to Dallas and spending time there. Obviously this time of year there is weather and flight issues and different things, so he's the only one that won't attend today.
Q. I going to ask you, you aware of the lawsuit that was filed over the weekend about McManus, and kind of give us an idea about your reaction when you heard about?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, saw the article that came out. Obviously disappointing to hear the news that took place. You know, other than that, honestly, that it's a legal matter at this time. Can't really comment until more information is gathered.
Q. But that's the first you...
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, first I heard of it, yes.
Q. I know you don't want to answer, it alleges that this was like some party going on on the flight. Is that accurate, or is that not what that flight looks like?
DOUG PEDERSON: I mean, a typical flight is not that way. It's a business trip. It's a business trip. That's how we approach it from an organizational, from a league standpoint.
For that, when I read that, that part of it is disappointing.
Q. Was Brandon released because of performance? Anything to do with this? Why was he released?
DOUG PEDERSON: I think there was a couple reasons. Yeah, performance. Obviously in this business, whether it's a coach or player, it's performance-driven, right?
Then you start talking about contracts and the amount of contracts and the number, dollars and cents that go into it a little bit, the age of the player.
A lot of things can factor into it. The fact that, yeah, it's a position that -- it's a key position. It's critical. It's valuable because it gives us as a team points on the board or not.
And then if we have an opportunity to draft somebody, you know, looking forward, then we take advantage of that. So I think there is several factors. And not just in this case, in Brandon's case, but I think that is the same way with any position we look at.
Q. From to the time you made that decision, you guys didn't know anything about this?
DOUG PEDERSON: None of this, no. Right, right.
Q. How is the seating done on that flight to London? Staff separate from players?
DOUG PEDERSON: I'm not going to get into a ton of those questions right now until, again, more information.
But we sit down. Just maybe a brief comment. We do sit down and want to make sure that the players are together and coaches are together and staff is together.
Everybody is comfortable and has spaces.
Q. Mac Jones, what has your encounter been like so far and what do you think about him as a player?
DOUG PEDERSON: He's the ultimate pro. He's done a great job since he's been here, spending time studying the offense, getting caught up in the offense.
You know, you can see why can -- I liked him coming out of college, you know, when looking at quarterbacks back then. We're excited to have him. Gives us a great room with he and CJ as kind of competing in that role, and he's done a nice job. Throws a really good ball. He's smart. He's eccentric. Can be a little quirky as times.
You see him on the field doing some different things, but that's the joy and the fun I think that he wanted to get back to a little bit, and he's done a great job for us.
Q. Getting some of the pressure off a guy, I mean, for him coming home, set a guy free to where a guy develop to where people thought he would be?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, I think he can. Change of scenery is good sometimes for players and coaches. For him to get back here around family, friends has been good for him. I think he's embraced it since he's been here.
Q. When you let Mike go, was the search for a new DC like a blank canvas for you, or did you kind of have Ryan in mind?
DOUG PEDERSON: It was kind of both, you know. It was a blank canvas from the standpoint of how -- obviously knowing the defensive personnel and the way the league has -- you can call yourself a base 3-4 defense, but you're really a four-down front because of so much nickel offense and nickel defense on the field.
And so for me, it was finding the right fit, the right person. Ryan was in Atlanta, and unfortunately Arthur Smith was let go so he was a candidate that was available and definitely had piqued my interest based on his career, where he had been, who he had worked with and for in Coach Payton in New Orleans and coaching the D-line, and we feel like that's a strength of ours here.
He was somebody I wanted to talk to.
Q. So was it about the scheme that he might bring or just the idea that he might bring out whatever potential you had on your roster, he was going to bring it out?
DOUG PEDERSON: Both. Both. Because if you look at where he was in New Orleans and where they ranked defensively when he was there in Atlanta, the quick turnaround he did in Atlanta, yeah, then you say scheme.
But your scheme only works if you got the right guys and the right players. I think that was also enticing for Ryan to come here to Jacksonville as well because of the type of players we had that would fit his scheme.
Q. Ryan last week wouldn't really comment on some of the younger guys especially on the secondary because he is trying them at that nickel spot in the outside. You knew the personnel and you felt there was a match. Particularly was it the fact that he runs more dime or quarters? Was it because you have young guys? Was there a specific point of emphasis that you said this is a match?
DOUG PEDERSON: You know, obviously youth helps, but I think the fact -- when I talked to Ryan and when I talked to and interviewed all the different candidates that we did, the development of our roster and everybody on the roster was something that was intriguing to me.
That's something that we needed to address, needed to fix. That's not just on that side of the ball. It's offense as well.
So I think listening to these candidates, coordinators talk about the development and what they do and can do with young players and how they can get them to perform, again, is very intriguing and very sort of -- the alignment for me.
It's no different than myself being able to develop quarterbacks, being around quarterbacks and things of that nature. So that part of it, I think the development aspect of it, was the biggest key for me.
Q. How many guys did you actually talk to, by the way?
DOUG PEDERSON: How many was it? Eight? Six or eight. Don't quote me on that.
Q. At least a half dozen?
DOUG PEDERSON: Let's call it half a dozen.
Q. ...what he went through lat year, where have you seen the most growth in Trevor? Not necessarily physical.
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, physical we know about. We got to keep him healthy. Mentally, number one, I think the way he leads this football team. He's becoming the vocal leader in the locker room, on the field, in meetings. He's engaging.
When we got him three years ago, he was just learning or system and kind of quiet and just trying to go through the motions a little bit of just trying to adapt to us and get a feel for us.
Now he's engaging and giving us ideas. Now he's giving us suggestions and ideas and really becoming another coach, a set of eyes on the field.
And that's just his growth. That is his development as a quarterback and not changing a lot schematically and keep -- repetition goes a long way, and utilizing that repetition to benefit your football team.
That's where Trevor has really taken the next step. Now, it's got to translate on the field, right, into wins and losses and touchdowns versus INTs.
But that's where I've seen the biggest growth in the few years we've been together.
Q. Is he behind schedule in what you had hoped or what it normally takes?
DOUG PEDERSON: No, I mean, look, I learned this back when I went to Green Bay as a player under Mike Holmgren. It takes us it takes three to four years. It takes that time to develop into the quarterback that you want to become or you want for your team.
And it's just not an overnight deal. It's not a plug-and-play deal. Some teams, some guys are going to have success, but there is that just understanding the game and learning the game and studying the game.
For Trevor, he's now into that third year with us, and so that part I think for us it's the encouraging part as an offensive staff and just myself now going into that third year. This is kind of this jump year that he can have moving forward.
Q. To what extent has the kicking competition, what have you been able to go between Cam and Riley, where does that stand?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, we are giving them equal opportunity on the field. Each one -- when we have kicking days they're getting equal shots, whether it's the field goals or kickoffs.
Again, yes, it's competition, but at the same time, we're getting everybody some work and seeing where they are. Both guys have done a great job. Cam, obviously we're still learning him and what he can do, but he's got some leg talent. So does Riley.
It'll be interesting in camp see where it plays out.
Q. Does Riley have the accuracy that he always has at this point?
DOUG PEDERSON: Accuracy?
Q. Yeah, does he look...
DOUG PEDERSON: He looks great. Looks good. Making all -- I mean, they make some; they miss some. Not so worried about it in May. In September and October becomes an issue. He's doing a nice job.
Q. Does where did you see (indiscernible) more at the line, decision making once the play starts, everything?
DOUG PEDERSON: Kind of all of it. Decision making. Ball is coming out of his hand faster. Quicker decisions. Accuracy, timing. You know, and, again, just the dialog we're having out there as maybe CJ and Mac are taking their rep, he's back there talking to myself or Press, Mike, ans just always engaging, and that's what you want to see out of your young quarterback.
Q. OTAs as early next year, getting rid of some of the spring stuff and expanding training camp? Would you be in favor of that?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, just to see how -- the direction they want to go. The off-season is great to kind of build a foundation, you know, and really see your young players. Goes back to the developmental piece of your young guys.
This is the time you want to start that foundation. You know, the players probably wouldn't like training camp being extended. It's long enough as it is. You know, but, looking anything that we do if it helps the game and helps better the game and it's moving the game forward, I'm all for that.
Q. Does and 18 game schedule moving forward?
DOUG PEDERSON: For the fans?
Q. For the players.
DOUG PEDERSON: Well, it's more exposure, more opportunities, more money, you know. And so, yeah, I think that's moving it forward.
I think there will be a lot of dialog around that, but definitely headed in the right direction.
Q. Gabe Davis back a little bit, but do you expect to see him out a little bit more the next three weeks?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, going to go slow with him. He worked in last week. He is going to work in some more today. Just keeping him out of the team stuff.
Just don't want to get tangled up and something to happen out there. A lot of the individual stuff, he's getting a lot of work with Trevor right now, which is good. Just going to go slow with that one.
Q. Same with Arik and I know Roy was also working on the side.
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, they're working off to the side. Just don't want any setbacks. It's early. These are veteran guys that know how to play, know how to work.
Other than probably Gabe getting some timing with Trevor, we are just going to pump the breaks.
Q. Foye had the noncontact last week. Was that from something during the off-season?
DOUG PEDERSON: His wrist. He had the off-season deal with his wrist, so, yeah.
Q. What would you like to say from Tank Bigsby into his second year? How would you like evolve as running back now?
DOUG PEDERSON: Got it in. (Smiling.)
I'll tell you this: Tank has done a great job going into year two. He's a smart player. For him now it's just understanding what he is seeing particularly in the run game, anticipating where the hole is going to be. It's like a movie screen and that screen is constantly moving and changing.
For him it's being able to see that and react. Then again, kickoff return, you saw last in the season we saw him doing a nice job there. Keep this growth and development going with him.
But he's done a really nice job. He's a hard worker. Practices extremely fast, which I love. You know, eager to get the pads on and see what he can do.
Q. What are your thoughts on the NFL allowing guardian caps and the push for safety?
DOUG PEDERSON: I think the guardian caps are a good addition, especially in training camp when we're in pads. Does protect against the head concussions and things like that. Has reduced some of those injuries.
You know, obviously proposing that they can use them in games, I think it's a player preference at that point. I don't know what that would look like on a player in game.
Look, it's all about player safety, and that's one of the thing that league has been big on and we've been big on, supporting that.
You don't have a league if you don't have players and we got to keep or players healthy. That's a big part of it.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports