Q. If you could just comment, I know he posted on Instagram story about David White. Was that in practice?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, noncontact obviously. Unfortunate. Just running a route. He was having a really good off-season, and just wish him well now during the recovery. We'll get him back and hopefully everything for him is positive.
But, yeah, just happened last week.
Q. Obviously he'll be a candidate to be placed on reserve IR would be the hope for the rest of the season.
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, I think so. Talk to Trent about that and definitely be a candidate for that.
Q. You mentioned last week that talking about how Trevor has been more of a vocal leader. Have you ever been on a team with a really good quarterback who you didn't think was all that into being a leader? Just a talented quarterback who could get the job done but as far as leadership was so, so?
DOUG PEDERSON: You know, I mean, you kind of lump all the great ones and all the good quarterbacks in that boat I guess. They're good leaders in the locker room, off the field, you know, with the coaching staff.
Look, it's not about necessarily being all vocal. I played with one the greatest in Brett and he wasn't a vocal guy but he just led by example and spoke up when he had to.
And Trevor is very similar that way. He speaks when he has to, but just things we've seen this off-season have been very positive that way, and we just got to continue to grow in that direction.
Q. How much do you sense the way last year ended is serving as fuel for him? You know what it does for you, but for him.
DOUG PEDERSON: I think it's fuel, motivation for him, you know, to compete this year, to stay healthy this year, to lead better this year, and maybe demand more this year.
Those are all positive traits that can come out of something as negative as the end of last year.
Q. Third year with Evan Engram. What sort of growth have you seen?
DOUG PEDERSON: Evan just continues to improve, just understanding defense, our system, you know, how he and Trevor are on the same page. Evan has done a nice job leading his room, him and Luke both, two veteran guys in there.
Evan was a great addition for us three years ago and continues to really impress. And really he's another one of those guys that's taken more of that vocal stance, especially with the offense. He's also somebody that backs it up on the field.
So he's done a nice job. Continues to lead by example obviously. And, again, he's not always the vocal guy, but when he needs to he will.
Q. How important is it to have a good core of vocal and nonvocal leaders on the team?
DOUG PEDERSON: It's good. I don't have to yell and scream all the time and motivate. When it comes from their peers, it carries a lot more weight.
Q. How confident are you that you know what kickoffs are going to look like next year, or is there still some mystery?
DOUG PEDERSON: Still some mystery. Still working out some things. It's good this off-season to really I think vet out what we can and can't do, you know, with angles and blocks and different types of returns and all kinds of things that we're continuing to work through.
I think it's going to take pre-season, pre-season games to really fully understand what it's about. But I think for us, it's been good because we get all our guys out there and get some stuff on tape that we can study and kind of work through some kinks that way.
Q. Chiefs talk about not using a kicker for kickoffs.
DOUG PEDERSON: Who is kicking?
Q. (Indiscernible.)
DOUG PEDERSON: Justin Reid.
Q. But you guys could use Logan Cook, (indiscernible.) (Laughter.)
DOUG PEDERSON: Great idea. That's why you're on that side of the room.
Q. A lot is made this time of year about identity, who you want to be and who you are. Do you have a sense of who you want to be and who you are right now?
DOUG PEDERSON: I mean, I guess yes and no to answer the question. It's early. No pads are on and we're still working through.
And this time of year it's about the teaching, right, and really I think establishing some philosophy, all three phases.
I think you kind of as a coach look big picture and kind of have an idea what it looks like and what it could look like. I think that stuff evolves, and really evolves as the season progresses, too, right? As you get into September and October you're never a finished product; a lot of things can happen early in the season.
So I think we're working through that right now.
Q. In your head what do you want it to be?
DOUG PEDERSON: I mean, you've heard the guys talk a lot about. I mean, we've talked a lot about it. You definitely want to be a physical football team. Want to be a smart football team. Don't want to beat yourself obviously.
Those are all I think three obvious traits that you want your football team to be.
And then ultimately schematically it just depends on how the season goes and what begins to unfold.
Q. What are you guys tinkering with this off-season?
DOUG PEDERSON: Well, the kickoff. Kickoff and kickoff return. That's a big thing. You know, we been working some red zone a little bit more. You know, really, again, this is a time of the year where it's about development. It's about teaching. It's about the fundamentals. I don't think so much we're tinkering with a lot of things.
But at the same time, developing our young players and seeing what you have and can they handle playing, getting snaps with -- let's say it's a young offensive lineman. Can he get the reps with the starters? Or as a D-linemen, can he get the reps with your starters, secondary guys?
So if there is any tinkering that goes on, that's probably where it is right now with the personnel and growth and developing those young players.
Q. Any of those young players that maybe didn't play a lot last year that stood out to you so far to this point?
DOUG PEDERSON: You know, the two, three on offense. You look at what Brenton is doing, what Parker is doing. Parker has taken a really good step forward, really good off-season.
Cooper Hodges is coming back and getting opportunities out there looking really good.
You know, Tank. Tank is another one offensively. Just where he's at, maturity level and understanding the offense. I think defensively Tyler Lacy taking another step this year, even though he played a little bit last year. Ventrell Miller coming back off the injury is having a good off-season. And the way he's moving around, can he carry that into training camp?
You know, and then even just some of the young rookies, you know, Jarrian Jones is getting opportunities out there. Tre Prince is getting opportunities out there. You know, stuff like that.
And that's all part of the development, right? That's all part of this time of year and making sure those guys are in a position to help.
Q. ...listed off all last year draft picks. How important is that first true off-season for these guys?
DOUG PEDERSON: I think it's, yeah, it's big, going into year two for them. They've had an off-season to kind of rest and get healthy obviously, and then going into year two there is confidence there. We understand their ability and what they can do.
You know, that's the part that as coaches we have to see, and plugging them in and see where they can help us. You know, because when you finally get down to your 53, it's all 53 are available on game day.
You know, all these guys have done a nice job this off-season. Even the guys that were injured and missed the season are all contributing and doing a nice job.
Q. Compared to last year, when you made a cognizant effort to spend more time with the defense, to divide your time a little bit, how would you assess so far, and especially knowing, like you said, the hope that is Ryan can handle the defense in terms of how you've divided your time?
DOUG PEDERSON: Still involved really in all three phases. Again, this time of year, very confident on the defensive side that Ryan can handle that and he's done it, he's proven that in his career.
You know, it just gives me the flexibility to spend time in all three areas and really get a good handle on where we are as a team and how we can -- how I can adjust certain things to fit us.
Q. What are you seeing in Arik? I know he's been limited on field, but maybe some of the conversations in the classroom, stuff like that.
DOUG PEDERSON: Armstead?
Q. Yeah.
DOUG PEDERSON: He and I, just conversations on the field. I think he's going to be a really good leader once -- obviously right now it's tough for him because he's not out there and competing with the guys.
But he's one of those players that you really don't need to see a lot because he has a track record and history there. What he brings is that leadership. He brings a confidence level. He's been there. He's been at the top of the pinnacle. Been to Super Bowls, NFC Championship games. He knows how to do it.
I think that's the part that I'm encouraged by, and he and I have had conversations about that and just looking forward to him getting out there and really mixing it up with the guys.
Q. You've spoken about the value of the experience the agree agents like Arik and Ronald. It's early and they're learning the system. How have you seen that applied so far and benefitting the team as a whole?
DOUG PEDERSON: I just think, one, it gives you I think depth, right? It gives you depth at those positions.
It gives you flexibility, especially in the D-line, right, to move some pieces around, first, second down, third down, right, and where Arik can plug in. He can plug in on end, three-tech. Trayvon can be an end, a three-tech.
So there is some -- it'll be really nice once we get them all out there together to see how all that plays a part. Same way in the secondary. With Ronald, a veteran guy, he comes in here competing for that spot and just really embracing the opportunity.
At the same time, being able to lead some of us, yeah, because we got some young guys at the corner position. Being able to I think show them how to practice, how to study, how to prepare, are all things that guys like that really bring to us.
Q. Besides David, healthy last week, no other injuries? Do you have a timeline in terms of Arik, Gabe and, Roy?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, I think, yeah, David is the only one that's the significant one. Those other guys should be cleared and ready to go for training camp.
Q. Any absences anticipated on the field?
DOUG PEDERSON: No, thank you. Just Josh. I think he's the only one.
Q. (Indiscernible.)
DOUG PEDERSON: Not this time. Cam is here.
Q. Do you plan to do the mandatory training camp the way you did it last year?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yes, yes.
Q. (Indiscernible.)
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, I mean, I'll be selective with those guys. Again, it's about development and growth, and the more time we can work with young players getting more reps is beneficial for us as a whole.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports