Fisher, Schottenheimer (9/04) – transcripts & vids

Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher – September 4, 2014

(On what kind of coach Norv Turner was when he was at the University of Southern California)
“He was an outstanding coach. He didn’t do much coaching my last year there though. There was a pretty good secondary – Ronnie Lott, Dennis Smith and Joey Browner, I think he just sat and watched.”

(On if Turner ever disciplined him)
“No, we got along great. We had a chance…I worked with him for about a week when I left Philadelphia and joined the Rams in 1991. He was the receiver coach for a week and he took the coordinator job in Dallas, so I was with him for a week. I’ve worked against him many, many times. He’s an outstanding coach.”

(On what he expects from Vikings Offensive Coordinator Norv Turner)
“Well it’s well-coached (team). They’re fundamentally sound, they’re disciplined, they don’t hurt themselves, they protect the football. He’s a run game guy first and then everything comes off the run game. Obviously, that’s what we’re expecting this week with the talent they have at the running back position.”

(On if Vikings’ RB Adrian Peterson’s prediction of scoring on his first carry is a bold prediction)
“I think most backs in the league would look forward to scoring on their first carry of the season and most opposing coaches would hope that he doesn’t.”

(On how G Davin Joseph has adjusted to the team)
“He’s done great. Davin’s a pro, he takes really good care of himself. He came back to camp in real good shape. We actually thought about kind of watching the reps but we didn’t need to. He played well in these preseason games and he’s very experienced at the position. He’s quiet in nature but he talks the game very, very well from a communications standpoint on the line of scrimmage.”

(On how pleased is he with the team picking up the tempo going into the regular season)
“We’ve had two really good practices in the heat and they’ve pushed right through it and they’ve pushed each other right through it. Their attention level is very high in the meetings and they’re doing all the right things. They respect the opponent, they understand the challenges and they know it’s going to be a hard fought game, that’s how openers are. The challenge to them is to get to know an uncommon opponent and that’s what we’ve challenged them to do this week.”

(On if he will watch the NFL’s season opener tonight)
“Oh yeah. Most everybody’s going to watch it. Thirty percent of the country I’ve heard is going to watch it.”

Rams Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer – September 4, 2014

(On his sense of where the offense is at this point)
“Ready to go, excited about. It’s been a good week of practice. Been a little bit of an adjustment obviously getting Shaun (Hill) up to speed, but wow, what a pro. There’s not much he hasn’t seen when it comes to NFL football. He’s done a great job just kind of getting really nailed in everything we’re trying to do, get the guys going, communicating. It’s been really good.”

(On if there was some extra meeting time with Hill since the injury to QB Sam Bradford)
“A little bit, not too much. Again, the first couple of days. Again, try to get a feel for what he likes, what he’s comfortable with. There’s really not much that we were doing that he wasn’t comfortable with so we’ll be pretty much status quo. It’s been good communication and again, he’s had a good week of practice.”

(On QB Garrett Gilbert not having a center during individual warm-ups)
“I think that’s being a rookie. I think that might be what it is. The quarterback-center exchange, I think they might be freezing him out. Maybe he did something to make them mad, didn’t get breakfast or something.”

(On if there is anybody else to snap to Gilbert)
“We use the Strength Coach Rock (Gullickson). He does a great job. I think he’s got over 10,000 snaps in his career. Maybe he was stretching the guys.”

(On what he expects to see out of Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer’s defense)
“Obviously they play extremely hard. Went against him a number of times in Cincinnati. They do a lot of stuff on third downs. They create problems, they mug up the backers in the A-gaps and create different looks off of that. Gone against (Defensive Coordinator) George Edwards as well. Just a real sound scheme, really some good players. I think Chad Greenway is one of the most underrated linebackers in the league and a terrific football player. Again a lot of respect for Mike and his staff and the defense that we’ll see on Sunday.”

(On if the preseason tape of the Vikings is helpful)
“They’re not overly complicated, I mean they’re do what they do. We have a good idea of what they’re going to be front wise. Again, some of the preseason stuff, you get to see some of the new faces. You get to see (LB Anthony) Barr plaay a little bit, which is good. Watch him move around and see some of his skills. And see (CB Captain) Munnerlynn, who we knew last year from Carolina. But again, some new faces, that’s good to see in the preseason, but again, they’re not going to try and fool you with things. They’re just going to play good sound defense. They’re a good group, good unit.”

(On Barr)
“Playing very well. Again, getting used to playing off the ball some in some of the base stuff that they’re doing but obviously you see the athleticism. Got great length, very athletic, and then when he puts his hand down to rush the passer he’s obviously very good in that regard. Again, a good group.”

(On OG Davin Joseph)
“True pro, love him. I think last year he was kind of coming back of some bumps and bruises things like that. Wow, what a pro. Comes to work every day, probably one of the strongest guys we have up front in terms of just the sets he uses and getting his hands on people, things like that. But consummate pro. You watch him out here in a hot day like this, taking every rep and just working his tail off.”

(On if he expects to be able to use WR Tavon Austin more going into his second season)
“Yeah, I think so. Yeah, absolutely. Again, I think last year he was kind of hitting his stride before he went down with the ankle. He’s always going to give you a chance for explosive plays. But yeah there’s some things we can do certainly. Year two ­­he’s able to play a little bit faster. He’s not having to think as much as he was back last year and we’re excited to kind of see some of the things that he’ll bring to us. Even out here you don’t see his real speed until you get to Sundays because it’s a whole different level when he gets on the field on game day.”

(On how OL Greg Robinson is developing as a pass blocker)
“He’s doing a really good job. I think obviously, we all know he’s got great ability. I think with Greg it’s more of the consistency aspect that we’re looking for. He’ll have some great plays and he’ll make a mental mistake. He’s working, it’s obviously very different from what he did at Auburn. We knew that, that’s obviously was part of the deal. Has there been growing pains? Sure, but again, I think we see a guy that working hard. Him and (Offensive Line) Coach (Paul) Boudreau are spending extra time in the meeting rooms and he has not wavered one bit. I’ve not see his confidence drop or anything like that. Again, went out and played well at different spots at tackle and guard. Again, that’s what he’s going to need to do for us.”

(On what kind of tone are his veteran offensive lineman setting)
“Well, obviously it’s terrific when you have that group of guys. We’ve already talked about Davin but you’ve got Jake (Long), here’s a guy coming off an injury himself and trying to help obviously with Greg. Scott Wells, third year in the system, unbelievable. You’ve got Rodger (Saffold) playing left guard. I mean, it’s just a terrific group. Those guys I think give him a hard time, which they do with most rookies but again they’re there to help. They’ve all gone through it. We were laughing talking to Scott Wells he said, ‘You should have seen me as a rookie.’ I don’t know whether he got cut but I guess it wasn’t very pretty. Again, it’s a starting point and those guys have been good for him.”

(On if he thinks the offensive line feels more responsibility to help out QB Shaun Hill in his first game)
“I think with all football that Shaun’s played, I think they just want to do their part. I think they all trust Shaun, we all trust Shaun. Certainly as a play caller I trust Shaun. He’s a guy that’s easy to call plays for because you know he’s going to take care of the football. I would say to a man they’re all behind Shaun and they’re ready to do their part to help us go and play well and win the football game.”

(On how much of his playbook he has shown in preseason)
“Have we shown in the preseason? That’s a hard question. We’ve certainly held some things back, but again we’re to the point this year where we’re just going to do what we do. Again, we hope that the speed and the fundamentals that we play with make the difference. I don’t know, it’s hard to put a number on it. We’ve held some things back but we’ve also shown a lot of things that we’re going to run.”

(On how he gets all the quarterbacks work especially for Garrett Gilbert and newcomer Case Keenum who are still developmental players)
“Obviously, Case is going to have to do a lot of his on his own. I mean, it’s hard when you come in and you’re game planning. He’s spending time, the other quarterbacks have been good with him. I walked down their the other night and Austin (Davis) was in there spending time with him and obviously it helps to have smart guys. But we’re spending a little extra time with Austin Davis getting some throws because Shaun needs a lot of the throw because he hasn’t thrown to these guys a whole lot. Austin’s got to get his work after practice. Obviously, when you go to Garrett and Case they’re getting some work in scout team. For Case it’s more of learning the system and getting comfortable. Then obviously again we know Garrett’s here to develop and work on the scout team and give us a good look.”