Rams Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer – November 27, 2014
(On OL Rodger Saffold’s performance this season)
“I think Rodger’s playing well. Doing the things we expect him to do, extremely strong and physical in the running game, pass protection, doing a nice job communicating with (LT) Greg (Robinson) over there on that side. Again, guy’s a really good player. Again, the more he plays with Greg the more comfortable they become, but I think he’s doing a real good job.”
(On if Saffold and Robinson have settled in to their respective positions)
“Sure, I think so. I think he’s comfortable. I think you’re starting to see some of the non-verbal communication between the two of them, which is good. Stepping on a guy in an inside blitz and things like that, it’s good to see. Yeah, I think he’s very comfortable. Again, those two guys being next to each other certainly helps.”
(On what challenges the Raiders defense present)
“Obviously, up front, really good front four. (Raiders DE) Antonio Smith, I’ve gone against him a number of times, really good player. (Raiders DE) Justin Tuck faced him a bunch, too. Real crafty group, I mean, experienced, a lot of counter moves and things like that to give people problems. I think (Raiders LB) Khalil Mack is what he’s advertised to be, move him in a lot of different spots. Probably the most impressive of all of them is just the way (Raiders DB Charles) Woodson is playing. Wow, I mean to do what he’s doing at his age and making plays that he’s making. You watch him match-up on some of these young tight ends and receivers in the league, it’s pretty impressive. So, a very good group. Again, I thought in situations like Kansas City needed to go make plays, they kind of turned it loose and brought some pressure. So, I think it’s a good group we’re playing.”
(On where to look for Mack)
“You’ll see him all over the place. He plays usually tight end side in the base stuff. They move him all over the place in sub, but he’s around the quarterback a bunch. They’ll know where he is, believe me.”
(On if the Raiders move Tuck around a lot like they do with Mack)
“They do. He’s plays usually end in their base stuff. Then they move him around, put him on the guards quite a bit on third down and passing situations. I think that’s one of the things that they do a good job of almost like an offense, they try to attack you by putting their people in different spots.”
(On if Woodson is still covering the slot)
“Oh yeah. Who did I see him matched-up on today? I saw him matched-up on somebody that you’re surprised to see at his young age, I guess. You watch him battle with (Chargers TE) Antonio Gates. I mean, just the guy’s phenomenal. Still a good blitzer, they still bring him. He’s in the box getting dirty. So, I think like I said, there’s a lot of things that are impressive about the group, the veterans guys they got, Khalil Mack, but you watch the guy that’s kind of driving everything and you can see No. 24 is very involved.”
(On how the recent performance by the receiver corps helps game planning)
“Well I think obviously, we’re excited that the hard work’s paying off. These guys work hard for a long time. It comes in waves, we know that. You wish you can say, ‘Hey this week’s going to be this guy’s week, whether it’s a tight end, running back, whoever.’ but it doesn’t. I think in the second half they came out and wanted to take (WR) Kenny (Britt) away from us. I mean, they did some things from a coverage standpoint to try to double him. To have (WR Stedman Bailey) Sted step up and not catch one but two, one was called back, touchdowns. It was great to see. He’s been working real hard. Those guys work with (QB) Shaun (Hill). They’re getting more and more familiar each week, which has been good.”
(On coaching TE Cory Harkey)
“One of my favorites of all-time. You probably have a handful of guys that you look back over 17 years, I think Cory Harkey’s probably in top two or three for sure. You just love his passion. You love his energy. You love the fact that it’s not about getting him the ball. He doesn’t want the ball. He just wants to go hit people, but just what a wonderful young man. Again, I told his father a couple weeks ago if my son grows up to be like Cory Harkey then I’ll be extremely pleased.”
(On the distribution of carries and the performance of the running backs)
“Again, I think we feel really good with what all of those guys are doing. (RB) Tre (Mason) is showing us he’s able to kind of carry the weight of the running game at some times, but we’re still going to mix other guys in. (RB) Benny’s (Cunningham) going to get carries. Got (RB) Zac (Stacy) going a little bit going last week in the game, played some snaps. Benny’s huge for us on third down. He does a lot of things for us in the third-down game in terms of pass protection and stuff like that. Again, you’ll see us, we’re rolling guys through all the time in practice. That group is a really strong group. Again, kind of going back to the earlier question, you never know who’s going to breakout. Again, just a big run here, a big play there, it can come from any three of those guys.”
(On what he thought when Harkey took that big hit in Tampa Bay and then returned two plays later)
“I was not stunned to see him out there. If you remember two years ago in the preseason, same type of thing happened. He kind of got hit in the leg. So, nothing that Cory Harkey does amazes us, but we sure are proud to have him. He’s a joy to coach.”
(On if Harkey lives up to his nickname of ‘Harkules’)
“I think so, yeah. I certainly would see him that way.”
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