Matt LAFLEUR
Brady, Bucs ready to begin title defence versus Dallas
Third-year Packers coach and longtime NFL offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur makes the call to do some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.
Q: Tell me why New York will not scare coach Robert Saleh?
A: Saleh has a very quiet confidence, and I think that he’s done it the right way. He’s earned everything he’s gotten in life. He works his tail off, he’s very smart. He’s a very efficient worker — probably one of the most efficient people I’ve ever been around in regards to how he works. He’s cut his teeth, man, he’s had to earn it. It’s amazing how sometimes things that don’t work out end up being a blessing in disguise, but it didn’t work out in Jacksonville, and he gets an opportunity to be the coordinator in San Francisco. What amazed me about what he was able to accomplish there is, yeah, certainly it took some time for them to build that defense up, but when they did, it was an elite-level defense, and it was a big reason why they went to the Super Bowl. But what was even more impressive, you look at a year ago, for them to lose the talent that they lost and still be one of the top defenses in the National Football League, I think that tells you everything you need to know about Robert Saleh.
Q: What is it about him that makes defensive players say, “I’ll run through a wall for him?”
A: I think he’s a real guy. There’s nothing phony about him. He obviously cares for his players. He earns their respect, but he also brings a lot of energy and passion. I think he’s an excellent communicator, and a great leader.
Q: Why will your brother Mike, the Jets’ offensive coordinator, have a successful partnership with Zach Wilson?
A: I think they will have a great partnership because I know how hard Mike works at it, he’s been trained the right way. Kyle [Shanahan, 49ers coach, has] done a great job with him and has really empowered him over the last couple of years to have more ownership in the offense, more say so. He works his tail off, and when you combine that with a player that’s as capable as Zach, I think that they will flourish together. I don’t think that’s gonna be necessarily easy or quick transition, I think they’re gonna have to go through their lumps together and grow together, but I think ultimately, those are two guys that will persevere through it and come out better on the other side.
Q: Why do you and Aaron Rodgers click?
A: I think there’s a lot of reasons why. No. 1, we both care. And I think we’re both really competitive. But there’s been just so much great collaboration between us — and it’s not only just him and I — it’s everybody in that room ... [quarterbacks coach] Luke Getsy, [offensive coordinator] Nathaniel Hackett. It’s been a fun process to kind of grow this thing together. I think there’s a lot of trust that has developed over time between both of us.
Q: What were your impressions of Zach Wilson during joint practice with the Jets last month?
A: I was really impressed. You can see the talent, just how effortless, how easy it is for him to throw the football. He’s got really good feet. But it was just cool to see how hungry he is ... asked great questions, is super-receptive ... so I’m excited to see how he progresses throughout the course of his career.
Q: What advice would you have for your brother about being a first-time play-caller?
A: Don’t ever look at the stats (laugh). It’s all about winning in this league, and I think a lot of times as a play-caller or coordinator, you get judged by where you rank in every category, but ultimately, all that matters is how are you winning games collectively as a football team, and if that means statistics, you just gotta do what’s in the best interests of the football team. And I think as long as you keep the focus there, then you got a chance to be successful.
Q: Your advice for Robert Saleh as a first-time head coach?
A: Where do I begin, ’cause it’s too much (chuckle). But I just think that you gotta always stay true to your core beliefs no matter how good or how bad it’s going. Which I know he will. To rely on other people I think is important part of it. You can’t do everything yourself. If you try to do that, then it can be overwhelming. But I think he’s done a great job of surrounding himself with good people that are about the team, and he can’t be afraid to rely on those people.
Q: What made Mike Shanahan a great coach?
A: There are so many qualities that he possessed that I think made him a great coach, but I think one of the things that I learned just was his attention to detail — not only attention to detail, but his ability to focus at such a high level for such a long period of time ... his ability to set a standard, and making sure that standard was met every day by everybody in the building, whether you’re a player or coach.
Q: How does Kyle Shanahan differ style-wise from his dad?
A: I think Kyle possesses all of those as well. I think style-wise definitely different personalities, I would say that just growing up in different eras. Kyle is as detailed as anybody I’ve ever been around, and I think that’s what makes him so great. I think he’s very creative, he’s got a great mind, he sees the game well, he sees it from really an all-22 perspective.
Q: What are the ideal traits of a Matt LaFleur football player?
A: Probably just smart, tough and competitive.
Q: Why is play-calling so much fun for you?
A: It’s always fun when you have good players (laugh). It’s a lot more fun when you have good players. I think it’s just kind of the chess match that you play a little bit versus the defense. There’s nothing more exhilarating than when you dial something up and it plays out exactly how you want it to. But you also have to have the people around you that enables you to go out there and execute whatever you draw up.
Q: What is your single best moment as a head coach?
A: Well, I could tell you the most bitter defeat was probably this last year in the NFC Championship game (against the Buccaneers). That was the most disappointing experience probably in my life. Just having some costly mistakes that it’s hard to recover from in a game like that.
Q: You received a lot of criticism for calling for a field goal down 31-23 with 2:05 and three timeouts left in the NFC Championship. Do you regret going for the field goal?
A: I’m always gonna be process-driven and processmotivated, so I do believe in our process, I think that was the right decision. It didn’t work out, so it doesn’t matter. Hindsight’s 20/20, so yeah, you regret not making a different decision when something doesn’t work out.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Phil Jackson, Vince Lombardi, Martin Luther King [Jr.]. Q: Favorite movie? A: “Gladiator.” Q: Favorite actor? A: Will Smith. Q: Favorite actress?
A: Jennifer Aniston.
TAMPA, Fla. — Lofty, maybe even gargantuan, expectations don’t faze Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. The reigning Super Bowl champions open the 2021 NFL season against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night, confident they have everything it takes — at least on paper — to become the first team to win back-to-back titles since Brady led the 2003 and 2004 New England Patriots to consecutive crowns. No one knows what it’s like to have a target on your back every week more than Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl winner who turned 44 during training camp — a few days after reminding teammates the first order of business is leaving last season behind.
The Bucs return all 22 starters from a top-10 offense and defense, however Brady and coach Bruce Arians stress talent alone doesn’t guarantee continued success.
“In one way, you’re not really defending it much, it’s kind of in the books. They can’t take away what we’ve done. It’s really just a whole other year and experience,” Brady said.
“We have a lot of continuity. We have a lot of things to build on and a lot more experience together,” Brady added. “That’s really all you can ask for as players is to be in the position that we’re in. I’d just like us to go out and take advantage of that.” With Brady entering his second season working with a bevy of playmakers that includes receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown, tight ends Rob Gronkowski, Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard, the Bucs think they can be even more potent on offense. The defense returns intact, too, with linebackers Devin White, Lavonte David, Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaquil Barrett leading the way and a youthful group of cornerbacks and safeties looking to make names for themselves.
“As good as we played with the same group of guys, I’d love to see where we can get this year,” Brady said.
“Again, all of it is earned. There’s nothing given. It’s not about a bunch of hype or a bunch of buildup. We have to go do it,” Brady added. “I think that’s about a bunch of guys that are really mature and see ourselves as professional athletes. We want to go out there and put our best out there.”
The Cowboys are coming off a 6-10 finish in which they played most of the season without quarterback Dak Prescott.
Prescott returns Thursday night for the first time since suffering the severe ankle injury that ended his year last October. He didn’t play in the preseason, either, after straining his right shoulder early in training camp.
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy is excited to get Prescott back on the field and spoke to his team about the opportunity to face a seemingly ageless Brady and the defending champs in the season opener for the entire NFL.
“We talked about ... just how fortunate we are to be part of it on whatever level, most importantly the players,” McCarthy said.
“There’s definitely a youthfulness that has to exist to be successful, and I think [Brady’s] a good example if there ever was one that has played the game, or any sport, of the way you need to go about it,” McCarthy said. “He exudes with that every time he lines up. Very consistent. I think it’s a big part of his continued success.”
Kadarius Toney believes he’s ready to make his NFL debut.
The question is whether the Giants coaching staff believes the rookie receiver is ready despite not having played in a single preseason game and having his first training camp stunted by contracting COVID-19 and by a hamstring injury that still has listed him as “limited’’ in practice.
Toney, flashing a smile that featured some shiny dental diamond bling, was asked after Wednesday’s practice if there were any reason he wouldn’t play against the Broncos Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
“Not unless you want to go make one up,’’ he said.
Asked if he’s ready to play, he said, “That’s on the coaches. I’m here to play, I’m here to do my job, so it’s whatever they say. I’m excited. I’m ready to play, really.’’
Toney, though, acknowledged that the setbacks have “mentally’’ been “frustrating, because I want to be out there producing on the field, not being on the sidelines with the fans. I’ve come to play football. If I’m not doing that, I’m not really myself.’’
Toney’s teammates are anxious to see him play in a game.
“Gifted athlete, [has] exceptional ball skills, [a] quick twitch, great burst,’’ Giants safety Jabrill Peppers said Wednesday. “I haven’t seen him open up fullspeed yet, but from the times that I did see him running in little, short spaces he looks pretty fast. Whenever he’s ready to get back out there, I’ll be excited to see him out there playing.’’ Asked if, in practice, he can tell whether or not Toney is game-ready, Peppers said, “You kind of can, yes. But you’ll know once you put him out there in a game setting with all the extra stresses that the game brings, that’s how you really get your tell-tale. You can kind of tell if a guy is ready in practice and training camp, but the game is the ultimate tell.’’ Asked if it’s “realistic” to see Toney play Sunday and have a “significant role” despite not having been on the field much this summer, coach Joe Judge said, “I’d say in terms of significant, I look at that not so much as volume, but production. I’d say it is realistic for him to have a significant role based on how he practices this week.
“We’re seeing his health improve, we’ve seen him do a lot of things with the team as we’ve kept on moving. He’s handled the installs very well. I’d say for a player who hasn’t seen obviously preseason games or a lot of significant time volume-wise on the field with the guys through preseason, he’s been able to go out there and manage it and execute in practice what we’ve asked him to.”
Said Toney: “I can impact [the game] in a lot of ways, but it depends on what they want me to do. I’m really looking forward to going out there and impacting [the game] as much as I can as soon as I can.”