Chris Tabor favors open competition on special teams

Tabor discussed his philosophy around competition and discussed filling roles on special teams, including punt and kickoff return.


So we'll go ahead and get started with Coach Tabor uh I don't see any hands Raised so I will turn it over to the Floor to get started Afternoon everybody How you doing coach David Newton here How you doing good to see you David how You doing Good so a lot of turnover obviously with The new staff and everything which I Mean although you got your specialist Back you can have a lot of other New Pieces in there any anybody jumping off Right now looking really like they could Make an impact for you Not yet I but at the same time I try to Keep an open mind in everything you know This is kind of the time of year in my Opinion that as coaches we're supposed To help the players develop their craft And set them up to put themselves in Position to make a run for the team in In training camp so that's what we're Concentrating on right now for us in our World it's not a lot about schematics It's a lot about just fundamentals and Trying to hone in some of the things That they can get better so they can Improve their game so that's what we're Doing I appreciate it yeah Hey Chris it's Joe first good to see you Man good to see you too Joe was gonna See

Um if you could kind of give us an early Look at what uh return competitions Would look like at Punt and kickoff I Think it's just an open competition Right now you know we we have some guys That we're kind of working through uh You know some of the rookies just showed Up I don't want to specifically talk About any names because I'm always Afraid that I'm going to forget Somebody's name and that would be bad Business on my part uh but it's it's Going to be a work in progress but I'm Excited about the guys that we have uh Just because I I know how hard they work And that'll give it that'll give us a Chance you know and and so that's kind Of where we're at right now Any of the free agents signings that or Guys you're looking at I think we're Always looking at at all rosters and uh You know so no one in specific right now And like I say I'm never going to single Anyone out but looking forward with Working with working with the guys that We have in our building right now Go to Scott Fowler Hey coach uh Scott fella from the Charlotte Observer how are you doing Doing good Scott how are you doing doing Well Um You really do have a solid group coming Back and and probably less questions

About it than in a lot of places on the Team but I'm sure you're always vying For improvement so specifically where do You want the Special Teams units to Improve this year oh gosh in a lot of Areas you know when you study when you Study the tape the tape tells you that We got a lot of work to do Obviously one thing statistically that That sticks out is we had too many Penalties and I got to do a better job Of coaching in in those areas especially In the punt return game we got to clean Up some things and we're working hard at That but but just other things you know I mean I think that we can be a better Kickoff coverage team I think we can Better be better in in the punt phase And in protection there's a there's a Lot of areas I mean of the six phases You're always looking to improve Something and and we have enough to keep Us busy uh through this time and Training camp right now Thank you Darren Chris I know you don't want to single Anybody out but the mere Bird's new guy Here he's returned in the past he's Played a lot of different roles I mean Where does he fit into this mix and and Do you kind of with so much competition A receiver on offense do you sort of Lobby for somebody from that group to

Play a lot of those different roles I Don't Lobby for anybody to be honest With you I think what lobbies is is the Player's performance in the players tape I mean you mentioned the Birdman there Had him in Chicago he's really good Football player glad he's on our roster Uh but there's a lot of other guys on Our roster also that I feel good about Um you know like I said going back with Me statement not to dodge your question But really right now it's my time is Just to help them develop you know what What is to today's mace May 16th and I Just have to try to hopefully give him Some tools and then keep helping them so That when we get to training camp uh Then then they're playing and fighting For jobs and the more competition you Have the better that that shows that uh That you like your roster Uh Skyler Callahan and Mike Hey Chris Kyle County from Sports Illustrated I hope you're doing well Doing well thank you Um wanted to get your your thoughts Going back to the decision you guys made Earlier in the offseason between Zayn And Eddie just how difficult of a Decision was that for you how much of an Imp a part did you have in that decision And then what made you feel comfortable That Eddie was your guy moving forward Well that's a good question

Um both really good players uh you know And like I always do each and every year I will always kind of keep it and talk About the players that we have here on Our roster uh appreciate what Zane did For us but you know having Eddie back We're excited about having Eddie back I Think we he's a good football player he Did he had a nice season I think he Finished number one in the league and That's something that he needs to Continue to chase but real fortunate to Have him and then obviously real Fortunate to have Johnny and JJ back With him because that's part of the Dynamic that that can help a kicker be Real successful so I'm pleased with the Three guys that we have on our roster Right now Hey Chris hope all is well good to see You again So oh my caveman challenge Uh anyway Um what's your outlook on keeping JJ and Johnny fresh obviously they're in their 30s now Um was there any thought to bring in Someone to just take on reps No I think we can I think you can always Kind of manage that I think one of the Other things you have to look at is both Those guys have been such good Pros for Such a long time they understand how to Take care of their body I think we just

Have to kind of be like kind of like We're in the Major League Baseball uh Pitching circuit you know we just got to Be real smart with how many kicks They're getting how much work they're Getting and then we always got that Reliable kicker punter jugs that can Always come out and do anything for us Anytime to give them a breather so I Feel like we can always kind of help Those guys and you know I'm glad they're Here Sean not here the personal protector Role seems like it's up for grabs how Important of a role is that and what do You look for in that position that's Always an important role it's kind of Like having the quarterback uh of the of The punt team but you know you always Got to train a lot of guys there people That we look for obviously we want guys That can that can run and be first we Call them first in type players have to Be intelligent in the protection then Obviously physical enough to take on People so we do have a lot of options in That area and I'm excited about Developing some of those options Anything else for Coach Tabor Chris are you suggesting JJ Jansen needs His workload managed is he is he going Too hard out there JJ well you know he's he's picked up Some of the returning duties there

Darren so you know we're just going to Keep him fresh What did you think of JJ's uh acting Skills in that uh that video did you see It yet you give him a hard time about it Yet I saw the video and I purposely did Not watch it That should say it all Hey I'll ask another one Ryan Um we've been asking everyone about Bryce young so we might as well as you As well Chris you were in Chicago I Think when when they drafted Justin What's it like to be on a staff Uh when you bring in one of these you Know very high draft picks at that Position I'll be honest with you I don't Give it a lot of thought I'm glad he's Here I think he's a really good football Player just watching him out on the Field throw it around I'm excited for Him uh but uh trust me there's enough on My plate to keep me busy so I don't even Venture down that road Play special teams where would he be Well where we wherever you guys would Want us to play them Advanced Gene Thank you everybody Thank you coach appreciate it thank you

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