Injury Report: Saints TE Ben Watson reportedly to be inactive for NFC Championship Game

Saints tight end Ben Watson will be inactive for Sunday’s NFC championship game against the Rams.

Watson has suffered from appendicitis the past few days. He did not have surgery, and returned to practice Friday. ESPN was the first to report that Watson will miss Sunday’s game.

However, the Saints listed Watson officially as questionable on the final injury report before Sunday. Rookie receiver Keith Kirkwood is out with a calf injury.

The Rams listed no injuries this week.

If the Saints win, it is unclear if Watson would play in the Super Bowl. He’s announced his retirement after this season, so if the Rams defeat the Saints Sunday, Watson’s last NFL game would be the playoff win over Philadelphia.

Watson has 35 receptions this season, 2 for touchdowns. One of his TD catches came in a November 4th win over the Rams at the Superdome.

New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton

Post-practice Media Availability

Friday, January 18, 2019

How do you assess the week?

“Look it was a good week. Obviously there’s a there’s always a sense of urgency when you’re in the postseason. So there’s that heightened awareness to the details. So you feel it relative to the prior normal schedule. You feel that with all the players, but a good, real good (week).”

Do you find yourself thinking about Mr. Benson at all this week?

“Occasionally we’re telling a story not too long ago about him and so that probably comes up maybe more often than just a week before this game. Yes, periodically.”

How much interaction have you had with Mrs. Benson this week? Any different than usual for you?

“No, pretty normal. She received a playoff game ball last week. She’s doing great. She’s been tremendously supportive. The routine hasn’t changed though.”

What has made your team so successful in making second half adjustments, especially on defense in the second half of games?

“The subject yesterday was starting faster and obviously that’s something that’s important, just as important as coming out. Those adjustments, you’re in the locker room really for eight minutes. So those adjustments are kind of ongoing during the first half. You got the video the tablets the pictures. And then there might be discussions which will be held until halftime, but it’s real quick. You get in there, quickly meet as a staff and then the units and then you’re with your players and then here we go you’re out. It’s not a long halftime, but I think that process begins during the first half.”

Considering you are play-calling from field level, how much input do your assistants in the press box have?

“The first thing is their ability to quickly spot hash mark and down and distance. I think the input comes from above and below relative to seeing pictures. Those photos give a real indication of what you’re seeing on the field and then sometimes you take a look at them and it’s different. Where is the safety leaning? What kind of technique are they playing inside. There’s a lot of information gained, but I would say offensively, those coaches that are all involved in the gameplan, our whole offensive staff will have responsibilities and we’ll be in the middle of a drive and I’ll say to Pete (Carmichael) to think about your red zone if we’re here. Think about it, because it’s going fast. We’ve done it so long together, it works. The same thing on defense. Dennis (Allen) is on that line. He’s relying quickly on the personnel. That would be much like the spotter, (asking) what they are in, so we can get the defensive call (in).”

Do you ever communicate with Drew Brees after you guys break the huddle?

“No. Usually it’s play, repeat the play maybe some alert. At 15 seconds it shuts off and I’d like to be finished with the play call at 19, obviously north of 15. But there’s that element of we’re not at the ball right away where there’s 30 and we’re talking. So that would be different maybe than the team we’re playing.”

You talked yesterday of getting more of a buzz from a playoff game. What are the emotions you go through? Do you go to some extreme places?

“No, when the game is over, for me if you’re asking, sometimes you have a headache, you’re starving at some point because you’re really ate at pregame meal at say 9:30, 10:00 and here it is, 5:30 or 6 .It’s hard to sleep maybe you know, but that’s part of it. There is that stress level that obviously you’ve turns your hair gray quicker than most.”

2:05 is an odd kickoff. How do you alter your schedule for it?

“Nothing, we would take our Sunday itinerary for a normal let’s say one o’clock and just picture everything. So picture everything going in our pregame meal at the stadium. So give me any kickoff time and just work those. So it’s not a big change for us considering you’re playing some other games on Thursday nights. I think it’s a pretty easy change.”

How important is that first half edge, considering the Rams are so good at second half adjustments?

“These quarters are all equally important. When you really look at possessions, they’re their first in the league in time of possession, we’re second in the league in time of possession. I think that’s a key statistic. So that time of possession probably means you’re efficient on first and second down. Their first and second down efficiency is outstanding. I don’t know how many third downs they had last week but not a lot. There’s a little CFL football involved in that. You’re going to have third downs but if you’re oftentimes in games where you do well you might have a smaller amount of third downs because your efficiency on first and second downs was so good. To your question though, I think these type of games will always have momentum swings. No different than last week, back and forth and you try to capitalize on it. And that’s one of the benefits of playing at home.

Speaking of Canada, where is David Onyemata in his progression?

“He’s doing well. He’s strong. He’s a fantastic teammate. It’s a great story. I’m glad we have him. He’s having a really good season. His first impression I think was that East-West game where he caught a lot of people’s attention. He’s done extremely well.”

With Sheldon Rankins’ injury, what role do you see for him?

“He’s playing a lot. I say this in the production meetings, sometimes when you list starters, you could introduce David, Sheldon (Rankins) and Tyeler (Davison). Those guys are all playing a lot. Of course he’ll play a lot.”

What went into the decision last week to not introduce starters?

“I just think in the postseason it’s easier to introduce the team. We’ve done that in the past.”

Is David Onyemata different in other places than how he seems quiet in the locker room?

“He is quiet and but look on the field there’s a way about him and there’s a presence, there’s a physicality in him. Look he’s not going to have to be Superman in this game. He’s going to have to continue just to play like he’s been playing and always there’ll be rotation relative to what we’re playing down and distance. But he’s got a he’s got a good demeanor.”

Knowing your players up front have to block Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh, how does that affect your play calling?

“Well it impacts the week relative to preparation. What you’re doing, what you’re doing with protection. He’s (Donald) a fantastic player, extremely disruptive, Suh next to him. Those are two disruptive players inside. Like any game plan you begin to look at how do we slow down or help ourselves with where he’s (Donald) aligned. He plays the three technique , Suh’s playing the nose, he’s playing outside  at times and so you go through those looks you discuss it on your third down play and you discuss it in your base and your red zone and when you when you have a great player or great players like those two guys are you’ve got to look closely at what you want to do and then make sure it fits.”

How close were you guys to getting Suh here?

“He had a great visit. He came in, we spent a lot of time with a long breakfast, he and I did and we had played him that year over in London. He was great to visit with and you’re working hard, you’re recruiting and there were a handful of teams, not just the Rams and us, there were a handful of teams and he narrowed his visits down to here and then L.A. was the last visit. And I think just reading his quotes yesterday you know he felt that fit relative to where he wanted to be and that’s part of free agency. But we were calling, recruiting, doing all the things that go into selling your program.”

You say you watch a lot of Rams stuff through the week and Sean McVay says he checks out a lot of Saints stuff, is there anything you appreciate about what they do, especially on offense?

“On a weekly basis we study certain offenses and Sean’s (staff), they do a lot of creative things. You’re always interested. We’re constantly looking at ideas. Some things may or may not fit what you do, but I just think if you’re not studying the game on a weekly basis then you’re missing opportunities that can help your offense or defense. So of course most of the week is spent on opponent tape but we have several people cutting up, you name it. And then those wouldn’t necessarily be the opponent. But what took place that weekend.”

Back to Onyemata, he learned the game in Canada and you played in Ottawa in the CFL, is there anything to that?

“I don’t know that he learned the CFL game, but he learned the college level game. And when you’re playing defensive tackle even at the East-West, I think he was the player of the game at the East-West Shrine, that opened some eyes and yet when he arrived there was so much to (learn). Say was 11,576 snaps behind everyone else, give or take, high school, college. He walked into the (Manitoba) football office. Now, there is good news with that. You saw a player who is very talented, who wants to work and develop and so to his credit he’s worked extremely hard to get where he’s at now.”

New Orleans Saints Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen

Conference Call with New Orleans Media

Friday, January 18, 2019

What’s the first thing that stands out to you about that two headed emerging rushing attack the Rams have had the last couple of weeks with C.J. (Anderson) and Todd (Gurley)? 

“I think they are running the ball exceptionally well. I think both of them kind of bring a little bit different aspect to the running game. Obviously, Gurley I believe is a little bit more explosive and C.J. is probably a little bit more of a power back. But in terms of the plays that they run, really not a lot in terms of different plays. It’s really the same plays. But I think they run the ball exceptionally well. I think they block exceptionally well in the running game. I think their offensive line does an outstanding job. I know Aaron Kromer does a great job with those guys. I think their tight end, receivers, all of them with exception of the quarterback and the guy carrying the ball are doing a great job of blocking in the running game and I think that’s probably the thing that kind of differentiates this team from others is the way that their whole team really buys into the blocking aspect of the run game.”

What’s the thing that stands out above (Sean) McVay as a play caller? If you’re looking at it as a defensive coach, is there anything that stands out?

“I think he is an aggressive play caller. I think he is always looking for his opportunities to take his shots down the field. I think he does a really good job of mixing things up. I think he does an outstanding job of giving you the same look, but yet running different plays with it. All the play action that comes off. The same running game. The same formations. Then they will do a good job of giving you some window dressing to kind of get your eyes looking at it with some of these fly motions and things of that nature. Kind of get your eyes looking at one spot and then also they are running the ball or running one of these play actions. I think he does a really good job of calling the game. I think they do a great job of setting up the gameplan to try to attack what you do defensively.”

Having spent a few seasons now around Drew (Brees) and I know you’re not studying super closely on offense, but I wonder from a defensive coach’s perspective what stands out to you about the way he sees a football field and his vision during plays?

“Certainly I do not get a chance to study it as much, but I do know that going against him in practice and things of that nature he is just extremely intelligent. There are not a lot of looks that you can give him that he has not seen. It does not take him very long to process the information in terms of what you are doing defensively. He knows exactly where the defense is supposed to be so he understands how to maneuver defenders to get them in position where he wants them so he can open up throwing lanes. Drew is a pro’s pro. His preparation’s remarkable. The fact that he can be so disciplined in his routine’s pretty amazing. Look, I talk to our defense at times about (watching) this guy prepare and how he prepares and for us to try to emulate that.”

What have you seen from David Onyemata’s progression since you guys drafted him three years ago?

“I think he’s getting a better understanding of our game and how this game’s being played. He had very limited football knowledge when he first got here. The thing about him that’s so impressive is he’s such a quick learner. It’s one thing to learn assignments and what you’re supposed to do in a certain situation. It’s another thing to instinctually be able to react when things happen on the field and that’s where I think his progression has come. He’s beginning to get a better feel in terms of the run game, the passing game, of things to expect when he gets a certain look, a certain block, (or) a certain type of pass set. I think that’s where he’s really improved. He’s been a big part of what we’ve been able to do defensively and certainly that’s been a plus for us.”

Have you seen Alex Jenkins progress in a similar way?

“Look, certainly, he’s done a really good job for us. He’s been on the practice squad. He is played in a lot of preseason games and certainly you see the growth of him from where he was when he first got here to where he is now and it’s kind of the same the same thing. The more experience you get in working in games or in practice the better you kind of understand what’s happening when the play begins to develop.”

You’ve mentioned that this young secondary might have to go through some growing pains early this season. Was there a point, whether it was regular season or playoffs that you feel like that whole unit together clicked?

“I don’t know exactly when that when that would be. We all kind of went through some changes there. We struggled a little bit early. Kind of got back go on a little bit in the mid part of the season then we make the Eli Apple trade. We bring him in. There’s a process that goes on there of trying to get him acclimated to what we’re doing defensively. But I would say there was probably, in the late part of the season, the last probably five to six games or so where I felt like we had a pretty good feel for what we were doing in the back in and I thought things kind of locked in a little bit probably in that area.”

Was it almost like a one game, one week to the next progression as far as that unit goes that stood out to you the most on marked improvement?

“Look, it’d be hard for me to point to one particular game or one particular instance. I think it’s a process. I don’t think that you ever go from, well it’s not clicking it’s not clicking and then boom all sudden it is. I think it’s just an evolutionary process that happens over time. And I think as we’ve gone through the season and our guys have gotten more experience working together I think we’ve begun to play better.”

As you’ve watched football over the last couple years and as offenses started to score more points, is there anything in particular that stands out to you that would explain the success of teams that have really great offenses?

“I would say the first thing that stands out to me is, as the rules have changed, they’ve allowed more access to the offensive players. The illegal contact rules, the way they call pass interference, the hits on defenseless players, all these things are really designed to help the offense, help score points which helps the league in terms of excitement for the fans and things of that nature. I think that’s probably the biggest factor and then I think as play callers in the NFL, I think you’ve seen some of the college elements that have been brought in that NFL coaches now are using which kind of expands the playbook and gives some different looks for the defense to have to deal with.”

Are coaches getting better and better at exploiting those rules. Does it only get tougher for you as a defensive coach?

“Certainly I’ve seen over the last few years where some of these rules that I don’t know maybe they weren’t taken advantage of before, but now they are. One rule in particular I believe is where the offensive player can come in and basically block a defender who’s covering somebody within one yard of the line of scrimmage and that’s totally legal. That is certainly something that you see show up a ton, especially versus teams that play man to man coverage.”

It seems like the rules came in and it just helped offense because teams could run their regular stuff, but it almost seems like teams are designing plays with those particular rules in mind. Is that right?

“Certainly I think that they are and certainly I think that’s part of our game. I think the better teams, the better coaches understand what the rules are and they try to take advantage of those rules when they can.”

Did something click with Von Bell this offseason just to make him a more consistent player for you?

“Again, I don’t think it’s click. I think it came through a lot of hard work, a lot of preparation, and an embracing the process of getting better. Certainly I think he’s done that. I think if you come to work every day, you work your tail off, and you’re trying to get better on a daily basis, if you had the athletic ability and the talent and mentally you can handle the focus aspect of it I think you get better. Certainly he’s done that.”

I know you guys and spend a lot of late nights in the facility game planning and all that stuff. How do you just as a person manage maybe not getting as much sleep as you would otherwise get?

“Here’s what you do in our profession because we’re paid to win and you do your job and whatever that takes that’s just what you have to do. I think that really probably would apply to any person that’s having success at the highest level. Certainly we feel like we have been able to do that and there’s sacrifices that you have to make to be able to accomplish those things. But ultimately we’ve got a job to do. Our job is to go out and win football games and whatever it takes to get that done that’s what we’ve got to do. It’s just certainly part of the job and you deal with it and you move on.”

Is it something that becomes easier to deal with over time after you do it for a while to try to sneak a couple winks in here and there?

“I tell you living off of five hours of sleep on a weekly basis probably doesn’t ever get easy. But again, that’s part of trying to be successful at the highest level in any occupation that you’re in. You have to be willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done and so that’s just part of the deal.”

New Orleans Saints Offensive Coordinator Pete Carmichael

Conference Call with New Orleans Media

Friday, January 18, 2019

What do you think is Sean Payton’s best attribute as a play caller?

“I think that going into the games he’s so well prepared and he knows exactly kind of as the situations (that) come up and arise, he knows exactly where he wants to get to on the call sheet and so he keeps that tempo going and he keeps a rhythm going, but obviously it starts with his preparation during the week.”

What do you think Terron Armstead did to take his game to the next level and become a Pro Bowler and do you think his athleticism shows up on the field?

“Absolutely, the things that you just said about him absolutely show up on the field and he’s such a competitive, highly productive player for us and I think he’s been one of the best in the league for a while. Congratulations to him, he’s well-deserving, but I think we’ve felt that way about him since the beginning.”

Do you think it takes awhile for lineman to reach those kinds of accolades?

“I don’t know if that’s necessarily the case, but I know how the people in this building and his teammates feel about him and we’re glad we have him.”

What comes to your mind when you think back to starting here in 2006?

“For me I was just so excited about the opportunity to come here and I was coming from (being) a quality control coach, to being a full time position coach. But obviously at that time there was obviously some challenges even just looking around trying to find homes at that time. But I’ll tell you what, my wife and I and our family we love it here. We could not be in a better situation.”

Why do you think Sean Payton and the city have clicked so well together?

“I think just at the time when the city needed something to bring it up and to raise it and the city has such passion and love for the team and the team had success early when Sean (Payton) and Drew (Brees) first got here and I think the fans are the best around and it was just everybody embraced it and we just kind of thing that really could bring everybody together and just have one purpose.”

Why do you think the best teams in the league are scoring the most points?

“I think that for us, speaking about the Saints, we’ve been successful in the years that we have been able to not only throw the football, but run the ball efficiently. Our best years are being able to run the football and then that leads to more success with the passing game and then on the flipside, when you are taking the ball away, playing well against the run. Those are all things that combine to help us offensively when all of a sudden the time of possession for us in our favor, all those things lead to more productivity for us.”

Why do you think the strong offenses made it to the final four and similarly ranked defenses were not able to make it?

“I’d say speaking for any team. I think that it’s about the way, I should really just talk about us. We have such a great (team). We’ve won so many games this year as a team and whether it’s the defense playing really well or the offense. We’ve won these games as a team and I think that’s one thing when the whole team can go out and rely on each other. I think that’s when you have your most success.”

What do you think a football field looks like to Drew Brees?

“I think he’s able to probably now narrow his focus down to the areas on where he needs to by play, by defense, what is he seeing and I think that he knows exactly where to put his eyes, so he’s probably reduced the field in his mind for specific plays and specific (to) what he’s seeing defensively and obviously he sees so much and he could be looking one way and just knowing exactly what’s happening on the other side of the field. He obviously has great vision. He sees everything, but he’s probably also not only to be able to see everything, but focuses his eyes on one area. But then still somehow (he) knows what’s going on the other side of the field.”

Does that just come from preparation or accumulation of experience or can that be trained through time?

“I think its combination of both. I think its experience, him kind of maybe having a feel for how a play feels based on his footwork, but also just his ability, just his preparation like you’re saying it’s just off the roof. He’s just able to go into a game knowing exactly (what he wants to do) and it’s really the preparation on the practice field with knowing exactly, not only what the defense is doing, but where’s the receiver going to be, what’s he going to do against this coverage and he spends so much time with those guys making sure that by the end of the week it’s right.”

How much sleep do you get on average throughout the season?

“Yeah, well I’ll get a good night’s sleep tonight. Let’s just put it that way. Everything we do during the week has a purpose. Some weeks might be longer hours than others, it’s just a matter of making sure when the night’s over that we feel good about the next day.”

How do you manage getting less sleep throughout the season?

“I think that when you love what you do, when you’re surrounded by great character people you love…I love coming into work every day, so it’s not hard to get out of bed because I know I’m going into a great situation and I know that the day is going (busy) (and) it’s going to be a lot of work, but it’s worth it and it has a purpose and we’re all working together. The great thing (is) no one has any egos. We’re just all trying to get better together.”

New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees

Post-Practice Media Availability 

Friday, January 18, 2019

We hear so much about Odell Beckham Jr. and Julio Jones, when do you think Michael Thomas is going to get some of the attention perhaps he deserves?

“I don’t know. But you turn on the tape and watch him. I think whether you’re a football professional, a coach, or a player, somebody who really knows the game, or a member of the media, or a fan. I mean, look at the numbers, look at the results and I can tell you as his teammate, as his quarterback, there’s not a guy who prepares harder (and) works harder in practice. What you see on gameday’s exactly what we see every day, in the locker room, on the practice field. Every rep’s a Super Bowl rep to Michael Thomas. And that is why he just continues to improve, improve and he’s visualized himself being in this situation before any of us ever saw it. So, he deserves a ton of credit.”

Do you think he matches your intensity?

“Yeah. And even – it’s two different positions, obviously. But I would say our sense of urgency is very much the same. Every rep I try to visualize as a game rep, a Super Bowl rep, a win the game on this rep type deal. And he takes the same approach. So when we’re able to practice like that, I feel like it carries over to the game.”

Have you ever noticed how his on field persona seems to agitate some of his opponents at times?

“I’m sure it does. I’m sure they hate him. But we love him. I would say some of the greatest players I’ve ever played with or against had that same type of persona. Where if he was your teammate, you loved him. But if you were playing against him, you hate him.”

Have you had time to maybe reflect on the fact that so many of the guys that have contributed to this run were almost in middle school the last time the team made it this far?

“I haven’t thought about that. Time kind of flies by. It was funny, it was just on in the lunchroom I guess the NFC championship game from ’09 and everybody was saying I had a lot more hair back then. So it doesn’t feel like that long ago, but I guess it was.”

You’ve been here in this city for a long time. Why do you think the city and Sean (Payton) have clicked so well together? Winning is obviously one thing, but beyond the fact that he’s had success.

“Well, I think from Day one, ’06, you go back to that time when a lot of us came here six months post-Katrina. All of us leaning on one another. You know, this was this is a new environment for Sean (Payton). It was a new situation, first-time head coach. Man, he had his hands full trying to put together a staff and a team to try to put together a winner to give the people of New Orleans and this community something to cheer about. I think he drew the connection very quickly. He helped to create that bond. He had to create the culture here that fits the mold of this city, you know, and the Who Dat Nation. So I think he’s always embraced that. So that’s one of the big reasons why there’s such a connection between the two.”

Do you think you appreciate it in ’09 how much of a once-in-a-decade opportunity it was, or was there more of a sense of we’re going to be back here?

“Well, I mean go back further than that. You know, ’06, we go to the NFC championship game and lose that Chicago. And I think we way overachieved that year. We had the spirit of the city behind us for all the reasons I just mentioned post-Katrina. That Monday night game in the dome and just all the things that season that just seemed to come together, but with kind of a ragtag group of castaways. And so I think after that season we’re like, ‘Ah man, you know we’re just going to come back in ’07. We’re going to take the next step and we go to the Super Bowl.’ And we missed the playoffs that year. We missed the playoffs in ’08, but I think that’s when you realize just how hard it is. And we went out and started getting some more pieces to the puzzle and then put it all together in ‘09. But still realizing that it takes a lot of work and you got to have some breaks go your way, but with the right people, the right culture, right locker room and the right set of circumstances to get it done.”

Along those lines, why do you think this year you’re able to get further than you did last year?

“Well I’d say it has a lot to do with the character, toughness and intelligence of the guys that we have. A huge credit to Mickey Loomis our GM, our scouting department Jeff Ireland, Sean Payton and all those involved with going out and finding the right type of guys, whether it be through the draft or through free agency, those have been key contributors for us, not just last year, but this year. And the way that a lot of those maybe first or second-year players grew from last year to this year. The mindset coming off of that tough loss at Minnesota last year, where I think we felt like we were hitting our stride right at the right time and on our way to another championship game. To bounce back and to become stronger as a result of that and to come back stronger this season, I think says a lot about the type of guys we have and obviously the talent as well. We’re a talented, young team that I feel like can continue to improve and get better.”

So many times coaches want to block out the noise, block on the expectations. Sean (Payton) told us on Wednesday he saw some of the expectations and, obviously, you guys had high expectations for yourself but he puts the big banner up ‘Prove Them Right.’ Can you talk about what that does for the team when a coach says, ‘You know what? Embrace it and attack it.’

“Yeah, I think a lot is talked about the underdog mentality. And I think that’s an easy thing for people to rally around and, you know, chip on the shoulder. An underdog, nobody thinks we can do it. And then you go out and you are proven wrong. But what’s really not talked about a whole lot is when you do have the hype, or when you do have everyone picking you as a preseason contender and all that stuff. You know, I think it’s much harder to handle success than it is failure. Everybody is going to want to bounce back with their best effort after failure, and yet, after success or after people picking you to be one of the top teams, it’s easier to get complacent. And so I think Sean has done a great job of making sure that there’s always a sense of urgency with us in the way we practice and the way we prepare, but also embracing that role a little bit and challenging ourselves to see how good we can be.”

Are there times when you can still tell that he played quarterback. Does that still come out of him every now and then?

“Oh yeah, every time we have a quarterback challenge he wants to be involved in it. So yes it does.”

I wonder if you could put in perspective (Steve Gleason’s) enduring presence in the community, and with the team, and kind of how that influences guys’ outlooks on things on the club.

“Yeah. I think it says a lot about this organization as well in that you have a guy like Steve Gleason, who I think everyone’s well aware of his story now, well aware of what he meant to this organization while he was a player here and what he meant to this community. But so much of our team there are only maybe a handful of guys that played with Steve Gleason, or knew Steve Gleason as a player directly. And yet, this team’s embraced him. He’s absolutely one of us. And he inspires all of us every day. He inspires so many people in this community every day. And look at all the guys that continue to come back to our games. Guys that we’re a part of this program, helped build this program over the last 13 years. They didn’t just come back down the playoffs here but have come back in years past. And this organization welcomes them with open arms. And they’re in the locker room, and they’re at practice, and they speak to the team the night before games, and I think they just reinforce what Sean (Payton) and Mickey (Loomis) have tried to build here with this team and the culture from the very beginning. And I think that that puts a face with it and that that that gives a great example for the young guys who are hearing it from the coaches, and yet, now they see it from former players when they come back. And they see the twinkle in Sean’s eye when he sees these guys. Especially, the guys who were part of that Super Bowl team. The statement was made by Joe Vitt when we were here during that time that, ‘You win one of these, you walk together forever.’ And you truly do. I mean it’s a brotherhood that’s created and you may go your separate ways for a long time, but when you come back it’s like no time has passed. There’s a connection there, and that’s what this organization has built.”

From the numbers with Aqib Talib on the field for the Rams secondary seems like he just makes such a massive difference. Obviously, he was out the last contest but from what you’ve seen on film being with the team this back half of the season, what difference does he make?

“Yeah, there’s definitely a presence there. He’s a very good player. He’s been a very good player for a long time. He’s one of their captains, so you can see a lot of respect that his teammates have for him. Yeah, he’s definitely a difference maker.”

Is it an expectation to have him shade (Michael) Thomas throughout the entirety of the game?

“I don’t know. They haven’t really shown to do that. But you know, we’ll see.”

It’s taken nine years to get back here. Does it make you at least in the back of your mind think that this might be your last shot at it or do you even think like that?

“No I don’t think like that. Just another game.”

People always talk about the idea of the ability to narrow the space of the field you look at to reduce the field on a certain play. Can you explain in your interpretation of what he means by that? And has the way you see the field changed over the course of your career?

“You become a smarter, you become wiser, you become more experienced. Many years in this offense even though we’ve evolved quite a bit and personnel changes. But yes, I think you try to simplify things on any given play. And so even though our play may have a ton of moving parts, at the snap, you try to narrow it down to whatever it is that you’re looking at. Whether it’s a progression, or whether it’s a certain defender, or a certain area, you try to simplify things so that you can play very, very quickly and with confidence.”