Can you talk about the development of Colin Simmons so far?
Colin has been making steady progress. He came in as a young player with a ton of potential, and we’re starting to see him grow into his role. His speed off the edge has been a real asset, and he's improving every week in terms of technique and discipline. We’ve been working with him on his hand placement and reading the offensive line better, and he’s been very coachable. He’s got all the tools—it’s just about refining his game, and I think as the season goes on, he’s going to make a real impact
Over your career, what makes a team better at not turning the ball over as the season goes along? What kind of things you need to emphasize? How much of it is coaching? How much of it is a mental part? Physical part?
Turnovers are a combination of decision-making, fundamentals, and situational awareness. As the season goes on, teams that take care of the football the best are the ones that emphasize it in practice every single day. Ball security has to be a priority—whether it’s quarterbacks making the right reads, running backs securing the football, or receivers protecting it after the catch.
It’s a mix of coaching and mentality. From a coaching perspective, we drill it constantly—ball security circuits, making sure defenders are punching at the ball in practice, and teaching our quarterbacks to make smart, high-percentage decisions.
Mentally, players have to understand situational football. When to take risks, when to just protect the ball and live for the next play. Physically, fatigue plays a big role. Late in games, tired players can get sloppy with technique, so conditioning and focus are critical. If you want to win in this league, you can’t be careless with the football. We make that clear every week.
Can you speak to the overall team health?
Right now, we're in pretty good shape as a team. We’ve had some guys dealing with the usual bumps and bruises, but nothing that’s keeping anyone out long-term. Our medical and training staff has done a great job keeping the guys ready and making sure we’re recovering properly after games. At this point in the season, it’s all about maintenance—keeping guys fresh while still getting the necessary reps in practice.
