Assistant General Manager Brandon Brown

Q. What do you think when you look at the team as a whole at this point?

A: I just think you look at the team where we are now from where we were, call it, last year ending training camp, just adding more speed, explosiveness on both sides of the ball and just competition every day.

Q. How does the process change with the one cut day next week for you? I would imagine you and your team are spread all over trying to evaluate not just here, but across the league.

A: Our process doesn't change. The nice part is that we're really meticulous, especially with our pro department and (director of pro scouting) Chris Rossetti leading the pro department on how we go about evaluating. Whether it's the pro scouts being split up with different team assignments, (director of player personnel) Tim McDonnell and myself overseeing whether it's NFC, AFC, funneling players of interest up to (general manager) Joe (Schoen), having (assistant director of player personnel) Dennis Hickey and (executive advisor to the general manager) Ryan Cowden all filling in just in terms of canvassing the landscape.

If there's guys that are playing well out there, there's nothing that's going to be a surprise to us whether it's a guy that's at the cutdown, whether it's a guy who's traded in the next two weeks, we will be doing our due diligence throughout the process. So, whether teams decide to cut prematurely to call it a benchmark of 80 before they get down to 53, we'll be prepared. There's no curveballs or surprises on our end.

Q. Do you guys have a philosophy of if you're going to do it all at once on the last day or as it comes along?

A: In terms of evaluating the league?

Q. In terms of making the cuts.

A: That's going to be really wholeheartedly up to Joe and Dabs (head coach Brian Daboll), but I just think it's where we are from a health standpoint and obviously getting through the Jets game, what we need from offense, defense, special teams, and then going that way.

Q. You guys made five claims between cut day and Week 1 last year. Do you expect to be as active working the waiver wire this year?

A: Obviously, we've elevated the talent overall of the team, but we're going to canvass everything. At the end of the day, when you look at it, it's going to be acquire, develop, retain. That's what we want to do. It's acquiring the best talent, developing the best talent and retaining the best talent.

So, we're always going to look for upgrades, and sometimes where we are in the claim order, it's different than last year, right? So that preference in the claim order where we land up, it's going to be something that we monitor it, but we're going to do our due diligence. There's going to be guys that are claimed that we will have maybe four, five, six reports in on, but it might not get to us in the claim order. So, we're going to look at what the sweet spots are, where there's surplus in the market, and see if there's opportunity to help us.

Q. What's your take on this rookie draft class now that they're pretty deep into training camp? It looks like there's a lot of guys who are going to play pretty significant roles.

A: When you go back to June when we talked last, we talked about adding more guys that are smart, tough, dependable. Like I said in June, it doesn't guarantee them success, but it gives them an opportunity and a platform for success. So, I think when you look at the draft class, we added explosiveness, we talked about making a conscious effort of adding generators on the offensive side, getting more explosive on the defensive side, guys that fit our brand. I think when you look from the top down from Joe and Dabs preaching collaboration, when there's synergy between the scouting department and the coaching staff, it allows us, like I kind of label it, 'finding players within the margin,' right? There are guys that may be imperfect later on as you go in terms of on day three, but we're asking them to do things that fit the system. That accentuates their positive traits. So, I'm excited. I'm excited. Obviously, there's been early success, but the book isn't written yet. But it's a good start right now.

Q. Has anybody surprised you from that group?

A: I wouldn't label anybody as a surprise. I think we all knew that we were excited from whether you're going from Tae (cornerback Deonte Banks) in the first round to (cornerback) Tre (Hawkins III) in the sixth round. We've all been excited for all these guys when we acquired them, even (defensive tackle) Jordon (Riley) in the seventh round, G.O. (safety Gervarrius Owens)… These guys all have traits to play on Sunday. It was just a matter of marrying the development from the coaching staff to having game day traits.

That's where the synergy comes from. Dabs preaches to the coaching staff, 'Develop these guys, our rookies, our year two guys.' There's been a high emphasis on developing their skillset. For us on the scouting side, it's making sure that they have the skillset that fits our scheme. So, it's been a good marriage so far.

Q. When you look at (wide receiver) Jalin Hyatt, it strikes me that if the rest of the league could redo it, he may not be there for you in the third round right now, given what we've seen in training camp, but I know it's just training camp. But what did you see that is now manifesting itself on the practice field that led you guys to say, I'm guessing, he could be a difference maker?

A: I think with Jalin, it's doing your due diligence. It's knowing what he was asked to do at Tennessee. It's us having those extra conversations with his position coach at Tennessee, talking to the coaching staff at Tennessee, knowing what their system called for because what he's doing for us, he has more talent in his body than the role he was asked to play at Tennessee.

So, you look at the skillset, did he have bend, balance and burst? Can he get out of breaks? Was he asked to run a limited route tree at Tennessee versus what he can do for us? I think us going that, call it, full circle of doing all our due diligence and finding the evidence, it was a great process.

I say it again, the synergy. You talk about the full process with Jalin, hats off to our college department. They identified Jalin early. That allowed Joe, Tim and Dennis to go see him against Alabama. It allowed me to go see him later against Missouri, then (wide receivers coach) Mike Groh spends time with him. Dabs spends time with him. We have him in the facility for a 30 visit. We get him on the board. All those things add to who he is and the upside. You see him making extra effort in terms of blocking down the field in practice. That adds to who he is. He's a great young man, and we're excited for him.

Q. How about the scouting process with Hawkins, a guy who comes out of a smaller school? Any story stick out about when you saw him who? How did he get on your board when maybe he wasn't on every team's board?

A: You look at Tre, look no further than the physical traits. I kind of laugh and tell him he's Temple, Texas tough. He's a guy that's gone the JUCO route. He's got length that fits our system. Getting the description from (defensive coordinator) Wink (Martindale), Wink is very particular of what plays in the system and what's at a premium. We know, hey, you've got to be able to run, got to be strong, guys that have length and you've got to be willing to be physical in the run game also in press coverage. So, when you look at Tre, he's a guy that stood out at the All-Star game. It's not a surprise to us. We had him in the building on a 30 visit. (Defensive backs coach) Jerome (Henderson), (safeties coach) Mike Treier, they spent time with him on the board.

Then you look at where he is in training camp. Nothing has been too big for him. Every time there's been a platform, he's answered the bell. So, I think more guys like him that fit our profile, and then they have the mental toughness, play with short term memory. They're getting coached the same way. It doesn't matter how we acquire them. Once they're here, it's an even playing field. Dabs says, again, you earn your playing time based on merit, and Tre's nothing more than an example of that.

Q. Take us through your involvement in that. When did you get a first look at him? When did you sort of see him?

A: You go back to their games, you look at him against top competition or FBS competition, you see him against Virginia. Then, you watch him against the App(alachian) States, the Coastal Carolinas, and he's a guy who's physical, whether it was a run play, pass play, wedging guys to the sideline, finishing late on the ball, being able to dislodge the ball and separate the receiver from the ball. Those are traits where you saw really good tape and flashes. That's part of the synergy where it's 'can we make those flashes consistent?' Once we get him on campus and we have a 30 visit with him, spending time with him, knowing the adversity he's overcome going the JUCO route, knowing that he doesn't just like ball, he loves ball, and that he's going to be a student of the game for us and those smart, tough, dependable mantras that we give, he's another guy that embodies it. He's been taking to the coaching and we're going to keep putting more on his plate and let him handle what he can handle.

Q. (Defensive line coach) Andre Patterson last week about Jordon Riley said, along the lines of what you said about the margin, he said the way you have the alignment set up is that the coaches and the scouts look beyond the on-field production. Obviously, the on-field production stands out, but what is his tape not showing that we see him individually, for all players? How big of a part of the evaluation process is that for you guys? Some people take a chance or won't take a chance, but you guys are taking that chance based on knowledge and really input from everybody.

A: I can't mention Jordon Riley without mentioning Dennis Hickey and Tim McDonnell. They were driving forces in terms of the process of Jordon. I remember going back to my notes; Jordon's not on anybody's radar. It's October, Dennis Hickey goes out to Oregon and sees him and is like, 'B, listen, I'm just telling you this guy has traits that we want to play with knockback, we want to be big up front, want to control the line of scrimmage, he fits our brand of ball.' Tim tells me, 'B, we need to go see him play.' So, Tim and I went and saw him play against Cal. Tim's been the ultimate checks and balances for me, someone that I have blind trust in where he says, 'We need to go watch this guy, and we come apart from it, you can walk out to warmups, and he sticks out like a sore thumb.'

There're some inconsistencies in his game, and you've got to do the full, call it, the full evidence and due diligence and the fact-finding process on Jordon. Him being a three-school transfer, us going the extra mile in terms of having Andre Patterson and (assistant defensive line coach) Bryan Cox work him out privately. In the personnel department, we refer to Dre Patterson as Dr. Dre, right? So, he's a guy that puts his fingerprints on guys and tweaks up their techniques, and we see flashes, but you can't replicate Jordon's size. There's not just that many men walking on the world that have his size. So, it's on us to kind of bridge that gap with, can he take to the coaching? The development, getting his weight right, all those things that every time we put a benchmark in front of him, he's met it. The nice part is the teammates root for him. (Defensive lineman) Leo(nard Williams) and (defensive lineman) Dex(ter Lawrence II), they've taken him under their wings like a little brother. I the production that you're seeing in the preseason, we're hoping that can be a catalyst for things to come in the future. But it's been really cool to see.

Q. Do you see the cutdown day as somewhat of a mini draft in the sense that you have an evaluation board on everybody who's playing for everybody?

A: Yeah, it's a point where you look at times of, where can you acquire players? Whether it's the Draft, whether it's the trade deadline, whether it's the cutdown period, I kind of say for the pro guys, it's their Super Bowl. Besides free agency, it is an acquisition point where we have the ability to improve the roster and we do our due diligence on everyone. I know you guys may see stories on guys that we don't entertain, guys that we do entertain, just know we're doing our due diligence on everyone. That's the unseen work from the pro department. We set up our free agency board, our draft boards. It's no different than the preseason board. There's a board that goes across by priority and positions and we look at, 'Hey, what would be an upgrade from what we currently have and what wouldn't and why?' And then find out, especially, if you look at what positions over historical data have been claimed the most. You look at defensive guys having a higher hit rate of being claimed and playing on a 53 after the cutdown then maybe some offensive guys. So, we take all that into account and try to make the most sound and informed decisions.

Q. What are you seeing in (quarterback) Daniel (Jones) that maybe is a little bit different with another year under his belt in the system?

A: Just confidence. I think with Daniel he knows that we have his back and that we believe in him, and it was our job to get him generators. Dabs speaks about generators and not just guys that are run-after-catch, but guys that can be quick-strike players. Guys that can create open windows for him. So, I think our job is making him the best version of himself and him coming back and doing the work with the skill guys over the summer, it all just lends itself to him being more confident and us gelling and finding our groove earlier.

Q. How do you think that the super conferences that are forming in college football affects NFL scouting?

A: For us, it doesn't. We still have to go see the games. Now, what it will help is seeing their best versus another team's best, right? So, you don't have to worry about maybe a watered-down game. As we're putting together our travel schedule, we know that we can go see two premier teams playing every single week, or we can have multiple looks at iron-sharpens-iron, best-versus-best. It allows us to easier see what's playing at a high level on the big stage. That would be probably the biggest thing, but it won't change our scouting processes at all.

Head Coach Brian Daboll

Q: Does (Jets quarterback) Aaron Rodgers playing impact anything you plan to do with your team?

A: No.

Q: Injury reports? Who is not practicing today?

A: Who is not practicing today; (guard) Tyre Phillips, (guard) Jack Anderson, (wide receiver) Cole Beasley, (running back) Gary Brightwell, (tight end) Tommy Sweeney, (inside linebacker) Cam Brown, (defensive lineman) Ryder (Anderson), (cornerback Nick) McCloud, (safety Jason) Pinnock and (cornerback Cor'Dale) Flott.

Q: What happened to Pinnock?

A: Got a leg.

Q: Is it something you're worried about long-term?

A: No, day-to-day.

Q: Is (wide receiver) Jalin (Hyatt) okay?

A: Yeah.

Q: Is (wide receiver) Wan'Dale (Robinson) any closer to coming off PUP?

A: Yeah, a day closer.

Q: Is there a point where him being ready for the start of the season is unrealistic?

A: We are just taking it day-to-day, so he's a day closer than he was yesterday, so he's getting better.

Q: I don't think we have asked you yet, (tight end) Rob Gronkowski said last week that the only coach who could lure him out of retirement is Brian Daboll. Is that a phone call you would make?

A: Well, I am close with Rob, so got a lot of respect, admiration. Coaching him for four years, he's a good friend, we've talked, I'm not saying we talked about that but he's a close friend. When you coach someone for four years and he's a very productive player for you and really a good person, we are from the same town, so wouldn't read too much into that.

Q: Does he have football left in that body in your opinion?

A: I don't know. I wouldn't read too much into that is what I'll say.

Q: Is (cornerback) Adoree' Jackson still in a learning mode for that position? How do you feel like he played?

A: I think he's doing a good job. Look, he's a football player, he's played inside there plenty of times when we match. He's smart, he's dependable, he knows our defense, so he's done a nice job so far.

Q: Going into this week, cuts are a week from tomorrow, do you focus more on finding out who your 53 are or getting your 11s ready for the start of the season?

A: I'd say, again, it's probably going to be a combination of stuff. We will go through this week, we will see what we need, we will figure it out toward the end of the week. Good question.

Q: The one thing that I guess is troubling sometimes is (punter) Jamie (Gillan) can be a little inconsistent with the punting, is that a concern as you head into the season?

A: I'd say he's right along with all the other players and coaches. There is a lot of inconsistencies right now at this time of year and we are always trying to improve. We have a lot of confidence in Jamie and just keep on grinding away at it.

Q: You have another team, the Jets, across town, they have a lot of going on, I'm sure you are well aware that Aaron Rodgers is there now, they are on Hard Knocks. They have sort of been taking all the headlines, capturing all the headlines locally, you guys are kind of on the backburner. What do you think of that as a coach? Does it matter to you?

A: No, I just try to do my best to get our team ready to play.

Q: Do you watch Hard Knocks?

A: I do not. Do you watch it?

Reporter: I do.

Daboll: You like it?

Reporter: It's entertaining. That team though, that's a big story. Are you paying attention at all to the whole Aaron Rodgers thing and when he signed here and what did you think of that when you heard he was coming to the same city?

Daboll: Really, I've got my team to worry about. He's a heck of a player, one of the best to ever do it. All that other stuff, I'm not a storyteller or a writer so I just try to focus on our football team getting better.

Q: Does it change how you go into this week's game against them knowing that you play them in two months in the regular season?

A: I think it goes back to the question. There is a lot of stuff that we need to, we have got a big week ahead of us here to look at our players and decide what we are going to do with different spots. My focus, again, just goes back to our team.

Q: I know it's your team, but going to that, I would assume you would think maybe it helps you the fact that, 'hey, a lot of the eyeballs are over there and they are not here asking our guys about the whole (running back) Saquon (Barkley) thing' as it's going down and that kind of stuff?

A: I think the only thing that really helps us is how we prepare in practice. That's really the focus, that's what it's always going to be. We do a good job of preparing in the meeting rooms, we go out there and practice and improve. That's what helps us.

Q: What's the biggest question you have for your roster this week? Is there a position group that you are trying to…

A: No, I just think let's have a good week of practice and let's get some good work in and then we will kind of figure out what we need to figure out towards the end of the week.

Q: I've covered enough training camps where a guy flashes in the first week, or a rookie flashes or an unheralded guy flashes and then they kind of fall off. Is what's most impressive about what (cornerback Tre) Hawkins (III) is doing, is that he has sustained it? Like, he's gone from 'oh wow, this sixth-round pick is a nice story' to like we are two weeks from the season, and he is in your rotation for starting?

A: He's had a good camp; he has been consistent, which is what you look for. The consistency, the discipline that you need to improve every day. It's not always perfect, there is a lot of things that he can do better but he's had the right approach to his job of improving each day, to being consistent. Again, there is plenty of plays out here I know he wishes he would have back, but he has the right mindset of what you are looking for in a young player.

Q: We asked (defensive coordinator) Wink (Maritndale) how comfortable he is starting two rookie corners if that comes down. How comfortable are you knowing that you have been an offensive coach and I'm sure you would say 'oh, I am going to attack those two guys.'

A: Yeah, I'd say whoever ends up being the best 11 or 13 or 14, I mean there is a lot of different positions on both sides of the ball. Whoever is out there is the ones that earn it. Still a few weeks away from here, but let's just keep on grinding away, getting better and earning what we get.

Q: How do you view (guard) Ben Bredeson's role at this point?

A: He's got good position flex. He's done a nice job really at all three spots of the snaps that he's had, which have been quite a few. He's got good leadership, so he's done a good job with the things we have asked him to do.

Q: Still going to keep running him at center at this point?

A: Well, he's going to have to play some center too. He's really going to have to play; you never know what could happen, but the one thing that is valuable for a guy like Ben is that he's played all three spots. He hasn't just been at one spot. He can play all three spots, he's worked in camp at all three spots, in OTAs. Again, that flexibility is important I'd say particularly at that position.

Q: Would you say consider rotating at both guard spots in a regular season game like you've done all camp?

A: Yeah, I'd consider whatever wer think, whatever is going to work best for us.

Q: How would you describe wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins' camp; you brought in a lot of guys?

A: Consistent. Yeah, consistent. He's a pro, he's been consistent with his assignments, with his techniques, with his fundamentals. When he's had opportunities, he's made the plays. He's a very level headed player. I'm not saying he's the same as (cornerback) Tre, but I am saying the same conversation we had. He's consistent, each day he comes out, he works hard, he improves, he's good in the classroom, he's a pro. Have a lot of confidence in him.

Q: (Outside linebacker) Oshane (Ximines) is a guy you didn't bring back right away after the draft. You don't always see that, once you don't sign a guy in the first wave, what did you see in him to bring him back and what kind of camp has he had?

A: He's done a nice job too, he's done a nice job setting the edge, getting some knock back. Again, dependable, knows our system, he's had plays in there that have been good and then plays that we have got to work on, but he's been a dependable guy for us.

Offensive Tackle Evan Neal

Q: What it's like to get back out there after recovering from your concussion?

A: It feels good to be back out there, get my feet back up under me. Thankfully, I was only out for about a week and a half or so, so it wasn't that much time, but it was just good to be back out there with the guys.

Q: What was your takeaway from Friday night's game?

A: It was a solid showing, for sure. Just good reps for our offense and for our team in general. Still have a lot of work to do, still have a long way to go but it was a solid showing.

Q. How far advanced do you feel you are from a year ago at this time and maybe even a year ago at the end of the season?

A: I feel like I have gotten better, but like I said I still have a lot more work to go, it's still preseason. We are just going to see as the year goes on. I'm going to continue to work on my craft, continue to get better every day and see how good I get.

Q: What do you think you are specifically better at?

A: I feel like I got overall better at balance. I've worked on a few technique things. I've leaned out, got in better shape, better condition for sure.

Q: (Tackle) Andrew (Thomas) took such a big leap from year one to year two, have you talked to him about the things he did to progress so much?

A: I'm in Andrew's ear all the time, just talking ball, just chopping it up. He's a great resource to have in the room for sure. I am thankful for him. I feel like all the guys in the room are thankful for having AT.

Q. Anything in particular that he kind of advised you on?

A: Nothing specific. Our conversations are our conversations, but he is definitely in my ear, and I am in his ear. We definitely have a lot of dialogue for sure and I appreciate all the tips he may give me for sure.

Q: How important was it to you to get out of your stance quicker?

A: That's the nature of the game at offensive tackle. Your get off, getting to your spot. I feel like I did a pretty good job of that. I feel like it's been back to me finding a comfortable stance that I can get into and get out of. Friday night I did that well but that's a preseason game, so I am not really going to harp on that as much, I have a lot more work to do. I have to continue to get out my stance for the duration of the season, so I am going to focus on that.

Q: Do you feel good with the stance or are you still tweaking it as you go along?

A: I look good in it (laughs).

Q. What was (offensive line coach) Bobby's (Johnson) message to you guys after today's practice?

A: Just to come out and train harder. It was a pretty humid day, guys can get a little fatigued, especially after a day off. Basically, just telling us to keep chopping, keep grinding when it gets hard, when it gets tough.

Q: You had a second level block on (running back) Eric's (Gray) touchdown, is that something that you feel like you have gotten better at and had to get better at?

A: Sure, it was a good block. I got to the second level, squared him up and I drove him to the end zone. Thankfully, we scored, for sure. But everybody on the play did their job that's why it was successful. So yeah, it was a good play.

Q: How much fun is it to be in the film room and look at it, a play like that in particular, it just seemed like everybody was on their man.

A: Yeah, it's extremely fun to watch, definitely, but you don't want to harp on the good things too much. You know, you want to focus on the corrections, the things that you can get better at. But it's always good to see when all 11 guys on the field do their job and good results come out of that, for sure.

Q. Did you ask to be out there that long Friday night, or did they say you've missed time we want you out there a little longer?

A: It wasn't really a conversation. I went out there and they told me, 'Evan, you are playing the first half,' and I said, 'Okay.'

Q: You talk to quarterbacks, and they say short-term memory, does that apply to an offensive lineman?

A: I feel like that applies to everybody on the football field. Sometimes you are going to have bad plays, I mean everybody out there gets paid, everybody is elite. Sometimes you are going to give up a bad play. You've just got to turn the next page. You can't harp on the past because if you harp on the past that will affect your play in the future so just turn the next page and keep it pushing.

Q: Is it weird right now with this guard rotation to not know from play to play who is going to be standing next to you?

A: Not really, because I am comfortable playing alongside both of those cats. That's really the coach's call and the coach's decision. They coach us up well and both of those guys fit great within our scheme and our system and what we are trying to do so I am comfortable playing with both of them.

Q. Do you sometimes though not know, like look over and say, 'Oh, he's in there.'

A: Sometimes I wouldn't notice; both those guys are so good at what they do. I mean, it really doesn't affect me whatsoever, I mean, doesn't matter.

Q. Do you ever look at (offensive line coach) Bobby (Johnson) and say, 'Take off the sweatshirt.'

A: No (laughs). They made me take mine off today – pretty humid out there, it was.

Q. Have you tried to play with a sweatshirt?

A: Yeah, I was out there with a sweatshirt on. Trainers made me take it off, though.

Outside Linebacker Azeez Ojulari

Q. On a day like this, does the heat bother you at all? It bothers me.

A: Yeah, I mean, it's great to be out there in the heat, get acclimated to it, working every day, pushing through it. Because starting September, the heat – it's hot out there, so we've got to get used to it and keep pushing through the hard days in camp – you've got to keep pushing.

Q. As part of your defense, what have you seen from (defensive tackle) Jordon Riley?

A: He's coming in head down working every day, focused, locked in. You've got big Dex (defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence II), (defensive lineman) Leo(nard Williams) in there grinding, helping him out, Nacho (defensive lineman Rakeem Nuñez-Roches), (defensive lineman) A'Shawn (Robinson), they're all working on him. He's pushing them every day and he's just improving every day, going hard and getting better.

Q. Do guys respect a guy that comes in kind of unheralded and ends up showing you something?

A: Yeah, if you're out there playing hard every day, you're going to gain some type of respect from your teammates, coaches, and everyone, putting it all on the line at practice. When you get an opportunity on Sunday, Saturday, whenever we play, it's just great to show what you've got.

Q. It seemed today that (defensive coordinator) Wink (Martindale) kind of lit a fire under you guys during that last session. What was going on?

A: We had a lot of plays during that last session that we just wanted to keep pushing through when it got hard for us and just wanted to keep going, just find a new energy, a new gear in you. Keep pushing, even though we're all tired, just got to keep pushing through. You never know, we might have a long drive in a game. We're just preparing ourselves for those moments that come.

Q. (Inaudible) in September?

A: Oh yeah, that too. For sure.

Q. Did (outside linebacker Kayvon) Thibodeaux give you any words because he got a sack, and you didn't?

A: Oh no, he (didn't) give me (any). We were just out there competing. We're trying to race to get there, and we're all trying to make a play out there and keep our conditioning and get our conditioning right.

Q. How much do you emphasize playing against the run as part of your game? Maybe Wink has told you perhaps that you could improve.

A: Yeah, it's big because I want to be an all-down player, coming out there and dominating whenever I'm out there. Just do my job to the best of my ability. Whatever I can do to set the edge, help the team, stop the run, tackle for losses, just making an impact out there.

Q. After a couple of weeks, what do you think of the defense?

A: We're still working. We can't wait to show everyone throughout the season what we've got and we're just going to keep our heads down and keep working. Sky's the limit, man. Just keep working.

Q. Are you looking forward to playing (Jets quarterback) Aaron Rodgers?

A: Yeah, I'm looking forward to playing all the quarterbacks. Every team. I can't wait. I can't wait this year. I can't wait to get out there and attack.