Opening statement:
“I thought it was a pretty good start. The guys had great effort, energy, focus – that was good. What we put on tape wasn’t so good. But that is ok. We have got to get it cleaned up. It is the second go around for some things. It is the initial go-around for other things. When I say go-around I mean initial installation on some things, second installation for some other things. So hopefully the second installation things will start to look better and more detailed. But again, really good effort out there.”

Is it too soon to determine how the running back’s carries will be divided?
“It is way too early for that. We have to see who performs. As we talked about earlier, you earn your touches. So depending on how you practice and play in the preseason – that will determine how many touches you get by percentage. Whether is it ball carriers, pass catchers or whatever. Pass catchers, sometimes the defense can dictate a little bit more. But ball carriers, we pretty much make that decision.”

What are you trying to accomplish in the OTAs?
“Well we look at the OTAs as an extended period of practice. I look at the OTAs and last mini-camp as on extended period of practice. So we have 13 opportunities to install, teach and progress. So now after initially putting in all the plays, or most of the plays – about 85 percent of the plays – now we will start talking about situational football. Today was first and second down in the redzone. Tomorrow we will get into some other things. Each day we have a little bit different flavor to the situational football team. Become a smarter football team as we go.”

How do you go forward after losing Da’Quan Bowers?
“It is certainly a great loss for Da’Quan not to be here with us, hopefully we will get him back at some point during the season – but that is the nature of team sports. When someone goes down then it is another man’s opportunity. We will work at it. Michael Bennett and George Johnson and some of the other guys are going to step up. We will make sure we have a group out there.”

How has Ronde Barber looked at safety?
“I like the way he has performed so far. The final piece will obviously be live play. But I don’t have any hesitation. I’ve watched enough of him playing nickel and dime where his is fitting into the box and he is a fearless guy. I think he can do it. But it is just a matter of who are our best 11 guys. But right now that is where he is still playing.”

Could we also see him in the slot this year in addition to safety?
“Our whole deal in each personnel group is to get the best 11 on the field. The best 11 at what we are asking them to do in that personnel group. Ronde has had years of playing underneath in nickel and dime. That would be foolish to totally abandon that I think. But again you have to find the best 11. If we don’t have anyone who can play deep as well as well as he an play under that we have to do the trade off game.”

What can George Johnson bring and what type of player was he at Rutgers?
“At Rutgers we flip-flopped. He played both sides. He was a good player because he flip-flopped depending on the offensive set. George is a different player than when he played at Rutgers. He was like a 250-pound gut now he is a 280-pound guy.”

How does Vincent Jackson help this team get better?
“I think one of the things we looked forward to in signing Vincent Jackson was not only his play, but his leadership. We have several connections to Vincent and we had really good reports on him not only as a good player, but also as a practice player and a true professional. And that has proven to be true. And that is something we needed especially with a young group of receivers. And in comes a guy who is an experienced vet, and I think it is becoming a real good mix. I like the way that group is coming together.”