-@RZ_MikeWilbon-

Today we sit down with one of the more tenured members of the RedZone community for a 1-on-1, no holds barred interview. No one would ever mistake BluePrint, Head Coach of the Oakland Raiders, for a GM All-star, but rather a hermit of sorts; popping in here and there with random comments on current takes. Some would say he's stand-offish, others would say he fits the mold of a bottom tier league user.  However he's characterized, he keeps on chugging, flirting with revelance and seemingly always on the outskirts of most circles and often "on the brink of success".  Let's hear from the man himself and see what he has to say.

MW:  Good morning coach. Thanks for having me in your home. Nice place you got here.

BP:  No biggie. It's always a pleasure to kick it with you.

MW:  First off, I wanna congratulate you on your big week 2 win against one of the more revered coaches in the league.

BP:  Thanks. We really needed that one coming off that week 1 loss to our division rival Broncos.  

MW:  Yeah, that looked like a frustrating game for your guys. Can you give us your takes on that week 1 game?

BP:  Sure. We were flat and didn't execute at all.  It's hard to get a real rhythm without balance.  We had no rushing offense to speak of.  We were without our Pro Bowl RB due to suspension and it showed.  Our backs combined for 30yds on 17 carries.  Derek (Carr) was our leading rusher, and that's never a good thing for our team, both offensively and defensively.. If we can't run the ball, then we resort to becoming one dimensional and risk putting our defense back on the field prematurely. 

MW:  Well, your guys bounced back nicely in week 2.  What do you attribute that turn around to?

BP:  Honestly, we were able to contain their run game. In week 1, we gave up over 250yds on the ground. For some reason we couldn't stop runs to the outside and change of direction cutbacks. We allowed too many runs to change direction, go against the grain of the play and gash us where our defenders were out of position.  We didn't have that issue in week 2.

MW:  Well, I'm sure you've heard about how bad your division is? It must feel good to get a win against a top tier coach.

BP:  Not really, because in the end, its going to be some reason other than my abilities, play style or play calling that caused this win. If I'm not mistaken, I was rated as a worse coach than Nick and equal to Eddie, who was rated as the worst of the AFC South. Even though over the 1st two seasons I have wins against the likes of Tiko, Moji, Pat, Eikim, Metal, Eddie and I'm 1-1 against Mans. Hell, I even remember one talk show host saying I'm not going to do anything and Corn would actually put it together. To me that says Corn has a higher upside than me. Ummmm he went 3-29 over the first 2 seasons.  

MW:  Well okay. That's not where I was going with that but hey, who am I to assume anything.

BP:  I mean, look at my division mates. They can coach.  Coach Johns and his Chiefs went 10-6 in season 36 before tanking it in 37.  And the Broncos .... well the Broncos front office has been in a state of flux. And Coach Rod and the Chargers went 11-7 in season 36, and followed up with a satisfactory 9-7; especially considering Phillip Rivers missed considerable time with an injury. But it was a slap in the face to hear that because a certain Broncos coach was cast away, that this divison was just a glorified group of practice games.  

MW:  Speaking of the Broncos, what're your thoughts on the Departure of Jay.

BP:  GOOD RIDDANCE. He was cancer to the league and I'm glad he's gone.  Don't get me wrong, he was an asshole and all, but that's not it.  There are multiple assholes here in Red Zone.  Hell myself have been an asshole on occasion.  But he real talk thought he was better than everyone else.  Not on a coaching, gaming or even an educational level, but he seriously thought his life had more value than the next person.  That there, I DO HAVE a problem with.  There are some that are better play callers, better users, better comedians, better computer programmers and better money makers.  But I think we all have value as human beings, whether it's as a father, son, husband, boss, brother, uncle or whatever. And nobody else has the right to belittle anyone else because of their opinion or any other reason. PERIOD.

MW:  So from one hot take to another, how bout having to face your guy in week 1? I know you gotta love having faced one Mr. Mariota .... 

BP:  It is what it is.  I couldn't get him, for whatever reason, so it's only right that I get to face him twice a season.  Don't you think? 

MW:  You think?

BP:  Man. Keeping it real. That hurt. (pats on his autographed authentic Mariota Oregon jersey)

MW:  So do you think it's a conspiracy?

BP:  Do you? *crickets*  I mean, we're sim. Period.  By the way, how's Cam doing in Buffalo?

MW:  He's doing pretty good I would imagine. 7 TDs to only 3 INTs.

BP:  Ummm yeah, about that.  I really didn't want to know?

MW:  Oh. Wow!!! Well, let's change directions then, shall we.  What are your thoughts on custom play books.

BP:  Damn Mike, don't you think I'm ostrecized enough? Jesus!

MW:  You did agree to our producers that nothing would be "off limits", when they reached out to you, didn't you. 

BP:  I guess I did. *sighs* Well if we're being honest, I honestly hate them. You did say "Sim", right? Okay. But that's not a conversation nor argumet I'm willing to have anymore. I mean, not to call this man out, but Astin is called "Post Malone" because he's allowed to call plays like that.  If he wants to build a book with every play that has a post route in it and effective outside runs, he can because that's part of how it works. If somebody else wanted to build a book with all the inside zone runs from the Pistol and Shotgun, they can.  Even though there are real play books from real coaches based on these real rosters and even more books based on real schemes .... that's apparently not sim enough. But, when in Rome ..... Yep, I use a custom now too.  I'm done.

MW:  Oooookay. So why do you feel like an outcast?

BP:  Just a feeling. The respect level isn't there when it comes to me, my team, nor what I've done in the past like some others. What ever happened to those nifty Hall of Fame ballots and indutions every off season? No? Okay.  But actually, I've come to appreciate it, embrace it and use it as motivation when facing said individuals. I actually prefer it this way now.  Helps keep my edge and not get too complacent.

MW: Well, what's up with Carr? Is he here to stay? Is he on the move?

BP:  Derek is our QB. He's played some good ball and he's had some not so bright moments but we believe in him.

MW:  Then what's up with him being shopped every off season? Hell, Khalil Mack as well for that fact.

BP:  There's really nobody that's willing to pay what I expect in return for Mack. That's really more of a gauge in his value on the open market. As far as Derek goes, I'm open to hear offers for EVERY player on this roster, but that doesn't mean he will be moved or those offers entertained. Honestly, those two guys will probably never get moved this cycle; especially with the power of the trade committee. Unless someone of influence has something to gain, What I'm asking for Mack is far fetched, at best. 

MW:  C'mon now. You expect me to believe that Mack and Carr were just gauges and diversions? REALLY?

BP:  Dude, you can ask anybody that I've spoken to about Mack. It's gonna take 2 first round picks, and 2 second round picks, in THIS upcoming draft, minimum, for me to even ponder a deal for Mack. Go ask around. I've heard the media outlets saying, "I wanna like BP's team and chance, but when I see his big names on the trade block it makes me doubt him legitimacy", in so many words.  I learned from GM John Schneider that it's okay to at least listen to inquiries about future HOFers. That doesn't mean you're actively looking to move them. Just gauging interest.

MW:  And Carr?

BP:  I'll be honest, Carr would have been GONE for Mariota. I love everything about that kid. It's no secret my QB has the green light to pull it down and take off if his read isn't there. And who does a better job of this and spins the ball as well as Marcus. And it doesn't hurt that he's a fellow alumnus.

MW:  Ummmm, I don't think online courses qualify you as an Oregon alumnus. *chuckles*

BP:  BULLSHIT!!!!! *very serious* Dude you are in MY house.

MW:  My bad. My bad. 

BP:  But like I was saying. Derek is a great locker room guy. He has a load of talent and potential, but for some reason, mid-way through season 36 he began to slump. I mean he was all over the place with his accuracy. And it didn't matter what throw it was. Deep passes. Intermediate passes. Short stuff. On the move or stationary. He was off by a mile. Throwing it straight to the defense and 20 yards in every other direction other than where the receiver actually was. And that's when the Joe Webb situation happened.

MW:  Did you actually think he was good?

BP:  Not really but I felt helpless and needed a change of direction.  Turns out that's exactly what I needed to learn how to coach a true number 1 WR, which I've never had as a coach in Red Zone. Before the Carr benchiing, (Amari) Coop(er) was averaging maybe 5 targets a game with 3 receptions. Then I was forced to use him more to even have a chance with such a drop off at the QB position. But now, with a renewed faith, two seasons of more experience expecting the small tweaks to the sliders along the way and being able to adjust on the fly, Derek is here to stay. Unless a blockbuster deal comes this way that WOWs this entire organization.

MW:  That's real. So I'm assuming that nobody came to the table with a deal of your liking for Carr since he's still your starter.

BP:  Actually, the Jags front office hit me up and offered Stafford, a 1st, 2nd and 3rd this season.  I couldn't pass that up. But in classic fashion, soon as I agreed to the terms, they hit me with, "well let me take a look something" then decided to change the conditions, which included me adding an additional player and moving one of the picks to next year's draft, thus no longer making it a deal to my liking. When I called them out on being suspect for offering a deal and then changing it, I was given "I already spoke with the trade committee and they said it wouldn't get done unless I made these changes" excuse. So yeah, no deal that'll move me to deal Carr. Yet.  *smirks*

MW:  Understood. Well, I know you need to start prepping for your week 3 matchup against your division rival and good friend Coach Rod, so I won't take up too much more of your time, but before I get out of here, what are your expectations for this season?

BP:  Man, they're the same as they are coming into every season.  Put my team in the best position to contend for a playoff spot. On paper we look formidable.  And Derek is doing his thing through the first 2 games. I think he's completing like 75% of his passes. He's thrown 3 TDs to only 1 INT and averaging over 300yds passing per game. He's added 2 more scores on the ground so we can't really ask any more of him. We got Ken(yon Bell) back last week and he made an instant impact. He and Coop are looking good again after a very productive off season. If our OLine can impose their will and win even 60% of their battles, we can be dangerous on offense. Defensively our bigs up front have already shown they are willing to lay it on the line for us to be successful. Now if Coach Woodson can get those guys in the secondary to convert some of those pass break ups into interceptions, we'll have a truly balanced attack on both sides of the ball. I like our chances this season and if I have to make a prediction, I would say 10-6 with a tight division race. And of course a playoff appearance.

MW: *ahem* I think those guys in Los Angeles would have something to say about that, but we will see how your troops deal with that first loss to .... I mean .... battle with the Chargers tonight. Thanks for your time coach. We gotta do this again at the end of the season and compare notes on how the season went.

BP:  How bout we don't.

Let it be known that Michael Wilbon did not appreciate how Coach Blueprint "mistakenly" left his Pitt Bull pen unlatched as he was leaving. When asked about the mishap, Coach BluePrint was quoted as saying, "Oh. My bad. Did I do that? I must have gotten temporary amnesia after that bullsh*t about losing to the Chargers. GTFOH."

Arguably the biggest steal of the draft belongs to the Miami Dolphins.  After witnessing his first two weeks of the season, it's hard to imagine that LOLB Francis Bedell lasted all the way until the 5th round.  Coach Snyder and co. must have been salivating when they saw this guy still available and wasted no time sending his name to the podium with the 145th pick. "When Francis Bedell was drafted, we thought it'd be a year or two before he saw the field," recalls coach Snyder. "Very raw athlete, but he's came in and started for us in a pinch and excelled."  At first glance you'd think he's better suited to play the middle linebacker position with his speed (86spd, 87acl) and ability to cover alot of ground quickly.  But having watched him in action, it's obvious that he plays outside of his measurables.  One GM/coach offered very harsh criticism of Bedell's ability going into the draft, "he's nothing more than a hard hitting practice squad player that will be used to simulate converted linebackers from safties on the scout team."  True some of his post-combine numbers are underwhelming (71bsh, 57prc, 76pur, 60awr) but this kid rarely takes any plays off and has a motor that runs high from opening kickoff until the final whistle.  And while he has primarily been a menace to opposing QBs, as is evident by his rookie best 4.5 sacks, its not unimaginable that he eventually becomes one of the top linebackers in interceptions. He tends to thrive in zone coverages (75zcv) better than the average rookie linebacker.  He ranks 3rd in total tackles (9) and T-3rd in TFL (1) among the Dolphins linebacker unit.  When asked about how he expects to impact this talented defense, Francis Bedell offered his take on a "perfect situation":

"I feel like I'm in  a can't lose situation. I mean, I get to learn from some of the best teammates a guy could ask for. With Big Daddy Suh and Ian (Williams) manning the front line and getting to roam the second level with Kiko (Alonso) and WuTang (Raekwon McDaniel), I'm in a position to succeed on literally every snap. And I can't forget TJ (Green). Dude was the defensive back of the year last season. Gives us a sense of security in case guys get behind us. What a way to come in as a rookie. Best news is nobody really expected me to play this well so everything I do is a plus."

With the 23rd pick in this year's draft, Coach Blueprint and the Oakland Raiders went all in on Marshall RB Kenyon Bell.  Looking at his film, Bell fits the mold of preferred backs coach Blueprint has come accustomed to employing.  His mix of power (90trk, 93sfa) and speed (90spd) are impressive alone, but when you add his eye for spotting a crease (82bcv) and ball security (84car), it's easy to see why he was so high on the Raiders draft board. After spending the #10 pick on solidifying the right side of their Oline on RT Berry Ward, Coach Blueprint had to add depth to his running back position. With last year's bell cow Marshawn Lynch missing 10 of the team's first 12 games due to injury, the Raiders struggled to establish any form of running attack.  Bell worked hard during training camp and preseason to gain the eye of RB coach Shaun Alexander; thus being awarded the day 1 starting position.  Through the first 2 weeks Bell leads all rookie running backs with 88 rushig yds and 1TD.  He took the 1st handoff of his career into the endzone for a 7yd TD run in week 1 against the Chiefs, en route to a 16car 66yd 1TD debut performance.  However, week 2 brought a slice of humble pie as the visiting New York Jets held the rookie to only 22 rushing yds on 10 carries.  Week 2 did see Bell dispell post-combine doubts about his abilities as a receiver (59cth, 57rte) as he nabbed 4 receptions for 60yds and team's only TD.  Coach Blueprint had this to say about his rookie RB.

"He runs hard and fights for every yard possible, and covers the ball like a vet on every run. Reminds me of another guy in our locker room, only youger. We feel blessed to have a quality player that can learn from a legend like Marshawn and see big things from him throughout his career as a Raider. As he gains more experience and learns the nuances of our offense, I envision him becoming a 1,000yd rushing/500yd receiving back easily."

MLB Thaddeus Fitzgerald may have the highest ceiling of all season 37 rookies. The 3rd overall draft pick hopes to solidify a Cleveland Brown's defensive unit that is on the cusp of catapaulting the team into playoff contention.  Fitzgerald combines a rare skillset of strength (88pow, 86str), speed (85spd, 90acl) and instincts (92tak, 87pur, 86bsh) to come in as the day 1 starter at the middle linebacker spot. Through the first two games, Thaddeus has accounted for 12T-A, 2TFL, 1sack, 1INT and 2 pass deflections. Even though he's been labeled as a run stopping backer by most analysts, he is quickly emerging as a formidable cover Linebacker. As he gains more experience and improves on his few weak spots such as overall awareness (68) and pre-snap play recognition (75), Fitz will undoubtly ascend the league's ladder of linebacker hierarchy.  Coach Mason has a winner on his hands and will have the privilege of watchig this young man develop into an elite defender.  The AFC North should take notice.

WR Iran Bodiford may be the most impactful rookie thus far through the first two weeks of the season. He currently leads the league in receptions (17), 3rd in yards (296), T-2nd in yards per game (148) and is T-4th in touchdown receptions (2).  The San Francisco 49ers were so confident in this kid's abilities that they nabbed him with the 14th overall pick in this year's draft.  He has elite speed (95) and acceleration (94). Combine this with his catching abilities (84/82/84 - CTH/CIT/SPC) and its easy to see why he's already being mentioned in the same breath as the league's wide receiver royalty.  Upon first glance, at 5'9 173lbs, it would be easy to assume with his diminutive stature that's he is destined to be no more than a deep threat; but with such outstanding route running (87) for a rookie, it's obvioius Coach Young will have him involved in every facet of the route tree.  Scouts have been raving about the content of this young man's character, as is evident in his Superstar developmental classification. Bodiford has All Pro potential, and with the addition of seasoned veteran QB Sam Bradford to deliver the ball, it will be a only a matter of time before we see his name listed on the annual Pro Bowl roster.