TODD HALEY: “We continued and got back today to the OTA schedule. I thought that after just completing five practices we came out and practiced hard in not very ideal wind conditions. But overall, I was pleased. I’m especially excited about defense and how they’re coming together. I think guys now understand, even though we’re continuing to install new pressures and new schemes. They’re starting to pick it up and starting to look comfortable. Getting hands on the football a bunch and I’m encouraged by what they’re doing on the defensive side of the ball.”

Q: How do you see the wide receiver corps?

HALEY: “We need work. We definitely need work. We need to improve our execution of just the basic pass game right now. We’re having a hard time in some simple areas. We’re making plays; it’s just the execution has to pick up. Again, when you get a day like today and the wind is blowing pretty good and you might be going into it a bit it makes for a tougher day throwing the football. But we have to find ways, especially on days like this.”

Q: Dwayne Bowe is a guy who has had some drops in his career. What do you do try to fix that? What’s the first thing you have to do?

HALEY: “Having coached receivers for as long as I did, if it’s not a vision situation where somebody actually needs a correction of their vision then you’ve got to look at technique, you’ve got to look at concentration, and there are all kinds of drills and different things you can do to work on.

“But more than anything you just have to coach it. You have to let the player know, whoever it is, that it’s not alright. It’s not alright to let the ball hit your hands and then the ground or, worse than that, tip to the other side. I think sometimes when you’re going through a little run – and even out here we’ve had a bunch of drops – you can’t let it go. You’ve got to continue to press the issue that the ball has to be caught and then drill it before and after practice and at all times. I think that’s the best solution I’ve found.”

Q: Is the vision wrong?

HALEY: “No, we’ve checked all those guys vision-wise. That’s not the problem.”

Q: What about Quinten Lawrence’s development?

HALEY: “I think that he’s making progress. It’s a long way for him coming from where he’s coming from. It’s a big job for anybody. Then, he had a little pull that he’s nursing and has had to deal with which always at the receivers position makes it much more difficult.

“But I think Quinten has shown some promise. He’s shown enough to let me think that there’s a chance. Again, it’s going to be a tough road for him given my past experience with guys coming from small schools and trying to find their way in and contributing early. But it’s been done before and I’ve seen enough from him to at least be encouraged. He can catch the ball, he can run, and he has a little feel for the position.”

Q: Bowe is one of those guys with a big personality. But he doesn’t seem to be showing it this year. Is it not a good thing to do at this point?

HALEY: “I don’t know that’s it’s a good thing or not a good thing. The number one thing has to be football for all these guys. That’s been made clear to every player on this team. We’re not interested in a lot of distractions, that I don’t believe that’s the way you win football games by distracting yourself with a lot of other things. So, we’re trying to make football number one and hold everybody accountable to that. He’s just one of 86 guys we’re telling the same thing and we want guys that are pretty serious about football, that when it doesn’t go right that they’re upset as the coaches are, or their teammates are – that they’re not guys that when it doesn’t go right they go, ‘oh well, let’s move on.’ It’s just part of trying to change the way everybody’s thinking. He’s just one of the guys in the mix.”

Q: Has Dwayne Bowe taken to the new style of coaching?

HALEY: “I would say that Dwayne’s been very receptive to what we’re trying to do. He’s continually tried to get around me and talk to me about what’s expected, he’s talked to coach Ward. He’s trying to do the right things. Again, they’re all trying to learn a lot of new techniques, new schemes, new route combinations – there is a lot going on, on top of working pretty hard physically.

”Dwayne’s another one who probably let himself go too far in the off-season so it’s been a long road back. That’s a lot of work when you’re trying to lose 20-25 pounds. There is a lot going on right now.

“But I would say Dwayne’s been very receptive to trying to do it our way, and the way we want it done.”

Q: Did you tell him specifically to turn it down?

HALEY: “I’m not going to talk about any private conversations ever with these guys as I’ve said. Again, he’s just one of 86 that we’re trying to get in a single-minded purpose of what we’re trying to get done. We obviously have a great task ahead of us and a long way to go. I think it’s going to take that from each and every one of them, each and every one of the coaches and each and every person in this building. We need them to be thinking in that way.”

Q: How has Brad Cottam picked up his position?

HALEY: “I think that’s a difficult position to be in for any of these guys whether he’s been here longer than some of these other guys or not. There’s a starting tight end position open. I said yesterday that I liked the competition at tight end right now. I think that we’ve got some guys who have some potential and look like they’re pretty hungry and are pretty serious about making a fight for it. He’s one of them. I thought today – and I haven’t watched the tape yet – but I got a little excited about a couple of things he did in the passing game because I was standing back on the defensive side and he’s a pretty big target. There’s no doubt about that. Today, with the wind blowing and the ball fluttering those are not always easy catches over the middle and I thought he did a good job.

“Now, he wasn’t so good on another one that went the other way but there were a couple of encouraging signs today from Brad. But again, I like that competition and I’m kind of excited to see how it all plays out. I think that there are some pretty competitive guys there who realize there is a window of opportunity and a legitimate shot. If I could get that at every position I’d be excited.”

Q: Do you feel you’re still learning yourself and where you are as a head coach?

HALEY: “One of the other new coaches from a couple of years ago was talking to me (about that subject). I said a couple of months ago that my head was spinning. He said, ‘Todd, your heads going to be spinning 10 months from now. I’ll call in and check.’ That’s the way it is.

“Every day is new. I’m a little more comfortable out there, I’d say, but every day is a new adventure. Like I’ve said, I don’t have all the answers. I’m just trying to get it right and make good decisions along with my staff. To this point, I feel okay about where we’re going.”

Q: Brian Waters and Mike Vrabel were not here today after the mandatory mini-camp. Did you expect that?

HALEY: “Talked to both players and again, Donald Washington (graduating from Ohio State) should be showing up here pretty quick. Talked to both players, nothing was a surprise. We had a great turnout the day after five practices (mini-camp). They lifted very hard this morning and I know myself after a weekend like that it was hard for me to get out of bed. So, I was encouraged by the way a large number of guys got themselves in here and ready to have a good practice. ”

Q: How much do you look at special teams when determining roster spots?

HALEY: “I think that the evaluation process is a daily thing. It’s something we consistently sit down as a staff and put the depth chart up and talk about guys and see who’s going forward and who’s going backwards, where we’re at. That’s something we do every two days. The evaluation process goes on every day and will continue to go on every day even through the season. Every day counts for everybody.”