Saints coaching candidate Kafka talks Senior Bowl, Saints interview, and offensive philosophy

By Ross Jackson

Mobile, Ala. — As the head coach search continued for the New Orleans Saints, one of their top remaining candidates is in Mobile, Ala. coaching at the Senior Bowl. While preparing himself and the National Team players and coaches for this weekend’s all-star collegiate showcase, Kafka also visited with 104.5 ESPN Baton Rouge radio show Off the Bench. During which, he and host T-Bob Herbert discussed the opportunity presented by the Senior Bowl, his conversations with the Saints about their open head coaching position, the core principles of his offensive strategy and much more.

Here are some key takeaways from his exclusive interview with Off the Bench.

On coaching at the Senior Bowl and further his goals of being a head coach in the NFL.

“I think the best part about this is not necessarily about me, because I’ve played it at a high level. College, in the pros. I’ve been in almost every seat as a player and a coach, quality control, position coach, coordinator… So, that part of it’s not as important to me as the players, getting those guys ready. I’ve been in those seats, playing in senior games like this. It wasn’t the Senior Bowl, I played the East-West game, but similar atmosphere. So I know what those guys are going through. I know what those guys, as they are sitting in those chairs, what’s racing through their (minds) a little bit. So, I have that perspective. And so I think that the most important part to me, is just really getting to know these players. Giving them confidence to go show who they are as a person, as a player and really put their best foot forward in front of all these teams.”

On coaching with Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid

“Coaching quarterbacks for Coach Reid is probably one of the greatest privileges I’ve ever had. Just the level of detail, the discipline, all that goes into the quarterback position. It’s a master class learning from Coach Reid, I was with him as a player, so I knew how he operated and what he wanted that position to look like. And then being able to come in at a quality control role, see how that has developed over the course of my playing career, and come back into the building Kansas City, I knew what that looks like. And so it was just about getting back on the same page and working through all those things that Coach Reid, what his standards are and what our expectations are. And so, for me, it was about delivering that message from the head coach and then applying it to the quarterbacks.”

On how Reid has affected his coaching style

“I’d say Coach Reed was a pretty big influence on me as far as coaching style. I feel I’d like to mirror that, and aspire to be what Coach Reid is. Having been around him for five, six, really eight years total, player and coach… I just respect him so much. When you respect guys like that, you try to imitate them to an extent. But you put your own twist on it, your own personality. Coach Reid has certainly had a huge influence on me.”

On the core principle of his offense 

“I’d probably say just one word: ‘surgical.’ That’s what I think about when I’m thinking about offensive play. And that applies to everybody; the (offensive) line, the quarterback, the receivers, tight ends, backs. The details that need to be applied. To have a really efficient offense, effective offense, that all matters. So, I think all the work and all the explosion or efficiency or production is because of having a surgical way of thinking.”

On his meetings with the Saints

“It was very well run, Mickey (Loomis) and his staff, there (were) five or six guys in the room. The first one was a Zoom, so just kind of ‘get to know you,’ pretty easy conversation. Low-level kind of philosophy stuff. Then we flew out a few days ago, and I was in New Orleans. We were able to kind of sit face-to-face and talk about all of those principles and all those standards. Practice schedules, how you respond to certain things throughout the year, and the offseason, in-season, different players, your experiences… So, it’s very well rounded.”

On his goals while coaching at the Senior Bowl

“I think one of the three goals that I have is… The first one is just to get a great (evaluation) on the players. Get to know these guys. The second part of that would be just introducing these guys to the NFL language so their execution, the way that they go out and play on Saturday, that’s important. And then the third part is winning. Like I came here to win. I want to win the game. I’m competitive, so putting these guys in a good position, I have ultimate trust in the coordinators and we’re just going to go out there and have some fun.”