TODD HALEY: “We had our first of what will be close to a Friday in-season practice today covering all areas of the game plan – offense, defense, and special teams. A lot of carded periods where we were practicing against opponents’ looks both offensively and defensively. It was not perfect by any means, but we did get it under our belt.”

Q: For your evaluation process do you like the pre-season game or do you like having the guys out here on the practice field where you are a little more in control?

HALEY: “No, I think you have to have the game. I think the game is very important to the evaluation process as is every day of practice. Like I’ve said, every day these guys are being evaluated and really every night how they are in the meetings. It’s a 24-hour evaluation but the game is a big part of that and will play a big part in how things turn out.”

Q: How about situations? Will you be able to figure out how many of these guys retained what you taught in these situations?

HALEY: “It all depends on how many come up, but for sure, yeah. You expect to get in a two-minute (situation) before the game is over. I think we’ll have an idea of how much is retained by both coaches and players.”

Q: You’ve got a new long snapper out there. Are you looking for a little more consistency in the position?

HALEY: “Again, Thomas (Gafford) was with us the whole off-season and when we released him we told him to stay in shape and the competition was open. It’s kind of like that (place) kicking deal I was talking about. Having to be at 80 (players) this year put a squeeze on some positions and those were the positions that got squeezed. It’s a chance to bring Thomas in with the pads and in a game situation and get a look at him.”

Q: Did you give Tanner some of the same message?

HALEY: “Yeah, exact same message: stay in shape, keep working. It’s just something we thought was best at this time.”

Q: How do you evaluate your quarterback’s play through camp? How critical is it that he gets off to a good start in this game Saturday?

HALEY: “We evaluate the quarterbacks like anybody else. Now, you have a little more to hold onto statistically because we chart them every practice. Every time they’re throwing it’s charted whether the ball was completed, dropped, poor throw, poor decision, intercepted, all those things. So, you have some statistics to help you along in that area. Just like any other player.

“I think Saturday night will be a good indicator to see how far he’s come along. I think he’s continued to work hard, knows what’s going on. He’s made some real good throws and some poor throws. Saturday will be a good chance to evaluate where he’s at along with the rest of the quarterbacks.”

Q: Have you decided how much you want to see of him and the rest of the quarterbacks Saturday night?

HALEY: “I told you wrong yesterday. We’re going to meet tonight on personnel. I would guess it would be in the quarter or quarter-and-a-half range for most of the guys.”

Q: Is there a philosophy when you have a new quarterback, a new team and a new system that maybe you’d want to give him more reps in actual game settings to get used to his teammates?

HALEY: “Again, you’re trying to evaluate all the guys and we’ve got four (quarterbacks) right now that we’re trying to evaluate. You try and get at least three of them in each game. Then whoever the odd man out is you hope you can get in the next one. There are a lot of factors that go into how long a guy plays, especially quarterback and what line you have in and what receivers. Matt is a guy who hasn’t played a lot. I’ve stated that. He’s played really 15 regular season games in the last seven years. All the seasoning those types of guys can get the better.”

Q: First game, bright lights, I’m sure you’ve seen some guys who you think can play and then they walk on the field and it’s over.

HALEY: “Seen it go both ways. I’ve seen some guys that when the lights go on they hit the deck and some other guys when the lights go on you say, ‘hey, this guy’s got something.’ I’ve seen it work both ways a number of times.

“Once you get out there, and it’s as close to the real thing you’re going to get here for the next three or four weeks, it’ll tell us a lot about the majority of these guys.”

Q: Do you think the pre-season is too long? Do you like four games?

HALEY: “I think if you ask most coaches you’d like to have as many games as you can get. Now, the players are going to have a different answer. As far as I’m concerned, the more practice we can get the better.”