Q: How would you describe Jamaal Charles’ growth? He’s a quiet guy but seems to be gaining more confidence.
 
TODD HALEY: “I think Jamaal is a very good example of somebody who really worked hard in the off-season and continued to work hard in-season, fought through some adversity. He was inactive for the Oakland game early and he could have easily wilted or gone in the tank, so to speak. At that point, after that game, you saw a guy who looked like he made up his mind that he was going to find a way to make us keep him in there. That’s what he’s done.
 
“As he’s progressed and continued to make plays it’s only natural that you gain confidence. But I think growth is a good word, in all areas. He’s becoming a professional and a dependable player.”

Q: What’s the first thing that got your attention about Jamaal?

HALEY: “Jamaal is a guy, who when I was in Arizona he came out and we spent a lot of time with him. I remember very clearly that I liked a lot of things he had done coming out. You knew he was an explosive player who was fast. I think he was the 100 [meters] champ down there at some point. It was clear he could run going back to the [scouting] combine and watching the tape.

“In person you see that speed and he’s probably a little quicker changing direction. Coming in I might have thought he was more straight line than he is. He’s fast but he also has some lateral quickness is what you’re seeing separating him from being just another fast guy. On top of that he’s got very good hands and he’s developing his route running and receiver’s skills. When you make a play like he made against San Diego against a top-flight corner that’s usually a pretty good sign that a guy has some ability to split out.

“He’s just a guy that we’re excited about being part of the nucleus of what’s going to be a good team.”

Q: When did you have an idea of what his potential ability would be?

HALEY: “This is all part of the process that is maybe not obvious to everybody – people who aren’t in here every single day. There is a way myself and our coaching staff go about developing players and that’s a priority in this league. You must develop young players to succeed. You have to. There is no question in my mind that it’s an important part of being a winning team and staying a winning team. In that development there are ups and downs.

“He was inactive [vs. Oakland] but does that mean we didn’t think enough of him the second week to have him [active]? There are a lot of different factors. There are roster issues. But in that process you see these guys continue to grow, get stronger, get better and, like I said, make us keep them in there. There are guys who go the other way and Jamaal is not that. He has made it clear I am going to find a way to make you guys keep me in there as much as possible.”

Q: Do you like it when guys come to you and say why and show initiative?

HALEY: “That is what I like. I like guys that are passionate about their abilities and about helping and about being capable and about being dependable. But the bottom line is they’ve got to show it. They have to be dependable players every day, not just Sundays, but Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Friday and Saturday – the same guy every day. That’s what we’re looking for. We’re finding more and more of those guys and that’s one of the things that makes me believe we’re doing the right things, and we just gotta keep adding to this mix and keep coaching them and we’ll continue to get better.”

Q: Was it good that he was inactive that one time?

HALEY: “You’d have to ask him. I won’t say there was any pre-conceived or pre-meditated deal that we were doing it at that point in time. It had to do where we were with the roster and what other spots where we needed help. If it had a positive effect on him then that’s good but again that’s probably something he could answer better than me.”

Q: Does this game being blacked out affect you and your team at all?

HALEY: “It does not me. Our focus is getting ready to win this game, to beat the Cleveland Browns and that’s it. I know that that’s probably disappointing to some people but it’s where we’re at right now. I know that the bottom line is winning and as we continue to show progress and win games I know the fan base is terrific – the best in the league in my opinion. I think everything will work itself out.

“Our job is we’ve gotta figure out a way to win. That’s the solution. I say that all the time. Don’t complain, don’t explain, find solutions. The solution to any of those things is winning games. Again, we just have to know we’re doing the right things and come out ready to execute and finish drives on offense and create some of these turnovers we’ve been creating on defense, win the special teams battle, stop the run, don’t allow big plays and win the game. Then good things will happen.”