Nathaniel Hackett Speaks to Media at AFC Coaches Breakfast in Florida

PALM BEACH, Fla._Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett said at the Combine in Indianapolis, that so many things that a head coach has to do is "new" to him and has very little to do with football. The Coaches Breakfast at the NFL Owners Meetings is one of those obligations, and Monday morning, Hackett attended his first. The breakfast is less eating, and more press conference, as the AFC Coaches get a chance to talk about their team to not only local media in attendance, but sports media from national outlets as well as other local markets.

Understandably, writers who cover the Seahawks had plenty of questions for Hackett, because of his new quarterback, Russell Wilson. Although they've spent more time getting to know each other than talking football, Hackett did offer this when asked about what he expects the dialogue to be with his new signal-caller, "I think it's so important to make sure he's comfortable in everything he does." Hackett said, "From the cadence, to the way that you just call a play, I think is so important. Because, again, when you go out there and all 80,000 people are screaming at you, you want it to be natural. You wanna be able to check at the line, you wanna change your audibles, you wanna switch from play-to-play, you wanna do so many different things. If he's thinking about that, he's not gonna be playing fast. So, for me, we do so much of the same stuff, it's just about getting that language to cross over. The more that we can talk with each other when we get together in April, we'll just kind of solidify those things and make sure we're all on the same page.

Understandably, a question about new pass rusher Randy Gregory was thrown Hackett's way as well, and he was asked what he thought of the 7-year-vet, who's spent his entire career in Dallas. “I was very excited about it," he said. "I think he’s a premier player, premier pass rusher. [I’m] very excited to see him in a two-point stance as much as possible and come off the ball. He’s a great dude as I’ve gotten to know him. I’m really just excited about the man himself.”

The follow-up, of course, was his vantage point when it looked like Gregory may choose to return to the Cowboys, rather than come to the Mile High City, "I’ve learned in this profession, whether it’s game day or whether it’s free agent signings, anything can happen and it’s not official until it’s signed."

Hackett was also asked about one of his favorite players to coach, wideout Davante Adams, who was traded from Green Bay, where they spent the last three years together, to Las Vegas, where he'll see the Raiders, home and away annually. "I’m so excited to see him two times a year," Hackett said. "I’m going to have a couple plans for him after being with him for three years. You know, a couple things. I’ll be talking with [Defensive Coordinator] Ejero [Evero] quite a bit. Davante is a great man, and there’s going to be a lot of talking going on in that game because that’s my guy and we know how to get under each other’s skin, too. It’s going to be really fun.”