Big Bills PC....
Did you see anything in the 2nd half that would cause you to have more confidence in your defense?
I dunno. We're facing another very good offense this week. We'll have to see what we can do.
What's the problem with the FB out of the flat?
We have two different players make two different mental errors two weeks in a row. We're just not doing it. That's really what has happened. It's a mental error. When a guy is responsible for first in the flat and a guy runs into the flat and he doesn't take him, that's a mental error. But that's a correctable thing if we can hurry up and correct it.
So are most of these things correctable?
Sure they're correctable.
You said the other day that you can't just rely on outscoring people or you aren't going to get very far.
That's right, but what happened to our defense the other night happens to everyone. Its happened to the Chargers. It happened to the Bears this week. Its happened to the Colts. It happens, just can't have it happen too often.
Why can't you just outscore people?
It just costs you too much. Look at what happened the other night .. we got a ball tipped and they run it down into great field position We start chasing a team all night we're not going to win.
Do you think you can play muscle football or throw it around.
I don't think we can just go out there and say. We're going to go out there and do this or that. Teams will adjust to that pretty quickly. We need balance.
Does it mean anything to you to have clinched a playoff spot.
Yeah. Obviously this is the biggest game of the year for us coming up, and it will be the biggest game for them as well. I'm glad we're in the tournament. Hopefully we will be ready to go. I got a few guys here beat up a little bit. A few guys who are tired, so I gave them three days off and hopefully they will rejuvenate their legs a little bit.
TO's hand injury you said you didn't know about it?
I misunderstood the other day. I thought you were talking about Miles Austin. This injury is like 4 weeks old. I know about it, yeah. I make it a habit not to talk too much about him, because I know that's all you guys want to talk about. I don't pass judgement or anything, I just try to get the player to play to his potential on the field. I told you that when the player came here.
Do you think it's a team oriented act to bypass the surgery?
Yeah, I think he wants to play.
Monday you are going to play for everything you wanted. The division title, the playoffs, a bye and you're having to talk about TO? Does that frustrate you?
I'm not having to talk about it, Im just answering the questions you guys are bringing up. I understand it was a story. Two days ago.
So how do you balance out the player on the field and the distraction off the field?
I balance it a lot better than you do.
Does the hand injury effect the drops?
I don't know.
So what do you do if they suspend him.
They won't suspend him, so I don't have to worry about it.
How did Watkins do?
He did alright. He was out of position once and turned a guy loose another time, luckily they didn't find him.
Why is MB3 so effective late?
Because the other teams are tired. I think its good to have a closer. Whenever I've had good teams, I've had a closer. I think having a closer is important.
JJ
I hope he can get back on track. He missed some holes the other night that looked good on film. It looked like he made his mind up that he was going a certain place, and missed the open hole. I've talked to him, we got to get him on track. He does have 250 carries, that's quite a few, but I don't know that he has 60 carries in the last month. He should be rested. I hope he can find some reserve and finish out the season strong.
Do you think about switching the RB roles up?
No, like I said I like having that closer. Marion is in a good position for him. That touchdown drive at the end of the game might be the best one we had all year. That's what we used to do with OJ Anderson, it worked well. Curtis could do it too, he could keep going and going like the bunny. Its important to have one of those. That kid in San Diego is unbelievable. The kid in Kansas City can wear you down. Rudi Johnson can do it.
Has Miles Austin surprised you in KR?
We're at the top of the league in kick returns between Tyson and Miles. He's been a good find for us. I think he's a green kid that just athletically has a tremendous amount of potential. How soon he gets there I don't now. He doesn't have a lot of big time experience. I know the high school he went to and it was a low level of competition for that level, and he played at a low level of college competition, but athletically he can play in this league. But this job we're asking him to do now is not one that requires a lot of thinking or adjustment. Its pretty simple. We'll see how he does when we ask him to think more. But physically he's a very strong guy.
What about his injury?
He's got a crack, but he should be able to go once they pad him up.
What did you like about that final drive?
That Romo throw to Terry by their bench was big. Once we got to their 35, I was really wanting to score a TD badly but we're also trying to milk the clock. But if we kick a field goal we're only up 6. But once we got that off tackle thing going, I knew they were going to have problems stopping it because there wasn't really anything they can do about it.
Jacque Reeves injury?
He had a dislocated elbow, but they got it back in and now its just a matter of coming up.
McNabb
I looked at 6 games of them this morning. I think Garcia knows the offense well. He knows the plays and adjustment hasn't been difficult. They do things slightly different than they did with Donovan. The WR's have come along, and they got a two headed RB as well.
You always want to finish out strong. I don't think there is anyone that doesn't have a few hard games left out of these contenders.
Did it give you any confidence to see New Orleans and Chicago struggle?
I think our division, all the teams in our division, Washington included, can compete with anyone in this league. I don't think playing Washington is a break for anyone. They have a very competitive team. The Giants and Philly are very competitive. We're a competitive team. Everyone in our division is competitive. I don't feel that way about everyone in the league, I just think our division is more competitive this year at this time as any in the league.
How important is getting the bye week.
Its very important. You play 33% less games. But first thing first for us. We're playing a tough team that has beat us already and has won 3 in a row. They have confidence, so it will be tough.
Do you think momentum going into the playoffs is important as it used to be?
yeah, I do. I think its pretty important. Now if you ask me about having a healthy team or momentum, I'd rather have a healthy team. But I think a team playing well is more psychologically ready to go.
Any other injuries?
We got a few bumps or bruises, but I don't have to list injuries for a few days. Reeves will be on it. I hope that Hoyte might be ready to go.
Is it hard to root against Sean yesterday?
I didn't watch that game, but no it wasn't that hard to root against him.
How about the Gramatica kick?
that was a big kick. He has been excellent in practice, just excellent. He's only missed two kicks in practice so far. His kickoffs were pretty good. I'm pretty happy.
I just got the message that TO was fined $35k, does that surprise you?
No, I already knew what it was. The league is trying to take action on this stuff before it gets out of hand. Its dangerous stuff. Look at that Knicks game the other night.
You see a lot of things in sports today that you wish weren't a part of it for an old school guys like me.