LB DERRICK BROOKS
(On how he feels this week compared to last week)
"I feel better this week, but once again I was instructed…instead of a 'gag order' it was a 'secrecy order.' He said to throw all questions to him after practice, so that's what I'm going to do. But I do feel a lot better than I did last week. I'm going to go out there and see how I feel this week."
WR MICHAEL CLAYTON
(On if this is a weekend of opportunity for the receivers)
"Yeah. We've basically been in this position all offseason. As you all know, Joey Galloway wasn't practicing in training camp, so basically what we've been practicing the majority of the offseason is how it is now. We feel real comfortable. Unfortunately, he will not be out there. We can't wait to get him back but we feel real confident about the success we can have against their secondary."
(On if the opportunity makes him hungrier)
"I've been hungry, man. I've been hungry for five years. Nothing has changed, my mentality hasn't changed. The opportunity has changed and I'm looking forward to taking advantage of it. Like I said, I'm really excited about the opportunity. I'm blessed to be in this position. God has kept me healthy and I've been able to take advantage of it."
(On if cross-training at flanker and split end this offseason is helping now)
"Definitely. I got a lot of opportunity to play 'X' the last game because of that. The more positions that you know the more opportunity you have to play and the more leeway that we have to get the looks that we want, if everybody knows the offense. It's definitely played a big part in where our offense is today and where we are at the level of our wide receiver play."
(On if it was difficult to learn a second position)
"Not really. It was easier than I thought. I've been a flanker here for five years, but it was easier than I thought. I thought it was going to be a little difficult but playing the split end position is fairly easy. It's basically the same thing as flanker. When you're in an offense for five years, it comes easy to learn."
C JEFF FAINE
(On Chicago’s defense)
“They have pretty good athletes all the way around and they have a couple of wrinkles that are a little different that what we have been seeing all camp. It is going to be a pretty good challenge for us up front.”
(On difference between Chicago’s defense this year and last year)
“I definitely think they are playing better. A big plus for them is having S Mike Brown back; he is a great, great safety. Then with DT Tommie Harris being healthy and ready to roll, it is going to be a pretty good challenge. It is one of those things when you have health all the way around and you have all your guys back, all the guys are there that you are used to playing next to, I think that is a big advantage.”
(On facing LB Brian Urlacher)
“I should see him at least every other play. It is something that these days, centers and Mike linebackers, it is something you just deal with week in and week out. I have been playing him quite a bit over the years with the Saints and the Bears, and I saw him a couple of times in Cleveland. We are pretty familiar with each other and I am excited to play him again.”
QB JEFF GARCIA
(On the approach he must take to prepare for this game)
“The same way I prepared last week, just prepare myself physically and mentally to be there in a support role and also if the opportunity presents itself again, be ready to play.”
TE JOHN GILMORE
(On playing with Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman)
“If there is anybody’s back you have on this team it’s the quarterback. You have to take a lot of pride in that; nobody is going to mess with your quarterback. Whether it’s on the field or off the field, we definitely surrounded and rallied around Rex when he was dealing with what he had to deal with.”
(On how to handle Chicago Bears defense)
“We just have to be physical. Looking at the tape after the game last week, I wasn’t so sure why we didn’t finish a little bit better than what we did. Looking at the tape, we were pretty physical, even in the second half coming out of halftime. We have to carry that over to this week. We have to be a physical team and a physical offense. The big thing for us is don’t turn the ball over. They’re a run around defense just like us.”
(On cutting down on penalties)
“I think we need to be a little bit more poised. We’re a good team and we don’t need to go over the top to get something done. I think we just need to bring it down a notch and get everybody locked in and focusing on what we need to get done and we’ll be okay.”
QB BRIAN GRIESE
(On how having played with Chicago is going to help him this week)
“I don’t know if there is a whole lot of advantage. I may know some of their individual players somewhat better than most, but other than that I don’t see a whole lot.”
(On experience while playing in Chicago)
“I had a good two years in Chicago and made a lot of good friendships. I learned a lot playing football there. When I look back, I look back with fondness on my time there and the opportunity that they gave me to play. Unfortunately, we didn’t get as good of result as we would have liked and I didn’t get as good as results as I would have liked. But I don’t look back on that situation with anything but fondness.”
(On going back to Chicago Sunday)
“It’s going to be fun for me. I’m looking forward to it. Chicago is a great place to play football. The fans there are tremendous and it’s a great environment. For me to be going back to play against a lot of the friends that I have made will be a lot of fun. I’m going to enjoy it to the fullest. I’m going to prepare for the best of my ability this week and try to put our team in a better position to make plays and win the game and enjoy it.”
DT CHRIS HOVAN
(On Matt Forte)
"A smart draft pick coming out of college at Tulane. He ran the ball impressively well back in college. Chicago is a run-oriented-first offense. He's running between the tackles, he's running outside – he gives them another dimension to their offense right now."
(On how much fun it is to play against another traditionally tough team)
"It's going to be a smash-mouth game. I remember playing Chicago when I was up in the Central and then in the North division, the black and blue. It's going to be a black-and-blue type of game. They're going to run the ball. They ran the ball 36 times in the last game, so we know they're going to try to run the ball, play great defense, try to control the clock and really try to put it in their quarterback's hands. If they can try to not make mistakes, and just go out there and play great Buc defense right now."
(On the Bears not making mistakes on offense)
"They're playing really fundamentally sound offense. They're doing great on the offensive line, really picking up blocks as a unit, pass-protecting and really not giving up a big play to the defense – sacks, interceptions and so forth. We're going to have to go out there and play technique-sound, fundamentally gap football."
WR DEXTER JACKSON
(On the receivers needing to be unselfish)
"Exactly. That's what [Wide Receivers] Coach [Richard] Mann told us today. He said, 'Five guys will be up and Coach Gruden is expecting you to play.' [Gruden] even had a little note telling me to be ready to play this weekend."
(On if playing opposite Devin Hester is a chance to prove that he's a dangerous return man, too)
"Each week it's always a task to try to go against somebody who's done a lot in the NFL. I feel like just by having him out there, if he is, it will help me prepare a lot more for this game."
(On how prepared he is to step in at receiver)
"I feel ready. I've just been waiting patiently. When somebody goes down Coach expects a lot out of us, so I'm just waiting for a chance."
S JERMAINE PHILLIPS
(On Chicago’s offense)
“It’s the Bears, they’re running the ball. They have the rookie running back from Tulane who has been doing a heck of a job for them and Orton really hasn’t been making any mistakes. They run the ball and let the defense do what they do. You win games like that.”
TE JERRAMY STEVENS
(On QB Brian Griese)
“We just like to think he throws to the guys that are going to make plays but everyone out here is trying to make plays and Griese does a great job of reading out the defense and just taking what they give him, not forcing too much if it isn’t there. It is somebody different every week it seems like, so I was happy to see TE John Gilmore go out there and make some plays and get into the end zone. Hopefully it will be someone else stepping up big or the same guy again, we just have to go out there and make plays when we get a chance to.”
(On getting back onto the field)
“I think that this practice week will be big for me. Just making sure I go out there and get a lot of good running in, get back into the feel of playing every play, back-to-back. That is something that you can’t practice if you are not out there on the field with the team. As long as my wind is good and my legs hold up, I think I will be good.”
(On playing with new teammates)
“I think it is just about knowing your role, everyone is going to have different roles week-to-week and year-to-year. I know what I am being called on to do, so I just have to go out there and add my little two cents to the team and hopefully I can help us win.”
T JEREMY TRUEBLOOD
(On Chicago’s defensive line)
“Their defensive line is athletic, they get after the ball and they get after the pass rusher; they’re everywhere. They have a lot of good players, but I think we do, too. I think it will be a good game.”
(On working with offensive lineman Jeremy Zuttah)
“He’s doing a good job. He’s a good studier and he’s a hard worker, and if you combine those two things you’re going to be successful so he’s doing a pretty good job.”
DE GREG WHITE
(On if the defense got what they were looking for)
“Yes, but we are looking to get better. We need to get better every week.”
(On getting more pressure on the quarterback)
“We are getting better, but I am not going to say we did that great of a job, we still have 14 more games left so talk to me at the end of the year.”
