(On the Green Bay game and injuries)
"I'd just like to say I'm really proud of our team. We have some other injuries, guys that are still getting treated. Sabby Piscitelli hurt his elbow. Both Arron Sears and Jeremy Trueblood left the game. There are a lot of guys that are nicked up a little bit; we'll update you with the official list on Wednesday."
(On Piscitelli's injury)
"We're looking at his elbow. There is some concern there. As soon as we get the information we'll let you know. That probably won't be for a few hours."
(On the offensive line not giving up sacks in the last two weeks)
"Yeah, and a lot of that's because of [Brian] Griese. He does a great job getting rid of the ball. Our line is doing some good things, there's no question about it. They were very good particularly in the second half when we were running the football. You throw the ball 97 or 98 times in a row – whatever it may be – without a sack, that's a credit to a lot of guys. We're really happy with our line and we expect them to continue to get better throughout the year."
(On the players on defense wanting to score)
"You can tell they're trying. Every time we get a turnover we're lateraling it. It looks like a volleyball game. They're taking it to heart. I get nervous. I think the great defenses…unfortunately today everybody judges an offense or a defense by total yards allowed or total yards gained. That to me is hogwash. I think the great defenses don't give up touchdowns in the red zone. They get off the field on third down. I think they create impact plays, whether it be sacks or turnovers. And I think the great defenses, at least the ones I've been around, they score themselves. We've got some guys back there that are very opportunistic. Ballhawks – the [Ronde] Barbers, [Derrick] Brooks, they've shown that for years here. But you see guys like Cato June and [Barrett] Ruud; I think this safety man we have, [Tanard] Jackson, is going to be a great ballhawking safety for years to come; obviously Aqib Talib and Phillip Buchanon. We have some playmakers back there and we're trying to emphasize getting turnovers and scoring, finishing the plays. We've got three defensive scores; I believe that's tops in the league."
(On turnovers by the offense)
"Yesterday certainly there were a couple very very tough plays to swallow. We addressed that yesterday. One of them was a tip pass…tight coverage every play against Green Bay. We've got to get maybe better separation, maybe we've got to call better routes, but there were a couple tipped passes in the last two weeks I really can't fault them for. There are a couple interceptions when you have a commanding lead, a 20-7 lead, you've got to I think sometimes get rid of the ball, throw it away or go somewhere else. Those are things that we're going to eliminate and we're going to work hard to do that this week."
(On Brian Griese being low in several passing stat rankings)
"You've got some real good stats there. You know he's 3-0 as a starter; how about that? We've played two very good defenses. The Chicago Bears on the road – he was the player of the week for us last week. He threw a couple interceptions yesterday and we can't have that. He knows that. But he's a winning quarterback for us and we're going to rally around him, continue to try to improve on his strengths and try to clean up a couple plays that hurt us last week."
(On Dexter Jackson being more decisive in his returns)
"Yeah, I think he did an excellent job. He fielded the ball and showed some explosive movement up the field and was decisive in his returns. I think we said it again yesterday – it's going to be a work in progress. He's going to continue to get better. There might be some growing pains along the way but that's a tough job, man. That's a hard way to make a living. I know I wouldn't want to have that job. But he's doing better and better and he's working at it and it's a credit to him."
(On LB Derrick Brooks’ play)
“I thought he was great. I really do. I thought he played a great game for us. He created some splash plays that really turned the game around for us. Inspiring play, leader, he was great for us. I was really pleased to see him moving around better. I think he felt much better than he has in previous weeks. That’s a good sign for us.”
(On CB Ronde Barber)
“It’s kind of like Brian. He’s had three or four plays that stick out a little bit. Ronde slipped early in the game. I’m not going to get all bent out of shape over that play. If you watched the film, Ronde played pretty good. You know sometimes bad luck happens. You slip you fall and your obviously in a bad position.”
(On giving Brian Griese the benefit of the doubt)
“I don’t know how much latitude. What I say publicly and what I say behind the doors are two different things. I’m not going to be overly critical publicly. I got a lot of respect and confidence in Brian Griese. There’s three or four throws he’s made the last two weeks that have hurt us and there are about thirty five or forty throws that have really helped us. He made some throws yesterday after the third interception that were big time plays. They changed the game in terms of field position. He made some decisions in the running game that were outstanding. So there is some areas I think that are very clear and obvious that we need to clean up. He knows where I stand and where our team stands on turnovers and we got to clean that up and we’re going to work our butt of this week to get that done.”
(On Jeff Garcia’s improvement)
“I think he’s working himself back in to it and we’re excited about that.”
(On his feel for the team)
“We got a good football team. That’s a credit to these guys. We’ve overcoming a lot right now. Without Davin Joseph, without Joey Galloway and without B.J. Askew, that’s a big chunk of key playmakers on offense. Obviously, Brian Griese is playing quarterback for us been a change there. We’ve won three straight games. We’ve beaten some pretty darn good football teams and we’re excited about that. There’s things we have to clean up to continue to improve and if we can do that we’ll hang around. If we continue to turn the ball over, it will be a tough year for us.”
(On the defensive ends)
“Well, it was a zone blitz and they didn’t account for Greg White and he got there and forced an inaccurate pass. Gaines Adams, I think, leads our team in interceptions. Hopefully, people start to recognize those two young guys a little bit more for the progress they’ve made, for the ability that they have. We’re really high on those guys and they’re getting better. I thought Jimmy Wilkerson had some nice individual rushes and I thought Kevin Carter had some as well.”
(On the changing of the wide receivers)
“I think they have been pressed into some tough positions. Michael Clayton was inactive the first week, starting the next week. It has kind of been that way. Antonio Bryant was the flanker the first two games, now he is the split end. Ike Hilliard has been steady as always. I am really impressed with Bryant; I am really impressed with some of the things Michael Clayton is doing. Yeah I am eager to get Dexter Jackson in the mix, the Joey Galloway speed aspect we would like to have. I am proud of our receivers; I think they are doing a good job.”
(On the drops by the wide receivers)
“Interceptions, you know if you’re a coach you don’t like to see those, you don’t like to see dropped passes. You don’t like to see anything bad happen to your team. You have to catch the ball as part of this league. We have done a decent job at catching it although I think we have had eight or nine dropped balls collectively in the last two weeks and that is a downer. But we are doing some good things, too.
(On RB Earnest Graham)
“I hate to use the word surprised anymore because of what he did last year. He was one of the key engines in our division championship run. He collected a lot of yardage in 10 starts, rushing and receiving. 335 yards in four games, I don’t know how many 100 yard games he has had, two or three, but he is a great back. I think he has put himself in an elite category as a runner. He is an outstanding pass protector, a very good receiver and as you know he is one great guy, he is a great guy and I really happy for his success.”
(On the Denver Broncos)
“Well if you cut out Jay Cutler’s top 20 throws this year they would really impress you. This guy is an amazing talent. His mobility, the explosive arm that he has is unbelievable; I have never seen a guy throw the ball like this. He is a great talent. Brandon Marshall and their young receiver they drafted out of Virginia Tech, Eddie Royal, are big time play-makers. And the creativity of Mike Shanahan, that is a real good concept for Denver. Defensively, they have had some leads, they have yielded some yardage but they are unorthodox. They are a 3-4 team here, they are a 4-3 team there, and they have got talent. They are a diverse outfit. I am really impressed with them. They had a three game winning streak, I didn’t see the film of what happened yesterday but they are a 3-1 football team that is hard to beat in their stadium.”
(On WR Brandon Marshall)
“I see too much of Marshall to be honest with you. Jumping up over people, running through people, one handed catches, he is a machine, and the guy is a great receiver. I saw him catch 20 passes in a game, or something like that against San Diego. High balls, low balls, he catches everything and he punishes you after the catch. He is a dynamic football player. He is one of the top guys that I have seen in the league this year.”
(On the resiliency of the team)
“I am really proud of that. We try to show them clips of old boxing matches where a guy is getting battered for eight or nine rounds and then finds a way. I think to create analogies to never quit. That is what Kevin Carter is all about, that is what Barber and Brooks bring here, even Brian Griese, he has a tremendous heart, football character. Earnest Graham, the offensive line, the defensive line, these guys have tremendous football character. If you watch the film, the effort is outstanding. We got way to many penalties again on offense; sometimes it is getting a little extreme. We have great football character, I am proud of these guys and that is one of the reasons why we have come from behind against two very good teams and won in the fourth quarter.”