HEAD COACH JON GRUDEN
(On the team and injured players)
"I'd just like to say I like our team a lot. Unfortunately, we didn't get enough done yesterday, but I'm very proud of our football team. We played hard. We have a number of injuries that we'll update you on on Wednesday. Jermaine Phillips, it's his left forearm that we're concerned about. He's getting evaluated right now. Hopefully Warrick Dunn and a couple of guys who have been injured, guys like B.J. Askew, can improve this week and see a more prominent role this week in Kansas City."
(On if Phillips' injury is related to previous arm injuries)
"This is the other arm. It's the other arm. He's had a heck of a season for us and hopefully it's not serious, but we are concerned."
(On the biggest shortcoming in Dallas)
"I like the way we started. We got a good punt return from Clifton Smith. We get held on third-and-one. We got stuffed on third-and-one and lost yardage. We had a penalty. We threw the ball beyond the line of scrimmage the next time we were down there. We had some opportunities, looking at the tape, that we just didn't cash in on. It's a credit to Dallas in some ways. They did a nice job of rushing the passer and mixing coverages. Obviously, they got the one score at the end of the half and we had some penalties that hurt us. But it was a hard-fought football game by two good teams, in my opinion. We just have to do a better job of finishing drives. Unfortunately, we didn't get that done yesterday."
(On if there were open receivers in the end zone on the final drive)
"We had some chances, we had some chances. Again, I've got to do a better job of calling plays and getting guys in better position. They did a nice job of rushing the passer, not only congesting the pocket but restricting his vision. It's a tough situation to be in, but we had some opportunities. I think we'll learn from that today and hopefully the next time we're down there we'll cash in on it."
(On running the ball fewer than 20 times)
"We didn't run the ball very well. We haven't run the ball to our standards the last two weeks. We can throw the ball here. We've got good receivers. I think we proved that last week against Seattle and we proved that earlier in the season. We've got to get more done running the football. We had some stuffs on first down and just too many negative plays. We toss the ball one time, our runner slipped and fell. We got held twice on third-and-one. It just wasn't a real productive day running the football and we've got to take a good look at that. Hopefully some backs can return to the backfield. We desperately need that."
(On the Cowboys having a lot of young players in the secondary)
"Well, there's a reason we might have wanted to throw, obviously because of their status there. We looked at the tape and we liked the film. There are chances for us to continue drives and make plays. We've got to be clicking on all cylinders, on the road against a good team that's playing their brains out. We just had a couple of individual breakdowns that hurt us. Other than that, structurally we feel pretty good. We've just got to continue to improve and play better."
(On if Jeff Garcia just got hemmed in on the final play)
"Well, it's a 3-4 defense. They've got two speed rushers on the outside. It's hard to break containment, and when you do step up, sometimes it's hard to see lanes back on the outside. But there are some plays there that we had some chances to hit on, and we made some plays moving the ball downfield, now, to get ourselves in striking distance. We've lost two games now, at New Orleans and at Dallas, in similar fashion. It came down to a fourth-and-four or fourth-and-five in the red zone area. I like the things that we do to get in position. Unfortunately we just didn't get through the door like we did in Chicago."
(On red zone issues)
"We looked at it and statistics say we're not very good at times. There are some instances where we're clearly playing for a field goal at the time. There are also some instances where we've got to do a better job. We've got to do a better job. Third-down-and-one on the opening possession, we've got to convert that play. There are a couple other situations throughout the year that we just haven't cashed in on. We haven't done it, we haven't gotten it done. As a play-caller and an offensive coach, at times you've got take responsibility for it. But we're doing some good things – 5-3. We've got a good football team, we're fighting through a lot of injuries and we've lost three games by nine points. It gives me reason to believe we can have a good season. We've just got to continue to improve."
(On Clifton Smith)
"I thought he was decisive. I thought he caught the ball well. I thought he was north and south. Obviously, the fumble to start the second half, you don't want that. It cost us a possession and changed the momentum a little bit, especially after they had scored. It's a credit to our defense for getting off the field there. I think he's a good football player. To go in there and return punts and kicks and contribute a little bit from scrimmage, that's just another guy on the football team who stepped up yesterday. We've just got to take care of the ball."
(On being 5-3)
“I think we are a good football team. Obviously with the injuries, I give a lot of guys credit, I really do. Ike Hilliard, Warrick Dunn played through it yesterday. Barrett Ruud has played through it; Derrick Brooks has played through it. We need to win this game some how and some way in Kansas City and get to the bye and try to get our troops healed for the final seven weeks. That is our objective.”
(On WR Joey Galloway)
“I thought he looked crisp. Right now the imagination that you have, we have to try and get him back into the offense. Not knowing really if Ike Hilliard was going to go until late in the week and really be uncertain of Joey’s status has somewhat been difficult.
Then you throw in Warrick’s status and the lack of fullbacks it comprehends a problem for us. But I think as long as Joey practices well this week I think he is going to be back full tilt which is exciting for us. Antonio Bryant clearly has arrived, he is a good player. Michael Clayton has had a good first half. Ike is still steady as he can be. Hopefully Maurice Stovall can return and we can get our guys healthy. We like our receivers and Joey is the only Buccaneer I know that had three straight 1,000 yard seasons, so it would be nice to have him.”
(On CB Aqib Talib)
“He is a heck of a football player. We think a lot of him. As I said last week I will say this week, if he keeps it together and I know he will, he is going to be a heck of a Buccaneer. I was really proud of him yesterday, proud of our secondary as a whole. I thought Gaines Adams revved it up, played very hard and played well yesterday, as did our entire defense. I was pleased with the football team, they played hard. We have to do a better job at poking it into the end zone and finishing drives.”
(On scoring on the road)
“We just haven’t played up to our standards; we are a better football team than that. It is a hard place to play, the road is no friend to anyone, and it is hard. We have to get better.
It is clear as day if you watch the tape, we have to capitalize on some of the looks that we had yesterday. When we are in a tough spot we have to fight out of it. Some penalties hurt us again yesterday, we had a sack that really knocked us out of field goal range, it hurt us. If we get Matt Bryant a better look at the goal post there we might need a field goal at the end of the game to win instead of a touchdown. The objective here is not statistics, we realize that we are behind the eight-ball in some areas, we are also doing quite well in some others. Bottom line is we have to win. We took care of the ball from an offensive stand point, we did some good things but we have to do better, we have to do better and we will.”
(On losing close games on the road)
“We are playing good defense we have to get a turnover in Denver. We have to get a turnover on defense also. I have to be critical of those guys because I consider them great. Dallas is a different offensive football team without Romo and we knew that going in. We got after them, I think, with some blitzes; Monte Kiffin did a nice job once again. Yeah we played good enough certainly to win on defense. But at the same time, it is not about that, it is about winning football games. We have to generate turnovers, we can’t turn the ball over in the return game, and we have to poke the ball into the end zone when you get the opportunities to do it.”
(On focusing on the red zone offense)
“We focus on the red zone more than anytime I have ever been around. It is not focusing on the red zone, it is about getting it done down there and we have had chances to make some plays. It is a hard place to make plays down there and it is getting harder and harder, it is not easy. Third down and one, you are at the nineteen yard line, it is our number one short yardage play and we got stuffed. It is a credit to Dallas, they have players too. We will continue to zoom in on it, try to be as creative and aggressive as we can. Same time we are 5-3, we feel good about our team.”
(On LB Barrett Ruud)
“Hopefully yesterday he got some exposure. Hopefully some of our other players got some exposure, national exposure. I would start my team right there with Barrett Ruud everyday of the week. I think Cato June is exceptional. I really think we have some guys that our outstanding football players and it shows.”
On the Kansas City Chiefs)
“Kansas City, they lost in the last play in New York yesterday, they beat Denver at home. They have a lot of good players. I don’t really get into all the wounded duck schemes. We haven’t played particularly well on the road. We have to get better, we have to get better. This is the National Football League, there are a lot of surprises right now and there will be a lot of surprises next week that is for sure. We just want to improve, we want to get better and we want to hang around and get in the playoffs and we want to be a dominant football team. To do that, we have to play better than we did in all areas.”
(On DT Ryan Sims)
“He is a good player, it is a credit to him. He is helping us out in there backing up Chris Hovan, he goes in there in the rotation rushing the passer, helps Jovan Haye at the three technique. He is in shape, he is a big guy, and he has some versatility in terms of playing the run and giving us a pass rush. All the guys up front, Kevin Carter has had a real good first half. Our guys up front are playing well, it is a credit to them and Defensive Line Coach Todd Wash has done a fine job in his first year with the defensive line.”
(On Blocking LB DeMarcus Ware)
“We did do that well. It is like blocking five defensive lineman on every snap. Lets be honest, the play a lot of zone, they rushed five, and they mixed it in there with some zone blitzes throughout the day. Ware is a great player. I don’t want to underestimate Greg Ellis either. He is a great player. They catch you in some single block situations, and did a nice job against us in the room. Should we run it more, yeah we should run it more. We have to run it more than 42 yards on 18 carries. We need to make more happen. Ware is a great player and he proved that again yesterday even though he didn’t get a sack.”
(On the pass protection)
“That was pretty good. That was pretty darn good. The pass protection in my opinion has been excellent. It’s a credit to the line and it’s a credit to our backs. It’s a credit to Bill Muir and the scheme and the plan he puts together on a weekly basis.”
(On the running game)
“We’ve seen two pretty good run defenses. Dallas Cowboys are a pretty good defensive team against the run. We’re asking Earnest Graham to do probably a little bit too much. We’ve lost both of our full backs I want to remind you. We’re trying to get more involved in the one back attack at the same time injuries have taken a toll on us. Warrick (Dunn) obviously only carried the ball one time yesterday and it’s got something to do with that. Its also got something to do with seeing a couple pretty good run defenses. We threw the ball for a lot of yards in the first half against Seattle and you know we are going to continue to run the football, but we have to be able to do both to be a great football team. You got to be able to run and pass. You got to be able to stop the run and you got to be able to stop the pass. You got to be able to do all of it to be great and that’s what our goal is this year. Right now based on our standards I think we can do better running the football.”
(On the NFL South)
“New Orleans Saints are going nowhere either. Again, the Atlanta Falcons have played very well in the first half. It’s going to be a great race and we’re happy to be 5-3. We’re not thrilled. We’d like to have done better, but we’ve had a lot of guys contribute, a lot, as much as anyone in the league I think. From quarterback to right guard to running back to receiver, we’ve had a lot of guys contribute. Hasn’t been stellar all the time but the effort is pretty dog gone good and we’ve got a lot of good players. I know they are excited about the second half. Very disappointed today in defeat.”
(On Rays Manager Joe Maddon)
“He doesn’t need any advice. He’s coach of the year in my opinion. He’s got to win one game. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter what people say. Doesn’t matter what anybody says. He knows they got to win one game. Win one game and then win another. That is all we need to do. Just win one game. Sure am pulling for you, sure am pulling for you. I would love to beat Philly again man.”
(On the secret to winning in Philadelphia)
“There’s no secrets man. There’s no recipe, secret success. You just to get it done and I know they’re trying. They’ve played so hard and they have such a talented team I’m just excited to see the next game.”
(On RB Warrick Dunn)
“Hopefully he’s more healthy. He played yesterday. He just clearly wasn’t himself. I love that guy and what him and Ike Hilliard did yesterday for me, for our team, for our fans, for our organization speaks volumes. Their presence means a lot and their performance obviously means a lot. Hopefully they have a good week of practice. Hopefully they feel much better and can perform to the standards that they are capable of performing from a health standpoint and they’ll deliver for us. Those are two good players. Those are work daddies man. Those are great football players and we need them down the stretch.”
(On QB Jeff Garcia)
“He moved the ball the first three or four possessions, we moved the ball. It’s a tough team to play against. They change it a little bit from the standpoint that we didn’t see much man to man. They are going to make you collect first downs and posses the ball and convert and we didn’t do that. I think he’s a heck of a quarterback and those are the standards that he’s always going to be held to. He did some good things, but there are some plays I know when he looks at the tape maybe he’ll see differently and I got to call better plays for him too.”
(On RB Carnell Williams)
“We’ll deal with that when we get there. We’ll deal with that. Right now Carnell is coming back from a very horrific injury and we’re going to deal with Cadillac and his situation. We got two weeks to basically make the decision what to do. There’s another guy we missed. The Rookie of the Year in ’05 and hopefully he can come back and if he can, he can, if he can’t, then he can’t, but we can’t make that decision. We can’t even worry about the speculation until we analyze him and evaluate his progress.”
(On replacing S Jermaine Phillips)
“Sabby Piscitelli will have to obviously step up. There’s the resources in our secondary to get that done. It’s a big loss for us. He’s a big loss for us. He’s a heck of a player. He’s a big time player. Hopefully he’s not long, if he is out, hopefully it’s not for long and if he does miss some time then we will go in to that secondary room and we’ll shake it up a little bit and we’ll do the best we can with out him.”
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