HEAD COACH JON GRUDEN
(On injured players)
"Obviously, we have some injuries. Chris Hovan injured his knee; we don't know the extent of it right now. We'll just list him as questionable. As soon as we get more information we'll update you. Jeremy Zuttah hurt his ankle; we don't know the nature of that yet. Jeff Faine, I think is going to be okay, but we've got a number of guys being evaluated right now. It was a tough loss for us. Some great individual efforts, some great collective efforts, but as I said last night we just didn't have an answer for the Panthers' running game last night. They did an excellent job."
(On if the Panthers' rushing total was a result of poor gap control or missed tackles)
"Well, we missed a couple run fits, there's no question about that. We missed a few tackles. A lot of that has to do with those two backs, they were outstanding. They did an excellent job, their receivers did, blocking on the perimeter. That created some one-on-one situations and they took advantage of that last night. We've got to do a better job, obviously, as a coaching staff and we've got to make some corrections in a hurry on a short week against another very good rushing football team."
(On if the team wasn't aggressive enough)
"No, we were aggressive. I'm not going to fault that. The effort was good. We've played very well defensively and last night, hopefully we can use that as some motivation as we finish the season."
(On if the 90-yard drive was the turning point)
"I don't think so. I don't know if it was a turning point. We got the ball back, collected a first down. I think we dropped three or four passes. We moved the ball extremely well against their defense also. But obviously when we did tie the game at 17 we felt momentum was back in our favor. It was an exciting game at that point. That was an obvious blow to us, for them to be able to take the ball off their goal line and score that quickly, but we have to hang in there. We've done that before, and still at the end with a 31-23 game we have them in a third-and-four situation and a chance to get off the field and maybe give our offense one more chance. But I tip my hat to Carolina. They did a great job coming off the ball and they did it all night."
(On his assessment of the Bucs' tackling Monday night)
"We missed more tackles than we had missed probably all season. Again, I'm not going to stand up here and make excuses. I'll take responsibility for it. We've got to do much better."
(On if he recalls presiding over a defense that allowed an 80% third-down conversion rate)
"No. No, I do not. They were able to convert some third-and-longs. They were eight-for-10 last night and obviously that was a key ingredient in Carolina's success."
(On if a tough December loss sparks the team)
"There's better ways to spark someone's attention than that."
(On the Bucs' resolve)
"We have a lot of resolve. We have a lot of character. Obviously we wanted that game desperately last night, but we use it as motivation. Our players will play hard, they'll practice well. We've got some injuries that are concerning, again. But I'm not a real historian when it comes to years past. This year is the only year that matters, if you ask me."
(On Joey Galloway not playing)
"Antonio [Bryant] is the reason. They play the same position. Right now that's just the way it is. It's just unfortunate. Michael Clayton's our flanker, Joey's a split end and so is Antonio. Those are the positions they play.”
(On Antonio Bryant's second TD catch)
"Unbelievable. Unbelievable. A couple of the routes that he did run, specialty plays that we put in the game plan, first time we've run them in a game. He ran them like he's ran them all season. He's running all the routes, he's making all kinds of catches, he's got tremendous stamina and what a performance he put out there last night. It's too bad it wasn't in a winning cause.”
(On the growing connection between QB Jeff Garcia and WR Antonio Bryant)
“There’s no question. No question about that. We dropped five or six passes last night and looking at the tape Garcia could have had an unbelievable night. We just have to continue to work through tough times like we will this week and hopefully put it all together against Atlanta because they’re a good football team.”
(On WR Michael Clayton)
“If you watch their receivers block last night, that was a huge impact in their running game, huge. If you watch Cadillac’s touchdown, it is all Clayton, I mean he does an unbelievable job. You have to be, not only willing, but you have to be capable, and really an outstanding physical football player to do the things that Michael Clayton does, that Mushin Muhammad did, that Steve Smith did.”
(On Falcons QB Matt Ryan)
“Unbelievable, he has an unbelievable pedigree. We knew that coming into the league, having played in a pro style offense, been very productive. But he has a lot more mobility, I think, than people realize. He has great poise, and he is being well coached. [Offensive Coordinator] Mike Mularkey has done a great job with him. They have a heck of a running game, to take pressure off of him, and they have a balanced attack. They have quick strike ability with Jerious Norwood and obviously, Roddy White has exploded onto the scene this year as a receiver. They can score, they will be a handful.”
(On the difference between home and road games)
“Pretty good point I would say, based on last night, you can say we didn’t play up to our standards. We have played well at home and had some good games on the road. We have been in a position to win a couple of those games that we didn’t. The road is a lonely place, it is a lonely place, not a lot of people rooting for you, and it is tough. We need to play better; we need to play better on the road.”
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