azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Titans Head Coach Jeff Fisher
Q. Although you are not happy with your record, do you like how your young team is playing?
A. “As coaches, we find ways to pull positives out of difficult situations, and I can look at our season thus far and make a case to our team that we’re several plays away from being 4-2. And that’s what you have to do. That’s the approach you have to take. With that said, you have to say we have to keep doing what we’re doing, tighten it up a little better, work to improve every day and in time we’ll learn to win the close games, the ones that we should win. I’m disappointed with the record, but pleased in a number of areas. We feel like we have five or six players put together their best efforts of the year last week in a losing effort. That’s not good but it is good. Overall, we’re getting some contribution and production out of a lot of young players and we knew that was going to be the case when we started the season.”
Q. How does the loss of Drew Bennett affect you?
A. “If you compare where we are now to where we were last year, when our top two receivers, Drew and Derrick Mason, were over 1,000 yards and doing those kinds of things….we put it a different group out there. But we drafted these players expecting them to play, and each one of them has improved. At one point in Sunday’s game we had all three rookies on the field at the same time. That’s part of what we’re going through right now. They’re aggressive, they’re enthusiastic, they want to do well so either one of two guys are going to have to step up in Drew’s absence.”
Q. Are you satisfied with Brandon Jones?
A. “We’re pleased with what he’s done. He’s been very consistent since his arrival. He’s improving. He carries himself as if he’s been here a number of years. His sense of responsibility, his commitment and he has a tremendous work ethic during the week, which we feel has carried over onto the field on Sundays. That’s only going to help him get better. Steve trusts him, he’s comfortable with him, and when Drew went out, Brandon became the guy who was getting the attention in our last two-minute effort.”
Q. How much is Steve (McNair) a factor in the young receivers’ development?
A. “At points in Steve’s career, Steve just went on the practice field, executed the offense and let coaches coach the players. Steve has taken a more vocal role and aggressive role from the standpoint of between plays he gives tips, reminders and things like that. He’s had a big role in it, not only with the receivers but with the young tight ends.”
Q. Does it make a difference in preparation that you don’t know if it will be McCown or Warner?
A. “We do know they are completing about 62 percent of their passes and they’re putting up a lot of passing yards, whoever is playing. The staff is familiar with Kurt, and obviously Dave (McGinnis) is familiar with Josh. It may appear on one hand to be a competitive advantage not to disclose who plays and who doesn’t. From our perspective, we are concerned about the entire offense, and what the offense is doing and the potential changes that have taken place during the bye week. Coach Green, his record is excellent after weeks off, so he understands how to make adjustments and rest a team, yet get a team ready to play. With that said, we’re anticipating some different things and our ability to adjust early in the game is going to be important.”
Q. How has Coach McGinnis been?
A. “Dave has been great for us. Dave has nothing but good things to say about his experience there at Arizona and the organization. He’s been great for us. As you guys know, he’s very enthusiastic and it’s a great place for him to be, right in the middle of our defense, because his energy is contagious. It affects the defensive line. It affects the secondary, and he’s just been really great to have on the staff.”
Q. How has Norm Chow done thus far?
A. “It’s been a real fun experience for the players and everybody involved.
He’s having fun. He’s frustrated because he’s not used to losing. He’s done a real good job with this young group of offensive players. We’re not making a lot of mistakes. We’re making a detail mistake here and there, and when you’re in the position we are with a young group of players, a detail mistake can cost you a game. I’m pleased with the way things are going. The offense is player friendly. The players enjoy it. They understand each and every week his approach to attacking an opponent. He’s been a lot of fun to be around. He’s very, very smart and I’ve been impressed with his ability to adjust. He’s adjusted well, and he’s very good at getting plays called.”
Q. Are you surprised at Kyle Vanden Bosch’s production or did you see it coming?
A. “We saw effort. We knew what he was about when he came out. We were hopeful he would be able to put the injury thing behind him, and if that would be the case, he would be a productive player in our defense, or anybody’s defense. When a guy goes through those kinds of injuries in a short amount of time, you can understand how an organization just decides to go on. We’re just fortunate Kyle’s put it behind him. He’s been a great example for our younger players. He’s off to a great start. He’s fun to watch practice. He’s frustrating some times because he goes so hard and is very disruptive. He’s going to play just like he practices, and younger players need to see that from a veteran player.”
Q. Offensive stats are down, do feel that it being the first year under Norm is the reason?
A. “No, our numbers are different from last year because our rushes are down, because of the fact that we got behind in several games, so we haven’t been able to run the ball. I feel like we can run the football. Our average per carry is there where it needs to be and Chris has had two pretty good touchdown runs called back because of penalties.
With the numbers that we concern ourselves with, our average per carry, our third-down efficiency, our completions percentage and the turnovers, the only disappointing number that I can speak of right now is our giveaways. There are reasons for those, but we need to learn, everybody needs to learn, is that if you want to win you need to protect the football.”
Q. How big was it that McNair came back this year?
A. “I never second-guessed or doubted that he was going to come back. I knew he was going to come back, it was going to be a matter of time. It was all predicated on his ability to get healthy. The sternum injury was very debilitating for him, extremely painful. And that was the nature of his frustration. He couldn’t do the things he wanted to do or had done in the past because of it. So Steve took the time, did the surgery before the season was over, took the time to get healed up and he got in tremendous shape. He came back and has been great for us. It’s something I expected to happen, and I don’t expect to go through it again for a number of years.”
Q. How is your injury situation? Randy Starks’ ankle?
A. “Everybody nowadays fears that dreaded high ankle sprain. We suspected that may have been the case after the game, but the reality is it’s not. So it’s just a normal ankle sprain. Hopefully, we’ll know more as the days go by here and we get on the practice field.”
Quarterback Steve McNair
Q. What’s it like to fight through salary cap and stay competitive?
A. "We’re just trying to compete week in and week out. I think we’ve got a team that’s been playing aggressive and been playing good football. The games we lost, I think, the turnover battle has been going the other way. In the games we lost we turned the ball over two or three times in critical situations. That’s where we stand right now. I think if we can minimize the turnovers and the big mistakes in the last part of the fourth quarter we have a great chance of turning things around. We’ve got a good football team. We’re young and we’re energized and it’s just those things, we’re not good enough to overcome those mistakes."
Q. How much does it hurt losing Drew Bennett?
A. "It hurts a lot but I think at the same time you’ve got some young guys who are willing to step in and make some plays for us. Those guys, Brandon Jones and Roydell’s been making plays and Roby just got back last week, so I think those guys are just willing and waiting to make plays and step into the spotlight and we’ll see what happens."
Q. On being the veteran:
A. "As time went on, you knew at one point in time you were going to be one of the oldest. When you first come in, you respect and just want to fit in. Now I’ve been the leader of the team and one of the oldest guys here. It’s all about taking that leadership role vocally and going out there and leading by example also. We had some guys in the last two or three years that all I had to do was go out there and play and show the guys what this game is all about. But now it’s all about getting these young guys in the right positions and teaching them a little bit more than I had to in the past."
Q. How far away is your team from returning to where you were a couple of years ago?
A. "We’re very close. Like I said, we’ve got a great young football team. If we can stop the mistakes in crucial situations our record would be totally different right now. But that’s the things we’re going through right now. In order to go in and be competitive you’ve just got to do the little things right. That’s what we’ve been doing the last two or three ball games, not doing the little things right. I think if we can correct that we’ll be a great football team as the year goes on here and also next year."
Q. What do you see in the Cardinals?
A. "They’re very aggressive and very fast. They’ve got great skill on defense and those guys are playing hard. Like I said, it’s all bout jelling. I think we’re in the same boat. It’s all about jelling and competing every Sunday and doing the things that it takes to get the chemistry down. I think that’s what the difference in being a great team and being an average team is. You’ve got to have a chemistry. When you have a young team like we both have, you’ve just have to make the best out of it and go out and work hard and do the little things right."
Q. How is the health of your team?
A. "During the course of the year you’re going to get some nicks and bruises but at the same time my major injuries is all done with right now. It’s just a matter of going out there trying to stay healthy week in and week out, just battling the normal soreness and the normal injuries that any normal quarterback would have after every game."
Q. How close were you to not coming back?
A. "Very close, due to the fact of my sternum surgery, didn’t know how that was going to take effect so I was very close. But at the same time I had hope and I had family members that supported me and I finally made the decision to come back and everything else is behind me. I’m just looking forward to competing throughout this year."
Q. What keeps you going?
A. "The love of the game and the sport itself. This is something I’ve been doing all my life and something I want to do until I’m not able to do it any more. I think it’s just the love of the game and competing against some of the best guys in the world."
http://www.azcardinals.com/news/news_details.html?iid=3151
Q. Although you are not happy with your record, do you like how your young team is playing?
A. “As coaches, we find ways to pull positives out of difficult situations, and I can look at our season thus far and make a case to our team that we’re several plays away from being 4-2. And that’s what you have to do. That’s the approach you have to take. With that said, you have to say we have to keep doing what we’re doing, tighten it up a little better, work to improve every day and in time we’ll learn to win the close games, the ones that we should win. I’m disappointed with the record, but pleased in a number of areas. We feel like we have five or six players put together their best efforts of the year last week in a losing effort. That’s not good but it is good. Overall, we’re getting some contribution and production out of a lot of young players and we knew that was going to be the case when we started the season.”
Q. How does the loss of Drew Bennett affect you?
A. “If you compare where we are now to where we were last year, when our top two receivers, Drew and Derrick Mason, were over 1,000 yards and doing those kinds of things….we put it a different group out there. But we drafted these players expecting them to play, and each one of them has improved. At one point in Sunday’s game we had all three rookies on the field at the same time. That’s part of what we’re going through right now. They’re aggressive, they’re enthusiastic, they want to do well so either one of two guys are going to have to step up in Drew’s absence.”
Q. Are you satisfied with Brandon Jones?
A. “We’re pleased with what he’s done. He’s been very consistent since his arrival. He’s improving. He carries himself as if he’s been here a number of years. His sense of responsibility, his commitment and he has a tremendous work ethic during the week, which we feel has carried over onto the field on Sundays. That’s only going to help him get better. Steve trusts him, he’s comfortable with him, and when Drew went out, Brandon became the guy who was getting the attention in our last two-minute effort.”
Q. How much is Steve (McNair) a factor in the young receivers’ development?
A. “At points in Steve’s career, Steve just went on the practice field, executed the offense and let coaches coach the players. Steve has taken a more vocal role and aggressive role from the standpoint of between plays he gives tips, reminders and things like that. He’s had a big role in it, not only with the receivers but with the young tight ends.”
Q. Does it make a difference in preparation that you don’t know if it will be McCown or Warner?
A. “We do know they are completing about 62 percent of their passes and they’re putting up a lot of passing yards, whoever is playing. The staff is familiar with Kurt, and obviously Dave (McGinnis) is familiar with Josh. It may appear on one hand to be a competitive advantage not to disclose who plays and who doesn’t. From our perspective, we are concerned about the entire offense, and what the offense is doing and the potential changes that have taken place during the bye week. Coach Green, his record is excellent after weeks off, so he understands how to make adjustments and rest a team, yet get a team ready to play. With that said, we’re anticipating some different things and our ability to adjust early in the game is going to be important.”
Q. How has Coach McGinnis been?
A. “Dave has been great for us. Dave has nothing but good things to say about his experience there at Arizona and the organization. He’s been great for us. As you guys know, he’s very enthusiastic and it’s a great place for him to be, right in the middle of our defense, because his energy is contagious. It affects the defensive line. It affects the secondary, and he’s just been really great to have on the staff.”
Q. How has Norm Chow done thus far?
A. “It’s been a real fun experience for the players and everybody involved.
He’s having fun. He’s frustrated because he’s not used to losing. He’s done a real good job with this young group of offensive players. We’re not making a lot of mistakes. We’re making a detail mistake here and there, and when you’re in the position we are with a young group of players, a detail mistake can cost you a game. I’m pleased with the way things are going. The offense is player friendly. The players enjoy it. They understand each and every week his approach to attacking an opponent. He’s been a lot of fun to be around. He’s very, very smart and I’ve been impressed with his ability to adjust. He’s adjusted well, and he’s very good at getting plays called.”
Q. Are you surprised at Kyle Vanden Bosch’s production or did you see it coming?
A. “We saw effort. We knew what he was about when he came out. We were hopeful he would be able to put the injury thing behind him, and if that would be the case, he would be a productive player in our defense, or anybody’s defense. When a guy goes through those kinds of injuries in a short amount of time, you can understand how an organization just decides to go on. We’re just fortunate Kyle’s put it behind him. He’s been a great example for our younger players. He’s off to a great start. He’s fun to watch practice. He’s frustrating some times because he goes so hard and is very disruptive. He’s going to play just like he practices, and younger players need to see that from a veteran player.”
Q. Offensive stats are down, do feel that it being the first year under Norm is the reason?
A. “No, our numbers are different from last year because our rushes are down, because of the fact that we got behind in several games, so we haven’t been able to run the ball. I feel like we can run the football. Our average per carry is there where it needs to be and Chris has had two pretty good touchdown runs called back because of penalties.
With the numbers that we concern ourselves with, our average per carry, our third-down efficiency, our completions percentage and the turnovers, the only disappointing number that I can speak of right now is our giveaways. There are reasons for those, but we need to learn, everybody needs to learn, is that if you want to win you need to protect the football.”
Q. How big was it that McNair came back this year?
A. “I never second-guessed or doubted that he was going to come back. I knew he was going to come back, it was going to be a matter of time. It was all predicated on his ability to get healthy. The sternum injury was very debilitating for him, extremely painful. And that was the nature of his frustration. He couldn’t do the things he wanted to do or had done in the past because of it. So Steve took the time, did the surgery before the season was over, took the time to get healed up and he got in tremendous shape. He came back and has been great for us. It’s something I expected to happen, and I don’t expect to go through it again for a number of years.”
Q. How is your injury situation? Randy Starks’ ankle?
A. “Everybody nowadays fears that dreaded high ankle sprain. We suspected that may have been the case after the game, but the reality is it’s not. So it’s just a normal ankle sprain. Hopefully, we’ll know more as the days go by here and we get on the practice field.”
Quarterback Steve McNair
Q. What’s it like to fight through salary cap and stay competitive?
A. "We’re just trying to compete week in and week out. I think we’ve got a team that’s been playing aggressive and been playing good football. The games we lost, I think, the turnover battle has been going the other way. In the games we lost we turned the ball over two or three times in critical situations. That’s where we stand right now. I think if we can minimize the turnovers and the big mistakes in the last part of the fourth quarter we have a great chance of turning things around. We’ve got a good football team. We’re young and we’re energized and it’s just those things, we’re not good enough to overcome those mistakes."
Q. How much does it hurt losing Drew Bennett?
A. "It hurts a lot but I think at the same time you’ve got some young guys who are willing to step in and make some plays for us. Those guys, Brandon Jones and Roydell’s been making plays and Roby just got back last week, so I think those guys are just willing and waiting to make plays and step into the spotlight and we’ll see what happens."
Q. On being the veteran:
A. "As time went on, you knew at one point in time you were going to be one of the oldest. When you first come in, you respect and just want to fit in. Now I’ve been the leader of the team and one of the oldest guys here. It’s all about taking that leadership role vocally and going out there and leading by example also. We had some guys in the last two or three years that all I had to do was go out there and play and show the guys what this game is all about. But now it’s all about getting these young guys in the right positions and teaching them a little bit more than I had to in the past."
Q. How far away is your team from returning to where you were a couple of years ago?
A. "We’re very close. Like I said, we’ve got a great young football team. If we can stop the mistakes in crucial situations our record would be totally different right now. But that’s the things we’re going through right now. In order to go in and be competitive you’ve just got to do the little things right. That’s what we’ve been doing the last two or three ball games, not doing the little things right. I think if we can correct that we’ll be a great football team as the year goes on here and also next year."
Q. What do you see in the Cardinals?
A. "They’re very aggressive and very fast. They’ve got great skill on defense and those guys are playing hard. Like I said, it’s all bout jelling. I think we’re in the same boat. It’s all about jelling and competing every Sunday and doing the things that it takes to get the chemistry down. I think that’s what the difference in being a great team and being an average team is. You’ve got to have a chemistry. When you have a young team like we both have, you’ve just have to make the best out of it and go out and work hard and do the little things right."
Q. How is the health of your team?
A. "During the course of the year you’re going to get some nicks and bruises but at the same time my major injuries is all done with right now. It’s just a matter of going out there trying to stay healthy week in and week out, just battling the normal soreness and the normal injuries that any normal quarterback would have after every game."
Q. How close were you to not coming back?
A. "Very close, due to the fact of my sternum surgery, didn’t know how that was going to take effect so I was very close. But at the same time I had hope and I had family members that supported me and I finally made the decision to come back and everything else is behind me. I’m just looking forward to competing throughout this year."
Q. What keeps you going?
A. "The love of the game and the sport itself. This is something I’ve been doing all my life and something I want to do until I’m not able to do it any more. I think it’s just the love of the game and competing against some of the best guys in the world."
http://www.azcardinals.com/news/news_details.html?iid=3151
