Green's final presser

[Russ Smith]

Extremely disappointed in record.

 

[Russ Smith]

Focus on being a playoff team next year.

talked about all the injuries, difficult early season schedule on the road(example the Giants).

Did not run the ball well, a lot of that was injuries. Run blocking was very ineffective, threw ball way too much, hopefully never will do that again.

 

[Russ Smith]

Talked up Rackers. Wilson and Dansby are coming stars. Boldin wanted to stay here and "seek his fame and fortune." Says Wilson and Boldin will be leadership role guys in helping us attract FA's.

Fitz is still the youngest WR in the NFL(is that true?).

 

[Russ Smith]

Pollard is 66 and retired, was retired before, came out of retirement to coach here. Had only 2 of our original 8 stay healthy.

Changed the OL, Everett Lindsay did a "great job" considering injuries and accounting for guys having to play out of position. But we did not renew his contract.

Did not renew O'Dea's contract. overall want to try and change the dynamics of the team, offseason program, spring development, UFA's, draft etc.

We are determined to develop a winning mentality which comes from a winning attitude. have to be very, very aggressive.

 

[DakotaCardsFan]

At the very end, he was asked what he could have done better. He talked about helping the other coaches and players more, but then started talking about off-season programs. I'm not sure if it was in reply to another question, or just Denny veering off on a tangent. Reegardless, he apparently feels very stong about everyone participating in the team's off-season program. He used Tampa and the Giants programs as examples. Both are much improved over last year and both ran very demanding off-season programs with 100% participation.

 

[Russ Smith]

said we still like Navarre. Said we have the right to sign both Josh and Warner before UFA starts if we want to and they want to. Wasn't implying we were going to, just saying we could. Said we have to evaluate the QB's.

Also talked about making a deal being difficult in FA.

again talking up Navarre, Michigan players develop, had a great W/L record in college, played in front of huge crowds, great poise, brg strong arm, incredible character. I just don't get it did Green do any research on Navarre in college he was hated by michigan fans until his senior year.

Said Navarre probably moves up, whether it will be #1 or #2 we don't know.

Dynamics of chemistry is important, we want to win close games. The more you win close games the easier it is to win close games (I believe we call that circular logic).

Pretty clear he didn't want to let Lindsay go, he's talking about he doesn't like making changes but had to make changes. Gotta find a guy to do a good job, Everett had playing experience which most will tell you is important. I think Everett will be outstanding, our track record in Minnesota with ex players as coaches was oustanding, Everett will be too, but we didn't win.

 

[Russ Smith]

Will be very aggressive in UFA. Not any one position we're not going to look to upgrade in FA and draft.

5-11 is not a good job, I didn't do a good job this year.

If I can coach 32 years and never say a team was undisciplined, I think that's pretty good.

 

[Russ Smith]

New stadium is the best stadium in the NFL in my opinion. People who like football and came from other states, should love to get into the Cardinals. they shouldn't be focussed on how many games we lost in '92, I wasn't here, neither were they. This team is better than 5-11, maybe next year we'll win all of those close games we should have won this year.

Again brought up 1998.

 

[Russ Smith]

I think the question was about Tice, said you always have people in mind, pretty sure he was saying without saying yes we're going to go after Tice.

 

[Russ Smith]

We had a good well paid staff of coaches, the organization was not responsible for us being 5-11.

Don't have any "jerky" players that people don't enjoy coaching.

 

[Zeno]

If I can coach 32 years and never say a team was undisciplined, I think that's pretty good.

He can't say that this year. The abundance of penalties alone contradict that statement.

 

[DakotaCardsFan]

Sorry Russ. Didn't mean to interrupt you with that earlier post!

 

[Russ Smith]

JJ arrington can "run the rock". Did he have a good year, no. JJ is not pleased he looks at film and probably thinks "I thought I was better than that." Talked about how getting hit in the backfield over and over leads to some of the runs that people are questioning on him now.

Said everyone in this room was convinced not that long ago that Thomas Jones couldn't play, now you all know you're wrong, the #2 pick in the draft is stuck on the bench may never get to play there because Thomas Jones can play. So can JJ, but he has to prove it.

When you don't run the ball well, it makes a huge difference.

Man I gotta admit even a Green skeptic like me is impressed with Green in this presser, taking blame, talking up guys who need motivation, you should listen to this presser it's very encouraging. or maybe I just like that he talked up JJ.

 

[Russ Smith]

Sorry Russ. Didn't mean to interrupt you with that earlier post!

Not a problem, I encourage everyone to listen to this presser.

 

[Russ Smith]

talking about Ross now, had a bad year, was injured all year. Didn't have as good a year as he did last year. Felt all along we could play with what we had if we had Big and Ross. Step was hurt all year. Still going to try and get a UFA to add another dimension to this team. Clearly talking about OL, Hutch maybe?

 

[Russ Smith]

As Dakota said, Green says he has to create a better atmosphere for the coaches to do their jobs. I didn't help them as much as they could have. I suspect some of this with respect to Rowen trying to be the OC, help Lindsay with the OL, and help Hargrave with the TE's.

said Tampa and NY Giants had the best offseason program, everyone was in the facility. Clearly telling the players, get you ass in here and work hard TOGETHER. Said one team you heard a lot of complaining about(Giants no doubt) the other you didn't, but those teams got better through hard work. There is no other way to win than that.

I gotta say, by far the most impressive presser Green's had, even I am encouraged after listening.

 

[Jay Cardinal]

This team will be better next year. If the ball bounces differently a couple of times, this was an 8-8 team. The key will be the O-line. The Cards need to be very aggressive in FA and also look to the draft. I would love to add Mike Tice, but what is the chance he goes from head coach to O-line coach?

 

[az jam]

This team will be better next year. If the ball bounces differently a couple of times, this was an 8-8 team. The key will be the O-line. The Cards need to be very aggressive in FA and also look to the draft. I would love to add Mike Tice, but what is the chance he goes from head coach to O-line coach?

Tice needs a job. He was the lowest paid HC in the NFL. He has stated that he will be looking for work. He has never been an OC so that may not be offered. I think that if Denny give him assistant HC title and OL coach he would come here. He is not going to be in big demand.

 

[Zeno]

I would love to add Mike Tice, but what is the chance he goes from head coach to O-line coach?

Joe Bugel did it. McGinnis didn't get a coordinator position after he was fired as HC. Tice's history and where he saw the most success was as an OLine coach. Of course with as many vacancies as are available right now he may have a shot as an OC under a new head coach somewhere.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Good last press conference speech, and Question & Answer session for Green. I thought he was up beat about next year, and gave us a nice idea of what he wants to do this offseason.

He mentioned about getting some free agents on the offensive line. That is what we want to hear.