Tampa
Bay Buccaneers
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QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH JON GRUDEN
Wednesday, September 11, 2002
(on injured players)
"Buck Gurley and Cosey Coleman returned to practice today. We're
very pleased about that. We held Keenan McCardell, (though) he did participate
in the walk-throughs. His status is still questionable for the game but
I'm going to be real optimistic on his behalf."
(on working Mike Alstott and Michael Pittman into the running game)
"We just need more opportunities. We've got to convert some third
downs and we've got to see the ball a little bit more than we did in the
first half against the Saints. It's that simple. But we want more balance,
obviously. At the same time, that will create more opportunities for those
two guys."
(on Mike Alstott remaining heavily involved in the passing game)
"I hope so. We're going to try every way we can to utilize his abilities,
not only as a runner but as a receiver – he and Mike Pittman. We
dispersed the ball pretty good in terms of who caught how many (but) we've
got to complete more and we've got to avoid some of the collisions on
the quarterback. But it all starts with being a balanced football team.
We've said that from the beginning."
(on what caused the Bucs' lack of consistency in pass blocking against
New Orleans)
"Well, the Saints caused a lot of those problems. Let's be honest,
they're a good pass-rushing team, especially when they have a lead and
they have you in a passing situation. You're coming from behind and you're
behind the down-and-distance. We had two or three penalties that hurt
us. They've set records for sacks over the last four or five years. At
the same time, we can do a better job coaching, we can finish blocks better
and we can be more communicative in terms of our assignments. But that
was our first game, the first time these guys have gone wire to wire together.
They did improve down the stretch and enable us to put together two real
good drives at the end."
(on Baltimore losing to Carolina)
"It's an amazing league, and that's why you don't take anything for
granted and you try not to read too much about predictions and things
of that nature. You just go out there and you concentrate on the next
game. We've seen teams go from 4-12 and 5-11 to Super Bowl Champions.
Who knows – Carolina is the best team in the league right now and
you don't want to underestimate anyone."
(on whether the Ravens' defense is still strong)
"No one's really scored on them throughout the preseason. They've
been very stingy. They gave up 10 points last week and seven of those
were set up on a flea-flicker in a second-and-one situation. They have
a lot of pride with Ray Lewis and (Peter) Boulware and (Chris) McAlister
and (Michael) McCrary. They know how to play defense in Baltimore."
(on the possibility of confusing young QB Chris Redman)
"Inexperience is something that you've got to overcome, as a running
back, as a quarterback, as a young offensive line. You have to overcome
it. He's got a great coach there, a great system and he's got some real
good resources with Todd Heap, the tight end. I think (Brandon) Stokley
and Travis Taylor are good receivers, and of course Jamal Lewis is back
and that gives them a legitimate horse to hand the ball to."
(on defensive adjustments during last Sunday's game)
"They weren't dramatic adjustments. We had a good game plan going
in and we executed on the practice field. We even executed it in that
garage up there on Thursday. We just didn't make enough plays on third
down in the first half of that football game. That was the key stat to
me – six consecutive third-down conversions. Aaron Brooks was slippery
a couple times, created some plays. We weren't as firm or as solid in
our tackling early in the football game as we have been around here. Those
two things in general are things we have to tighten down a little bit."
(on if he was surprised by the play of his defense in the first half
Sunday)
"Every time you step on the field you can't really be surprised by
a lot of things. But there are certain things we're very confident about
here and number one starts with our defense. And we're going to remain
very confident, and I'll be the first to say we expect these guys to really
play well this week against Baltimore. I know they're going to do everything
they can to play well offensively."
(on the challenges a 3-4 defense poses)
"Fortunately, we saw it against the Houston Texans. The rules are
different. The guards are uncovered, the combinations of blitzes on these
bubbles are very, very intense. There are a lot of different types of
blitzes and it's a different type of defense all in all. But we do have
some rules that are in place. I think our guys picked it up, had a good
practice today and it was a physical practice."
(on the varying defensive alignments of the Ravens)
"They will. At the same time, Peter Boulware is what you would call
an interesting football player. Here's a guy who can put his hand down
and be a premier pass rusher and be an outstanding defensive end. And
when he's playing outside linebacker in this 3-4 system, it's pretty easy
for them to get him matched up against the back at times. You've got to
be conscious of where Boulware is at all times, and you know they're going
to create some games internally to get Ray Lewis freed up to make plays.
When you talk about the 34 defense, you talk about linebackers, and when
you start with Ray Lewis and Peter Boulware, you're starting with some
real clout."
(on accounting for Ray Lewis)
"You better, otherwise he'll have double-digit tackles and he'll
have double-digit solo tackles. They're going to blitz him and they're
going to ask him to do things in coverage. And they're going to do things
for Ray Lewis to try to help free him to read off blocks, get to the ballcarrier
and make impact plays."
(on Cosey Coleman starting on Sunday)
"Yes, we expect him to start. We'll see how he feels in the morning.
This is a young guy we're looking at to become a leader of our football
team and particularly on that offensive line. And we've missed him. We
haven't had him. I don't think I've ever called a play with him on the
field. He went down in the pregame warmup of the Dolphin game, so it was
exciting to get to know him a little bit today. It was really exciting.
I'm actually feeling pretty good about that."
(on whether Kenyatta Walker has a greater sense of urgency)
"Yeah. I give the guy credit. He's been scrutinized heavily. I've
probably been his worst critic of all and Bill Muir's probably been second,
or vice versa. I think he understands the game that we're asking him to
play. We're asking him to come in here and legitimize what he can be,
and I think he's working toward that. It's not a matter of doing it well
on Wednesday, though. It's a matter of putting days together, weeks together
and years together. That's why we selected him in the first round and
that's what we expected him to be."
(more on Cosey Coleman)
"I saw a guy who looked fresh to me. He looked good to me. I'm not
a trainer, but the guy looked like he had some thump. He looked like he
could redirect. He didn't look like he had any setbacks in terms of his
injury. Let's just say he had a good practice today."
(on Ravens LB Ray Lewis)
"He's an every-down linebacker, where a lot of guys play the normal
downs and come out in the nickel. This guy's a force in the running game,
he's a force on first down, fourth down, first quarter, fourth quarter.
He's just a great football player."
(on whether the rainy weather limited the Bucs in practice on Wednesday)
"No, it really didn't limit us at all. We were concerned. It was
a torrential downpour while we were in meetings, but we said a few prayers
and they were answered. We had a good practice today."
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