Tampa
Bay Buccaneers
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TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS QUOTES
Wednesday, September 11, 2002
QB Brad Johnson
(On how he feels)
“Every week you’re sore after every game. I think it being the
first game of the season you take more hits than you do in the preseason.
So I was sore, but (I) feel great today and (I’m) ready to go.”
(On what does the offense needs to do to improve)
“When you look at it, we were very close to winning the game. New
Orleans made some mistakes, and obviously we made some mistakes. We did
a great job in not turning the ball over, until the end. We did some good
things, but there were some gaping holes at different times, so obviously
we are going to work on protection, and having complete throwing motions
and guys getting open and making plays, just little mistakes here and
there. And it happens a lot early in the season, unfortunately we were
not able to get away with it.”
(On Baltimore’s Defense)
“They’re a very good defense. You have seen what they have done
throughout their last couple of years. They had a great preseason, they
have a different defense this year, a different coordinator. They are
running a 3-4 defense, but it’s not anything we have not seen before.
They do a great job. They free up Ray Lewis, they get a lot of guys to
the ball, and Ray is unbelievable at running and tracking down the ball
carrier. They do a great job of not giving up the big, big plays. They
have some proven players over there and some younger players who haven’t
played with them, but they have some guys over there that are some of
the best to ever play the game. So we have our work cut out for us.”
(On establishing the run)
“Actually, we did a great job in the first three quarters, but when
you a couple of big plays called back for penalties and you put yourself
in second-and-20, third-and-25, I’m not going to be a very good quarterback
and you’re not going to be a very good offensive coordinator. There
are not too many plays for third-and-20. The biggest thing is we actually
threw the ball 25, 30 times in the fourth quarter coming from behind,
so that’s what we did a great job of the other day. I don’t
feel like we abandon the run at all in the first half. I just don’t
think we gave ourselves a chance with all the penalties.”
(On the offense in the first half)
“They controlled the clock in the first quarter. They won the toss
and we actually only had one possession in the first quarter and we weren’t
able to make things happen in the second quarter because of penalties.
You’re going to play in games like that. Last year, we had a game
where we only had two possessions in the first half and three possessions
in two other games. It goes hand-in-hand with offense and defense, but
when we get the opportunities to get on the field, we need to make things
happen.”
(On facing a 3-4 defense)
“We put in new pass plays every week. Obviously we try to change
up our blocking schemes against every team we play. The 3-4 defense presents
a little different challenge for you, but it’s nothing that we haven’t
practiced for. We played Houston with it, and there are a couple other
teams, Pittsburgh and Atlanta, later in the year. So this will present
another opportunity to see a 3-4 defense.”
DE Simeon Rice
(On the Baltimore Ravens)
“Our game plan is us. Our game plan is to come back and put ourselves
in the positions we need to be in, work out the kinks from last week,
and put ourselves right back where we need to be on the road to success.
It all starts at practice. I think we need to be a little more vibrant
out there and really enjoy what we are doing.”
(On if the Bucs are ready for this weekend)
“I think so. It was one game, not a Super Bowl game, but it was one
game. It was a game that we needed to have. This is another game we need
to have. So from that perspective we need to get this game, because it’s
a big one.”
(On pressuring QB Aaron Brooks)
“The pressure was there. It wasn’t so much in terms of the run
game, they were able to get 100 yards and that’s big. And when a
team does that it really takes pressure off of them. Duce (McAllister)
really got off this weekend and played well. But we need to have the resolve
to comeback as a team and a defensive unit and play with exuberance and
have the resilience to bounce back and put ourselves in a position we
need to be in.”
(On the Baltimore Ravens)
“I don’t look at that. They are going to try and bounce back.
They are going to come back. They are at home and they are going to try
and get a win too. We’re both 0-1. We’re both facing the same
situation and both trying for that first victory. And it’s going
to be a hard fought game, I expect them to play as if it was a playoff
game with an all-out effort and it’s not going to be easy. We need
to match their intensity and bring even more intensity to get this victory.
We are both trying to get our feet out of the mud and put ourselves in
the position we both want to be in.”
T Kenyatta Walker
(On feeling pressure)
“It’s all about the position I’m in, being selected where
I was selected and just being professional about it. It’s just a
learning stage, and we just need to play and win. No longer will I be
a distraction to the team, and I know that you all will watch me and that’s
part of it. And if things go wrong, I’ll be the first to admit it
and take fault for it. And that’s just being in the position I’m
in, and I have to accept that and go with it.”
(On his postgame comments)
“That’s going to be the last outburst. There are a lot of responsibilities
and I’m learning. There are responsibilities along with being the
man or the guy. I’m from Florida and there are a lot of expectations
and I have to deal with that. We (coaching staff and myself) had a meeting
of the minds and we all got on the same page. We got on the same page
and we have a plan.”
S John Lynch
(On the importance of the loss on Sunday vs. New Orleans)
“It grabs your attention. It’s a home game, it’s the opener,
it’s a division game, so it’s a very important game. We have
15 games left and we still believe that we are a very good football team.
Now, I don’t know how many people are with us on that right now,
but the people in this room believe that. And we need to go out there
and prove it. It’s the great thing about this game, you’ll always
have an opportunity to redeem yourself whether you play well or play bad.
We didn’t play our best game and we have an opportunity to go to
Baltimore and redeem ourselves.”
(On the critics comments on how the defense is slipping)
“That’s not something we are concerned about. We have a standard
that we like to play to. We didn’t get that done in the first game
and that’s what we will concern ourselves with. “
(On playing the Ravens)
“I bet they are a lot like us and really looking forward to getting
back on the field and trying to get back to .500. It’s two teams
that are going to want it. You are going to have to execute and create
turnovers and make plays.”
(On the Ravens offense)
“They have Jamal Lewis back there and Carolina had a good defensive
game plan. But he’s running strong. That guy is a big time back.
They have a good run blocking offense line and they ran the ball somewhat
effectively last week. And (Chris) Redman looked good back there last
week. But this is the NFL, so regardless of the amount of turnover they
had, they are a good group of players and we need to be up for the challenge.”
LB Derrick Brooks
(On the difference in defense between first and second half of New Orleans
game)
“Bottom line, we made some little mistakes and didn’t tackle.
We gave up some points and obviously we didn’t (tackle) on third
downs. So, all of that contributed to it. We need to start faster and
tackle.”
(On the Baltimore Ravens offense)
“We just need to correct our mistakes and we’ll be fine. Just
tackle, don’t make the mental mistakes, start fast and get more turnovers
and we’ll be fine. It’s not so much about Baltimore, it’s
more or less about what we can do.”
(More on the Ravens)
“Well, they have Jamal Lewis back and he was a big part of the Super
Bowl run and he has ran well in the preseason and first game. So obviously
they are going to try to get him the football to take the pressure of
(Chris) Redman. Our job is to go out there and force them to throw the
ball and dictate the action.”
(On the first interception of the year)
“It felt good to get the first one and hopefully I’ll have a
lot more. I think the more turnovers we get the stronger this defense
will be.”
(On how to stop the Ravens)
“Stop the run. Force them to throw and play to our strengths. We
need to be physical on the ball and I think that we did that at the end
of last game (New Orleans), except now we need to do it for 60 minutes
instead of 15.”
RB Michael Pittman
(On the attitude of team)
“We’re still positive. We know we came out flat last week, but
we’re past that now and we can’t sit there and dwell on it.
We need to prepare for Baltimore. Everybody has forgotten about it and
we’re moving on, so we can look at Baltimore this week.”
DT Anthony McFarland
(Attitude of the Buccaneers defense)
“We didn’t play well and we know why we didn’t play well
and know you just fix it. Let’s face it, we’re not 0-12, we’re
0-1. We still have 15 more to go. Right now we just need to prepare for
Baltimore. Go up there, get a win, and be 1-1, that’s our focus right
now. You’ll never play a perfect game. You just need to eliminate
those mistakes we make. And that’s what we are doing. So when later
in the year when it really starts counting, that’s when you want
to be dominate.”
G/C Todd Washington
(On the Ravens’ defense)
“There are a lot of things that they do that can cause confusion
and that is why you have to pay attention to details. Little things can
tell you where they are going to end up, even though they line up in different
positions. So we need to pay attention to those little things and then
big things are going to happen.”
(On the upcoming challenges this week)
“Right now, (I’m) learning all three positions all over again.
I was stuck at right guard for the preseason and one game this year, but
now I’m back to being a swingman. I have to get back at that mentality
and learn all three positions again. You never know where I’m going
to end up.”
(On Pro Bowl MLB Ray Lewis)
“You have to account for Ray Lewis, you need to account for (Peter)
Boulware, and you need to account for (Chris) McAlister in the secondary.
They have some playmakers out there and they’re very active and quick.
So if we just focus on one guy the other 10 guys will beat us. So we need
to prepare for all 11, just the same way they’ll have to prepare
against us.”
(On playing on the road)
“You would like to have that first game under your belt as a win
at home before you travel, but we didn’t get things done. And know
we have to get one on the road and it’s very tough to win on the
road in the NFL, but it’s something we have to do.”
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