Thursday, July 28, 2005
(On the first practice of 2005 training camp)
“I think the effort is terrific. There is no question about it. Anytime you put pads on, you come in and are running around in this you feel like you are underwater, if you’ve ever been there. You’re a little bit slower. The effort is great. The focus is great. That’s all you can ask for. We’re going to get a lot better than that each practice, but I’m very pleased.”
(On why RB
Steven Jackson and Marshall Faulk were the only players in gold jerseys)
“Ask Marshall. He’ll be happy to talk to you about it. No, he’s not very happy about his. We’re going to put these guys in the gold jerseys. You get into situations, especially the scout teams, where guys are flying around and bumping into guys. We want them to understand to just to tag up on these guys or to actually touch-up on these guys. Tag-off means you come up and you thump them. Touch-off means that you come up and you touch them. We know what they are. They need to get their run reads down and their acceleration and all of those kinds of things and the contact will come in the preseason.“
(On the new linebackers, Dexter Coakley and Chris Claiborne)
“Well, the depth issue primarily. We went through that last year. You lose a guy and your fourth linebacker has to pick up for two and three. When you don’t have to do that when something happens form an injury standpoint that guy is a lot more familiar for the position. In the past if you have three or four linebackers that you feel are game ready that’s pretty good. I think we have more that that this year, hopefully. I think the competitive situation makes the first guy a lot better.”
(On whether he thinks the running game will get back up near 5 yards per carry)
“I think with both of them back, and in general, that will be the case, but particularly with Steven (Jackson) that will be the case. We’ve retooled a lot of what we are doing in that running game from a personnel standpoint. It’s going to be a brand new factor in our offensive effort in a major way.”
(On whether Tom Nütten’s return was expected)
“I talked to Tommy last June. I called him and gave him the opportunity, and said that if he still wants to play, if he expressed interest and wanted to play again. He’s had that toe reconstruction now, and you’re going to have to get yourself ready to play through-out the summer and then we’ll come in and get a physical and if things look good and you’re up to speed weight-wise, and he’s up to 300, 305. So it looks good. We’ll have to be concerned about his toe, but if we have to come in and nurse him along then it’s not worth it for him either.”
(On the acquisition of Corey Ivy)
“Particularly [with] Corey [Ivy], here is a guy that played special teams at a high level and has played in the secondary some. You know when you’re working your guys, the level of play doesn’t slide off like is has in that past. They understand their position much better. The play, they understand. They are much more mature. They accept the responsibility and they are battling their butts off. Sometimes young guys are not sure they are can make it and they have that faraway look. You know you go through all that stuff, so I think that quality of the depth, not just there but at lot of positions is going to help us as well.
(On TE Brandon Manumaleuna’s role if TE Roland Williams ends up the starting tight end)
“This is a reflection of what I think Brandon can contribute for us now in the passing game and the fact that we have two points of attack guys now. But I just think Brandon is very special athlete, so we’re going to try to utilize him in other ways, in essence you can call him my fullback if you like.”
(On his thoughts on S Jerome Carter’s place on the defense)
“Not really. Part because I am so focused on what we’re doing on offence. Until I looked at the take I wouldn’t be comfortable talking about how he practiced or anything like that. I’m mostly looking at the quarterbacks and their protections and some of those things, but I expect that he did a good job.”
(On the scope of hold out T
Alex Barron’s absence while working on offensive protections)
“It’s huge. Every practice that he misses he’s light years behind. He can’t come back and recover that. It’s just impossible. Anybody who is out of camp now is not just hurting himself, but he’s hurting the football team, but I understand the business side of it. It they’re close, then let’s get this thing done. If they’re not close, then I understand that, but if they’re close, then let’s tie this thing up and get in here.”
(On whether coach things his players are holding out until the picks around them sign)
“Well, that’s not the case with CB [Ron] Bartell. The one above and below are done. And we’re closer to the one above than the one below. So I’ll expect him to get this thing done and to get in here. That’s why I’m not happy. Now, I understand number one [Alex Barron] because I don’t know what the parameters are there.”
(On G
Richie Incognito)
“What we’re waiting on with Richie [Incognito] is the physical. He’s out there on a physical right now. We want to make sure we know physically we know where he is before we start talking about the contract and all of that. We’re not in a rush on that, either side, until we find out where he is physically.”
(On what he wants to establish these first few day of camp)
“You have to establish the tempo of practice, and they have to understand the speed with which we practice. Like I said, the first practice no matter how well or how much the veterans show its going to be sluggish. You need to fight through that. And then the physical aspect of it, at least the crispness of doing things from a technique standpoint well and consistently.”
(On what he saw today, particularly from the rookies)
“These guys out of college, they have no idea of how to practice yet. We were patient with it today. We’ll be a little patient with it tonight and tomorrow and then that’s it.”
(On having training camp in Rams Park instead of a more remote location)
“It’s uplifting for the players and the coaches. I just think that the whole situation with the hotel, if you get a good night’s sleep in a bigger bed in a hotel like that instead of the dorm rooms. A dorm room is a dorm room no matter where you are whether it is USC or it doesn’t matter. Anytime you can get a little more rest and a better quality rest, and those kinds of things. Just being familiar and having your fans here is nice.”
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