Tweet
Saturday, December 4, 2004
DT Jimmy Kennedy
(On the defensive line setting the tempo)
“Right now, as a team, our backs are against the wall. We have to see how we are going to respond. Are we going to come out fighting, or are guys going to go into the tank? I look in a bunch of guys’ eyes and know that they want to come out fighting. So from here on out, we are just trying to go out there, make the playoffs, win the division, and make the long run.”
(On 49er week)
“We know we are playing the *****, and I think a lot of guys are putting in the extra time on film. We know who are opponent is, but right now we are really trying to fix the mistakes that we are making. Coach Martz always preaches at us, that it’s not about the other team, it’s about us, and right now we are shooting ourselves in the foot. So we really need to bounce back, and really show what type of team we are.”
(On how his recovery from his foot injury has been)
“It’s been a battle. It’s a tough battle. I’ve been fighting through the soreness, and the scar tissue breaking up and having to go out there and practice. The way I feel now, is that I missed so much time that even if it’s sore, I still want to be out there on the field. So it’s definitely a tough battle right now.”
(On if his foot is still sore)
“Here and there. Just from switching from outside on the field, to indoor turf, to going to the stadium turf, it is just the different surfaces that creates a different kind of feeling. Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it bothers me when I plant, sometimes it hurts when I’m just running.”
WR Torry Holt
(On preparing the week after a loss)
“It’s not (fun), and it’s been a consistent thing. It’s like, ‘oh, shoot, we need to go and watch this debacle (in films).’ We, as a collective group of players and coaches, need to continue to stick with one another, stay focused, and keep our eyes on our goals regardless of where we are. We are where we are. Our record is what it is, but we still have an opportunity left to finish up strong and move forward.”
(On the Rams’ offense)
“I think we are real close. We need to go ahead and get it before it’s too late. With some of the shuffling that we’ve done on the offensive line, and guys getting hurt, and still being able to put up the numbers and move the ball the way we move the ball, I think is very impressive. That’s a good sign for us to say, ‘Hey, we put it together.’ Like myself last week with the two offsides. If I can stay onsides, hold my water and stay focused that would help us get better in the red zone. There are a lot of positive things we can take from these weeks, it’s just a matter of putting it together for these last five (weeks) and trying to make a run.”
(On the *****’ secondary)
“I see a secondary that (has) a lot of guys that we don’t recognize, but they are still coming out and playing hard. An interesting stat was given to us the other day, that they are the number one defense in our division. A lot of people say that our division is weak, and it probably is because there’s no consistency, but still (their defense) is good. We will be challenged for four quarters, and it’s up to us, as an offense, to meet that challenge. If we are on our game and doing the necessary things that we know we can do, and what we’ve shown at time (we should be able to score). Again, we need to run the ball effectively. I think with Steven (Jackson) coming in that will be good. He’s should be excited and enthused. So he should be running like a maniac, which will be good for us. I think that would continue to get the offensive line more confidence and get them to open more holes for him. And hopefully, we can get eight men in the box, and then get some one-on-ones on the outside. Those are some of the things we are looking for, but if not and we get Cover Two, we just have to go to our Cover Two beaters and run the best possible route to get open.”
(On RB Steven Jackson)
“I’m really looking forward to seeing how he handles this for four straight quarters. It will be different. I know last year when he played (The University of) Pittsburgh he had 33 totes. It will be challenging for him, but it will be good for him. He’s a big kid. He’s excited (about starting). He’s not running from the opportunity. He doesn’t feel like there’s a lot of pressure on him. He’s just going to go out there and play football.”
RB Steven Jackson
(On starting against the *****)
“I’m very excited. This is something I’ve waited for since I joined this organization. I feel a lot of pressure on me right now, but I think I’m going to stand tall and handle it pretty well.”
(On if it has been tough playing as a backup)
“It’s been difficult, but at the same time it has given me a chance to get my feet wet. I’ve been able to participate in all of the games this year, so it’s not like I’m coming in with cold feet. I know what to expect. I had a good game against these guys earlier this year, so I’m coming into a situation that’s fairly easy for me.”
(On being physically fresh)
“I don’t have a ton of carries. I can come in with fresh legs and just enter the field. That’s my style of play. I’ll get those knick-knack yards in the beginning of the game, and as the game progresses on, I’ll wear down the defense. That’s where my big gains come from. As long as we can stay in the ball game and run the ball successfully, that’s something that could very well happen.”
(On providing the team with a spark)
“We need to change up a little, and I have an opportunity to do that. To get this offense, and this team a different approach is something unorthodox that we do. Hopefully we can get back on our winning ways.”
QB Marc Bulger
(On staying healthy throughout the season thus far)
“Every guy is playing with pain, it’s not that I’m tough. Everyone in the NFL is tough. You deal with the same thing in college, even more I think because the lines are not as good and your protections aren’t as good. Injuries are usually freak accidents in the NFL, twisted knees and little things. It’s not like you get hit and you just break. If you can avoid freak injuries you should be alright.”
(On his blitz pick-up)
“We saw every blitz (Green Bay) threw at us. I don’t know what the stats were, but I think we went incomplete on two, but the rest of them, six or seven, we hit for pretty big gains. When you get to that point it’s nice, because it makes them back off a little bit, and it lets other teams know that you can pick it up. At the same time, if you are good at it you want other teams to blitz you so you can get those big gains. But I definitely feel more comfortable this year. Shaun (McDonald) and Kevin (Curtis) have done a great job, not only do I have to recognize (the blitz), but they have to recognize some things to break off their routes, and they have.”
(On if he looks forward to teams blitzing him)
“I think last year, and more so in 2002, if I saw a lot of color coming from one side, I would just look for a hot (route) guy or a quick throw. I didn’t know why, but I knew I had to get rid of the ball. I think now I understand what’s the best option. It’s not just that I’m looking for my hitch. Now I can understand why I want to go to a crossing route, or why I want to take a hitch. Then you get more yards and you are more successful beating the blitz. And like I said, I look forward to it now.”
DT Jimmy Kennedy
(On the defensive line setting the tempo)
“Right now, as a team, our backs are against the wall. We have to see how we are going to respond. Are we going to come out fighting, or are guys going to go into the tank? I look in a bunch of guys’ eyes and know that they want to come out fighting. So from here on out, we are just trying to go out there, make the playoffs, win the division, and make the long run.”
(On 49er week)
“We know we are playing the *****, and I think a lot of guys are putting in the extra time on film. We know who are opponent is, but right now we are really trying to fix the mistakes that we are making. Coach Martz always preaches at us, that it’s not about the other team, it’s about us, and right now we are shooting ourselves in the foot. So we really need to bounce back, and really show what type of team we are.”
(On how his recovery from his foot injury has been)
“It’s been a battle. It’s a tough battle. I’ve been fighting through the soreness, and the scar tissue breaking up and having to go out there and practice. The way I feel now, is that I missed so much time that even if it’s sore, I still want to be out there on the field. So it’s definitely a tough battle right now.”
(On if his foot is still sore)
“Here and there. Just from switching from outside on the field, to indoor turf, to going to the stadium turf, it is just the different surfaces that creates a different kind of feeling. Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it bothers me when I plant, sometimes it hurts when I’m just running.”
WR Torry Holt
(On preparing the week after a loss)
“It’s not (fun), and it’s been a consistent thing. It’s like, ‘oh, shoot, we need to go and watch this debacle (in films).’ We, as a collective group of players and coaches, need to continue to stick with one another, stay focused, and keep our eyes on our goals regardless of where we are. We are where we are. Our record is what it is, but we still have an opportunity left to finish up strong and move forward.”
(On the Rams’ offense)
“I think we are real close. We need to go ahead and get it before it’s too late. With some of the shuffling that we’ve done on the offensive line, and guys getting hurt, and still being able to put up the numbers and move the ball the way we move the ball, I think is very impressive. That’s a good sign for us to say, ‘Hey, we put it together.’ Like myself last week with the two offsides. If I can stay onsides, hold my water and stay focused that would help us get better in the red zone. There are a lot of positive things we can take from these weeks, it’s just a matter of putting it together for these last five (weeks) and trying to make a run.”
(On the *****’ secondary)
“I see a secondary that (has) a lot of guys that we don’t recognize, but they are still coming out and playing hard. An interesting stat was given to us the other day, that they are the number one defense in our division. A lot of people say that our division is weak, and it probably is because there’s no consistency, but still (their defense) is good. We will be challenged for four quarters, and it’s up to us, as an offense, to meet that challenge. If we are on our game and doing the necessary things that we know we can do, and what we’ve shown at time (we should be able to score). Again, we need to run the ball effectively. I think with Steven (Jackson) coming in that will be good. He’s should be excited and enthused. So he should be running like a maniac, which will be good for us. I think that would continue to get the offensive line more confidence and get them to open more holes for him. And hopefully, we can get eight men in the box, and then get some one-on-ones on the outside. Those are some of the things we are looking for, but if not and we get Cover Two, we just have to go to our Cover Two beaters and run the best possible route to get open.”
(On RB Steven Jackson)
“I’m really looking forward to seeing how he handles this for four straight quarters. It will be different. I know last year when he played (The University of) Pittsburgh he had 33 totes. It will be challenging for him, but it will be good for him. He’s a big kid. He’s excited (about starting). He’s not running from the opportunity. He doesn’t feel like there’s a lot of pressure on him. He’s just going to go out there and play football.”
RB Steven Jackson
(On starting against the *****)
“I’m very excited. This is something I’ve waited for since I joined this organization. I feel a lot of pressure on me right now, but I think I’m going to stand tall and handle it pretty well.”
(On if it has been tough playing as a backup)
“It’s been difficult, but at the same time it has given me a chance to get my feet wet. I’ve been able to participate in all of the games this year, so it’s not like I’m coming in with cold feet. I know what to expect. I had a good game against these guys earlier this year, so I’m coming into a situation that’s fairly easy for me.”
(On being physically fresh)
“I don’t have a ton of carries. I can come in with fresh legs and just enter the field. That’s my style of play. I’ll get those knick-knack yards in the beginning of the game, and as the game progresses on, I’ll wear down the defense. That’s where my big gains come from. As long as we can stay in the ball game and run the ball successfully, that’s something that could very well happen.”
(On providing the team with a spark)
“We need to change up a little, and I have an opportunity to do that. To get this offense, and this team a different approach is something unorthodox that we do. Hopefully we can get back on our winning ways.”
QB Marc Bulger
(On staying healthy throughout the season thus far)
“Every guy is playing with pain, it’s not that I’m tough. Everyone in the NFL is tough. You deal with the same thing in college, even more I think because the lines are not as good and your protections aren’t as good. Injuries are usually freak accidents in the NFL, twisted knees and little things. It’s not like you get hit and you just break. If you can avoid freak injuries you should be alright.”
(On his blitz pick-up)
“We saw every blitz (Green Bay) threw at us. I don’t know what the stats were, but I think we went incomplete on two, but the rest of them, six or seven, we hit for pretty big gains. When you get to that point it’s nice, because it makes them back off a little bit, and it lets other teams know that you can pick it up. At the same time, if you are good at it you want other teams to blitz you so you can get those big gains. But I definitely feel more comfortable this year. Shaun (McDonald) and Kevin (Curtis) have done a great job, not only do I have to recognize (the blitz), but they have to recognize some things to break off their routes, and they have.”
(On if he looks forward to teams blitzing him)
“I think last year, and more so in 2002, if I saw a lot of color coming from one side, I would just look for a hot (route) guy or a quick throw. I didn’t know why, but I knew I had to get rid of the ball. I think now I understand what’s the best option. It’s not just that I’m looking for my hitch. Now I can understand why I want to go to a crossing route, or why I want to take a hitch. Then you get more yards and you are more successful beating the blitz. And like I said, I look forward to it now.”