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December 24, 2013
Redskins Park
Executive Vice President/Head Coach Mike Shanahan
On separating his personal life from work and enjoying the holidays:
“We all have a job to do and I think this schedule really works out great for everybody. Number one, we get our game plan in yesterday and today we have a normal Wednesday practice, so it gets the players and the coaches and, really, everybody in this building a chance to go home and enjoy Christmas with their family, and I think that’s very important. We’ll come back Thursday just like a normal Thursday and continue to our game plan. All we basically do is the coaches get their game plan 24 hours earlier, players come in on Tuesday instead of Wednesday, and full preparation for the week.”
On the season wide receiver Pierre Garçon is having:
“Anytime you put up the type of numbers Pierre has, it really says a lot about a lot of people, not just Pierre but the supporting cast as well. I’ve been really pleased with how he’s handled himself, how hard he works. You could see a year ago when he did play he was the difference in us winning and losing. When he did come back, you could tell we were a different type of offensive football team and this year is no exception.”
On if he feels Garçon has proven he deserved his contract:
“I sure think so.”
On if he addressed his future with the players this week or at all:
“No. Same thing we’ve been talking about since Day 1 — all of those things you address at the end of the season after the season is over with.”
On the health of linebacker Brian Orakpo:
“He’s limited today. I know we don’t have to talk about it until tomorrow and we’ve got DY [fullback Darrel Young] was full and [linebacker] Ryan Kerrigan was full. That doesn’t have to be reported until tomorrow but that’s what we’ll do tomorrow, so you guys get that information a little bit earlier.”
On safety Brandon Meriweather’s absence:
“It was personal, but it wasn’t related to injury.”
On the roster move made today:
“Yeah, [linebacker Will] Compton is coming on for [linebacker] Nick Barnett, and we haven’t made a decision for [tight end] Jordan Reed’s [roster spot] yet, what direction we’re going to go. We’ve got a couple of options and we’ll have somebody in here on Thursday but we plan on making a move… It could be later on today or it could be Thursday morning.”
On signing tight end Gabe Miller to the practice squad:
“Brought him on the practice squad. He’s a tight end. We’ll get a chance to look at him. He’ll play linebacker as well. A couple of days on our football team, but a guy that [Director of Pro Personnel] Morocco Brown recommended and hopefully he’ll show us something in the next couple of days.”
On his relationship with Executive Vice President/General Manager Bruce Allen:
“I’ve always had a great relationship with Bruce. Bruce has done all of the different contracts and personnel moves, and it’s been nice not having to really deal in that area because of his expertise — knowing agents, knowing what’s in the best interest for the organization with the salary cap, things along those lines.”
On the injury to linebacker Ryan Kerrigan:
“It was his wrist. It was just sore. He still was full [participation].”
On his favorite Christmas memory:
“Great question… We’ll just talk about this year, but there’s so many different things as you look back in the past. Anytime I think about Christmas, you think about spending time with your kids. My situation tomorrow will be six grandkids – I’ve got three on Kyle’s side, three on my daughter’s side. We’ve got identical twin boys that [are] a year old. Their son is also two-and-a-half, so three boys on one side. I’ve got Stella, who is six-years-old and I’ve got Carter, who is about three-and-a-half and we’ve got another girl named Lexi, she’s right around two or a year-and-a-half. So it’s fun. It’s a very busy Christmas Day and you always look forward to it.”
On if he had a sense of how serious Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo’s injury was during the game:
“No, I had no idea. In fact, I thought it was his ankle from the way he was moving.”
On if it annoyed him that Romo’s back issues were not disclosed on the injury report prior to the game:
“The only thing that annoyed me was the play he made at the end of the game.”
Quarterback Kirk Cousins
On his performance vs. Dallas:
“Similar to my thoughts after the Atlanta game, that there are probably two or three throws that you want to have back and you feel like if you even hit one of them it could be the difference in the game in a game that was that close. Unfortunately, I can’t get them back but it’s encouraging to think you’re that close to playing at a level that’s going to get your team a win, but I’m learning, I’m getting better, I’m putting those things away, and I’m trusting in the future that those are going to help me have success having gone through those experiences.”
On what he feels he’s shown in these two starts:
“I feel like I’ve improved. I’ve done some good things. I feel like there’s a lot I can take from it and be encouraged about going into the offseason. Obviously, I want to still finish strong and show even more this week, but I think there’s a lot to be feeling positive about and there are other things to be hard on yourself and go back and learn from. I think I’m in a good spot right now. Obviously we would have liked to have those be wins but we’re two points away from being 2-0 in this three-game stretch and hopefully we can get a win this week.”
On if he played more conservatively after committing three turnovers in Atlanta:
“I don’t think so. I think I was still letting it rip and trying to go where my reads took me. It’s important to cut down on turnovers. If you throw an interception in every game the entire season, you’re going to lead the league in terms of having the lowest number of interceptions, only throwing 16, so you’re going to turn the ball over here and there. That’s part of playing fast and aggressive, but obviously you don’t want to have the multi-turnover games and I’m going to cut down on those as I continue to play.”
On why he has been able to avoid being sacked:
“I’ve always said that a quarterback is only as good as the guys around him and I feel like our offensive line has done an outstanding job of protecting me, not turning guys lose. If you look at me I’m not the kind of guy who’s going to have escapability when somebody gets turned loose, so I’m at their mercy a little bit. They’ve done a great job. Then also [Offensive Coordinator] Kyle Shanahan has done a great job of play-calling to put me in a position to be successful where I’m able to get rid of the football and I’m able to find an outlet. It’s on me to not take sacks and I think the guys around me have done a great job of putting me in a good position.”
On how many of wide receiver Pierre Garçon’s targets were part of the game plan compared to where his read took him:
“To be honest with you, I wasn’t trying to get him the ball any more than I normally would be with any other receiver. I feel that our game plan is going to be to put our best players in a position to be successful, so Kyle is doing a good job of getting Pierre in a position to have success and I’m going where my reads are taking me. For whatever reason against Dallas, a lot of times that ended up being number 88, but there wasn’t really a conscious effort. It’s just the way it happened and the way that the play-calling and the formation alignments and the motions and the coverages dictated where the ball went.”
On if the uncertainty of the offseason makes the final game any more difficult to prepare for:
“There’s a different feeling to this game than there was at the end of last season or earlier in this season because you don’t know what that locker room is going to look like in April, and as a part of the NFL you understand that uncertainty and a lot of turnover is a part of playing in this league. So it’s not surprising, but it is a part of this game and we understand that the locker room make look a little different in April or next August. I think we’ve enjoyed one another. We’ve had good chemistry despite the lack of wins. I think we all want to put together a final product in this last game that we can be proud of.”
On Kyle Shanahan’s best trait as a coordinator:
“He does a very good job of in-game adjustments on game day. I think he does a very good job with the passing game and putting me as a quarterback in a position to be successful. He does a very good job with the receivers in splits and motions. I just have total faith and confidence in him to put me in a position to be successful and I feel like he’s done that every time I’ve had a chance to play here as a part of the Redskins. He’s the kind of guy that I think very highly of as an offensive coordinator, and if I get to play for Kyle or someone like Kyle at his level of a play-caller for the rest of my career, I’ll be in very good shape. So I think the world of him and Coach [Mike] Shanahan, and I think, like I said, I’ll be very successful if I get to play for a play-caller like them.”
New York Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin
On how he keeps his team focused late in the season:
“It’s a challenge week-to-week. Naturally, the opposition, but it’s more than that – it’s a deeper sense of pride. People want to tell you that you don’t have anything to play for but they’re full of – they don’t know what they’re talking about. You have everything to play for because obviously the scrutiny is very much involved and the powers to be are evaluating your every move. The other thing that I think is important from my standpoint is we’ve been in a couple of celebratory locker rooms after Super Bowls. Well, how’s it going to look if some of these guys were with us in the good times and it’s not so good right now? How are we going to act? What is our statement about who we are? And what kind of example are we for the young people? So I think pride is very important. The character of a man shows up in circumstances like this. You do get stronger in adversity and we certainly are in it. The key thing in all philosophical discussions is about effort, it’s about giving what you have. It’s about remembering that you do have a responsibility and that you are accountable to your teammates and the franchise you play for. There’s no lines of distinction. We have a game to play and we expect to play as hard as we possibly can. And I think most everybody in the room agrees on those kinds of things, it’s just that sometimes it doesn’t look like that on the other end.”
On if he still has a passion for coaching after a season like this:
“Sure – absolutely. I mean, probably even more because there are a lot of those that are telling you that you didn’t do very well and you’re not a very good coach and you’re not this and you’re not that, so perhaps you have something to prove.”
On what he’s seen from quarterback Kirk Cousins:
“I think he obviously has a very strong arm. They certainly have given him – [Executive Vice President/Head Coach] Mike [Shanahan] and his staff have given him – a tremendous amount of flexibility within their offensive scheme. They feature a lot of personnel combinations, formations and they move the quarterback. They have an outstanding running game to help him in his play-action. So I see a guy who has competed like heck, he’s made a lot of plays and has gotten his team in position to win a couple of games here. The unfortunate nature of our business is sometimes time runs out on you.”
On the importance of organizations having patience with its coaches and players:
“Well, these are loaded questions. I can imagine that the media is behind some of this stuff. How important is it? It’s very important. It’s very important from the standpoint of the continuity factor. When I first came to the New York Giants as an assistant coach, I was extremely impressed by the philosophical feeling that [former Giants General Manager] George Young and [Giants Co-Owners] Mr. [Wellington] Mara and Mr. [Bob] Tisch had about being able to put people in positions to do their job and support them. Once the winning started or whatever, it became a real part of the tradition of the franchise. I think it’s very important. The continuity is very important.”
On what makes wide receiver Pierre Garçon so special:
“Big, strong athlete. He has tremendous run after the catch ability – big play potential. He can be used in any number of ways. He’s courageous in going inside. He’ll block. He’s having an outstanding year.”
New York Giants Defensive End Justin Tuck
On his motivation going into the last game of the season:
“To win the game, like it is always.”
On facing a quarterback with a quick release, such as Kirk Cousins, compared to a mobile quarterback:
“We’ve got a lot of practice against quarterbacks like him, guys that are very – they understand what the defense wants to see with him pre-snap. Like you said, he gets the ball – most of the time, he already knows where those one or two guys are going to be, getting the ball out of his hands quickly. It makes it tough to get pressure on guys like that. All it really takes for a pass rush – it can’t take the pass rush out of the game. A lot of times with mobile quarterbacks, they at least give you time to get to them. Once you get there, that’s a different story, but at least they give you time to get there. It’s a challenge, but I feel like we’ll be up for the challenge.”
On how running back Alfred Morris has developed in his first two NFL seasons:
“I don’t know if develop is the right word. It seems like when he came in, he was developed. He took the league by storm last year and he’s continued to do the same this year. He’s a very difficult back to play against because of – one, because of scheme, but two, also because he’s one of these guys that it’s hard to bring him down once you get your hands on him. A lot of his yards are after-contact-type runs and he’s got great vision, great balance and he makes it very difficult for a defense.”
On who he expects will win the NFC East:
“I don’t know. I think it shifts dramatically with now, I guess, [Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony] Romo’s not going to play. Obviously, that gives the Eagles an advantage, but it’s one of those games where anything can happen. You never know, in this division especially. Two teams that know that [it’s] win and go home, lose and go home. I expect both teams to pull out all stops. I think it’s going to be a pretty good football game, but I probably give the Eagles the advantage just because of the Romo injury.”
On if he is looking forward to the 2013 season being over or looking ahead to the 2014 season:
“I’m looking ahead. Anytime you go into a season like this, you always take time out at the end of the year to go over the goods, the bads and the ugly. I’m looking forward to getting back to the top of the heap. We haven’t – this will be two years in a row for us where we haven’t made the playoffs. It’s just something that you don’t want to get used to. You have to shift your focus to thinking about what next year can be because obviously this year is kind of a lost cause. Again, we’ve got one more game to go and we’re going to go out there and play it just as if we were a playoff team and needed the win.”
Redskins Park
Executive Vice President/Head Coach Mike Shanahan
On separating his personal life from work and enjoying the holidays:
“We all have a job to do and I think this schedule really works out great for everybody. Number one, we get our game plan in yesterday and today we have a normal Wednesday practice, so it gets the players and the coaches and, really, everybody in this building a chance to go home and enjoy Christmas with their family, and I think that’s very important. We’ll come back Thursday just like a normal Thursday and continue to our game plan. All we basically do is the coaches get their game plan 24 hours earlier, players come in on Tuesday instead of Wednesday, and full preparation for the week.”
On the season wide receiver Pierre Garçon is having:
“Anytime you put up the type of numbers Pierre has, it really says a lot about a lot of people, not just Pierre but the supporting cast as well. I’ve been really pleased with how he’s handled himself, how hard he works. You could see a year ago when he did play he was the difference in us winning and losing. When he did come back, you could tell we were a different type of offensive football team and this year is no exception.”
On if he feels Garçon has proven he deserved his contract:
“I sure think so.”
On if he addressed his future with the players this week or at all:
“No. Same thing we’ve been talking about since Day 1 — all of those things you address at the end of the season after the season is over with.”
On the health of linebacker Brian Orakpo:
“He’s limited today. I know we don’t have to talk about it until tomorrow and we’ve got DY [fullback Darrel Young] was full and [linebacker] Ryan Kerrigan was full. That doesn’t have to be reported until tomorrow but that’s what we’ll do tomorrow, so you guys get that information a little bit earlier.”
On safety Brandon Meriweather’s absence:
“It was personal, but it wasn’t related to injury.”
On the roster move made today:
“Yeah, [linebacker Will] Compton is coming on for [linebacker] Nick Barnett, and we haven’t made a decision for [tight end] Jordan Reed’s [roster spot] yet, what direction we’re going to go. We’ve got a couple of options and we’ll have somebody in here on Thursday but we plan on making a move… It could be later on today or it could be Thursday morning.”
On signing tight end Gabe Miller to the practice squad:
“Brought him on the practice squad. He’s a tight end. We’ll get a chance to look at him. He’ll play linebacker as well. A couple of days on our football team, but a guy that [Director of Pro Personnel] Morocco Brown recommended and hopefully he’ll show us something in the next couple of days.”
On his relationship with Executive Vice President/General Manager Bruce Allen:
“I’ve always had a great relationship with Bruce. Bruce has done all of the different contracts and personnel moves, and it’s been nice not having to really deal in that area because of his expertise — knowing agents, knowing what’s in the best interest for the organization with the salary cap, things along those lines.”
On the injury to linebacker Ryan Kerrigan:
“It was his wrist. It was just sore. He still was full [participation].”
On his favorite Christmas memory:
“Great question… We’ll just talk about this year, but there’s so many different things as you look back in the past. Anytime I think about Christmas, you think about spending time with your kids. My situation tomorrow will be six grandkids – I’ve got three on Kyle’s side, three on my daughter’s side. We’ve got identical twin boys that [are] a year old. Their son is also two-and-a-half, so three boys on one side. I’ve got Stella, who is six-years-old and I’ve got Carter, who is about three-and-a-half and we’ve got another girl named Lexi, she’s right around two or a year-and-a-half. So it’s fun. It’s a very busy Christmas Day and you always look forward to it.”
On if he had a sense of how serious Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo’s injury was during the game:
“No, I had no idea. In fact, I thought it was his ankle from the way he was moving.”
On if it annoyed him that Romo’s back issues were not disclosed on the injury report prior to the game:
“The only thing that annoyed me was the play he made at the end of the game.”
Quarterback Kirk Cousins
On his performance vs. Dallas:
“Similar to my thoughts after the Atlanta game, that there are probably two or three throws that you want to have back and you feel like if you even hit one of them it could be the difference in the game in a game that was that close. Unfortunately, I can’t get them back but it’s encouraging to think you’re that close to playing at a level that’s going to get your team a win, but I’m learning, I’m getting better, I’m putting those things away, and I’m trusting in the future that those are going to help me have success having gone through those experiences.”
On what he feels he’s shown in these two starts:
“I feel like I’ve improved. I’ve done some good things. I feel like there’s a lot I can take from it and be encouraged about going into the offseason. Obviously, I want to still finish strong and show even more this week, but I think there’s a lot to be feeling positive about and there are other things to be hard on yourself and go back and learn from. I think I’m in a good spot right now. Obviously we would have liked to have those be wins but we’re two points away from being 2-0 in this three-game stretch and hopefully we can get a win this week.”
On if he played more conservatively after committing three turnovers in Atlanta:
“I don’t think so. I think I was still letting it rip and trying to go where my reads took me. It’s important to cut down on turnovers. If you throw an interception in every game the entire season, you’re going to lead the league in terms of having the lowest number of interceptions, only throwing 16, so you’re going to turn the ball over here and there. That’s part of playing fast and aggressive, but obviously you don’t want to have the multi-turnover games and I’m going to cut down on those as I continue to play.”
On why he has been able to avoid being sacked:
“I’ve always said that a quarterback is only as good as the guys around him and I feel like our offensive line has done an outstanding job of protecting me, not turning guys lose. If you look at me I’m not the kind of guy who’s going to have escapability when somebody gets turned loose, so I’m at their mercy a little bit. They’ve done a great job. Then also [Offensive Coordinator] Kyle Shanahan has done a great job of play-calling to put me in a position to be successful where I’m able to get rid of the football and I’m able to find an outlet. It’s on me to not take sacks and I think the guys around me have done a great job of putting me in a good position.”
On how many of wide receiver Pierre Garçon’s targets were part of the game plan compared to where his read took him:
“To be honest with you, I wasn’t trying to get him the ball any more than I normally would be with any other receiver. I feel that our game plan is going to be to put our best players in a position to be successful, so Kyle is doing a good job of getting Pierre in a position to have success and I’m going where my reads are taking me. For whatever reason against Dallas, a lot of times that ended up being number 88, but there wasn’t really a conscious effort. It’s just the way it happened and the way that the play-calling and the formation alignments and the motions and the coverages dictated where the ball went.”
On if the uncertainty of the offseason makes the final game any more difficult to prepare for:
“There’s a different feeling to this game than there was at the end of last season or earlier in this season because you don’t know what that locker room is going to look like in April, and as a part of the NFL you understand that uncertainty and a lot of turnover is a part of playing in this league. So it’s not surprising, but it is a part of this game and we understand that the locker room make look a little different in April or next August. I think we’ve enjoyed one another. We’ve had good chemistry despite the lack of wins. I think we all want to put together a final product in this last game that we can be proud of.”
On Kyle Shanahan’s best trait as a coordinator:
“He does a very good job of in-game adjustments on game day. I think he does a very good job with the passing game and putting me as a quarterback in a position to be successful. He does a very good job with the receivers in splits and motions. I just have total faith and confidence in him to put me in a position to be successful and I feel like he’s done that every time I’ve had a chance to play here as a part of the Redskins. He’s the kind of guy that I think very highly of as an offensive coordinator, and if I get to play for Kyle or someone like Kyle at his level of a play-caller for the rest of my career, I’ll be in very good shape. So I think the world of him and Coach [Mike] Shanahan, and I think, like I said, I’ll be very successful if I get to play for a play-caller like them.”
New York Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin
On how he keeps his team focused late in the season:
“It’s a challenge week-to-week. Naturally, the opposition, but it’s more than that – it’s a deeper sense of pride. People want to tell you that you don’t have anything to play for but they’re full of – they don’t know what they’re talking about. You have everything to play for because obviously the scrutiny is very much involved and the powers to be are evaluating your every move. The other thing that I think is important from my standpoint is we’ve been in a couple of celebratory locker rooms after Super Bowls. Well, how’s it going to look if some of these guys were with us in the good times and it’s not so good right now? How are we going to act? What is our statement about who we are? And what kind of example are we for the young people? So I think pride is very important. The character of a man shows up in circumstances like this. You do get stronger in adversity and we certainly are in it. The key thing in all philosophical discussions is about effort, it’s about giving what you have. It’s about remembering that you do have a responsibility and that you are accountable to your teammates and the franchise you play for. There’s no lines of distinction. We have a game to play and we expect to play as hard as we possibly can. And I think most everybody in the room agrees on those kinds of things, it’s just that sometimes it doesn’t look like that on the other end.”
On if he still has a passion for coaching after a season like this:
“Sure – absolutely. I mean, probably even more because there are a lot of those that are telling you that you didn’t do very well and you’re not a very good coach and you’re not this and you’re not that, so perhaps you have something to prove.”
On what he’s seen from quarterback Kirk Cousins:
“I think he obviously has a very strong arm. They certainly have given him – [Executive Vice President/Head Coach] Mike [Shanahan] and his staff have given him – a tremendous amount of flexibility within their offensive scheme. They feature a lot of personnel combinations, formations and they move the quarterback. They have an outstanding running game to help him in his play-action. So I see a guy who has competed like heck, he’s made a lot of plays and has gotten his team in position to win a couple of games here. The unfortunate nature of our business is sometimes time runs out on you.”
On the importance of organizations having patience with its coaches and players:
“Well, these are loaded questions. I can imagine that the media is behind some of this stuff. How important is it? It’s very important. It’s very important from the standpoint of the continuity factor. When I first came to the New York Giants as an assistant coach, I was extremely impressed by the philosophical feeling that [former Giants General Manager] George Young and [Giants Co-Owners] Mr. [Wellington] Mara and Mr. [Bob] Tisch had about being able to put people in positions to do their job and support them. Once the winning started or whatever, it became a real part of the tradition of the franchise. I think it’s very important. The continuity is very important.”
On what makes wide receiver Pierre Garçon so special:
“Big, strong athlete. He has tremendous run after the catch ability – big play potential. He can be used in any number of ways. He’s courageous in going inside. He’ll block. He’s having an outstanding year.”
New York Giants Defensive End Justin Tuck
On his motivation going into the last game of the season:
“To win the game, like it is always.”
On facing a quarterback with a quick release, such as Kirk Cousins, compared to a mobile quarterback:
“We’ve got a lot of practice against quarterbacks like him, guys that are very – they understand what the defense wants to see with him pre-snap. Like you said, he gets the ball – most of the time, he already knows where those one or two guys are going to be, getting the ball out of his hands quickly. It makes it tough to get pressure on guys like that. All it really takes for a pass rush – it can’t take the pass rush out of the game. A lot of times with mobile quarterbacks, they at least give you time to get to them. Once you get there, that’s a different story, but at least they give you time to get there. It’s a challenge, but I feel like we’ll be up for the challenge.”
On how running back Alfred Morris has developed in his first two NFL seasons:
“I don’t know if develop is the right word. It seems like when he came in, he was developed. He took the league by storm last year and he’s continued to do the same this year. He’s a very difficult back to play against because of – one, because of scheme, but two, also because he’s one of these guys that it’s hard to bring him down once you get your hands on him. A lot of his yards are after-contact-type runs and he’s got great vision, great balance and he makes it very difficult for a defense.”
On who he expects will win the NFC East:
“I don’t know. I think it shifts dramatically with now, I guess, [Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony] Romo’s not going to play. Obviously, that gives the Eagles an advantage, but it’s one of those games where anything can happen. You never know, in this division especially. Two teams that know that [it’s] win and go home, lose and go home. I expect both teams to pull out all stops. I think it’s going to be a pretty good football game, but I probably give the Eagles the advantage just because of the Romo injury.”
On if he is looking forward to the 2013 season being over or looking ahead to the 2014 season:
“I’m looking ahead. Anytime you go into a season like this, you always take time out at the end of the year to go over the goods, the bads and the ugly. I’m looking forward to getting back to the top of the heap. We haven’t – this will be two years in a row for us where we haven’t made the playoffs. It’s just something that you don’t want to get used to. You have to shift your focus to thinking about what next year can be because obviously this year is kind of a lost cause. Again, we’ve got one more game to go and we’re going to go out there and play it just as if we were a playoff team and needed the win.”