The Birds got in their Friday workout and Andy Reid just completed his Friday afternoon news conference. There was good news about the guys who were banged up and nursing injuries. Everybody's ready to go. Here's what Andy had to say.
Head Coach Andy Reid Press Conference
9/7/07
Injuries:
“All these players are probable for the game: [G] Shawn Andrews, [QB] A.J. Feeley, [DE] Jevon Kearse, [DT] LaJuan Ramsey and [TE] L.J. Smith. Again, we look forward to that opportunity to go up to Green Bay tomorrow and have the opportunity to play them on Sunday. We know what kind of football team they are. We’re preparing ourselves to, obviously, play a good football team and do it for four quarters.”
On the plan for punt return and kick return:
“I’m not going to mention anything until the game. It’s the three guys that I talked about, you just put [S] J.R. [Reed] into the mix with the other ones and then I’ll decide when it comes that time.”
On how much Reed has shown him in his first week of practice:
“He’s done a nice job. It looks like he’s moving around better than the last time he was here. I know he’s mentioned to you he has a different brace, a little smaller brace. It looks like it really works for him. I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen.”
On the difference in the Packers defense and how they have gone from the bottom to the top:
“They made some moves that I think freed up the coverages that they could play. [DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila] KGB had been their defensive end, and he’s a great pass rusher. They needed somebody that has a little bit more stout against the run. When KGB’s in there they felt like they had to roll the coverage to his side to help stop the run, now they don’t have to do that. It’s freed up some of the things they can do in the secondary and with their linebackers. They’re really playing good football defensively.”
On whether he gets excited for opening day at this point in his career:
“I really don’t. I’m excited to get the season started, but you’re so caught up in the play-by-play action that takes place, that you can’t let your emotions go like maybe a fan can. That’s one of the neat things for the fan, that they can cut it loose. As a coach and player, you’ve got to really stay focused for one play at a time, and do it 60 to 65 times a game.”
On whether he can feel the intensity level raise going from the preseason into the regular season:
“You feel that going from the preseason to the regular season; you do. It’s important that the urgency level does go up, and that you focus in that much closer than you did in preseason games.”
On how DE Jevon Kearse was limited in practice this week:
“He did everything today. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t do today. He had a couple of tweaks yesterday with his shoulder, but he looked like he was fine today moving around. He said it was quite a bit better, even yesterday, but we limited things. We wanted to make sure we had no setbacks, and I think we came out that way.”
On whether he enjoys returning to Green Bay where his coaching career started:
“I’ve got a lot of friends up there, and I sure have fond memories of working for the Packers. It’s a great organization. However, I don’t really think they’re happy to see us come up there, and I’m part of ‘us,’ so, I think it’s all about business right now. You go in and play the game, and put all the emotional highs that you had there on the backburner. You save those for vacation time. This thing’s for a football game.”
On whether he’s looked at trends from the history of Eagles opening day games:
“I think we all, starting with me, need to do a little better, and make sure we’re all focused, but yet playing as tense as you can, but as relaxed as you can; get in the flow as quick as you can. You saw the game last night, and it was a little bit that way with the two teams that kicked the season off. I think if you looked around the league, you’d see that, that things initially aren’t quite as smooth as they are as the game goes on. So, it’s important that you make it as smooth as you can make it.”
On whether QB A.J. Feeley will be the # 2 quarterback:
“We’ll see. Again, I haven’t made that decision either. We’ll see how he does here. It’s too early with him right now.”
On what his ideal run-pass ratio would be:
“I don’t do that. I know that this offense is the best when it’s as close to 60-40 or 50-50 as you can get it. I also know that, through studies that I’ve done, with a number of Super Bowl winners, that really doesn’t matter as you go through there. You guys might take your time to do a little homework on that.”
On DT Montae Reagor’s progress:
“I think Montae has fit in nicely there on the third down situations. It gives [DT Mike] Patterson an opportunity to get off the field and get a blow, and [DT Brodrick Bunkley] to get a blow. Again, we’ll see how he does in this game. He’s played in a lot of football games, so he knows what it takes to be in there and to rev it up.”
On whether he thinks TE Brent Celek will be able to see action in the game against Green Bay:
“Yes, Brent will.”
On whether QB A.J. Feeley has had any setbacks with his hand injury:
“No. Obviously, there is a little swelling there from the surgery, and it’s just a matter of that settling down. We’ll see how he does by the time we get to game day.”
On whether he worries about the young guys who are playing in their first game:
“No, I think Brent knows that. He knows what he has to do there. The main thing I have to talk to them about is their role. I want to make sure that’s clarified to them. So, whether it’s [RB] Tony Hunt, or Brent, they’ve got to know exactly what they’re going to be asked to do, and then go do it, and not worry about any of the other things.”
On whether he pays extra attention to the positions that have been in flux:
“We have, even during training camp. You do that every year. There’s always change in the National Football League. You make sure that you try to work as many wrinkles out as you can before you kick this thing off. We’ve tried to do that at different spots.”
On whether he remembers anything about his first game as an assistant coach in the NFL:
“I don’t. Maybe that’s a good thing.”
