Andy Reid talked to the media yesterday and talked about his football team and their efforts in the Dallas game. As usual the news conference was very strained but the media members did a good job asking the appropiate questions.
Head Coach Andy Reid Press Conference
11/5/07
Injuries:
“[S] Sean Considine will have an MRI today on his shoulder sprain. We’ll have more information on that later. [T] Jon Runyan, with his glute contusion, is still sore. And, [CB] Lito Sheppard came out of the game with an MCL sprain. He did have an MRI on that. It looks like it’s normal, he just has some soreness there.”
Opening Remarks:
“Obviously, the Dallas Cowboys played a better football game than we did yesterday. I thought they outcoached us and I thought they outplayed us. We needed to do a better job there. The only thing that you can do is you can get in and get started out. The players are in today and they are going about that. The players are obviously upset about the game, as the coaches are. They’ll work very hard this week in preparation for the Redskins. It’s obviously a one-game-at-a-time approach. It’s important that we go about our business that way. There’s a lot of season left here and it’s important that we have an urgency and continue to put maximum effort into each game here, starting with the Redskins. I thought the effort of the players was good. I thought we were out of position in certain areas. And then, I thought turnovers were a factor. We had two turnovers in the first half that led to scores. Then, we also had the failed third-and-one offensively, that was a problem. Third downs, I thought were also a problem. They converted on 67% of their third downs and we converted on 40% of ours. We had been up around that 50% mark and that’s where you need to be. They outdid us in both of those categories.”
On whether a change in quarterback could help:
“No.”
On whether major changes are needed:
“Here’s what I think: I think everybody needs to pick up their game, all the way around. I’m talking about coaches and players, everybody do their job a little bit better. It’s easy to point the finger at one guy. But, I don’t think that’s where we’re at right now.”
On what he and QB Donovan McNabb talked about after the game last night:
“We just rehashed a couple things there after the game. We talked a little about going forward this week and how important it was to do the things that we talked about right here.”
On what aspect of the game there is that they can build on:
“We’re good up to the 20-yard line, in the run and the pass game. We get to the 20-yard line and we’re not pushing it in the way we need to push it in on a consistent basis. The other thing to add in that, is when you’re playing teams in the National Football League, you’ve got to eliminate penalties and you’ve got to eliminate turnovers. Up to the 20-yard line, we’re gaining a lot of yardage. It’s important you finish the product, though.”
On whether he understands why there are questions about McNabb’s effectiveness:
“Yeah, well there have been a few drops and there’s been some pressure. There have been some other things involved there, too. I’m not saying that there aren’t plays Donovan wouldn’t like to have back. I’m not saying that. I think everybody’s had a little piece of that pie.”
On whether a change in quarterbacks will spark the team:
“I think I just answered that. I think we’re good right here.”
On whether he talked to DT LaJuan Ramsey after his late hit:
“I did, yeah.”
On whether hits like Ramsey’s are unacceptable:
“I went and I’ve gone back and looked at it. I said something to him on the field, and I’ve gone back and looked at it on film. The thing he was doing was he was trying hard to get to that spot and get there fast. He tried to make something happen. He ended up being late by a tick and you can’t do that. You can’t do that part, but his effort, at least he was trying to get there and hustle and be part of that play.”
On whether there is a point they reach where they want something to happen but the pieces just aren’t there:
“We’ve got to execute better. That’s what we’ve got to do. The effort was there, but we’ve got to make sure we call the right plays and then when the plays are called you execute properly.”
On whether they have the players to execute:
“I think we have the players to do that. The positive that you can take out of this is that we’re getting guys back on the field [that were injured]. Even though they’ve only played a game or two they are going to continue to get better and get themselves into game shape and make us a better football team down the road here.”
On whether he is concerned that the players give effort but there is no payoff yet:
“Like I said, we’ve got to go back and we’ve got to make sure that we take care of the execution and the schemes. And again, as coaches, that we’re putting them in the right positions.”
On whether they wanted to throw the ball downfield more and why it didn’t happen:
“We attempted to do it. We had a little pressure on a couple and they had good coverage on a couple. They played a lot of cover-4 against us and played very soft with their safeties. So, we needed to make sure we caught the ball underneath and ran after the catch and those types of things.”
On how concerned he is about CB Lito Sheppard:
“I think Lito’s going to be okay.”
On whether McNabb’s turnovers last night are related to his injury:
“The fumble, obviously, you’ve got to keep two hands on the ball when you’re in the pocket. If you can get rid of it you get rid of it, if not you take off and go. The primary thing there is you keep two hands on the ball. I don’t think that has anything to do with the injury. Then, the interception, he tried to squeeze one in there. He had a couple guys on him. I don’t think that has anything to do with the injury.”
On whether there will be a point that they have to consider significant changes:
“We’ll see how things go here. I’m not going to put that out publicly. But, I’ll look at all that stuff. I’ll do what I have to do when that time comes.”
On what the difference is this year compared to years past on why they haven’t been able to execute despite their injury problems:
“Well, we haven’t done it. That’s probably the key there. It hasn’t taken place. We haven’t made the plays where we needed to make the plays.”
On whether he is 100% sure, barring injuries, that McNabb will be the Eagles quarterback for the rest of the season:
“Yeah, that’s where I’m looking at things. Again, nothing is guaranteed in things. That’s how I’m looking at it, yes.”
On whether Runyan’s injury will infringe on his playing time or if he will keep playing:
“He’s doing okay. He’s getting better. He’s trying to fight through this thing and hopefully we can get a little practice time in this week.”
On whether the Eagles offensive line matched up with the Cowboys defensive line:
“Well, they did okay in the run game part of it. In the pass game, when we had to throw the football, when we were down by a couple touchdowns, three touchdowns at one point. Then, they got a little pressure. Up to that point, I thought the guys did a decent job.”
On whether this year is more perplexing than 2005 because they basically have all of their personnel on the field:
“I’ve said this from the get-go, it’s important that you stay as healthy as you possibly can. I don’t want to make excuses here because yesterday we got whooped, no matter how you cut it. But, from a continuity standpoint, you want to keep guys out there and practicing. I think that’s important, practicing together and playing together. We need to do better there. Hopefully, that takes place here down the stretch.”
On whether it is tough to figure out why they are losing:
“I said this last night, I think I know the problem. I think we need to just [win] back-to-back a couple games here. That’s what you need to do. And, get yourself on a roll here. Things can change quickly in the NFL but you’ve got to do it. I can’t sit up here and talk about it. The players can’t talk about it. You’ve got to go do it. We’ve done that in the past and that’s what we need to do now.”
On why they can’t duplicate the offensive firepower they had against Detroit:
“[Jokingly] I think it was the uniforms. That’s a hard thing to explain. Obviously, we’ve tried to duplicate that. Things worked out that day as they sometimes do in the NFL. We’ve got more of those days.”
On why there was a high number of defensive mistakes in this game:
“Those I don’t understand. You can’t have those. When good football teams play each other, mistakes will hurt you. You’ve got to make sure you do enough preparation there that those things don’t take place. I don’t have an answer for you other than you can’t have those mistakes. We’ve got to go back and make sure you go into the game knowing what exactly you’re supposed to do and being able to execute once you’re in there.”
On why the team has struggled in prime time games this season:
“Last night we played a good team and we didn’t play very well. Other than that, I’m not sure there are any other similarities. I can’t answer that.”
On the invitation he extended to Officer Cassidy’s family:
“Obviously, he left his son behind, John. That’s a tough situation for a young man to be in. He goes to Father Judge High School and he’s a lacrosse player. [I did it] just so he knew somebody was kind of in his corner there, when his father passed. I gave him an opportunity if he needed somebody to talk to, he could talk. It was no more than that.”
On the Cassidy family’s response to Coach Reid’s outreach:
“They were very kind. Actually, John, this shows what kind of kid he is, he was asking me if I was okay with my situation. But, he’s a good kid and he’s in a tough spot right now. But, he’s going to hang tough and be very strong for everybody around him.”
