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(on Jared Cook's injury)*
He'll be alright.
(on if Jared Cook will play this week)
I haven't ruled him out for the game on Thursday night.
**
(on if anyone has looked at Jared Cook's injury)
He played well and made a lot of plays. He's got a sore foot so we put him in a boot. He's got a chance to play Thursday and if he's not ready to play we won't play him Thursday. He's not definitely out of the game on Thursday as of yet.
**
(on if Patrick Ramsey will play)
Yes, Pat will be fine.
(on why Ramsey didn't play vs. Cleveland)
I think it was best that we rested him, he'll be fine Thursday. He'll benefit from the rest, his ribs were sore.
(on the execution of the first team offense and defense)
We showed improvement from the previous week. We had tempo, we executed well, we communicated well and they did what we asked them to do considering we had a limited game plan. I was pleased to see that on both sides and the first couple coverage units did pretty well on the first couple kicks. Once we started subbing we had some breakdowns which you would expect. Last night was an example of two different clubs trying to accomplish two different things. Cleveland's trying to sort out their quarterback situation in which they've got two talented quarterbacks. They've got a defense that's in the first year in a new system, so they were understandably playing much longer than we did. We went in there to try and get quality reps for a team in the preseason game and we did. We subbed and the guys that did sub and faced their starters battled.
**
(on how Mark Jones performed)
He really didn't get an opportunity because of the uniqueness of the wind and the fact that most of his kicks were either touchbacks or squib-like kicks into the wind. He did have the one opportunity that we blocked pretty well. He had a good return and fumbled the ball.
(on if Mark Jones is the frontrunner for the kick returner)
No one has won that job yet. We're still going to evaluate this week and he'll be part of the evaluation. I don't have a depth chart, don't have a one, two or three. I'm going to continue to evaluate the returners this week.
(on if the returner is on the current roster)
Yes.
(on who will be looked at to return kicks)
The same that we've been looking at. (Jason) McCourty for kickoffs as well as Javon (Ringer).
(on Cary Williams' performance)
He was okay. He wasn't really challenged. What was good to see was his approach. He knew a day ahead of time that he was going to get a chance to start and he was focused. It wasn't too big, too fast or overwhelming to him. He played with poise.
(on if there is any contemplation to acquire a player from the wire for cornerback depth)
We're going to look at the wire for depth all over the roster. It really remains to be seen. There may be somebody that comes up on Tuesday at four o'clock, we just don't know.
(on if anyone else on the roster will get a shot on special teams returns)
As I answered your question, I think the returners are on our roster. Who returns for us for the opener that remains to be seen. To me, that's a strategic, confidential situation.
(on Cortland Finnegan playing the left cornerback position vs. Cleveland)
It's good for corners. Over time if you're not careful you get left-handed and right-handed and you get real comfortable. We wanted to get him over there to get the experience. It was good and it takes some time. As talented as he is, he still was not real comfortable over there. You could tell some of the technique things came up. He welcomed the challenge and welcomed the opportunity.
(on the short week to get ready for Green Bay)
This week's going to be a real challenge for us. A week from today we'll be "Wednesday" of a normal game week and we'll be installing our game plan a week from today. We've got a lot of things that we have to accomplish. First and foremost I think we need to rest. I've changed the schedule, I shared it with the players in the team meeting earlier. We're going to rest tomorrow. I had originally planned on practicing all three days. We're going to meet but were not going to do much of anything on the field just to try to get the legs back. That would include the starters legs back in preparation for the opener and also the players that are going to play an extensive amount of play time this week on Thursday night.
(on how to make sure the players stay fresh during the short week)
We'll adjust practice this week so they're getting enough work. There's a difference between going out and conditioning and lifting and resting your body. You need to condition, you need to lift, we need the explosive activity, but we don't need the pounding. Most importantly we need to recover and we're going to use today and tomorrow to recover, we'll rally and get through this ball game, play to win it. As you know Friday is a challenge for us because Friday and Saturday are cut-downs. Saturday is a day off and Sunday morning we have the practice squad back and we'll be in a Wednesday game week.
**
(on roster cuts)
No the cuts don't get easier. That's always a difficult time for all coaches. That's not easy. This is a challenge for us because this is the first time that we've played Thursday and then opened on a Thursday night. This is a unique challenge for us.
(on how long the starters will play vs. Green Bay)
Typically speaking, as you know we've had four preseason games. We've played our starters longer in the fourth and final preseason game, that's not going to be the case. This is the fifth and we don't have the extra three days to prepare. They will not be in the game through halftime and the third quarter.
(on if Kerry Collins will start vs. Green Bay)
I don't think there's anybody that I'll intentionally hold out unless they can't play because of injury. Right now I expect to play everybody this week.
(on if the players returning from injury will play longer vs. Green Bay)
There's going to be a few players that are going to play a little bit more than the starters just because they've been out. That could include Kevin Mawae for example, Dave Stewart if he's able to come back.
(on Vince Young's two turnovers)
I thought Vince overall had a solid game with those two exceptions. He was focused and he was accurate and he was timely, did a nice job on the line of scrimmage, and managed the two-minute drill. The first interception you shouldn't throw, he's got someone in his face and he came around and the route wasn't particularly perfect. I think he could have gotten some help off the route but it happened and he bounced right back. Second one, I can't blame him for trying to make a play. I would like to think that in a regular season game right before half that he would throw the ball away. He saw the gap, saw the opening and tried to make something happen.
(on if he was disappointed Vince Young didn't dive for the end zone)
Not necessarily. When you're talking about a quarterback's durability and injury rate factors and things like that, like I said, if it was a regular season game I think he would have gone up over the top and went in the end zone.
(on whether Vince Young has earned the backup quarterback job this preseason)
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He has always been our number two quarterback. He'll remain that. He has done a nice job most of the time on the field in the games as well as on the practice field. The stuff that we asked him to do in the ball game, I thought he did a good job with that.
(on how much Patrick Ramsey challenged Young for the backup job)
**
No. Pat has done some real good things in ball games and on the practice field as well. We are fortunate that we have three good quarterbacks. I think Pat can play in this league.
(on possibly keeping three quarterbacks)
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We have a lot of roster decisions to make and all the numbers affect the other numbers.
**
(on if he would be more comfortable keeping three)
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I would be more comfortable with four.
(on Quinton Ganther's performance)
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His big plays came as a result of pass receptions. He had a couple good runs, but he can do those things. He catches the ball and turns up field and can do things against their starters. The first catch and run was pretty impressive.
(on if Chris Henry got banged up)
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He returned.
(on Vince Young's strong performance after throwing the interception)
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That is one of the things that is part of the learning experience. That is part of playing the position over and over again. I think in the past he has struggled with an interception. He came right back and we told him we are going to come right back and put it up and go ahead and put a drive together. It was okay. He's taking responsibility for things. He knows the position is not an easy position to play and there are going to be some negative plays, but you have to move on.
(on how he would rate Young's offseason)
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Again what we asked him to do and what I hoped he would do is have fun, learn, study, apply himself and that is what he has done. He has come to work every day ready to go and ready to get better. That is what gives you a chance.
(on how much he thinks it helped with Young at the facility during the offseason)
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Clearly the more time you put in here, the better off you are especially when you are in a new system. Mike's [Heimerdinger] first year is always a challenge year for most quarterbacks.
(on comparing a player based on his salary)
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Salary numbers are not an issue. We are going to play the best players regardless of what they are getting paid. That is what we do. You hope that your better players make a little bit more money than the less qualified players, but salary is not an issue as far as comparison or analysis is concerned.
(on Kevin Mawae's performance)
**
He was good. He had the one late snap. He was making an adjustment and communicating and was a little late and we false started. He had the one penalty which was kind of questionable but other than that he made some good plays on the second level and ran and pulled and pass protected. He was good.
(on Mawae's availability for the opener)
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It is a short week. We have to see. A lot has happened with Kevin the last couple days, so we will see how he bounces back after play and as I mentioned he will probably play a little bit more than the rest of his teammates.
(on the dropped snap by Kerry Collins)
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It wasn't as errant as some of the other snaps we have had.
(on having two pass receiving tight ends, Jared Cook and Bo Scaife, on the field together)
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We are trying to get players different looks and different opportunities to do different things. That is why you saw them both on the field.
(on Kenny Britt's performance)
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Kenny went out and played and did what he was supposed to do. He made a nice catch and didn't have a lot of opportunities, but did what he was supposed to do.
(on how Nate Washington's rehab is going)
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I am pretty familiar with how his rehab is going.
(on if he is encouraged)
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Yes.
(on if Washington is going to practice this week)
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Probably not.
(on Ryan Mouton's progress)
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He is coming along as well.
(on the blocked field goal)
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We got lazy. We got high and allowed a lot of penetration. It is one of those things that is better to have happen in a preseason game rather than a regular season game.
(on if the Packers provide anything for them to work on)
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They have a new defensive scheme, a very talented defensive group, exceptional linebackers. They are plus 10 in three games in giveaway/takeaways right now. They are getting the ball and are over 50 percent on third down on offense. They have it going. I'm kind of hoping their starters, at least Aaron [Rodgers], plays the same amount of plays that they played against us in last year's game and that was one. He threw a touchdown pass to start the game and went and stood on the sideline. They are a good team.
(on Dom Capers)
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He is a really, really good defensive coach.
(on if they will make their first round of cuts on Tuesday)
**
Yes.
(on when they will make their final cuts)
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We will turn them in when everybody else turns them in.
(on the Albert Haynesworth sack on Tom Brady in comparison to the Kevin Vickerson hit and fine earlier in the preseason)
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I just saw a glimpse of it, but I haven't had an opportunity to look at the coach's tape and slow it down. But I will remind you that even though the player is not penalized on the field, he is still subject to fine if the league office feels that there was some kind of violation.
