HEAD COACH MIKE MUNCHAK
(on the first day of practice in the bubble all season)
Yeah, it is. It rained on us when we went out there, so we thought it'd be better to just come in and get a good work day, which we did.
(on the status of Michael Roos)
We're not going to play him, we're going to put him out. We're not going to take any risks or chances with that even though he's feeling pretty good. He probably needs a good week to rest, and then he'll be good next week.
(on how Mike Otto practiced this week)
Yeah, he's done well. Like I said, we're confident in him. He's comfortable. I know he hasn't played a lot, but he's not a rookie by any means. Like I said, he stepped in last year in a game we had to win here against Tampa and did a nice job. I think it's a great opportunity for him for a week, and I'm sure he'll do fine.
(on the fact that he didn't have many decisions to make on who he'll activate with the injuries)
We have a lot of injured guys, so yeah, this is that time of year. We hope that this is our one little stretch where we get over the hump here. A lot of these guys we'll have back next week, we should, so that's a good thing.
(on the status of Colin McCarthy)
He did well. He practiced in here. I think he's ready to roll on Sunday.
(on if they'll help Mike Otto out in the game)
Yeah, we would with any tackle. We would for (Michael) Roos. When you play against good football teams and good defensive ends with the ends they have, what Indianapolis has always had — obviously well known for (Robert) Mathis and (Dwight) Freeney. They're the kind of guys that can make big plays and change games, so you're always going to be aware of them and be smart with what you do. You're not going to help anyone all the time, but there will be times where maybe stuff that will take longer to develop, you'll be smart. He'll be fine. He's crafty and has been around the league for a while, so he knows what needs to be done. It'll be a challenge, no doubt, for all of them, not just him. He's the new guy, but they're all going to be under siege. It'll be a good challenge for the whole group.
(on if he's ever had a streak of consecutive starts like Michael Roos has)
I never had one that long, injuries, knees. (Bruce) Matthews, he did it. I think he did three times that, or a couple times that.
(on if a lot of pride goes with a streak that long)
Yeah, there is. It's not something you talk about. It's like one of those things where it's not talked about, but it's very prideful of what you do. For any player, and a lineman especially, to make it … Michael (Roos) has started from the day he walked in the door. You take that for granted when you have a guy like that, that you count on every week and has always been there. I don't think that guy missed a practice, very few practices in all that time too. I'm glad it's just a one-week thing, and it's not under his control. Believe me, if we let him make the decision, he'd be out there playing. That's the hard part. The bottom line is he wants to play and help us win. The side story is it is too bad it has to end a great streak he has going. Hopefully he'll give us six more years of missing no games. I wish this wouldn't interfere with that because it would have been nice to keep that going for him.
(on if Michael Roos has been improving throughout the week)
Yeah, he's been feeling fine. He's been sore, but that's one of those things where he may look good on the outside, but on the inside you just don't know. In a game like this, you're using a lot of force to stop the pass rush and do a lot of things. There is no reason to take a risk with him, even though I'm sure he'd love to. Players think they're invincible. I think he realizes this is a week he probably should just take off.
(on if he expects Pat Angerer to have more of an impact this week for the Colts)
He's been on their injury report. I know they're being cautious with him, probably watching how many plays he plays. A good football player, he's been playing well for them. Like I said, that whole group has done a nice job adjusting to the new defense. Sacrifice — I think (Dwight) Freeney and (Robert) Mathis have made adjustments to their game to do what's best for the team. You see that. It's going to be a great challenge for us. They're feeling pretty good about where they're at, 3-3. All the 3-3's and the 3-4's are all in this thing. It's a great opportunity for both teams to kind of distance themselves a little bit here.
(on how important it is to put the Colts under pressure early)
We'd like to. We know what that feels like. We dealt with that last week, and we were 0-3 on the road and hadn't played well. They had two rough games on the road. Obviously, we'd love to continue that for them and let them get out of it next week. We're just worried about ourselves and know that we have to come out as an offense and hopefully pick up where we left off last week with making plays and finishing drives and all the good things we did last week as an offense. Hopefully we can do that, which would obviously put them in a tougher spot.
