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HEAD COACH MIKE MUNCHAK
(on why the third preseason game is the one that the starters play longest)
It used to be the fourth, but I think over time it became the third because moving the game up to Thursday. We play Thursday with the thinking of giving these guys some rest especially if you have injuries so they have plenty of time to play in the opener. Back when I played it was the fourth game, now for the last 10 years it's seems like it's been moved up to the third game. It's just a progression, in the first game it was obviously 15 to 20 plays, the second game maybe to halftime, third game into the third quarter and we will probably stick with that routine this year.
(on if that makes the third game an important one to have a great showing even though it's the preseason)
Well sure, I think you want to play well anytime you play but definitely in the third one where you are playing a little bit longer and you like to see the guys have some success. It's still not a game week. It's still a little bit different than when we start with Jacksonville and the Ravens and so on, but of course you want to go out there and play well.
(on if he is going to hold Kenny Britt out of the game on Saturday night )
I think we will because it will be a short week. Rather than have him play this one and then come back and play again in five days, we would rather just let him play a little longer in that fourth one. That will give him 10 days after that game to hopefully get everything behind him and be at full strength at the beginning of the season.
(on if the quad injury is almost behind him or getting close )
I think so, I think that the end of last week was more about frustration for him. When you come into camp and have the injury with the hamstring and deal with that then have the other quad thing happen so I think he is feeling good, feeling positive, and knowing that he is real close now.
(on if he is going to hold Javon Ringer out of Saturday's game)
We probably will, I imagine that we will unfortunately have to hold him until the Thursday game.
(on if that is a frustrating situation )
Well it is because like I mentioned in that third game you like to have everyone in there that you feel is going to have to contribute in Jacksonville for the opener, but again, we still have quite a bit of time for guys that do have some nicks to recover. All of these guys should be available for that game and then they should be available to finish up for the Saints game. You hope to have more guys be ready, but the good thing is knowing that when the time comes they will be ready.
(on if it hurts Javon Ringer to be missing these reps)
Well I think it would be nice to have the reps. If he is back for the game next week, if he is feeling better by the beginning of next week then I think he will be fine. He has had a good camp up until the injury. He has been running hard and we feel very confident with him in there. He understands protections very well. I know it's frustrating for him with the two games he missed, but if he can come back for the Saints game and run well and have some carries I think that's enough to have him ready for Jacksonville.
(on if the injury was more severe than originally expected)
Probably a tad more than I thought. Those injuries are sometimes hard to tell initially, how you are going to respond. So many players respond differently when it's not necessarily a tare or the obviously injury, with an ankle or hip or back sometimes it's hard to tell how certain people are going to react and unfortunately he's taking a little bit longer than they thought.
(on if David Stewart and Barrett Ruud will play this Saturday)
I think David Stewart will go ahead and start and play. I think he is anxious and offensive linemen often times need the reps so I think he is looking forward to playing and I'm sure he will play quite a bit. (Barrett) Rudd is the same thing and I think he is anxious to play and be part of the defense. So I think the thinking now is unless he has a setback, which we don't anticipate, he should be able to go out there and play on Saturday night also.
(on if there is anyone else ruled out of the game)
Obviously (Troy) Kropog will not play. Jason Jones will not play, but the thing about Jason is it's looking pretty good. For example, here is a knee that some people label three to so many weeks, and all of the sudden he is doing real well and will have a great chance to play in Jacksonville so that's a positive. (Derrick) Morgan probably won't play also, so there is another one.
(on any further update on Derrick Morgan)
No it's just the same thing, it's like he goes through as much as he did in camp without having really any setbacks and then really in this game, about four or five plays in felt a little uncomfortable and just not quite where he wants to be yet so it's some confidence along with having a little soreness there and it's just something that you have to be careful with.
