FavreToWalker
09-10-2004, 02:08 PM
Q: This is a brand new year. How do you feel about your club this year?
A: Very excited. I'm very excited about the club this year for the simple fact that we came into training camp with some new faces on the defensive side of the ball. Offensively we brought everyone back. We brought in Marcus Robinson on the other side of Randy [Moss]. Why wouldn't I be excited about what we have?
Q: The schedule makers didn't do you any favors opening against Dallas and then going to Philadelphia.
A: It's all about how you look at it. It's a great opportunity. It's a great opportunity for us because it's 2 tough games for us to start off the season. But we wouldn't want it any other way. It's going to be a tough season, so why not get started with 2 tough games?
Q: What is it about Dallas' defense that makes them such a difficult match-up for you?
A: They're coming off [last season] being the number 1 defense. That's a good reason. They do a lot of great things. They rush the passer very well. They stop the run. They cover the receivers very well down the field. They have some guys on their defense, Roy Williams being one, La'Roi Glover. Those guys are big play guys. So when you put those things together you're going to have a pretty good defense.
Q: You seem to want to run a little more and you are a little more willing to run this year. Does that help?
A: Yeah. I'm going to take [it]. If they want to play man-to-man and give me some running lanes to run in then I'm going to do that. I'm going to be aggressive with it and make sure it's the right time to do it. When it's not there I'll sit in the pocket and make my reads and do what I'm supposed to do with the football.
Q: Is this the most confident you've been with yourself and your team coming out of training camp?
A: Yes. I have to say so for the simple fact that we've worked very hard and we've been executing a high number of our plays. Confidence is going to come with that. When you do the hard work and take care of your business you're going to have confidence.
Q: You've had a very solid pre-season but are you ready for the games to count?
A: Absolutely, it's a new year. I think this is our year. The Minnesota Vikings, it's time for us to step up and go get what we want and that's to be World Champions. So I'm extremely excited for the season.
Q: Compared to other years why is this year exciting you so much?
A: Because it's a new year. I think we have the fire power to do that. You want to go out and do your best and be the best you can everyday. But when you have fire power like we have and players like we have. We just have to go out and do it. Everyone should be feeling the same excitement I'm feeling. As far as our team goes, everyone should be feeling real good and willing to get what we want.
Q: Again about the Dallas defense. Is there any particular formation that excites you more than the others?
A: Watching those guys on film they're just good all over the board. All 11 guys on defense at one point or another make plays. We have to be very focused when we step on the field Sunday against these guys.
Q: When you see Vinny Testaverde at 40 years old still a quarterback in this league. Do you see yourself being a quarterback when you're that age?
A: I don't know. I'm not even 30 [years old] yet. That's a blessing to be able to play this game that we all love until you're 40 years old. That's truly a blessing. My hat goes off to him for just being able to stick with it and enduring through all the tough times and the good times too. That's a tribute to him for being able to take care of himself and just be the great player he is for a number of years.
Q: Speaking of 40 year old players. You just picked up a guy that is old enough to be your grandfather [Morten Andersen]. How can that situation settle especially with the fact that this guy beat the Vikings a few years ago in the playoffs?
A: That's how this business is. As far as Morten Andersen, I think he is one, if not the all-time greatest at his position at the pro level. I'm just delighted to have him on the team. I think he's almost a gimmie inside of 40 yards. With our offense, we're going to be looking forward to him knocking a few through for us throughout the course of the season.
Q: Was there a little bit of a worry about that situation prior to Morten coming here?
A: No. I don't worry about it because it's not my job. But at the same time it feels good to know his background and know what he's done in his past. But with any kicker I'm going to be positive with him and I feel they're going to go out there and do what they're supposed to do.
Q: Are you 100% healthy?
A: As far as I can think, right now I'm 100% healthy. I feel really good and hopefully I can keep it like that all year.
Q: The NFC North is nicknamed the black and blue division. As a quarterback, does that excite you to play in it?
A: It's just exciting for me to go out and play football everyday. It's exciting to go get prepared and go through the preparation of getting ready for a football game. A lot of people don't know what goes into that. Just the excitement of that is a lot for me. To go out there and compete, that's the best part about it all, just compete. I love it.
Q: You've always had good pre-seasons. Is there a difference now in your mind that you're more prepared for adversity, where as earlier in your career you couldn't let go of it?
A: For the most part you want to go out there and execute every play. Every play that we call we want it to work. But if it doesn't work or if something goes bad, the way I am now, I just brush it off. I have to think about the next play. You know you say that before but now I really feel that. I feel now if something bad happens it's a part of the game. What good players do and what I learned at a young age. Good players don't make the same mistake twice. Smart players don't do that either. So I just want to make sure I'm a smart and good player throughout the course of this year.
Q: You've told yourself that you need to just brush it off. What have you actually did? Was it last year that you've really started putting things together?
A: I would say for the most part it happened to me last year. It comes with maturity. It comes with the repetitions and running the offense a lot.
Q: About the new rule of no contact on the wide receivers. How much easier is that going to make it for you and Randy to know the Defensive Back's [DB's] aren't going to be holding down the field? And is that going to make a difference?
A: I think it will, because this game is very physical and DB's play a very physical at this level. So if guys can't put there hands on Randy or Kelly [Campbell] or Nate [Burleson] or Robinson or guys like that down the field. It's going to be tougher for them to cover them. Hopefully we can have some more big plays.
Q: Doesn't that mean they're just going to come after the quarterback harder?
A: Hey, that's part of the game. Let them do it. Then they have to cover Randy one-on-one. That's their choice.
Q: As a team do you think the pre-season went pretty well to the point you're ready to open the regular season. Is there anything that you feel you're lacking or something you want to change or anything like that?
A: No. We wanted to win every game, but we didn't win every game but we did win some of the battles we wanted to win in every game. Meaning we wanted to go out and be very sharp on offense early with our first offense and we did that for the most part. We accomplished some of our short term goals throughout the pre-season.
Q: I know you can't speak for him. But, Randy rarely speaks to the media. When you look at that does that give him peace of mind and just go out there and just focus and concentrate on the football?
A: I don't know you have to ask him that. How he feels about you guys, that's on him. I don't know how to answer that, honestly. You'd have to ask him.
Q: About Randy. How much better is he than last year?
A: He's definitely poised to have his best year for the simple fact that he's fully focused. He's doing a lot of the little things. He's getting blocks down the field. He's running decoy routes and stuff like that. That's going to make him better and our team better. I think he poised to have his best year.
A: Very excited. I'm very excited about the club this year for the simple fact that we came into training camp with some new faces on the defensive side of the ball. Offensively we brought everyone back. We brought in Marcus Robinson on the other side of Randy [Moss]. Why wouldn't I be excited about what we have?
Q: The schedule makers didn't do you any favors opening against Dallas and then going to Philadelphia.
A: It's all about how you look at it. It's a great opportunity. It's a great opportunity for us because it's 2 tough games for us to start off the season. But we wouldn't want it any other way. It's going to be a tough season, so why not get started with 2 tough games?
Q: What is it about Dallas' defense that makes them such a difficult match-up for you?
A: They're coming off [last season] being the number 1 defense. That's a good reason. They do a lot of great things. They rush the passer very well. They stop the run. They cover the receivers very well down the field. They have some guys on their defense, Roy Williams being one, La'Roi Glover. Those guys are big play guys. So when you put those things together you're going to have a pretty good defense.
Q: You seem to want to run a little more and you are a little more willing to run this year. Does that help?
A: Yeah. I'm going to take [it]. If they want to play man-to-man and give me some running lanes to run in then I'm going to do that. I'm going to be aggressive with it and make sure it's the right time to do it. When it's not there I'll sit in the pocket and make my reads and do what I'm supposed to do with the football.
Q: Is this the most confident you've been with yourself and your team coming out of training camp?
A: Yes. I have to say so for the simple fact that we've worked very hard and we've been executing a high number of our plays. Confidence is going to come with that. When you do the hard work and take care of your business you're going to have confidence.
Q: You've had a very solid pre-season but are you ready for the games to count?
A: Absolutely, it's a new year. I think this is our year. The Minnesota Vikings, it's time for us to step up and go get what we want and that's to be World Champions. So I'm extremely excited for the season.
Q: Compared to other years why is this year exciting you so much?
A: Because it's a new year. I think we have the fire power to do that. You want to go out and do your best and be the best you can everyday. But when you have fire power like we have and players like we have. We just have to go out and do it. Everyone should be feeling the same excitement I'm feeling. As far as our team goes, everyone should be feeling real good and willing to get what we want.
Q: Again about the Dallas defense. Is there any particular formation that excites you more than the others?
A: Watching those guys on film they're just good all over the board. All 11 guys on defense at one point or another make plays. We have to be very focused when we step on the field Sunday against these guys.
Q: When you see Vinny Testaverde at 40 years old still a quarterback in this league. Do you see yourself being a quarterback when you're that age?
A: I don't know. I'm not even 30 [years old] yet. That's a blessing to be able to play this game that we all love until you're 40 years old. That's truly a blessing. My hat goes off to him for just being able to stick with it and enduring through all the tough times and the good times too. That's a tribute to him for being able to take care of himself and just be the great player he is for a number of years.
Q: Speaking of 40 year old players. You just picked up a guy that is old enough to be your grandfather [Morten Andersen]. How can that situation settle especially with the fact that this guy beat the Vikings a few years ago in the playoffs?
A: That's how this business is. As far as Morten Andersen, I think he is one, if not the all-time greatest at his position at the pro level. I'm just delighted to have him on the team. I think he's almost a gimmie inside of 40 yards. With our offense, we're going to be looking forward to him knocking a few through for us throughout the course of the season.
Q: Was there a little bit of a worry about that situation prior to Morten coming here?
A: No. I don't worry about it because it's not my job. But at the same time it feels good to know his background and know what he's done in his past. But with any kicker I'm going to be positive with him and I feel they're going to go out there and do what they're supposed to do.
Q: Are you 100% healthy?
A: As far as I can think, right now I'm 100% healthy. I feel really good and hopefully I can keep it like that all year.
Q: The NFC North is nicknamed the black and blue division. As a quarterback, does that excite you to play in it?
A: It's just exciting for me to go out and play football everyday. It's exciting to go get prepared and go through the preparation of getting ready for a football game. A lot of people don't know what goes into that. Just the excitement of that is a lot for me. To go out there and compete, that's the best part about it all, just compete. I love it.
Q: You've always had good pre-seasons. Is there a difference now in your mind that you're more prepared for adversity, where as earlier in your career you couldn't let go of it?
A: For the most part you want to go out there and execute every play. Every play that we call we want it to work. But if it doesn't work or if something goes bad, the way I am now, I just brush it off. I have to think about the next play. You know you say that before but now I really feel that. I feel now if something bad happens it's a part of the game. What good players do and what I learned at a young age. Good players don't make the same mistake twice. Smart players don't do that either. So I just want to make sure I'm a smart and good player throughout the course of this year.
Q: You've told yourself that you need to just brush it off. What have you actually did? Was it last year that you've really started putting things together?
A: I would say for the most part it happened to me last year. It comes with maturity. It comes with the repetitions and running the offense a lot.
Q: About the new rule of no contact on the wide receivers. How much easier is that going to make it for you and Randy to know the Defensive Back's [DB's] aren't going to be holding down the field? And is that going to make a difference?
A: I think it will, because this game is very physical and DB's play a very physical at this level. So if guys can't put there hands on Randy or Kelly [Campbell] or Nate [Burleson] or Robinson or guys like that down the field. It's going to be tougher for them to cover them. Hopefully we can have some more big plays.
Q: Doesn't that mean they're just going to come after the quarterback harder?
A: Hey, that's part of the game. Let them do it. Then they have to cover Randy one-on-one. That's their choice.
Q: As a team do you think the pre-season went pretty well to the point you're ready to open the regular season. Is there anything that you feel you're lacking or something you want to change or anything like that?
A: No. We wanted to win every game, but we didn't win every game but we did win some of the battles we wanted to win in every game. Meaning we wanted to go out and be very sharp on offense early with our first offense and we did that for the most part. We accomplished some of our short term goals throughout the pre-season.
Q: I know you can't speak for him. But, Randy rarely speaks to the media. When you look at that does that give him peace of mind and just go out there and just focus and concentrate on the football?
A: I don't know you have to ask him that. How he feels about you guys, that's on him. I don't know how to answer that, honestly. You'd have to ask him.
Q: About Randy. How much better is he than last year?
A: He's definitely poised to have his best year for the simple fact that he's fully focused. He's doing a lot of the little things. He's getting blocks down the field. He's running decoy routes and stuff like that. That's going to make him better and our team better. I think he poised to have his best year.