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Two More Out: Smith and Wyms
Latest Buccaneer injury report
Simeon Rice lands on injured reserve
TE Alex Smith will miss a game for the first time since joining the Buccaneers in 2005
Nov 22, 2006 -
Alex Smith and Ellis Wyms will enjoy a little home cooking on Thanksgiving Day. As good as the turkey is sure to be, Smith and Wyms would rather be in Dallas with their Tampa Bay Buccaneer teammates.
The Bucs flew to Dallas on Wednesday without those two young players. Each had been downgraded to doubtful on the team’s official injury report earlier in the day due to ankle injuries. Wyms will miss his third game in a row due to a lingering ailment while Smith will sit out for the first time in his two-year career thanks to an injury suffered in Sunday’s game against Washington.
The Bucs will also be without defensive end Simeon Rice for the third straight game…and the rest of the 2006 season. Rice was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday morning, the result of a shoulder injury that has affected his play all season.
With Smith out, the Bucs will turn to a platoon of fifth-year man Doug Jolley and 15th-year veteran Dave Moore to play alongside starter Anthony Becht. The Bucs use two-TE sets liberally; Smith has actually started 15 of the 26 games he’s played as a pro.
The young duo of Jon Bradley and Jovan Haye will continue to fill in for Wyms, and fourth-year player Dewayne White becomes the permanent starter at right defensive end for the rest of the season. Head Coach Jon Gruden didn’t try to hide his disappointment over the loss of Rice on Wednesday, but he did acknowledge that White has played well in his newly-expanded role.
“He’s done a good job,” said Gruden. “It’s really the first time in his career he’s known what his role is exactly. He’s played left end, right end, he’s played in the nickel, he’s been a key part of special teams. ‘You’re off of special teams now, Dewayne. You’re the right end.’ We want to see what he can do for us. He’s a great kid. He’s worked his butt off to get this opportunity. We don’t like seeing guys get hurt but we’re very fortunate to have Dewayne White. He’s done well so far.”
**
Season’s Greetings
The Buccaneers who did make the flight to Dallas will have to wait until Friday to celebrate Thanksgiving with their families. The Bucs will play on Thanksgiving for the first time in team history, and they aren’t planning any special recognition of the holiday on Wednesday night. The players and coaches, however, will be given Friday off, and the players will continue to enjoy some down time throughout the weekend before returning to work on Monday.
As for Wednesday night, it’s just another part of the business trip.
“We’re going to keep watching the Cowboys, man,” said Gruden. “We’re going to try to win the football game. That’s why we were selected to play. We want to play our best and I think our players understand they’ll have to delay the Thanksgiving celebration one day.”
The Bucs would like to be able to give thanks for a fourth victory on Friday but will try to enjoy the holiday either way.
“I just wish everybody a Happy Thanksgiving,” said Gruden. “We remember it’s a great country and we’ve got a lot to be thankful for. Even though our record isn’t what we’d like it to be we still have great opportunities and great lives to live. We’ll try to keep it in perspective.”
**
Overheard
In addition to injury problems and the holiday schedule, the Bucs discussed a number of other topics during the short week leading up to Thanksgiving. Here are a few of the things we overheard in the locker room on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
DT Chris Hovan on his memories of Thanksgiving football:
“Pretty much tuning up to watch Barry Sanders. It was pretty much his day. Just to watch him run the ball was a privilege.”
RB Cadillac Williams on if he has any favorite Thanksgiving NFL moments:
“Just the Barry Sanders moments on Thanksgiving. I can always remember watching him play. He was an exciting runner. I really looked forward to Thanksgiving to get to watch Thanksgiving football and especially to watch him. That guy was one of the greatest to ever play.”
T Jeremy Trueblood on Thanksgiving Day football memories:
“I think the biggest thing that sticks out in my mind is probably the Leon Lett situation. Besides that, they all kind of run together. It’s just a bunch of football games.”
Hovan on if he has played on Thanksgiving before:
“Yeah, I played rookie year down in Dallas. I kind of took advantage of it, but this is a great moment. It’s a great moment in each and every one of these guy’s lives because not everyone gets to play on Thanksgiving. It will be really special.”
QB Bruce Gradkowski on if he’s ever played an organized game on Thanksgiving:
“No. We always had our Turkey Bowl on Thanksgiving in the morning. The whole family would go to the football field and play a little tackle football game. But, no, this will be the only serious game I’ve played.”
Hovan on why it’s special to play on Thanksgiving:
“Because you are the only game on. They added a game this year. Before it used to be Detroit and Dallas and whoever they played but now they added that third game. I just think it’s a privilege to play in front of a nationwide, global audience and just show your skills.”
FB Mike Alstott on if it’s special to play on Thanksgiving or just another game:
“First of all, we’re just trying to get the mental aspect of the game plan going and stuff like that. As you suit up and you’re playing in front of a national crowd and you go out there, yeah, it’s special. It’s always special to go out there and play football, it doesn’t matter what day it is.”
Gradkowski on playing on Thanksgiving:
“I love it. I think this is a great opportunity for us to play on Thanksgiving. You always dream about it as a young kid, to play on Turkey Day, and maybe get a turkey leg from [John] Madden.”
LB Derrick Brooks on if he has always wanted to play on Thanksgiving Day:
“Yes I have. I was hoping for this chance really for 12 years. Watching the games every Thursday, most practices are cut short so guys can go home and be with their families. I mean, everyone is watching, the troops overseas, this and Christmas Day games are really the games where around the world you are going to have people, and football the chance to get away from the world at war. So, we’re looking at the bigger perspective about it, this opportunity to play, and again that creates excitement for this football team.”
Hovan on what Thanksgiving dish he can’t do with out:
“My wife’s green bean casserole. She’s really good at it. I’m thankful for my wife.”
Gradkowski on his favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal:
“I love it all, just the variety of food and how much you can eat. It’s actually the day you feel like, ‘Oh, it’s Thanksgiving, I can eat a lot.’”
Williams on how tough the preparation is in a short week:
“It’s tough but at the same time we are professionals. You’ve just got to be mentally tough this week because you’re not going to get much practice time for the physical side. So you’ve got to put that much more mental time in, and that’s basically the approach you’ve got to take. I’m sure on game day it’s all going to be the same. It’s going to be a hard-hitting game.”
Gradkowski on preparing on a short week:
“It’s definitely going to be tough this week, especially facing a good Dallas football team. They played a great game last night. It was a big win for them. They’ll probably come in and do the stuff they’re good at, but you have to expect anything and everything. I think Coach Gruden will have us prepared. We’ve been practicing very well and we just have to work hard and move on. This is a game you just go out and play football.”
Brooks on if during a regular game week, he is ready to play on Thursday:
“If need be. Just to me, it’s getting your mindset to do it. Obviously, the Cowboys [have] been doing it for years so you think the advantage would be their way in knowing what to do. But to me, football is football and you know how they’ll be playing the game.”
Gradkowski on this being a crazy week:
“Yeah, it’s a quick one, a quick week. But I think we’re looking forward to it, getting this other game under our belt. We don’t have a lot of practice, so it’s fun playing games.”
Hovan on the short week:
“A short week and we get to go out on the road, so it’s going to be a quick turnaround. We’ll just try to learn the game plan, go out and walk through some stuff and get ready to go into the Big D.”
Gradkowski on both teams having to prepare on a short week:
“I think it’s good that both teams are coming off the same kind of week. It’s not going to be that big of a deal. We might be a little banged up, I’m sure they’re a little banged up, but you just have to come in, play football and have fun. I mean, it’s on Thanksgiving – you couldn’t really ask for much more.”
Gruden on if he’s looking forward to the rest after Thursday’s game:
“Yeah, I think so but we’ve got the Pittsburgh Steelers next. We’ve still got the Chicago Bears. So we’ve got a lot of work to do. That’s what makes it exciting.”
Gradkowski on the mental grind of the season:
“We’ve been grinding it out. It’s definitely easier to come in after a win, so that’s one big thing from yesterday’s game, to build on that and move on, even though we’re in a quick week. It’s easier to come in after a win and also learn from your mistakes and pick it up from where you left off.”
Gradkowski on how he feels physically:
“I feel pretty good. We had great protection [against Washington]. We did a lot of good things. Physically I feel great, so I’m ready to move on to Thursday.”
CB Juran Bolden on how his ankle is feeling:
“I am just very sore right now. Like I said, [I will] be around here the majority of the day, trying to get better and see what’s going on for the rest of the week.”
Bolden on if it is an injury that can bother him for the season:
“You’ll never be 100 percent healthy until the end of the season. Sometimes you have to suck things up and keep going. I am going to give my best effort and see what I can do. I really look forward to playing on Thursday so I’m just going to keep doing what I have to do to get healthy.”
Bolden on what the doctors are calling the injury:
“Just a really deep bruise. I think it was more me being more nervous about I’m of [that] age now where you get a shot like that around that area. I was more concerned about whether this is going the way I’m going to be going out or not. But, I’m happy at what decision that came out. I just wanted to get this thing right and get out there and get back to playing.”
Bolden on if he can’t play, what challenge lies ahead for secondary:
“Regardless of who has to step up, they have to step up. Like my situation when [Brian Kelly] went down, I had to step up and play. So, we all [are] professionals, if the bullet is called towards your way you just have to step in and run with it. We’re very confident in those guys just like they were confident in [me]. Like I said, I am not counting myself out. It’s only Monday, and we have till Thursday. So we’ll see what’s up with that.”
G Dan Buenning on if he is back to normal after his injury:
“Yeah, I feel real good now. Of course it’s a high ankle thing and it sticks with everybody. You know everybody gets one at one point in their career or another. So, it’s not too bad.”
Hovan on if he took any time off after Sunday’s game:
“Just a little time off, time to catch our breath and lick our wounds and come back on Monday and get ready. This is a very good football team we’re going against and we have to be very sound in our defense.”
DT Jovan Haye on the defensive line missing a step due to injuries:
“Yes, I feel [it] some. We would love to have those guys back, but everybody has to step up. Everybody has a role. We can’t look back and worry about injuries. We would like to have them but we are going to have to keep going.”
Alstott on if it feels good to be sore again:
“I am in there playing fullback and hitting linebackers 10 yards apart. But it feels good as a whole just to get a win as a team and for my sake to contribute, make some big plays and try to inspire my teammates.”
Alstott on being more involved in the offense against Washington:
“It was great to be involved and make a play. I’m not going to be the rah-rah type of guy. I’m going to try to go out there and inspire my teammates by my play.”
T Anthony Davis on continuing the success in the running game:
“Oh yeah, definitely. I hope [Carnell] Cadillac [Williams] hits a hot streak. He made us look good. We gave him a crack and he made us look wonderful. We want to continue doing that.”
Alstott on if the offense has regained its confidence:
“We’re in our routine. We’re a running team, we know that. The situation hasn’t been all for us in the first half of the season. Being down by 14, 17 points, you have to go to the passing game and be a one-dimensional offense. When we can really get isolated on the run, then the pass opens up also. When you can get positive yards on first-and-10, there’s a lot of different play-calling you can do.”
Buenning on running the ball to the left side:
“We just had a lot of checks where they opened up some things that we could do on the left side. So, Bruce [Gradkowski] did a great job of doing that stuff so we’re just going to keep doing what we can.”
Williams on running against a 3-4 defense:
“I don’t know too much about the 3-4. I know last year with the New England Patriots we didn’t have too much success against those Cowboys. Just from looking at Dallas, it’s going to be a great challenge for the offense to come out there and run against those guys. They do get after it, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Davis on if it is easier to run or pass against a 3-4:
“It’s really no advantage. It’s all about the personnel they have. They have great personnel. They have big guys. I think every guy up front is 6-3 or taller, they’re 300 pounders and big, strong two gappers. They have, like I said, excellent edge guys in Ware and the other linebacker they have. They have great personnel in the 3-4 they have. We just have to execute.”
Williams on the game plan for succeeding against a 3-4:
“We’re definitely going to try to establish the run game early. Any time you go on the road, you want to take the crowd out of the game, and to do that you want to establish the run game. Hopefully we can get that going on Thanksgiving Day.”
Williams on if it’s more challenging to face a 3-4 defense on a short week:
“Right, it does. Like you say, we’re not familiar with the 3-4. Cincinnati, those guys ran it, but Dallas is a true 3-4 team. That’s what they’re going to run, that’s what they’re going to come at you with. We’ve just got to be mentally sharp this week and get body on body. Everything else takes care of itself.”
Gradkowski on facing Dallas’ 3-4 defense:
“There’s a great challenge this week. Dallas has a great defense, like you said a 3-4, so it’s different than what we have faced so far. But I think we’re going to be pretty well-prepared. We’re practicing hard, we’re getting a lot of stuff done and that’s what we have to do coming up on a short week.”
Davis on if it is difficult facing a 3-4 defense:
“Just a little bit. Minor adjustments here and there. But we’re used to it. The Patriots played 3-4 last year. I think the Jets played a little bit in the preseason. Just the little things we have to get adjusted to because we face a four down front most of the time. But, it’s nothing we can’t handle.”
Trueblood on playing against a 3-4 defense:
“I played against the Jets in the preseason, so I remember that whole game. It’s different. The thing is, you’ve got a big, strong guy on you; you don’t have one of those little quick pass-rushing guys over you. I mean, they have that on the edge too, it’s just that every play it’s either you’ve got this huge guy on you or you’ve got this guy rushing the edge. It’s different rules for our running game and passing game but it’s nothing that we don’t know so we should be just fine.”
Davis on the adjustments the line makes:
“Personnel wise, they have a great linebacker in DeMarcus Ware. Facing a guy like him coming off the edge when you’re used to smaller guys. Just little like that. As far as me having a big, strong, physical guy right over top of me instead of a shade over here or a shade inside. Just little things we have to adjust to. But we’ll prepare. Every week we prepare for any front because you’ll never know what a team jumps into.”
Gradkowski on the problems posed by Dallas’ defense:
“They have a couple good outside linebackers and they can do different things on defense that we’re not really sure of. They give you different looks on both sides. But we’re going to be well-prepared and just go in and play football.”
Head Coach Jon Gruden on what he sees in a successful low-round pick like Bruce Gradkowski:
“He’s productive; he’s instinctive; he’s got a quick, accurate stroke; he’s functional moving around; he’s a great leader; he’s a winner; and he loves football. He’s got a great family. I look for a guy at the quarterback position who has his act together. I don’t like these guys who are all over the joint. I like guys who are serious. Even though they’re young and single, some of them, I like guys who understand this is a billion-dollar corporation here and you’re the quarterback. You better not be a screw-around kind of guy. So I like the guys who have a veteran makeup, guys who have a very serious background and guys who have a great support system with a lot of talent.”
Gruden on the success of low-round quarterbacks and if it’s changing the NFL’s culture:
“I don’t know about all that. I just think you draft a guy number-one, you pay him a lot of money, you thrust him in there right away. A lot of these guys take time to get ready. I’ve seen a lot of guys get thrown out there early in their careers and get demoralized, whereas sometimes a sixth and seventh-round pick gets to kind of lay in the weeds and watch the high pick go out there and get thrown around. But I don’t know. There are exceptions to every rule.”
Gruden on how hard he looks at low-round quarterbacks in the draft:
“You’ve got to look hard. When you’re talking about a first-round pick you’ve obviously got to look real hard because the first-round pick is a guy you’re counting on to be a key part of your football team, especially at that position. Second round, very hard. Third round, very hard. You get in the second day of the draft you sometimes are looking for guys who have traits who fit what you want done. They might not have the size, they might not have the dimensions that some of the guys have on Day One, but most of the time you find two or three guys who have a lot of talent, who have a lot of traits that if you bring them along they can get it done.”
Gruden on how impressed he is with Tony Romo:
“Really impressed. I was impressed with him last year in the preseason. Prior to our Houston game I watched him cut them up pretty good. He’s been on the radar screen, he’s been on the cusp of winning this job. There was a lot of speculation about when that would be. He’s taken advantage of it and it’s a credit to Dallas – they’ve really surrounded him with some really good pieces. This T.O. [Terrell Owens] guy, he’s for real, and this guy [Terry] Glenn can run like hell. They’ve got two great backs, they really do, and I’m really impressed with [Jason] Witten and [Anthony] Fasano, their two tight ends.”
Hovan on Dallas QB Tony Romo:
“He’s a little more diverse than [Drew] Bledsoe was. He can run with the ball. He’s really hitting his checkdown routes right now. He’s a very, very comparable quarterback that we have to get after.”
Haye on Dallas’ being a complete team:
“Dallas is a team that has a real good team. Great running backs. Great receivers. Real good quarterback. They’re complete.”
Brooks on Dallas’ offense:
“They run the ball real effectively. The two running backs, Marion [Barber] and Julius Jones they get downhill quick. So, from what I saw in the second half we are just going to have to tackle these guys. And with that big [offensive] line, their offensive line has always been big. We have to use our speed and quickness, hopefully beating them to the punch. And again we have to tackle both of these [running] backs because they do a good job breaking tackles.”
Haye on Dallas’ running game:
“They have a great running game. I think they’re fifth in the NFL. We’re going to have to buckle down on the run. Hopefully we can shut them down.”
Two More Out: Smith and Wyms
Latest Buccaneer injury report
Simeon Rice lands on injured reserve
TE Alex Smith will miss a game for the first time since joining the Buccaneers in 2005
Nov 22, 2006 -
Alex Smith and Ellis Wyms will enjoy a little home cooking on Thanksgiving Day. As good as the turkey is sure to be, Smith and Wyms would rather be in Dallas with their Tampa Bay Buccaneer teammates.
The Bucs flew to Dallas on Wednesday without those two young players. Each had been downgraded to doubtful on the team’s official injury report earlier in the day due to ankle injuries. Wyms will miss his third game in a row due to a lingering ailment while Smith will sit out for the first time in his two-year career thanks to an injury suffered in Sunday’s game against Washington.
The Bucs will also be without defensive end Simeon Rice for the third straight game…and the rest of the 2006 season. Rice was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday morning, the result of a shoulder injury that has affected his play all season.
With Smith out, the Bucs will turn to a platoon of fifth-year man Doug Jolley and 15th-year veteran Dave Moore to play alongside starter Anthony Becht. The Bucs use two-TE sets liberally; Smith has actually started 15 of the 26 games he’s played as a pro.
The young duo of Jon Bradley and Jovan Haye will continue to fill in for Wyms, and fourth-year player Dewayne White becomes the permanent starter at right defensive end for the rest of the season. Head Coach Jon Gruden didn’t try to hide his disappointment over the loss of Rice on Wednesday, but he did acknowledge that White has played well in his newly-expanded role.
“He’s done a good job,” said Gruden. “It’s really the first time in his career he’s known what his role is exactly. He’s played left end, right end, he’s played in the nickel, he’s been a key part of special teams. ‘You’re off of special teams now, Dewayne. You’re the right end.’ We want to see what he can do for us. He’s a great kid. He’s worked his butt off to get this opportunity. We don’t like seeing guys get hurt but we’re very fortunate to have Dewayne White. He’s done well so far.”
**
Season’s Greetings
The Buccaneers who did make the flight to Dallas will have to wait until Friday to celebrate Thanksgiving with their families. The Bucs will play on Thanksgiving for the first time in team history, and they aren’t planning any special recognition of the holiday on Wednesday night. The players and coaches, however, will be given Friday off, and the players will continue to enjoy some down time throughout the weekend before returning to work on Monday.
As for Wednesday night, it’s just another part of the business trip.
“We’re going to keep watching the Cowboys, man,” said Gruden. “We’re going to try to win the football game. That’s why we were selected to play. We want to play our best and I think our players understand they’ll have to delay the Thanksgiving celebration one day.”
The Bucs would like to be able to give thanks for a fourth victory on Friday but will try to enjoy the holiday either way.
“I just wish everybody a Happy Thanksgiving,” said Gruden. “We remember it’s a great country and we’ve got a lot to be thankful for. Even though our record isn’t what we’d like it to be we still have great opportunities and great lives to live. We’ll try to keep it in perspective.”
**
Overheard
In addition to injury problems and the holiday schedule, the Bucs discussed a number of other topics during the short week leading up to Thanksgiving. Here are a few of the things we overheard in the locker room on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
DT Chris Hovan on his memories of Thanksgiving football:
“Pretty much tuning up to watch Barry Sanders. It was pretty much his day. Just to watch him run the ball was a privilege.”
RB Cadillac Williams on if he has any favorite Thanksgiving NFL moments:
“Just the Barry Sanders moments on Thanksgiving. I can always remember watching him play. He was an exciting runner. I really looked forward to Thanksgiving to get to watch Thanksgiving football and especially to watch him. That guy was one of the greatest to ever play.”
T Jeremy Trueblood on Thanksgiving Day football memories:
“I think the biggest thing that sticks out in my mind is probably the Leon Lett situation. Besides that, they all kind of run together. It’s just a bunch of football games.”
Hovan on if he has played on Thanksgiving before:
“Yeah, I played rookie year down in Dallas. I kind of took advantage of it, but this is a great moment. It’s a great moment in each and every one of these guy’s lives because not everyone gets to play on Thanksgiving. It will be really special.”
QB Bruce Gradkowski on if he’s ever played an organized game on Thanksgiving:
“No. We always had our Turkey Bowl on Thanksgiving in the morning. The whole family would go to the football field and play a little tackle football game. But, no, this will be the only serious game I’ve played.”
Hovan on why it’s special to play on Thanksgiving:
“Because you are the only game on. They added a game this year. Before it used to be Detroit and Dallas and whoever they played but now they added that third game. I just think it’s a privilege to play in front of a nationwide, global audience and just show your skills.”
FB Mike Alstott on if it’s special to play on Thanksgiving or just another game:
“First of all, we’re just trying to get the mental aspect of the game plan going and stuff like that. As you suit up and you’re playing in front of a national crowd and you go out there, yeah, it’s special. It’s always special to go out there and play football, it doesn’t matter what day it is.”
Gradkowski on playing on Thanksgiving:
“I love it. I think this is a great opportunity for us to play on Thanksgiving. You always dream about it as a young kid, to play on Turkey Day, and maybe get a turkey leg from [John] Madden.”
LB Derrick Brooks on if he has always wanted to play on Thanksgiving Day:
“Yes I have. I was hoping for this chance really for 12 years. Watching the games every Thursday, most practices are cut short so guys can go home and be with their families. I mean, everyone is watching, the troops overseas, this and Christmas Day games are really the games where around the world you are going to have people, and football the chance to get away from the world at war. So, we’re looking at the bigger perspective about it, this opportunity to play, and again that creates excitement for this football team.”
Hovan on what Thanksgiving dish he can’t do with out:
“My wife’s green bean casserole. She’s really good at it. I’m thankful for my wife.”
Gradkowski on his favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal:
“I love it all, just the variety of food and how much you can eat. It’s actually the day you feel like, ‘Oh, it’s Thanksgiving, I can eat a lot.’”
Williams on how tough the preparation is in a short week:
“It’s tough but at the same time we are professionals. You’ve just got to be mentally tough this week because you’re not going to get much practice time for the physical side. So you’ve got to put that much more mental time in, and that’s basically the approach you’ve got to take. I’m sure on game day it’s all going to be the same. It’s going to be a hard-hitting game.”
Gradkowski on preparing on a short week:
“It’s definitely going to be tough this week, especially facing a good Dallas football team. They played a great game last night. It was a big win for them. They’ll probably come in and do the stuff they’re good at, but you have to expect anything and everything. I think Coach Gruden will have us prepared. We’ve been practicing very well and we just have to work hard and move on. This is a game you just go out and play football.”
Brooks on if during a regular game week, he is ready to play on Thursday:
“If need be. Just to me, it’s getting your mindset to do it. Obviously, the Cowboys [have] been doing it for years so you think the advantage would be their way in knowing what to do. But to me, football is football and you know how they’ll be playing the game.”
Gradkowski on this being a crazy week:
“Yeah, it’s a quick one, a quick week. But I think we’re looking forward to it, getting this other game under our belt. We don’t have a lot of practice, so it’s fun playing games.”
Hovan on the short week:
“A short week and we get to go out on the road, so it’s going to be a quick turnaround. We’ll just try to learn the game plan, go out and walk through some stuff and get ready to go into the Big D.”
Gradkowski on both teams having to prepare on a short week:
“I think it’s good that both teams are coming off the same kind of week. It’s not going to be that big of a deal. We might be a little banged up, I’m sure they’re a little banged up, but you just have to come in, play football and have fun. I mean, it’s on Thanksgiving – you couldn’t really ask for much more.”
Gruden on if he’s looking forward to the rest after Thursday’s game:
“Yeah, I think so but we’ve got the Pittsburgh Steelers next. We’ve still got the Chicago Bears. So we’ve got a lot of work to do. That’s what makes it exciting.”
Gradkowski on the mental grind of the season:
“We’ve been grinding it out. It’s definitely easier to come in after a win, so that’s one big thing from yesterday’s game, to build on that and move on, even though we’re in a quick week. It’s easier to come in after a win and also learn from your mistakes and pick it up from where you left off.”
Gradkowski on how he feels physically:
“I feel pretty good. We had great protection [against Washington]. We did a lot of good things. Physically I feel great, so I’m ready to move on to Thursday.”
CB Juran Bolden on how his ankle is feeling:
“I am just very sore right now. Like I said, [I will] be around here the majority of the day, trying to get better and see what’s going on for the rest of the week.”
Bolden on if it is an injury that can bother him for the season:
“You’ll never be 100 percent healthy until the end of the season. Sometimes you have to suck things up and keep going. I am going to give my best effort and see what I can do. I really look forward to playing on Thursday so I’m just going to keep doing what I have to do to get healthy.”
Bolden on what the doctors are calling the injury:
“Just a really deep bruise. I think it was more me being more nervous about I’m of [that] age now where you get a shot like that around that area. I was more concerned about whether this is going the way I’m going to be going out or not. But, I’m happy at what decision that came out. I just wanted to get this thing right and get out there and get back to playing.”
Bolden on if he can’t play, what challenge lies ahead for secondary:
“Regardless of who has to step up, they have to step up. Like my situation when [Brian Kelly] went down, I had to step up and play. So, we all [are] professionals, if the bullet is called towards your way you just have to step in and run with it. We’re very confident in those guys just like they were confident in [me]. Like I said, I am not counting myself out. It’s only Monday, and we have till Thursday. So we’ll see what’s up with that.”
G Dan Buenning on if he is back to normal after his injury:
“Yeah, I feel real good now. Of course it’s a high ankle thing and it sticks with everybody. You know everybody gets one at one point in their career or another. So, it’s not too bad.”
Hovan on if he took any time off after Sunday’s game:
“Just a little time off, time to catch our breath and lick our wounds and come back on Monday and get ready. This is a very good football team we’re going against and we have to be very sound in our defense.”
DT Jovan Haye on the defensive line missing a step due to injuries:
“Yes, I feel [it] some. We would love to have those guys back, but everybody has to step up. Everybody has a role. We can’t look back and worry about injuries. We would like to have them but we are going to have to keep going.”
Alstott on if it feels good to be sore again:
“I am in there playing fullback and hitting linebackers 10 yards apart. But it feels good as a whole just to get a win as a team and for my sake to contribute, make some big plays and try to inspire my teammates.”
Alstott on being more involved in the offense against Washington:
“It was great to be involved and make a play. I’m not going to be the rah-rah type of guy. I’m going to try to go out there and inspire my teammates by my play.”
T Anthony Davis on continuing the success in the running game:
“Oh yeah, definitely. I hope [Carnell] Cadillac [Williams] hits a hot streak. He made us look good. We gave him a crack and he made us look wonderful. We want to continue doing that.”
Alstott on if the offense has regained its confidence:
“We’re in our routine. We’re a running team, we know that. The situation hasn’t been all for us in the first half of the season. Being down by 14, 17 points, you have to go to the passing game and be a one-dimensional offense. When we can really get isolated on the run, then the pass opens up also. When you can get positive yards on first-and-10, there’s a lot of different play-calling you can do.”
Buenning on running the ball to the left side:
“We just had a lot of checks where they opened up some things that we could do on the left side. So, Bruce [Gradkowski] did a great job of doing that stuff so we’re just going to keep doing what we can.”
Williams on running against a 3-4 defense:
“I don’t know too much about the 3-4. I know last year with the New England Patriots we didn’t have too much success against those Cowboys. Just from looking at Dallas, it’s going to be a great challenge for the offense to come out there and run against those guys. They do get after it, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Davis on if it is easier to run or pass against a 3-4:
“It’s really no advantage. It’s all about the personnel they have. They have great personnel. They have big guys. I think every guy up front is 6-3 or taller, they’re 300 pounders and big, strong two gappers. They have, like I said, excellent edge guys in Ware and the other linebacker they have. They have great personnel in the 3-4 they have. We just have to execute.”
Williams on the game plan for succeeding against a 3-4:
“We’re definitely going to try to establish the run game early. Any time you go on the road, you want to take the crowd out of the game, and to do that you want to establish the run game. Hopefully we can get that going on Thanksgiving Day.”
Williams on if it’s more challenging to face a 3-4 defense on a short week:
“Right, it does. Like you say, we’re not familiar with the 3-4. Cincinnati, those guys ran it, but Dallas is a true 3-4 team. That’s what they’re going to run, that’s what they’re going to come at you with. We’ve just got to be mentally sharp this week and get body on body. Everything else takes care of itself.”
Gradkowski on facing Dallas’ 3-4 defense:
“There’s a great challenge this week. Dallas has a great defense, like you said a 3-4, so it’s different than what we have faced so far. But I think we’re going to be pretty well-prepared. We’re practicing hard, we’re getting a lot of stuff done and that’s what we have to do coming up on a short week.”
Davis on if it is difficult facing a 3-4 defense:
“Just a little bit. Minor adjustments here and there. But we’re used to it. The Patriots played 3-4 last year. I think the Jets played a little bit in the preseason. Just the little things we have to get adjusted to because we face a four down front most of the time. But, it’s nothing we can’t handle.”
Trueblood on playing against a 3-4 defense:
“I played against the Jets in the preseason, so I remember that whole game. It’s different. The thing is, you’ve got a big, strong guy on you; you don’t have one of those little quick pass-rushing guys over you. I mean, they have that on the edge too, it’s just that every play it’s either you’ve got this huge guy on you or you’ve got this guy rushing the edge. It’s different rules for our running game and passing game but it’s nothing that we don’t know so we should be just fine.”
Davis on the adjustments the line makes:
“Personnel wise, they have a great linebacker in DeMarcus Ware. Facing a guy like him coming off the edge when you’re used to smaller guys. Just little like that. As far as me having a big, strong, physical guy right over top of me instead of a shade over here or a shade inside. Just little things we have to adjust to. But we’ll prepare. Every week we prepare for any front because you’ll never know what a team jumps into.”
Gradkowski on the problems posed by Dallas’ defense:
“They have a couple good outside linebackers and they can do different things on defense that we’re not really sure of. They give you different looks on both sides. But we’re going to be well-prepared and just go in and play football.”
Head Coach Jon Gruden on what he sees in a successful low-round pick like Bruce Gradkowski:
“He’s productive; he’s instinctive; he’s got a quick, accurate stroke; he’s functional moving around; he’s a great leader; he’s a winner; and he loves football. He’s got a great family. I look for a guy at the quarterback position who has his act together. I don’t like these guys who are all over the joint. I like guys who are serious. Even though they’re young and single, some of them, I like guys who understand this is a billion-dollar corporation here and you’re the quarterback. You better not be a screw-around kind of guy. So I like the guys who have a veteran makeup, guys who have a very serious background and guys who have a great support system with a lot of talent.”
Gruden on the success of low-round quarterbacks and if it’s changing the NFL’s culture:
“I don’t know about all that. I just think you draft a guy number-one, you pay him a lot of money, you thrust him in there right away. A lot of these guys take time to get ready. I’ve seen a lot of guys get thrown out there early in their careers and get demoralized, whereas sometimes a sixth and seventh-round pick gets to kind of lay in the weeds and watch the high pick go out there and get thrown around. But I don’t know. There are exceptions to every rule.”
Gruden on how hard he looks at low-round quarterbacks in the draft:
“You’ve got to look hard. When you’re talking about a first-round pick you’ve obviously got to look real hard because the first-round pick is a guy you’re counting on to be a key part of your football team, especially at that position. Second round, very hard. Third round, very hard. You get in the second day of the draft you sometimes are looking for guys who have traits who fit what you want done. They might not have the size, they might not have the dimensions that some of the guys have on Day One, but most of the time you find two or three guys who have a lot of talent, who have a lot of traits that if you bring them along they can get it done.”
Gruden on how impressed he is with Tony Romo:
“Really impressed. I was impressed with him last year in the preseason. Prior to our Houston game I watched him cut them up pretty good. He’s been on the radar screen, he’s been on the cusp of winning this job. There was a lot of speculation about when that would be. He’s taken advantage of it and it’s a credit to Dallas – they’ve really surrounded him with some really good pieces. This T.O. [Terrell Owens] guy, he’s for real, and this guy [Terry] Glenn can run like hell. They’ve got two great backs, they really do, and I’m really impressed with [Jason] Witten and [Anthony] Fasano, their two tight ends.”
Hovan on Dallas QB Tony Romo:
“He’s a little more diverse than [Drew] Bledsoe was. He can run with the ball. He’s really hitting his checkdown routes right now. He’s a very, very comparable quarterback that we have to get after.”
Haye on Dallas’ being a complete team:
“Dallas is a team that has a real good team. Great running backs. Great receivers. Real good quarterback. They’re complete.”
Brooks on Dallas’ offense:
“They run the ball real effectively. The two running backs, Marion [Barber] and Julius Jones they get downhill quick. So, from what I saw in the second half we are just going to have to tackle these guys. And with that big [offensive] line, their offensive line has always been big. We have to use our speed and quickness, hopefully beating them to the punch. And again we have to tackle both of these [running] backs because they do a good job breaking tackles.”
Haye on Dallas’ running game:
“They have a great running game. I think they’re fifth in the NFL. We’re going to have to buckle down on the run. Hopefully we can shut them down.”
