(Opening Remarks)
“We had a number of guys that were somewhat limited. For the most part we had full participation for the majority of our team. We did limit some guys based on a short week.”
(On LB Will Witherspoon)
“Will’s toe is still a little bit sore. He practiced. I don’t think he missed any reps. He might have taken every one.”
(On if he likes a short week after a loss)
“I’d rather have it after a win. For this time of year I didn’t know how I’d feel about a short week at the end of the season, when I saw it on the schedule. Being the way that it’s worked out and how it fits into the last two games. It’s good timing. There’s a lot going on around here with Marshall (Faulk) coming back and having his number retired. That will be a good change of pace for us.”
(On Pittsburgh’s defense)
“It gets pretty exotic on third down. It’s pretty much what you get from the Steelers on first and second down. When you get in third down it gets pretty interesting. That’s where they do a lot of their damage.”
(On if Pittsburgh’s defense is similar to San Francisco’s third down defense)
“It’s very similar. Most of the 3-4 teams are getting to that. A lot of them are mirroring the third-down philosophy and even the 4-3 teams. They get to these exotic 3-4, third-down blitz packages.”
(On if he will keep the game plan simple)
“There are some carryover from the last couple of weeks just because of the amount of time we don’t have to rep plays. We still have to prepare for a different defensive front. The match up things that come up with playing a team that has some good defensive personnel.”
(On RB Steven Jackson’s play this season)
“He’s been playing exceptional. The four straight games where he’s had a 40-yard run, that’s phenomenal. In 2002, we had a similar deal with Michael Bennett who had five or six games with a 50-yard run or more. Steven seems to be doing it every week, now that he’s gotten himself back to 100 percent. Steven’s a competitor. He wants us to do better. He wants us to have a better football team. That’s one thing I don’t want anyone to misunderstand. You see a guy that wants everything to improve including our football team, our play and everything else. What he wants to really get done is to do things with his play and also step up in a role of a leader.”
(On why Pittsburgh is so tough to run against)
“They have a scheme that’s difficult at times to find cracks in. They are very well coached. They do a very good job of taking away those cracks and seems that you need to have to have those two, three or four long runs. They don’t give up a lot of big runs. That ends up being why you have a hard time running the football. We have to stay with it and stay patient with it and understand that it may take awhile to get the running game going and if they commit to stopping it.”
(On the Steelers not being a team the Rams want to get in third-and-long situations with)
“I don’t think anybody is, but if you were going to pick one not to be in third-and-long against, it would be this team.”
(On WR Isaac Bruce)
“His numbers were way off in 2005 and he had injury issues. He was able to stay healthy last year and this year he missed three games and parts of another. Injuries do take a chunk out of a person’s productivity. The one thing I can say about Isaac is he shows up for work everyday. He works extremely hard as if it were his first year not his 14th. You won’t see a different type of approach and that is what I respect most about him.”
(On Bruce being 22 yards shy of moving into third place all-time in receiving yards)
“It’s incredible what Isaac’s been able to do in his career. I’ve always said it’s because he is a true professional. He takes care of himself. He gets himself ready to play each week. He’s been like a lot of players in this league. He’s gone through some injury setbacks, but it can’t be many of them to be in that kind of company.”
(On WR Torry Holt’s season)
“Look at Torry’s numbers. They’re still right there with all the league leaders. He’s had a very difficult season, as we all have, but he’s had to deal with more of injuries in his setback. I’m impressed with the fact that even with the way the season’s gone, he’s been able to put up the kind of season he’s been able to do. He’ll finish with impressive numbers by season’s end.”
(On P Donnie Jones)
“If you play long enough or you kick long enough, you’re going to have your down cycles. He hasn’t had his best last couple of games. I believe he’ll have two real strong games in the next two games. It has nothing to do with anything other than having just a couple of off days.”
(On LB Will Witherspoon is an alternate Pro Bowl selection)
“Not that I’m aware of.”
(On the types of problems S Troy Polamalu he presents)
“He’s one of those guys that it seems like there are 12 guys on the field when he’s out there. He shows up everywhere. His range is pretty amazing. He plays close to the box. They have him in the deep half of the field. Sometimes he starts up close and runs down the play from behind. He’s one of those guys who has a great knack and feel for where the football is. You always have to be aware of where he is.”