Head Coach Scott Linehan
September 4, 2008
(Opening remarks)
“Again we will release the practice stuff as soon as we can and go from there. Really no changing from yesterday, maybe (Brett) Romberg will be on there as far as full participation. I don’t know if he missed a period but he is ready to go. Everybody else is status quo.”
(On practicing inside today)
“We needed to use some noise so we were probably going to do it anyway so we could work down the road with stadium noise. It is a lot better inside to do that. We are ready to roll.”
(On if Steven Jackson is ready to go)
“Yeah I think so. He will play a lot. I don’t know how many snaps, we don’t have a number but the other guys will play a little bit. I don’t know how much that is either at this point. We have been preparing a significant amount of plays from Steven.”
(On how he feels about this team, this year compared to last year)
“I don’t know if that would be a fair assignment. Certainly every year is different. Certainly every year you have high hopes going into the season and every year is different. Really I don’t have any comparison from last year to this year. The way I look at it, we are in Philly week and getting ready for our road opener and then we will worry about everything else after this weekend.”
(On if he is ready to finally play a game)
“Yeah I think everybody is chomping at the bit. You could feel the energy on the team and like I said there is probably 31 other teams feeling the same way about their opening game. We have come along way from OTAs to going on the road for training camp. To playing four preseason games and we have gone through a lot of roster changes and things like that. We are here and it feels like it is time to go.”
(On practice tomorrow)
“It is real similar to what we have done in the past. You really work a lot of situational football, we really have to work on getting timing on certain plays both offense and defense and also special teams and try to get ourselves a few more snaps on things we need to look at.”
“We do a walk through and practice tomorrow and then we do a walk through on Saturday before we leave. Then we fly to Philadelphia. “
(On how he feels about Fakhir Brown)
“He was out here and took every rep that we had scripted for him so I feel the same way today.”
(On how he feels about Oshimogoho Atogwe)
“Everybody looks good. I really feel the health of our team is a real bright spot right now.”
(On how CB Fakhir Brown will react to contact)
“You can’t replace the time lost as far as knowing how they are as far as tackling and being able to run with the ball and protect the ball and all of those things. You can work on a number of things. I know he did some tackling today and did some contact yesterday. It’s no different during the season when a guy misses some time, because he’s been out because of injury. Just go back in there and, last time he missed a significant amount of time, he came back in and got a couple of interceptions. I hope he is able to match that again.”
(On how he feels about QB Daunte Culpepper announcing his retirement)
“If that’s what Daunte feels is the thing to do at this point, I’m all for whatever is going to be best for him. It makes me feel a little bad that he’s not still playing just from a personal level. There’s a pretty special place in my heart for him. He’s one of the best players I’ve ever coached, ever. I think what happens is you have adversity in this game and he had a really bad injury in 2005. For whatever reason, he had a problem sticking with a couple of teams. I still think he can play. If I ever get an opportunity to talk him out of retirement one day, I’ll do it, because that guy can flat out play.”
(On if he will watch tonight)
“The first game of the season right? It’s always good to watch the opener. The way it’s set up now with the Thursday game, it really is the official kickoff of the season. I’m sure I’ll watch a few plays.”