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Green Bay vs. Tampa Bay - Postgame Quotes - Green Bay
Pre-Season - Packers Win 23-15
COACH HOLMGREN'S POSTGAME COMMENTS:
(on the game, perhaps not being happy with how they won) "Am I unhappy about that? No. Right now I'm very happy about the fact we won the football game. We were in pretty good control there I thought. And then they returned that punt and then made a couple of plays in that drive. All in all, I was very pleased with how we played this football game today against a real fine football team."
(on using FB Michael Blair at running back instead of RB Travis Jervey after Dorsey Levens was injured) "Michael's been practicing pretty hard at that position all week -- actually I was just going to use William (Henderson) in a single-back set. So we scrambled around a little bit and (running backs coach) Harry Sydney said Mike could go in there and play and we felt pretty good about it, so we made the decision."
(on whether there was anything wrong with Jervey) "No. Travis worked very, very hard on special teams all day. We just decided to go with Michael today."
(on the play of the special teams, with 'a mistake for the second week in a row, is that something that needs to be tightened up a bit?') "Yes. But that's an on-going thing and we knew that coming into this season -- we have a lot of new people on special teams. Johnny (Holland, special teams coach), it's his first crack at it, really, of having the whole group, and he's doing a fine job. All in all, our coverage teams today did a real great job, except for the one punt return. Sean kicked the heck out of it -- maybe, maybe kicked it too far. But like I told them (the team) in there (the locker room), I said, 'You played every other snap of coverage teams in excellent fashion. They really did a fine job. But then they busted one on you. Unfortunately, on special teams, they can't bust one.' I suspect I'll look at the film and feel real good about 99 percent of it. And then they got the good return which, at that particular point in the game, kind of revitalized them and got them back into it."
(on Levens' sprained ankle) "That's all it is -- it's a sprained ankle. I think he's going to be OK."
(on a time frame for Levens' recovery) "Right now I 'd be guessing as far as how much time, but it doesn't seem to be too bad."
(on Adam Timmerman's condition) "Timmerman's dehydrated -- and cramps."
(on the team's lesser performance on third down vs. last week's success) "Other than the fact that they were a real fine defensive team. Actually, I thought we came out OK. We moved it down there and then we misfired a couple times in the 'Red Zone' -- mainly because of their great play or their pass rush making a great play, putting pressure on Brett (Favre). So I was not unhappy with how we came out of the gate. We kicked a field goal and then scored one in there and made it 10-nothing. They're a fine team -- fine defensive team. You know you have to earn everything you get. Like I said, under these conditions -- it was pretty warm out there -- the guys battled and so did they and we won."
(on the play of the defense) "Our defense played a superb football game. They really did. They created some turnovers, they got some sacks. When their backs were against the wall, they made plays. Ty Williams makes that interception in the end zone. There are a lot of good things from our defense. I think (defensive coordinator) Fritz (Shurmur), when you talk to him, he's probably going to be a little disappointed in the fact that they got one there at the end. But if we play defense the way we did today all season, we'll be in pretty good shape."
(on the performance of Reggie White) "Reggie had a good game. I understand he had a couple sacks. I just talked to him in there (locker room), he's feeling good. We're probably playing him more than we thought we were going to play him."
(on Derrick Mayes and Bill Schroeder at the number 3 wide receiver position) "They're both going to play and they're off to good starts -- both of them. As far as numbering them, let's call it three 'A' and 'B.' How's that? They're OK, both of them."
(on approaching the NFL consecutive home victories record) "I talked about it probably once during the week when I talked to the team. It's important to us, because it's important to win your games at home and establish a home-field record and a tough place to play. Other than that, I just take them one at a time and then when it comes up and I read it or if somebody asks me a question about it, I respond to it. We're not looking ahead to anything certainly. It does mean something to us and it means something to the players as well, even though they might not demonstrate that so much. They do think about it, because this is our home and people are coming in and trying to take something from you. So we look at it that way."
DEFENSIVE END REGGIE WHITE:
(on his individual effort, including three sacks) "That's one of the things I wanted to come into this game and do, is to get three sacks. I would have had four if (Vaughn) Booker wouldn't have knocked me off of him (Dilfer). I thought we played extremely well up front, we had good pressure, we shut the run down, and that's what we're going to have to do to win."
(on what his three sacks meant to him) "That was my goal. And just to do what I had to do to come out and help the team win. That's what I'm focused on. Sometimes you can think about individual performances, but I knew if I could go out there and do it, then other guys would step up and do it, and Keith McKenzie, Santana (Dotson), all the guys stepped up and had a good game."
(on how his back didn't seem to bother him) "You know, I'm not concerned as much about my back as I was last year. At times it is a little sore. But I'm able to handle it more, and it's not as bad as last year. I'm having fun -- that's one of the things I prayed for and said I wanted to do, was come in and have fun this last year."
(on how the defensive line played) "We were taking it to them, and Santana Dotson came to us and said their defensive line had a better rating than ours, so we wanted to go out and not only prove to ourselves, but other people, that we're just as good as anybody in the league as a defensive line."
(on the whether they were shooting for the shutout) "Of course, we wanted to shut them out. But we're not disappointed because the thing is, we played well enough to win."
QUARTERBACK BRETT FAVRE:
(on what he said to Regan Upshaw after Upshaw's big hit) "I think I told him it was a pretty good hit, which it was, and at first it really didn't hurt. It really never hurt, it just knocked me a little goofy."
(on his rivalry with defensive tackle Warren Sapp) "Warren's really a great guy, I've said that before. He talks a little bit when he plays, but he plays well. There's a difference when you talk and you can't back it up, but he can back it up. But he can back it up."
(on how he thought the Buccaneers played) "Their team showed a lot of class. They've got a really good football team. And even when they were down, they were saying the right things, they were doing the right things, and that's how you play football. I have a lot of respect for them."
(on whether he thinks the Buccaneers may be the team to beat) "They still may be. There's still a lot of games left. They opened up in Minnesota and Green Bay. I don't think anyone would want to do that. We wouldn't want to do that. And they played well today. As many mistakes as they made, they still only lost by seven, eight points. I know we still have to play them again, and it will be even tougher than it was today -- and that was a hard-fought game."
(on what happened to his finger) "I just got it smushed a little bit."
(on how Tampa Bay's defense played) "They played great. Today they didn't really give up any big plays. The one to Free (Antonio Freeman) was big for us, at that time. They play a bend, but don't break, defense. They play it well, they have good players. They have a lot of speed at linebacker. They rush the passer as good as anyone in the league. The safeties and corners are good tacklers and great cover guys. We knew it was going to be a tough, tough game."
(on the touchdown pass to Tyrone Davis) "It was a new play we put in. When Tyrone went into the flat, I think they backed off, thinking we'd try to shoot one in the end zone. He just came underneath. Sometimes, it's like a new blitz -- if you're not ready for it, you can be caught on it."
(on their good field position to start drives) "That definitely helped. That definitely played a big part in it, in the ballgame. Our special teams played great today. They gave up one big play. But field position, for an offensive football team, I can't even express how important it is. When you get the ball on the 50, to start the game, you really feel like you're rolling before you even start."
(on the offensive line) "Our offensive line is as good as we've had since I've been here. They're young. You take Frank Winters out, they're real young. So I'm very pleased with them. Warren Sapp is a very good player. They've played two really good games, so I'm very pleased."
(on all the talk that Tampa Bay has closed the gap) "It doesn't bother us, because we think we believe they are closing the gap. For us, we just have to keep playing the way we have been."
WIDE RECEIVER ANTONIO FREEMAN:
(on his 38-yard touchdown reception) "That's a play we talked about during the week in practice, and we thought if we executed it right it could be a big play. Robert (Brooks) went underneath, the linebacker jumped to him and it left me one-on-one with the linebacker, who has deep, and the safety has wide. So I read the middle, I took it, Brett threw a good ball, I got hit real hard, stood up, got stunned, and managed to make my way into the end zone. (Saftey) John Lynch is a hitter. He laid a heck of a hit on me -- it just stunned me physically, and when I realized where I was again, I managed to make it into the end zone."
(on how recovered from a dropped pass to have a good game) "That's what you have to do, you have to put the bad plays behind you. And for myself, it's frustrating that the toughest catches are the 'easy' ones. They should be the ones you just chalk up automatic. The tougher the catch, the better I am, because I have to find a way to maintain my focus and concentration. That was a drop, it could have been five yards, I come back, catch one for five and we could have had a first down. We ended up punting on that drive. Every drop is a big drop."
LINEBACKER BRIAN WILLIAMS:
(on the talking between teams on the field) "All their guys are pretty good guys. As far as what they say in the paper, we can't do anything about that here. But as far as what they say on the field, I think they're pretty first-class guys."
(on Reggie White's play) "Reggie was a monster today. It is great to see him have a game like that, especially after everyone got down on him. Because of that injury, it seemed like no one had anything positive to say about him. And then to have a game like he did today, that was pretty good for him. That gave the defense a lift out there also. Nobody trusts him on the fact that his back isn't bothering him as bad as last year. They just keep saying he's old, but no one seemed to mention the fact that his back was bothering him (last year) as much as it was. And now I think his back is a lot better, that he's going to be the Reggie White that could dominate the NFL the past years."
(on how well the defense played) "I think it's attribute to how we practice. Last week, we had a good week of practice (for) Detroit. This week, we had a good week of practice (for) Tampa. I think everybody studies hard. That's something we try to stress on really hard every week, to try to go out there and dominate, and I think that's something the defense, especially, went out there and did that today."
(on whether he wanted the shutout) "I'm not going to try to hide, it was on our mind. But they are a great team -- they have great skills player."
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