RECAP: Wade Phillips Press Conference 9/3/07

RECAP by theogt from a sports forum:

Good practice. Guys concentrated. They stepped up. We still have some meetings to go, but our concentration is there. Feel good about that. We got on extra day in to work on the Giants.

[Some joke about We Are Marshal]

Tnew?
Newman didn't practice. He's walking better and feeling better. Like all the guys that aren't practicing, we're working like they're not going to be there. That's our approach.

Feeling when he'll be avialable?
No, I don't have a feeling. I'm going on the trainers and him.

Reeves?
He'll start. Did well in preseason. Stepped up in the last ballgame. He's been a solid player in that hes been safe. They're not going to make a big play on him, but he won't make a big play. He's got great speed and learning to utilize.

He the reason you cut Glenn?
The criteria we use is if they can start for you. NExt is if they'll be an eventual starter. Next is S/T value. Also whether he has a special thing he can do -- play nickel or 3rd down receiver. There's a lot of criteria that you go down the list.

Corner is a need isn't it?
If a guy is a starter for us -- we still think Newman is our starter. It might not be the first game, but we feel like he'll be back pretty soon.


Why not give JR a start?
We looked at everybody. It's an evaluation process. It's not to knock A. Glenn. Someone should pick him up.

Tough to cut a veteran leader?
We gained a lot from him being there. The young guys benefited from watching a season professional.

Terry Glenn?
Didn't do team plays for us.

Wednesday?
He'll practice Wednesday. We'll go from there.

Burnett?
Don't know when he'll get out there. Sometime during the week. Chance he could play on Sunday.

Nickel w/out Newman?
Nate Jones will play nickel corner. He's got some value on special teams to start with. He could play in the game in certain situations.

Hows not having all of your weapons for your first game?
Usually you go through it at some point. You have to be prepared and have guys step up. Thats why you have guys on your roster.

Depth at OLB?
Without Ellis it looks different. We picked up Rogers who is a good S/T player. Did well in NE. We'll work him in. Without Burnett and Ellis, and the new guy, you drop off. But they're all quality guys. I like the guys we have.

Where is Greg?
I'm not saying. He worked today. I'm hoping he'll get some passrush in this week. Sometime. WHen that comes things will come faster.

Worked today?
He rehabbed. His rehab looks harder than practice to me.

Getting closer to getting on the field?
We'll see. I really don't know for sure.

Rookie kicker? Confidence?
You have to go on what they do in practice and in the game. He's virtually missed no field goals in practice and none in the game. There's a lot of pressure to make the team, especially as kicker. So under pressure hes done some good thigns. His ball goes straight and end over end. It doesnt have to curve, so it gives you some consistency as a kicker. His kickoffs will improve. He kicks 'em high. He coudl kick it deeper if he flattens it out.

Martin getting hurt help that decision?
That's ultimately what happened. He made it and the other guy didn't.

In Buffalo, always have the luxory of good kickers?
In 30 years, you get in situations where you have to juggle some. We drafted Morten Anderson in NO. Christie in Buffalo. We've had pretty good kickers. We all know if they start kicking it bad, confidence is a big thing.

How much is luck involved in hitting on a kicker?
Harold Richardson and I looked at the NCAA stats and drafted Morten Anderson. There's a little luck involved.

What is he going to do (Richardson)?
He's going to help on an interim basis. Not as QB coach, but as an extra set of eyes. He's coached just about every position. He's experienced and will help us. He's been in business in Atlanta.

Depth at corner? Is that fixed now?
Well, w/out newman it's a bigger question. But I think at most positions if one of your better players goes out -- if Ware were out every would go "woah." It highlights problems. It's a continuing process. You never have enough corners. You have to keep working to get them and keep developing them.

Kick returner?
Tyson will be the KO returner along with Miles. BOth of those guys have done well.

Spencer starting? Carpenter have a chance?
Spencer will start.

Newman play in only special situations? Or will he start if healthy?
He has to be healthy to play. If he's almost healthy it's hard for a corner. It's going to be either he's ready or he's not.

Get better as the season goes along?
At some point he'll get better. When that is, I don't know. If there's some pain involved he'll play. This week and maybe next will determine what it's going to take for him to get out there.

Possible for him to play w/out practice?
We've had some situations. It was hard to get Reggie White to practice, but he played okay. It could come up. I would think at sometime he'll be able to practice and play.

If he does play, will you change what you do with Roy and Hamlin?
I don't expect to have to change a whole lot.

Have enough weapons to get to the QB?
Yeah, we'll put pressure on the QB. I'm comfident about that. Now we have to stop the running game. And then put pressure on the QB. If you can stop the run, you can then put pressure on the QB.

Jason Garrett?
I assume he's like he was when he was a QB. He knows what's coming. On 2nd and 4, he's ready for 3rd down. He looks ahead.

With all the coaching changes, how do you view the importance of the start?
I think its nice to start at home. I like that. When I went to Buff, I said the start is the most important thing, but we went 0-3 and went to the playoffs. It's important that a team gest on a roll. Last year we didn't lose a game for 3 months. I just gotta get them to play their best.

You don't sweat the perception?
I've been with coaches that say 70% of the time, the teams that are in the playoffs win their first game. Well, the other 30% didn't win. Your team just has to be able to get through adversity. And be able to handle success. We'll be challenged with one or the other.

How long does it take you to get a feel for your team?
I think I have a good feel for the team. They're different than past teams in some ways and similar in others. They're really good in meetings. That's good. T hey're always trying to improve.

What makes a team good in meetings?
They stay focused and ask questions. In college guys don't ask questions. THey just write down what the coaches say. These guys ask questions and make suggestions. They're pretty intellectual. I think they'll improve. Smart players get better. They find a way to get better.

Safety play?
I feel good about our safeties. Hamlin was a great addition. Roy is a pro bowl player. We expect a lot out of Roy. Sometimes expectations are so, that if he doesn't play perfect people think he didn't do well.

Can your corners play man-to-man?
It depends on the player. IF they can't play it, we won't. [Player] isn't Terence Newman. With Terence, you could say that we're going to help everyone else and tell Newman to cover his one guy.

Affect your decision to pressure?
No, we can pressure all sorts of ways. We can help some people and not help others. As long as our players know how to execute.

Affect how you play Roy?
No, that's more Hamlin helping Roy.

How different does it feel today with the season starting?
It's another level once the season starts. It's another level of practice.

Roy was upset that Glenn was let go. Did you factor that in? His popularity?
You factor in everything. Everybody is going to get cut at some point. There are two types of players -- players that have been cut and players that are going to get cut. All of those decisions are tough. Several of our guys got picked up.