Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Conference Calls: Phillips, Romo

November 14, 2007
http://www.redskins.com

Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips and quarterback Tony Romo spoke with Washington, D.C., reporters on Wednesday:

HEAD COACH WADE PHILLIPS
On Dallas' play in the secondary this season:
"We feel good about the secondary. The defense is playing well back there. I look at average per attempt and when you are whatever we are, I think fifth in the league, team's are going to start throwing more against you and are going to get more yards. We have a lot of passes thrown against us but I think we are getting better and better. I like our secondary. If we can get both corners starting, which we haven't had all season, I think that will help us."

On replacing former Dallas Head Coach Bill Parcells:
"It's kind of a whirlwind. We kind of expected to roll. All coaches are optimistic when they go in, especially in a situation like this. A lot of times I have come in new and things have worked out well so I have been lucky."

On exceeding his expectations:
"I don't know about expectations. Maybe the expectations of the fans have been exceeded. I think everyone is a little surprised by how well we are doing and playing as well as we are playing. We still have a ways to go. Philadelphia was 5-6 and won their division last year. In the past, Joe Gibbs has gotten teams to go on winning runs that have been great. We are still focusing on this game. This is a big game for us."

On the difference for the team this year compared to last:
"Every year is different. A couple of teams that were in the playoffs last year aren't playing very well and vice versa. Every year is a new year even if you have the same players. This team has come together well. Our quarterback is playing well. Our offense is playing well. Our defense and special teams are doing well. We have kind of put it all together for this year's team."

On Terrell Owens (WR, #81):
"He is great. He is a great player. He works hard in practice. He wants the team to do well. He runs routes when he is doubled and gets satisfaction when he is doubled and somebody else catches the play. He has been great."

On if he was wary about Terrell Owen's reputation:
"I have never really had any problems with any of the players I have coached. I didn't worry about him or anyone else. You have to get to know them first, whoever the players are. He was just one of my players. He has been outstanding. Actually, he was the first one to call me when I got the job to congratulate me. We got off on a good foot right there."

On Patrick Crayton (WR, #84) and Marion Barber (RB, #24):
"They compliment the offense. They can make plays and they do make plays. If you concentrate on other people or double up on other people or other phases of our game, those guys have come through for us. I think both of them are outstanding individuals and good players."

On the importance of the relationship between a quarterback and the head coach:
"I think the quarterback is important, no one can argue with that. How he feels about the offense is certainly important and I think that communication is key. Tony Romo (QB, #9) is getting a lot of help but Tony has to be the guy to make the good decisions and he has done a good job."

On the Redskins defense with the loss of Sean Taylor (CB, #21):
"I think they will do well. They have a great defense. I know Gregg Williams will have those guys ready. They would be a lot higher in the stats if they hadn't played New England. They are really strong on defense."


COWBOYS QUARTERBACK TONY ROMO
On his jersey being the number one seller in the NFL:
"It's very surprising. I think it's neat that we have that many fans that follow this team. They just get excited when we're winning, so it's an exciting feeling for sure."

On the way he has been able to get the passing game going and how it has developed this year:
"I just think we have some good players at certain positions that are able to move the ball and put some points up. It's no real secret, we have a scheme and we have good players and we just try to get it in their hands and let them do all the work."

On Jason Campbell (QB, #17):
"I think he's doing a good job. I think it's always difficult when you first come in and start playing. He's only been playing now for probably around a year total. He's done a real good job of progressing as a quarterback and he's definitely leading this team right now, so it's going to be a great challenge for us, partly because he is playing so well."

On having a quick transition into quarterback:
"Every time you're out there you just want to put points on the board as a quarterback. Leading the unit you're a little upset when you don't score on certain possessions. I think that's been our mindset this entire time, since I've been here. Your job is to go score and win football games and that's about all you need to take care of. It just takes care of itself if you do that well."

On why he is so effective when playing out of the pocket:
"I don't know. Honestly I would rather sit in the pocket all day, which usually means that protection is good and you're dropping back and you're able to look and scan the field. The most successful games have been when I get to sit in the pocket and do that. The big plays sometimes happen when you get outside the pocket. We don't really look for that. We don't try to do that, it's just something that comes about. I think you have a sixth sense for it or you don't. When you get out there things either slow down or they speed up."

On if he thinks he could have been this successful earlier or did it have to happen now:
"I don't know. I'm not a guy who looks in the past and says, ?gosh I wish, or I could have.' There are a couple things. I was smart enough to understand during that time that I was sitting that I knew I was getting better each year. I knew I was improving. I was getting to a point where I felt like I could play in the National Football League and play decent. It was a really neat feeling last year when I got the start against Carolina the first time because it was finally coming to a point where I was like, ?well we'll find out if I really am good enough or not.' You can do all the things you want in practice and pre-season, but until you prove it in a regular season game you really don't know if you're good enough to do it. You just work as hard as you can and try and go out there and hope that it all comes about."

On if he is surprised at how well things have gone:
"No, I wouldn't use that term. I expect success from my team and from myself. If you didn't, I don't see how you could perform at a high enough level to win a lot of games in this League. Realistically it's just something that when you go out there and play, if you ever have success at any moment, you feel like you can consistently do it, it's just a matter of trying to do it week in and week out."

On Terrell Owens (WR, #81):
"I don't know the guy that wasn't here. The guy that people talk about in Philly or San Francisco and stuff, I just know the guy that I deal with on a day-to-day basis and that guy is easy to be around. I can work with people that want to win and are willing to work to win and he's one of those guys. It makes it real easy for me to talk to him, to get with him and for us to try and accomplish a goal together. I've been around plenty of guys who want the football, who want to be a part of it and want to be a big part of it. There are plenty of guys like that and you learn to deal with them and you understand that this is the mindset that usually some great players have. You just learn how to deal with people and you move along."

On if he feels like they can take advantage of the injured Redskins defense:
"No they still have a cast there. It's going to be a good test. Gregg Williams (Assistant Head Coach- Defense) is one of the better minds in the game. I think it will be a great test for us just to get out there and try and execute on every series. They still have some talented players that we actually have to watch out for. We'll be prepared but it will be a good test for us this week."

On why this team is better than the team from last year when the depth chart is basically the same:
"I don't know. I think some guys have improved in certain spots. I know I have gotten better. I don't think I was as polished last year in some ways. It was the first year. You're just trying to improve as a team and as individuals. Some guys had the ability to get better and they have."

On if he sensed in August that they were a much better team:
"I sensed that I was an improved player. That is the thing that you really know, you can tell about yourself a lot. I just got the feeling that we had some guys who improved in other positions. We were a young team in some areas last year. We're just a solid football team this year."

On how the team is different with Wade Phillips as the Head Coach as opposed to Bill Parcels:
"Obviously Bill was a little more of a micro-manager in some ways. His track record speaks for himself and that has worked immensely well. Wade has had success as well. He doesn't quite coach every position the way that Bill would, but Wade kind of delegates it to his assistant coaches a little bit. There is no right way, they're just different styles. At the end of the day they both want to win and they are both passionate about the game. That's important. The real difference, if you're talking to the two of them the biggest difference would probably be the language. I would say Bill's language is a little harsher than Wade's. A little more four letter words. There is not right or wrong way to do this thing."