Barry Cofield
On how the defense fit together: “There’s work to do, a couple of runs we did give up it was from miscommunication and getting leveraged. It wasn’t a physical thing, it was mental. It’s not where you start, you want to play your best ball in November and December.”
Will Montgomery
On where he expected the team to be: “I don’t expect to go out and play crappy. I expect to go out and play well. We made a step in the right direction.”
On how much stock he puts into beating the Steelers: “There are some Pro Bowlers on their defensive front. I don’t think they were ready for a team like us. The way we run outside zone is different from most other teams. Other teams like to run more inside stuff. I think they might not have been ready for what we were going to do.”
Terrence Austin
On making a couple catches: “I felt good about it. That’s what I’m used to doing. I’m used to playing football and I make it fun for myself so when it’s a clutch situation I don’t think too hard about it being a clutch situation. I’m just playing.”
On the new kickoff rule: “It sucks. I think it takes away a lot of the big plays that we can have. I guess it’s done for precautionary reasons. I don’t agree with it. I’m pretty sure the other returners don’t either.”
Tim Hightower
On picking up the blitz: “You’ve got to. You have to be an all-around back. That’s something I take pride in is protecting my quarterback. When they see a running back who is willing to stick his nose in there and give the quarterback some time and make plays down the field, it’s a lot of respect.”
Rex Grossman
On Hightower’s pass protection: “It was great. He seems like he’s as good as Clinton Portis was, just being able to stick his nose in there and be real tough about it and stop those guys at the line.”
On Santana Moss: “He is a quarterback’s best friend. He understands where the holes are in the defense and he broke some routes off hot knowing that the protection is bad.”
Evan Royster
On fitting into the stretch zone: “I’ve been running a similar offense for about 10 years now. I’m comfortable running the inside-outside zone. I feel comfortable out there. After the first couple carries I started to loosen up and get into a rhythm.”
Graham Gano
On Shayne Graham’s tough night: “You don’t wish bad on anyone in any competition. It’s unfortunate to see the night he had, but I’m sure he’ll bounce back. Third best [percentage] in league history, that speaks for itself.”
Ryan Kerrigan
On his third down stop: “I was just playing my assignment on that play. I saw the play develop early and I saw where the ball was going and it being third and one I had an idea they would run inside. It’s just being gap sound and I was fortunate enough to make that play.”
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