WEEK 2 - Jaguars Head Coach Jack Del Rio -Ingles

9/16/09

On how hard it is to prepare for the Cardinals, especially since they only play once every four or five years:
“Obviously, we got to see them play in the Super Bowl last year. We have been hard at work getting prepared for them. They are not an opponent we play all the time. We are doing our best to study them and learn what they like to do and who they like to do it with. We understand that they have a lot of talent. They have eight Pro Bowlers on the squad. It is a very strong football team. We are getting ready to do well in our home opener.”

On if he agrees with Cardinals Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt’s assessment that team’s get off to a slow start in week one because you haven’t seen much film from the other team:
“I think both of us experienced a weekend last week that did not go the way we wanted. From that standpoint, we would like to be a week better and find a way to get a victory this week.”

On if it was disappointing that the Jaguars had the ball at the end of the game with a chance to win but could not deliver:
“Sure it was. Not winning period was. We expected to go out and play well and find a way to win that game. We had some opportunities that we did not execute well enough to capitalize on. That is the way it goes. You get your chances and you have to execute when you get those opportunities.”

On his decision to bring offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter down from the booth to the sidelines:
“That was something I welcomed. Dirk (Koetter) was the one who initiated it and I supported it. On the sideline, you get a chance to really feel the game and look in the eyes of the players you are working with. It just depends on the comfort level of the coordinator. Some like it in the box where they can see everything. Some like it on the sidelines. I’m comfortable with however the coordinator is most comfortable. He was excited about getting down there. I think we’ve liked that so far.”

On what he liked about offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter when he hired him and what made him think that Koetter could make the transition from college head coach to an NFL coordinator:
“He is a very bright guy. He has done a great job throughout his career. Offenses everywhere he’s been have been very productive. I actually met Dirk (Koetter) through (Bengals head coach and former Ravens defensive coordinator) Marvin Lewis years back. I actually went out there to clinic their defense a little bit. Our staff with the Ravens went out there and met with their staff when he was with Arizona State. I met him then. Then I started tracking him. Also, (Eagles head coach) Andy Reid is a friend of Dirk’s and a friend of mine. In getting background and research and what not, Andy spoke very highly of Dirk. He talked about how (Dirk’s) one of the smartest guys he has ever worked with. I brought him in for the interview and he was outstanding. I thought he was going to be a good fit for us and he has been.”

On if the decision to move RB Maurice Jones-Drew to a feature running back was a result of the team evolving or just trying to get Jones-Drew into that role:
“Probably both would apply. One, as a football team we are certainly evolving. I believe we had 22 new players on our roster last week going into that ballgame. There has been some dramatic turnover. I think part of that is recognizing that this is Maurice’s time to be more involved. (Former Jaguars RB) Fred Taylor is a great player and was a great Jaguar, but it was time for Maurice to be the guy. It was difficult to see Fred in a support role. Really, that was the crux of what we did there. Maurice is our guy. He got off to a solid start last week. He is a real fine player.”

On how the Jaguars try to replace DE Reggie Hayward, who was injured in last week’s game:
“We are going to work it the best we can. Atiyyah Ellison has had some snaps in Reggie’s spot. We will just fill in with the guys we have and do the best we can to carry on. That is what you do. We had more than our share last year. We certainly don’t want to see anything like that. Heck, last year, in our pregame warm-ups, I lost a guy. By the first quarter, I had three of my interior linemen out. Certainly, we didn’t have that kind of problem this week. We don’t want to have that kind of problem going forward.”

On how his two rookie offensive tackles performed against Indianapolis last week:
“In pure have to pass situations, not so good. The rest of the time, I thought they were solid. Those guys are pretty good that Indy has. That turf with the crowd noise in obvious passing situations, they can make life tough for you.”

On if it is important to have success on first and second downs:
“In Indy, you better. If you’re in third and long, you are going to see (Dwight) Freeney and (Robert) Mathis all day. That is not good for anything you are trying to do offensively. That is as stiff a challenge as you will get, no question.”

On the problems the team is having with ticket sales and potential television blackouts:
“The way I feel about it is that the people who are able to come are fantastic. They are very supportive. They make a lot of noise. I appreciate them. Those who can’t make it, it is unfortunate. It is a tough time right now economically. Some people are faced with tough decisions and they are doing the best they can to do that. From my end I want to appreciate the ones who are here, hope that we put out a good product, and people will find a way somehow to get out there and support us. My focus really has to be on working on our football team.”

On what he sees in film from the Arizona defense:
“Not much room to run. They did an unbelievable job against a pretty good running football team in San Francisco. To have 25 rushing attempts and get 21 yards, that was a pretty solid effort. It was a pretty good way to start your season. I know they didn’t get the ‘W’, and that’s what we’re all after, but they played pretty well.”

On if he will be reliving stories of the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship at Lake Tahoe in which both he and Cardinals Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt participated:
“He might. I won’t. He is the one who played well. I didn’t.”