WEEK 3 - Cardinals Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt -Ingles

9/21/09

Opening Statement:
“(I am) still trying to get hydrated from yesterday. That was brutal. It was tough conditions. I was very pleased with how our team handled it. I think going out early and getting acclimated helped. The guys did a very good job of hydrating before the game and I think that was critical. Plus, the ability to rotate guys, which is a by-product of having better depth, certainly helped us in those conditions. With all of the rain that we got before the game and then the sun coming out with all the moisture in the ground, it was really tough out there.”

On how important the win was for the team:
“I think anytime you win on the road, it is an important win. Especially for us in the history with being on the east coast in the one o’clock game, it was good to start out the way we did with an opening drive for a touchdown and then to sustain it through the game was big for us. Obviously, after the way we played the first week, it was something that would be good for our confidence as we go forward. It was really good for our team to get that win yesterday.”

On the offensive line’s improvement from the first game:
“Well, they answered the challenge. We got on them hard last week and it was a tough week of practice for those guys. But, they stepped up. It is a unit that I thought played well in training camp and in the preseason. They did not play that well in the first game. What you would like to see is them respond the way they did. They certainly have their hands full this week. Hopefully, we can continue to play at that level.”

On what other factors besides the improved offensive line play led to QB Kurt Warner’s record-breaking day:
“I think we have all seen Kurt (Warner) enough to know that there are some days when he is especially sharp. Yesterday, it appeared, was one of those days. Kurt, week in and week out, has been very good in the 33 games that he has started for us. I think the big thing yesterday was that we had some big plays that we made early in the game. Anquan (Boldin’s) first down on the second play of the game where he ran back in there on the quick screen for a first down really got us going. We had a couple of nice catches. A couple of the early passes were maybe a little high and guys went up and made the catches. When that happens, we kind of build on that. There is no question that Kurt was accurate with the ball. He knew where he wanted to go with it. He was very decisive and he made some good plays for us. We just built off of that.”

On if having WRs Steve Breaston and Anquan Boldin healthy played a major role in QB Kurt Warner’s success:
“I think it was more about practice last week than anything. We had a good week of practice as far as the timing of some of our routes and the planning that we had in and we executed it. That is what we didn’t do the first week. To me, if you look at anything, when we execute things the right way we have chances to win games and that is what we did yesterday.”

On if he was still angry with the offensive line:
“Somebody asked me this morning if I was happy with the way our line played and I said, ‘No, I think I’m going to stay mad at them, because it seemed like we played a little bit better when I was mad at them last week.’ I think we will try to keep that same mentality going.”

On how he feels about the evolving running game:
“If we didn’t have the fumbles I would feel really good about our running as far as some of the plays we have made. The thing that I like is that we had some plus 10, plus 20 yard runs, which is not something that has happened a lot in the two years previous to this. I really liked the fact that we had a better balance of runs yesterday. We had 32 passes to 28 runs which to me is pretty good. The thing that I like is that we are getting some pretty good chunks in the running game. That really sets up the play action. It helps us in the protections. I have been really pleased with the way that Tim Hightower has been running the ball. Obviously, if we can get Beanie (Wells) to hang onto the ball, we have got a very good mix there. LaRod (Stephens-Howling) has done some things for us as has Jason Wright. We have a good little stable of backs there that are very versatile. I think that has helped us.”

On if he feels that RB Beanie Wells is more susceptible to fumbling the ball when he runs inside or outside:
“Well, he had both yesterday. He had one inside down on the goal-line and one where he broke it outside in the other part of the field. I think it is really about squeezing the ball. We have been on him about ball security every day in practice. Believe it or not, he has actually gotten better. When you are getting into the games, the speed of the games, especially for a young a player, he doesn’t understand what is going on. Now, there were a lot of fumbles in that game yesterday. I don’t know if some of it was in part a function of the weather or guys getting tired. When that happens, they have a tendency to wave the ball outside a little bit. That has been a problem with Beanie (Wells), not carrying the ball tight enough in his grip. I think we all remember (former Giants running back) Tiki Barber talking about high and tight. One of the things he did to reduce his propensity for putting the ball on the ground was to keep it high and tight. That is a little about what we are talking about with Beanie.”

On if RB Beanie Wells will continue to carry a football around all week, even after practice:
“I believe so, yes. Since it is my call, I would have to say yes.”

On if the Jaguars comeback in the second half was a result of fatigue in a hot and humid climate:
“I think more of it was dropped passes on offense. We had opportunities to keep drives going and keep our defense off the field. A lot of times in those situations, you are playing to not give up the big play early so you can make them use time off the clock. Being down four touchdowns, as we have seen, is a hard road to comeback from. I think we had a couple of passes that we could have caught offensively that would have made the difference in the game. They would have given us two first downs which would have allowed us to take more time off the clock. It wouldn’t have been an issue. I’m not so much concerned about what happened with our defense, even though I can’t accept the fact that we let them score two touchdowns. We should have been able to keep them from scoring the touchdowns, but I think that part of the onus has to go on the offense too because in those situations, we have to get the first downs when we have the opportunity to make plays. It wasn’t as if they stopped us on the run or we didn’t get anything going. We had opportunities to make first downs with catches that should have been made. We didn’t do that.”

On what he thought of QB Matt Leinart’s performance:
“First of all, he was very poised. He understood what we were trying to do. He was calm in the pocket. I think the two balls that could have been caught, if he has those, now he is five-for-six, he has moved the offense, and everyone feels good about that. I think from the standpoint of being able to manage our offense, having confidence with having him in there, I feel much better about it than I ever have because he had tremendous amount of poise and he was very excited to get in there and play. It was actually very good that he got in a quarter of play in a regular season game. Would I have liked for it to have been better? Sure. Could two of those throws have been a little better? Yeah, but these are NFL guys and they have to make those catches too.”

On if, in hindsight, he would have left QB Kurt Warner in the game longer:
“Actually, yesterday there were two plays in the game. The first one was when he had the corner blitz and he got hit. He got a little bit of a stinger when that happened, but he recovered. Then, on the one fumble, on the Beanie Wells’ fumble, when Anthony Becht touched him down and (Rashean) Mathis picked it up and ran it back, Kurt (Warner) was out in front and trying to tackle. He got pushed to the ground and landed on his shoulder. His shoulder was a little sore. At that point in the third quarter, I didn’t want him to have to suffer any effects this week of dealing with a sore shoulder, so that is why I took him out. That is really what it was about, to protect him and to hopefully put him in the best position to practice this week and not have any lingering effects from it.”

On how QB Kurt Warner is feeling today after hurting his shoulder on Sunday:
“I haven’t seen him today. But, on the airplane going home yesterday, he said he felt okay.”

On why QB Kurt Warner was warming up on the sideline in the fourth quarter after being taken out in the third quarter:
“Just in case. That was just in case. I wanted him to test it out and see how it felt. He obviously felt okay. I think at that point, when you are up four touchdowns, it was more about being smart and giving Matt (Leinart) a chance to play.”

On if he is second-guessing his decision to play reserve players on defense during much of the second half:
“No. I think those guys had to play. In that kind of weather, if you are out there for extended plays, which our defense was at times, especially in that second quarter where they had that drive and then they blocked the field goal and went right back out there, especially after running 83 yards trying to block for Antrel (Rolle), that will wear you out. I think you have to have (reserves out there) and you have to be able to play. Would I have liked to have seen Rashad (Johnson) play the ball better at the end? Absolutely. That is something we can learn from.”

On if there is truth to the idea that a player who has a reputation for fumbling the ball will get attacked differently by defenses:
“I hate to reference (former Giants running back) Tiki Barber again, but look at that. Tiki was a guy who put the ball on the ground a lot and then he changed the way he carried the ball and then he never put the ball on the ground. I don’t really buy into that as much. We are aware of what Beanie (Wells) was doing carrying the football that he needs to improve. If he does that, I don’t think he will put the ball on the ground.”

On if he sees a difference in his defense in regards to stopping the run from last year to this year:
“Even pass defenses were a lot closer on balls in the defensive secondary with chances. Bryant McFadden had four or five pass breakups yesterday. Obviously, we had some opportunities to get the ball. Dominique (Rodgers-Cromartie) had one. Probably on that fourth down and ten, he had chance to get the ball there. I think what I saw yesterday was better depth that can play and get a rotation. I saw guys getting up off the ground and chasing plays yesterday. In that type of weather conditions, to see Alan Branch, Gabe Watson, Bryan Robinson, and those guys working hard. To me that is a sign that we are getting the team defensive concept down. If you look at the number of guys that had plays yesterday, whether it was Clark Haggans or Calais (Campbell) on his sacks or Bertrand Berry and Karlos (Dansby) and Adrian (Wilson). You can name a whole bunch of guys who made plays in the game. That to me is a sign that we are playing better team defense. Obviously the sack production is a lot better and keeping them out of the end-zone. Let’s look at the first two possessions that (the Jaguars) had. (The defense) held them to a field goal in the first one and forced them, after we had the turnover, to kick the second one which we blocked and returned for the touchdown. That to me is improvement.”

On who he would like to see returning punts:
“I am partial to Steve (Breaston) because Steve has had success with us. If you look at what we did in the first game, we averaged 11 yards a punt return which put us in the top-five or top-10 in the league in punt returns. That is not a place we have been in the past two years. To me, going in after the San Francisco game I felt very good about our punt return unit with Antrel (Rolle) back there because he was productive. Obviously, that perception has changed a little bit because of the decision making. It wasn’t physical as much as it was the decision making. That is something with a guy who hasn’t done it consistently. To be perfectly honest with you, I don’t know.”

On if Antrel Rolle’s hurt leg had any effect on his struggles returning punts:
“I have no doubt that affected him as far as being able to go get the ball. From everything I have seen from him in the preseason and in practice and even in the first game about being able to field those balls and not being afraid to take chances, which is tough. Running up to catch a punt is probably one of the hardest things anybody has to do, especially with those guys screaming down the field. To me, I have no doubt that affected him. The only thing you worry about now is his confidence because of that yesterday. Antrel (Rolle) is a confident young man, so I don’t anticipate that being an issue.”

On if he would try putting LaRod Stephens-Howling back to return punts:
“He has been working back there. Once again, he is a guy who has even less experience doing it. Especially with the fact that he is a rookie, that is not something you would do unless it was a necessity.”

On if it was the design of the offense to distribute the ball to nine different players:
“I think that is the quarterback operating. We have a number of different things he has to read out and go through his progressions and he did that. When we are operating, that is generally what happens. A lot people say, ‘why can’t you get the ball to this guy?’ The way we are set up is the quarterback has reads and he is going to go based on what the defense is giving us. Kurt (Warner) is one of the best in the league at doing that. If you see totals like you saw yesterday where the ball is spread out and we are efficient, then we are operating pretty well as an offense.”

On what he would say about DE Calais Campbell’s performance:
“Tackle. That is what I would say. Especially on sacks. I don’t know how many sacks he would have right now if he could get guys down. As far as filling a role of which we lost a pretty good player in Antonio (Smith), I think Calais (Campbell) is doing a very good job. He is a young player who will continue to get better as he progresses, but he has an ability to (make plays). Just look at yesterday. He had a chance to have a sack right down there inside the five-yard-line. He blocked a field goal. He has made significant contributions. I am excited about that as a young player we drafted and have expectations for who had to step in. I am very pleased with what he is doing and as he improves.”

On how his preparation for next week’s game changes because their opponent, the Indianapolis Colts, are playing tonight on Monday Night Football:
“It is a little bit more difficult because we don’t have as much information on them. They have only played one regular season game. Let’s just take Jacksonville for an example. They had only had one regular season game. We didn’t know if we were going to see a three-four defense or a four-three because they had played both. Now, Indianapolis has a different defensive coordinator. It used to be they always played the Tampa-two. That is what they were famous for. In the little bit of tape that I have seen on them so far that has changed. They play a little different of a defensive scheme. The question is, is that what they are doing or is that not what they are doing. I guess tonight, we will see. We will have an opportunity to see. It is a little bit more difficult because usually, in this type of situation, you have four games on an opponent. You have an idea. You just kind of double-check it against what they did on a Monday night game. The information that we get from the game tonight will be more valuable to us as far as game planning. It does change it a little bit. We would already have three games broken down. If it was a Monday night game, we would just be using that as extra information. Okay, they did this. Okay, they do that. We would check it out. We only have one regular season game with this team. Just knowing what we did defensively in the preseason, we are a completely different defense in the regular season. Those are the kinds of things you think about when you face a team that you are not that familiar with that has a different coordinator that may be doing different things.”

On if teams are defending the Cardinals’ offense different after the team’s success in last year’s playoffs:
“What happens is like what happened in the first game against San Francisco. You end up throwing to the back or you end up throwing to a number of different receivers. (The Jaguars’) corner, who is an outstanding player, (Rashean) Mathis said after the game yesterday, ‘We weren’t going to give up any deep balls. We weren’t going to let anybody get behind us.’ That, to me, is no doubt a function of some of the big plays in the playoffs where we got behind guys or made the plays down the field. What is going to happen, we are going to have to continue to take the shorter plays or the check downs and move the ball. The one thing that we did yesterday is we made big plays on first and second downs and we moved the chains. There were a lot of times that we got the first down on second down which didn’t put us in third down a lot. We have to get better in our third down conversions because we weren’t great on it yesterday. Because we were so efficient on first and second down, that was why we were able to move the ball and sustain drives. That, to me, is a function of being smart and taking what is given to us instead of trying to force the ball downfield.”

On if he is concerned about having to try to force the ball to WR Larry Fitzgerald to make him happy:
“Not after what I saw from him yesterday in the latter part of the game, being excited about winning. The one thing that I am most impressed about Larry (Fitzgerald), we all know he is a great player and the strides he made last year as a player, but the leadership strides that he has made this year. First of all, he was elected a captain by his teammates, which is a pretty significant step and then the way he handles himself on the field as a leader now. So no, I am not concerned about that. But make no mistake about it, he is a good player. We want to get him the ball. He will tell you that, but it is never done in a way that is anything other than kind of kidding around.”

On if he has had a conversation with K Neil Rackers about him making tackles on special teams:
“I try to have as few conversations with Neil (Rackers) as I possibly can. When you are dealing with the guys who kick the ball like Neil does, and he has been in a very good place lately, I don’t want to get him out of it. We did have a conversation about sticking his head in there sometimes because he has been kicking the ball really well for us, so you would hate to lose him. Neil is a physical football player who sees himself as a cover guy. I have to say this; he has made some huge plays for us.”

On K Neil Rackers being right in the middle of special teams tackles:
“Most of the time he is unblocked. So it is easier to run down the field knowing really that nobody is coming to block you. Maybe that is a little bit different. I think Neil (Rackers) is a very strong minded person. He is a very competitive person. He has a lot of pride in the kickoff coverage unit. He wants them to be one of the best in the NFL. He recognizes that his contributions to that can help make us that way. To me, you can look at it however you want. To me, that is an unselfish part of Neil. He is willing to sacrifice his body to help his team. Even though sometimes we have to be a little bit smarter in those situations, it is hard to fault Neil for that.”

On if he is getting more comfortable with the new coaching setup on offense and calling the plays on offense:
“It has been comfortable. It is good to have a little bit of success doing it that way and getting back in the flow. Like I said earlier, there were times in the preseason when I felt we were operating pretty well. We came out in the Pittsburgh game with the first unit and moved the ball on a very good defense. During the preseason games, up until the last one and a little bit of the Green Bay game, I felt like we were operating well. Last week obviously was a disappointment. There were a number of factors that led to that. As far as the communication goes with how we are doing things, we feel very good about it and I think the players do as well.”

On if there is anything he has found particularly challenging about calling the plays on offense:
“It is still early. It is always exciting to have the opportunity to call plays in this league. That to me is fun and is a bonus. We have a good football team and we have a number of good football players. That makes it a lot easier as well, especially when they play the way they did yesterday. I don’t necessarily know if there is anything harder about juggling it. It is exciting for me so I enjoy it.”

On how he feels about Kurt Warner being considered over the hill one week and youthful in the next:
“I tell you what, that is life in the NFL. One of the things that comes with being one of the most popular sports is that you have people interested in it. I am just glad that we have people interested in the Arizona Cardinals. Hopefully, we can continue to play well so it will be positive interest.”

On if he is surprised that San Francisco beat the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday:
“No. I wasn’t surprised. They played a good game against us. They were a physical football team. They are playing good ball. Fortunately for us, we will get a chance to play them again.”