Super Bowl XLVI – Wednesday, February 1, 2012(on if he’s played in a three safety defense before) “No. First time ever, and it’s been working out so far.”
(on Giants head coach Tom Coughlin) “One thing with Coach Coughlin is he’s a disciplinary coach. He’s very consistent. You’re know what you’re going to get with him. You don’t have to worry about him switching up on you, so you know what to expect. You have to follow the rules, and that’s why I think a lot of guys respect him because he’s not all over the place. You’re going to get what you’re going to get, and a lot of guys adapt to it.”
(on another Miami alum, New England NT Vince Wilfork, being in the Super Bowl) “I was thinking the same thing. I’m wishing him the best of luck over there. It’s always good to see one of your Miami brothers doing well, and he’s doing a great job over there.”
(on covering the Patriots tight ends) “They’re big tight ends. They’re good tight ends. They do cause a lot of matchup problems for a lot of teams, but I think we’ve played a lot of great tight ends this season – Vernon Davis, Jimmy Graham – so we are kind of used to seeing these guys. It doesn’t matter if a safety or a cornerback or a linebacker covers them, it’s something that you’re doing. It will be a challenge, but I think we match up pretty good against them.”
(on New England TE Rob Gronkowski) “I think Gronkowski is really the true tight end. Hernandez, he’s really more like a receiver, so that’s pretty much how to treat him. As far as trying to cover those guys, you just have to be as physical as possible with them, especially Gronkowski. He’s coming off an ankle injury. You’re not going to intentionally try to hurt him, but the more physical you can be, I think it will help out a lot.”
(on covering the tight ends) “They spread them out. They use them like they’re receivers, line them up wide. They line them up at the No. 1 spot. They line them up in the slot. They try to make mismatch problems, but, like I said, I think we match up pretty well against them.”
(on what makes Gronkowski a challenge to cover) “He’s huge. He’s a big body, and he can run. He’s a physical guy and he can catch the ball really well. He’s definitely a match up problem for most, but I think we’re up for the challenge.”
(on if putting three safeties on the field provides assistance to covering the tight ends) “I think so because you get a bigger body on a tight end other than having to put a linebacker or maybe a corner on a guy like Gronkowski. You have a safety who can also play in the running game, play in the pass game. I think that’s the reason we’ve been kind of successful this year.”
(on if teams will go to a two tight end personnel group) “If you have the personnel, I think so. If you find two guys like they have, then I think you’ll give it a shot.”
(on the season’s turning point) “Our backs were up against the wall. The mistakes that we were making were minor. It was an easy fix, so once we all got it our head that we’re doing it ourselves, it’s not what the other teams were doing, it’s what we’re doing. We tightened up on defense, minded to the scheme, and we just started playing really good football.”
(on making big plays throughout the season) “Guys on this team, we have to continue to step up and make the play. It doesn’t matter who it is. It’s someone coming up big for us. Against the 49ers it was Jacquian (Williams). You never know what you’re going to get. Guys are playing hard. Whatever it be—special teams, defense—guys are trying to make a play.”
(on LB Chase Blackburn) “We had a lot of guys get hurt early in the season, so we had to move some guys around. Chase (Blackburn) came in. He knows the game, he knows the defense, and he just gave us the presence in the middle of the field. He’s been spectacular for us.”
(on the Super Bowl week) “It’s been truly a blessing. I’m just taking it all in and trying to enjoy it, enjoy the moments. Enjoy these moments because like the veterans have been saying, it’s hard to get here. Just take advantage of it, and just take it one day at a time.”
(on the Patriots offense) “It’s very different if you haven’t played against them before. We played against them earlier this season, so we kind of know what we’re looking forward to. They’re definitely a different team. With the personnel that they have, they can do a lot of different things. I think we’re up for the challenge.”
(on playing the Patriots during the regular season) “They didn’t run around crazy on us. I think the only time tight ends do anything special on us is when we play a lot of zone coverage. When we play zone coverage or man-to-man, whether it be linebacker, safety or corner, I think we do a good job on those guys. So, basically we’re just going to mix up the cover to give guys a different look.”
(on why they matchup well with the Patriots tight ends) “Because we have athletes on our team. They’re good players, but we’re not bad at all. If we were, we wouldn’t be in this position that we are now.”
(on if the Patriots tight ends get too much credit) “I wouldn’t say they’re getting too much credit because they deserve it. They’re both good players. They’re both great talents, but at the same time, we’re not too shabby over there. We’re good also.”
(on if he looks forward to the challenge of facing the Patriots tight ends) “Yes, I’m looking forward to Sunday.”
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