Q:  Talk about the progress Eli has made since training camp and his consistency game in and game out.

A:  Yeah.  I think that is an accurate assessment.  He has been playing well. He had a couple of mistakes last week that he would like to have back.  We would all like to have back.  But generally speaking he has shown the kind of awareness, the kind of ability that you would hope to see from your quarterback.  I think that he has done a nice job.  He has given us a chance to win every game.

Q:  Have you made any adjustments to your scheme with Derrick Ward stepping up for Brandon Jacobs, or are you doing the same exact stuff you would have done if Brandon was in there?
A: It is the same scheme generally.  What you do is you wind up emphasizing different things within your system and trying to take advantage of things that you think he does well.  He has also given some quality play.  He has averaged some good yards per carry.  And then last week we gave him the ball a ton.  And he carried it up against a tough defense that had an extra guy in the box.  We wanted to run the ball as much as we could to help solve some problems that were showing up in the passing game.  And I think he did that for us.

Q:  Even though it is Derrick Ward’s first year playing a lot, have you been able to tell that he has been around the team for awhile, knows the system?  Those mental mistakes probably aren’t there like they would be for a younger guy.
A:  I think that is very accurate.  We always knew that he could play.  The biggest problem is that he has been hurt.  He has been hurt every year.  Right now, knock on wood, he has been able to fight through whatever problems he might have had and he has played good football for us.  But I don’t think there is anybody, player or coach, that would be surprised by his effectiveness.  It is just a matter of him having had an opportunity.  And because of the injuries he hasn’t had one.  But now he does.  And I think he has responded the way we all kind of thought he would.

Re: Plax and his injury and his inability to really get out there and practice a lot?  How has that affected the offense?

A:  Well, he is such an integral part of what we do …..  He is a big play guy and he affects the way defenses play against us.  So not only does he make plays, but they have to be aware of his presence.  And because of that it opens up chances elsewhere.  Not only in the pass, but it really gives us a chance to run the ball.  So when you take him out you are not the same team.  The thing is, he is fighting through an injury.  I think he is showing great physical toughness and courage and desire to help our team.  So I’m just happy for whatever he can give us.  He has played well.  I know he dropped a couple of balls he wishes he hadn’t dropped last week in the first half.  But generally speaking he has played great football for us.

Q:  Does his technique suffer not being able to practice every day?  What do you think changes when a guy doesn’t practice?  What do you see on the field that is different?
A:  I think everybody’s technique suffers.  I don’t think there is any chance for a guy to be at his best if he is not out practicing.  And he would be the first one to admit that.  But despite that, he is still giving us enough plays.  And again, forcing people to be aware of him and defend us in a certain way that not only is he making plays but he is giving other people chances to make plays.  Again, I’m glad that he has shown, I think, great physical toughness to be able fight through the soreness and doing the best he can under the circumstances which have limited his practice time. 

Q:  Chances are Burress is going to play, like he did last week.  But what if there is a change and on Sunday morning wakes up and says, “I can’t do it.”  How does that affect your preparation?

A:  You kind of go into it with two plans.  And one is the hope and expectation that he is.  Quite candid, I never thought that he wasn’t going to play last week.  Again, every indicator that he gives me – what he says, the way he says it – I thought that he was going to play.  He told me Saturday night.  I asked him because I kept hearing all of these things.  I said, “Are you playing?”  He said, “No, I’m playing.  I’m going to do this, I’m going to do that.  I’m going to go out there and play.  I’m planning on playing.”  So I didn’t think he wasn’t going to play.  But just like you say, okay, defensively, if they do this, then I want to run this play, this play, and that play.  I would say the same thing.  Then if he can’t play then what are the things that we have to do to give ourselves a chance?  And it’s not the same stuff.  Because, again he gives you a dimension and he does cause people to play us differently which gives us other chances. 

Q:  Tell me a little bit about the comfort zone that he has with Eli and vise versa.  The two of them are obviously a pretty good tandem.  What is going on there?

A: I just think it is a steady progression that has happened through the years.  And not only are they getting familiar with each other, I think they trust each other more as well.  After a while you see a guy that you know is going to do a certain thing.  The familiarity gives you that confidence that that is going to happen.  And you trust that he is going to come through for you, and so you kind of look to him in certain situations.  “Hey, when they do this I know he is going – I’m going to have a chance to throw him the ball.”  And again, no one is more disappointed than he was - like the corner route … that was a great throw.  But you know what, I trust the guy is going to come back and keep making plays for me.  And he did.  And he made some big-time plays for us last week.

Q:  The touchdown – the last touchdown – that was a blitz read?

A:  Blitz read.  He actually should have come a little bit flatter.  He kind of came off up the field a little bit.  But once he got the ball in his hands ---  We had run the same play earlier when it was just man coverage and he had broken …… for about 18 yards.  We threw the play about three or four times and had success every time.  It didn’t always go to him.  It went to Shockey that took us down to the one-yard line versus a different coverage.  Jeremy came in and made a nice play.  So the play was a good play for us in that game.

Q:  He knew?

A:  He knew his sight; he knew it was blitz and he came in and he just reacted to it.  Again, he should have come one step and a little bit flatter.  And maybe he would have avoided the initial contact.  But he knew it.

Q:  Do you have the makings of a running back controversy?  Is there such a thing?

A:  I hope that is a problem that we get everybody going and healthy and ready to play because during the course of the season – Tiki has been an exception the last couple of years – where he has been able to survive all of what is required at that position.  But most people are playing with two running backs.  So for us to have two, maybe even three that can play (I think we have four to be honest with you) and feel good about.

Q:  It has to be a little tough for Brandon. He goes in and has six carries.  Six carries later now he is wondering, “Are my number of carries going to take a hit now?”

A:  All I tell him is that it is a long season.  And if anybody has shown that it is a long season it has been Derrick, who has had to suffer through injury-prone seasons.  So you just hang in there.  You keep the faith and hopefully the chance is going to come back for you.  And it is going to come back because he has enough ability.  You are going to get him in there.  He is going to play.  And then you just go according to the flow of the game or the circumstances that determine who is in there.  That is the situation…… situations of the game, but it is also injuries.  Guys get nicked.