COACH DICK JAURON
Practice – August 1, 2007
Opening statement…
It was a little bit hot out there today. We knew it (the heat) was coming, obviously, and it was predicted. So we believe we took the proper steps and kept the guys hydrated and talked to them about what they ate yesterday, what they ate last night and even today. So we got through it okay. It was good. We need to practice in the heat. As you can see by watching practice, sometimes things look good and sometimes things don't. We've got a long way to go. That's why we are here. We're trying to get ready for the season. Certainly, we're always pleased with their effort. Their work ethic is commendable. Guys were sloppy and it's early and you expect them to be sloppy, but you just have to correct it all of the time.
On Roscoe Parrish and the heat…
Roscoe (Parrish), I wouldn't say he did overheat but we didn't want him to. It was clearly gaining on him. He doesn't have, as you all are well aware of, Roscoe is so lean there's not a lot of body fat on him. Those athletes like that, we've got to watch them carefully. So when it looked like he was starting to get to a point where he might have trouble, we decided to get him out and cool him down. He is a special athlete. But we watch all of our guys and anybody that got to that point, we would pull them out, but he didn't lock up.
On any other injuries…
Brad (Butler) left and from what I understand, it's a hamstring. That's all I know. I haven't been inside yet to talk to Bud (Carpenter). Hopefully it won't be a bad one. Anthony Hargrove didn't work today. John DiGiorgio didn't work today and hopefully we'll get them back quickly. We don't anticipate them being out long but you never know. Josh (Scobey) has a calf (injury). Jason (Webster) had the hamstring last night. Again, we just keep them out and we'll make our errors on the side of caution.
On the defense anticipating throws during practice…
I know that they are and Perry (Fewell) and the defensive staff have done an outstanding job coaching them through the off-season. I do believe we're a fast defense. They know what we're trying to do better than they did a year ago and they are getting near and they're hands on a lot more balls than they did early. Some of them are outstanding plays, some of them are not great throws or a combination of both. We don't really care defensively what they are as long as we get them.
On the defense's mindset of creating takeaways…
I certainly hope so and once again, Perry and the staff preach it all of the time. The guys, they understand it and they're good guys. They're working at it and it's showing up on the practice field. Hopefully, it will keep showing up.
On Steve Tasker talking to the team last night…
(It was) very beneficial and in Steve's (Tasker) case in a number of different ways, I think he expresses himself well first off all and he's well known. As everybody recognizes he would not be the first guy you picked out in a group to be as great a football player as he was. I think that's impressive to a group of football players because it's not what you like, it's not what you say, it's what you do on the field. And he did it. He makes them realize that it just doesn't happen. You've got to think about it. You've really got to think about your job and you've got to prepare like a pro. You can't think you're going to go out there and beat these guys at their level on your ability; it's not going to happen because everybody is going to have ability. You've got to prepare. You've got to have a plan and you've got to attack. You've got to be relentless. You've got to except the fact that you're going to be beaten sometimes and get back up and do it again. It's been real good. Bob (April) of course is as good as anybody in the business and as you pointed out, to have a resource like Steve right here, you'd be foolish not to use him.
On if he and JP Losman are more comfortable with each other and their confidence…
Well, I'm definitely more comfortable with him. It doesn't mean by any stretch that he thinks he's arrived or I think he's arrived. He hasn't. I know him a lot better. I know how badly he wants it and how hard he's going to work at it. I certainly like the young man and appreciate his effort. He's got to take new steps and take our football team to the next level.
On Donte Whtiner and if he can become a leader on the defense…
I believe that he can. It's a lot to put on a young player but he's already a different player. I think he's a lot more confident on the field with us. He knows more about what he's doing but he's still learning. He's still learning so you don't want to weigh him down with expectations but clearly you draft a player as high as we did and you can see on the field that he can move. He can really move and you do have expectations. We're anticipating that he's going to play really well.
On how much further along Whitner and Ko Simpson have come along since last year's Draft…
We're a lot further along, but where it ends up is going to be the important thing. Once again, how it translates into our defensive play and then into our team victories. We definitely have invested in a lot of people, but you've got to be right. In the long run, you've got to be right about your investments and the return in our business is the wins and losses. We'll find out this year and the next year. We'll find out if we've been right or not. But once again, they're still young. They're still young and still learning but we believe in them.
