What did you gather from your preseason games?
First off, who here is ready to get this season on the way. Now, The one thing I gather the most is That the vision I had for this team when I was hired is coming into fruition. I said I would build a team that would ground and pound, I said I would build an offensive line and I said I would build a defense that can track mobile QB’s and defend the pass, but, with all that I am trying to put together here, nothing compares to the hard work, hustle and heart I see these men playing with. They are hungry and they are ready to show the results of their effort.
How much stock do you put into your teams preseason performance?
Normally I don’t look at it as a measuring stick but this year, well, we faced both Oakland’s and Seattle’s starters and did well. You always wonder how your offense and will look when you add so many new players. Normally it takes time to click and really understand the nuisances of not only your role but everyone else’s role on your side of the ball. You have to be able to trust that the man to your left and right are doing their job and from what I see, these men look like they are taking their jobs very seriously. So I will be lying if I said these games meant nothing. It’s always good to get any win against another teams starters and considering more of our newer players played more the second game and we still walked away with the W speaks volumes.
What is your primary and secondary goal this season, personally?
Personally, My first goal is to make sure I keep focus on the prize and let the season playout and let these players go through their ups and down without a big reaction. My secondary goal, in all honesty is just to make sure I don’t bring any embarrassment to this great organization. I want the people of Atlanta to be proud of this team and I don’t want to create any distraction for them. The fans deserve it, the players deserve it, the coaches deserve it and goddam after last year, I’m gonna throw myself in there and say I deserve it too.
Who impressed you the most on your own team in the pre-season?
WOW!, I hate this question because as a whole, this team came out and is already in mid-season form. Now, I won’t skate around this question and tap dance, you guys deserve better. I got to say the play of WR Tim Collier. I mean we have a ton of talent at WR but if you take to the fact that he is coming back from a pretty big injury he suffered as a rookie, compile that with the fact when he got healthy he was traded away. Things like that can really mess with a young player, it can really dim motivation and beat their confidence down, but not Tim. Tim seems to step up when his number is called. First game he had that nice late TD which I know had to feel great. This past week, 4 catches for 61 yards. I am very impressed with this young man’s demeanor and tenacity.
With the start of the season finally here, what do you expect from your players in week one?
Like I said, they look like they are already in mid-season form. We won 1 game before I got here. Last season we won a few more. We no longer want a few more, we want a lot more. These guys played hard and gritty last year and we barely won any games because of the lack of talent, Now that they see what they are capable of, that they see they are the talent, MAN! That has to be a great feeling when you know there is nowhere to go but UP! And What a way to start the season versus our rival and Impact Bowl champs Alabama. To open the season on national television against the Champs is huge for how this team will carry themselves at the start of this season. For the guys who were here last year, they are remember the humiliation of run up scores and what was it, 6, 7 ,8 TD’s against us. Yeah, I won’t give any coach any bulletin board material but, let’s just say we are not the same team we were last year.
