HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on the running attack) *Sunday, September 19, 2010 *
"There's no question we ran the ball pretty well in the first half. I think the offensive line did a nice job controlling the line of scrimmage, the backs ran hard. It was a good day for us."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on if there was something to prove tonight) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"I'm not certain that they had anything to prove other than the fact that we didn't play well last week. I thought the guys really focused in like they do every week in terms of preparation. Our practices were very good and they played like it."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on the offense and defense) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"It was just one of those collective team efforts. We mentioned from the offensive standpoint, running the ball, ran it extremely well. Peyton (Manning) threw the ball well. The guys caught the ball extremely well, no interceptions. Obviously did a good job on the line of scrimmage. Defense did a great job stopping the run. Did a tremendous job in terms of keeping the ball in front of them, except the one that got behind us. But other than that, they shut them down pretty good. Our kicking game, punted the ball well. We covered well. It was a really solid team effort."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on the first drive in the first quarter and the first drive in the second quarter) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"More so than anything else, we knew we wanted to have a little bit more balanced attack. The week before we threw the ball quite a bit and just felt that this time around we were going to make certain that we get our runs in. I think we gave the guys a chance to get in a little rhythm and they were certainly able to deliver the ball pretty well."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on TE- Dallas Clark's touchdown play) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"It was a great job of execution. Dallas ran a real nice route and was able to locate the ball. It was not an easy catch. It was a very difficult catch and to be able to get it in the end zone. Obviously it was a great pass as well. It couldn't be placed anywhere else because the defender wasn't in bad shape at all. It came at a good time for us and enabled us to keep the pressure on them and gave us a little bit of a cushion, but cushions don't last long in this league."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on the play of DB-Antoine Bethea) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"Antoine (Bethea) is a great leader, does a great job back there directing traffic. But not only that, he makes plays all over the field both in the passing game and also versus the run. He is a very active tackler and is a guy that without question is one that sets a real tone for our perimeter and has a great nose for the ball."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on the running game) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"We really ran the ball well. It was a point of emphasis. We really didn't have that many attempts against Houston to run it. I felt like Houston really came into that game last week and played five DBs, sometimes six DBs, playing a lot of pass defense. We didn't really know what the Giants were going to do, but they ended up taking that route. When teams are playing five DBs and sometimes six DBs on first and second downs, they are obviously playing pass coverage. In the past, we haven't been able to run against that look which has been frustrating because we are sort of playing into their hands, so it was nice to be able to run the ball versus that look. There were a lot of DBs in there that aren't use to being involved in the running game, so that was important to establish that. The line, tight ends and receivers all did a great job. I thought Donald (Brown) and Joe (Addai) really ran smart and ran really hard."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on the no huddle offense) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"We are a no huddle team. They did have some substitutions. They didn't dress two defensive tackles, they really dressed all of their defensive ends so that kind of told us they were going to play that pass rush front. They were going to defend the pass. I don't know when the last time we had more rushing attempts than pass attempts. It would be hard not to blame them. I think we threw it almost sixty times last week, so you think that would be the way to play it. It was good to see us run the ball the way we did. I think it was a good statement and hopefully we can continue it the rest of the season and keep teams from playing those five, six DBs because you hope the team has to put a linebacker on Dallas (Clark) or a safety. You feel a lot better on that as opposed to a corner(back) on Dallas."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on what he said to Eli after the game) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"I told him good game. I told him I loved him. I think they will be fine. They play the Titans next week. We will be pulling hard for them hoping they can help us in the AFC South. We are going to do our best to help them when we play all these other NFC East teams. I am real proud of him."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if he felt bad for Eli) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"I think the way we played on offense, establishing that early lead is the way we want to setup a team to have to pass a lot. Obviously Dwight (Freeney) and Robert (Mathis) did a great job tonight."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on the overall start to the NFL season) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"Every Sunday you have to do it and every season you have to do it. If you looked at some teams that are 0-2, we could easily be 0-2 as well. We lost last week and I think we beat a good team tonight. You have to show up every Sunday and you have to execute every Sunday. Just because of what you did last year and the week before doesn't matter. I thought this was an important game for us to respond. You don't want to be 0-2 going on the road to Denver. It was a disappointing loss last week, but I am proud of our team and thought we beat a good team that was coming off a big win against Carolina last week."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on the new umpire position) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"We have had to adjust on the quick snaps. We have to wait for the umpire to clear and that is what we do. If that takes a little longer and gives the umpire a chance to set, maybe it does. We did catch them with 12 men on the field one time tonight, but it is different. The rules are in stone now. It wasn't in stone in the preseason, but it's in stone, so we just deal with it and adjust to it."
* *
C-JEFF SATURDAY (on what the Giants were doing defensively that made the Colts look to run) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"We just knew that the week before we passed it all the time. Team's get used to that. It's tough to pass block when everybody is teeing off, so to stay on top of the run game and have a good balance, really helped us and that's what we focused on."
C-JEFF SATURDAY (on the offense benefitting from good field position) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"Our defense played great. The only two touchdowns they gave up, one was a deep ball and one was when we fumbled and gave it to them. And they scored seven. Defense, you have to take their hats off. Those guys got after them and when it turns into a pass rush game our defensive line really played well."
C-JEFF SATURDAY (on if today reinforced what he thinks this team can do) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"It's one win. You're happy to be 1-1, you don't want to be 0-2. We're happy to be 1-1, and we have a lot of work to do. We break our season up game-by-game and quarter-by-quarter. We want to finish this quarter 3-1 and that means we have to win the next one as well."
RB-JOSEPH ADDAI (on the offense turning to the run) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"We took advantage of what they gave us, that was the biggest thing, just taking advantage. They came out in nickel and dime a lot of times, so Coach trusted us to run the ball and we were able to do it."
RB-JOSEPH ADDAI (on if it surprised him that the defense continued to give the Colts the running game) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"Me, if you give it to me, I'm going to take it, that's how I feel about it. They gave it to us in the first half, but not after that. We saw them come out and adjust in the second half. We adjusted too. It's not really about, we're going to come out and throw the ball, we're going to come out and run the ball, we're just going to adjust to whatever they do."
RB-JOSEPH ADDAI (on the offensive balance being better this week) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"I think that's the thing, we got a chance to run the ball and that's a good thing for me and RB-Donald (Brown) both. It was a confidence builder going into next week. You have that much more confidence in having a game like this. Hats off to the offensive line, they did a great job, defense did a great job. We all came together as a team and got a win."
RB-JOSEPH ADDAI (on the opening drive setting a tone) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"I think the whole week we just stressed playing Colts' ball, do what we do. Regardless, of what the other team puts in front of us, just do what we do and we'll be allright."
RB-JOSEPH ADDAI (on if this game proves that the Colts can run the football) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"It's only week two. We don't know what is going to happen next week. It definitely helps us in-house, as far as what we can do. You might ask me the same question after week 16 or 17, but i feel good as far as where we're going and what we're trying to do as a unit. It feels good to be able to run the ball today."
RB-JOSEPH ADDAI (on the Colts running the football) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"I think if you give us the opportunity we will be able to do it and it showed today. We all came together, we know what we can do as a unit and we were able to do that today."
RB-DONALD BROWN(on how he feels) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"Good. It was a big team win. It got the bad taste out of our mouth from last week, but it was a great team win."
RB-DONALD BROWN(on the first drive) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"It was a great drive. We wanted to start strong and start fast and we did that. We just kept the pedal on."
RB-DONALD BROWN(on the hole he had on his touchdown run) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"The offensive line did a phenomenal job, it was huge. It was an easy day for a running back when the offensive line does that well."
TE-DALLAS CLARK(on this week being better than last week) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"Yes. It was a good way to comeback and it was great to see the guys respond that way and kind of put last week's debacle behind us and come out and just try to get a win. I think everybody took that mentality and it showed tonight."
TE-DALLAS CLARK(on him using the word debacle to describe the Houston game) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"It was a debacle. That's putting it kindly, i think. But, no, we improved and that's what this whole season is about. It's not always going to go your way, it's just how you respond. It's good to see the guys respond in a week's worth of time. It was good to see everyone step it up."
TE-DALLAS CLARK(on the lesson being that not so much should be made of one game) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"Yes, absolutely. I think we realized that, but you still have to go out and play them. There is no guarantee that you're going to come back and get a win. We had to come out and play sharp and do the little ones that we didn't do last week and it showed. Everyone did their job and hopefully this is a good start to get a little momentum here in the beginning of the season."
TE-DALLAS CLARK(on the offensive balance) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"You always want to be as balanced as you can. A lot of times with our offense it's kind of taking what they give us. They were forcing us to run a lot, and the offensive line did a phenomenal job of blocking and the backs did a tremendous job of making cuts and making guys miss, just lowering their shoulders and making some big hits and just really wearing down their defense. It was just a tremendous effort by those guys. It was outstanding."
TE-DALLAS CLARK(on if his touchdown reception was set up by the run) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"Yes, that safety flew by me as fast as he could trying to suck up on that run and left the middle of the field wide open. It's something we've been working on all week too, trying to sell their fakes and it was just great execution. Everybody bit on it and really left them vulnerable in centerfield.
OT-RYAN DIEM (on things that need to be corrected this week ) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"I would have to go back and look at the tape. It's hard to tell at this point, but I think overall we played good enough to win, obviously, and if we can keep doing this every week we will be doing good."
OT-RYAN DIEM (on getting off to a good start in the first quarter) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"After last week, we really wanted to get out there and just play better as a group. It was disappointed to play like that last week. We pride ourselves on the run game and we got that going today which is a lot of fun. I think the more balanced attack helps everybody."
OT-RYAN DIEM (on opening up big holes for the running backs) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"That's fun football right there. That's a lineman's dream. I think we were able to make Peyton pretty clean today, which was another one of our goals."
DE-DWIGHT FREENEY (on getting to hit Eli Manning) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"I finally got that opportunity. The last time we faced them, I guess I've faced him twice, I got him one time in the Pro Bowl, but that doesn't count. I got some opportunities to make some plays and get across the field."
DE-DWIGHT FREENEY (on playing well this week after last week's loss) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"I think what happened last week was a combination of things. With our defense, gap integrity is huge. It is not about having a bad defense, it is about one or two guys not doing what they are supposed to do and that is when you have real big breaking runs in our scheme. 3-4 is a little bit different, you have guys two gapping and that can make up for a big run. I think what especially happened in the first game and we understood that and game into this game with confidence knowing that we basically beat ourselves."
DE-DWIGHT FREENEY (on causing the fumble that led to DT-Fila Moala's touchdown) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"They were down and I knew they were trying to take a chance. They had to take some opportunities to get the ball down the field and I did a good job of getting up field and beating the tackle around the corner. We are programmed as defensive lineman, especially here, to not only get the sack, but to go for the trifecta. You get the sack, you cause the fumble and you get the touchdown and that is what happened."
DE-ROBERT MATHIS (on creating turnovers) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"We needed that. It was a big morale boost so it was happy to get it and build on it."
DE-ROBERT MATHIS (on if this was a perfect game) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"No, it was not a perfect game because we left some plays out there. A goose egg, that is a perfect game for a defense, and we didn't get that so we still can build."
LB-GARY BRACKETT (on taking the run game away from Giants) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"Yeah, we did. We felt a little upset last week with how we played. We knew we can play better and I think we did that tonight."
LB-GARY BRACKETT (on DT-Fili Moala's touchdown) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"That is exciting. A young fellow going out there and playing hard and being in the right place at the right time just tells you how good this defense has the ability to become."
LB-GARY BRACKETT (on a grade for the defense) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"I think a B. We still let them get 14 points and we like to put a goose egg on the broad and I think we can still get better."
LB-GARY BRACKETT (on getting better heading into next week) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"I think continuing to be stout in the run game. Obviously, I think they still rushed for a 100 yards and we try to keep teams under 100 yards. I think turnovers, we did a great job turning the ball over. I think Dwight Freeney had three or four sacks and that is always good when they're getting in the backfield."
DB-JERRAUD POWERS (on defense setting the tone) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"That is something we really want to do every week. That is Colts football. That is what we talk about—starting off fast, trying to get off the field on third down, and give our offense the ball as many times as possible because the more opportunities they get I will take my chances with our offense scoring against any other offense. If we can start fast like we did and keep that intensity all game I like our chances.
DB-JERRAUD POWERS (on the difference between last week and this week) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"Obviously, we had that bitter taste in our mouth after last week. We definitely didn't want to start our season off like we did last week and we definitely didn't want to start 0-2 and put ourselves in a bigger bind. I think a lot of guys had a little chip on their shoulder, especially on the defensive side. There was a lot of people talking bad about us. Coming off the performance last weekend, we felt like we had to come out here and prove that we can be that D that everybody was talking about in the preseason."
DB-JERRAUD POWERS (on playing in front of the home fans) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"That definitely helped. Our fans, in my opinion, is the best in the league. It definitely helped coming home and playing in front of them and them being that 12th man. Last week we were ready to play but it's just things here and there that they had us schemed on that we just didn't make adjustments well enough. This week guys were a little more attentive and more focused throughout the entire game. Last week we started off well also and it was a close game at the half. But I think as far as guys keeping that intensity and focus I don't think we did that last week rather than this week we did.
DB-JERRAUD POWERS (on the interception) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"It was one of those plays where I tip my hat off to the d-line and they did a tremendous job tonight putting pressure on Eli (Manning). Antoine (Bethea) was all over the field and he was back there backing me up and he is going to make plays on the ball. I think he broke it up and I was there for the tip and I sort of thank him for that because I know he is going to make plays on the ball. Steve Smith was running a take off and he was putting some moves on us but it was just us making a play."
DT-FILI MOALA (on if QB-Peyton Manning told the defense to rough up his brother) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"No, Peyton didn't come and say anything like that. He didn't have too. Our goal was to get in here and make them one dimensional. Luckily, we did well against the run and we were able to get Free (DE-Dwight Freeney) and DE-Rob (Mathis) going and it was just a great victory, all around."
DT-FILI MOALA (on the defensive line pressuring the quarterback) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"That was one of the biggest points of emphasis coming into this week, getting pressure on the quarterback, making him uncomfortable and shutting down the run. Anytime you make a team one dimensional it's going to be difficult for them."
DT-FILI MOALA (on his fumble recovery for a touchdown) Sunday, September 19, 2010
"Free (DE-Dwight Freeney) just made a great play, sack caused fumble, and I just happened to be the guy that picked it up. It could have been anybody. I'm just grateful, grateful to be here and grateful to be contributing to this team."
