HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on WR-Reggie Wayne's role in mentoring WR-Austin Collie and WR-Pierre Garcon) * *
"I think the big thing is that he has been willing to share a lot of information. We've never been that way around here, but I've heard of places where veterans sometimes like to keep some information to themselves. They aren't willing to freely give it out, but here, in this particular case, the guys do a great job of helping them. What I mean by that is that they talk to them about study help, they talk to them about taking care of their bodies, they talk to them about some of the nuances, just route-running, body position, leverage, breaks, things of that nature, you can see him talking to them constantly, particularly when they first arrived. I think it's benefitted both of them."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on the offensive line keeping up with QB-Peyton Manning's pre-snap calls)
"It's not easy, I can tell you that. His brain operates at a little different speed than most. He is one of those guys that kicks it into high gear. So, our offensive line, particularly C-Jeff (Saturday) because he kind of sets the pace for everybody else once the call is made, making the line calls, adapting, adjusting to the protection issues, the run game, as well. He has to be certainly as quick as Peyton from an intellectual standpoint. He can adjust quickly, and it also cascades down the line. All of those guys up front are very intelligent guys. I think you'll find that to be the case with most offensive linemen because they have to be able to adjust and adjust quickly, but they also have to be able to work in unison with one another, so there is a lot of camaraderie between that group, as well. They have to be a special group, particularly when you're lining up in front of 18."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on how you identify the blitzer when the defense is walking around and doesn't line up)
"I wouldn't tell you that if I had too. I would not. We have a number of different ways that we do it, to be honest with you, but that would be information that we certainly wouldn't like to share."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on teams wearing down the Colts' defensive ends by running at them)
"Because of the fact that they've been pretty active and had some pretty good years, we've seen a little bit of everything. It wouldn't be new. It wouldn't be different. It's something that we always have to be prepared for, as well."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on the offensive line keeping up with QB-Peyton Manning's pre-snap calls)
"They've been challenged, week-in and week-out. I don't think there is anybody that has come in here, particularly teams that run the ball, that don't present a great challenge for you in that regard. I think, obviously, the Jets who can run the ball as well as anybody, will certainly test you to see what kind of endurance you have, what kind of staying power that you have, can you control the line scrimmage, and that is a real challenge for us."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on offensive line's mindset)
"It's a different breed. They have their own codes that they work under and their own standards. They don't want the recognition, and I think they take pride in that. I think that's what makes them special as well, because oftentimes, very rarely, do you hear offensive linemen get recognition when a back pops a run for 25 yards. Nobody ever goes back and talks about the job that they do, every once in awhile the analyst will, but for the most part people don't recognize the job that they do, and they are extremely important to our offense."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on DT-Antonio Johnson, DT-Dan Muir and DT-Eric Foster)
"I think the great thing is that they all improved. That's the key. We are bigger inside still with Antonio and Dan, but both guys are much better than they were a year ago. Dan really kind of came out of nowhere. I think he had some of the best games of the defensive interior linemen that we've had around here in a long time. He worked at it, he committed himself to getting better, he changed his body, improved his endurance, increased his strength, and I think Antonio went about it the exact same way. Eric got a little bit bigger, but has still been an effective guy on the outside. So, I do think we're a little bit bigger in there, and I do think that some of our young guys are still coming along. We haven't lost hope for DT-Fili (Moala). DT-John Gill is working in that area, as well. I think we're a little bit better than we were."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on DT-Antonio Johnson and DT-Dan Muir having a mentality to stop the run)
"I think when we look at it, obviously, we'd like that complete player. The guy that can do both, the guy that can stop the run and get you some inside pass rush, as well, particularly the one-on-one's their liable to get because everybody else is focusing their intention on our two guys outside, DE-Dwight (Freeney) and DE-Robert (Mathis). Yes, we'd still like some inside rush, but the key is to make certain teams just can't run the ball down your throat consistently, and we get quite a few teams that attempt that, week-in and week-out."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on when DB-Jerraud Powers got injured and his status this week)
"He (hurt) his foot during the course of the game, you may have seen him limping around a little bit during the action, but he was able to get through it. I'm not certain what he'll be able to do for us this week. We'll just have to see as things go along. (He's continually getting treatment), and (making) certain that he can get better as quickly as (he) possibly as he can. (DB-Jacob) Lacey is the guy that goes (if Jerraud can't play). Obviously, he and DB-Kelvin (Hayden) will man the corners, and we'll rotate DB-Tim ( Jennings) in there, as well.
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on it being reassuring that DB-Jacob Lacey has played a lot this season)
"It is. That's one of the things that I think through the years has kind of helped us. The injuries we certainly don't want, but sometimes there are unintended positive consequences from injuries, that you have young guys that have an opportunity to step in and get a bit more experience. So, this time of year, if you do have an issue like we're having right now, that we're certainly not putting a guy in there who has not been in a ballgame."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on if there is a number of plays where the defense won't be fresh anymore)
"I'm not certain there is a particular number, but the better you play, the less time you spend on the field, and that's our goal. Our goal is to play well and make certain that we get off the field on third down."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on defensive line rotation)
"It kind of depends on what we're facing from week-to-week. Sometimes, we have what we call kind of a little heavier group that we'll put in on run down situations, and a group with a little bit more speed and pass rush ability on the latter downs. We have a pretty good rotation, we think, that keeps the number down on those guys for the most part."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on any anxious moments when QB-Peyton Manning is adjusting the play as the play clock ticks down)
"He's been around, and he knows how to manage that clock. Sometimes, he has to get quite a few things done in a very, very short period of time and nobody does it better. I think he's demonstrated that time and time again."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on if there is a limit on the number of times QB-Peyton Manning will adjust)
"It depends on what you do. If you change three times, he may change it a couple. We just kind of adjust. It's like (Senior Offensive Coordinator) Tom Moore used to say, 'We don't care what you line up in, as long as we have the last word.'"
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on if he could have predicted the production the team would get this year from WR-Pierre Garcon)
"I could not have predicted it a year ago. We did see that he had speed, power, all the things that you look for. He was hungry, very determined, hard-worker, and you could sort of predict that this guy looks like he could be a pretty good player for us, but to the extent he's played for us, how well he's played in key situations, I don't think anybody could have predicted it. I think it's because of those characteristics, because of those attributes (that he has progressed). I think he has really focused in on his craft. He's made a concerted effort to try and improve, each and every day. He's a guy that, I think, probably came in with a little bit of chip on his shoulder coming from a little smaller school (Mt. Union). He wanted to demonstrate that he could play in this league, and I mean from the first day that he walked in the door you could kind of see a little bit of that. I think you still see that. I think it may have been mistaken somewhat because, maybe, there is just a little bit more competitiveness in him than what one might think and not nearly because of where he came from, it's just innate. He's intrinsically motivated. I think you could see that when the interception occurred last week, and he turns and runs it down and makes a great effort, in terms of getting that ball punched out. That's just who he is. We're certainly thankful for that kind of effort and zeal and love for the game."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on OT-Charlie Johnson)
"Charlie has done extremely well. Charlie has been a guy for us that we've depended on through the years of playing numerous spots. He's played guard for us, he's moved around quite a bit, lined up at tight end. He's an athletic guy who moves extremely well, that also is very, very smart. Hence, the fact that we've been able to move him around quite a bit. But he's found a home there at left tackle, and he's done a tremendous job for us. He's fought through some injuries, played a very, very key role in a number of our victories. Charlie continues to work at it and continues to get better."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on OT-Charlie Johnson's adjustment to left tackle)
"I think he's adjusted extremely well. I think he takes that job seriously. He's a real professional in the way he goes about his preparation. I think because of his athleticism, it's a natural position for him because of the fact that he is tough to get away from, he can handle you on a bull-rush or speed-rush, in particular. I think he's grown to the point where he's very, very comfortable with that position."
