HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (Opening Comments) Wednesday* *
"We had a roster adjustment. We signed DB-Anthony Madison, a defensive back to our roster. We ended up releasing DE-Josh Thomas to make room for Anthony. He'll give us a little help back there in the secondary, where I think you guy have realized we have taken a few hits. TE-Dallas Clark received the AFC Offensive Player of the Week Award. He's a guy that has been playing extremely well all year, as you well know. He's been catching the ball well for us and has made a lot of big plays."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (On if this is a game people will talk about years down the road) Wednesday
"I'm not certain yet. There have been some classic games between these two teams. We can't discount that. There have been some memorable ones, and they have been hard fought. Typically, there were games that had a lot riding on them. We've seen some pretty good battles along the way."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (On if he wants to see a more balanced offense) Wednesday
"That would probably be a good thing if we could run it a little bit better than we've been running it. The goal is to win. I don't think you'll find any coaches that are satisfied with how they are doing things. There are always things you can work on. We certainly feel that way. We are certainly trying to use that old coaching cliché, 'Achieve what you emphasize.' We are trying to emphasize the run a little bit more. Our numbers weren't bad last week. We had 4.0-yards per carry. I think there were 18 times or so we tried to run the ball. As long as we keep those numbers there, increase it or stay the same, then we feel we're moving in the right direction."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (On his young secondary and what they do to play well) Wednesday
"One of the things they have done very well is they have been studious. They certainly have played like I think they should play back there in the secondary, like riverboat gamblers that have a short memory. The position to which they play will have ups and downs throughout the game. You have to get over it and go to the next play. They play with some maturity, even though both Jerraud Powers and Jacob Lacey are young. They have also played quite a few games at this point. We expect them to play well and play well consistently. The challenge that they have is each and every week, it's a brand now opportunity and you will always see a number of great players lined up across from you. You can always frame together a couple of good games, but can you do it back to back and week after week? That's the real test. To this point I think they have played pretty well. They haven't played perfectly, but they've done a good job. Like I said though, every week is a brand new test. They will face a great quarterback, one of the all-time great receivers in Randy Moss, and (Wes) Welker is tough to deal with as well."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (On what will separate the teams on Sunday night) Wednesday
"I think throughout the National Football League you look at teams that play well and play well consistently, they have pretty good quarterback play. I don't think this game will be any different. You have two quality quarterbacks playing, two great ones actually. They both have played pretty well in these games when we've matched up against one another."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (On how satisfied he is with the offense) Wednesday
"Satisfied is probably not a word I would use until at the end of the season. I do think we are finding ways to score enough points to win. There have been situations where we've been humming, I would call it, and operating on all cylinders offensively. We haven't done that consistently here of late. We have to get back to that."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (On DB-Anthony Madison) Wednesday
"We are going to try and put him to work today and see if we can get him acclimated. We are hoping he is a quick study. We'll see if he can alleviate some of the problems we have in terms of overload on a couple of our young guys that are playing a little bit more back there in the secondary. He's been around the block a little bit. He's a guy from all reports, and particularly from our scouting department, who is a tough guy and loves the aspect of special teams. We anticipate he'll be able to help us soon."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (On any updates for WR-Austin Collie) Wednesday
"I would anticipate he will practice today."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (On the success of the Patriots) Wednesday
"Obviously, the Patriots have done a tremendous job overall when you look at them from top to bottom. The way in which they go about selecting individuals to come in and play roles within their offensive and defensive system should be noted. They have a great scouting department. They do a tremendous job in all those aspects. They are crafty. They do a tremendous job in the field in terms of schematics as well in all phases. From top to bottom they are just a first-class operation. They do everything extremely well."
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HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (On what Tony Dungy's imprint was on him) Wednesday
"That answer could take quite a while. There are countless things. Within this league, I've been indoctrinated within a system in a way in which we've done things. I was with him in Tampa for a year and here for seven. We've had a lot of wins wrapped up in the way in which we do things here. If you throw ego aside and look at things realistically, it helps you make better decisions, which I've done. We haven't changed much. A lot of that is because of the fact we believe in what we are doing. Tony (Dungy) left a great foundation here. What we are trying to do is build upon it. He's one of the smartest men I've ever been around in my life. I think that most of you who have been around him probable realize that maybe now more than ever. He's very quiet and very unassuming. He's extremely bright. His ability to diagnose situations is extraordinary. I don't think he gets enough credit because all the games that he won, he's not one of those guys who will beat his chest and talk about how bright he is. He's not a self-promoter. Over time, I think his impact on the game from a defensive standpoint, his impact on the game from just simple philosophies and how to win will certainly go well beyond all of our careers. I think you'll see that legacy extended."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (On being a self-promoter) Wednesday
"I can't remember a time because I haven't done that very often, to be honest with you. I certainly hope that doesn't happen in the future either. I'm a little older and wiser now. I can't remember a time when I've ever done it. That's something that has been ingrained in me since I was very, very young. My parents, coaches and teachers growing up in Benoit, Wisconsin, kept us on the right path."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (On what he wants his mark to be) Wednesday
"This is a team game. I think the minute you start talking about 'what I would like,' this is a 'we and us' proposition. It doesn't have anything to do with me. That's how I like to keep it and phrase it. The minute you start talking about goals for self and things of that nature, or what stamp you'd like to leave, I think that is selfish. We try to focus on the team, what the team has to do and really focus in on trying to win the next game."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (On playing the Patriots this week) Wednesday
"We know we have a very tough opponent that we face. Our goal is to get ready. You have to be ready for them because they do things awfully well. They don't beat themselves. They don't make mistakes. We have to be at the top of our game. It's a big one because it's the next one. This is week 9 and not the end of the year. It's not the playoffs. It's not the Super Bowl."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (On preventing teams from scoring via the pass) Wednesday
"I think there are a number of things I would attribute that to. We have men within this organization that have a lot of character. They listen. They study. They have pride in what they do. We've had good instruction as well in those areas on defense. The guys have been able to follow-through on what they've been taught, and they've been able to play well and keep teams from scoring on us. We probably don't do any teaching any differently than anyone else. We stress how we practice good sound fundamentals, and those things in those areas we try to adhere to. I think the great thing is our guys listen. They try to follow though on those things. We've had a small measure of success."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (On having the younger guys settled in for what to expect this week) Wednesday
"I told them we'll have double the media we typically have. There will be a few boom microphones hanging over you that weren't there before. All those kinds of things I went through and described the atmosphere that we have in here right now and (at the press conference), I told them what they should do is watch the veterans. They've (veterans) been here before. They understand. They've been at this juncture. Watch what they do and follow their lead, and you'll be O.K."
