HEAD COACH TONY DUNGY (on DB-Marlin Jackson)
"The injury was kind of a freak thing (Wednesday). It was in, really, a no-contact situation, even, and did some significant damage to his knee. I'm not exactly sure, but it is probably going to involve some surgery. I think he might get a second opinion, but right now, he's definitely going to be out for a while. We're considering our choices. Most likely, we're going to put him on IR and try to sign another DB, but that's still to be determined."
HEAD COACH TONY DUNGY (on if DB-Tim Jennings will start in Jackson's place)
"Yes, that's probably what we're looking at right now. And then, we're looking at our options and where we go from there. We're trying to get in touch with (DB) Keiwan Ratliff, and hopefully we get him back."
HEAD COACH TONY DUNGY (on if Jackson hurt his right knee)
"I think so. If it wasn't, it was his left."
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HEAD COACH TONY DUNGY (on three DBs being hurt this year with no contact)
"It's really just one of those things, but we'll move forward. We obviously feel bad for Marlin, but we have to continue on, press forward and I think we will. We'll know in a few days exactly what is going on and what's going to be required. But, for right now, we know he's going to be out for a while and more than likely will go on IR."
HEAD COACH TONY DUNGY (on injuries mounting this season)
"Everyone was fired up getting (DB) Bob (Sanders) back and (DB) Kelvin (Hayden), they both practiced. We had a certain amount of things we wanted to see from them and everybody's doing great. Then, Marlin got hurt without really being touched in a no-pad-type situation. It's just one of those things you can't really avoid."
HEAD COACH TONY DUNGY (on if New England is still a big game)
"I know for us it is. We have to get ourselves back on track, and we definitely need a win. We're playing against a team that is tough to beat, so the stakes are high for us. Maybe not as high as they've been in the past on a national scope, but for us, it's a game we really need to win."
HEAD COACH TONY DUNGY (on New England filling holes when players are injured)
"They do it well. They do it better than anybody I've seen. They don't seem to worry about adversity. They don't worry about who can't play. Frankly, we've taken a lesson from them. I've used them and illustrated them in the past, 'This is how they do it. They get everybody ready to go. The healthy guys play as well as they can, and the new guys do their job.' They've done it great and have been an example for everyone over the years."
HEAD COACH TONY DUNGY (on why the run defense has improved recently)
"It's like we always say, you emphasize things and you work on it. We've had a little more continuity, but more than anything, it's just playing fast and being where we're supposed to be and tackling a little bit better. All fundamental things that when it's not going well, you look for other miracle cures, and there usually aren't any. We've just played a little bit sharper, really."
HEAD COACH TONY DUNGY (on if the young DTs have caught on)
"I think they have. They've improved. Obviously, the more you play the better you get and you understand things a little bit better. They have improved as the season has gone on, but I think everybody has just played a little sharper."
HEAD COACH TONY DUNGY (on if the run defense can still improve)
"Oh, yes. We did a decent job Monday night (at Tennessee), but the runs that got out were runs that we could have handled a little bit better. That's the way it always is. Very few times will you say, 'Boy, the offense, they had the right play on, there was just nothing we could have done about that run.' It's usually something that you think you can fix."
HEAD COACH TONY DUNGY (on if he thinks QB-Peyton Manning is taking on too much criticism for the team's lack of success)
"That's always the outside thing. When you win or you're moving the ball, the quarterback's playing great and everybody points to him when we don't. Inside our building, he wants to do more and play better, but so does everybody else. I think we all realize we just have to play better. I wouldn't say he's shouldering it personally, no."
HEAD COACH TONY DUNGY (on struggling with the 3rd-down defense)
"It's just been kind of like the run defense, where people study us and they know us and they've had some good things against us. When your run defense isn't great and you have a lot of 3rd-and-3s, it's tough, but we had some 3rd-and-longs in the Tennessee game that you have to convert. You have to make them punt the ball in those situations. That's probably been the most disappointing thing, our 3rd-and-long defense."
HEAD COACH TONY DUNGY (on how to improve the 3rd-down defense)
"It's being fundamentally sound, being, maybe, lucky at times, making a play when you have to and avoiding the penalties."
HEAD COACH TONY DUNGY (on if the team will get Mondays off after victories for the rest of the season)
"Yes. The young guys don't know about that. We'll mention that at the team meeting (Friday). But, yes, it definitely goes into play November 1."
HEAD COACH TONY DUNGY (on the short week)
"You're kind of fighting that uphill battle. Me personally, I'm tired. I told the guys after practice (Wednesday), I hope they rest because I didn't play one play and I'm tired. You sense it. You're body's not quite where it normally is on Wednesday. You're a little bit out of sync. Usually by Friday or Saturday, you're starting to get it back. I think the fact that it is a Sunday night game and we'll get some extra rest time will help us, too. But, it's a tough deal coming back on a short week."
HEAD COACH TONY DUNGY (on the OL)
"I thought they did a good job (Monday night). Tennessee has a very good front seven, and those guys fought and held their own and did a good job. We've been progressing every week and just want to keep that going."
