POSTED: Monday September 10th 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Head Coach Tom Coughlin

 

 

Monday, September 10, 2007

 

Opening Statement:

 

We looked at the tape, we studied it, and we went over the tape with our players.  Obviously the first game of the season, the process of a 16-game season, there were a lot of things we thought were pretty good and a lot of things we thought were pretty bad.  I think the thing that is important to note is that late in the game, as poorly as we played on defense, we had an opportunity to win the game.  It is 38-35, it is third and seven, they have an illegal procedure penalty which is very obvious that is not called, and they have a 51-yard touchdown.  It would have been interesting.  It would have been third and twelve, what happens there?  You are going to have to punt the ball if you don?t convert and then what happens?  I think, that having been said, we did not play very well on defense.  We weren?t as physical as we have been.  We weren?t as penetrating with our pressures.  The quarterback only had a couple of times when he was hurried at all, we are disappointed in that.  Special teams made some plays, did some good things, and then of course had the bad.  The kickoff return when it is 38-35, the 46-yard kickoff return, which put Dallas in pretty good field position right off the bat. 

 

I thought offensively as well as the numbers looked that we could be better.  We could be more precise, we could be sharper, and we could communicate better.  We made a lot of big plays; we gave up a lot of big plays.  We got outstanding performances out of a few people.  Eli (Manning) played very well.  He was very accurate.  He had the ball on the money an awful lot of the time during the night.  He was under control in the game; made some outstanding throws even when he was pressured.  Despite the fact that we had a lot of good things that happened on that side of the ball, I really do believe we can play better.  I think in all phases the process goes on.  We have a lot of young guys that were integrated into the game last night, whether it be on special teams or offense or defense.  There were a lot of young guys who got their first experience in the National Football League and I think they will be better for it the next time we line up and play.  I am disappointed.  I am not discouraged.  As I said, there are some very, very good football players that didn?t play well last night.  As I told the team, when you see yourself on tape you are not going to be real pleased about it and you are going to make up your mind that you are going to have to do something about it. 

 

You have the injury report in front of you.  Eli, although sore today, will be a day-to-day, that is a sprained shoulder.  Osi (Umenyiora), who has an irritation, who took a hit on the lateral side of the knee; we will see how that responds on a day-to-day basis.  Of course you will know (Brandon) Jacobs will be out; we will determine his status on a weekly basis with the MCL. 

 

Is there any truth to the report that Eli Manning will be out for a month?

 

No.  I don?t know where that report comes from.  I don?t know where supposedly the information was found.  Mid-afternoon, I will say, this afternoon we got the report from our doctors that after having done the MRI and done all the testing.  We are just going to have to see how it is.  Whether he can practice and play on a daily basis.  When he will be able to do the things he needs to be able to do.  Quite frankly, if it is not possible this week then it will be another week.  It is Monday, he has tomorrow.  Literally he has Wednesday even if he doesn?t work Wednesday of full treatments.  He will be in here two or three times tomorrow, he spends most of the day in here anyway, so we will continue to see what kind of progress can be made in a short amount of time with regard to his throwing motion. 

 

Who would go if he can?t?

 

Right now it would be (Jared) Lorenzen, but I?m not ruling anything out.  Nothing in, nothing out.

 

Defensively, were there just too many big plays last night?

 

There were eight big plays last night.

 

Does that bother you?

 

Yes it does.  It bothers me a lot.  I didn?t expect it.  I expected us to play better than we did and we didn?t.  We have a lot of work to do.    

 

How do you define a big play?

 

10-yard plus runs, 25-yard plus pass.

 

Is Osi the same as Eli?  Will you continue to evaluate him?

 

That is going to be an evaluation day-by-day.  I don?t know what his exact status is.  I didn?t see him.  I did see Eli, but I didn?t see Osi.

 

What are you calling the Osi injury?

 

He took a blow to the lateral part of the knee and irritated the cartilage.  It is a soreness situation right now and that is where it will remain until something further comes along.  We expect again that he will be evaluated every day and if he responds to the treatment we will see how it goes and if he doesn?t, if he remains sore and what have you, then we will have to deal with that as well. 

 

Based on what you knew last night is the Osi diagnosis better news?

 

I knew the certain status of the blow.  I didn?t know what to expect so not knowing what the MRI would show, then yeah, you would have to say that.

 

Is surgery an option for anything?

 

No. 

 

You are not discounting him playing this week?

 

I am not going to discount anything because, quite frankly, I am not a doctor and all I can tell you is what they tell me.  As I said, I did not talk to Osi myself.  I did talk to Eli and that is why I am reporting that he was sore.  He was sore today, which you would expect him to be. 

 

How discouraging is all the injuries?

 

I am not discouraged about anything.  Like I said, I am disappointed but I am not discouraged.

 

Did Eli do things in the game last night that he had not done before?

 

Well I don?t know.  He certainly put a full game together of things that we had seen before and that was one of the objectives, of course, was consistency.  He certainly did perform very well and very consistently.

 

If Osi is out for an extended amount of time would you move Mathias Kiwanuka back to defensive end?

 

There will be more discussion in the next day or so.  We need to get a handle on where Osi is.

 

As you said, what good players did not play well?  Was one Kiwanuka?

 

There are many of them.  I wouldn?t single anybody out because it is not the case.  He made some plays and didn?t make some plays just like a lot of guys.  The way the defense played was no reflection on him.

 

Did you pull him out because he struggled?

 

No.  We were trying to spell all the guys last night through more substituting.

 

How did Kiwanuka do?

 

He did OK.  As I said, he had good plays and he had bad plays.  He attacked the ball as good as he has done.  For example, if he is on the backside bubble and the ball starts to go away he attacked his gap responsibility and penetrated better than he had probably in the game before.  Not much to say on making the tackle but he did a good job physically of penetrating the gap.

 

If Kiwanuka does not work out as a linebacker do you have a backup plan?

You have all kinds of plans, but crossing the bridge on that, that hasn?t taken place. 

 

Sam Hurd?s touchdown ? how much of that was due to blitzing Gibril Wilson?

 

Not at all.  That is the call, that is the play.  If Gibril makes that play? the ball literally goes right to the area where he is coming from.  You would do the same thing, only you would get to the quarterback.  We pressured a lot and didn?t get to the quarterback.  The call was a good call, that call. 

 

Is Derrick Ward set to be the primary running back or will Reuben Droughns take over?

 

No, that was the way we have been going.  We have been listing it that way.  Droughns will get more work now, obviously.

 

What was going on with the possible challenge on the Toomer end zone reception?

 

We were waiting.  You have to wait to see it.  Of course you have a little more time because they have to come all the way back up field.  Unfortunately I was ready to challenge but the word from upstairs was that he did not get that other foot down.

 

Was not challenging the right call?

 

It was the right call. 

 

Should there be a rule on the home team not displaying controversial replays of the visiting team on the video screens?

 

I would think that and the coach to quarterback on the road, which was the problem last night too.  We were able to see it with enough time, but the foot did come down on the white. 

 

What is your level of confidence in Jared Lorenzen?

 

Well let?s just see where it goes.  We have a high level of confidence in Jared, but we certainly don?t want to be in a position where we are saying anything that concludes that Eli won?t be able to go.

 

But that is certainly a relevant question right?

 

He is the number two quarterback.

 

Is player durability as important as their skill level nowadays?

 

There is no question that the ability to line up week-in and week-out when you have a roster of 53 and a game day roster of 45 is critical.  It is very, very important.  What is the formula for that?  That is a good question.  I don?t know the answer to that, I don?t think anybody does.  You prepare, you practice hard, you play the game as hard as you can, and you let the chips fall where they may.  Unfortunately we have lost a couple of guys.  Now they will be back.  They will be back and that is something we will have to continue to rely on.  However, in the interim, the week-in and week-out being able to maneuver your squad and accommodate lets not forget special teams.  That is the interesting scenario.

 

Is Brandon Jacobs more hurtful because the player he is replacing this season was so durable?

 

I think they all hurt.  It is not a matter of who he replaced; it is a matter of you would like to certainly see, given the opportunity to play for the first time, you would like to see him extensively play and utilize Ward as we had planned going into the game.  We had some plays for using Ward.  Ward played very well when he did come in.  It is not a matter of who he replaced, it is the idea that the play that he was injured on he was flying to the line of scrimmage.  He had made some punishing runs, moved the piles, and done some good things.  It is just a shame that he had to come out so early in the game.

 

How confident are you in Derrick Ward?

 

I have been very confident.  You have asked me questions about him throughout training camp.  I have expressed what we like about Derrick:  his quickness, his speed, the fact that he is 230 pounds; people don?t a lot of times even recognize that fact.  He has played enough now to be a guy that has a little savvy about the spot.  He showed last night that he can make a play when he has to run through some arms to get to the position where he needs to get to, whether it be the touchdown run or the nice cutback on the toss.  He has caught the ball for us, he has been instructive, and he has matured in the area of pass protection.  He has been coming along and certainly proved in training camp that he deserves the opportunity and he certainly will get some more.

 

What is Gerris Wilkinson?s status?

 

He is going to practice some this week.  I think he is ready to go, I hope.  He has made steady progress and hopefully he is going to be able to work a percentage of the time anyway this week.

 

Have you thought about bringing someone in now that Jacobs will be out for some time?

 

Not at this time.  You may see (Ahmad) Bradshaw get involved a little bit more.

 

Did you make any roster moves today?

 

Did we make any roster moves today?  Is that out?  Russell Davis, but who he replaces we do not have to determine that until tomorrow. 

 

ELI MANNING

September 10, 2007

 

 

It?s sore right now, that?s about all there is to it.  The day after you get hit on it, it?s just going to be a little sore and a little tight, but overall I?m not in pain or am not hurting in any way.  So it is just a matter of when I can throw the ball I?ll be out there throwing it.

 

Q:  There is a report out there that says you have a separated shoulder.  Is there any truth to that at all?

 

A:  No.  I don?t know ? whatever the doctor says ? it?s the AC joint and I don?t know the definition of what all of that means.  I?m not in pain ? it?s just a bruised shoulder.

 

Q:  How do you feel about your status for this week?  Are you day-by-day?

 

A:  It?s just going to be day-by-day.  I?ll see.  I think with this day off and tomorrow off, hopefully these are probably the worst two days of it.  I?ll be getting better and just treatment and get iced.  I?ll take anything I can to try to get healed up as quick as possible.  And again, it?s just whenever ? they said that everything is probably as good could be from the tests results.  It is just a matter of when you have the strength and when you feel you can throw full strength and you will be out there playing. 

 

Q:  Are you confident that you will be able to play?

 

A:  It?s hard to say.  I haven?t picked up the ball.  I haven?t tried to throw it.  I know the fact that I threw with it in the game, it gives me confidence that I can get out there and throw it if I need to.  It?s a matter of being out there and having to make a throw ? I can do that. I threw the touchdown to Plaxico.  It wasn?t a lob, I got something on it, put it in a good spot, was accurate with it.  So that makes me feel positive about my status this week.

 

Q:  Will the concern be taking another hit on it?

 

A:  I don?t know.  If I land on it again it might be a problem, but I don?t think ?  Again, it?s just kind of how I?ll feel later this week will be the big factor.

 

Q:  The first time you have really had an injury.  Does this make it harder for you to deal with?

 

A:  Well, I guess it?s a good thing ? not having injuries.  It?s hard to stay that way but it is just part of the game.  I know the best thing that you can do is be in the training room, get all of the treatment you can do and try to get as much rest and just do everything possible to get healthy.  So that?s what I?ll do.  You have to be smart with it and just listen to the doctors and the trainers and what they have to say. 

 

Q:  Was it a dirty hit?

 

A:  No, it wasn?t a dirty hit.  It doesn?t look bad on film ? it?s just the deal of falling on it the wrong way.

 

Q:  You talked about the test results being encouraging. Did they rule out rotator cuff?

A:  Yeah, it?s not the rotator cuff.  The rotator cuff is more in the front.  My motion was fine so it?s just bruised.

 

Q:  Do you envision throwing the ball ?????..?

 

A:  I know how I threw it in the game afterwards and I figure it will feel pretty similar to that.  On the sideline I threw it a few times.  The first couple were just kind of lobs ? just seeing how it was going to feel.  The interception couldn?t have come at a worse time ? right after the injury; so quickly.  I just said, ?All right, I?m going to talk to Lorenzen.?  He was trying to see what was the deal.  ?I?m going to make one throw and I?ll put something on it.  If I can make it, or if it comes out and doesn?t kill, I?m going to go out there.  And so I threw it and threw it hard.  It came out a spiral.  And I said, ?All right, I?m going back in.?  And it will probably feel pretty similar to how it felt on the sideline.

 

Q:  Where in the shoulder is the bruise?

A:  At the top of the shoulder.  Not too far away from the trap, I guess.

 

Q:  On the last series what stopped you from going back in?

 

A:  Just talked to the coach ? Coach Coughlin ? trying to make smart decision.  I knew there was something wrong.  I knew it had gotten a little tighter and sort of felt a little more pain, I guess.  And after that and a little bit more time sitting on the sideline ? I didn?t want to make anything worse.  If it came down and we had stopped them on the third down and we got the ball back, with my competitive nature I would have gone back in there.  I would have wanted to go win that game. But with them scoring and being down 10 with limited time, I tried to make the smart decision ? just trying not to make anything worse; don?t go in there and try to be a hero when there is limited time left and make it when you are only going to miss more time than you need to. 

 

Re: the rest of the week

 

A:  I don?t know.  It?s all a matter of how I feel.  I hope I feel better tomorrow.  And by Wednesday just see how the arm feels; just take some test throws.  Whether I do some stuff or ? it?s just all a matter of how I feel and when I am ready to throw. 

 

Re: how the shoulder feels

 

A:  I have good range of motion going up and down doing things.  I try not to carry anything heavy with it or lift anything above my head with it.  But besides that, I can brush my teeth.  The more I do with my right hand still.  So I still have all of the normal things.  I can start my car with my right arm and open the door.  So I still have good motion and can do my daily activities. 

 

Q:

 

A:  Sure.  Again, I?m just trying to be conscious about it.  I don?t want to make anything worse or strain it or do anything - just really trying to rest it.  They asked if I wanted to be in a sling ? just for comfort or to keep you from using it.  I said that I?m not in any pain.  I?ll be smart with it. I won?t try to lift up a bed or move a couch or anything.  So just try to be aware of what you are doing.

 

Q:  What kind of treatment?

 

A:  Probably stem and ice.  Just try to get it feeling good.

 

Q:  Have they given you a worst-case scenario ? not this week; maybe next week?

 

A:  No scenario.  They have really put it in my hands, really.  The doc says it?s just a matter of—- every feel can be different.  It?s just a matter of when you feel good and when you feel that you can throw the ball with a little strength.  And you don?t feel like it is hurting when you are doing it.

Q:  But they have told you that if there is a problem, don?t?

 

A:  They really put it in my hands.  It just all depends on how I feel. 

 

Q:  Would you term your status week to week?

 

A:  Day to day, week to week, however you want to call it.  It is just definitely not season-ending.  Definitely not a long-term deal.  It is just a matter of when I can throw.

 

Q:  When you were first told that it wasn?t serious were you holding your breath?

 

A:  Yeah, just yesterday talking and with the doctors trying to give me my options on what it could be.  ?You could have some tear, you could have some of these things, we don?t know.?  I asked, ?What does that mean??  Could there be surgery, could there be time missed, what is the status.  They just kind of give you the facts.  Going in today and just saying it is just the AC and not even the worst case of that it could be.  So that was the best I could?..

 

Q:  What was that period of uncertainty like?  Was it pretty stressful?

A:  Yeah.  It could be.  I just kind of had a feeling inside. I said, ?I don?t think it could be that bad.?  And if it was that bad I wouldn?t have attempted to throw or wouldn?t have gone back in there.  I wouldn?t have been able to throw.  I threw ? I still think I completed three or four passes after it happened.  And I thought I threw the ball well.  So I had a feeling it couldn?t be all of that bad.  Just the fact that I was out there and throwing the ball.

Q: If you were able to throw it after you got injured last night, is there any reason in your mind that you couldn?t throw it this coming Sunday?

 

A: Well, I don?t think so.  Again, sometimes right there you have the adrenalin going and it is fresh.  Once you down on your game you are not thinking about your shoulder, you are thinking about what the defense is doing.  What are my reads?  You are out there competing. I feel confident that I?ll be back soon and be throwing it.

 

Q:  Have you heard of this injury with any other quarterbacks and how long they were out?

 

A:  Not this exact one.  No, not really.

 

Q:  Could you have thrown it downfield?

 

A:  Yeah, I think so.  I don?t know how far I could have thrown it but I threw about a 20-25 yard glance route and put it right where I wanted it.  So I feel I got some juice on it.  But I feel like I can make all of the throws.  And that is part of when I?m ready to be out there I don?t want to be limited to only throwing 20 yards.  That?s not going to be help.  ?.. make all of my throw that I need to make.

 

Q:  What time did you have your MRI?  How soon after you had it did they tell you the results?

 

A:  I went in there around 1 pm.  By the time you get done with that they get the results pretty quickly ? 15 minutes or so.  I had the news that it was about as good as what we could hope for.

Q:  Did you go into the City to do that?

 

A:  Yes. 

 

Q:  This whole injury stuff overshadows what was just a tremendous game.  Do you feel it was as good a game as you ever had?

 

A:  We felt in rhythm.  It seems like we were making good calls.  The offensive line did a terrific job with protection.  They were doing a lot of different blitzes and bringing some stuff.  The backs getting out at the right time, ?? our guys.  ??getting open on time and making some catches.  So it was good.  It was fun playing that game; in there competing and the offense moving.  ?. When you look at the film, we still had some missed plays.  Toomer?s catch was out by an inch or two it seemed like on the touchdown.  We had a couple of penalties that hurt us that prevented us from getting first downs to keep the drives going.  So in a way it was good to see that we were doing things well. We just have to keep that rhythm and to keep that level of play. 

Q:  Whenever you do come back it seems like Brandon Jacobs will be out for a little while.  ?..

 

A:  Well, this is football.  Obviously we are going to miss Brandon but I think Derrick Ward showed he has some ability also.  He ran the ball well for us.  He caught a screen and he got in the end zone on great effort.  So he is a guy ? he knows this offense.  He has been with us for a long time.  He knows what he is doing protection wise; route wise and how to run it.  And so I think we have confidence in him.   We will probably have to get Ahmad Bradshaw in there and give him some reps.  He had a good preseason, just get him practicing, make sure he knows everything and is caught up on what we are doing.

 

Q:  Does it feel like in your own game that everything is coming together now in terms of skill and knowledge in your fourth year?

 

A:  Yes.  ?. Good feel for what is going on, seeing the defense and making fast decisions, going to the right spot in a timely fashion.  There is improvement to be made on my part, on our offensive part.  We still had some mistakes that hurt us in the game.  We just have to get everything cleaned up.  But offensive wise it was a good opening game we thought.  We came out and made some plays.  We just have to find a way to win these games, though.

 

Q:  ??..your own progress clearly compared to last year?

 

A:  Yeah, I felt like we had a good game plan.  We were running plays that we know; we know what we are doing.  And we did a good job executing.

 

Q:  Did they x-ray it last night?

 

A:  Yeah. 

 

Q:  So basically what we are describing as a bruised AC joint?

 

A:  Bruised, sprained, whatever. 

 

Q:  Grade ? such as the lowest grade?

A:  I don?t know.

 

Q:  There was some question about whether you might have been hurt during the three plays earlier when you were wrestled to the ground.

A:  No. 

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