Shaun O' Hara speaks
DoctorElefant
Some interesting snips:
<<Q. You said something after the game about guys not taking their job
seriously enough. Can you explain what you meant by that?
A. I think guys need to find a way to step it up a notch. When you
make a blanket statement like that it is probably only going to cater
to three to five guys. Its not 53 guys. There are guys that are out
there that are fighting their tails off and doing everything they
possibly can to try to win a game. In a team sport like this, your
game can be won and lost by one play, one player not doing their job,
especially on offense. Everybody is counting on each other. I think at
this point in this season everybody needs to dial it up a little bit
and do a little bit more. Be a pro about everything. There is always
more that you can do in terms of studying, in terms of getting
yourself ready. The second half of the season is always a little bit
tougher. Teams know you better. You are on film. You have tendencies.
You have to be much more aware mentally of what is going on. >>
<snip>
<<Q. Is there a level of concern about the run game?
A. I have the utmost confidence in this offensive line. I think the
talent is certainly there. Are there plays that aren't pretty and are
there plays that don't go exactly how we draw them up? Absolutely. At
the same time, there are plays where we have everybody blocked, I have
said it before in previous weeks, as a unit, because I will include
the fullbacks and tight ends. You can block a play perfectly and
everybody is blocked and you only get three yards. Everybody says,
'oh, you can't run the ball.' You can have three guys miss their block
on one play and it springs for 28 yards and you say, 'Wow, they are
doing a great job.' Just because you are not getting a lot of rushing
yards or you don't feel like the running game isn't going well doesn't
necessarily mean that you are not blocking it well. Sometimes they
make plays. I think really as a unit we are probably frustrated with
the run game. It has come so easy for us the last few years. Running
the football has really been an afterthought. Yeah, we will get six,
seven yards, no big deal. We'll get 150 yards rushing without even
blinking an eye. Things are a little bit tougher; it's tougher
sledding. But, that is just going to make it even sweeter when we do
start to crack those big runs and we get back on track.
Q. Is there anything that you will address to get back on track?
A. The only way, in my eyes, to get back on track is to keep doing it
and do it more. I think, as offensive linemen, we are always going to
complain that we aren't running the football enough. That is kind of
our M.O. We want to run the ball more. Quarterbacks and receivers, we
are going to have discussions with them every single day, they want to
throw it, we want to run it. That is a constant battle. I am not going
to be happy until we have 35-40 carries in a game.
Q. Why do you think it has become tougher sledding?
A. If there was one single reason why, then we probably would have
fixed it. It's not one specific reason, here is why we aren't running
the football or here is why it is tough. There are a lot of different
factors that have gone into it. I think there are certain times where
we can execute better. I think defenses are definitely keying in on
the run and they feel like it is one way to try and beat us. To try to
slow us down in the running game and if they can do it early on, maybe
that frustrates us and we shy away from it. I don't know. It is
something where we need to make sure we start fast and run the ball
effectively right in the beginning so we can make sure we have
confidence in ourselves that we aren't going to stray away from it.
Q. You have to convince your coordinator to keep calling those run
plays?
A. We have to be effective in the outset of the game to give
confidence to ourselves just as much as anybody else. By that, I mean
not just our unit that is blocking, but for our running backs and
certainly for the coaches. That is always the challenge. I think we
are a much better team when we start fast. When we go out there in the
beginning parts of the game and we get into a rhythm. That has kind of
been the way that we have won a lot of football games around here. I
think that is when we put our best foot forward. >>
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DocE
"The future ain't what it used to be." -Yogi Berra
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IommiRULES
All I know is that our backs are getting hit 3 yards in the backfeild
consistently game in and game out now. You can't blame that on the
backs. And Papa and Millen said the same thing over and over last
night. Add to that Eli was under fire in the pocket more so than in
recent memory last night, they almost gave up a safety. The line HAS
TO play better if we want some january football this year.
Bill A.
16 games may be all I can handle this year. :-)
Last night reminded me the Carolina playoff shutout. Very empty.
Bill
IommiRULES
>
> - Show quoted text -
Oh god that playoff game was worse. At home no less. Eli was still a
greenie back then, but I don't think it woulda matterd anyway.