ATLANTA --Quotes from Chargers players and coaches after the first home preseason game.
Head Coach Norv Turner
Opening Statement
"I think the things that are most important to me were coming out fast and I think we certainly did that as a football team. I think our guys are preparing to get ready for the season and we were prepared for this game. We got to look at a lot of young players tonight in the second half and we will be able to evaluate those guys against good football players. I think one thing that the young guys will learn, is that the difference between winning and losing a game can come down to understanding one assignment and executing one assignment properly. I think there will be some great learning from this."
Q: On how his team is playing...
A: "I like the continuity we have. We're playing a really good football team. They're a really good offensive football team so they're going to make plays. I thought our defense did a good job managing it, keeping things in front of them and making plays to stop them when we had to. We held them to two field goals."
Q: On the Chargers wide receivers...A: "Obviously our receivers are a pretty special group and they made some big-time plays."
Q: Was the goal tonight to get in a lot of young guys in the game?A: "Our starters got in the mid-30s in terms of plays and we could have played them another 10 plays. That would have been 10 plays I couldn't have evaluated our young guys. If I had been disappointed in the way the starters had played as a starting group I would have played them longer. I thought we accomplished what we wanted to as a coaching staff and I think we are doing the things you have to do to get ready for the season."
Q: Talk about the play of Michael Bennett.A: "I like Michael Bennett. He has had a solid training camp and he has made some big plays. He still has that burst."
Q: Talk about the play of the offensive line?A: "I thought the offensive line played well and has played well throughout training camp. They are going to continue to get better. We are fortunate. We had a situation where our best lineman had to come out of the game and we plugged in another guy to keep moving."
Q: Talk about the protection tonight?A: There were some big throws and catches tonight and I think we did a good job of protection. This team is a good blitzing team. They have given their first two preseason opponents fits. They do get close to you but Philip (Rivers) did a good job of getting the ball out and our guys made some pretty good plays. We feel we will get good matchups with our wide receivers most of the time."
Quarterback Philip Rivers
Q: On scoring on the opening drive...
A: "It was good to get off to a fast start and get into the end zone on that first drive. I thought the kickoff team set the tone. They went in there and stuffed them. It was obvious we were ready to play. It was good to get a lot of different guys the ball. We hit some guys up the field on some throws and the guys up front were outstanding."
Q: Did you think you were going to play a little longer tonight?A: We went in with the mindset that we would each play half. The way it was going, we were able to get in the end zone twice. Collectively we thought it was the right time for me to get out. It's always good for Billy [Volek] to get in there with the first group. He stepped in and did a nice job the rest of the half.
Q: Talk about scoring on the opening offensive possession.A: It was good to get off to a fast start and get into the end zone on that first drive. I thought the kickoff team set the tone. They went in there and stuffed them. It was obvious we were ready to play. It was good to get a lot of different guys the ball. We hit some guys up the field on some throws and the guys up front were outstanding.
Cornerback Antonio Cromartie
Q: What were your thoughts on today's game?A: "I thought the game was pretty good. The first and second team defense went out there and played the way they were supposed to play. Overall, we have some work to do. This was a dress rehearsal for the season."
Q: What things will you take from this game in order to prepare for the next game and ultimately the season?A: "The defense as a whole will focus on stopping the run, and we'll work on our tackling. We need to wrap up more and work on our general mechanics."
Q: What were your thoughts on the defense?A: "I thought the defense played well. The Falcons offense made few good catches in the first half and down the stretch, but overall, we just tried to play our game."
Cornerback Quentin Jammer
Q: The third preseason game is always a good barometer of a team in preseason.A: "Atlanta has a very explosive offense, and one of the best backs in the league in Michael Turner. They also have one of the best receiving corps in the league, and we did well against them."
Q: You seemed to keep Michael Turner in check during the first half.A: "We kept him in check and we stayed at it. You've got to make a back like that work if you want to slow him down. We did that."
Q: Is there a new mindset or philosophy with this team this year as opposed to what we saw on the field last year?A: "Don't forget, we we're plagued with injuries last year. Right now we are as healthy as we've been in a real long time, and it showed."
MORE FROM THE FALCONS-CHARGERS GAME:
- GAME CENTER:Stats and more from the Falcons preseason win
- BLOGS:J. Michael Moore's blog posts from Aug. 29, 2009
- POLLS:Share your thoughts on the preseason win
- FIRST TAKE:Head Coach Mike Smith | Redman | Ryan | Finneran | Clabo
- QUOTES:Falcons game quotes | Chargers
- GAME NOTES:Official game notes from the Georgia Dome press box
- NFL NETWORK:Game highlights and more from NFL Network
- PHOTOS:Images from the Falcons come-from-behind win
