New Orleans Saints Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers Joe Vitt
Post-Practice Media Availability
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Opening Statement: "Junior (Galette), Charles Brown, Isa (Abdul-Quddus), Courtney Roby and Tom Johnson will not participate in this game. They are out. Dave Thomas is questionable. Corey White is questionable. Zach Strief is questionable. Elbert Mack is probable. We put our short-yardage, red zone, and goal line in today. We had some route review for first and second down. Our players are preparing to go in to meetings right now. Our wheels will be up at six, we are headed to Atlanta. We'll continue to do our preparation in Atlanta with some night meetings and afternoon meetings tomorrow."
Do you feel any better about Zach Strief's chances of playing?
"I probably feel about the way I've felt all week. He's answered the bell in practice and has looked ok so we'll wait and see."
How has William Robinson progressed in the past few days?
"We've got some stuff on film that we feel pretty good about. I feel good about him. Again, I learned a long time ago to love the one I'm with. I don't think I was my wife's first choice 37 years ago but that was 37 years ago. Listen, these are our guys, they've worked hard and I'm excited for all of them."
Does having another tackle instead of Zach in the game limit what you can do offensively?
"No. We do what we do. We bring players in here offensively, special teams-wise, and defensively (and they) have to adapt to the way we do things. So no, we do what we do."
If Zach cannot play, what are your other options?
"We have a couple options but I really don't feel like talking about those right now. That's why we close our practice."
Does Jed Collins help in that regard? Does having a physical fullback help if Zach cannot play?
"Jed Collins can't play right tackle if that's what you're asking. Jed Collin's position for us, every week, is important. Jed Collins has to play a good game for us to be a good football team on Thursday night. Jed Collins doesn't have to worry about the right tackle position. He has to worry about the fullback position and doing his job."
New Orleans Saints Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers Joe Vitt
Post-Practice Media Availability
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Watch Vittt's Press Conference
Opening Statement: "Junior (Galette), Charles Brown, Isa (Abdul-Quddus), Courtney Roby and Tom Johnson will not participate in this game. They are out. Dave Thomas is questionable. Corey White is questionable. Zach Strief is questionable. Elbert Mack is probable. We put our short-yardage, red zone, and goal line in today. We had some route review for first and second down. Our players are preparing to go in to meetings right now. Our wheels will be up at six, we are headed to Atlanta. We'll continue to do our preparation in Atlanta with some night meetings and afternoon meetings tomorrow."
Do you feel any better about Zach Strief's chances of playing?
"I probably feel about the way I've felt all week. He's answered the bell in practice and has looked ok so we'll wait and see."
How has William Robinson progressed in the past few days?
"We've got some stuff on film that we feel pretty good about. I feel good about him. Again, I learned a long time ago to love the one I'm with. I don't think I was my wife's first choice
37 years ago but that was 37 years ago. Listen, these are our guys, they've worked hard and I'm excited for all of them."
Does having another tackle instead of Zach in the game limit what you can do offensively?
"No. We do what we do. We bring players in here offensively, special teams-wise, and defensively (and they) have to adapt to the way we do things. So no, we do what we do."
If Zach cannot play, what are your other options?
"We have a couple options but I really don't feel like talking about those right now. That's why we close our practice."
Does Jed Collins help in that regard? Does having a physical fullback help if Zach cannot play?
"Jed Collins can't play right tackle if that's what you're asking. Jed Collin's position for us, every week, is important. Jed Collins has to play a good game for us to be a good football team on Thursday night. Jed Collins doesn't have to worry about the right tackle position. He has to worry about the fullback position and doing his job."
New Orleans Saints Offensive Coordinator Pete Carmichael
Post-Practice Media Availability
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Watch Carmichael's Press Conference
What are your thoughts on being associated with a head coaching position in college?
"Well, I can tell you this, yesterday I heard it from our PR department (when they) came down and told me about it. I have heard nothing from Boston College and there is not even time to think about it this week. It's a short week, big game for us, so our focus right now is on the Atlanta Falcons."
Are you flattered that your name comes up for job openings?
"For a program like that, absolutely. Again, (my) focus right now is on Atlanta."
Would there be any interest?
"Listen, right now I haven't even given it a second thought. I just heard about it from Doug (Miller) yesterday and it just went in and out because we have the Atlanta Falcons on a short week and that's where our focus is."
Do you know if they contacted your agent at all?
"As far as I know, no contact has been made."
What does Jed Collins bring to the offense and what is his specialty?
"I think he brings some power at his position. We use him a lot. (He) lead blocks on some linebackers. He brings a little versatility that we feel good when he gets the ball in space. He's done a good job for the limited amount of opportunities he's had when he's caught the ball getting yards after the catch. He knows his role on this team and it's primarily to be physical."
He called himself almost an enforcer. Would you agree with that assessment?
"(Laughter) He does a great job for us. Like I said, he's physical. He loves the noise, he loves to get in there and make contact. I think he takes some pride in that."
Is there a reason why Drew Brees' statistical numbers have gone down in the fourth quarter?
"I think we can help him out as a coaching staff to start off with. There's just been some situations where we're down by a couple of scores so the defense is going to have a chance to pin their ears back and let's go. Or, there's been a couple games where we've been up by a couple scores so maybe we're being a little bit more conservative. I think we can help him out as a coaching staff."
How much does it limit the offense to have to chip so much to help the tackle position?
"When you're doing that, it may eliminate those guys a little bit from being the main part of a progression but at some point they become part of the progression for the quarterback. Again, it may take them away from being the main focus of a route but they're still involved."
