Post-Game Player Quotes - Sun, Oct 4 2009 at 10:13 pm
QB Derek Anderson
(On his performance) – “I think I did some good things today. I got the guys going and made some plays but there will definitely be some things that we will see tomorrow that will make me sick.”
(On the interception) – “Steve (Heiden) and I just misread it. I was expecting him to do something different and the corner came off of Braylon and made a good play. It was a low ball, I was trying to put it in low for Steve to make the play. We just didn’t read it right and we weren’t on the same page, but it is football. That wasn’t the only thing that cost us the game. There are a lot of different things that we could have done better when we got the ball in overtime.”
(On the pressure in overtime) – “I am pretty sure that they were bringing more guys than we could block and we were trying to make some plays down the field. We could have held onto the ball a little longer but when I had a couple of free guys, you just have to make the plays. Those are a couple of things that I will probably be frustrated by tomorrow, but overall the guys came out and played and I can’t knock the effort that was put out today. We stuck together and played hard. Key thing was we lost, but it something that we can build on and move on.”
(On if he was happy with his performance) – “I am never happy when we lose. I always think that I can do something better to help us win. That’s just the way I do it. We’ll see it tomorrow and decide whether it was good or bad.”
(On the play of Mohamed Massaquoi) – “I think Mo stepped up and really played well. For it being the first week that he was really involved in the game plan, he made the plays when they came to him. He was aggressive and he knew that we had to be on the same page in a couple of different situations. For him not really playing with us a ton, he just needs communicate and get better.”
(On the receiving unit) – “Once we get him (Massaquoi) and Braylon going at the same time I think that we can do a lot of different things. I think the confidence of everybody out there was, I could feel it and guys started feeling how it was supposed to go. We were moving the ball when we wanted to but we just didn’t get the points when we needed them.”
(On if this was a statement game for him) – “I always try to do what I can to help my guys play. I made it a point to go out there and not try and force things, manage the game, be smart, know the situations and play good football. I think for the most part I did it, but we’ll see when I watch it tomorrow.”
(On scoring field goals instead of touchdowns) – “Points are points. Anytime you get points, you are happy. They are not a bad defense and you have to give them credit because they played hard. I played safe. Obviously, you can’t get seven points every time you go down there, but I just have to make more plays when they come up.”
(On what the Bengals did to take Edwards out of the game) – “They rolled to him a bit and put guys over the top of him. We’ll find ways once we see it and figure out what ways to get him the ball and get him more involved.
(On getting pats on the back from the defense coming off the field) – “It seemed like we got three plays in and then it seemed like we didn’t play again until the second quarter and that was kind of frustrating. I think our defense played unbelievable today. For the most part, they had some struggles early on in the first half, but they tightened up and made big plays all through the second half and gave us a chance to win the ball game in overtime. They were blocking field goals and when those guys get going like that, we are going to play well.”
(On whether this was a moral victory) – “I wouldn’t say that applies to us. I guess we had some good things to obviously look at and be okay. If we can continue to execute and do these things, we are going to win. We’re gonna wins games. We just have to keep going at it. Nobody is happy that we lost. Nobody is happy that we just went to overtime and played it to the last 10 seconds. That isn’t what we are here for.”
(On the blocked kicks by Shaun Rogers) – “I think part of it is, going in I pay attention during the special teams segments. Their kicker kicks the ball a little bit low. I think on the first one the snap was a little high and the kicker was thrown a little bit off his rhythm and Shaun gets so much penetration being so big and he can jump too. He just gets up there and gets his hands in the way.”
(On the interception and his touchdown) – “We already talked about the interception, but I will tell you again. The run wasn’t a designed run by any means. I pump faked and the guy turned his back to me and I just kind of kept going. On the pick, Steve and I had a little miscommunication. I probably shouldn’t have thrown it in there, but the guy made a good play too. I tried to throw it low for Steve and he came off outside. I said that it was frustrating. It wasn’t the one thing, we had a lot of different opportunities to get three points and go home happy.”
(On the Palmer draw) – “He did a good job. I have to give him credit for making a play when they needed it. I said that our defense played well today and it is frustrating.”
(On the spark following the Edwards skirmish on the field) – “I don’t know. I feel like we had momentum and we were playing well. Obviously, you don’t want to go out there and fight, but when their guys are picking on our guys and guys are in situations, you have to stick up for your teammates. I’m not saying it is okay by any means and I don’t think Eric (Mangini) thinks it’s okay, but we just have to be smart.”
(On the last pass to Edwards in overtime) – “I saw him but the next thing you know, I was looking at the ceiling. It was open. We had a free guy, I knew we had a free guy and I was just trying to buy a little bit of time to let him run his route.”
(On his performance) – “I don’t know. I just try to throw the ball on time and play together. The more we play together, the more we get used to them when they come out of breaks, the ball is there. We’ll get it. Obviously, those are some situations where guys are ready for the ball and they hit them in the face.”
(On the pass to Royal) – “I don’t think he was ready for it, but the more we play together, he makes that play.”
(On getting the offense going) – “That drive in the third quarter. I think it was our first drive and we were first and 20 and we marched down, made some plays, Mass (Massaquoi) made a couple of big plays. It takes a little while to get going but for the most part, I felt good and live. A couple of the sacks were my own fault. On one, I scrambled out and it was my own fault. The protection was good, but they are such a good pass rush team and the only one they got me on was when I turned into it.”
(On starting after losing the QB battle) – “I don’t think my frame of mind ever went by the wayside. I felt like I had a good training camp and did some good things. So I was confident, like I always am, in my own abilities and I when I get in there, I try to be positive and give the guys a spark and continue to do the right things.
(On whether he feels more appreciated in Cleveland now) – “I don’t know about that. We still lost. I don’t know if you are talking about in the stadium or what not or on our team, but I feel like our guys have always had my back. My team mates. It is always nice when you somebody says you played well and or nice throw. It is the little stuff. I’ve always tried to do the same things with our guys.”
RB Jerome Harrison
(On his performance)- “I would take negative yards running, no touchdowns, and a win any day over a good personal performance and not winning.”
(On team’s performance)- “We fought until the end, guys played for each other and things didn’t go our way. I would go to a fight with any of our guys any day. It’s tough to play this long and not have the ball fall your way. It’s tough.”
(On Derek Anderson’s performance)- “I don’t know how to read coverages like him so I can’t grade his performance, but he was out there running the offense really well and I think he will get better every week.”
(On team playing well despite being counted out)- “The world isn’t in here. It’s these players in uniforms and the people in the organization, they are all that really matter. It’s about the people that support us in good times and bad. We are going to get back at it tomorrow and get ready for next week.”
WR Mike Furrey
(On the tough loss)- “It’s not discouraging but very frustrating from my standpoint. We did a lot of things well that we wanted to start doing better and that’s a positive. In the end, a win means a lot, but it’s just very frustrating the way we fought on both sides of the ball. The kick return teams were clicking today, it was just very frustrating.”
(On how playing safety helps his offense)- “It helps out tremendously. When you go over there and understand what you are doing on defense, especially reading coverages, it helps out.”
WR Braylon Edwards
(On being effective without catching a pass)- “I believe so. I try and go out there and be the guy everyone focuses on. That’s one of the core characteristics that Coach Mangini speaks about. That’s what I am trying to be, not a distraction, but a helpful guy on this team. Mohamed Massaquoi, what can you say, the guy made the plays that came to him. He performed well, he has been getting better each week and having more confidence each week and it showed today. He had a superb game.”
(On the game)- “I think there are two factors involved. Coach Mangini, as he came in this week, had a different approach. What I mean by that is it wasn’t much different, but he showed us there is a lot of season left. He said you guys have so much fight and so much talent. He had a different feel about him. I can’t explain it, but he did and we ran with that and we worked hard for him this week. We, as players, knew that we spotted those 14 points. On offense we give them the fumble that goes back for a touchdown. If we don’t do that, it’s 7-0. We ran with them and the defense was doing a good job. We were getting movement on offense and we came out here and continued the things we were doing and tightened up some of the areas and made some plays.”
(On the offense compared to last week)- “A big thing we did today was taking what they gave us. They were having some zone problems, so we were taking advantage with running the ball. They were blowing some covers, leaving Mohamed one-on-one. Derek Anderson saw that and made some good throws and Mohamed made some good catches. It was a good job of exploiting what they were giving, exploiting the zone look they were giving us. We did a good job of mixing up the run and the pass, that’s where we got movement.”
(On losing a hard fought game)- “You can sit here and say we played well, but it hurts. Especially for us to have that feeling going into the game, and having that feeling during the game, especially in the third quarter going into the fourth. To have that feeling get knocked out of you in the end, it hurts. We are going to have to watch it, and stomach it again, and then move past it, but it definitely does hurt.”
(On his personal foul sparking the team)- “If you want to take it that way, that’s a good way to take it and I’m sure everyone will love that. For me, it was that I saw them doing a little extra after the whistle on our running back Jerome Harrison. I’m not a fan of that. As an offense, we take care of one another. So I was just trying to take care of my guy, which led to some other things and that’s a personal foul, but I’m not going to stand for the extra after the whistle. I was just protecting my guy after the whistle.”
WR Mohamed Massaquoi
(On his comfort level) – “You learn a little bit more every time you step out on the field. You take your experience into the game.”
(On his preparations) – “I work and ask questions. I look at the older guys and see how they do things. When I do something wrong, I try and see how I can do it better.”
(On the game) – “They did a good job of mixing it up. They made some plays when they had to. It was just a good game with everyone out there competing.”
(On his overturned touchdown) – “We had to go see it on the replay, but we were able to go out and score on the next play, so that is what matters.”
WR Josh Cribbs
(On his return game) – “You have to score. Reading that little bio they had on me, I was amped up the whole day and the return unit was amped up for me. They said we are going to get you in the end zone and I was trying to. Unfortunately, we didn’t get in, but I was giving everything I had to find the end zone, but I just came up short.”
(On QB Derek Anderson’s performance and the energy of the team) – “I think he played solid. An alternative is always good and he proved that he can lead a football team. I’m proud of this football team. We fought until the end. In a city like this that works hard – I don’t think that any other city works this hard – the blue collar workers in Cleveland expect the football team to work as hard as we did. Even though we lost, I think the fans are still proud of us.”
(On improvement) – “This is the kind of game we build on. A team that came in and beat Pittsburgh and is a good football team, we battled with them. We did okay, but they battled too and you have to give credit when credit is due. They are a good football team. This is the type of football game and the type of football that we need to continue to play throughout the season.”
