Quarterback Joey Harrington
Q: Why do you think your completion percentage is so high?
A: “I think a lot of it has to do with confidence and my confidence is higher than at any other point in my NFL career. I have been saying it since I got here, ‘Mentally I am ready to take this offense on.’ What I like about coach (Bobby Petrino) is he gets you in a rhythm. We throw plenty of short passes so when the opportunity presents itself to take a shot down field you feel good. You feel like you are in the flow of the game and that you can throw a strike. It is a combination of me feeling good throwing the ball and getting in a rhythm.”
Q: Does getting the play call quickly factor into the rhythm?
A: “I think so. We have worked on tempo more than any other place I have been before. That is definitely an emphasis during practice. I think it is something that carries over to the game. There is a lot to say about tempo, feel and momentum during a game and I feel like we are doing all of these well right now.”
Q: How much did the win help the locker room and what happens now?
A: “That is the question every week. It is not a one-week season. It is a long season and the teams that end up in the playoffs at the end are the ones that can sustain that success week to week. That is what we need to learn how to do. The one thing I am very encouraged of is the steps forward we make every week. And if we continue on the pattern we will be fine over the next couple of weeks. However, it is not something that is going to magically show up. It is something we need to continue to work at and I think guys are very focused on doing that."
Q: Did you have any pre-conceptions of Roddy White and what is the key to his development?
A: “When I got here I did not have any pre-conceived notions of anybody. I had been told when I arrived that the receiving corps was a group that had been criticized for the last couple of years. When I got here I did not see why. Like I have said all along, I saw a group of talented players that worked very hard. All they really needed was for someone to believe in them. It is funny how if you tell someone over and over that you are not very good they will begin to believe it. You will start to doubt yourself. Those guys are phenomenally talented players and all they needed was someone to believe in them. I am so thrilled with the way they have worked and with the way they all have played. I feel comfortable and confident with throwing the ball to all of them in any situation.”
Q: Have you seen Roddy become more confident?
A: “Absolutely. You can see it in the way he carries himself. I only have a couple months experience with him, but I know during mini-camp he was a lot quieter and a little more reserved. Week after week he has really showed his confidence. When I see that he is playing with confidence, I have confidence in him. It is a big circle and all you need is someone to believe in you.”
