Head Coach Mike Smith
Q: Do you credit the sacks to a quick release or a good offensive line?
A: “Both. I think they have a very good offensive line, but they are a team that works well to get the ball out of his hands when need be.”
Q: Is it good to be back in your bed for three straight games?
A: “We are excited. It’s been a long five weeks in terms of the last four out of five games have been on the road. It has been a tough stretch for us. We would like to get back to the friendly confines of the (Georgia) Dome. It’s going to be a fun game on Sunday.”
Q: It will be a fun, big game especially since it is against your divisional opponent with your record of 0-2 in the division.
A: “Yes, it is a very big game. Any game in the division is a very big game. We have an opportunity to play our division opponents twice so there is familiarity with one another. Geographically, this division is in close proximity so I am sure there will be some Saints fans making their way to Atlanta this weekend.”
Q: (Lawyer) Milloy said that ever since the bye week you have been working on the explosive stuff. How do you do that?
A: “I think there are a number of things that you have to do. Most explosive plays that an offense is able to produce are caused by one of three things. One is poor tackling. Two is missed leveraging and three is a blown assignment. I don’t mean to take a lot away from offenses, but, a lot of times, it is more about us than it is about them. We have been really concentrating on pursuit and working on tackling. We want to make sure that we are mentally into our game plan. There will be times where they will make the perfect throw and the perfect catch, but, at times, it is more about the defense than it is about the offense.”
Q: What do you mean by missed leverage?
A: “We want to have a certain player outside the ball and a certain player inside the ball. We talk to our defenders all the time about how they are not the only ones out there on the field. We have to have someone who is forced that has to turn the ball back in to the guys who are pursuing the ball inside out.”
Q: A week ago, you mentioned Sam Baker’s status. Has anything changed with him?
A: “Sam is back in Atlanta. The first seven days of his rehab are very limited and he is just staying off his feet. Until we really get him going in the rehab process, we aren’t going to really know how long it will be for him. At this point, we are optimistic. The procedure went well according to the doctors and he has started his rehab.”
Q: Is there a ballpark idea?
A: “Not at this point. We are thinking it will be sooner than later.”
Q: Everyone talks about the Saints offense and deservingly so. Do you think that their defense gets overlooked?
A: “I think they do. They have a very good defense. They have some guys up front that can rush the passer. I think Jonathan Vilma, the linebacker that they signed in free agency this past offseason, has done a good job for them. They have two other linebackers that I think are very solid players. They have a veteran group in the secondary. I know Coach Gary Gibbs does a good job in preparing his football team.”
Q: How are you health-wise?
A: “We are probably as healthy as we have been. Our injury report is as small as it is going to be for a number of weeks. We had two guys miss today. Sam was one of them and Jason Snelling for a non-football related illness.”
RELATED LINKS
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