Q: How was it outside in the elements today?

MATT CASSEL: “It’s wonderful. I’m still pruned-out (shows hands) and feel good. It was a good day for us. Coach likes to do that from time to time – go outside and kind of let us be out in the environment. It was cold and wet today, and sometimes we’re going to have to deal with that.”

Q: Where does a QB draw the line between trying to make a play and self-preservation? Is that a hard thing for a QB to learn how to do?

CASSEL: “You know, especially early on, it was really hard for me to learn how to slide because you’re always fighting for extra yards and you’re competitive and you don’t know any better. In terms of self-preservation, you just go out there and play the game, you don’t really think about it while it’s happening. You just go and try to play and if you get hit, it’s part of it.

Q: As a QB, are you in trouble if you start thinking about it?

CASSEL: “I think that there are times that any QB, you might feel a few hits here and there, then you see somebody running at you might duck a little bit earlier than what you normally would. To tell you the truth, I’ve been hit plenty of times and that’s just part of it.”

Q: At this rate, do you feel like you can last 10 more games?

CASSEL: “Heck yeah I do. I’m ready to rock and roll.”

Q: Does it send a message when you keep getting up?

CASSEL: “I hope so. Hopefully I just continue to keep getting up. That’s part of my job. I have to stand in there and I have to deliver under pressure and there’s always going to be guys coming after me and trying to hit me and that’s just part of it, getting up after you’re hit and dusting yourself off and moving on to the next play.”

Q: Coach Haley has talked a lot about finding the right 53 guys, not necessarily the best 53, what does that mean to you?

CASSEL: “You know, I think coach could be more specific on it, I don’t really know what the definition of the ‘right 53’ is, but I’m sure it means whoever is going to give us the best chance to win.”

Q: Are there elements that go into that?

CASSEL: “People that are doing their job. I’m sure there are certain characteristics that can define different players of what we’re looking for, but what you just said, toughness, awareness, doing your jobs, specifics – everybody needs to have a great attention to detail.”

Q: What’s the opposite of that then, what gets to him, what tests his patience?

CASSEL: “I don’t know, it’s hard to say. Some days it’s different than others. Really, in terms of what tests him, you’re going to have to ask him on that.”

Q: You and GM Scott (Pioli) both came from New England. In the time that you’ve been here with Scott and Coach Haley, have you noticed them doing things to try to get to more of the New England way?

CASSEL: “In many regards, there are some similarities in what we did in New England – the culture, the environment and what they’re trying to get across to the players, the messages that we’re sending. I definitely would say there are a lot of similarities in how we’re running the organization, or how the organization is being run, in my opinion.”

Q: When you say the culture and the environment, how would you describe that?

CASSEL: “I guess, from a structured standpoint, in terms of schedule, how we want go about our business and then practice schedules. Everything like that, it’s very similar. It’s hard to pinpoint one specific thing for you.”

Q: Do you see that change as being painful for some people who have been here for a long time?

CASSEL: “I’m sure. I’ve only been used to one thing, being in New England. So for me, the transition hasn’t been difficult, but for others players who have been here under a different regime, there’s been dramatic change I’m sure. I’m sure that’s quite a transition for most players.”

Q: Is that ‘right 53’ thing a philosophy that New England had? Is that something where you see a similarity?

CASSEL: “Sure. I think every NFL team strives to get to the ‘right 53,’ whatever that means – whatever is going to give you the best opportunity to win.”

Q: What do you see in the San Diego defense when you watch them and what concerns you?

CASSEL: “They try to handle the run with their front seven, they’ve got a very powerful front seven with LB Shawne Merriman and LB Shaun Phillips leading the way. Then you go into the secondary and you they’ve got two great corners in CB (Antonio) Cromartie and CB (Quentin) Jammer, they’re shut-down corners. They’re two of the premier corners in the NFL and so you just have to be careful when you’re throwing their way – you have to know what you’re seeing and trust that your receiver is going to do his job.”

Q: The Monday after a win, people always talk about how much better they feel. Have you noticed this week at practice that people are maybe a little more energized and a little more focused?

CASSEL: “There’s no doubt it helps. Any time you can go out there and get a win, that’s what we work for. And to finally be able to accomplish that, I know it’s taken a lot longer than any of us anticipated, but to finally go out and get a win, I think it has re-energized the team a little bit, it lets us know and gives us confidence that we can win games and now it’s building on the things that we did really well and trying to correct things that we did wrong and hopefully move forward and win some more.”