Highlights

Q: Done early?

TODD HALEY: “Yeah, they were moving fast today. That’s good, in and out of the huddle we were and off the field quicker.”

Q: Did Kolby Smith have a setback?

HALEY: “Yeah, we’ll know a little bit more. We’ll list him as [did not practice today] but we’ll have to see what’s up.”

Q: What is the silver lining to injuries? Is it a case of seeing who else you have? With Vrabel out the last couple of weeks what have you learned about that position having looked at some other guys?

HALEY: “I think if there is something positive about injuries that’s one of the things: you get a chance to see an Andy Studebaker. You get a chance to see a Pierre Walters. You may not have pushed that envelope with the injury. Even though guys were practicing well, Mike’s been one of our better players day-in and day-out.

“We’re encouraged with that spot overall. The fact that Andy came in and did some of the things he did were real encouraging. I felt both games he started and the game he came in partway through he had positive performances all the way across. Anytime you find out about a backup that’s been a top special teamer for you that you think potentially could start and play in that role that’s a good sign.

Q: Vrabel is kind of at that age where you look down the road. How much better do you feel about that position now after having seen Studebaker?

HALEY: “Well, I feel better about Andy. I think that Tamba has continued to make progress on the other side. We’re not there yet. We’re continuing to grow into what we’re going to be but that’s got to be another real good strong spot for us – to play defense the way we want to play. The outside backers have got to be a position of strength. Anytime you have somebody that’s been predominantly special teams that you didn’t know a lot about going into the year that steps in and plays at a pretty good level then you have to be encouraged.”

Q: What are your thoughts on that position? Has it improved in the last three games?

HALEY: “Yeah, again when you lose one of your better players on defense and somebody comes in and plays at a level that gives you a chance to win in all those games I think that’s something you feel good about. ”

Q: How would you evaluate the play of Flowers and Carr?

HALEY: “That’s a tough one because anytime you talk about anybody on defense we’re not where we want to be. We’ve made progress but big plays have been a big part of the outcome of games. But again, as I said yesterday, it takes all 11 to play defense the way we want to play. It’s hard for me to get real excited about the position I was just talking about – to get overly excited about anyone – just by virtue of the fact we’re down at the bottom of the defens[ive standings] right now and we have to be better.

“I would say the defense has improved overall. We’ve improved in the secondary. Again, last week is a tough week to judge it on because we did give up a bunch of yards. But overall, each position – some more than others – has made progress. I think it’s reflected in where we were defensively at the end of last year. I feel like it’s been a work in progress.”

Q: Would you argue that the corners are the strength of your defensive team?

HALEY: “I don’t know that I could say that about anybody on the defense right now. Again, when you have the 29th or 30th defense in the league – and there are a lot of factors that go into it – every area needs to get better. To say that one area is a strength over another, I think, would not be fair to the other spots. We understand as a defense that it takes all 11.”

Q: How do you feel about your depth at running back today with Smith injured?

HALEY: “We’ve got a Plan B, Plan C ready to go one way or another. I feel like we’ve done the things necessary to be ready. If Kolby is indeed out, I’m happy we have a guy like Tim Castille that we’ve added here recently that can play both positions. We haven’t given him the ball a bunch but we think he can play the halfback and fullback positions. We’ll be ready to go regardless. Anytime you have an injury it’s a setback but somebody has to step up and fill the void.”

Q: Will Savage be ready to go?

HALEY: “He was better today than he was yesterday. Again, we’ll know more tomorrow. He was limited today. I thought he was able to get around a lot better today.”

Q: What did you see in Pierre Walters in these last couple of games?

HALEY: “Pierre is a guy when the season started who was close to being up every week. Just because of the numbers you have to deal with in all areas, he was the eighth and ninth guy multiple weeks in a row throughout the season. The positive with the injury is we got a chance to get Pierre up and get him a few snaps. I think it’s too early to make a real evaluation because he hasn’t had a whole bunch of snaps – only 18 I think and a couple on special teams. We’ll see how the week pans out.”

Q: Do you expect Vrabel to go?

HALEY: “We’ll have to evaluate further tomorrow but he was better than he was yesterday.”

Q: Has Andy shown enough to be a full time starter for this team?

HALEY: “We beat a very good team with him playing. At the same time, we’ve got to be better on defense all the time to be where we want to be. I’m just happy with the fact that we had a guy go down and a guy stepped in and was a part of a couple of wins and a big part in the Pittsburgh win. I just think that’s encouraging for us overall. We had a guy that we didn’t know a lot about that now we have at least an idea of some of the things he might be capable of.”

Q: You have a number of guys who were on your original 53 who are gone now and on other teams. Do you follow at all what they’ve done since they left?

HALEY: “Pretty focused on what we’re doing, unless we’re playing them or seeing them when we’re breaking down the tape.”

Q: Has there been a big drop-off in the guard position after Mike Goff’s injury?

HALEY: “Hard to say. I think these last couple of weeks these guys have worked fairly well together. Now, what exactly that is, you don’t always know. What we try to figure out every day is what the best mix is and what’s helping us and what’s hurting us.

“But I would say that Andy’s done a good job while he’s been in there and these couple of weeks [guard] Wade [Smith] has done a good job. We’ve been able to protect the passer fairly well against some teams that can rush the passer. We were a little better last week and we’ve obviously been able to run the ball. There are a lot of different factors and the thing I’m encouraged about is we’ve had some injuries to front line players and had other guys step in and play and in that period we’ve won some games. That’s usually a good sign.”

Q: How would you evaluate Ryan O’Callaghan’s play? He seems to be one of the more productive offensive linemen.

HALEY: “In talking about all these guys, I know where we’re at and it’s not where we want to be, so to be content with anybody right now would be a mistake. At the same time, we want to continue to create competition and make these guys in there better and make the guys that are behind them better.

“Right tackle was an area that we were concerned about obviously going all the way back to training camp and off-season, so to have a guy we did pick up off the street, so to speak, who was on waivers and come in and started and been a part of some productive wins that’s a sign that we’re at least moving in the right direction.”

Q: When you look at a Walters and Studebaker you can say they look like football players. How do you explain a small guy like Denver’s Elvis Dumervil leading the league in sacks?
 
HALEY: “It seems like every year there are a couple that break the mold at all positions. We’ve seen some of them this year whether it’s Maurice Jones-Drew or Harrison and now Dumervil. Every year there are a couple that break the mold and (don’t have) a prototypical height, weight and speed.  He’s special and has a motor that won’t stop. I guess that’s the best way to describe him: a low center of gravity with great leverage and doesn’t quit. Those are the kind of players you’d like to have.”

Q: You have a guy in Tamba Hali whose motor never stops, but his numbers aren’t there. Is there a reason for that?

HALEY: “I don’t know if I’d put numbers on Tamba right now. Again, we’re still trying to get to where we want to get to. I think personnel kind of dictates that a little more than other times. Tamba has done nothing but show he belongs and, like you said, he’s got a motor that doesn’t stop and it doesn’t matter if it’s practice or the game. I’m happy that we have Tamba and that he’ll do nothing but improve. As we get better I think he’ll get better.”