Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress, 10.7
On LaDainian Tomlinson…
I see a guy that’s playing at a pretty high level, (after) taking a good look at their run game. Obviously, he gets it in the pass game, both protection and route running and then obviously enough squirt where he can run through the line of scrimmage and get into the outside or run around you on the outside and make you miss. So, I haven’t seen a lot of fall off.
On if Tomlinson looks as good as he ever did…
Different kind of style of offense, I think, but probably as good as I remember him.
On what Randy Moss can do for the team right away and Darrelle Revis’ comments pertaining to Moss’ work ethic…
I don’t really have a response to any of those comments. I’m aware of them. Like I said yesterday, I think it’s just important to judge him going forward from here. I wasn’t here when he was here the first time. Obviously, I wasn’t anywhere that he’s been since then, but we kind of go about our business and judge him going forward. I had a chance to sit down and speak with him this morning. He got in late last night, but in reference to the things that he can do, I think usually the tape speaks for itself. He can get deep on you. He can high-point a ball. He’s a good broken field runner. He’s got “A” competes and “A” football instincts. We’re always looking to add good players and he’s a good player.
On how long it will take for Moss to be up to speed…
That’s an interesting question. Your attempt is to give him the whole game plan here and I’m sure we’ll settle on what he’s going to do as we head through the week. Really, it’s kind of a season long process. I would tell you the same thing with Brett (Favre). Both systematically and every year it kind of brings its own thing in terms of personnel and defenses you’re going to play and how does a guy run this route? How far can I lead him? That type of thing, so I just think it will be an evolution as we go week-by-week.
On if he’s limited to what he can ask of Moss in Monday night’s game…
I don’t know if that’s fair or not. I’ll probably know that better as we get towards Monday night.
On what he’s seen from the Jets and their defense against tight ends…
I’d say this, they have a good one (tight end Dustin Keller), as well. When you speak about good, (it’s) not just guys that can play in a three-point stance next to your tackle. Certainly their guy (Keller) and our guy (Visanthe Shiancoe) can do both of those things, but they have abilities to make plays away from the formation. Whether you want to talk about Jeremy Shockey or (Antonio) Gates, both those guys have those tools. I don’t think they (the Jets defense) key any specific thing. They’re basically playing their defense, whether they’re manning the guy or zoning the guy. I think that’s just probably the way it has evolved in the first four games for them.
On what he has seen from Mark Sanchez…
I see a progression. I feel like he’s comfortable with what they’re doing. A lot of times as a young quarterback, you’re thinking so hard about the play you just called and when to lift your foot for a guy to go in motion and all the things that are happening on your side of the line of scrimmage. Now, I see him coming to the line (and) not worrying about it. That’s like falling off a log. I see him paying a good bit of attention to some of the nuances of what’s happening on defense.
On how he plans to prepare for Santonio Holmes since he hasn’t played a regular season game with the Jets…
I would tell you, though, that he’s been available to them through all the OTAs and through training camp and that type of thing. It’s not a completely blank slate. I’m sure they’re doing the same things, taking a measure of where he’s at strength and conditioning-wise. It’s great to be in good running shape. It’s a different thing to be in football shape. I’m sure he did a great job of taking care of his body. I’m sure they have a menu of things that they knew they were going to do with him. I don’t suppose they have to take a step back from that.
On if there is a philosophy to back away from running backs once they turn 30…
I wouldn’t just say that about running backs. I think you have to know the team you have and how many miles they have on those tires. I don’t suppose he’s (LaDainian Tomlinson) going live on inside drills on Wednesday or Thursday. Everybody does it a little bit differently, whether it’s taking the pads off for guys halfway through the year. I’m sure they’re managing him and that’s usually a prudent thing to do. (It’s) different for different people.
On what he’s seen from the Jets defense…
It’s a ton to get ready for. (They) play out of an odd front, play out of an even front, play base personnel, nickel personnel. He’s (Rex Ryan) got a very nice blitz package. That’s all you ever try to do. (You) try to create some element of slowness or confusion or thought to be able to get to the quarterback where he might be able to take that extra second. Maybe they get a delay of game. Maybe they get a free (rusher) because they disguised something. It’s a great package.
On if he would prefer to have a later bye-week…
I think in a perfect world, you like it dead in the middle, but it’s not a perfect world. We had it after six or seven (games) last year. The way I choose to look at it, and remember I’m always shaping the environment here, is we’ve been practicing football for two months now. We started around August 1, took a little break and we really haven’t had a chance to get into any kind of rhythm with the Thursday night game, Sunday game, play another one and then we’re going to take a bye. Really, we’ll find out as we go what kind of football team we’ve got and we just need to get the drum beating here a little bit with the rest of the season.
On Moss is the perfect fit for what they need with Sidney Rice out…
He’s a hell of a piece of the puzzle. He’s physical. Stature wise, they’re very similar. Obviously, Randy’s got more of a pedigree. He has that past history. Sidney had the one tremendous year last year. I think he’ll be a good addition to our football team.
On if there was a difference in waiting for Favre to make his decision this year…
It was different. I took a flyer last year after a week in the preseason and you play your hunch that he still has the itch to do that. It was a different dynamic here last time (with) all the things you have to go through when you’re new, kind of like what we’re talking about with Randy Moss. What’s the culture like? Who are the players? What can they do? This year, I thought there was obviously some pause. I’m sure he had a few meetings with himself and Deanna (Favre). Every year has it’s own personality. Whatever happened last year has nothing to do with what’s going to happen this year.
On if Moss expressed enthusiasm about the trade to Minnesota…
I wish I could tell you I’ve spoken to him. He was up at the crack of dawn getting physicals and just made it up to my office about 10 minutes before our team met at 8:30, so I think he expressed the fact that he’s been up since the crack of dawn.
On if it’s easier to incorporate Moss because they have a veteran team…
There are six or seven guys here that were here when he was here before. I would tell you though, this is a completely different organization and building than it was when he was here before by virtue of the fact, that the comings and goings of players as well as just the culture and the organization. We just kind of went through some of those things and there will be guys that are able to make him comfortable. I think the great thing is obviously he knows his way around these parts.
On if the subject of a contract extension for Moss has come up…
It did not.
Transcripts provided courtesy of the New York Jets.