(Are you concerned about Charles?)
Charles Woodson was excused today for a personal matter. Hell be back and ready to go tomorrow.
(Did Newhouse hurt his back at practice?)
Yeah, Marshall hurt his back yesterday at practice and we had to hold him today.
(It doesnt look like a long-term thing?)
Marshall? I dont think so.
(Did Poppinga have his knee surgery the other day?)
Yes. Brady had knee surgery. Actually they found a little more than we expected, so hell obviously be out for the next couple weeks. But were gathering more information on the long-term diagnosis for Brady.
(Did Chillar bounce back well?)
I thought he practiced good today. I watched Brandon a bunch. Hes making progress.
(Whats your feel for Clay after two days?)
Clay participated in some of the team periods today, so hes also progressing, and well see where he is tomorrow. Were heading in the right direction, thats for sure.
(On Monday you said Tauscher was a ways away. Out there now, is he just trying to get acclimated?)
Well, hes been working in pads all week just to work with the shoulder harness. Hes making progress also. If I had to put him in a category for this week, I would say hes between questionable and doubtful.
(Is that a pain thing or needing to get strength back in the shoulder?)
All those types of injuries are pain issues, but its really the strength. Strength of the joint. Anytime you have a joint issue, its to get the stability back to where he can compete at a normal level.
(The forecast for Sunday is iffy, possibly rain all day )
40 percent.
(How does that affect things? Do you have two game plans ready?)
I dont think it really affects you as much as I think people think it does, because it depends on the type of rain. Ive played in storms where just the exchange was an issue. I dont see that type of forecast. You really adjust on the move with that. You always have a bad-weather plan within your plan. I dont turn a page on my call sheet and go in that direction. Ive seen it done that way, but its really the plan within the plan, your bad-weather plan. Thats a weekly conversation anytime you play outside.
(Do you always keep close tabs on the weather?)
Yeah, but its like anything else in this business. It changes every day.
(You havent played too much in bad weather )
No, we havent in our time here.
(Are you still doing the wet ball drill?)
Periodically. In training camp we do it once a week, and its always something you hit on the bye week and so forth. I think you see that we spend a lot of time on quarterback-center exchange. Its an emphasis that we do every day. So Im comfortable with the amount of time that those guys spend doing that.
(Whats your concern level with Driver?)
You always count on Donald, and we were actually talking before practice. He hasnt missed too many practice days in his career. He tells me hes going to be ready, and I trust Donald. Well see where he is tomorrow. Knowing his history, hell probably want to get some work tomorrow.
(Did that spring up in practice last week or was it something different from the game?)
It was a carry-over. Its been bothering him for a while, and it flared up on him in practice and then it happened again in the game.
(Whats the outlook on Al and Atari, and when will you make a decision?)
Going day to day. Atari had a nice interception in practice today. Al I think has looked more and more comfortable. Hes still jumping routes, particularly in the team periods. Its good to have them out there. But I had a chance to watch them on film. Well continue to evaluate those guys, day to day, week to week.
(Whens the latest you could activate them? Saturday?)
Yeah, Saturday would be the day wed do it.