Quote Sheet From Redskins vs. Giants

Coach Steve Spurrier
Q: What are your general thoughts on the game?
A: We lost in overtime, but we had our chances offensively there at the end and had to kick a field goal. The defense stopped them about the whole [second] half, but we didn't do it in overtime, so we got beat.

Q: What about the 17 penalties on the Redskins?
A: Hopefully, one day we can play without all the careless penalties that we seem to always get. It was just pure bad discipline on the part of our team, and as coaches we have to try and correct it somehow. We had 17. That's a whole bunch. As coaches we are doing a good job of emphasizing staying onsides, but I don't know if the game was decided completely on penalties.

Q: Can you talk about Patrick Ramsey's poise?
A: We got behind earlier, not the way we hoped and planned, but he mounted a comeback and had a good chance to win this. He played well, and the receivers, even though they had a few drops, made some wonderful catches also.

Q: What did you think of the offense as a whole?
A: I thought our pass protection was overall pretty good. Sometimes we would mess up a protection there at the end of the game, but that was a communication problem between me and Patrick, so I will take the blame when he got sacked down there, and we had to kick the field goal.

Q: Do you think the overtime format is fair?
A: I think it's best that the first team scores [wins] because it keeps the fans on the edge a little bit more, and you have an instant winner. There are all kinds of ways to do it, and certainly we had them down on the 10-yard line, and they had done nothing the whole second half, but they did that drive, and that's the way it worked out.

Patrick Ramsey
Q: What kind of adjustments did you make in the second half?
A: They threw some looks at us coverage-wise that I think we had not seen on film. Coach made some adjustments calling plays in order to combat that in the second half. I think that's why we were more successful.

Q: What were the reasons for the offensive struggles in the first half?
A: They did a good job of covering us. I have to give them some better balls at certain points. Early, it's going to be an adjustment. If they come out doing a lot of the same things, then it makes it a little easier. But they didn't today. Unfortunately, we weren't able to get going early.

Q: Did you want to take some shots at the end zone during the final drive of regulation?
A: We were hoping to, but we didn't get any guys open in the end zone. Essentially, that's what it comes down to. They did a good job of covering it.

Q: What did you think about the Giants defense?
A: They played well tonight. They threw some new looks at us. I think they adjusted well as far as being able to start off with a game plan that we were unable to get going against in the first half. We're going to learn from this and put it behind us.

Q: What were your thoughts as the Giants were driving in overtime?
A: We would have loved an opportunity to get our hands on the ball. We were hot at that point. We were moving the ball well. The coaches were calling good plays. It was unfortunate that we were unable to get a chance.

Q: What do you take from the loss?
A: I think we'll find out a lot about our football team. I think we're going to find that we'll persevere, push through and play well. We'll overcome it.

Laveranues Coles
Q: What did you think of the team's performance?
A: Offensively, I didn't give the team the spark that we needed early to get us going. I feel like the guys might look to me to do that, and I didn't do it. I take full responsibility for the offense not getting going early. Hopefully, I can get that spark back for next week, and we can make some plays early.

Q: What about the comeback?
A: It shows the character of the guys that we have on this football team. Everybody fought to the bitter end, and you can't ask for more than that. The only thing we can ask for is a victory next time.

Q: Were you disappointment not getting a chance in overtime?
A: They had a very good offense. We both went out there with a lot of firepower, and unfortunately we didn't get a chance to get back out there. Our defense played well and carried us for the majority of the game. I think we just need to come back and correct the mistakes that we made both offensively and defensively, and we'll be okay.

Jeremiah Trotter
Q: Can you talk about the penalties?
A: They're very disappointing. I had one big one when we could have gotten the ball back before the half, and you never know what the offense could have done. It was stupid. I got hit late in the back, and I retaliated. I've just got to stay poised in that situation. When you are in a situation you just have to stay poised. You can't just retaliate because normally it's the second guy who gets the flag. In this case it was me.

Q: Did the defense run out of gas in overtime?
A: They just made some plays. They came out and gave us some different looks, and their guys made plays when they needed to. I think we dug a hole too deep for ourselves in the first half, and it caught up with us in the end.

Bruce Smith
Q: Can you talk about the Redskins' final defensive stand in regulation?
A: It was a great stand by the defense. Emotionally and physically it took a lot out of us, but that's no excuse. Our job is to go out and play defense. When we got into overtime, we just made too many mistakes. Myself jumping offsides was not acceptable. Missed tackles are not acceptable, and those are things we have to get corrected.

Q: What about the penalties?
A: When you have penalties, that extends drives. When the defense is on the field, that's on us. We have to play smarter. We have to be more conscious of what's going on out there. This was a tough one tonight.