Q&A with QB DAMON HUARD - 9/14

**Donger** · 09-15-2006, 08:53 AM

Sorry if a repost. I didn't see it.

Q: How have preparations been going so far?

HUARD: “Good. We’ve had a good week of practice so far. It’s nice getting the reps and working with the first team and getting a feel for the Denver defense. Just plugging away here and have got a couple of more days to go.”

Q: How much more comfortable will you feel as the week goes on?

HUARD: “I think as the week goes you feel more and more comfortable with the game plan and getting the timing down with some of the receivers that I haven’t worked a whole lot with in the past. It’s going good.”

Q: You’re 5-1 as a starter; does that give you any momentum going into this game?

HUARD: “Yeah, certainly. I had some success earlier in my career. It’s been a while, but I’ve been in this role before and been in this situation so I think you just step out there and try to pick up where QB Trent (Green) left off. I have a great group of guys around me on offense, some future Hall of Famers. I think we just need to do a little better than we did last week certainly, we turned the ball over too many times and didn’t get enough first downs and we kept our defense on the field too much. We did some good things too and some things to build on. I think working with the guys all week we should be good to go by Sunday.”

Q: What about winning in Denver?

HUARD: “We’ve had a tough time there the last few years, no question. It’s a great challenge for our football team. We’re 0-1, we’re going into a tough place to play, but we’ll go out there and lay it on the line and see what happens.”

Q: Have you talked to QB Trent (Green) and has he given you any advice?

HUARD: “I talked to Trent on Monday. I got to visit him at the hospital and he’s doing great. We didn’t talk a whole lot about the Broncos, but certainly his health is first and foremost the most important thing right now. He’s doing well and we’re glad to see him on track and I think he’ll be back with us shortly.”

Q: When you saw the hit happen, what were you thinking?

HUARD: “The only thing that I’m thinking is that I hope my friend is all right. That was scary, no question. I’ve never experienced or seen that in all my years of football. It’s encouraging to know that he’s back on his feet smiling and talking. As bad as I felt about it, just seeing him Monday in the hospital in good spirits just kind of made me feel a whole lot better. It was scary and you don’t want to see anyone get hit like that, but like I said, Trent is resilient, he’s a tough guy, he’s a soldier and I know he’ll be back soon.”

Q: Were you surprised there was no flag or fines for that hit on Trent?

HUARD: “That’s for the league to decide. It’s unfortunate and it’s a very physical game and those things happen, but it’s not my decision. It’s up to the league obviously.”

Q: Will what happened to Trent be something that you have to work to keep out of your mind?

HUARD: “I think that we know that every time we cross the line and step on the field that there is that possibility. You can’t think about it. The human body is an amazing thing the way that it can come back, the way that it can battle, the way it can deal with injuries and we’ve already seen it here with Trent in his speedy recovery. You can’t think about it, if you do you’re going to get hurt. You have to put it behind you, move on and play the game.”

Q: It seems that most people don’t think that you guys are going to win this game; does that offer any type of motivation?

HUARD: “There’s always motivation. Every time you strap it on and play this game, especially a division opponent on the road, it’s right there, it’s a big game, it’s a contest and it’s going to be a battle, no question. We know we’ll have to play and tough game and probably win it in the fourth quarter. If we can give ourselves and chance to win in the fourth quarter that would be awesome.”

Q: Is it difficult to shift gears and know that you are now the guy at quarterback?

HUARD: “I think most backups in this league, I’ve been around long enough to where you look around you see all the injuries at the position. QB Charlie Batch in Pittsburgh, I’m sure he got a phone call and QB Ben’s (Rothlisberger) is in the hospital with an appendectomy and all of a sudden you’re starting the game in a few days. As a backup, you’ve always got to be ready and you always know that the possibility is there that your number could be called any time, any Sunday, any day of the week and that’s your job and that’s your role. You’ve just got to be ready to go when your number is called.”

Q: Does it help that you’ve been with this franchise for a while? Is the playbook the same now that Herm Edwards is head coach?

HUARD: “It’s pretty much the same terminology and the same system. I think that is important. So many times, if I were to tell you the verbiage of a how we call a play, it can be pretty long, but I think after three years it definitely rolls off my tongue easier and that is advantageous that I have been here for a couple of years in this system. I’ve been getting to know the players, they have been getting to know me, so I think that helps to some degree.”

Q: What’s the pressure like on you to come out Sunday and get this offense going?

HUARD: “Well there’s always pressure, that’s what this game is all about, especially when you don’t win. When you don’t win things are magnified and we know that. There is a lot of pressure on all of us, not only on me, but everybody on this team to go out there and put up a good performance.”

Q: Are you welcoming an opportunity to be able to make a start?

HUARD: “Yeah, certainly. I haven’t played a whole lot in recent years, so to get out there on the field and to play the game is an opportunity. The circumstances aren’t that great. I would feel a little bit better going for Trent if he had rolled his ankle or something like that, but it is what it is. We need to go out there and keep this ship rolling. It is an opportunity for me, but more importantly it’s an opportunity for our team to bounce back after week one and like I said earlier, it’s a division opponent on the road, it’s going to be a hostile environment and it will be very tough for us. We’ll put up a fight and you never know, that’s why they play the game.”

Q: Have you had any talks with your guys or coaches and said, “Hey, I can do this.”?

HUARD: “Not really, you just kind of go about business as usual and I don’t think it’s a, ‘Rah, Rah, Win one for the Gipper type of thing.’ We’ve just got to go out there and have everyone do their job and hopefully things work out.”

Q: What is the jump like going from third-team quarterback last season to the main backup guy this season?

HUARD: “If you look around the league, I want to say that 11 teams played three different quarterbacks last year. Whether you are the second or the third, does it make a little bit of a difference? Yeah, maybe, but if you’re a professional you are going to prepare the same way because you never know.”

Q: Can it be frustrating to keep preparing for each game and not getting to play?

HUARD: “I don’t know. I suppose I see what you’re saying. Trent has been so resilient for 81 straight games, but again you never know. Injuries happen, they are a part of this game and you’ve just got to be ready to go.”

Q: What’s going to be the toughest thing for you to get back into flow of things?

HUARD: “Certainly the speed of the game. In practice you don’t get hit much, so one thing would be protecting the ball, I had a couple of fumbles last week. I think just the overall speed of the game, making quick decisions, getting the ball out and holding onto the ball in the pocket, but not squeezing the air out of it when the rush is coming.”

Q: Have you thought about not getting out of the pocket and tucking the ball if you have to?

HUARD: “Every play is different, every game, every situation. At the end of the day, you just go out there and play football and you react. You’ve got to trust yourself. Are there times when you tuck it and go? Sure. Are there times when you hold it and wait for someone to get open and buy yourself some time in the pocket? Yeah. So every situation kind of is different and takes care of itself.”

Q: Have you sensed that the coaching staff has geared certain things in the offense towards making you feel comfortable in that role?

HUARD: “We’ve all worked well together in putting together a game plan and different things making sure I’m comfortable with it. Yeah, I think collectively we’ve done a nice job with the coaches and the players and my teammates and all of those things, but again it’s our offense, it’s the same type of thing we’ve done here and I’ve been a part of it for three years so it’s fine.”

Q: Can this offense work as well with you running it?

HUARD: “Well, I would like to think so. Certainly I have confidence that we can go out there and move the chains and score touchdowns and win football games, but certainly Trent has been the leader here for five years now, so those are some tough shoes to fill.”

**OnTheWarpath15** · 09-15-2006, 08:58 AM

Who's the fuqtard who asked this beauty?

Q: You’re 5-1 as a starter; does that give you any momentum going into this game?

*Jim Mora voice*

MOMENTUM?

Me thinks the better word to use would have been confidence.....

Momentum's hard enough to carry over week to week. But 6 years?

**HemiEd** · 09-15-2006, 09:52 AM

I am starting to get a good feeling about Huard, especially if they taught him how to hold on to the ball this week.

**Donger** · 09-15-2006, 09:57 AM

"I think he’ll be back with us shortly.”

"Trent is resilient, he’s a tough guy, he’s a soldier and I know he’ll be back soon.”

So, considering what Hothus said about Trent's injuries being more serious than is known, are these quotes just hot air?

bringbackmarty · 09-15-2006, 10:11 AM

I feel like all is not lost, and forgive me for saying this, but we may have a better chance of executing our gameplan with Huard. Trent is a great QB, always coming up with plays. Huard won't take as may chances this week, probably dumping the ball off on the perimeter and under 20 yds to gonzalez. If the defense plays well, we don't turn the ball over, and stick to the aforementioned gameplan with thirty carries for johnson, we will be close in the fourth.

Hog's Gone Fishin · 09-15-2006, 10:43 AM

I just have a feeling that Huard is gonna suprise us. If he can just "not Lose" the game for us and let LJ carry the rock. I also have a feeling Dante is gonna have a big day.

Cormac · 09-15-2006, 11:11 AM

Sorry guys but I think we're going to get our **** pushed in. Nobody wanted Huard on the squad a week ago, and all he's done since is fumble 3 times in part of a game.

09-15-2006, 08:53 AM	Topic Starter
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $10399900 VARSITY	Q&A with QB DAMON HUARD - 9/14 Sorry if a repost. I didn't see it. Q: How have preparations been going so far? HUARD: “Good. We’ve had a good week of practice so far. It’s nice getting the reps and working with the first team and getting a feel for the Denver defense. Just plugging away here and have got a couple of more days to go.” Q: How much more comfortable will you feel as the week goes on? HUARD: “I think as the week goes you feel more and more comfortable with the game plan and getting the timing down with some of the receivers that I haven’t worked a whole lot with in the past. It’s going good.” Q: You’re 5-1 as a starter; does that give you any momentum going into this game? HUARD: “Yeah, certainly. I had some success earlier in my career. It’s been a while, but I’ve been in this role before and been in this situation so I think you just step out there and try to pick up where QB Trent (Green) left off. I have a great group of guys around me on offense, some future Hall of Famers. I think we just need to do a little better than we did last week certainly, we turned the ball over too many times and didn’t get enough first downs and we kept our defense on the field too much. We did some good things too and some things to build on. I think working with the guys all week we should be good to go by Sunday.” Q: What about winning in Denver? HUARD: “We’ve had a tough time there the last few years, no question. It’s a great challenge for our football team. We’re 0-1, we’re going into a tough place to play, but we’ll go out there and lay it on the line and see what happens.” Q: Have you talked to QB Trent (Green) and has he given you any advice? HUARD: “I talked to Trent on Monday. I got to visit him at the hospital and he’s doing great. We didn’t talk a whole lot about the Broncos, but certainly his health is first and foremost the most important thing right now. He’s doing well and we’re glad to see him on track and I think he’ll be back with us shortly.” Q: When you saw the hit happen, what were you thinking? HUARD: “The only thing that I’m thinking is that I hope my friend is all right. That was scary, no question. I’ve never experienced or seen that in all my years of football. It’s encouraging to know that he’s back on his feet smiling and talking. As bad as I felt about it, just seeing him Monday in the hospital in good spirits just kind of made me feel a whole lot better. It was scary and you don’t want to see anyone get hit like that, but like I said, Trent is resilient, he’s a tough guy, he’s a soldier and I know he’ll be back soon.” Q: Were you surprised there was no flag or fines for that hit on Trent? HUARD: “That’s for the league to decide. It’s unfortunate and it’s a very physical game and those things happen, but it’s not my decision. It’s up to the league obviously.” Q: Will what happened to Trent be something that you have to work to keep out of your mind? HUARD: “I think that we know that every time we cross the line and step on the field that there is that possibility. You can’t think about it. The human body is an amazing thing the way that it can come back, the way that it can battle, the way it can deal with injuries and we’ve already seen it here with Trent in his speedy recovery. You can’t think about it, if you do you’re going to get hurt. You have to put it behind you, move on and play the game.” Q: It seems that most people don’t think that you guys are going to win this game; does that offer any type of motivation? HUARD: “There’s always motivation. Every time you strap it on and play this game, especially a division opponent on the road, it’s right there, it’s a big game, it’s a contest and it’s going to be a battle, no question. We know we’ll have to play and tough game and probably win it in the fourth quarter. If we can give ourselves and chance to win in the fourth quarter that would be awesome.” Q: Is it difficult to shift gears and know that you are now the guy at quarterback? HUARD: “I think most backups in this league, I’ve been around long enough to where you look around you see all the injuries at the position. QB Charlie Batch in Pittsburgh, I’m sure he got a phone call and QB Ben’s (Rothlisberger) is in the hospital with an appendectomy and all of a sudden you’re starting the game in a few days. As a backup, you’ve always got to be ready and you always know that the possibility is there that your number could be called any time, any Sunday, any day of the week and that’s your job and that’s your role. You’ve just got to be ready to go when your number is called.” Q: Does it help that you’ve been with this franchise for a while? Is the playbook the same now that Herm Edwards is head coach? HUARD: “It’s pretty much the same terminology and the same system. I think that is important. So many times, if I were to tell you the verbiage of a how we call a play, it can be pretty long, but I think after three years it definitely rolls off my tongue easier and that is advantageous that I have been here for a couple of years in this system. I’ve been getting to know the players, they have been getting to know me, so I think that helps to some degree.” Q: What’s the pressure like on you to come out Sunday and get this offense going? HUARD: “Well there’s always pressure, that’s what this game is all about, especially when you don’t win. When you don’t win things are magnified and we know that. There is a lot of pressure on all of us, not only on me, but everybody on this team to go out there and put up a good performance.” Q: Are you welcoming an opportunity to be able to make a start? HUARD: “Yeah, certainly. I haven’t played a whole lot in recent years, so to get out there on the field and to play the game is an opportunity. The circumstances aren’t that great. I would feel a little bit better going for Trent if he had rolled his ankle or something like that, but it is what it is. We need to go out there and keep this ship rolling. It is an opportunity for me, but more importantly it’s an opportunity for our team to bounce back after week one and like I said earlier, it’s a division opponent on the road, it’s going to be a hostile environment and it will be very tough for us. We’ll put up a fight and you never know, that’s why they play the game.” Q: Have you had any talks with your guys or coaches and said, “Hey, I can do this.”? HUARD: “Not really, you just kind of go about business as usual and I don’t think it’s a, ‘Rah, Rah, Win one for the Gipper type of thing.’ We’ve just got to go out there and have everyone do their job and hopefully things work out.” Q: What is the jump like going from third-team quarterback last season to the main backup guy this season? HUARD: “If you look around the league, I want to say that 11 teams played three different quarterbacks last year. Whether you are the second or the third, does it make a little bit of a difference? Yeah, maybe, but if you’re a professional you are going to prepare the same way because you never know.” Q: Can it be frustrating to keep preparing for each game and not getting to play? HUARD: “I don’t know. I suppose I see what you’re saying. Trent has been so resilient for 81 straight games, but again you never know. Injuries happen, they are a part of this game and you’ve just got to be ready to go.” Q: What’s going to be the toughest thing for you to get back into flow of things? HUARD: “Certainly the speed of the game. In practice you don’t get hit much, so one thing would be protecting the ball, I had a couple of fumbles last week. I think just the overall speed of the game, making quick decisions, getting the ball out and holding onto the ball in the pocket, but not squeezing the air out of it when the rush is coming.” Q: Have you thought about not getting out of the pocket and tucking the ball if you have to? HUARD: “Every play is different, every game, every situation. At the end of the day, you just go out there and play football and you react. You’ve got to trust yourself. Are there times when you tuck it and go? Sure. Are there times when you hold it and wait for someone to get open and buy yourself some time in the pocket? Yeah. So every situation kind of is different and takes care of itself.” Q: Have you sensed that the coaching staff has geared certain things in the offense towards making you feel comfortable in that role? HUARD: “We’ve all worked well together in putting together a game plan and different things making sure I’m comfortable with it. Yeah, I think collectively we’ve done a nice job with the coaches and the players and my teammates and all of those things, but again it’s our offense, it’s the same type of thing we’ve done here and I’ve been a part of it for three years so it’s fine.” Q: Can this offense work as well with you running it? HUARD: “Well, I would like to think so. Certainly I have confidence that we can go out there and move the chains and score touchdowns and win football games, but certainly Trent has been the leader here for five years now, so those are some tough shoes to fill.”
Posts: 180,619

09-15-2006, 08:58 AM	#2
OnTheWarpath15 MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $4931115	Who's the fuqtard who asked this beauty? Q: You’re 5-1 as a starter; does that give you any momentum going into this game? Jim Mora voice MOMENTUM? Me thinks the better word to use would have been confidence..... Momentum's hard enough to carry over week to week. But 6 years?
Posts: 60,166

09-15-2006, 09:52 AM	#3
HemiEd Supporter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ozarks Casino cash: $3330564	I am starting to get a good feeling about Huard, especially if they taught him how to hold on to the ball this week.
Posts: 33,407

09-15-2006, 09:57 AM	#4
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $10399900 VARSITY	"I think he’ll be back with us shortly.” "Trent is resilient, he’s a tough guy, he’s a soldier and I know he’ll be back soon.” So, considering what Hothus said about Trent's injuries being more serious than is known, are these quotes just hot air? __________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
Posts: 180,619

09-15-2006, 10:11 AM	#5
bringbackmarty Gonna go back in time.... Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $3065510	I feel like all is not lost, and forgive me for saying this, but we may have a better chance of executing our gameplan with Huard. Trent is a great QB, always coming up with plays. Huard won't take as may chances this week, probably dumping the ball off on the perimeter and under 20 yds to gonzalez. If the defense plays well, we don't turn the ball over, and stick to the aforementioned gameplan with thirty carries for johnson, we will be close in the fourth. __________________ https://www.facebook.com/The-Pheasan...6018120266009/
Posts: 3,033

09-15-2006, 10:43 AM	#6
Hog's Gone Fishin Fish are scared of me Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $1750477	I just have a feeling that Huard is gonna suprise us. If he can just "not Lose" the game for us and let LJ carry the rock. I also have a feeling Dante is gonna have a big day.
Posts: 40,326

09-15-2006, 11:11 AM	#7
Cormac Haley sceptic.... Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: waiting it out....... Casino cash: $10004900	Sorry guys but I think we're going to get our **** pushed in. Nobody wanted Huard on the squad a week ago, and all he's done since is fumble 3 times in part of a game.
Posts: 2,406