BRODIE CROYLE - 5/29

[philfree]

Q&A with BRODIE CROYLE - 5/29
May 29, 2008, 4:38:30 PM


VIDEO: Windows | Real | Audio

Q: How are you feeling about the offense?

CROYLE: “I really like the offense. We’ve got a lot of good ideas. There really isn’t a name for what we do. If we can run the ball, we’re going to do it. If we can throw it, we’re going to throw it. It really fits our personnel very well.”

Q: Can you see some changes tailored to Brodie Croyle?

CROYLE: “Not really. It’s the offense we got in the off-season. It’s the playbook we got and that’s what we’re putting in. But, that really comes with game planning for each week. I’m sure we’ll see a lot more of that.”

Q: Is this more similar to what you did in college?

CROYLE: “It is. Coach Shula (former University of Alabama head coach Mike Shula) coached with Offensive Coordinator Chan Gailey so they have a lot of the same ideas. I kind of had an idea going into it. So far, so good, we’ve had two pretty good weeks.”

Q: How comfortable do you feel in this offense this early?

CROYLE: “Very comfortable, surprisingly. The reads are pretty clear right now for us. We’re making a lot more plays than we did last year even. It’s a pretty simple offense. It’s basically giving the guys a chance to go out and play. There’s not a whole lot of thinking about it. Just go out there, line up and go.”

Q: Is this offense something you feel confident can be picked up by these first-year guys?

CROYLE: “Yes. In the first two weeks we’ve gotten a whole lot of the offense in. As I said, Chan’s whole thing is that he wants to give guys a chance just to go out and play. Young, old, doesn’t really matter. Everybody’s learning a new offense.”

Q: What is one thing that you realized last season that you’ll have to work on coming into this season and even these OTAs?

CROYLE: “Just be more consistent. Make the right reads on a more consistent basis. Don’t try and force things. Take what they give you. Everybody, when they get in there they want to go out there, they just want to make big plays, make big plays and win a bunch of games. Usually when you do that you get yourself in trouble and you throw interceptions and bad things happen. So, just be more consistent and be more patient. This offense really gives me a chance to do that.”

Q: What have you learned from last season and how are you going to be better because of what you went through last year?

CROYLE: “Part of that patience thing. Obviously, I didn’t win the job last year when I wanted to. Obviously, it wasn’t the right time. So, we got some games under out belt last year and we’re ready to go this year.”

Q: Has the presence of QBs Damon Huard and Trent Green in the past helped you read defenses and develop as a starter?

CROYLE: “Yes. Obviously, coming in here and getting to sit with both of them at different times and kind of getting the best of both worlds from guys that have been in the league for a long time. Any time you get to sit and listen to a vet, it’s obviously going to help you.”

Q: When are you going to know it’s your team, your huddle?

CROYLE: “When we go out there and start winning football games.”

Q: Is that really the first time you’re going to realize, “That’s my team?”

CROYLE: “No. That’s the first time people will start believing it. You can only believe in something so much until they go out there and prove it. I can have as good of OTAs and as good of mini-camps I can possibly have, have a great training camp, even a great pre-season, but it doesn’t really mean much until you go out there and you start winning football games. Then, the offense is going to hang on every word you say because you’re the quarterback. They’re supposed to. You don’t really call it your team, your huddle until you go out and win.”

Q: Does if feel more like your team now?

CROYLE: “Yes. Last year I was kind of the young guy, just got thrown in there and was just trying to kind of make my own splash. There is only so much you can lead when you get put in the last six games. The whole off-season here, the whole off-season working out with the guys, the new guys especially, obviously the more you’re here, the more you’re the starter, the more people are going to believe in you and the more you can call it your team.”

Q: It’s going to take a while to win the fans over and your teammates. It sounds like you’ve won your coach over and your offensive coordinator. We talked to Chan the other day. He’s a believer.

CROYLE: “That’s a good starting point obviously. That’s who you want on your side. But, as I said, winning your team over, winning the fans over, that’s all part of winning.”

Q: How important is it for you that RB Larry Johnson is going to be back and healthy for you? How is that going to help you?

CROYLE: “Oh, it’s going to be huge. I don’t think I started a game last year where Larry was in there. Having his presence, obviously, he’s one of the best in the league. Having that presence of a running game is going to get a lot more one-on-one’s and give us a chance to make bigger plays.”

Q: Do you consider the roll-out and throwing on the run to be one of your strengths?

CROYLE: “Man, I’m not that fast (laughing).”

Q: But it gives you the chance to avoid the pressure?

CROYLE: “It does. It’s obviously something we want to mix in. It will be a good chance of pace. As for as, ‘That’s my strength, that’s what I’m going to do,’ my strength is just kind of sitting back there and throwing.”

Q: G/T Branden Albert. How do you feel about him right now?

CROYLE: “He’s looked really good the first two weeks. He’s got great feet, long arms. I think his arms are as big around as my legs, not that that’s saying much. But, he’s looked really good and he’s going to be a great addition for us.”

Q: How long do you think it will take this rehabbed offensive line thing to gel and get cohesive, which is so important for a line?

CROYLE: “We’re going to have a whole training camp, a whole pre-season where we’re hoping it’s going to be the same offensive line and they can gel, get used to each other and get used to me. Whenever it happens, it happens. I’ve just got to drop back, sit there and believe, and I truly believe I’ll be fine.”

Q: Brodie, what’s that first win going to feel like, taste like?

CROYLE: “It’ll feel good to get your first NFL win. But, a win’s a win. It always feels good. It doesn’t matter if it’s your 100th or it’s your first.”

Q: You spent a lot of time here in the off-season. There were a lot of frustrated fans out here last season with the way the season ended. How were you received when you were out-and-about? Was it a fun off-season for you?

CROYLE: “It was fine. I never ever went out a single time and got harassed. Everybody was positive that came up and ever talked to me. I’m sure there were people that didn’t come up and talk to me and cussed me out behind my back, but that’s part of it. That’s part of playing quarterback. There’s probably only one quarterback in this league that had the best off-season he could have and that’s Eli Manning. That’s how it works.”
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He's gotta win but I like the young man. Of course he lead what should have been a couple of game winning drives last year and the D gave it up so winning is still and always will be a team production. That said I find myself really pulling for the guy.

PhilFree