QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if he is careful to try and not do too much) Wednesday, December 1, 2010
"I think that's probably a pretty good general rule of thumb. I don't feel that's necessarily been a problem for anybody here. I think we just need to execute better. That's your simple solution. I don't think that's been a cause of poor execution by any means."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on is it difficult to execute better with players being in and out of the lineup) Wednesday, December 1, 2010
"You just have to do it. When I say execution, it's third-down conversions (and) ball security. We've been decent in the red zone when we've gotten down there, we just need to get down there a little bit more. Once we get to Sunday at 4 o'clock, those are the things we have to go out there and do with the guys that are out there. That's what you have to do in order to have a chance."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if he has felt out of sorts the past couple of games) Wednesday, December 1, 2010
"I feel like we're 6-5. You can argue that that is different. Out-of-sorts? No. Not confident? No. I would not agree with that. I feel that I need to play better for us to have a chance offensively to score more points and win. I need to protect the ball better. I need to find a way to convert third downs and keep us on the field."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on the drive to begin the half and end the first half against San Diego going smoothly) Wednesday, December 1, 2010
"It's a matter of finding some consistency. That's what we are shooting for, not to have a good drive here and a good drive there. That's the challenge. I think you've got to be careful saying that it's possible because you do it on one series. The real key is can you do it drive-after-drive, first half (and) second half. That's what you have to be able to do to win. That's what we need to find a way to do that. Hopefully, we can get that established this week."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on how important is it for him to be a motivator in the locker room) Wednesday, December 1, 2010
"A lot of guys probably aren't too experienced with the situation that we are in. I think there is not a whole lot to say at this point. An old coach used to say, 'Just continue to saw wood.' Keep working. Everybody try to do their job a little better. For me to do my job a little bit better. Everybody just try to do something better, and hopefully that translates to the field. But I don't really think there is a speech or a pep talk at this point. I think it's a matter of everybody trying to improve their craft, and hopefully that as a group has an effect and better overall play on the field."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on Dallas playing better the past couple of weeks) Wednesday, December 1, 2010
"It's definitely an unknown because of the coaching change and a different defensive coordinator. You just don't see that very often. I'm not really sure if it is a different scheme or not and how much they've continued from the old scheme. It's a very talented team. They have a lot of players; big, strong, athletic guys all across the field. I think it will be a tremendous challenge going against their defense because of all the talent they have."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on LB-DeMarcus Ware and what a disruptive force he can be) Wednesday, December 1, 2010
"He is exactly that. He is just an excellent pass-rusher, a guy that you have to factor in every play. They have a number of guys (that are talented). (NT-Jay) Ratliff, in the middle, is a disruptive guy as well. I think their d-line is excellent, their linebackers are very experienced with (LB-Bradie) James and (LB-Keith) Brooking, and two first-round corners outside. Just a lot of talent, really, all across the field."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on how much have the team's injuries played into the 6-5 record) Wednesday, December 1, 2010
"You're just not going to hear me say that or talk about that. I guess it makes for good discussion. Like I said, I know who is going to be available for this game, or at least I will know Sunday at four o'clock, with the guys that are playing, (and) you have to go out there and find a way to do it. It's going to be difficult. It's going to take hard work. It may not be as smooth or easy as it looked in the past. It's never been easy, but it may have looked easy in the past. It's just a matter of continuing to work and keeping the faith and find a way to try to get a win. I do think we are truly in a one-game-at-a-time season. That's our approach with five games left. We feel fortunate to be in the mix in our division. Other teams in our division have had up-and-down seasons like we have. We've got to take care of the Colts and that starts with Dallas on Sunday."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on the team still controlling its own destiny in the AFC South) Wednesday, December 1, 2010
"Most times at 6-5, yes, you're behind the eight-ball in the division. Like I said, other teams in the division have had some of the same things happen to them as us, as far as getting on a win streak, losing a few in a row, been somewhat up-and-down. The team that finds some consistency down here in the stretch, I think, is the team that is probably going to win the division. We certainly hope that is us. We have to establish that consistency, and the only way to do that is to take that first step. I do think just because you say, 'Well, we'll play better next week,' that doesn't really do it. You have to go out there and practice better in order to play better. Hopefully, we can translate good work on the practice field to the playing field."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on it seeming like the pocket has been busier the past couple of weeks and what adjustments it has forced him to make) Wednesday, December 1, 2010
"I can't really give you a great answer there. I think we're throwing the ball a lot. Somebody said we're on pace for 600-plus attempts. That's more than anybody would have said (we) would like to throw this year in the passing game. That's more than I would like to throw. We still want to be what I've always called a three-dimensional offense: first-and-10, drop back, first-and-10, handoff, first-and-10, play-action pass. When you have to throw that much that means you probably aren't three-dimensional like you want to be. That's still what our goal is to establish each week. Sometimes we've done it a little better than others, sometimes we've been off on that phase or this phase. I do think anytime you have to throw that much that does let the defense play a little more one-dimensional as well. I think it's about being better on first and second downs, staying out of those third-and-longs, stay in third-and-reasonable, so we can stay on the field. Like I said, we've been pretty decent in the red zone, but you just have to get down there a little bit more. Certainly need to protect the ball better and that starts with me."
