QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if the Houston game is bigger than usual) Thursday, October 28, 2010
"It's big because it's the next one. It's a home game, it's a division team, it's a team that beat us last time, certainly lots of reasons, but I feel like we treat them all with the same respect. Houston is a good team. They are playing really well. They are coming off a bye week. They should be fresh. I think it will be a challenge."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if teams will alter how they approach the Colts' offense with no TE-Dallas Clark) Thursday, October 28, 2010
"It's going to be interesting because there is definitely some unknown there. We'll have some groupings in there that we've never had before because Dallas was a guy that never left the field. There will definitely be some new people in there, whether it's TE-Jacob Tamme, TE-Brody Eldridge more, more receiver groups, so I think it does give us some options. Dallas is a guy that you just couldn't take off the field, and now we're going to have to mix it up a little bit more. There will be some wait and see approach, and I think. Believe it or not, I'm sure most defenses will say, 'We're happy about it,' but I think it does have to make them think a little about what they are going to do."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if this is one of the biggest challenges he's ever had in his career) Thursday, October 28, 2010
"It's obviously a lot (of injuries) at the same time, I guess. I can't think back that far or ready to agree with that statement, but it is definitely a lot at the same time. I think our biggest challenge really is having good practices. We have some guys that are injured that are not playing, some guys that are injured that are going to play, but how effectively can you practice? I think that's always been something that we've taken a lot of pride in is practicing well. I think we can do it, but we're going to have to work extra hard, be creative in finding ways and having quality practices so we can go out there on Monday and be ready to play."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on some players having to step up with TE-Dallas Clark out) Thursday, October 28, 2010
"The old saying is true; when somebody is injured, it's another opportunity for someone else. Some new guys can step up, TE-Jacob Tamme can step up and some guys that haven't played in some time, whether it's (WR-Anthony) Gonzalez or RB-Javarris James, whoever it may be, TE-Gijon Robinson. There's great opportunity for those guys, and I understand injuries are a hot topic and it's an easy kind of buzz word, but it's not something that we talk a whole lot about. All we can do is play with the guys that are cleared to play and you still have the same expectations. You may have to have some adjustments. To sit here and say that there is not an adjustment without Dallas Clark, you just can't say that, he is too great of a player. Does it have an effect? Absolutely, but you still have to go find a way to win the game and find a way to beat a really good team."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on former Head Coach Tony Dungy being inducted into the franchise's Ring of Honor) Thursday, October 28, 2010
"It's kind of hard to sum up in a short answer. I hope it's somewhat well documented on how I feel about him. Certainly, happy that he's being honored with a little video tribute, some of the guys and I did that for him a couple of weeks ago. I guess that will be shown. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to visit with him. I know they are doing it at halftime. We won't get to see the actual ceremony. He definitely belongs in that Ring (of Honor) and it will give our Ring of Honor some juice, too. I think it will be exciting for the fans, I know to have him back in here. He's had a huge impact on so many people in this building."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on the first game with Houston being the first action of the season for OT-Charlie Johnson and C-Jeff Saturday) Thursday, October 28, 2010
"We certainly feel like we're better up front now than we were then, just from a health standpoint, from a little bit of chemistry, some guys playing together. Now, we face an extremely tough test against these guys. They are active up front. They play a lot of guys. They are very familiar with us and what we do. It will be another tough test. There is no question that we feel we are better off than we were that week, but we still have to go out and play them."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if DE-Mario Williams is a guy that you need to know where he is every time) Thursday, October 28, 2010
"They do move him around. He's kind of hard not to know where he is. The guy is just a complete specimen. He's a guy that can take over the game. He is that talented. Sure, you have to know where he is, but they have a number of guys like that, (DB-Bernard) Pollard in the secondary, (LB-Brian) Cushing's back, he didn't play last time. Where is he going to be with (LB-DeMeco) Ryans out? They'll have some new looks as well."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if he thinks WR-Reggie Wayne will see even more attention from defenses) Thursday, October 28, 2010
"It's hard to say. It really is. I think there is some unknown in what we're going to do. It works both ways. We're not sure how teams are going to play us. I think this is somewhat of a new look for us coming out of this bye with the changes. It sill comes down to the execution."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on players needing to be who they are and not trying to replace TE-Dallas Clark) Thursday, October 28, 2010
"All of our players bring something to the table. We always talk about, do what you do well, and also work on your weaknesses, try to improve on other things. That's kind of a philosophy that you use all year round, and it will never be more true than these next few games coming up."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if the timing of the bye was good for the team) Thursday, October 28, 2010
"I hope so. It certainly didn't help TE-Dallas (Clark) get back. It's somewhat midseason, I guess. Hopefully, some guys that maybe would have had to miss another week, certainly (WR-Austin) Collie it shortens his games missed. If he was going to miss three games, maybe he misses two now, however many it is, I don't know the numbers."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if there is less of an adjustment with trying to replace TE-Dallas Clark because of the bye) Thursday, October 28, 2010
"There's no question when you've got guys that haven't played a lot, that game experience is still what you're looking for. Maybe you get a couple extra practices in, that's fine, but I'm not willing to say that's a huge impact. I think these guys will be better off in the second half than they were in the first half and certainly better off after this game. Improving each week and experience is your best teacher, but it's an exciting opportunity for these guys. It really is. Like I said, I know we have to answer questions about the injuries, we all do, but it's not something that you can just keep drowning yourself with that word. I mean we have to move on with the guys that are playing."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on Monday being his 199th consecutive start and if he's given any thought to the possibility that come Monday he will have the longest start streak in the league) Thursday, October 28, 2010
"I really haven't given much thought to that and really don't foresee it being a scenario to tell you the truth."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on how tough it is to see a teammate be out for the year) Thursday, October 28, 2010
"It's one of the worst parts about football, especially with a guy like TE-Dallas (Clark), how much he loves it, how many times he's played through injuries. Four years ago, a couple of doctors told him he had an ACL (injury), he rehabs and comes back for the playoffs and has a great playoff run, and we win a championship. When you know a lot about the player and how many injuries he has played through that maybe (the media) didn't even know about, I know how hard it is for him. I talked to him last night. He made it back. He had his surgery, and he felt it went good. He's still going to be apart of it and be around, but you do, because you know how much he cares, you do feel for him. It's probably one of the worst parts of football."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on what his confidence is in the weapons that he has left) Thursday, October 28, 2010
"High. A high confidence. I think the biggest key is getting as much repetitions as I can with them during the week in practices and in the games. I look forward to seeing where we are in this game. I think we'll get better each game with some of the new guys that are going to be playing in some different spots."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if this game is a must win to have a shot at winning the division) Thursday, October 28, 2010
"All of them, I think, are must wins. That's what we try to do. We don't put any more emphasis on any games than others because that would mean that you aren't preparing for all of them as you should. We are extremely focused on having a good week of practice. Practicing is a challenge. That is a factor because of the numbers that we have available, but we're going to do everything that we can to win this game."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if he remembers anything about the previous times when the team lost TE-Dallas Clark for shorter periods of time) Thursday, October 28, 2010
"The only reason I say it's going to be a little bit different, I think, because you've really seen a change in how teams defend Dallas now. I think he's established himself since that time as such a threat in the slot, at tight end, in the backfield, maybe even more versatile. You've seen these past four years using nickel defense, using dime defense, using that double team with the defensive end and (line)backer. You just didn't see much of that back then. Now, I think it's going to be a real question is whether they continue to do some of those things or do they totally change what they do. I think Dallas has been so awesome during those years and has gotten to be more of a factor that he made the defense think a lot more. It'll be interesting to see how they react."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if it limits their options in the run game if the defensive end doesn't have to worry about TE-Dallas Clark) Thursday, October 28, 2010
"It just depends. That will be another thing that will be interesting to see. Are they playing the tight ends in pass coverage as much? Are they playing nickel versus two tight ends? Are they playing dime? What kind of coverages are they playing? But like I said, I think there is some unknown of what we're going to do, as well, so I think that kind of equals out. I think it still comes down to the execution, who can execute their offense or defense better."
