Anche se ancora non si è giocato il superbowl per noi bisonti è già anno nuovo...dunque via col 2004(:
Ecco le IMPORTANTI dichiarazioni di Mularkey...molto esplicito su tutti i temi,da Bledsoe al draft...
;) :o 8)
Mike Mularkey
"I'm very excited about standing here right now. I know the opportunity that's in front of me. For me to be here with an owner like Mr. Wilson, who is one of the most respected owners in sports, to work for a man like that is prestigious. I am very fortunate and I know that. I'm anxious to get going. I've been sitting quietly for a few days trying to put together a staff which is coming into place. There's not a lot that needs to be done. This is a very good football team, it's not very far off. There are a couple pieces of the puzzle (missing) and it's my job to get it done. I'm going to put a supporting staff together that has the same beliefs that I do. It's not going to be a quick process. I told Tom in the interview, you can break my bank account, you can get into my garage and you can do a lot of things because Super Bowl has been my password for a long time. That's my objective and it's been my objective. I'm a big goal setter. I believe in those things. I set a goal for this position a long time ago. Hard work has got me here and nothing else. There is just one goal I'm short of. I'm going to surround myself with a lot of people who believe in that same goal. That's players and coaches."
Situation Your Are Going Into
"Before you go into the interview process you need to know the situation you're going into. You have to be prepared. The first head coach interview I went into was three years ago for Tampa, I was not prepared. We had just gotten out of the championship game and I was mentally worn out. You've got to know what's happening in that organization and be prepared to answer any question."
How's Your Staff Coming?
"Right now under contract we've signed Jim McNally to coach the offensive line. Tom Clements is coming with me from Pittsburgh as the offensive coordinator. I have not talked to the staff that is currently here, that's my plan tomorrow. I'd like to sit down with each one of them. Everything has come up quick so I'll get a better feel after I talk to them tomorrow."
Will you Keep Drew Bledsoe?
"Yes. I had a very good conversation with Drew yesterday. In the next couple of weeks I'd like to sit down with him one-on-one to tell him where I'm coming from, our philosophy as an offensive staff, as a team, as an organization. I also want to get a feel from him and what state of mind he's in at this point."
Is Bledsoe Broken?
"I don't think he's broken. Not at all. We're probably going to take a step back so we can take two steps forward with some of the things offensively. I think you can win with Drew Bledsoe."
Strengths and Weakness
"It's a matter of taking a step back and maybe simplifying some of the things, condensing. I don't know without talking to Drew (Bledsoe) and the offensive coaches. The scheme is very similar; the terminology is going to be very similar to what they had so it's not like starting from scratch which is a positive. (We need to) put them in position to have some success. The step backwards will be a positive one to go forward."
Your Offensive Philosophy
"Our philosophy is this, it's a methodical, time possession, wear you down, which may not happen to a certain point but you will wear down, try to control the football. I like to think your offense can be your best defense if you can keep your defense off the field. Controlling the football and scoring points when you get in the red zone. Controlling the football is something that I think is important in this league."
Other Coaches Influences on how you Coach
"They've all been big influences. I took some things that Bill Walsh said and I still today believe in some of the things he said. It was enough of an influence that I never forgot it. Bud and Chuck, I have a lot of respect for both of those guys, getting a chance to play for them. They commanded respect. They knew when to push the right button. Their styles were different than some guys today but they were successful because of it. I try to take everything that I felt made me a better player and that's how I coach."
Transition - Will you Call the Plays?
"I will not call the plays. That will be Tom Clements role. I have all the confidence in the world that he will do that. I'm confident this role, not because I've taken over for Kevin (Gilbride) one other time, this offense is very similar. For the players' sake they are not going to start at square one, they are going to be familiar with a lot of the things we're doing. Some of those things will be adjusted accordingly to put the players in position for success."
"I'm not a yeller or a screamer, unless I have to be. I try to find a positive in every negative. A lot of that goes back to the coaches I've been surrounded by. We have to earn a relationship between the two of us and I think it will start when I get a chance to talk to these guys."
What is the Team Close to?
"You have to set goals and the Super Bowl is the goal. I don't want to predict playoffs because I'm setting us up for failure, which I don't want to do. They're on the brink of something special here if we put the right pieces together. I don't know if failure is ever acceptable. I'm not sure that's an option. These guys have to go in there believing they can win every game. If we don't' believe they won't believe. I think the players believe they are good."
Do you Relate Better Because you Were a Player?
"I don't think it hurts. I don't think it makes you a better coach or less of a coach. It's easy to talk to them when I've sat in that seat Week 13 beat up and bruised. I know how they feel when they may need to be let up or when they need to be pushed. There will be times when they think they've been pushed to the brink and I'll feel that they haven't. I'll have a good feel for it. I've been pretty right on with that at least up to this point. There is an advantage absolutely. There are some good coaches that never had a chance to play. We are probably going to have a couple of them here on this staff."
Does Drew Bledsoe Need QB Coach?
"Tom will be a piece of that. I'm going to surround myself with a bunch of guys that are like me. No egos, guys that want to help out. Whatever it takes to make each guy, whether it's Drew or anybody else, get it done. No one guy is going to be the difference in making one guy a better player or not, it's going to be an entire staff that's going to do it."
Dick LeBeau Status
"I've spoke to Dick a couple of times in regards to the coordinator job as I'll talk to Jerry Gray about it. Right now we're still on hold on both of those."
Jim McNally
"I never worked with Jim. I know how good of coach he is. I have a lot of respect for him. He's one of the better teachers in the league. I think it's very fortunate for this organization and this city that they got a guy like Jim, he's one of the best. He was anxious to get here. He wanted to come here bad. He is an extremely good teacher. Jim has proven that's he's very good where he's been. He's very good with players."
Style as Player Mold Style as Coach
"I like tough guys. I like guys that pay attention to details, the little things. To me that's what brings success. I like physical play, playing to the whistle. I try to stress what I felt made me a better player. The toughness was important."
Rushing - Leaders
"We have two outstanding backs. Willis (McGahee) is anxious to test his leg out. Travis (Henry) is one of those tough guys who can fit in anytime. You got a tandem there if you can work them in, get the right personnel in there, we'll be fine."
Will Defensive Side Stay Similar
"It's hard to say right now without that position being filled. They are pretty strong watching them on defense. They are very disciplined and aggressive. They are a good defense and I'd like to keep it that way if I can."
Relationship with Tom Donahoe
"Tom brought me in as a player in Pittsburgh. That's the first time I met Tom. When I was brought in to Pittsburgh the following the Super Bowl year, Tom was the GM. He watched me work hand-in-hand with position players, tight ends. I think he knows my style. It's a good relationship. I think he appreciates hard work, attention to detail and a guy that can communicate with players. That's important."
Offensive Line Importance
"It's pretty important. As a an offensive team, we have to have a line that is solid. That can make up for some deficiencies elsewhere, if you're stout up front. You see it across the league every Sunday. To me it starts up front. It's a very important phase of the offense."
Entry into Coaching
"I was a software marketing rep for IBM only because I couldn't get into the NFL as a coach. I did not know a lot of people and it's about who you know. The Buccaneers called while I was at IBM and wanted to know if I was interested in the quality control job and if I was going to the Senior Bowl. I went down and introduced myself to everybody I could. I took a chance and got on the plane and met a bunch of guys on the plane. I ran into Sam (Wyche) and he asked me if I was interested in being the quality control coach, I had no idea what he was talking about but I said yes. I'm glad I did. I went down there and got a great experience."
Brining in a Veteran Quarterback
"I don't want jump ahead that far because there is a lot of things that need to be done as far as evaluating the personnel and I'd hate to do that and make a comment on that without talking to the staff when it's in place."
Taking From Offensive Struggles in Pittsburgh
"The expectations are always there. We did not play up to the level that we had the previous two years. I'll take responsibility because that's my job, to make sure they are (playing up to their level). I learned a lot. I won't say it's a good experience but in reality it helped me be a better coach, I really feel that."
Feelings as a Candidate
"I didn't know. I've gone through a few (interviews). I didn't know where I stood. Tom (Donahoe) did not contact me until after a couple of candidates had been plucked so I did not no what the scenario was. I was excited. Very similar to my entry into the coaching ranks I just wanted a chance to get my foot in the door for a chance to sell myself. When he called I was ecstatic that I was going to get a chance to sit down and talk to him."
Identity of Offense?
"I hear that word identity. Our philosophy will be whatever on Sunday it takes to win offensively or defensively, throwing it or running it, whatever it is, we will do. Whatever identity is created from that, I will not put a tag on it, it's going to be a matter of what's best in that specific situation, that's what we're going to do."
Third-and-1 Decision?
"Tendencies say run."