On whether he feels like the run defense turned the corner after the Washington game: "We feel like we've improved. Again, like we said, it's an everyday (thing). You know, we'll get better after today's practice, (and) you know, we got better after yesterday's practice working on certain fundamentals."
On whether the cornerbacks have less interceptions than he expected and whether he has confidence in them: "Well you know, I think sometimes it has to do with the kind of players they are and how much they were throwing at them or where they were trying to throw at you. And I think you saw last week where Washington was trying to throw and the safeties did a good job. And I think – same thing with sacks – sacks are not just the d-line it's the coverage, it's the tight coverage that helps the quarterback hold the ball and helps with the sacks."
On whether he thinks having the bye week helped or if he would have preferred to get right back on the field after the Washington game: "Well I think the nice thing was, really, it came halfway. You know, I think we were in camp, for I can't remember how many games now, you know we had four preseason games or weeks, so it really is coming midpoint. So I think it was a good opportunity for our guys to get a little rest and for us to pick up some of our other guys."
On whether there is a difference between stopping the run game of Dallas and stopping the run game of Washington: "You know what, it is really the way people talk about schemes, right? And there's different kind of schemes, okay? There's outside zone scheme (and) even though people make a big deal (about it) all outside zone schemes are basically the same; some people run it better because they do it more.
"(There's) inside zone schemes, alright. Gap schemes are powers and counters, double teams at the point of attack with a kick-out and lead guy. Alright, then they have lead schemes, lead draws, kind of like the Cowboys had, misdirection type plays. So this is a team that probably uses a little bit of everything. The Redskins were basically an outside zone scheme (and) that's what they did and they were pretty good at that because that's what they did. The Cowboys use a little bit of each scheme so we're having to take time (to study and) we're fortunate we had Monday where we worked on a certain part of their running attack. So we're trying to break down the schemes so we can stop the run."
On Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray: "You know, watching him he broke a lot of tackles, he's fast, elusive. I mean, in the Rams game he looked special."
On his thoughts about how you defend such a balanced offense: "I think the first thing you have to do – you know it's been done a long time in the NFL – is stop the run. You know, once you stop the run, then you go to the second step and have to start taking care of those great skill guys that they have. But the first thing that we have to do is we have to stop the run."
On whether it is uplifting to have DE Trent Cole back on the defensive front: "We've talked about Trent before (and) he's a special guy (with) just all of his energy in the huddle. And then, he plays at a high level. I mean, him and (DE) Jason (Babin), it's hard, both of those guys are – you have 100 percent, and then you have Trent Cole and Jason Babin 100 percent. You know, it's different and both of those guys are at that speed. So what it is is they bring everybody up to their pace."
On whether the players know how important it is to carry over steps from the Washington game: "It's been a process, the whole thing. I think we probably started a lot slower than we thought we would but we have a lot of new guys in that room, and I think you have to build chemistry. You can say this and that but you have to build chemistry. You have to care for each other. You have to know each other. Like we talked earlier, I guess three weeks ago – it's been awhile – but each guy was coming up to the front of the room at the beginning of the meeting or the end of the meeting just going through something that they had gone through where they had to be motivated, they had to suffer, they had to go through an obstacle. So we still probably have about 10 guys that haven't gone up but that was our way of getting to know each other. (CB) Nnam(di Asomugha) went in front of the group.
"Really not everybody gets to know Nnam(di) but he shared with us. And today (DT) Derek Landri shared with us. I talked to you about J(uqua) P(arker). I talked to you about (DT) Cullen (Jenkins). Well you know just like tackling – you know if you miss a tackle it hurts everybody. Well you know what, once you know the person next to you, you know when you sit in that spot there's certain things you're not going to do because you care about that person. So that's what we're trying to build and we feel that every week, every day we're getting closer and closer."
On whether he believes CB Asante Samuel's comments have any effect on the team: "Well, we've been grinding (because) the Cowboys have a great offense. And I wish I could tell you that I knew exactly what Asante (said), you know I don't know. I know (WRs) Dez Bryant and Miles (Austin) – I know the way they line up and how fast and how good they are and I know about that offensive line. And those are really the kind of things that we're focusing. And with Asante in the classroom that's really what we've been working on."
On whether he thinks Bryant, Austin and TE Jason Witten are the three most physical receivers they'll face: "I would say yes …And that's why they're trying to run the ball. If you just go in and say, 'You know what we're just going to stop the passing game,' I think that's a little easier to do. But I think that's why (Cowboys head coach) Jason (Garrett) is trying to run the football because if they're successful running the ball and you have to put, basically eight guys in the box, you're going one-on-one, now you're playing up to what he wants to do. So I think that's the key. I think that's why he's trying to run the football."
On his thoughts about Samuel's play so far this season: "You know what, what I've seen from Asante is Asante works hard. You know sometimes you guys are out there so you see him. In the classroom he's great (and) there's a lot of knowledge there. We were working on third downs this morning; we looked at the tape, we talked, and there's certain things that we try to do and Asante's like, 'Oh yeah, we can do that. It's a little hard, but this is the way I look at it,' and we work together. And like I said, I think when corners are good I think people are picking at other areas on our defense."
On whether Samuel is a better fit on defenses that blitz more: "Well you know he's a good cover guy. So I think when you look at it, we talked about this earlier, is that when you look at those 18 sacks it's easy to say, 'You know what that's 18 sacks by the d-linemen,' but I'm going to tell you right now that's 18 sacks with also the secondary because if the quarterback goes back, we talked about this earlier, watching on TV when a quarterback goes back and takes five steps under center and he plants and throws, or he takes five steps, plants and hitches, I don't care how good you are as a defensive line, you're not going to get there.
"If he takes a hitch or if he's in a gun and he takes three steps, plants and throws; he takes three steps, hitches and throws you're not going to get there unless the secondary makes the quarterback hold the ball. If the quarterback holds the ball for two hitches then the good d-lines are going to get there."
On whether it is important to confuse the receivers with different looks: "Well, I think that's very important but I think the important part of that is not about all of the different looks it's the way you play in the coverage. They've really done a good job of picking apart certain coverages. So hopefully we can stay away from those coverages."
On his thoughts about the leadership of Asante: "He's a leader by example. I mean, that guy, he's out there early. Now you have to remember the thing about Asante is we look at him and say, 'Asante's a four-time Pro Bowler.' Asante was a, let me see, what a third round, a fourth round draft pick, now. Okay, so now a fourth round draft pick to a guy that's intercepted more passes then anybody else in the last four years.
"Now I'm going to tell you that he had to work his butt off to get to where he is and that's the type of guy he is. As a matter of fact if you go into our defensive meeting room, you'll see his picture right there (because) he's one of the examples that I used – he's right there intercepting a ball. We talked about turnovers. Trent Cole is on the other side…we talk about hitting the quarterback. Those are our two leaders right there."
On whether he has to talk to him about channeling his energy onto the field: "You know what, he's a competitor man (and) he's going to do that. I think he uses different things to motivate him. I mean, he's a competitor. We have a lot of good competitors and he's one of the best. You know, you see it on the field and you see it on gameday. I mean, he's a competitor and he doesn't want to lose at anything."
