Injury Report: "(CB) Lito (Sheppard) did not practice. He has a groin strain. (DE) Victor (Abiamiri) did not practice, we know about him. (T) Franklin Dunbar is still working on that lower back. (CB) Asante (Samuel) did not practice; however, he went through a workout today. He's in that day to day state right now, so we'll just see how he does. I think he's on the mend here, and in the next couple of days we'll see if we can get him back for a little something. (DT) Kimo (von Oelhoffen) still has inflammation in his knee, but he is getting better. (S) Quintin Demps went out today with a sore achilles. He's worked through that for a couple of days, but he had to go out today."
Opening Remarks: "All in all I thought it was a good practice. The guys worked very hard. We've had two days here of two live periods and then two thud periods, so it's been a lot of banging on the guys the last couple of days. The schedule has us backing off tomorrow and the following day, Wednesday. Then on Thursday we'll do our mock game and head to Pittsburgh. I've been pleased with what I've seen, and we're making improvement. Today we had too many dropped balls on the offensive side, but we'll work on that and get better at that. When you get a little tired, your concentration goes down, you have to really focus in on the football at that time. Then, I thought that our defense did a great job out here. In certain situations we'll just continue to work on our tackling like they've been doing and improve there. Next time they'll do that will be in the game."
On the improvements that the team has made since the beginning of training camp: "The main thing is execution. There are not as many mistakes both technique wise and mental mistakes. As the season gets closer, you've got to get that to where there are none, and that's what you strive for up here. We're working very hard at that."
On whether CB Asante Samuel will play in the preseason Pittsburgh game: "His goal is to play in the game, but we'll see how he does here tomorrow."
On the thought process on when to run the one's or the two's during practice: "Normally, if it's a live period, where we are taking people to the ground, then it's one versus two. Then, thud it's one versus one, two versus two, and so on."
On why he thinks hitting is so important: "I've said that throughout here, it's just that I think blocking and tackling are important parts of the game. Really the only way to work on tackling is to tackle. Then, I think on the other side of that, I think it's important that the players know how to get tackled. There's a way to do things and a way to be aggressive through the tackle, how to work half of a body of a defender and not take that full crunch, so you learn that by doing it."
On the improvements that DT Brodrick Bunkley had made since last year: "He's working at it. He's battling a little bit of a flu bug here, but he's working hard and that's his main thing, to keep pushing himself. It's little steps now. You're not going to see the big drastic steps. He's been working on some things on pass rush and he's getting better at it. You see it in the one on one's, you see it out here in the team periods, so I'm seeing him get better at small techniques that will help him during the year."
On whether he has talked to Brett Favre: "I haven't talked to Brett Favre, and I really haven't followed it that close to be honest with you. I try not to look at too much of the news. I'm too busy right now."
On whether he has talked to G Shawn Andrews: "Yeah, now Shawn I have talked to, but I haven't talked to Brett."
On what came of the conversation with Andrews: "(He's) just working through some personal issues."
On whether he expects Andrews back before the end of camp: "I'm not sure exactly when."
On whether there will come a point when Andrews' absence becomes critical: "Well as long as (G) Max (Jean-Gilles) is playing good, no. And Max is playing real good."
On whether it's critical for Andrews not to be here: "He has to take care of his business and get himself right and get back here. With everything else, it doesn't matter right now."
On guys not being here: "If you miss you give other guys opportunities; that's what you do. So, the other guy is getting an opportunity to play, and he's doing a good job with it."
On whether the absence is still unexcused: "Yes."
On whether he feels more comfortable with the situation after talking to Andrews a second time: "I'm not going to say that. I'll feel comfortable when he's here."
