The Washington Redskins (3-8) on Sunday travel to Indianapolis, where they'll take on the Colts (7-4) in Week 13 action at Lucas Oil Stadium.
This week, Colts head coach Chuck Pagano and quarterback Andrew Luck spoke to the Washington, D.C., media via conference call about the upcoming matchup with the Redskins.
Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano:
On the Redskins' quarterbacks:
"You know what, we've seen all three of them, obviously, on tape. They've got a great system. That they run on offense and a bunch of playmakers all over the place. Obviously [they have] three guys that have played under center that are all capable, so we're preparing accordingly. Regardless who shows up, who trots out with that offense, we still have got to do a great job. We've got to stop the run. We've got to try to do our best to contain the skill guys that they've got. [Pierre] Garçon and DeSean Jackson and the tight ends and [Andre] Roberts, they're all over the place. Alfred Morris is running up and down the field breaking tackles, so that's what we're focusing on."
On quarterback Colt McCoy's performance against Dallas:
"25-of-30. I think he was 87 or whatever percent completion rate. It was almost 300 – 299 – yards. Efficient. Could make great decisions. Led them to a victory."
On if McCoy is "capable":
"Yeah, I mean, when you walk in and you go on the road to a hostile environment, play a 6-1 team and lead your team to a victory, absolutely."
On quarterback Andrew Luck's continuity with offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton:
"I think it was – we were fortunate. You know, at the time when BA [Bruce Arians] went on and got his opportunity in Arizona, we had an opportunity to bring in… we brought the best guy in for the job, No. 1. And, No. 2, it just so happened that the two had a relationship and had worked together, so it's just icing on the cake."
On the challenges Luck has had to face:
"Any time, from an offensive line standpoint, whether it's young guys, new guys, injuries, guys moving around, got a bunch of skill guys back, we lost a couple guys that you hate to lose in Dwayne [Allen] and Ahmad [Bradshaw], unfortunately – hope to get Dwayne back sooner than later – but, you know what, the kid if resilient. He's able to put things behind him. He's got a huge challenge I know coming up Sunday at 1:00 at Lucas Oil Stadium. Just watching the defense that Coach Haslett is running, they do a great job and they give you a ton of problems. Right now, that's his biggest concern."
On safety LaRon Landry:
"He's a playmaker. He's a force on that side of the football. Whether you play him down in the box, you blitz him, play deep in coverage, he's got great range and can impact the run defense when you bring him down as the extra man in the box. [He] had a very productive game last week and it's good to have him back in the building and back in the fold and starting to play like the LaRon Landry of old, getting his legs back underneath him. Anytime you miss a significant amount of time due to whatever, it's a little bit hard getting back in, so it's great to have him back out there."
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck:
On his reaction to the quarterback situation in Washington:
"To be honest, I really didn't hear that news. I don't think it really concerns me. I think that's a Redskins team thing and you know for me, it's what Jim Haslett is doing and what their defense is doing. I wish he would just play one defense and stick with it. He gives us enough to worry about on the offensive side of the ball that we need to focus on that."
On if he feels sympathy for Robert Griffin III:
"I guess. It's just the business of the NFL. I don't think anybody ever feels sorry for anybody that plays in the NFL at whatever position. It's a great thing to do, to be a professional athlete and play a kid's game for a living. So, I don't think anybody is feeling sorry for anybody."
On how his paths has diverged from Griffin III:
"I don't know. I guess it's sort of the way things are, not to say that's the way things are tomorrow, the next day. I haven't really given it much thought."
On when he believed he "got it":
"I don't think I necessarily still 'have it,' whatever that is. I would like to think that I'm trying to learn, get better every day. I think we're doing some good things. I'd like to think I know more now than I did my rookie year and I'm better, but I don't think I necessarily have that 'A-ha' revelation moment. It's little things every day."
On what he has learned:
"Just understanding how long the NFL season is and trying to stay consistent and not riding the ebbs and flows emotionally through a season. Just trying to stay a steady course. I think you figure that out your rookie year. It's so long, and you do better every year with that. I think. Bouncing back from mistakes. You've got to be able to flush things. And then, situational football – understanding third down and the way it changes the game in red zone and when it's OK to throw the ball away, when it's OK to take a sack, when you do need to force something. I'd like to think I'm getting a little better at that."
On if it was beneficial to come from a pro-style offense at Stanford:
"I think I was very fortunate to have really good coaches at Stanford. Obviously Coach [Jim] Harbaugh, Coach [Greg] Roman, a bunch of the staff on the Niners and Coach [David] Shaw is there now and Pep [Hamilton] of course is here now. We're working together again, which has been great, but great fundamentals and technique that they coach… You know, I can't say that I had an advantage or disadvantage over any other person coming out of another system. I don't know what was taught, per se, anywhere else, but I do know that I felt as prepared as I think I could've been because of those great coaches."
On the continuity with offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton:
"It's been great. Especially, I'm very thankful to have worked with BA [Bruce Arians] and learn another offense and learn about football maybe from a different perspective in a different style. I know that definitely made me a better player. BA is such a great coach it makes you a better person while he's coaching as well. But, to get to work with Pep again and not have to relearn something or learn something completely new, but almost a refresher course and be able to speak that same language from Day 1, I think, is vital to communication. And, teaching the other guys as well – being able to talk to the wideouts and the tight ends and the O-line about the terms and having a background with them was very helpful."
On if he thinks about if he had been selected by the Redskins in 2012:
"Nope. Haven't thought about that."
RELATED LINKS:-- Catch The Latest Episode Of 'This Week @ The Park'
-- Behind Enemy Lines 2014: Colts Edition
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