Mike Holmgren Time Quotations

The tough thing in this league about playing the linebacker position is that as a rookie you are seeing many things for the first time and you are going against athletes that you didn't always play against when you were in college. The physical part of it is tough, but they have handled that beautifully. Then it was just a matter if they could handle the volumes of material that are expanded a little bit when you get into our league.

I told him sometime in the season we were going to be in the exact situation, and he was going to make it. And he did.

I told Matt at halftime that he had to shoulder the load. We always put a lot on his shoulders, but I told him that now he had to do a little bit more.

I expected more from him. We had a nice visit. I think the world of him. I think he is a really good player. I set the bar very high for him. My expectation level for him is high. Any time he falls short of that, fair or not fair, I want to talk to him about it.

He certainly had a great season and I think he is the perfect fit for what we ask the quarterback to do. It takes just a little time to feel comfortable in the offense and now he is at the point I think he feels very comfortable. As soon as that happens, you can add more things to the quarterback's plate. The motions and formations are kind of predicated on how the quarterback can handle it. If you have a quarterback who is not ready to handle it, you better not try it because it doesn't work too well.

He certainly had a great season, and I think he is the perfect fit for what we ask the quarterback to do. It just takes a little time to feel comfortable in the offense, and now he is at the point he's very comfortable.

Michael has good instincts and good breaks on the ball. He's not undisciplined. Some of those guys who seem to be where the action is all the time are a little bit undisciplined.

Anytime someone wants to compare me to Joe Gibbs, it's a compliment. He's one off the guys that if I could pattern my coaching after, he would certainly be one of the guys I've admired for a long, long time. He's one of the best ever.

I think the world of him and I think he is a really good football player. I set the bar very high for him. Anytime he falls short of that, fair or not fair, I will talk to him about it. He is a wonderful guy ... and he wants to do well. To go with his physical ability, all the things you have to do to be a great player, it should happen for him.

Whoever is playing, I expect them to play well. We want to win the football game. Every time we suit up, we're going after a win. But it is different because you do have certain things wrapped up now.

I think any time you can achieve some balance on offense, it creates problems for the defense. As soon as you become one-dimensional, then any defense can focus in and get you stopped.

We had a couple of chances to gain some yards and we ran laterally instead of up the field. At the same time I want it to improve, and I have to see some improvement.

I think that has always stuck with me. I put the ball in the hands of the best player in the world, in a fairly safe pass and I almost lost the game for our team. That stuck with me a long time in that situation.