Bill Cowher Lay Quotations

We're playing our best football at the right time of the year.

We've been in the playoffs for three weeks now. Nothing will change. We have something to build off now. We'll come back on Wednesday and understand what we have in front of us.

Joey is the emotional leader for our football team without question. He is the kind of guy that gets us going. We have some unique personalities and Joey is unique in his own sense. I've never been one to try and harness guys. I just want them to be respectful of the game and of the opponents. I love a team that plays with emotion, plays with passion. I love being around people that love to do that and Joey does it in his own way and without a doubt, Joey is the emotional leader for our team.

Joey has a much better chance of playing than Duce, ... We'll assess Duce as the week goes on.

This is a supreme team with the same aspirations we do. They're playing with a high level of confidence. It's not going to get done by showing up and we really have not accomplished anything. That's the thing we have to keep in mind because some people will give you kudos, and will talk about all the good things we've done, but that can all change with one play, with one quarter or one bad game.

This is a special group. This is not about me. It's about this team; it's about this ownership; it's about the players and coaches. I'm one small part of this, believe me.

I've been waiting a long time to do this. This is yours, man. This is special group of coaches, a special group of players and I was a small part.

It probably seemed a bit of a luxury. But there's a lot to be said for having veteran guys who have lined up and won games in the National Football League, who have won playoff games.

He's very important, not just to our defense but to our football team. He's certainly a very explosive player defensively. He can cover. He can rush. He plays the run. He's a complete outside linebacker. He's been very productive on a consistent basis.

We're playing the No. 1 seed in the AFC and in many people's eyes the No. 1 team in the National Football League. We're going to have to play so much better than we played the last time we played them, and we're going to have to play better than we played last week. It's going to take a flawless effort on our part. We're going to have to bring everything we have and more.

We've got to run the ball better, there's no question about that. We've played two pretty good defenses and this one's no different, they're ranked fifth against the rush. We have to be able to run the ball more efficiently than we have the last couple weeks. We can't sit there and rely on throwing the football all the time. Not that we don't want to have balance, we do.

We've got to play better than we're playing. There's no margin for error. They're playing with a lot of confidence and at a high level. ... But the opportunity is right there. If you have the opportunity to win this game, you have a chance to control a lot of your destiny. But we have to play a lot better than we are right now and a sense of urgency to get there.

We've got to keep doing what we're doing - not turning the ball over, not getting penalties and playing smart.

I think their defensive line played a lot harder than our offensive line did. I don't think (Ben) had a whole lot of time in that game, and at times when he did, he wasn't able to connect.

I thought he did a lot of good things. He tackled very well. He was in position when needed to be in position. I thought he played a solid game.

I think you'll find in any second-year player, his comfort level is much greater. There's no question he's more comfortable with our offense and understanding the plays and the design of the plays and where they're intended to go. Consequently, he's much more in control of the huddle than he was a year ago.

I'm not sure we were the best team last year. I think we played the best at the right time of year.

Some people's paths are going to be a lot more difficult than others. Ours for one. We're playing to live to fight another day, and that's the mentality we're going to have week in, week out.

Good football teams have quality depth. When players are asked to step up, there's not a drop off. Ideally, you go through the whole season and don't lose anybody. But those are rare occasions.

You know what? It was what it was. We all played the same scenario. The bottom line is, we didn't get it done and they did. And I don't think the clock was an issue at all. ... I don't think it had any bearing whatsoever on the game, I truly believe that.

I was just proud he lasted this long. He is the emotional leader of this team. We respect Seattle. We're playing a good opponent, a confident opponent. We will put in the work.

I just think that he is making good decisions. He is getting confidence and we feed off him. Ben is a leader out there for us, there is no question about that. I just like the frame of mind that he is in. He is a very focused player right now and he needs to be.

Ben is a leader out there for us, there is no question about that. He's a very focused player right now and he needs to be, we are all kind of following his lead.

They're playing at a high level. They're explosive. ... We certainly have to play better than the last time we played them, and better defensively than how we played today.

Willie's got the one thing we've never had - the speed. For a team that runs the football the way we want to run the football, to have a big-play player back there is a bonus.

Willie's done a good job. Willie's earned an opportunity he's been given, and I don't anticipate changing Willie. But certainly we'll have to sit down and see how the rest of the mix plays out.

Willie has the one thing that we never had -- speed. For a team that runs the football like we would like to run the football, to be able to have a big-play player back there is a bonus. He shows that ability to do that.

In Denver, they had a chance to win. I think this team could very easily be 4-0, ... I think that says a lot about the fact that they've really picked up where they left off a year ago. I don't feel like we're playing like we did a year ago, but I think San Diego is.

In any big game, a lot of it comes down to an ability to weather storms, to be able to respond to situations. We did a good job down there but we didn't do a very good job up here. It comes down to making plays and trying to be opportunistic and deal with circumstances that happen within the course of a game. With these two teams it's going to come down to execution.

There will be a lot of excitement in that stadium, their first playoff game in a long time. It's a big, big challenge for us.

There's a lot of good football players out there. There's no direct science to this. You try to base it on an interaction of maybe 15 minutes, so you never know.

I think throughout the course of these playoffs, I think we're a football team. We have had really great weeks of work. We're playing our best football at the right time of the year. It was tough to do what we had to do to go to the three places and win those games. They were all challenges in themselves.

We've been playing well the last three weeks on the road, and we've got another fourth game on the road. I don't know if that's superstitious, but that's the way I'm thinking.

We've been kind of a high-profile team the last two years. That experience of going through the playoffs has been important.

We've been close many times. So certainly I think you cherish the opportunity that you have coming here, and you try to relay that to the players.

We have a lot of players back; we lost a couple of key players and we'll have to fill those voids. But when you realize what you accomplished and you're part of history and you have an opportunity to do it back to back, it would be an unbelievable feat.

You can sit there and project. But the problem thing you can't project is people jumping up when they see a player they want and they jump right in front of you. That's why sometimes you do trade, because of wanting to get a player before somebody else can.

He's really played at a high level all year.

I think we were very fortunate to be sitting there with Ben. You don't ever want to be drafting that high too often, but we were picking that high, and when you have a chance to get a premier player like that, you can't bypass him.

We had a special group, but it's hard to bring everybody back. That happens every year. You hope to keep a good nucleus, draft well and maybe pick up some free agents. It's going to be a challenge, but I like where we're starting and the players we're starting with.

I know a lot of people have looked at Tennessee and talked about rebuilding. But we have to be careful because there is still a core of players on that team that, not only are we familiar with, but who've also had success.

Kendall is getting better and better. Him working with Max ( Starks , right tackle) is only going to allow them to get more comfortable. They're getting some very good playing time, but I feel very good about that right side.

When you game plan, there are certain elements that you prepare for, certain things that you want to do. Certain plays will complement other plays, ... You're always going to have complementary plays that set up other plays. It's a pretty dramatic difference from that point. ... There's a lot more focus on what you're trying to do.

He certainly has a much better chance of playing than Jerome does. We'll see how Jerome is by the end of the week.

I know a couple of times our players were ready to celebrate prematurely.

He is a very valuable member of our team. Given the scenario, it's nice to have a player like that with the experience he has who can play at the level he can.

A lot of stuff we have done during training camp was done competitively. When you game plan, there are certain elements that you prepare for, certain things that you want to do. Certain plays will complement other plays. It's a pretty dramatic difference from that point. (But) we'll see. I'm not going to say that was the result of anything. You still have to go out and perform and do it.

But our players know. This is still Baltimore. They still have some good players, and their coach challenged them and they responded.

Letting them take the opening drive right down against us wasn't very encouraging. We responded. We had some guys make plays ... (but) we just didn't play very well.

It's big. We all know the days back when there were 12 rounds. We know there are a lot of good football players out there, and they're not all here.

These kids are still maturing as people. I've watched players we've had mature tremendously in a short time, and then sometimes it takes players three or four years. These are still young men. You can't ever lose sight of that.

He's been here and he knows our players more than the last couple times I've brought guys in,

We have not played against him a lot. But I have tremendous respect for the guy. He's one of those guys who can literally will a team to victory.

We are going to have to play much better than we played the last time we played them. We are going to have to play much better than we played last week. It is going to take a flawless effort on our part.

We played our tails off defensively. We made the plays on offense when we had to. The sign of a good football team is when you (don't) play your best football and still win the game.

Their defense is a lot like ours, from the standpoint of scheme-wise. They have good players down there that run it.

It is an opportunity to utilize this as a home playoff game. There will be no talk whatsoever about any other scenario.

This will be our third time playing them. They're explosive. They played well defensively down the stretch. There will be a lot of excitement in that stadium. It's a big challenge for us. We certainly have to play better than the last time we played them and better defensively than how we played today.

We're going to have a lot of flexibility with some of the things we're doing, and the players have been very receptive. It's more definitive than things we've done in the past. The onus is being put back on the players to execute, and I think they like that.

We know about the Detroit offense with Calvin Johnson, the best receiver in the game. If this defense continues to play at this pace, they may have something to say about the NFC North.

So many times through the course of a season you are defined by your backups. They have three players in [Kirk] Cousins, Niles [Paul] and [Bashaud] Breeland who may be better than the players that they’re replacing.

The consensus was this was something that if we let it go he probably could have played this week, but the longer we went the risk of injury would increase and there is a chance he would be out for an extended period of time.

Maybe our focus has been better on the road. Maybe we've played with more urgency. I'm just extremely proud.

Good teams win close games. Good teams have quality depth, and when players are asked to step in, there's not a drop-off, ... It's not the circumstance that affects you. It's how you deal with it. I truly believe that.

We certainly have to play better than the last time we played them. It's going to be a challenge for us.

We certainly aren't going to let history dictate our journey. As I told the players a lot of times, your journey can make history.

They've got a lot of football players who are trying to build something. I don't think there's any question they're making strides in the right direction.

We'll wear white because we're on the road. We're not playing at Heinz Field and, to me, that makes it a road game and we wear white jerseys for road games.

I put a lot of thought into it. What exactly I'll say, I'm not exactly sure right now. It's kind of a last-minute thing. The biggest thing right now is not to make this game out bigger than it is. ... There's been a sense of urgency and a desperate state we've played in the last seven weeks and I don't think Sunday will be any different.

No one feels worse about losing a game like that than the players and coaches in that locker room. They throw everything into it. No one felt worse than Tommy. I mean, this is a quality individual. We all understand the criticisms that come with this game and we understand that, but when you start taking it outside the field, to the house, to the kids, to me, you've crossed the line.

You don't see us running a lot of different plays with Willie. They're the same plays, they just may unfold differently.

The extra day won't have any effect on it. We're going to have to weather the flurry that will be involved with the emotions, the speed of the game and playing a high-quality football team.

I think we lost a little from the week off. We had won seven straight and those three road playoff wins had given us momentum. I think we lost a little of our sharpness.

We mixed it up and did a good job of dropping eight and bringing pressure and trying to disrupt them and get them out of their rhythm. They hit some big plays there in the fourth quarter, and we were fortunate to get out of there with the win.

We've played at a high level for a lot of years, and now they should have the same high expectations as we've always had. I think it should be a motivating factor to not let our performance slide.

Obviously, he's a Pro Bowl player, his numbers speak for themselves. He's playing with a lot of confidence and he is without a doubt the catalyst for what they do.

Max played some last year. I am not too concerned about Max at all, to be honest with you.

Jerome has been an inspiration to everyone, players and coaches. He's more than just a great player, he's the consummate team mate.

We're not playing at Heinz Field so, to me, it's an away game.

It starts at the top, there is no question about that. I've been very blessed and fortunate to be in a very stable organization. At the same time, you can take nothing for granted. You still have to go out there every year and improve yourself. You ask players to do it and I think as coaches you have to do it. I think we all understand that. I'm just very fortunate and blessed to be part of an organization that is very open, very stable and very understanding.

This will be a good barometer for us because this is by far the best team we've played and maybe will play. They are a football team that is not used to losing at all. For them to come off a tough loss against Carolina has really probably compounded the challenge that we have.

He's certainly playing a lot older than his age.

This team understands it's a journey. This is the first step. It was almost a battle of wills out there today, like who was going to flinch first. We just came up with a couple more big plays than they did, and that was the difference in the game.

Ike has played well. We started putting him on some of the premier guys (at wide receiver) because of his ability to match up size-wise and athletic ability-wise, and he's taken on the challenge. He's learning and growing tremendously.

Ike has played well enough to this point that I feel comfortable with him being out there.

It's almost surreal right now. We've got a special organization, and it starts at the top. I couldn't be more happy for Mr. Rooney, for the coaches, for the players and for the city of Pittsburgh.

Heath made some plays and he's developing into a good target. He's a good football player.

I think pressure is everything. When people get in the playoffs, there's pressure to win. It's win or go home. I don't feel any more this week than I did last week or the week before. It's one and done if you don't play well. We're looking at this week no different than last week. We're just trying to win a football game. If we do, we have an opportunity to go on, and if not, our season is done. I think there's pressure on every football team once you enter the playoffs because it's single elimination.

I think he's going to be one of those guys where the day comes and he's not there, there's going to be a void there because it seems like he's always been there every week. We've been through a lot together and I have a tremendous appreciation, more than I can express, for what he stands for as a football player but, more so, for what he stands for as a person.

I don't know if I've been around a player more respected on a football team.

I didn't think it was that big a deal what jersey color you're wearing. Maybe that's just me, OK? To me, if you're not playing at Heinz Field it's an away game. I think anyone can understand that rationale. If it's a sensitive issue to people, I'm sorry.

We don't ask people to run differently, ... Runners are runners. I never try to curtail a runner. Our offense has got enough plays that within the running play a ball carrier has a chance to express his ability. I think Willie has gotten more comfortable with the plays we've run. He's had a chance to watch some pretty good backs in front of him be patient on certain plays, hit it on certain plays. I think he's earned this opportunity if indeed Jerome can't go. I'm not concerned; I'm rather excited.

We don't ask people to run differently. I mean, runners are runners. I've never tried to curtail a runner. Our offense has got enough plays that, within the running play, a ballcarrier has a chance to express his abilities. I think Willie has gotten more comfortable with the plays we've run.

Defensively we played a pretty good game. We gave up only three points. We didn't give up a touchdown. But we've got to play better than we did.

And when we've played well on offense, we haven't played well on defense. We haven't been able to put together a complete game.

We're running the same game plan this Sunday, ... so I figured it will still be fresh in their minds. I looked at our schedule, and I saw that we are playing the Oilers for the second week in a row, so the game plan will remain exactly the same.

We'll continue to keep our options open. But I feel good about the players we have.

The last time we played here, I think we were probably too determined to run the ball. We're at our best when we have balance.

I think it's very important you don't get caught up in all the 'what if' scenarios. I think our football team needs to prepare mentally to play this football game like it's a home playoff game. The fact is if we don't win, we may not go anywhere. If you get caught up, deviate from that focus and start looking at other scenarios, you start cluttering your mind with things that are very, very dangerous.

We've been fine coming off byes whether it's in the playoffs or during the season. If you go back and look at our record (10-7 after byes), it's not been too bad.