SportsLine Interview Transcript: November 22, 1996 SportsLine: Do you have any thoughts on the San Francisco/Washington Game? Joe: I'm still a little bit perturbed with Washington's defense. I know they won a big one in Philadelphia last week. And I saw some of that game, too, and it could have been a different game. I still don't think that Washington's defense will be able to stop San Francisco's offense and I think San Francisco will be able to control the tempo of this thing. SportsLine The Rams take on a pretty formidable opponent in Green Bay this week, but Green Bay is arguable at their low point this weekend. I just wonder if they are not looking past the game this weekend, they've got a big divisional tilt with Chicago next the week after that. They always get up for that no matter how Chicago plays themselves, but is Green Bay going to blow out St. Louis like everyone thinks they are? Could this game actually be competitive? Joe: I really think that it could be competitive even though I really don't expect it to be. Green Bay has spent most of the week talking about last week's game and the way it ended with Dallas inside the field goal, making the field goal and the animosity towards Dallas, I'm looking forward myself to hopefully another Green Bay/Dallas game. Because I think Dallas has given Green Bay a bit to really cop an attitude, to really be mean, to really be downright ornery. You know Green Bay has been going in against Dallas and looking to beat them, and I don't think they had that meanness that it takes to beat that Dallas team by Green Bay and I think Dallas has given them that ammunition with that field goal attempt the last time out. SportsLine: What do you think about that, would you have kicked it? Joe: Well, I personally would not have, no. There are a lot of ways to look at the thing and there are some unwritten rules in sports and I personally would not have kicked that field goal or tried that field goal and one of the reasons is, you've got a lot of angry people coming out there to meet you next time you play. Dallas is good enough to where they are saying, hey we don't worry about that sort of stuff, give us all you've got. Dallas is fully competent that they can handle it, but I don't think they have seen the kind of attitude from Green Bay that they are going to see the next time they play. SportsLine: Hey Joe, Denver Broncos 10 and 1 -- best record in the NFL and people are starting to say, they are the best team, most complete team and think the AFC has a chance to win a Super Bowl this year, it's been a long time since they have. What do you think about Denver? Are they the best team in the NFL right now? Joe: No doubt about it. They have performed most consistently across the board and I am just curious as to why they are only favorites by five and half. What has Minnesota got that we haven't seen in the last five weeks of just terrible football and here it is you've got a 10 and 1 team going in there that has shown that they can play on both sides of (the ball) and they are a high scoring team with outstanding defense. Sounds to me they should be a 10 point favorite, 10 and 1/2 point favorite against Minnesota. SportsLine: Pittsburgh is going into to Miami for the Monday night game, they (Pittsburgh) are 9 and 1 with Bill Cower on Monday night. Is that enough of a motivating factor with them going into Miami with them playing so well for them to win this game? Joe: I don't even think that comes into play as far as coaching and the players are concerned. Sure they know they have had lady luck on their side and they have had a good run but also the attitude of Cower and the sheer determination of that rock hard shield of that tough Pittsburgh team, I think that's what is going to come in here regardless of playing Monday night. Monday night does hype up every player out there because they know their peers are watching too and that's important. So if you can get jacked up anymore for a game other than a playoff game I guess it is one that is the only game that day. I really believe that Miami is not going to be that quick offensively with their people to sustain the offensive drive. They are going to have to hit some big plays. Otherwise Pittsburgh's defense is really going to stuff them. They are not going to give Dan (Marino) time to be able to do the things that he would like to do. And what Miami will attempt to do, I think, is try to get the ball quickly. I don't think they are going to try to sustain a running game. They are hurt in the offensive line, is what I am trying to say, and when that happens you better have some darn good backups and Miami just brought Brad Dixon off of, they had let him go, you know an offensive linesman. They are starting backup in their offense line and I think it's going to hurt them bad. SportsLine: You brought up the point I wanted to get to, they are starting backups for the left and right guard and the Steelers are one of the few teams that line up 3,4 and they don't line up anyone per se over the guards, but what I'm thinking is, might the Steelers be blitzing their linebackers down the middle to confuse the guards? And the Steelers are well known for their blitzing, then maybe dropping back some linsmen in the coverage -- that could really confuse Dan Marino if they have a lot of pressure in his face. Joe: Well there is a drive now to change Pittsburgh into Blitzburgh, they are going to be coming from all over the place and they are also equipped especially on one corner with Rod Woodson, who is an excellent cover man. And to use those kinds of blitzes as your secondary, your people have got to be doing very well, you know they have Carnell Lake inside instead of playing the corner this year. Pittsburgh's secondary is playing very well, not just because they are blitzing, but because they are covering well. SportsLine: Hey Joe, How about the Patriots last week getting slapped by the Broncos at home? Though the Colts are really having some hard times, injury wise, and last week the Jets almost beat them, could have beaten them, if Keyshawn Johnson catches that ball on the last play of that game. What do you think of this game? Joe: I think the football gods are paying back the Colts for letting Marchibroda go after taking them into the playoffs, and almost getting them into the Super Bowl last year. And I also think New England will be ready for this game. I look to New England to be able to win this game, they had an awful game against a good team and again, according to coach Parcells, the meaningful games in these last five weeks. So, I look for New England to bounce back. SportsLine: Hey Joe, do you watch a lot of college football on Saturdays too, or are you..? Joe: No...I pay attention to it, but I don't sit on my fanny and watch a lot of television. When I do sit I get on our computer. SportsLine: Yeah...you like working on the Internet? Joe: You know what, I am one of those guys, who sits down and does a lot of reading. You know I check out SportsLine certainly, but you know beyond SportsLine, it's just with my daughter. SportsLine: We couldn't be happier that Gary Barnett is not leaving North Western to take that job, because I think he's got something really special happening there? Joe: Yeah I agree, and that was nice to see that he is that happy there. I personally, I've got a little personal interest, because there is a fellow that I really like as a person and a coach and I would like to see him get it and that's Gary Denardo down at LSU SportsLine: Rumor has it that's where he is headed. Joe: Well it could be but you know Notre Dame has ah...I don't remember the name of the defensive coach.... SportsLine: Bob Davies.... Joe: and he seems to be a leading candidate so we will see what happens.

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