Scout.com > NY Giants Behind Enemy Lines Story URL: http://nyg.scout.com/2/789195.html Site Staff GiantInsider.net Sep 10, 2008 To give you a feel for what's going on in St. Louis, here's what Rams QB Marc Bulger had to say today on a conference call with the New York media. Q: I’m sure you had to be very disappointed with the game against Philadelphia last week. Is that the kind of thing you really take to heart and it gives you extra incentive to bounce back? A: I guess. It was just such a bad game. We came in Monday and tried to make our corrections. But I think we had around 40 plays on offense. So just offensively we couldn’t get into rhythm. We were down 14-0 before we knew it. And we had to get off our game plan. It is one of those things you don’t want to look too far into it because we know we are not that bad of a team. But at the same time it is really disappointing because we were really having a good preseason. Q: Is to too broad to just sort of pinpoint what went wrong? A: It is. We wish that it was one thing. We did some good things, but like I said, we had to get off our game plan. We had to get away from the run quicker than we wanted. They had a good scheme. We are going to give them credit. They came in with a good scheme. They got good players. But we couldn’t get open. Couldn’t throw to the guys; we couldn’t run the ball. And obviously third-downs, I think we were 8-10 third and plus 10 situations. And against that team it just wasn’t going to work. Q: Spagnuolo is a Johnson disciple. So it would seem to be logical that they would throw a lot of the same things defensively at you that Philadelphia did. Do you see it the same way? A: Yes. You know how this league is. If you don’t produce against something, people are going to keep exploiting it. So until we pick up the blitzes that we didn’t or throw the ball against the coverages that we weren’t able to last week, we fully anticipate them to do what the Eagles did because they have great personnel, too. So it is going to be up to us to make plays, not just try to beat them schematically. Because I think that it is not going to be a secret what they are going to try to do. Q: What do you expect out of the Giants defense now that they don’t have Strahan and Osi? Do you kind of scheme for them the same way? A: Obviously those two guys they lost – it is a big blow for them. But the thing about the Giants, you don’t win a Super Bowl unless you are deep. And we know they are a deep team. Their front seven is really physical. We know we are going to have to try to run the ball and against them it is going to be tough. We saw what they did last week and obviously in the Super Bowl. So as they get pressure on the quarterback, the secondary is solid; they are physical, too. So it going to be one upfront – there is going to be a lot of pressure on our guys up front this week against their front seven. Q: Tom Coughlin said earlier today that you guys are so much better – I think he pointed just offensively, but he said so much better at home than you are on the road. I haven’t checked the numbers to back him up, but do you agree with that and do you know why that is? A: The last couple of years we haven’t been good anywhere. But certainly we are not as bad as we were last week. So I think any team --- I know the Giants are an exception winning all of their games on the road last year --- but we have been a little bit better at home. I can’t pinpoint why. I don’t know if it is the Dome or what. But I think any way we play this week will be better than the way we played last week. Q: What kind of home reaction are you expecting from the crowd? A: We have to come out and earn their respect a little bit. I think by the reaction here they are a little upset with us. But I think if we can come out and play well early, they are good fans here and we don’t anticipate them turning on us. But again we have to play good. We can’t just can’t come out and play the way we did last week. Because I think anyone’s fans will turn on them if we did that. Q: How did you sense that reaction from them? A: I don’t like to watch TV or read newspapers, but when you get asked questions on Monday or after the game you kind of sense the tone. I just know for myself being a fan of other sports, I would be upset if my team lost the way we did. Q: What is the reason to be optimistic for you? A: Our practices the past five or six weeks in camp; they have been great. We played well in spurts in the preseason. So I know this league is all about Sunday. So we have to produce. So I can’t be optimistic about what we did last week but being around these guys the past month and a half, we have been a lot better than that. And we just have to show it now. Q: Were you surprised last year that the Giants did what they did? A: I think it surprised everyone. That division is tough and you ….. play teams, we played Dallas, and we saw obviously the way New England was. So I don’t think anyone was anticipating the Giants going on that run and then beating a team like New England. So they have tremendous confidence. We understand that they are playing well now. We saw them last week. Any team coming off the Super Bowl, they have a chance right now. We feel like they have the confidence and you can see it on tape. Q: How hard is it to establish the confidence that the Giants had last year on the road and maintained that as long as they did? A: It is really tough to win on the road. My first year here I won – I think we went 8-0 on the road. 20When we went to the Super Bowl we lost. I didn’t realize at the time how difficult it was. Seven years later there are not many teams who can do what the Giants put together; a run like they did last year with nine or 10 in a row on the road. That is an unbelievable thing and that just shows those guys won over the locker room, they had each other’s backs. They play together. It is a confidence thing. So I don’t think it will be any different this week. Q: One of the things that helped them out last year was picking up Madison Hedgecock. Can you talk about Madison and your thoughts on him? A: He was a friend of mine. He is a great player. We got him in here and certain situations just don’t work out. But I knew he would land on his feet somewhere and quick. And apparently he went up there and got his contract and got a Super Bowl ring. So I’m really happy for him that it worked out for him because he is too good of a player not to be in this league. And I think he has shown you guys what he can do. Q: Did you teach him all of his liberal thoughts? A: When he speaks I can’t account for that. But I know his football actions were pretty good. Q: Why do you think it went bad for him there? He was pretty upset when the Rams cut him. A: Yeah, I know he was. I was a big fan of his, but I think there are a lot of decisions that go into things. Whether it is special teams or schematically the way we do things, I have no clue what went into that. I’m just one the guys. I knew he could play in this league and I’ll leave it at that. Copyright © Scout.com and GiantInsider.net