Mike Mularkey Quotes (58 Quotes)

Probably one of our most consistent players before he got hurt. He was playing well ... holding the point in the run game. You are going to miss something when you lose those guys, but the good football teams find a way to fill.

I have so much confidence in Tommy. He's proven himself time after time, and I'm comfortable with him in every situation.

He has some talent there running the ball. I don't want him to make a habit of it, but with a first-year quarterback, the thought process speeds up and typically the first instinct is to run.

This is three games, this is not the season. We have a lot of football ahead of us. We come into work tomorrow, we're looking forward, not backwards, same as we did last year.

I would say it's likely. But J.P. took a number of reps. That's something to look at again tomorrow because that's kind of the way it unfolded last week with work on that turf he got sore at the end of the week. He looked good today and we'll see where he is tomorrow.

I don't think anybody here expected him to come out on fire, to lead this team with passing. I think it's a process. It's a process we anticipated when we made the change and he's crawling right now. We have to get him to crawl good before he can stand and before he can walk.

He made some good throws, especially a touchdown throw where he had to hit it in the hole between a guy covering Sam Aiken.

It's hard to see him go. But that's the tough part about this business when you want to make a change and, in some instances, a big change at the coordinator's spot. But it was necessary to make the change.

I really haven't followed him (Bledsoe), ... I have enough stuff here to work on. I really don't pay attention to any other games because I can't follow it. I really don't have time.

I don't think I realized how good he was until I got here and watched him work in practice. You watch what he does in meetings and what he does around here. He's a great character, a leader in his own way. His play on the field comes from the way he prepares. He's an easy guy to follow.

Shocked may not be the word with how we feel. We should finish the game. You play to the last second. If it was over at halftime, we would be going home happy.

I'd still like to see him get down. But that's something that'll go until he figures it out or takes a good solid hit. Hopefully, he'll pay attention to that before it happens.

We appreciate everything these coaches have done in terms of their time and efforts and sacrifices, especially in taking away from their families. It's just that it is time for a change in taking another step in a different direction.

I told the team he's one of the greatest that has ever coached in the NFL, a gentleman who has seen it all, ... We all admire what he's done and we're shooting for some of the same goals he accomplished.

People have a pretty good idea about Mike Williams only being out a year. I know where he was ranked as far as round last year. I don't know how much that may have dropped off compared to Maurice. I know he had a good workout when he worked out (last year) in Tampa. I think there's a better feel for what he's capable of doing. Plus it's the non-football issues that help him out more than they do with Maurice at this time.

The truth is different guys mature at different ages. It's really up to the individual. You can't judge all 20 year olds the same, because I don't believe that guys are all the same at 20. There are guys in this league who aren't mature at 23 or 24. And there are 20 year olds who maybe can handle it. The thing is, how many 20 year olds over the years have not made it and gone by the wayside You don't hear about those guys.

Shocked may not be the word. You've got to be able to finish the game. That's why you play to the last second. If it was over at the half then we would have been home with a victory, but it's not that way. Not in this league. It's never over, and you can't play like it is.

Now, does everyone understand why we got rid of Travis Henry ... The guy had a drug problem, and we knew it. Look, he had a poster of Ricky Williams in his locker, and Travis was always late for meetings that started at 420. He was expendable.

That's the plan. The half and probably starting the third quarter and see how many snaps we get in the third. Even by mid-second quarter you'll see (second-string) guys getting plugged in.

There is a comfort zone with Rich. I'd love to get a chance to go to Atlanta. It's a great situation. I'm looking forward to sitting down with them.

I've been very up front with them, ... I think I've been myself. I don't even know if I could fake being the other way. They know that I have a passion for the game, and they know that just because I'm a head coach I'm not saying anything different than when I was a coordinator, or a tight ends coach or a quality control guy. I think they respond to the fact that there's nothing phony.

I think he's got a city giving him advice. I can imagine what he hears from his friends, his family, his coaches. Sometimes it can be information overload.

Due to circumstances, I am no longer able to continue as head coach.

He really wasn't flinching. He looked comfortable in there. I'm sure there's some things we're going to have to watch the tape and we'll say he should have or could have. But for the most part I was pretty pleased watching him live.

I thought he did pretty well and was pretty active.

I've taken business as usual like I'm going into the season as head coach. There's more question out there than there was in here, especially with me. I've approached it full speed.

I haven't been to this point and I'm not going to start now. I'm going to approach this job full speed ahead. I'll talk to all the players and get a good feel for their state of mind.

He's a good player that's really been behind a great player. He has a chance to be a very good one, but he just really hasn't had the opportunity. Here's a chance to step up, practice with the first team all week and get comfortable with them.

We use the term doesn't flinch and he really wasn't flinching. He looked comfortable in there. I'm sure there are some things after we watch the tape that we'll say he should've or could've done, but for the most part, I was really pleased watching him.

At some point, a rookie may have to start a whole game which he's capable of doing. So confidence and trust is your answer.

Dillon helps them, of course. He's a very talented runner. But I thought our defensive players may have missed some tackles, too.

Willis made some big runs on his own, but our guys, I give them credit. From start to finish, I thought they played hard.

It's unfolded exactly the way you'd think. We brought in Kelly for a reason. Because his experience, his playing time, his playoff experience, all the things he brings to the table as a proven veteran. With J.P., (he's) a guy who's trying to still take steps toward being that quarterback we know he can be. Their play shows it. Anything that's not surprising about that is surprising. That's what you'd expect from those two quarterbacks because of the experience factor.

It will be a consideration, of course, ... But with two weeks to go (before the final cut) there's things that could happen. If it was today we'd have to do that, yeah.

Due to circumstances, I can no longer be able to continue as the head coach. I did not reach this decision lightly, but after much thought I have concluded that for my own personal reasons and in the best interests of my family, on balance, outweigh any future benefits that may accrue to me by continuing in this position.

I knew Willis would (respond) because he's a prideful guy, ... We talked earlier in the week when we watched the tape. Again, sometimes it's a matter of learning from experience, and it was evident that he was hitting up things strong. We were making yards the pile, the line of scrimmage with our O-line and him, was moving.

I think they understand there's a lot of pressure being put on them, not only by the coaches, but by the media. They're reading it, too. They understand the importance of what they do for this offense. They're young, but I think at some point that young excuse has got to fade. We need them to step up.

I'm going to make decisions on all the starters, ... Again. Later on in the week, after I get a chance to watch the film a couple of times. All the starters will be evaluated, as they are every Monday.

Tampa Bay's (two-deep zone) coverage was trying to take away the deep threats, so you've got to have somebody inside that's got a good feel for finding soft spots underneath the coverage. Sometimes it's not a matter of how quick or how fast you are, but how elusive you can be and how well can you get open. Josh did a nice job of that (Sunday).

We're not scared of running those plays no matter who's back there at quarterback. Sunday was a back and forth game. We were looking for a tempo-changer. We needed some big plays. And we didn't even use them all. That's the beauty of it.

I always lean on Sam, good or bad times. I have so much respect for him because he's been through many more seasons as a head coach and been around the league a lot longer than I have.

We really need him to understand the tackle position, which if we have a problem there, he's going,

It's a frustrating game. Some of the things, we didn't give ourselves a chance to win. ... We were not coming up with the big plays when we had the chance to make them and I can't tell you why.

He's a great player. He'd have to be (considered). Everything he does, it's scary when the ball is in his hands or around it --- throwing it, catching it and obviously running it. He's a fun player to watch when you're not playing him.

We have tried some of that so far in camp, and some of it's been good. But some of it's been where one guy's not a blocking back. So even though it looks good and you've got these two stud backs back there, if you're going to ask one of them to go lead through the hole and he can't do it, that defeats the purpose of using them both at the same time.

This isn't about fining them (as a punishment), this is about making sure they're in the best shape, not just so you can perform but your health risks are higher. Extra weight is stress on them.

The first morning after I was hired, it was my wife ( Betsy ) who said, 'Holy (smoke), you're the head coach of the Buffalo Bills,'

I've heard it's been a big hit outside and people are excited about it, ... If it gets our offense jacked up because of the emotional dance, I'll take it any time.

I think we have enough guys to win with, ... I know I have an advantage of talent level here compared to some other new coaches. But still, it's basically the same team that went 6-10, so you've got to find a way to get them confident about themselves. That's what you do constantly from the very first time you step in front of them to present the staff and your plan. They've got to know that they are a good football team.

I'm actually proud of these guys. I'm frustrated for them, not frustrated at them. We overcame a lot of adversity leading into this game where everyone and their brother counted us out. ... I was pretty proud of how we reacted to all that adversity.