Transcripts of selected quotes from the Chargers following their Monday practice in San Diego:
HEAD COACH NORV TURNER
How challenging is it designing plays against the Jets' defense?
They're playing great on defense. When you can defend the run the way they are, and then they're first in the league in scoring defense, you're doing a lot of things real well. Everyone talks a lot about the blitz but they're doing a great job of playing defense when they're not blitzing. Their coverage is outstanding. They're a press, tight, cover-type team. You have to work to get open and you have to protect.
How do you prepare for an attack like Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene?
They only play one of them at a time, so that's a good thing. They're a good running football team. That's the way they've been built. They do mix in the pass. Obviously they got big plays in the passing game last week against Cincinnati. Those were the two big plays late in the game and the bootleg for the touchdown early. You have to play it honest. You have to play the run but you know that at the right moments they're going to come up with those play-action passes that can hurt you.
Do you approach things any different defensively when facing a rookie quarterback in the playoffs?
We really have to prepare for what they do. Then if we have opportunities, the way you get after young guys is if you have opportunities to get them in those longer down and distances, get them backed up, get them in some situations that are tough for all guys, then you try to get in those situations.
What do you see from Darrelle Revis?
I'm really impressed. We played them here last year. I thought he was outstanding. This system really fits what he does. They do put him on an island and he handles it extremely well.
How does he compare with Champ Bailey and some of the other great cornerbacks in the NFL?
He's playing at a real high level. He's probably more physical than the other guys we've seen and still does a great job with the coverage.
QB PHILIP RIVERS
What did you think of the Jets' performance this weekend?
They're a good team. Anybody you face, we said last week, is going to be a really good team. I think they're just that. They played really good football down the stretch, which is what you want to do: be playing your best ball at playoff time. As far as their defense is concerned, it's going to be a challenge. They'll be as good as any we've played so far and again, that's what you expect. You get to this point in the season – the playoffs – and it's going to be a lot of good versus good out there.
What is the biggest challenge with playing the Jets' "46" defense?
I think that's probably a term that you guys keep using more than it actually is. This defense is a multiple-look defense. They line up every way you can possibly line up. As you see and as you watch on TV, and obviously we watched the tape, they're fundamentally sound. Defensive football, when it's played the right way, there's a soundness to it. You can line up as many ways as you want, guys still have their gaps and the coverage schemes can only be so drastic. They give you multiple looks, they try to create confusion and obviously they've had a great deal of success doing it.
Do you try to force them out of their formations?
I think as an offense you always want to go out and dictate to the defense, but at the same time, this defense, you've still got to be smart. It's a cat and mouse game, as it is in every game. You can try to line up and try to do whatever you want to do and they're going to have a response to it. We'll put together a plan that fits our personnel that gives ourselves the best chance to succeed and they'll do the same.
Is Darrelle Revis as good as you've seen?
As far as we've played this year and I've seen, he stacks right up there with the best of them. He's just very patient, for as much press as he plays he's a very patient corner. Obviously you see when he gets his hands on the ball he catches it. That's not always the case for those defensive backs, but if he gets his hands on it he usually come out with it.
WR VINCENT JACKSON
What do you see in Darrelle Revis?
I see a talented young football player. He's had some success against some of the best receivers in the league. I think part of that comes from teams try to say, 'Hey, if you're going to try to take this away, that's fine because we should be able to beat you in other areas.' I would love to have a great game against him, but if I don't have 100 yards or something, I might only get the ball thrown to me twice, but that's okay. We've got Malcom, LA, Buster, Sproles, LT, Antonio. I'm not really focused on the 1-on-1 matchups.
Is his physicality unique?
He is a more physical corner. I think he likes to get up and touch you, feel you as you're running around and get some contact at the line of scrimmage. I'd expect that, but I think with our size and our speed that it's not going to be any different from what we faced with other defensive backs.
How hard is it to get off that press coverage?
That's part of the game. I've been facing all kinds of corners. There are a lot of good football players in this league. Obviously he's getting more of the attention right now, but I think press coverage is something I can split.
How do the Jets use Revis in their defense?
He's pretty much just on their best receiver, pressing him. In a few situations, I notice where they move receivers around and he actually doesn't go with them. For the most part they say, 'Hey, it's you one on one.'
Are you looking forward to facing him?
Absolutely. That's why you play. You train to be the best; you play to be the best. Obviously right now he's considered one of the top guys in the league. I'm looking forward to it.
RB LaDAINIAN TOMLINSON
What are your thoughts on the Jets defense?
I think they're the best defense we're going to play. They do a lot of things well, but they've got the winning formula. They run the ball well. They play good defense. You look at teams throughout history who have done well, the ones that have that winning formula are the ones who have been successful.
Why are they so good against the run in particular?
They know what they want to do. They know their assignments. They don't mess up. They're not out of position a lot of times and they play hard.
How important will it be to get the run going this week?
I think it will be big for us to play ball control and keep the ball moving down the field. I'm sure they're not going to give up a lot of big plays in the passing game, so it's going to be up to us to grind out yards, get the tough yards and put points on the board.
LB SHAWNE MERRIMAN
What are your thoughts on this week's opponent?
They are a physical bunch of guys. We've seen that in their last few games. We saw it again in their last playoff game. We have to come out and be physical. That's where the game will start and finish at.
The defense has made a lot of strides throughout the year by improving against the run. Is this going to be the ultimate test?
I think so because they are pretty good at running the ball and that is something that they lean heavily on. They've been pretty good at it and it's going to be a big test for us to be able to come out there and stop it early.
Their rookie quarterback had an efficient game this past weekend but is him being a rookie something you think that you guys can exploit?
He makes pretty smart decisions. I think he was 12 for 15 in the game. In some of those cases, he didn't have to do much but just make a good decision and I think he's been able to do that for them. He's probably part of the reason why they are in the position that they are in now.
What is it about their running game that makes them dangerous?
They are very physical. I just heard something recently that their offensive line has started 32 straight games together as a group. The continuity is there for sure. It's a big reason why they have had success running the ball. They've been able to be physical against guys up front. They have a few first rounder's that they rely heavily on to go and make some plays for them and be good blockers.
