Transcripts of Philip Rivers' and Norv Turner's conference calls with Jets reporters Wednesday afternoon:
CHARGERS QB PHILIP RIVERS
On getting off to a good start this year…
We don't see it as a cushion, but certainly it is a better start than we've had in previous years. The bye week came at a good time. We were banged up, actually, in the Denver game, so it gave us some time to get a little rest and regroup. Obviously a tough challenge ahead this week on the road.
On how he feels about their offense...
I feel good. I think, certainly, we haven't played our best yet, but we've done some good things. We have the run going better and we've been pretty good on third down, which has helped us keeps drive alive. One area we need improvement is the red zone, but through the first five weeks, we've done enough to win four of five. We have a lot of room to improve, but we're headed in the right direction.
On what the missing ingredient has been for San Diego in the playoffs…
Obviously, it's a couple of months away until we even have a chance to even talk about the postseason. We have to keep the one game at a time mentality and keep getting better. We always played well late in the year and we haven't quite gotten it done in the postseason. Last year, we didn't give ourselves a chance to get to the postseason, so we're just concentrating right now on one game at a time. We know the Jets are a solid group and it's going to be a challenge coming to their place. To be honest, we haven't given the postseason any thought.
On if he liked the moves to bring in players like Tommie Harris, Bob Sanders and Takeo Spikes…
Yes, the additions we made in free agency and in the draft have made us a better team. The one thing we've done a great job of, since the start of camp, is our focus and just the mentality of just get better today. Let's control today and worry about today. We've really bought into that, and that has to be our mindset as we keep moving forward because we're past the bye now. We have 11 straight and it starts this week.
On if it lights a fire under him to see fellow draft class quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning win Super Bowls…
There is really nothing on the outside that gives me extra motivation or the will to want to win. I think I want to help this team win each time we go out there on the field. The ultimate game is to help this team and be a part of a championship. What happens or which quarterbacks win championships for other teams really doesn't drive me any. This is the ultimate team game, as is evident every Sunday when you watch. This past Sunday is the only weekend I really get to just watch games and it's any team, any given week, who can put together the most complete game and find a way to score one more point than the other team. That's really all we're trying to do here is just go win. Obviously, the ultimate goal is to win a championship. It's not about me or any individual. We want to accomplish that goal together.
On if he alters his game plan at all when facing a cornerback like Darrelle Revis…
I think he's a great player. There is no doubt in that, so I think you have to have respect for him and you have to be smart. At the same time, [Antonio] Cromartie on the other side is a heck of a player, as well. Obviously, he was here for a handful of years and I saw him up close in practice and in games make unbelievable players. It's not as if you don't throw to Revis' side, you're in good shape. It's tough. It's a great secondary. It's up there high in the league in pass defense and it's because they have great players and a heck of a scheme. Certainly, you have to be smart with all those guys back there, but certainly, Revis is an impressive player.
On his relationship with head coach Norv Turner…
I love to play for him. We have a great relationship and one where, like you said, he's not only the head coach but the playcaller. I think that, as you said, takes it a step further. The quarterback and the playcaller, which in this case is the head coach, have to be on the same page. They have to think alike. They have to understand one another. From the day Norv got hired, when he came here, our first conversation, I knew right away that we had the same passion for the game and we thought a lot alike offensively. It's been great. We just continue to plug along and keep finding ways to get the ball in the end zone.
On how much he wants to win for Coach Turner…
I think we want to win for everybody in this building, in this organization. I think if you asked every guy in this locker room, they really want to win. They do. They love playing for Norv. They want to win for him. He's a guy that on the outside is often ... misunderstood isn't the word, but maybe the perception is not the reality. I don't know if you can be any more passionate about the game. I don't know if you can work any harder.
Really, in past years when we've gotten off to a slow start, his never-flinch, consistent approach has really, I think, had a lot to do with why we find a way to dig ourselves out of those positions. Him being here now, this is the fifth season, everybody knows what to expect. We have a routine. We have a way we prepare. We have a way we practice. It's a team now that we all know what we're doing, what the direction is, what we're trying to get done and we're just fighting like crazy every week.
On playing with Antonio Cromartie and LaDainian Tomlinson and if he thought San Diego got rid of them at the right time…
I've enjoyed having both of them as teammates. Obviously, they're really good players and helped us a lot to win a lot of football games. There are many guys on other teams that were once here, and obviously, that's this league. There are players that move from team to team and all over. Those guys had a lot to do with us winning a lot of football games those years they were here. LT [LaDainian Tomlinson] being here nine years or whatever it was, I was here for six of them, the one thing I've always told LT, I hated we didn't win a championship when he was here because, obviously, what he meant to this organization and the player he was was unmatched. Those guys are good players and it was fun to be a teammate of theirs
On how Antonio Gates not being in the lineup has hurt…
First, I just hate it for Antonio. Gates, he wants to be out there and wants to play, and obviously, we're better with him out there. You're talking about what I believe is the best tight end in the game. I know it's been frustrating for him, and certainly we hope he gets back out there with us soon.
CHARGERS HEAD COACH NORV TURNER
On the reason for their faster start this year…
I think our guys, from a mindset in camp, had a sense of urgency about making sure we were ready to go when the season starts. I think we've been in able to make plays in the fourth quarter in all three phases that have helped us win close games, whether making a key stop, a turnover, kicking a field goal or finishing a drive.
On Ryan Mathews' play this season…
The biggest thing is I don't know if a year ago he ever went through an extended period where he was really healthy. I think this year he is healthy. He's been able to practice every day and I think it's paying off in the way he has been playing.
On having Antonio Gates out of the lineup at times this season…
We're just different. I think people have zeroed in on our wide receivers pretty good. Obviously, our backs have caught a lot of balls. It forces us to be more patient in the passing game. We're getting more first downs. We're having more long drives than we have in the past.
On what he has seen on film from the Jets defense…
They're really good. They're really multiple. They do a great job of zeroing in on what you do best. I think you have to have a complete offense to have success against them. Certainly, they're always outstanding on third down, so that's a critical part of the game.
On how impressed he has been with Nick Novak converting all 11 of his field goal attempts this season…
He's been outstanding. We had Nick in training camp a couple of years ago and he was outstanding then. It was probably a very similar situation to what Rex [Ryan] had [with Novak competing against Nick Folk in the 2011 preseason for the Jets]. I felt he was good enough to kick in the league. He was here and we had an outstanding kicker. I'm glad it took him a while to catch on [joking], and I'm glad it is with us.
On LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Cromartie and if he thinks San Diego let them go at the right time…
You get caught in different situations and decisions you have to make. Both guys are outstanding football players. LT [LaDainian Tomlinson], obviously, what he has accomplished in his career speaks for itself. I think he is having great success with the Jets. He's contributing to what they're doing on offense. Both guys have been able to reestablish themselves in another spot and they're doing outstanding.
On what he sees from film on Darrelle Revis and if he alters the offense's game plan at all…
With both corners, I think both already have three interceptions each. They're both not only capable of intercepting the ball, but when they do, they are able to make a real big play with it as we saw the other night. You just have to be smart in terms of what you do, the type of throws you make and how many times you want to throw the ball in their area.
