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Opening Statement:

We waived injured Chris Barclay and waived safety Tuff Harris. We signed safety Curome Cox and of course we signed Sedrick Ellis. Our numbers right now are right at 80. Devery Henderson, Tracy Porter, Mike McKenzie, (Jeremy) Shockey and then at the end of practice (Jon) Stinchcomb tweaked his shoulder. That's the list of who did not practice. I thought the defense has played well two days in a row and that's encouraging.*

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**Q:

Did something happen to Jeremy Shockey last night?*

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A:

No. We're kind of taking the approach with Deuce, McKenzie and Shockey in the same fashion. I'm going to be a little slower with those three players as it pertains to practice as well as the early part of preseason. The key is just making sure that conditioningwise, they get to where (Jonathan) Vilma and (Josh) Bullocks have gotten to if it makes any sense before they have any setbacks. He's fine. It's just making sure he's physically ready to go.*

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**Q:

How was Sedrick Ellis?*

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A:

Not bad. I thought we had good pressure on the passer. Until we look at the film, it will be hard to tell. I was paying a little bit more attention to the offense. It will be important that he gets acclimated quickly.*

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**Q:

Did you give him some words of encouragement before the practice today?*

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A :

No, you get into such a routine that just as you guys are in a routine, you hear the transactions and keep moving on. Everyone's in now. He has a lot of catching up to do.*

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**Q:

Is he in the type of shape you want him to be in?*

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A:

I'm sure he's not. It's hard to be in exactly the same shape as everybody else because it's hard to simulate what you're missing. You can try, but it's hard to do that. Until you get pads on and start moving around in this heat and over a long period of time, it will take a while.*

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**Q:

Do you think he's picked up a lot?*

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A:

I think so. I think he's pretty sharp, so as far as learning, that's been strength of his.*

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**Q:

Can you discuss how your offense looked today?*

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A:

I thought defensively we did a real good job. Sometimes as an offensive coach, you might get frustrated with the practice because it doesn't go how you want it to offensively and yet, it might be a real positive, because your defense is getting better and I need to be mindful of that and be encouraged, because I think we're getting to the passer quicker. I think we're doing a good job in coverage. Guys are where they're supposed to be. If we want to get to the final game, we have to improve on that side of the ball and I've seen that improvement so far.*

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**Q:

What gives you the most confidence on this new look defense?*

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A:

We've been able to help out on that side of the ball some more with the additions of a couple of defensive linemen in Sedrick (Ellis) and Bobby McCray. We've been able to help the linebacker corps out with a veteran player like (Jonathan) Vilma and some younger players. We've been able to add a lot of competition in the secondary at corner and safety and there has been a couple of coaching changes. I think that with those factors combined, we are still and older team playing a lot of the same front coverages that we have in years past, but I think the effort, the intent for paying close attention to detail is there. I think that's encouraging.*

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**Q:

Did you say in the offseason that you needed more speed and athleticism at certain positions on defense?*

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A:

I think there was a concerted effort with how we finished to say that we have to pay attention to some positions over there and help to improve ourselves personellwise through free agency and the draft. I don't think that's a secret. I think when it ends every year, the team that wins the championship is typically playing very good defense at that time of the season. You just go back through the last four, five, six or seven Super Bowls, I think you find that to be the case for the most part. I think our players as a team understand that as well. *

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**Q:

Was it by your design for Sedrick Ellis to be going through some extra drills with Ed Orgeron during practice?*

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A:

Typically when we have a special teams break, there are some things that coaches will take players with. In the case of Sedrick it's no different than with some other players that you get in here late. You're trying to bring them up to speed. That's fairly typical.*

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**Q:

Can you go over some of the injuries since last night?*

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A:

Devery (Henderson) and Tracy (Porter) still have the hamstrings. Their progress has been encouraging. It will certainly keep them from participating in Saturday's scrimmage and there's a good chance we'll probably hold them in the first preseason game. The prognosis has been good. In both cases, they're grade one sprains, which is encouraging. There's nothing new to report with Deuce (McAllister). It's just rehab and treatment and measuring his progress along with Mike McKenzie and Jeremy Shockey. Those three are the same. Chris Barclay last night was injured on a play. Fortunately for him, it was just a knee sprain and unfortunately we had to waive him today and it wasn't because of the injury. From the timing standpoint, it was difficult. Outside of that, Hollis (Thomas) is getting back. Bobby McCray is back in the mix. He has back spasms, nothing serious. Reggie Bush had a stiff neck at the beginning of practice. I don't anticipate that to be a big issue. For this time of training camp, knock on wood. I think we've been holding up pretty well.*

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**Q:

Did Jeremy Shockey aggravate something last night?*

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A:

No. There's nothing specific. We went into last night's practice. I kind of held him back. He's still doing fine. His weight's down. His case is no different than Mike's and Deuce's case. It's about getting him back into the mix and getting him into football condition. I think in all three cases, we still have some work to do, but we have time fortunately for us.*

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**Q:

Will all three players participate in the scrimmage at some level?*

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A:

All of them might or none of them might participate. We still have a long time here. There's a good chance that we won't play any of those three guys.*

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**Q:

Was Jon Stnchcomb injured?*

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A:

Yes, I already mentioned that he got dinged up at the end of two minute. He kind of tweaked his right shoulder. I don't anticipate it to be anything serious. We'll take a look at it. That happened right at the end of practice.*

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**Q:

Do you want to share what you said to Sedrick Ellis as he entered the field?*

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A:

No, it was nothing specific. I was just chatting with him.*

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**Q:

Are you tackling on Saturday?*

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A:

We're probably not going to. We did two years ago. What I want to do is set up a scrimmage like two years ago with the idea that it's full go, so you get a full speed rush inside. When it comes to the ball carriers, you try to keep them up. I think that's the approach we'll take.*

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**Q:

When will you hit? In Arizona?*

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A:

Arizona. There might be a goal line or short yardage situation where it will be full tackle. But I think at Saturday's scrimmage it will be full go up.*

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