Dolphins Offensive Coordinator Chan Gailey and
Chat Transcript
Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Chan Gailey and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Tim Lewis stopped by a halftime chat about the AFC Championship game with the Oakland Raiders vs. the Baltimore Ravens.
Tim Lewis: Hello. Welcome to our chat!
Chan Gailey: Hi! Welcome Sports Fans!
Question: What will be some of the key halftime adjustments for each team?
Chan Gailey: It looks like Oakland will have to throw. They are having a difficult time running the ball. I don't think Baltimore needs to adjust. This is their game plan and how they have won games all year long. Don't lose patience!
Tim Lewis: I would make the same assessment. We had the fortune to play both of these teams. The Raiders have to find ways to get the ball up field. They need crossing routes and I don't see the D yielding many yards to the Raiders. They'll have to loosen things up some.
Question: To beat Baltimore's defense, do you have to throw the long ball and stretch them out?
Chan Gailey: I think that is what people will have to do from time to time. Everyone has to establish a run but not give up the big turnover so many people don't take that chance. That is a key to beating any team. You have to throw your field position thoughts out the window and take some chances.
Question: Will the steelers consider an immediate big time free agent or look to the draft? What will you be looking for?
Tim Lewis: We will go ahead and do what everyone does.. evaluate the scheme and players and players in the draft and free agency. Right now, defensively, we would like to increase our team speed. We need a dominant defensive line pass rusher. We have good corners and safeties and could probably add a safety. There are thing we will do defensively that needs speed. Offensively we have to iron out the Bettis situation and what to do with Dawson. At QB we feel good about how Kordell has progressed. We will get Plaxico back and we think he will be a force at wide receiver.
Question: Chan, do we (Dolphins) have a shot at Drew Brees?
Chan Gailey: It depends on where he falls in the draft and how much of a need we place on the QB position in the draft. Right now we are comfortable with Jay as the starter. But we are always looking to upgrade the team and if Drew is at a spot where we can't turn him down we would like to make that pick of course.
Question:Are the Giants that good or did Minnesota just stay at the hotel today?
Tim Lewis: I would like to say a bit of both today. We got to play (unfortunately) the Giants a few weeks ago and they did to us what they did to Minn. They put 31 on the board against us and we didn't slow them down. They used many formations motions and shifts and kept us off balance. They also used a lot of personnel. Tiki is hard to defend, the blocking TE in Cross, and the three WR set presents many match up problems with size and speed. And the important cog, the QB is doing all he can. The O line is strong and they can be very dominant in run offense. They can be very efficient and have few weaknesses. They threw over 300 yards against us and Minnesota. And the big thing was they shut them out. Daunte, Smith, Moss, Carter... nothing. They will be a formidable foe for whomever faces them!
Question: Chan what things are you currently working on to help the Dolphins run the ball more effectively?
Chan Gailey: We were very fortunate to have Thurman Thomas until he got hurt. Hopefully this year with the improvement of Denson or upgrading with another player we can get the same production we had earlier in the season with Thurman. Right now Thurman's future is up in the air and we don't know if he will play again. So we are looking at it as if we have to improve that position.
Question: Tim, how have the defenses come to dominate the NFL playoffs considering how the offensive teams were thought to be the Super Bowl contenders?
Tim Lewis: Great Question! The most important thing to keep in mind is that over the course of time people think defense rules, when it comes to playoffs and championships. Chan alluded to it. People play championship games a little closer to their vest than they do during the season, not to make mistakes. Really the team that didn't have a defense in the top 10 would be Minnesota. What you see is conservative offense against dominant defense. People are playing not to lose, as opposed to playing to win. Moreover at QB... when John Elway and Dan Marino left the league.. there are not many who can do what they did. So the balance has tipped to the defenses who have players like Woodson, Strahan, Lewis. So the Pro Bowlers are on the defense. And you are now seeing a job well done by a personnel department and one by the staff, keeping them together to play.
Question: Will Gannon return for the second half?
Chan Gailey: I think that is very likely. He is such a great competitor and you have the whole offseason to recuperate. There is no holding back. It would surprise me if the Raiders don't get something going in the second half ot make this a game. The biggest question is how much will the injury affect his scrambling and running with the ball?
Question: Do you think the winner of this AFC game wins the Super Bowl?
Tim Lewis: Good question! I think it will be very difficult though. The Giants defense, as rankings will show, will match up well and their offense is better than either of these. Special teams wise they rank very high compared to both of the teams playing now. So I would say.. .advantage Giants. That is prefaced by the fact we have played all three of these teams.
Question: Do you both agree that the Ravens defense is the best in the league?
Chan Gailey: There are only 2 ways on this crew. One is to spread them out and get a hat on Ray Lewis because he makes a ton of tackles. Or load up inside and block the 8th defender and that lets you rush a little. We only rushed for about 100 yards earlier in the season and that was tough for us. That is the only way we know to rush on them.
Tim Lewis: We get to play them twice. I don't see where to go against them. We've tried in, out, right at them… they run well so outside isn't an option. Inside they are big and that is difficult. They are a strong team and the statistics would confirm… they haven't given up a 100 yard rusher in 35 games, I believe. It is very difficult to move on the ground against them.
Tim Lewis: Thanks for chatting. Enjoy the rest of the game and the Super Bowl!
Chan Gailey: Thanks for you all logging on and hopefully we will get a chance to do this again in the future!
Steelers Defensive Coordinator Tim Lewis
CBS SportsLine.com
January 14, 2001
Lewis and Gailey will be stopping by to answer your questions about the AFC playoff game. (Mike Fabus, Pittsburgh Steerlers/miamidolphins.com)