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Bucs Quotes - Jan. 2

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Courtesy of Buccaneers

Published: January 2, 2008

Bucs players discuss Sunday's playoff game against the Giants and other topics:

LB DERRICK BROOKS

(On how they are going to tackle RB Brandon Jacobs)
''Gang tackle. That's been our focus, it's how we dealt with big backs in the past. It is what it is. He's going to get the ball and we're going to have to get two or three guys to the football. It's no difference from the message that we've been preaching all year long. It's probably the biggest back we faced all year long. Again, we just have to get two or three guys to the football and make sure you wrap up when you get there.''

(On how much he savors going to the playoffs)
''To me, that's something to think about when the season is over. Right now you really appreciate the position that you earned your right to be in, now we just have to capitalize on it.''

QB JEFF GARCIA

(On facing the Giants in the playoffs)
''I'm sure they're looking forward to it. I think it's something where we run into each other a couple of times in the past and that's the past, this is a new year. They are a good football team so we have to prepare quite a bit, especially on the offensive side, for what we're getting ready to face.''

(On having playoff experience)
''I'm sure that it means something to a team. I think one of the things that I am well aware of is how things change in the post-season compared to the regular season. The hitting is harder, the speed seems faster, the excitement is at a new level, the emotions are at a new level, so how you control that or deal with that throughout the week in your preparation is definitely key. I think this is something that we've all looked forward to. We did enough good things during the year to give us this opportunity to play a playoff game at home and now it's a matter of taking it to another level as a team and doing the necessary things that we have to do in order to prepare and go into the game with confidence that we're going to do the right things and create some great opportunities. It's just a matter of going into this knowing that I need to be good about my decision making. I need to continue to eliminate the mistakes on the field and play solid football, and hopefully give ourselves a chance to win the football game.''

(On the Giants defensive line)
''Well, their defensive line is solid. They have greats D-ends; everybody knows about them. Their D-tackles are big guys; they push the pocket. Their linebackers do an excellent job of blitzing. Their secondary does an excellent job of blitzing. They have a defensive scheme the really presents challenges and problems. We're not exactly sure on what we're going to get on Sunday, but you have to prepare for everything and that's where Coach Gruden has us and that's were our focus is. We're aware that they are leading the league in sacks; they've done a great job at getting after the quarterback.''

DT JOVAN HAYE

(On the defensive line trying to slow down RB Brandon Jacobs)
''Just get our hats on him. That's our main focus this week. He's a very good back, he's a big back. He's been running over folks all year, so we've definitely got to hustle and gang tackle this week.''

(On the Giants offensive line)
''Real good. Real solid. They come off the ball very powerful. They look real good on offense.''

(On the Giants record on the road and what makes a good road team)
''Just going in and concentrating on trying to be able to block out the crowd and focus on your assignment, not jumping offside, and limiting penalties. Just being able to go into a hostile environment and play ball. They're good on the road, and we're good at home, so it's going to be a great matchup this weekend.''

WR IKE HILLIARD

(On playoff intensity)
''It's a whole different atmosphere. If you thought every play counted during the regular season, multiply that by 10 for the postseason. Everything is magnified in the playoffs.''

(On if veterans need to tell the younger players what's in store in the playoffs)
''You have to; they have no idea. Really the speed, the intensity and what we're playing for in this last month of the year is unlike anything they've ever experienced in their lives. Hopefully, we can bang away at the importance of playing your best ball and being accountable for the rest of your team.''

(On if the Bucs are in good shape after many veterans got the last game off)
''I can only speak for myself, but I'll be fine.''

G DAVIN JOSEPH

(On if the offensive line has improved during the season)
''I think we've gotten better. We've gotten a lot better as a group, individually also. I think our communication is better, our physical-ness is better – finishing plays, understanding defenses. We can take that learning experience through the season and take it into the playoffs.''

(On if he is excited or nervous about the playoffs)
''Oh, I'm excited. I have nothing to lose. I didn't come here to be second place. You have to go in with the attitude that you want to be first, you want to be the best, and that's the only way you can go in this league.''

T DONALD PENN

(On what makes the Giants so good at getting to the passer)
''They're well coached, they have a good technique and they're physical bunch. But we're a physical bunch too, so it's going to be a good game.''

(On the Giants)
''I don't know what to say about a team like this, its playoffs. So, of course, it gets bigger. It's a one game elimination. We go into every game to do our assignments no matter who we're playing.''

(On if the game hinges on the offensive line)
''I think every game hinges on the offensive line. We get it going. If we don't come to play, it's hard for the rest of the team to come to play, so we usually put it on our backs. I think it all starts on the offensive line, just like on defense, it starts with the defensive line.''

LB BARRETT RUUD

(On the Giants offense)
''They've got a well-rounded team and a good defense that makes a lot of plays.''

(On Brandon Jacobs and his size)
''He looks like a defensive end, like Gaines [Adams] being a running back or something. But it's all about gap control and being where you're supposed to be. You have to tackle those guys because they're not going to go down by themselves.''

(On what he remembers from his first playoff game two years ago)
''You can sense a different atmosphere. The intensity picked up a little bit. It was definitely a little bit different. You could sense that it was a little bit more important. It was kind of like the NCAA tournament in basketball or something like that. You just sense that everybody's got the do-or-die feeling in them.''

(On if he senses the intensity picking up now)
''Yeah, I think so. You really feel it, more than anything, on Sunday at the game atmosphere. But definitely people are excited. This is what you play for all year, to get in a position for this run right here. So yeah, we're definitely excited.''

TE JERRAMY STEVENS

(On what he is telling the younger guys with no playoff experience)
''I think you just have to tell them the reality. It's going to be a faster game. It's going to be more physical, more intense, more pressure. I don't think you need to change a lot about your preparation, or how you approach the game, you just have to go out there knowing that it's going to be a little bit quicker tempo.''

(On the Giants)
''They are a solid team and they wouldn't be here if they weren't. We have a nice challenge coming up facing the defense, but I think it starts up front. That's definitely were we have to secure it up, up front first.''

T JEREMY TRUEBLOOD

(On his improving play)
''Repetition, probably seeing everything once or twice a few times, normally the third time you see it you think you got it down. By this time of the season you've seen everything, so the game slows down a little bit.''

(On if the Giants defensive line)
''They have a great team and we all know that. They have an outstanding front four and if we can do a good job against those guys, of course, we're going to make a name for ourselves, but more importantly we advance if we keep on doing well.''

DE GREG WHITE

(On if the level of intensity has picked up preparing for the playoffs)
''Yeah, it's cold outside. It's the postseason now. The postseason is always associated with it being cold outside. Everybody's ready to go. Everybody's more focused on a lot more details now. Even more than, believe it or not, what we were doing in the season.''

(On the best advice he's received about the playoffs)
''Stay away from distractions, stay focused. Just stay focused, really. That's about it. There's a lot of distractions being in the playoffs, being here in Tampa, but this is the most important thing going on right now.''

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