| St. Louis OLT Orlando Pace, a perennial Pro Bowler, spoke
with the media in New Orleans at a Rams press conference. Here’s a look at his
responses: Q: What’s the key to the Rams’ offensive line’s success?
A: I think just communication. I think that is the number one key to our success. If we
communicate correctly on the line and make the proper calls and reads and things like
that, then everything is going to be fine.
Q: How do you prepare for a game? Is it different from the other offensive linemen?
A: It’s hard to say. I really don’t know what other offensive linemen do, but
I just try to do everything the same way and just mentally study tape and do those types
of things and try to prepare myself and try to learn the man across from me who I will be
facing to the best of my knowledge. I work out a lot. I eat a lot, but I think every
offensive lineman eats a lot, so I don’t think that differs from anybody else.
Getting into the weight room is the work we do, since we use so much of our strength. I
just basically go out and try to prepare myself mentally.
Q: Do you feel you’re more wide-eyed about the Super Bowl experience than you
were two years ago?
A: I think so. I think two years ago it was a shock to everybody, so everybody
didn’t know what to expect. I think this being the second time here, it makes it a
lot easier knowing what to expect, knowing what is going on, and doing those types of
things.
Q: Do you think the Patriots are having those same feelings this year?
A: I am sure they are, but once they get through all of this — the media and
things like that — it still boils down to just playing football.
Q: How did you get injured in the NFC championship game?
A: Somehow a Philadelphia Eagles player hit the back of my legs and it is just a
sprained MCL. I will be ready to go on Sunday. I have never had anything like that. I
thought when it first happened that it may have been a little worse, but it is not.
I’m just happy it is an MCL. They are making a brace for me now, so I think
everything will be fine. I did finish the game last week, so I am not worried about it and
I will be ready to play on Sunday.
Q: What are the differences in this year’s offensive line compared to others
you’ve played on?
A: I think we are an athletic group of guys. I think we can make some pretty athletic
plays and we can get into position to recover when we don’t or if we are a little out
of position. We are a great group and have been playing together for three years now and
we jell. We know each other on and off the field and I think that is a big key to our
success.
Q: Do you feel this offensive line is underrated?
A: It’s hard to say. We are surrounded by so many superstars — Marshall
(Faulk), Kurt (Warner), Isaac Bruce and the receivers — that we may not get as much
attention. But that is fine with us as long as those guys are having success and
everything works out.
Q: Is it tough to stay focused in a city like New Orleans?
A: We need to come out here and stay focused on what we need to accomplish, and that is
the football game, the Super Bowl. You can’t get caught up in what is going on out
there on Bourbon Street or anything like that. You have to stay focused on what you came
down here to do, and that is to win a football game.
Q: Do you mind being the favorite in this game?
A: It really is all about us and what we do. We just have to go out and play. The media
has been saying things all year. We have to block that out and just go out and play
football.
Q: How much has the defense’s improvement this year helped the offense?
A: Anytime the offense doesn’t have to go out there and score 40 points a game
just to win and make it a scoring contest is a key. Last year, we were in some battles
where we should have really blown a team out, but the defense wasn’t as improved as
they are this year, so we are happy to have a good defense and they have been playing well
for us in the playoffs.
Q: Are you surprised at how well the defense has performed considering there are
eight new starters and a new coordinator?
A: It is a little surprising, but those guys are professionals. The guys they brought
in along with the coaches have done a great job in getting those guys ready to play,
getting them to understand the scheme and things like that. It takes a lot of pressure off
the offense.
Q: What did you learn about the Patriots after playing them in Week 10?
A: The Patriots are an aggressive group on defense. They are going to fly around, they
are going to try to make plays, and they do a variety of different things on defense to
try and confuse our offense and get our offense off-balance. We just have to go out there
and study hard this week, see what their tendencies are and things like that and play
football.
Q: You had a couple of long drives in that first game against the Patriots — do
you expect to do that in the Super Bowl?
A: We will really take what the defense gives us. If they give us an opportunity to go
down and chunk away and open holes for Marshall, then we will do that. We don’t mind
eating up the clock. As long as we win the game, it doesn’t matter how we do it or
what style we do it in. We are just trying to get a win. |
