Highlights

Q: What did we miss out there today?

TODD HALEY: “Probably our best Friday. It was pretty good. We went indoors to just kind of get that noise level up and the tempo and precision on both sides. I think it was probably our best Friday as a whole.”

Q: What makes it the best Friday?

HALEY: “Because it’s Friday the 13th. My daughter was born on Friday the 13th.”

Q: Does it make you cringe to say that you had another good practice on Friday given the prior results?

HALEY: “Yes, I do, but you can’t think any other way. You really can’t. You’ve got to assume that good practices are eventually going to translate into good play. If you think any other way I think you’re asking for trouble. I know that’s how we gauge how a week has gone.”

Q: So what made it a good practice?

HALEY: “Tempo, guys were into it, enthusiasm, doing what they’re supposed to do, hustling to the ball on defense, doing all the things we’re asking them to do. Guys were sharp. You can tell when guys are into it. They were mentally into the practice.”

Q: If it’s not a good Friday practice do you worry about the upcoming game?

HALEY: “Yeah, and we’ve had a lot of Fridays out here where we’ve re-run a bunch of periods, had to re-do a bunch of plays, walked off the field; we’ve had a bunch of not-so-good Fridays. But here these last three or four weeks it looks like we’re starting to get it and, to me, it’s going to eventually start translating and that’s all you can do.”

Q: Who do you expect will be your starting running back on Sunday?

HALEY: “Either Savage, Smith, or Charles. Depends what play we decide to open with probably.”

Q: We’re a week into Kolby Smith’s return from injury. Is he ready to be that marquis running back?

HALEY: “I said earlier in the week, and I don’t think a couple of days changes it, but this is a major injury that he’s come back from and I think it would be unrealistic to believe that a guy after 12 months of surgery, rehab and all the things he’s done, would be expected to come in and be at the top of his game. He’s worked very hard; he’s practiced now four weeks, so I would say he’s getting better. But given the circumstances it’s probably asking too much to feel like this guy is going to be the best he’s going to be.”

Q: Can you simulate your late game heroics to perhaps do it earlier in the game?

HALEY: “We’ve been doing it and somehow we’ve got to have guys play – and not just offense but across the board – with the same sense of urgency that we have at the end of some of these games. We’ve got to talk about it, we’ve got to coach it, we’ve got to make them think about it. That’s what we can do.

“Try to have everybody think the same way: we have to think with a sense of urgency that every snap that each snap could be the difference in the game. Ultimately one, two, three or four will end being the difference in the game.”

Q: How much does having Herron out hurt your special teams?

HALEY: “He’s done a good job for us. That will definitely be a dent. Now, we’ve signed Justin Rogers and he’s been a pretty good special teamer. We’re going to have to make a decision who most likely will fill that role in practice.”

Q: What are your thoughts on Wallace Gilberry? Has he given you a little more than you expected?

HALEY: “I think Wallace has really come a long way in our minds and probably in his mind. He’s probably not the prototypical size for the defense. He could have easily gotten lost in the shuffle but what he’s done is come to practice every day. He’s the epitome of the same guy every day. There is no up and down to him, he’s giving it everything he has and he’s getting better. He’s playing with better technique so I think he’s come a long way and put himself in the mix as a player we can depend on. I think he’s got to continue to work on all areas of his game and continue to play with that motor and energy that gives him an edge.”