Head Coach Gary Kubiak
(opening statement) "Injury update – (Jawanza) Starling is out. Kareem (Jackson) looks like he's ready to go. Antonio (Smith's) back today. Matt (Schaub's) back today. Other than that, we're OK."
(on if he'll coach from the sideline this week) "I will be. I probably should wait until I talk to them this afternoon, but, yes, I will be."
(on how excited he is to coach from the sideline this week) "I need to get back down there. I don't know. It's been different up there the last couple of weeks. I'm excited to get back down there and do what I normally do. Looking forward to it."
(on if it's not a lock that he'll coach from the sideline this week) "Yeah, we're meeting here when I leave you guys in a little bit. I'm going to win, though. Count on it."
(on if there's an injury that has hurt more than RB Arian Foster's) "Yeah, it's been a big one. We haven't run the ball as well with him out. He touches the ball for us, catching it a bunch, screens and third downs, and those types of things. Arian's one of the best backs in the game, so that's been a big loss. But I think Ben (Tate) has battled. Obviously, we know what he's been through. We're very fortunate that we were able to get DJ (Dennis Johnson) back. That was kind of a fortunate situation or else somebody else would be in there. Just got to keep going and hopefully Ben's getting a little healthier each week."
(on if a win against the Patriots would be a little more special given the losses a year ago) "It would be special, period. We need a W. No, they're a great football team. Like I think I said this the other day, to me, they're loading up for a run for a championship. You can just see it and getting some guys back and at full strength. What they did in the second half last week, extremely impressive. We have to play as good as we've played all year. Obviously, we've had our issues. It's going to take really something special, but I think we're very capable of it. I know that. We've worked hard this week. It's a big challenge for us in every phase of the game, but looking forward to the opportunity."
(on how his schedule has changed since he came back a few weeks ago and if his hours are normal) "No, I haven't done that. I don't know how to explain it. It's just each week I've done a little bit more. I'm probably up to about 12-13 hours a day right now. Working back toward my 17-18, trying to get there."
(on if he's cheated at times with the number of hours he's allowed to work) "Put it this way, they don't know what time I come in here in the morning. They only know what time I leave. That security guard out there, we've got a good thing going."
(on if his hours are at about 80 percent of what they used to be) "I guess. I don't know. I've been, like I said, about 12-13 hours a day right now. So that's been a little bit of a difference. It's just trying to keep up with all of the things I've normally done on a regular basis with the coaches. So I've had to delegate some things to some guys and do some things a little bit different, but finding a way to get it done."
(on if RB Dennis Johnson will rotate in a little more) "Yeah, he's going to play. Ben (Tate) will go. We've kind of had about a three and two rotation going right there. As long as DJ continues to learn protection wise and he can protect our quarterback, and I can be comfortable with that stuff, I think we continue to get him more and more. I think you'll see Ben bounce back. Like I said, what'd he have seven carries last week? I want to say three or four of them didn't really have much a chance, but I know he's worked hard this week. He actually practiced a little bit more this week than he has in the past month. So hopefully that helps out."
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Head Coach Gary Kubiak**
(opening statement) "Injury update – (Jawanza) Starling is out. Kareem (Jackson) looks like he's ready to go. Antonio (Smith's) back today. Matt (Schaub's) back today. Other than that, we're OK."
(on if he'll coach from the sideline this week) "I will be. I probably should wait until I talk to them this afternoon, but, yes, I will be."
(on how excited he is to coach from the sideline this week) "I need to get back down there. I don't know. It's been different up there the last couple of weeks. I'm excited to get back down there and do what I normally do. Looking forward to it."
(on if it's not a lock that he'll coach from the sideline this week) "Yeah, we're meeting here when I leave you guys in a little bit. I'm going to win, though. Count on it."
(on if there's an injury that has hurt more than RB Arian Foster's) "Yeah, it's been a big one. We haven't run the ball as well with him out. He touches the ball for us, catching it a bunch, screens and third downs, and those types of things. Arian's one of the best backs in the game, so that's been a big loss. But I think Ben (Tate) has battled. Obviously, we know what he's been through. We're very fortunate that we were able to get DJ (Dennis Johnson) back. That was kind of a fortunate situation or else somebody else would be in there. Just got to keep going and hopefully Ben's getting a little healthier each week."
(on if a win against the Patriots would be a little more special given the losses a year ago) "It would be special, period. We need a W. No, they're a great football team. Like I think I said this the other day, to me, they're loading up for a run for a championship. You can just see it and getting some guys back and at full strength. What they did in the second half last week, extremely impressive. We have to play as good as we've played all year. Obviously, we've had our issues. It's going to take really something special, but I think we're very capable of it. I know that. We've worked hard this week. It's a big challenge for us in every phase of the game, but looking forward to the opportunity."
(on how his schedule has changed since he came back a few weeks ago and if his hours are normal) "No, I haven't done that. I don't know how to explain it. It's just each week I've done a little bit more. I'm probably up to about 12-13 hours a day right now. Working back toward my 17-18, trying to get there."
(on if he's cheated at times with the number of hours he's allowed to work) "Put it this way, they don't know what time I come in here in the morning. They only know what time I leave. That security guard out there, we've got a good thing going."
(on if his hours are at about 80 percent of what they used to be) "I guess. I don't know. I've been, like I said, about 12-13 hours a day right now. So that's been a little bit of a difference. It's just trying to keep up with all of the things I've normally done on a regular basis with the coaches. So I've had to delegate some things to some guys and do some things a little bit different, but finding a way to get it done."
(on if RB Dennis Johnson will rotate in a little more) "Yeah, he's going to play. Ben (Tate) will go. We've kind of had about a three and two rotation going right there. As long as DJ continues to learn protection wise and he can protect our quarterback, and I can be comfortable with that stuff, I think we continue to get him more and more. I think you'll see Ben bounce back. Like I said, what'd he have seven carries last week? I want to say three or four of them didn't really have much a chance, but I know he's worked hard this week. He actually practiced a little bit more this week than he has in the past month. So hopefully that helps out."
