Pitt Post Game Press Conf/Monday Press Conference

[MickeyDavis]

MIKE MCCARTHY

I don't think we thought it would go that way as far as the aggressiveness of the passing game against our defense.

I think this is classic December football. It came down to the last play of the game and we didn't get it done.

The Seattle game is very important to us. We need to get our win total to 10. That will be the focus as soon as we get off the plane in Green Bay.

Tough loss for everybody to let one get away at the last play of the game is a hard one to swallow.
I thought Aaron (Rodgers) played big.

On the change in holder to Jeremy Kapinos: "We made the change to Jeremy this week. It was more of a confidence approach with Mason. Mason and Jeremy spend all their time together. Jeremy's handling the ball during the game non-stop when Matt's obviously involved with his offensive duties.

So the switch was made in that regard. I thought Matt was doing a good job but it's something we've been talking about for a couple weeks and that's why we made the switch."

On if there will be a lot of what-if moments: "There will be plays throughout the game. On that last drive through all four quarters, through all three phases, that we'll correct with our players and I'm sure we wish we could have back. But that's not the way it goes. That's why you play one play at a time, that's why you move onto the next play, and we came up one play short."

MASON CROSBY

On the holder: "We made the decision this week, got some good reps, had a good week of work. We felt good with how it went this week so it's a little disappointing to have that one in the game here. But obviously I hadn't been making those short ones and I think we just thought if we make a switch, kind of start fresh and get out of this little hole...they're just not going through right now.
On the hold on the miss: "I don't know. We'll have to look at the film. He did a good job today, stepped in really well. That one's on me. The ball was going to go right and I didn't get it far enough left."

On the miss: "It's one of that's unfortunate because a week of work, it's not doing it. They're popping up in games. It's something, if I'm fortunate enough to keep being here, I've got to go to work, we've got to get back after it in Seattle and if we're going to make a run here, I've got to make some kicks."

On if he's perplexed: "Yeah, this is the most I've missed in a very long time. I don't think I've missed this many in a year of just practicing. Yeah, it's one of those...I don't know what's going on. I've just got to keep watching the film and hopefully we get out of it here. We've been fortunate we've won the weeks before. We lost today and it's something I just have to work on regardless
That's what's disappointing. These are kicks you've got to make. These aren't the long ones. These kinds, it's one that I'm very disappointed with how I'm hitting them. I'm making solid contact. It's not how I'm hitting them. Jsut have to clean up the direction a little bit.

I think we decided to make the change. It had nothing to do with Matt, it was more of hopefully we can just get a fresh start and move on from that and it felt good. Week of work felt that was going to happen. Unfortunately it bit me in the ass again today."

ST COACH SHAWN SLOCUM

On the holder switch; "It's something you always discuss alternatives. It's something we've discussed for quite a while. The punter and the kicker work together all day long. So they've got a lot of time invested working together and we felt like because of the misses recently, and in discussing this with Mason, that we would make the kick to Jeremy as the holder.
I think it was more giving Mason some confidence in the entire process. I thought Matt Flynn was doing a fine job. He misheld one a couple weeks ago that we missed the field goal, but his whole body of work I thought he has done a solid job and he's worked extremely hard at it.

On if he has confidence in the FG operation: "My confidence took a shot today because we lose a close ballgame with a small margin of points. But most NFL games get down to a small margin of victory."
I think as we move forward, the thing that's important is I have not lost any confidence in any individual. I think it's important that we continue to indentify the things that were good and the things that were bad and move forward. We've got a good football team and we need to try to be in sync as much as possible as we move forward.

On if Flynn was doing poorly: No way. No way. I think it's more about Mason and him having confidence in the whole process.
The ball's traveling right on him. In pre-game warmups the ball was traveling right on him a little bit. And he missed it. Not much to say after that.
We have to make the field goal.
The easiest thing in the world is just go replace a person. But that's not necessarily the answer. So we're going to move forward. My job is coach the guys we've got and that's what I'm going to do and I know Mason will show up ready to go to work tomorrow and we'll move forward to try to help this team win.

[notoriousTJ11]

MIKE MCCARTHY
I think this is classic December football.

When I think of December football about the last thing I'd attach it to is almost a 1,000 yards in passing yards given up between two teams.. nonetheless, great game

[MickeyDavis]

Todays press conf.

Johnny Jolly is in Houston taking care of his bond.

"If you look at our 14-week body of work, It is an anomaly for us to give us that amount of yardage."
Nick Barnett and Ryan Pickett may miss some practice time this week. Just like they have the past two weeks.

On changing personnel in the secondary: It's really not an option. We've had our share of injuries. Tryouts are over. We need to do some things better.

McCarthy didn't have a problem with the way Capers called final drives. We had a number chances of to make a play and we didn't.

On Bush: "Letting a receiver get behind you is definitely not something you want to do. It was definitely not his best game yesterday."

"Mason Crosby is our kicker and he will be our kicker moving forward. I have no interest in bringing in someone else. He's a very talented kicker, he's our kicker and and he'll be our kicker. And he'll kick it through the uprights."

Jeremy Kapinos will stick as the holder.

"He needs to do a better job of making key field goals."

I have a lot of confidence in Mason because I've seen him kick at a very high level and he is very talented. I am confident we'll fix this.

Players and staff will be on Friday for Christmas. They're doing more earlier and later in the week.

I think yesterday is an experience we'll definitely be able to draw from. You want the victory. But there's a lot of things in that game...Adversity has been a strength of our football team.

I thought Aaron Rodgers played one of his better here in Green Bay. I liked the way he just stayed steady.

"It's about points. Running the ball or throw the ball, it's to get to that. We have a quarterback and an offensive unit that can handle a lot of adjustments at the line...The way the defense plays you, has a lot to do with the direction of the game."

On Clay Matthews' sack/fumble: The official said he had a very good view of it. I was surprised it was overturned but they have different camera angles. He was confident overturning the play. That's the way it goes sometimes."

[chuckleslove]

I disagree about the final drive play calling, I was furious in my living room at the total lack of pressure on Ben and only rushing 3 on most of the plays. But I do agree with him publicly saying he is behind Capers, I just hope they don't do that crap again in a similar situation. Other than that nothing unexpected out of the press conference today.