Fox Q&A

Here's the transcript from coach John Fox's Monday news conference following the Panthers' 30-7 victory against New Orleans:

Q. Anything new on injuries?

"Nothing new to report on the injury front, just some bumps and bruises. Thomas Davis left briefly and had a little neck sprain."

Q. Do you anticipate Jeff Otah and Ryan Kalil coming back this week?

"They'll be listed day-to-day come Wednesday. We'll wait and see. They'll have a couple of good days today and tomorrow and we'll see how they come along. I think they're getting closer."

Q. Is there a temptation to rest them with a bye week coming up?

"My feeling has always been if they're ready, they play, If they're not, they don't. If they're ready next week and they're cleared, they'll play."

Q. Your thoughts on how the defense played yesterday?

"I've felt good about our defense for most of the season. They've given us opportunities to win. When we play good defense, that's part of the formula. We've done it five times pretty well and two times could have done a little better. I'm pleased overall to day. We still have a lot of football left."

Q. You're facing another excellent passing team this week in the Cardinals.

"They're high powered and lead the NFL in scoring. We played them last year and know what kinds of weapons they have at the wide receiver position. Kurt Warner is an exceptional and they have a big, physical offensive line. I haven't started studying them yet, but I know they create a lot of problems schematically with their defense. They'll be stiff competition. They lead their division. It's a conference game in the NFC, so it's a big game."

Q. Are you happy with the running game?

"I think you just want to hear me say...(laughs) I can always flip back to 'It is what it is.'  Both our  backs averaged 4.0 per carry. I would like it to be better, sure, but it wasn't all bad. We've been hampered a little with the musical chairs in the offensive line, so that never helps. That's not to blame anybody and not to use it as an excuse. But it's a reality. We're pleased to be 5-2 and pleased with our running game moreso this week than last week."

Q. Were you happy with the punt game?

"We've had some unusual things happen. We've had some personnel changes and a dropped snap. That wasn't planned in practice and I'm sure Jason Baker didn't either. We'll keep plugging away. It was a big test yesterday with what New Orleans brought with pressure and on their returns. I thought our guys answered the bell. Minus one play against Chicago, which I thought at the time had one of the best punt return teams in the league, we had a punt blocked. But I thought our other snaps were good."

Q. Are you impressed with kicker John Kasay's consistency, especially at his age?

"He's a remarkable guy. He's been here for all 100-plus victories in this organization. For a kicker, I don't think people think of them as a leader. But he's a big part of the locker room, which in his case is remarkable. He has as much respect in that locker room as anybody.That says as much off the field as on the field. What he's done is remarkable. A couple of kickers have been in his realm for that length of a career, but not many."

Q. Has not kicking off helped his leg strength?

"I can't really answer that. He had a bad injury some time ago and coming off that for a kicker, especially when it's your plant leg, effects kickoffs more than long field goal attempts. But I'm pleased with his leg. He's had some long field goals for us this year."

Q. Are you happy with how the offensive line has done well in pass protection?

"I think our pass protection hasn't been as good when we've had to throw as it has been in other games. Our ability to run the ball and the threat of running the ball has a lot to do with our protection. That's a philosophy I believe in and a lot of teams in this league that have had success also believe in that."

Q. Do you have a sense of not knowing what the offensive line is because of the injuries?

"For the most part, I like what we've had out there. Frank Omilaye steps in. Geoff Hangartner steps in. That's why we have a 53-man roster. Depth is critical, whether you're bringing somebody in the game or starting as far as what you have out there. There was a question about our running game. I think it's been good, part of the issues have been the rotation in the offensive line. It's not their abilities, it's just when you change -- and a lot was made of our changes in the offseason, about what we'd be like. We didn't know, and we don't know until we start playing. It's worked out fine."

Is there a benefit to playing two strong passing teams back to back?

"We gave up more rush yards yesterday than we did against teams that highlighted the run. It's just different. You realize what they want to do then you try to take that away. It's not an exact formula, but ours is to typically try to take away what they do best. Statistics don't sometimes tell you how the game's going."

Q. With the defensive backs not coming up with those balls, at what point does that become a concern rather than something to have fun with?

"After a win it's a lot easier to joke about things. It's the same with me. It's like blocked punts when we still find a way to win versus when you don't. On defense it's better to be known as ricochet than toast. Pass breakups are still a positive play. Don't lose that concept as a good defensive play. It's just not as great as it could have been."

Q. How's rookie Charles Godfrey playing at safety?

"He's done a reamarkable job. He is still a rookie. He had a little cross-up yesterday late in the game, but I think he's doing really well. He's got a bright future that's important to him. He gives us coverability and speed back there that we may or may have not had in recent times."

Q. How's he doing with the mental aspects?

"From day one, like I said, it's really important to him. He's a smart young man and he works at it. He has skills and we wouldn't have taken him with a high pick if he didn't. As a coach you might not know how his work ethic and how he goes about his business. He's going to get better and we've been nothing but impressed."

Q. Doy you think the NFL is using fines too much to protect offensive players?

"I'd love to answer that, but I can't and I probably won't. I'm not trying to not answer on purpose. Again, as much as I'd like to answer that, I'll kind of stay away. That's going down a road I'm not going. I'm all for player safety."

Q. Can you talk about Kurt Warner?

"He's like a guy we saw last week in Drew Brees. People would ask me about what he looks like and he's like Kurt Warner was in St. Louis. He was making those fast decisions and was very accurate. He's had a resurgence in that. He's playing outstanding. At one time, he was doing that as well as anybody and we're seeing flashes of that now. He's a very quick decision maker and a very accurate passer."

Q. When you played, were you ricochet or toast?

"Probably a little of both. That's why I'm doing what I do now."