"We had trouble getting much going offensively. The running game, again, the myriad of blitzes we got makes it very difficult at times to run the football. You've got to hit a big play somewhere in the passing game. You've got to deliver a play, somewhere, somehow, to try to get the defense out of the system that they're running. They did a heck of a job. Very physical outside linebackers with (Marcus) Washington and (LaVar) Arrington. We just didn't get enough done."
Gruden on his defense:
"I'm very pleased with what they did. They kept their cool, their composure. I thought our team, in a real difficult place to play today, for the most part, stayed away from penalties. And defensively, we collected ourselves and I thought tackled very well."
Gruden on concerns heading into the home opener against Seattle:
"The health of (Joey) Galloway has got to be a concern. He's a guy we hoped would ignite us. Certainly, that's a concern. But I have a lot of positive things I'm going to hit on. The way our team fought in a very hostile place. We've got a long way to go. We've got to find some kind of identity and rhythm offensively, and I'm confident we will."
Linebacker Shelton Quarles on the the 64-yard touchdown run by Clinton Portis:
"They just caught us in a good blitz, and he was able to cut back and make a good play. That's what a good back does. The whole day, he was looking to cut it back and get outside. That's what he did on that play."
Fullback Mike Alstott on the sack by safety Matt Bowen that caused a fumble:
"I didn't see the safety blitz outside. I set in for Washington. I stepped inside. They got picked up, and here comes 41 off the corner. He beat me on the edge."
Cornerback Ronde Barber on how frustrating it is to see the offense struggle when the defense plays well:
"That's Buc ball, bro. We won a Super Bowl that way. We've been to the playoffs a lot that way. We can't get frustrated with ourselves. It would be easy to. It would be easy to have doubts and start pointing fingers. But this is the first game of the year. We've got to stick together. The year we went to the Super Bowl, we got embarrassed by New Orleans at home. This is nothing new. We'd like to have come out of here with a W. But they're a good football team. Give them credit, and go back to the lab."
REDSKINS QUOTEBOOKCoach Joe Gibbs on his defense:
"What can you say about (coordinator) Gregg Williams? I can't take any credit for the defense. All I do is walk down there and scream, "Stop em!' I get a lot of the credit and don't deserve it. That whole staff deserves the credit."
Gibbs on the two fumbles on the center/quarterback exchange:
"I will have to take a look at the film. I think once, we stepped on someone's foot. Another time, I think the guard went the wrong way, and we'll have to see if he hit the ball at all. But it's concerning."
Clinton Portis on his first game as a Redskin:
"I envision a lot of stuff when I'm laying in my bed, going through the game before I actually step on the field. I always envision a 99-yard run, just in case the ball is at the 1 or the kickoff return is at the 1 so I can go 99 yards. So today was a good start. It was the beginning of what I hope will be a 99-yarder soon."
Portis on the emotion of the game:
"We really didn't get caught up in the hype. Coach told us that this win was not for him. He told us that (Saturday night)."
Portis on his touchdown run:
"It was actually supposed to go to the other side. Knowing the Tampa Bay defense, how fast they fill the holes, they were pursuing to stop the play. And they were just going to run. That's how fast they are, and they overpursued. So I just stayed playside, and it was just me and the safety."
Williams on creating turnovers:
"We talk about flipping the field. We tied for the lead in preseason with take-aways. Joe Gibbs' football teams take the ball away and protect the football. I think the one (NFL record) that may never be beaten is ... where they were plus-43 in turnover ratio (in 1983). So he preaches that every day."
Cornerback Fred Smoot on the perception the Redskins don't have a shutdown corner:
"We've got two shutdown corners. You act like Shawn Springs has never played in the NFL. I'm wondering what's going on? Point blank, we've got two shutdown corners. And until the NFL respects it, we're going to keep showing them."
