Marty Schottenheimer Quotations

The point I've made very clear to him, and I made very clear to you: You will not play quarterback or any other position that possesses the ball for me. You have to take care of the ball because it's the difference between winning games in this league.

When I was playing, it was 10 or 12 plays that determined the outcome of a game. Now, because of the balance of talent in the league, it's come down to three or four plays a game. All you're looking for is to be in a position where you have a chance to win at the end. We haven't been able to do that, in a number of cases but we just keep chipping at it, trying to find a way to turn that corner.

What they've done is remarkable. But at what point in time do you keep responding when you have to keep putting in new players? They've done it wonderfully over the last four years, but there comes a time where it has to catch up with you, even with a team as great as this one.

When we get the opportunity to compete against each other, there's something special in that.

This will not be too big for Philip Rivers. I'm talking about it from the emotional and intellectual standpoint.

We did not lose today. We got beat. We're obviously disappointed. This was a difficult game, and the Chiefs did everything they needed to in order to win.

We did considerable research on it and came to the conclusion that it was a young man who made one error in judgment. And the motivation for it was such that while it doesn't validate his choice, there was no pattern of any kind in that regard. We are delighted we have him.

We're playing our starting players. I don't expect Philip to play at all, barring injury.

We tried different ways to get him the ball. If you give him the ball enough times he's going to make plenty of yards.

We've won the first of a nine-game season. We have a nine-game regular season and right now we're 1-0.

The problem with that is every time I've ever done that in my career it's been a low-scoring game and when I've thought it (would be) a low-scoring game it was a shootout. Going in, on the surface you might think that, but I don't think there's any way to accurately predict it. All we're anxious to do is find a way to score one more than they have. That's all we care about.

We have a number of guys that we're looking at and we're anxious to give them a chance to step forward and show us the skills. We have a pretty good idea, but none of that is etched in stone at this point in regard to their performance level.

We won the first game of a nine-game season. Those other seven are gone.

Like a lot of their linebackers, you can get on them, but they won't stay blocked.

Obviously, were all disappointed at the events of the last couple of days. I for one am particularly disappointed.

My expectation would be that he's closer to ready than he was at this time a week ago.

Obviously a very disappointing loss for us. It's really unfortunate for us having the ball blocked and returned for a touchdown. My hat's off to the Eagles, they were able to make a play and beat us.

Philip is on course and is a developing player. I think I've indicated to you before there can be opportunities, and we had one earlier this season, that it was my intention to get him in with five or six minutes to go but we never got the ball back until it was considerably less than that. Regular-season football is different than preseason football. It's been a philosophy of mine that you play your players until you have determined that the win is secured.

I was impressed with their corners. Will Allen in particular, plays corner like a safety. He's a physical player and he will tattoo you if you get anywhere near him.

I would assume the number of games and carries he might get would not have any negative effect on him because he's such a big, strong, physical guy.

I was pleased with the overall effort of everybody. I thought we played pretty solid for the most part.

If we had the absolute best secondary in the NFL, I'd still be concerned about the receivers on that team.

I have every reason to believe that Drew will be 100 percent, and those of you that know him know what he's like and the competitive nature he brings. Once we have the surgery, we'll have a complete understanding of the nature of the injury.

I have every confidence in the world in him. I think he is going to be a terrific kicker in this league.

I don't have any doubt he can play in the league. But you've got to go play. You've got to have a chance to do it.

I don't know that we've played as poorly in a game as we did the game the other day, in the last couple of years.

I don't know. That remains to be seen.

I believe with a certainty, in my opinion, he is the finest running back I have ever seen in professional football. And I know people say: 'Well what about Jim Brown? And what about Gale Sayers?' That's all well and good, but I tell you what, in the era that we're in now where you have defensive linemen that weigh 300 pounds and run 4.75, and these mammoth guys that are playing linebacker, I think with a certainty, in my opinion, he is the finest running back that I have ever seen.

I have a lot of confidence in Nate, and I felt it was important to get it to a seven-point differential.

If a player is on the sideline, he needs to stay there throughout the entire game.

I don't think our rush got there the way we needed to. We need to do a better job.

I always like to bring them down (to Qualcomm) to get some work in before the night games. We don't want them to get too caught up in everything when they get out here Sunday night, so this is a nice way to do things.

(He) has a terrific opportunity to move upward and forward in our business.

He has had a pretty good week of preparation.

He has to improve. There is no doubt about that.

He is a very special player and a very special person. He has as big a heart as anyone around. With guys like that, you really don't need much coaching.

We can legislate against that as long as it's officiated with common sense.

There is no evidence in their recent history that would indicate that injuries have in any way compromised their ability to perform in a winning way.

We've got to get the coverage to a point where there's more consistency in it.

He's a big target with great hands and a terrific player. We're glad he's back.

He said his family is doing reasonably well considering the circumstances. Our thoughts and prayers are obviously with him.

He's a remarkable combination of terrific skill blessed by God, a work ethic unparalleled by anybody I've been around. And his single greatest asset, in my opinion, is his pride. I've gone on record before, and I believe this, that he's the finest running back that I've seen in football.

He's got great stop-and-start quickness. As a runner he's hard to find. I'm not going to put him in his category but skill-wise he's like Barry Sanders. His stop-and-start quickness reminds me of that.

He's got a tremendous opportunity and quite a challenge. But work has never been an issue for him. . . . He's been a diligent worker. He's been a quick study. He's spent a lot of time with the offensive line as well as the skill people.

His ribs were bothering him, but I don't think it will be a major setback. It just bothered him a little bit.

He's a terrific guy. He worked as hard as anybody. But the approach, the philosophy, were different.

He wanted to finish, but I decided it was time to give Michael a few shots.

He just asked me why I pulled him out of the game.

You have to find a way to win the games where you maybe don't play at your very best. Our guys just refused to be denied. I think that speaks very, very well for them.

I think it is tough; I think it is difficult. But you know that's just the nature of our business. I'm sure he has moments of frustration and/or disappointment. But he has a lot of fiber.

I think you could make a case that he is as good of a player as there is in football today. And I say that without any reservation. You talk about a complete player that can do everything.

I was an English major. And I have run out of superlatives.

I think what happens is a sense of panic sets in. It's a natural reaction.

I think it's needed. The game is about the team, not the individual.

I think it's the fans. The place is crazy. It's a good crazy, if you're Kansas City.

I think we all understand that ours is a very difficult, competitive enterprise, and in my opinion, it's important that everybody is aimed in the same direction.

I think very simply stated, qualify for the playoffs against that competition and you are ready for the playoffs, because you have been tested by fire. I prefer to play that, because you've obviously had a good season the year before.

I think two things happened. We kind of lost our efficiency on the offensive side of the ball. With Denver, you're going to have to play them for 60 minutes, regardless of where you play, but that's particularly true when you play in Denver. They got the emotion and momentum going and we couldn't get them stopped there at the end when we had to.

I said, and maybe it was a self-fulfilling prophecy, but I made the statement before our season began, that I believed and was confident we were a better team, but we might not have as good a record. Maybe I shouldn't have said that.

Our interest is getting back and finishing on a positive note.

Pittsburgh will send anybody at you at any given time. They're going to come after you. You just have to prepare and be disciplined.

Our offensive line is not giving him a lot of space.

Stephen did a terrific job for us and that's certainly comforting to us, but obviously we'd like to have Randall available to us. If he is not, his family in that situation takes priority, in my view.

Look, it's about the team, not the individual. For many, many years, I've always believed it's about the team.

I won't even entertain that question. Next question.

I think so, because of the language that had to be learned and understood. The last thing you get is the technique because the language you can put together. But to be able to put the fundamentals together at the speed necessary to be successful takes some time. You can't have a lot of thought going through your mind.

I think part of it had to do with footing. We never really got into the kind of sync that you like to get in. But we did not perform well in any area today.

I thought he played extremely well. He's very, very competitive. He's bright. Given the fact he went through a number of circumstances prior to getting the opportunity to come in and start and play, I was pleasantly surprised.

That's the kind of a player he (was). And when you combine that with his competitiveness and his skill, there's no doubt.

That's the way he approaches things, and that's why we were successful last year. He realizes that for us to go where we're trying to go ... he and his position are going to have to elevate their play. We snuck up on some folks a year ago, and that's not going to happen this year.

That's what it's about. You're going to have a handful of opportunities to make plays and the team that makes them is going to prevail.

You always have to be prepared because they bring pressure from anywhere. But the key is if you can make yards against them on first down, and then it's second-and-4, second-and-5. Then you got a chance to, at the worst, get it to third-and-2 or third-and-3 and a chance to get the ball out and beat the blitz with the ball.

We're a good team. As long as we continue to play with that kind of effort and energy that we're playing with, we're going to be able to do the things we set out to do.

We just didn't get in sync offensively. You can make all the excuses in the world about the conditions, but the bottom line is that we didn't do enough to win.

We have not done the things on the offensive side particularly the last couple of weeks that you need to be able to do. Normally, we find ways to win at home (they were 4-4 at Qualcomm Stadium this season), we find ways to win close games ---- and we have failed to do that this season.

The quarterback is unbelievable. Some of the throws he made, I just shook my head. He is one remarkable player.

We'll make a decision on Sunday whether he will be active or not. He has had a pretty good week of preparation.

We'll make a decision on Sunday whether he'll be active or not.

We'll know more about them after Wednesday's practice.

We still could have shut them out and won by four.

The critical thing in my view, when you look at the whole thing is, we kicked the field goal to take the lead and they go 62 yards for a touchdown in three plays. We talked all week about giving up big plays. You can't do it against any team, particularly against Pittsburgh.

With all due credit to them, when you commit 13 fouls, you're going to come out on the short end of the stick in most cases.

We did not perform well in any area today and that's awfully disappointing for all of us. We're a better football team than we were a year ago. I believe that. Some might question that in light of the fact that we didn't play very well today.

To be able to do what they have done in an era in which everything is designed to get people to be .500 win-loss percentage, and they go out and win three championships in four years, to me that's remarkable.

We moved the ball effectively but you don't get any medals for yards gained. We've got to find a way to finish those drives.

When we look at our passing game, the one element we have not been able to utilize effectively is LT as a receiver. There is no doubt he has been a terrific receiver for us, and we haven't done a good enough job in getting him the ball.

When we look at it, we see these opportunities left unfinished, and it's a cause for disappointment and a cause for frustration. I've also been doing this long enough to know that you'd better not get caught up in the past and dwell on the past, whether it's good or bad.

First and foremost, Jack is an excellent teacher. He has done a good job of developing young players. He has a strong background in line play and a strong belief in teaching fundamentals first.

We're talking about another 12 points if you're able to score touchdowns instead of field goals.

We will play everybody that is healthy enough to play. Our starters will start, our starters will play, because we have one objective, and that is to get to 10-6.

We finished things off today and picked up a big win. We battled and found a way. I couldn't be more proud of our men.

We cannot be complacent with playing good but not winning games.

We knew coming in this was going to be a battle and it lived up to that...I was pleased with the overall performance of the team.

What they do is stuff the run on first down and get you in 2nd-and-long. Then you try to pass and they'll send five or six guys. They can really put you in some tough spots. It's our job as a staff to come up with ways to combat it.

We're playing a division opponent, a team we split with a year ago. I understand those that might say, 'Well, you know, play Philip,' and all, but that's not the way the National Football League, in my view, is set up. Our goal is to get our 10th victory.

We were out-played. Kansas City I thought played extremely well in every aspect and we ended up on the short end of it.

We had the long fourth-down situation and Eric Parker and Drew make it down to the 7-yard-line, and I'll be honest with you, I realize there's no certainty, but I felt very confident with where we were. I just felt good that at the 7-yard-line we'd find a way to get it in the end zone.

We are catching everything in practice so we are going to change our tip drill. We need to change it up because what we are doing is not working.

We fell short of our goal, clearly, and that was to win the championship. But I wouldn't say that it is a team that underachieved.

We feel very, very comfortable with our position.