Jimmy Johnson Quotes

We used to establish the run and wear teams down and try not to make mistakes, and we'd rely on our defense to keep us in the game and make big plays to put us in position to win. Kyle Orton might not be the flashiest quarterback, but the guy is a winner, and that formula worked for us.

You will never run more than the ball. The players that don't lose the ball are the most important in the team, and good players decide the game.

If you never concede a goal, you're going to win more games than you lose.

Look at Baltimore back in 2000. They had an outstanding defense. They could run the ball, and they had a quarterback that didn't turn it over that much. I think that is a plan that can bring you great success.

To be efficient with the football in practice and on the game field obviously is the most important thing, but be efficient with the football, make smart decisions, be great on third downs, be great in the red zone, when the game's on the line in the fourth quarter - that's what I love.

Rick Neuheisel was recruiting me, and he told me something, and I'll never forget it: he said you make your money in the red zone. If you're down there, that's already three points, so don't turn the ball over. I kind of took that to heart, and I'm always very careful in the red zone.

My philosophy on quarterbacks is, first and foremost, you've got to keep them healthy and on the field.

We have to be able to execute early in games, whether it's a block, whether it's a throw, whether it's a catch, we have to be able to make plays.

If you don't take care of the ball in this league, I know it's tough to win.

You better not kick a field goal if you have a lousy defense.

If your quarterback can't make plays in certain situations for you to win games, he's not getting the job done.

Heaving up a blind pass to maybe pick up 10 yards, rather than throwing the ball away - I can't do that.

As a quarterback, you've got a huge responsibility: You're touching the ball every single play. You have such a big impact on deciding the game, just in your decision-making and how you are with the football and your fundamentals.

When you're dropping back and everything's going on, part of you wants to force it, but you have to make the right decision and not force the ball and sometimes throw it away.

I've got to be smarter with the football.

I know what to do when they give me the ball. I know what to do to give this team a chance to win.

Defense is so important for helping your team win games and for the game in general.

What Barcelona almost always do is play a good game, but we don't always win.

In golf, you keep trying to score well when you're ahead. In basketball, they don't quit shooting when they're ahead. In hockey, they don't quit shooting the puck when they're ahead. And in boxing, you don't quit punching when you're ahead. But in football, somehow magically, you're supposed to quit playing when you're ahead.

I want my players to go win and don't play bad football.

Messi is an extraordinary player, but your squad is pivotal: at a World Cup, the 11 players on the pitch and everyone else in the group can all play an important role.

I need to play smarter and protect the football.

I've been on some really good teams, but we weren't able to get over the hump. It's offense, defense and special teams, and then the ball has to go your way.

Every game, well most of them, come down to turnovers and the turnover battle.

We're dealing with men here. What we're trying to do is help them become the best players they can be, and we're all collectively trying to win games. So what I always tell people is that the way you earn these players' respect is, do you make them a better football player?