Marcus Page, Memphis Express GM, sat down with Greg Hopkins of the Tennessee Citizen to discuss the state of the team.

Q: At 3-8 and heading into week thirteen do you view this season as a success or a failure?

[b6e17092]MP: Well I don't want to characterize the season that way. We have had successes and we have had failures. I think everyone can see that early on the team did not play well but that we have started to play much more as a cohesive unit over the course of the season.[/b6e17092]

Q: How do you feel about the development of Emmanuel Cole?

[b6e17092]MP: I think he has grown based on us planning for his strengths. Over the last few weeks we have put the team on his shoulders and he has stepped up. In the last five games he has thrown 10 touchdowns after only throwing 3 touchdowns in the first six. We are very comfortable with his progression.[/b6e17092]

Q: What is the current status of coach Sam Hobbs job?

[b6e17092]MP: It's his first year as head coach, he has tripled our win total from last year. We are happy with what he has done so far.[/b6e17092]

Q: When can Memphis fans expect this team to make the playoffs?

[b6e17092]MP: The team is closer then a lot of people think. Something you look for is, "How many playmakers are we away from making the playoffs?" and you determine that by "How many plays cost us the game?" When you watch a game there are a few key moments: on third and short can we make a conversion, on defense can we get a stop, did the receiver make someone miss for that extra yard. We have lost three games this year by one score, if those games had gone our way then we would be 6-5 right now, that would be one spot out of a playoff spot. Over the next three years we have 26 draft picks. I think we can pick up that playmaker there somewhere.[/b6e17092]