Sept. 13, 2005
– Q. Do you think Connecticut is a better team this year even though they’ve lost two good starting linebackers and (quarterback) Dan Orlovsky?
“You can’t just replace Dan Orlovsky, but I think that they are a better football team this year. They are faster, have a lot more experience, and are a very good football team, better than I had anticipated them being even with the loss from those role players last year.”
Q. Can you learn some of their tendencies from watching them play two games this year?
“You can learn their tendencies. Their game plan is to win those ball games and they’ve got to play the game until it gets out of hand. You can learn a great deal from the first part of each game.”
Q. Do you think they’ve kept some of their playbook hidden from you?
“They probably have, and they’re smart enough to know that those first two games will probably not be as tough as the next game. We’ve held some stuff back too.”
Q. How do you feel about playing another out of conference game after having played your conference opener?
“To be honest with you, that’s really not a big deal one way or the other. Each game is important. Auburn was a big game, and so is North Carolina, Connecticut, and the next game.”
Q. With Connecticut’s storied history in basketball and their football program coming around, do you care or worry about telling your players about the history of the Connecticut program?
“I think you can get caught up in that a little too much and I think our guys are more interested in what (Connecticut) is doing this year.
“If you look too far back, you can find positives and negatives on both sides. You can’t fool our guys. They’re pretty knowledgeable, and they just want to know what needs to be done to win this game and beat this team.”
Q. Have you talked to your players about the fact that Connecticut has scored 97 points and not allowed any in their first two games?
“Statistics are what they are. Scoring that many points and not allowing any is hard to do against any team.”
Q. What have you learned about your team after two games that you maybe didn’t know about them coming into the season?
“To be honest with you, I’m not sure that I’ve learned anything new. I think that we have to get better in some phases of our running game and pass defense. We’re still not where we want to be in regards to our kickoff coverage, but other than that, I’ve had a good feel for where we were and where we are before and after every game. With every football team, there are little things here and there that you pick up on as the season goes on.”
Q. There have been two games for your offensive line: one where they were able to make some headway in the running game, and the next one where it was more of a struggle. Do you think it will be more of a work in progress?
“I think it will. We’re going to have some ups and downs, but I hope that’s a difference between 175 and 130 yards, not 200 and 38 yards. To me, it wasn’t the fact that we couldn’t run the ball last week. P.J. (Daniels) still had over 100 yards rushing, but there are times where we need to be able to run when we’re trying to control the ball at the end of a game. We’re not blowing people off the ball and we’re not a strong line. We may be there a year from now, but we’re not there yet. That’s not our forte. Right now, our strengths are scheming and using angles to block people. It gets a little tougher at the end of a game when the other team is crowding the line and they know you’re going to try and run it. It’s easier in the middle of the game when you have the passing game to rely on a little more.”
Q. How much did losing Nate (McManus) impact your ability to run the ball?
“I don’t think we had a giant drop-off. Salih (Besirevic) is a very good guy that can walk into a ball game and fill in for us.”
Q. Because of the youth on the kick-off coverage team, do you anticipate putting in some veteran guys to have more experience out on the field?
“There was improvement from week one to week two. If we continue to have improvement from week to week, that is how those younger guys will be able to go out on the field and learn to play the game. We’ve been fortunate enough to win two games without them being responsible for a big play that affects the outcome of the game. They have to continue to learn and experience the speed and intensity of the game.”
Q. How do you think Connecticut was able to get over 600 yards of offense last week?
“I think they’re second in a nation running the football right now with three backs running up and down the field. Their offensive line is very good, and they’re efficient in their passing game. They’re not putting up giant numbers in the air like they have in the past, but they don’t have to this year because of their running game. They’re controlling the clock, keeping the opposing offense off the field, and getting a turnover here and there. Their kick-off and punt returning game has been excellent, which allows them to work with a short field.”
Q. How do you make sure that the emotion is there for this game since it’s taking place in between two huge conference games?
“There is no way I can guarantee that the emotion is where it’s supposed to be. What you do is explain the situation and make sure they understand how we have to play the game. You’ve heard me say this a hundred times before, it’s not about who’s on the other sideline, it’s about who we are and where we want to be. We have to play the game with passion and we have to be smart every week. That’s a mistake in life if you wait for some outside motivation to make you be the best you can be. You’d better have that motivation inside of you because otherwise, you won’t be a successful person.”
Q. You said that in August, you felt good about the senior leadership on this team. Does this type of game serve as a good measuring stick?
“The seniors have been great leaders and this will be challenge for them to grab some of the younger guys and get them in line. It’s a challenge for everyone on the football team, including me.”
Q. Do you hope to get Djay Jones back?
“Yes, he will practice today, and we’ll see if he’s healthy enough to go by Saturday.”
Q. Did you see Mohamed (Yahiaoui) kick at all in high school before you encouraged him to come here?
“Actually, I never saw any film. I had several reports and our coaches had seen him kick. He was actually headed somewhere else and at the last minute, we called him and told him we had a spot for him.”
Q. Given the success you’ve had finding guys like Travis Bell and Mohamed, do you plan on giving scholarships to kickers in the future before they step onto campus?
“It depends on the level of need and the level of quality in the player that you’ve seen. You also have to evaluate what you have and what you see coming up. All that plays into the decision-making process.
“I’ve learned enough to never say never.”
