Nov. 3, 2008
MONDAY PRESS CONFERENCE COVERAGE All Access: Watch Monday’s Press Conference
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More Quotes: Players Comment on Florida Matchup
Head Coach Bobby Johnson
Quotes from Weekly Press Conference
Monday, November 3, 2008
Florida Game
Opening Statement:
We’re coming off an open week and now are faced with a very difficult task of playing a fantastic Florida team. We’ve had some good practices last week and it will be good to get back on a game-week schedule. I think our guys will get in some good practices this week and get ready to play.
On Florida
On paper, on field, on film, Florida is one of the best teams in the SEC and the country. They have a good offense, good defense and great special teams. They have great depth where people can come off the bench if anyone gets hurt. It’s tough to find a weakness. You have to be on your game in every phase of your football team. Defensively, you have to be in the right place, but when you get there, you have to make a good tackle. They have great special teams. In their game against Kentucky, they blocked two punts and a field goal, so we’re really going to have to be on our “A” game. They have great returners and their kickers are good. You must be prepared in all three aspects of your game.
On scouting Urban Meyer’s offense
Our scout team cannot simulate the speed that’s going to happen. We try to work with our first and second team offenses in order and vice versa to get the best look we can. They have so many feet at every position. It will take us some getting used to in the game, especially since we haven’t played in a couple of weeks.
On Vanderbilt’s injuries
We’re hoping to get George Smith back. We have other injuries you normally have: some bumps, bruises, strains, sprains… but they haven’t kept anyone out. It’s just kept them from being 100%. We have the chance this week to get those guys back to 100% and back out there. An off week is good to give a bit of a break and rest up, not just for injuries, but for fatigue of going through a rough schedule. We were glad to have it, took advantage of it, and we’ll be ready to go next weekend.
The difference between the first four games and second four games of the season
We played eight really close games. Some fell our way, some didn’t. They were all close. You have to make the plays to change the outcomes of the game. In five games we did make the plays, in three games we didn’t. I don’t think it is any big secret something that is easy to say that these games are different than those. It’s just football and that’s how football is played.
On Tim Tebow
He does have a lot of people around him to make plays and that helps their offense. It keeps him from having to do too much, but the threat is there and effective. We all know what he is capable of doing. There are too many what ifs and that affects our preparation.
On Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer
I’m not going to comment on anything until its official, except to say that if it is true, I want to congratulate Coach Fulmer on a fantastic career and I think you’d be hard pressed to find a guy who has done more for his alma mater than him.
On Florida’s speed
Their speed shows up every play. There are some other teams in this league that are also fast, but Florida does a good job of getting the ball to those guys and putting them in situations where they can be successful with the ball. It puts a lot of pressure on their opponents, because they have to be in the right place, doing the right thing with the right timing and making a good play to bring one of them down or block one of them. This is why they are disruptive on defense and get good plays on offense.
On Mackenzi Adams and the bye week
Everybody gets better when you have the time to critically examine yourself. Not just Mackenzi, but we examined ourselves as a team. We can all improve greatly at every position. The quarterback position… everyone sees it, but no one focuses on the right guard if he messes up. It’s not just the quarterback.
I hope he can play 100%. Just the experience factor alone is big, especially with a team that can put some speed out there at the wide receiver position. Darlron is very good at technique and anticipates things better than others. I doubt he will be 100% right off the bat, but he’ll shake off the rust and he’ll be ready to go. It’ll be good to have him out.
On the Duke film
I don’t really think there was any common thread. Sometimes people recovered, sometimes we didn’t do a good job blocking, and sometimes we didn’t throw it to the right receiver.
On home advantage at night with a sellout crowd.
If they want to play with ten, we’ll allow them to do it. We might try to sneak 13 in there, just to get any advantage we can. Everyone talks about getting on the road, being a unit, having to travel the distance on busses, planes, and stay in a hotel. You miss class, but we tolerate the road and we do fairly well on the road, but it’s much better to be at home and we’re looking forward to it.
On Chris Marve
Last year on the scout team, he was very serious about helping our offense. In spring practice he worked hard, especially as a redshirt. We are not surprised, though, he will continue to get better and better.
On coaching against Fulmer
True or not (about stepping down), Fulmer has always had an outstanding team over there. They are sound and ready to play. It’s hard to maintain every year the expectations that the program has. He has been very consistent and has had good years against us. He has had an outstanding career.
On coaches being released mid-season
If it (Fulmer’s stepping down) is true, I am kind of shocked and surprised. Like you said, that’s the way it’s going nowadays (in the NFL and NCAA). There doesn’t seem to be any impediment to doing it. Contracts don’t matter, it’s just someone reacting and doing something.
On job security at Vanderbilt
Those contracts don’t mean very much right now. I hope that David (Williams) knows we are trying our best every day and I know Coach Fulmer did that too. I know what kind of business we’re in and nothing surprises me anymore.
