Aug. 25, 2008
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Listen to Press Conference Audio
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Head Coach Bobby Johnson
Quotes from Weekly Press Conference
Monday, Aug. 25, 2008
Miami (Ohio) Game
Coach Johnson’s Opening Statement:
Well, we have had a very good preseason and we sure are excited about finally getting to play a game on Thursday. We know that it’s going to be a big challenge to go up to Miami University and play those guys. They have a lot of guys coming back and proven players but our guys are extremely anxious to get going and I am too.
How is the quarterback situation progressing?
We’ve progressed a great deal at the quarterback position. We’ve got guys out there working hard trying to win the position. We’ve got one more big day of practice. Today’s practice is kind of like a Wednesday and tomorrow’s will be like a Thursday and Wednesday’s a travel day. We’ll probably make a decision right after today’s practice. I think everybody knows that we have it narrowed down to Chris Nickson and Mackenzi Adams just because of experience.
Do you plan on playing both quarterbacks on Thursday?
It all depends on circumstances. We are going to be prepared for both of them to play. I think that’s the luxury that we have with all four of our quarterbacks because we don’t have a separate game plan for any of them. We can get them in the game and we can execute our game plan without us having to make major changes during the game. I think both Chris and Mackenzi know they are capable of running the offense and they are both very confident. Both guys have played in games in the past and both of them have played extremely well for us in the past.
How important is it to start the season with a win over Miami?
I think it’s extremely important because I think Miami University has a fine football team. They’ve got a defense that is proven and they have a lot of guys back. They have three linebackers on the Butkus Watch List who all played well against us last year. Raudabaugh, their quarterback, played well against us last year and that’s when he had just won the starting position. He had the rest of the year to get more experience and I think he is a good player. Their corners did a good job against our receivers last year and their wide outs did a good job against our corners so it’s certainly going to be a challenge, but our players realize that.
I tell our players that anybody on our schedule can beat us and we can beat any team on our schedule. So we have to plan to play well and that’s what we have been preaching to our guys. We have to take care of the ball, no penalties, and be great on special teams. Those are the little things that help you win games.
Is the quarterback a week-by-week situation, or do you pick a guy and he is your guy until proven otherwise?
We’ve always been going by the old school thing of picking a guy and sticking with him. In preseason though you have the luxury of getting the quarterbacks a lot of reps. We’ve had 26 practices, so we can pick and choose when they get reps. But, when you are limited on the number of days that you have to get ready for the next opponent I think it is extremely important to get one guy more reps than the other guy just because you plan on him playing.
The fact that you have your first two games on Thursday, do you feel that is any different in simply what you try to do?
It is because today we are running around saying well it’s Monday but it’s actually Wednesday game wise. It is different, especially now that school has started. We are going to have to do some evaluation of recruits and when we want to start doing that, so two Thursday night games make you have to think it out a little bit. It’s not bad if you do a little planning and stay organized.
On playing the first two games on television?
We really appreciate the opportunity to go out and play two Thursday games and be on ESPN U this week and ESPN next week. It’s good exposure for our program and we are willing to pay the price to play on Thursday to get good exposure.
What’s the history about this game getting scheduled and how you guys are opening the season up there in Oxford, Ohio?
It’s a complicated story because we had games scheduled with Kent State and Temple and then things started getting crazy. I don’t really remember all of the facts but I think Kent State was overbooked and it looked like we were going to be down a game last year so Miami University helped us out and scheduled a home-and-home with us. They really did us a favor and helped us out last year.
Can you talk about the match-up with Miami’s linebackers and your offensive line?
It’s not only our offensive line. It’s our tight ends and receivers as well. They are pretty complete linebackers and that’s why they are on the Butkus watch. In the past, they have not substituted that much because they have a lot of confidence in them and they let them play against most personal groupings. That tells you a lot about their mobility and there quick awareness.
Last year Miami had 238 total yards against you, are you expecting something like that this year?
We played real well last year against them. I think we were fortunate at times and we came up with some pretty big plays that stopped some of their drives. We also did a good job on a sudden change. I think we committed a turnover and we ended up stopping them right away, but they hurt us with some things and we know we have to be aware of what they are doing and I am sure they are going to have a good plan to put pressure on certain areas of our defense.
Is there something about an opening game that is especially unsettling and do have a checklist that you go over?
Sure we do. Right now we are working on last-minute clock rule changes. Everything changes a little bit each year so your team has to regroup and do all of that stuff each year. We do go down a checklist and make sure that we have everyone covered things like the on-side prevent and on-side kick. We’ve got all the depth charts of who will check in on special teams and who will replace them if somebody gets hurt. There is a lot of details involved and we have been through quite a bit.
You said going into this year that this team is more athletic at offensive line and backfield, has anything changed since the start of training camp?
I think we are more athletic on the offensive line and hopefully that means once we get some experience at that position that we will be just as good if not better than last year’s offensive line. I think we will be better at quarterback and running back this year. I think Jared Hawkins and Jeff Jennings are proven guys. I also think Gaston Miller will give us a little punch in there as far as big plays. At receiver, we have a chance to be pretty good but right now we are having to weather a few things with George Smith and Alex Washington being injured. Although we have had some guys step up in practice. I think Sean Walker and Udom Umoh have had excellent fall camps. Justine Wheeler has been practicing well and I think Jamie Graham is going to be a very fine player for us at wide receiver. We are a little concerned with George being hurt but if we can get him back in the next couple of weeks, I think we will be fine.
