Football: Head Coach Bill Stewart Teleconference
October 05, 2008 03:04 PM | General
October 5, 2008
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Quotes from Head Coach Bill Stewart's teleconference held on Sunday afternoon.
On the Rutgers win:
We had a chance to review the film today - offensively, defensively, and special teams, and we’re going to show our guys that today after they lift and have a quick hour practice, and then get ready for Syracuse. We’re off tomorrow so they will lift today, practice and run today to get some of the soreness out.
I was pretty pleased with some of our running game, most of it as a matter of fact. We were 8-of-16 on third downs so that’s 50 percent. I would like to be more than 50 percent but that is more than livable. I wish we were 60 percent or 65 percent but 8, 9, or 10, but it is better than what we were.
Ball control was 35 minutes and I was pleased with that. Offensively we were doing pretty good stuff. We came very close to springing Noel Devine about three times and that was good to see. He had some nice runs and he made some good plays.
Pat White had some good runs and had good plays. He was pretty much on target, throwing 12-of-17 passes with two touchdowns. I thought he looked at the field pretty well, broke coverages pretty well, and he did a good job.
The offensive line really passed blocked well and we were tickled about that. Rutgers gave us some twists and blitzes and I thought our guys picked up on that pretty well.
Our receivers caught the ball well. I saw one drop by Wes Lyons, but he had four other catches so that was good to see. We got better.
Defensively, I thought our defensive front did a nice job. Scooter Berry and Chris Neild played well. Our linebackers had a big day for a first time start. Mortty Ivy and J.T. (Thomas) were their standard selves.
It was brought to my attention today that I was starting seven sophomores or freshman on defense. I didn’t know that. I don’t look at that stuff. We have a young defense.
By in large, I wish we could have scored more and held them to one less. We’re just trying to find ways to win.
I thought our special teams played well and our punting was good by Pat McAfee. They had one return for 11 yards so that was good. On the kickoffs, we had about 80 yards so that was good. Our punt returns and kickoffs were good.
That being said, it was a good win and a solid win, but I don’t think it was a very convincing win. A win is a win and I’m not complaining. I think we’re getting better.
Syracuse will have two weeks to get ready for us. BIG EAST game No. 2 is on our horizon and that’s what is on our agenda.
On Pat White’s injury:
He got dinged up and we held him out for precautionary reasons. He got hit in the head. It’s a wait and see thing. He’ll practice today, but I’m going to make sure he’s doing ok. He was on top of the passing game and his throws and I was really pleased to see that. He should be fine by this weekend.
He is just a little woozy. He does not have a concussion. He got hit in the head. When he came over, they took him in and he had his strength, his wits about him for the most part but that worried me and it worried our trainers. His memory is good, short term and long term, and he’s answering questions. His eyes were not dilated, he didn’t get sick, and I was on the phone with him every hour from after the ball game until 9:30 p.m. He was with his mother, father, and brother and he had a trainer with him last night. When you get a concussion, you have signs of nausea and they don’t let you sleep. Pat did not have any of that. I repeat, none of that. I was in constant communication, on the hour, with Mr. and Mrs. White, his older brother and Coley. I did not talk to Pat because he hears me everyday. I have to give these guys some relief; I wouldn’t want to hear me everyday. He came in this morning. He just got hit and he was just a little cloudy. I don’t want to make this into some sensational story. If everything progresses as we think it will, he will be in the lineup on Saturday. He does not have a concussion and he’s ok.
Fourth down and influence of not having Owen Schmitt:
We tried to sneak it out in Colorado and we didn’t have two guys get their hands across and I didn’t want to take that chance again. We ran the ball and it was giving us pretty good yardage, but we had a guy miss a block at the point of attack and you just can’t do that. We have to bang in there a little bit better than what we did and we will fix that situation.
On Jarrett Brown:
He’s involved in the passing game. We had the lead and I didn’t want to run razzle-dazzle plays. I just said to keep it basic and simple. We used him in there for a little misdirection, a fake to Pat (White). We threw the ball out there and we rolled him out there one time. We didn’t do as much as we probably could have, should have, or will do in the future. We have more in our arsenal with him. As we build and keep building, we’ll keep getting better and better.
On Bradley Starks:
If God forbid Pat (White) ever got hurt, Bradley Starks is in the fold and can play. He’s not, Pat White and he’s not Jarrett Brown and that’s why he’s a third. I just pray that we don’t lose our first or second quarterback like it has some places around the country. We don’t want that to happen and I hate to see it happen to our opponents. I really do. I hate to see kids get hurt and I sure don’t want to see it happen to our guys.
On Syracuse:
I think they play with tremendous effort. They played well against Pittsburgh and they played a tremendous effort game. I thought that they had a chance to win that football game and it didn’t happen for them. They were so close - they put 18 on them in the fourth quarter and that was a heartbreaker for them. They were so close, but Pitt was able to hang in there. They have great tradition and they have great young men. We have some players that we recruited and they went there. They have two weeks to get ready for us and they are going to be loaded ready to go when they come down here to Morgantown.
We’re not eighth in the country, I don’t know if we ever will be, but I sure know we are working in that direction. I’m not sure what to think of us right now.
On the possibility of Zac Cooper playing fullback:
He’s a good boy and he’s a good player, but he’s playing enough on defense and special teams. I may play him more on special teams though. I asked the staff today how many plays he was in. He has been playing 20-28 plays. He’s a good pass rusher and when you do that (move him to fullback), you take away from their practice time and then you don’t use them in the game. He hasn’t done it in a while. Zac was a good high school tailback. He did a nice job in high school. When he got that ball yesterday, he may have gone a lot further. We missed that cut off block, which if made could have taken him all the way. It will all work out. I think right now he is going to play on defense and special teams.
