Weekly Press Luncheon Quotes
September 04, 2006 | Football
Sept. 4, 2006
GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina University head football coach Skip Holtz addressed members of the media prior to this week's game against UAB. The following are selected comments:
On Navy:
"After watching the film against Navy, it's really frustrating to lose a game like this. I think these players have worked so hard and put their heart and soul out there on the field. It wasn't a lack of effort that put us at 0-1 at this point. Navy did a nice job or running the football with the scheme of what they do. They have a lot of movement, quickness and athleticism on their front seven that caused a lot of disruption on both sides of the ball."
On The First Game:
"I was pleased with what normally happens during a first game. Kicking blunders, having long kick-off returns for touchdowns, poor operation on your field goals, turnovers on offense are some things that occur for teams during their opening game, but I was pleased with how we handled the ball."
On The Offensive And Defensive Line:
"The front seven on defense and offensive line is where we have our most inexperience. The same thing that we were concerned about during camp is what hurt us on the field. The offensive line, with three new starters up front and the youth on our defensive front played cautious, hesitant and like they hadn't played before. When you play an offense that is attacking and aggressive like Navy, it just takes a little hesitancy with the way they hit their fullback, traps and options and at that point it is too late.
"Marcus Hands did some good things and C.J Wilson really played well for his first game. Mark Robinson is really playing well for us right now as a nose guard and played a very competitive football game. Wendell Chavis stepped in and did some good things and Brandon Setzer played pretty decent before he was injured."
On The Linebackers:
"When you look at the linebacker position, you have a whole lot of guys who have never played. Quentin Cotton did a pretty nice job along with Van Eskridge, who made some big plays. There were times when you would look and be impressed with what Fred Wilson and Jared Wiggins did. There were so many positive things such as how Van Eskridge was running to the ball. At the same time, on the very next play they would go the wrong way. We played very inconsistent like a lot of inexperienced players do."
On The Skill Positions:
"When you look at the wide receivers, running backs and James Pinkney, I was very pleased with how they performed on the offensive side of the ball. I thought James had a great day. He would like to have four or five passes back that he threw, but at the end of the day he completed 69% of his passes and threw for 283 yards. I thought he played very well in the game.
"The secondary played good as well. It wasn't a coverage game for them, but more of a run support kind of game. I thought the seniors and the experience on this football team played pretty well and that's what makes this so frustrating right now because half of your team is very senior laden and experienced. Then when you go to your front seven, you are starting five freshman or sophomores. Football is won on the offensive and defensive line."
On Injuries:
"Pierre Belle is still unknown for this week. He has a lack of strength right now in his shoulder and we'll evaluate that as we go. Brandon Setzer will be out a minimum of two and a maximum of four weeks with where he is now with an injury to his knee. Drew Sutton, who is a senior center, was hurt during camp and he is expected back by the end of the week. Norman Whitley has been out of practice for a week and will have to undergo shoulder surgery sometime next week."
On UAB:
"Everyone keeps talking about how they lost their quarterback in Hackney and how it will be a different team with the lack of his explosiveness as an offensive weapon. They just played at Oklahoma and lost 24-17. It wasn't a fluke. They are starting 17 seniors on this football team. Hackney may be gone but everyone else is back. The strength of their football team is not only their experience but their defense. They held Oklahoma to 14 first downs, 140 yards rushing and 230 yards in passing. Oklahoma had a screen play that went for 70 yards after he broke about four tackles. If you take that one play out of there, they held Oklahoma to 300 yards on the day. They created four turnovers, had two great interceptions and they forced two fumbles.
"Defensively they are aggressive and get after you. Oklahoma was 3-for-11 on third down conversions. UAB is very big and physical team.
"On the offensive side of the ball they have changed everything. Now that they have a new quarterback they run much more option. They are spreading the field, running the quarterback, changing their formations and running out different personnel groups. They averaged 5.5 yards per play against Oklahoma. They do a great job of protecting the ball. I don't believe they had a turnover in their opening game. They held the ball for 35 minutes.
On Conference USA Play Early:
"I wish we had three or four non-conference games before we had to get into the conference race but this is the way the schedule is slated. A lot of these young and inexperienced players on the insides, closest to the ball, are going to have to grow up in a hurry. This is going to be a heck of a challenge against UAB."
