Holtz' Weekly Press Quotes
September 07, 2009 | Football
Sept. 7, 2009
GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina University Head Football Coach Skip Holtz addressed members of the media prior to this week's game against West Virginia. The following are selected comments:
Looking Back On Last Week Against Appalachian State:
"I thank Coach Holland for putting this whole thing together. It was a great atmosphere and environment. The fans and the student section wearing their purple was a fun environment to be a part of. For an opening-day atmosphere, I thought it was great.
"It's great to be 1-0 sitting here this afternoon. Fifty percent of the teams in the country would gladly trade places with us right now.
"Looking at the game last week, I think there are a lot of things we can improve on as a football team. As I said after the game, it was a great opening-day situation for us to be in. I think we got some answers on some of the players and some guys got an opportunity to get their feet wet.
"At the same time, I really like the attitude and where this team is right now. I really feel good about where the players are. They were a little bit down after the game and yesterday. They realize there are a lot of things we can do better and improve on. That's where you want your football team to be.
"I think this football team is really focused. I was really impressed with the way this team prepared. A lot of people kept telling us to make sure we didn't overlook Appalachian State. I thought this team came out extremely prepared and were ready to play. Mentally, they got themselves ready to play.
"It was exciting to watch them go out there and get on the field."
On West Virginia's Offense:
"I'm really impressed with West Virginia on both sides of the ball. Obviously they have a lot of guys back from years past. When I sit down and look at what they did Saturday against Liberty, I'm really impressed with this football team.
"They had no turnovers and 438 yards of total offense. They were 5-5 in the redzone and only punted two times during the game. I was really impressed with what they do as an offensive football team.
"When you look at their personnel on offense, they have eight guys returning who have started or played a significant amount of time. I have really been impressed with Jarrett Brown and the way he handled himself at quarterback.
"When you look at Noel Devine and Jock Sanders, they are two guys who can open up the game whenever they put the ball under their arms. Sanders had eight catches Saturday and averaged 6.5 yards a carry. Devine averaged 6.6 yards per carry. When you look at this football team as an offensive threat, they have some great speed on the perimeter.
"Looking at the receivers, it's a lot like playing Memphis in terms of height. They have Wes Lyons who is 6-foot-8 and others who are 6-foot-4, 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-2. Then they have Devine and Sanders, who are extremely dangerous.
"They're changing the quarterback, but it's not like Brown hasn't been there. He's a senior who has been there and played in a lot of games. He's a duel threat who can throw the ball. He's big, can run the ball and has some speed. He's 6-foot-4, 200 pounds and poses some problems for you on defense."
On West Virginia's Defense:
"With all those positive things being said, I think the strength of this team is on defense. When you look at their defense, they return nine starters. They only gave up 13 points and under 300 yards of total offense Saturday with Liberty converting only 23 percent of its third downs.
"You're talking about a West Virginia defense that was 11th in the country last year against the run. They were No. 1 in the country in redzone defense a year ago.
"They have a couple of new additions, too. Julian Miller is a defensive end who has been impressive. He was very active and had one-and-a-half sacks Saturday. He's an athlete who can run around and put some pressure on you.
"They still run that 3-5-3 defense, which gives you some schematic problems because it's not the traditional four-down front.
"The core of the defense is the two linebackers in Reed Williams and J.T. Thomas. I think they're two big-time players who will have the opportunity to continue playing on Sunday. They can run, they're big, physical and can hit. They're all over the field and lead their team in tackles each week. I've really been impressed with them.
"They return three starters in the two corners and Robert Sands in the middle, who had an interception on Saturday. He's a 6-foot-5 free safety, which is imposing to the quarterback. They have great size, speed and athleticism in the back. They're really a good football team and I've really been impressed with them.
"It's really going to be a big challenge for us. I hear all the stats about having never won in Morgantown. I'm sure this is a game that both teams are certainly looking forward to. I don't think anybody is overlooking anybody and it'll be a great football game. We're looking forward to having the opportunity to go up there and play."
On Differences To West Virginia's Offense This Year:
"They're playing a little bit more with the tight end. They've always been a two-back set with lots of motion and sweeps. They're still doing that, but they're just playing more with a tight end.
"They still have a lot of the same characteristics that they used to have, though. Some of their formations are just a little more regulated now with a tight end, three wideouts and one back. With Sanders, he's the other running back, they put him in the back field and do some things with him. But in general, it's a little bit different because of the tight end."
On West Virginia's Offensive Similarity To Appalachian State's
"I'd much rather play a team that's similar to what we just played than having to go play one like Navy, which is completely different. All of our preparation for Appalachian State is going to help us this weekend.
"Everybody today plays some form or variation of the spread offense except for true option-oriented teams. Appalachian State got their offense from West Virginia a number of years ago so there are a lot of similarities between the two."
On The Number of ECU Players Cramping Saturday:
"We sat down and looked at it and we had more guys on defense cramp, but we had more plays on defense, especially in the second half. I think when you look at it, we were up 27-7 at the half and I don't know if we came out with the same mindset, which I think is a great learning experience for us as a football team.
"With this team's mindset, approach, maturity, and focus, they're a serious group and they expended a lot of energy just getting ready. We had a number of guys who were so nervous that they didn't eat the pre-game meal. There are some things going on like that.
"It wasn't overly hot. C.J. Wilson and Van Eskridge have never cramped a day in their lives. We go out and practice hard for two-and-a-half hours in a lot more heat than we played in on Saturday and have not had any problems with it. Right now I'm not overly concerned with it.
"If it's something that continues to show up, obviously we'll have to take more of a look into it. We are taking some precautionary measures, though. I met with Mike Hanley (Assistant AD for Medical Services/Head Athletic Trainer) and talked about some of the different things we can do whether it's electrolytes or something else. I think it was a lot of individual separate cases Saturday. It's not a concern right now."
On East Carolina's Injuries:
"It looks like Levin Neal, which is a shame because he has done such a great job at safety, is doubtful for this weekend after injuring his ankle on the second kickoff. Emanuel Davis hurt his shoulder and is also doubtful for this weekend."
On Derek Blacknall's Performance:
"If Levin Neal getting hurt was going to happen, I'm glad it happened early in the game so Derek Blacknall could get a full game of experience under his belt. Having the opportunity to play about 60 snaps Saturday was very helpful for him. I think he's done a nice job.
"Those two have been going back and forth since the spring about who would start. I feel good about Blacknall stepping in there. I thought he did a really nice job Saturday and I think he'll be fine there."
On Preparing For West Virginia's Defense :
"It's hard. When you play a team like Navy that's different from everybody else, it's hard on you. You only have a week to get ready and it's hard to simulate the speed and how they play it.
"It's not only their 3-5-3 system, but also the fact that they're more of a two-gap traditional style defense. It's going to be hard to simulate it. We can't teach our players their technique just so we can get a look at it.
"The only chance we'll have to go against it will be from the scout team. But that's also going to be hard because they're going to try to simulate something today that they are unfamiliar with. It gives you some problems and changes your rules and attack on offense.
"We went out yesterday and lined up the defense with bags and tried to go through a bunch of assignments. The speed and athleticism at linebacker as well as the guys up front are all going to be really hard to simulate."
On East Carolina's Defense:
"I'm glad that we're upset with our defense and we gave up under 270 yards. I thought our defense played really well. I was pleased with the way they played.
" I thought Linval Joseph played great up front. When C.J. Wilson wasn't cramping, he only got about 39 plays, he had eight tackles, was very active and played well.
"I give Appalachian State credit for what they did in the second half. At the half they had 63 yards of offense and nearly half of that was on one big pass play down the sideline.
"Appalachian State changed their mindset in the second half when they put in Travaris Cadet at quarterback. Our guys were impressed with him. They said Cadet was in charge, ran the show and did a nice job.
"We didn't give up anything cheap and didn't give up the home run ball. I wish we played better in the redzone, but those are some things I hope to correct. But I was really pleased with how the defense played."
On The Offensive Struggles In The Second Half:
"Brandon Jackson didn't play in the second half. Dominique Lindsay hurt his shoulder a little bit, but he'll be fine for Saturday. Giavanni Ruffin got in there and did a nice job.
"We had a call down near the goal line and put Jonathan Williams in. It was supposed to be a quarterback read, but Jon was eager to get the ball and he took it when the pull was wide open. So there are some correctable things we can do there.
"I look at the first half and couldn't be more pleased with the way we played. The mindset, focus and intensity were all good. I feel like all the problems on offense can be corrected."
On Having The Game Be A Close Win:
"Both sides of the ball were down after the game and realized that they could have played better. They realize they have to get better as the season goes on. This is a long journey. I'm excited that we're sitting here 1-0.
"I told the staff I thought the best thing that could have happen to us would be a one-point win because we'd have everybody's attention and focus. With all the people we have coming back, I thought that was a great lesson for us to learn. We're not going to win just because we have a lot of experience back. We have nine starters back, but the opponent is not going to run out of the stadium.
"We keep saying that nothing is given to us and you have to earn everything. At this point, we've earned one win. I'm proud of this team and what they did. I'm proud of the fact that they didn't panic or flinch. They kept playing football and leadership stood up. Van Eskridge was vocal. That was the first time I've really seen him take a positive active role. I think there were a lot of positive things that came out of Saturday."
On East Carolina's Offensive Play Options:
"There are more bullets in the gun. When you're sitting there in the game that you feel like you're in control of, make a couple of mistakes and all of a sudden find you're in a competitive game, that's a valuable lesson in how valuable momentum is. It starts to roll down hill and go against you a little bit. There were some lessons there.
"On offense, there are some more things we've practiced and done. We certainly didn't sit in that game and say we wanted to save everything, though. We said we have the opportunity to play some other running backs, so let's give them a chance to play.
"My last message to the staff Saturday morning was to make sure the players know how to line-up and what to do. I didn't want things to get too complicated.
"I told the staff, `Let's try to not win this football game with a call. Let's give our players an opportunity to go out there and win it on the field.' And that's what we did."
On East Carolina's Last Trip To Morgantown:
"I remember we scored right at the end to get points on the board, that's what I remember. We went up there and they played a great game. Pat White was about 19-20 throwing the ball. They were really impressive that day. Their running game was on and we struggled.
"That was the first game Chris Mattocks played. He went in as a safety. He was a sophomore at the time who was young, green and wide-eyed. We were having to try and talk him back out onto the field. Now, last Saturday, he's a linebacker playing with confidence. That's why I always talk about the difference between playing with youth and inexperience as opposed to playing with guys who have played so much.
"We're taking a much more experienced team up there than we did two years ago. I do think the crowd will be a factor, especially after last year's result. I think their crowd will be loud. Crowd noise is going to be something we're going to have to talk about this week at practice."
On This Week's Offensive Scheme:
"You have to attack what they're doing. When you put an offense together, you practice in camp the plays you think you're going to need for the season. We'll have a little different look this week than last week because you'll attack what they do, which is so different than what Appalachian State did."
On The Difference In Mentality Between Being The Hunted Instead Of The Hunter:
"I think you just have to continually try to educate your players. You're constantly talking to the players about what they're going to get out of the opponent. You have to remember the mindset of being the hunter because that's what the opponent is going to come in here with.
"We've talked about the mindset that we have now. I don't think you can protect anything because then you start playing conservative, close to the vest and afraid to make a mistake. You don't play as aggressive because you play not to lose.
"Hopefully that's a lesson we learned a year ago. When we got to 3-0 and everybody started talking about the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, we started playing to protect the pot of gold like it was already ours.
"That's why the mindset this year has been that you have to earn everything you get. Nobody cares what we have back or what we did last year. At this point, we've earned one win and I don't want to talk about anything else. This weekend we are going to try and earn our second win.
"It's a long road and the faces will change because of injury and young guys stepping up. It's a journey to get to the end of the season. It's not a sprint. We can't get there today. All we can do at the end of this week is be 1-1 or 2-0. That's all we can do. We have to maintain our focus and try to go out and earn it."
