McNeill's Weekly Press Conference
October 18, 2010 | Football
Oct. 18, 2010
GREENVILLE, N.C. - First-year East Carolina University Head Football Coach Ruffin McNeill addressed members of the media prior to this week's game against Marshall. The following are selected comments:
On The N.C. State Win
"It was a great team win. I said it on Saturday, I was very happy for our players. I think it reaffirms the work and time they've put in. They've sacrificed a lot. It has been a lot of change and transition for them. To see their work and extra effort we've asked of them as a staff pay off was very rewarding.
"The next group is our coaches. I've been very lucky to have a group of what I call field house rats. But it's not even lucky because I knew they would be. They're here all the time. They love watching film, talking ball and the like. The defense gets together and offense gets together and talks all the time. Right now they're upstairs watching film. I'm very happy for those guys. Again, it reaffirms the work they've put in. As a staff, we're growing and jelling, just like our team is growing and jelling.
"The next group I'm very happy for is our fans, Pirate Nation. What an arena and venue that was in Dowdy-Ficklen. The renovations that have been done to the stadium with the Jumbotron, entrance and entire magical experience that I kept hearing about are great. I kept being told, `Wait until you feel this.'
"I felt it the Tulsa and Memphis games. This Saturday was magnificent. I've been blessed in this business to have a chance to be in some different arenas. It was second to none what we had in here Saturday in Greenville. It was a fantastic crowd that really cheered for their team and their boys. They were a major part.
"They were the 12th man, no doubt. For me, they were absolutely a difference in the game with their enthusiasm and what they brought to the table.
"I can tell they missed us. I hope they could tell we missed them, too."
On Playing Four Quarters And 60 Minutes
"I saw improvement from our team concept of playing for 60 minutes and four quarters. We're getting better at that. I'm very proud of that progress. That's something that has to be continued. We have to constantly work on that as a staff and a team. That's never a finished product, learning to play for four quarters."
On The Team's Sideline Conduct
"I was pleased for the second week in a row with our team composure and conduct on the sideline during the game. It's sort of hard to tell from where you may have been sitting. I was pleased with our guys on the sideline. When tough things happened, they stayed together. I keep saying that, but for a coach, that's big time.
"There were no negative comments toward anyone. It was always positive. They were positive to me and one another. That's what we're striving for. Great players don't win games or championships, great teams do. We want to keep developing that team concept. That intangible is priceless.
"I saw our groups offensively, defensively and on special teams feed off of one another. I thought they did a great job of keeping each side up. There will be some days when one side carries the other. One side that has to carry every time is, just like in basketball, special teams and our defense, too.
"I can't emphasize our sideline conduct enough and how important the guys on the sideline are. The guys who play maybe only on special teams or as a backup have a very important role. Here at East Carolina, everybody is somebody.
"Our scout team did a great job setting the tone for our offense, defense and special teams last week. As long as I'm here at East Carolina, everybody is somebody. I'm very proud of them."
On ECU's Special Teams And Defense
"Special teams have been a solid, solid product for us. They've been a constant. Clay McGuire and our assistant coaches have done a great job of developing those guys. Our guys are taking pride in our special teams' progress. That's very important. That's a side of the ball that I put a lot of emphasis on personally. We play our best guys on special teams. I was very proud of that side of the ball.
"Defensively, I think you see improvement going on there. You see the guys are growing, developing and trusting their technique. That's where confidence begins, trusting technique. I'm very happy with that.
"They did a great job on third down for the second week in a row. They held N.C. State to five-of-18. They're eight-of-35 on third-down conversions the last two weeks against very, very, very good offenses. Southern Miss and quarterback Austin Davis run a very good and powerful offense down there. This week the defense limited quarterback Russell Wilson, North Carolina State and its very powerful offense.
"Our defense has done a great job. [Coordinator] Brian Mitchell and his guys are staying the course. They keep pounding, grinding, working and progressing each week. I'm very proud of their progress."
On The Offense Saturday
"I'm proud of the way our offense started the game. We started fast. I thought the execution was flawless in the first quarter. We had some stumbling blocks in the second quarter. After the half we had some three-and-outs. You have to give credit to North Carolina State for that. What I like about our offense was that they never got down on one another. The defense did not get down, either. As a matter of fact, senior Dustin Lineback walked down to the offense and told [offensive coordinator] Lincoln Riley, `We got them. We're OK.'
"I get goose bumps thinking about that. That's what you want from your team.
"Toward the end of the game when we had to have the field goal to tie it and when we had to have the touchdown in overtime to take the lead, they came up big. That's what a team is. You win as a team. No one player ever wins or loses a game, it's a combination of plays. That's the team concept I want to and will promote here."
On What The Win Over N.C. State Means
"It was a great win. North Carolina State is a great football team. I have no doubt that team will contend for the Atlantic Coast Conference championship. That team will be playing in a major bowl at the end of the year. Tom O'Brien and his staff are great coaches.
"That was a great win for our program and our kids. Coming in our house was good, too."
On Marshall's Team
"Now we have to get ready to move onto Marshall. We all know Marshall's background. I know them as a player and also coaching at Appalachian State. We were a big nemesis of them at Appalachian. It was a pretty hated rivalry there, about like the ones we have here. But in the end, they provided a great, competitive contest.
"We have a 24-hour rule and we appreciate the victory. But it is in the box. We started preparing for Marshall last night. We dove into them very quickly."
On Marshall's Offense
"You start with them on offense and what Doc Holliday has done. Doc was a lifer like I was. I've known Doc a long time. Doc has been in it, grinding and recruiting for a long time. We met each other a lot on the road. I know he'll do a great job up there and he's doing a great job. They had a tough loss against UCF and have had 10 days off to prepare for us. I know he'll have those guys ready.
"They play two quarterbacks, but Brian Anderson has started all six games and he'll be the guy they go with. Eddie Sullivan has also played. He played against UCF and had a big pass against those guys. Those two do a great job.
"Their running backs are Martin Ward and Andre Booker. Martin is a little bit bigger and has a lot of power and acceleration. Andre is the quick guy. He has quickness and vision, like the guys we've faced each week. He reminds me of the Southern Miss running backs with the way he can cut on a dime and with his vision. We'll have to prepare for them.
"The wide receivers are led by Aaron Dobson, another tall receiver. Going back to North Carolina State, I never thought I would see a basketball team on a football field. N.C. State ran a basketball team out there. They had the biggest receivers I had ever seen in my life. Dobson is a tall receiver who fits that mold. He is rangy and has athleticism. We have to make sure we contend with him.
"Their tight end, Lee Smith, is a really fine football player. He's 6-foot-6, 267 pounds. He does not have a tackle-eligible number for a reason. He does a good job.
"Their offensive line has given up two sacks this year. They have two seniors, two juniors and a redshirt freshman starting up front.
"We have to make sure we do a great job defensively corralling, containing and continuing our third-down improvement. That'll be a tough test for our defense."
On Marshall's Defense
"Defensively, they are led up front by Vinny Curry, who is a really fine football player. I noticed this morning after watching the Ohio State film that he did a great job against them. He's really active. He's 6-foot-4, 252 pounds and has eight sacks already this season. Vinny will be a great test for our offensive line. He also has almost 12 tackles for a loss this season with 11.5. We have to keep an eye on him and keep him under wraps.
"The linebacker who we met on the way to the Conference USA Media Day was Mario Harvey. He's a really good player with speed. He's a preseason all-conference pick. He has 73 tackles and forced two fumbles. He averages over 12 tackles a game and is a really good player.
"In the secondary, they have two juniors and a sophomore. Omar Brown is a returning starter who has 56 tackles so far. I like Donald Brown after watching him this morning. He's an active guy at strong safety. Those guys are very solid."
On Marshall's Special Teams
"Their specialists are very solid. The punter, Kase Whitehead, does a good job. He changes field position well. Their returners are Troy Evans, who is averaging a first down every return, which is what we want to do. Booker is the other returner, who I said has great vision and quickness."
On Preparing For Marshall
"We know we have to have a great week of practice and preparation. I know the kids are going to get berated this week on campus with congratulations. We had our pat-on-the-back ceremony last night. Now we have to move on quickly.
"This is a day off, so I'm anxious to get around those guys pretty quickly. We know we have another tough task and opponent. It's an East Division opponent in our conference. We have to make sure we're ready to go. That's where I come in. I'm looking forward to that challenge."
On A Potential Letdown
"We have no problem here humbling our players. We keep them in their place. That's always going to be a risk when you have an emotional game. If you say it's not then you're not telling the truth.
"We have to do a great job as coaches. The leaders on our team have to do a great job of being leaders. After an emotional win, at home, in that environment that's going to be a concern. We have to do a great job and it starts with me. I won't have a problem bringing them down to Earth tomorrow. Trust me on that one."
On Winning Games On The Final Play
"They go in the left-hand column. They're both in that win column. I just want to win by one. We had a meeting one day with Coach Holland, Nick Floyd and Chancellor Ballard. One of them asked about the game and how much I want to win by. I said I just needed to win by one point.
"Both of those wins are precious. Both of them I've been very happy for our kids. It's not about me. I was glad we won the Tulsa game and that we won Saturday coming off a tough and physical game at Southern Miss. To have the way it end like it did was great.
"After the missed point-after attempt, I reflected back to two years ago in the Nebraska game. We did the same thing in overtime. We missed the extra point and had an interception on defense to ice it. That's what Brian was thinking about, too, when Damon Magazu intercepted the football. That was a big play. I keep both of those wins up there because they're wins for our Pirates."
On Derek Blacknall Returning
"Magazu was rotating a little bit there before. He played at Southern Miss. He has played sparingly there during the year. I think after last week he's earned his stripes. Derek went back to the starting position because Derek had earned it.
"With Magazu, that makes us stronger there with reserves. Magazu will be used as a sub there and we'll keep him in the rotation. Justin Venable played well Saturday, too. That really makes us stronger depth wise. Magazu is good, so is Blacknall."
On Different Defensive Packages
"Bradley Jacobs is the other safety and he has played well. Brian and the defense have been able to advance to some different packages with five and six defensive backs we have used the last two games. We were really able to start using them after the North Carolina game at Southern Miss. Versus North Carolina State, you saw some six and five defensive-back looks with Rahkeem Morgan and Jacobi Jenkins as substitutes. Magazu is a great sub guy, so that just adds to those packages."
On The Coverage On The Final Play By Magazu
"He has vision on the inside receiver on that particular play. We felt good about being able to man him up and put a body on a body. Brian felt good about that and so did John Wiley from the coaching box upstairs. I was on the lines with them and said to go with it.
"Brian did a great job of play calling all day long. I felt good about that situation. I felt good about bodying them up and doubling the top guy if we had to. Magazu did a great job of reading his keys.
"What I like about Magazu is that he didn't hesitate. The ball was thrown and he was there. That just comes with confidence and belief. Magazu is a football player. He was raised as a CK, coach's kid. He was raised in NFL camps. He's not going to tell anybody the situation. We have a lot of confidence in him."
On Jacobi Jenkins' Playing Time
"It's about what Jacobi is doing. We want to give ourselves depth. I mentioned playing 22-23 guys on defense, rotating up front and in the back. We have 10 defensive linemen who travel. If we can keep eight to 10 guys play up front, that's big for us. We'd like five to six at linebacker.
"In the secondary, it's hard to sub there. It's like the offensive line in that sense. We want to have a rotation of six or seven or maybe even eight guys to help us on our subs when we're playing passing teams. In this league, we face throwing teams. You have to have those multiple-DB packages to go to.
"Jacobi has really earned his spot by practicing great and really staying focused in meetings. He has also been productive on special teams. When he has had the opportunity, he's done well.
"It was a great stop-and-go route by the N.C. State receiver that got him Saturday. But he'll learn from it. He was a wide receiver last year who we moved over. He has a chance to be a special corner. He'll walk in next year and take that spot from Travis Simmons and we won't miss a beat. He and Travis get along well and they help each other a lot. Jacobi has been big on special teams and as a substitute."
On Turnovers
"We'll work on them. That's about all you can do. I only know how to do one thing and that's work. Number two is work and number three is go back to number one and two, which are work. On the turnovers, I thought we had good protection. That was a great play by the defensive guy on Jonathan Williams. Jonathan had the ball high and tight like we tell him and the guy did a good job stripping the ball out.
"Giavanni Ruffin's turnover was just him trying to give extra effort. I'm not mad at Giavanni. Now you look at it say, boy he shouldn't have done that. But he was trying to score. He was giving great effort. That doesn't bother me.
"Dwayne Harris rarely fumbles. Travis maybe should have let the punt drop, but we tell those returners to catch everything for field position.
"We'll work on it, but I'm not going to worry about them. We'll get better at it."
On The Missed Extra Point
"Michael Barbour is good. He just pushed it. It's like in golf, you have your irons and you push it off to the side. He just pushed it, which is unusual. He's automatic. He was down and just pushed it. The snap by William Smith was great and hold by Trent Tignor was great. Michael just pushed it, but he'll be fine. He'll bounce back. He was fine last night."
On Sunday Night's Practice
"We are pretty banged up. We went our normal 30 minutes of special teams, reviewed fundamental focus and then went through individual and team drills. We have a routine where Lincoln goes through about 20 plays of audibles for the next opponent. Brian and the defense go through individual drills and blitz rehearsal. It went well after they got warmed up. We've had really good Sunday practices. The kids have refocused."
On The Rivalry With Marshall
"I was on the team here that played Marshall for the first time after the incident. I think it starts with our administration. Our administration respects everybody in our conference. It then goes down to every level. That's how our fans are. We have a first-class program here. Our fans showed that the other day. I talked to Coach Leach, and he wished he was down on the sideline. He loved it.
"Nothing surprises me about our fans here. The rivalry with Marshall is a conference game. It's an East Division game for us. Doc is a really fine football coach. We respect what they've done, what they do and what they will do. We're looking forward to the challenge.
"This is another part of the growth of the team. You had an emotional win against an in-state school. Now, you have to get down to Earth, gather yourself and get focused right now on the next task at hand. I've done it before, but not with this group. I've got to get around them pretty quickly. I won't see them today, but if I do, I'm going to start planting that seed.
"Marshall has a great program and our fans are awesome. It doesn't surprise me that our fans respect them."
On Playing Marshall
"They have the talent and have had the talent. Doc is getting his philosophy and emphasis and detail things in place. He's putting his signature on things and his stamp on different ideas, pillars and thoughts in the program. I know they'll be tough. There's no doubt about it.
"Our team heard it last night and will hear it every time they see us. We know we're not expecting to show up, put the uniform on and win. I'm going to do my job and not let that happen."
On Mike Leach
"I have an interview with him at 2:00 p.m. today on satellite radio. I hope he talks about the game. He's funny. When I talked to him at halftime, he asked me a question. That was pretty cool.
"He texted Lincoln, Dennis, Brian and all the guys. He set up the interview for today. He was fired up. He thanked us for allowing him be a part of everything Saturday.
"It's unique for him to see similar ideas of offense he has done before and will do again. I know he was happy even though he had to be impartial announcing."
On Homecoming This Week
"This is my first one since 1992 when I was coaching here. I hadn't been able to come back to one when coaching. The reality is coming back home for me.
"It's like when we were coming to the first meeting and the plane landed and Erlene said we're home. It really is that. For the fans, families and alums that are able to get back, I know it's special for them.
"It's a unique place, Greenville, East Carolina and being a Pirate. It means a lot when you've lived it, which I have. When you breathe it and understand it, it's good to be able to come back.
"I know the fans will be as excited as they were last week. I have no doubt. That's what we do. We had a sold out crowd Saturday. I imagine it will be close to that this week. I hope they know how much they mean to the team. After being gone for over 30 days and to come back in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium was great. Having N.C. State last week and Homecoming this week will be big. The crowd will be key. That emotion, you can cut it with a knife.
"It was amazing when we got down onto the field. Even though we had been at Virginia Tech and North Carolina, I was on the offensive line and Lincoln said it was loud. He couldn't hear. That was pretty cool. I hope it's that loud again."
On The Stadium Atmosphere
"It has well exceeded my expectations. You would rather see a sermon than hear one. Everybody had told me, wait until you feel it and see it. I kept saying, I know. I was hearing the sermon.
"But to actually see it and be smack dab in the middle of it, it's second to none. That's big time. I will not back down from that statement. It's a big time arena, atmosphere and support.
"The Boneyard addition, was that important? I thought that was pretty good. In overtime, after we lost the coin flip, they asked what end of the field we wanted to go toward and I pointed to the Boneyard. Those kids were great. The stadium has exceeded everything. I tried to guess how it would be, but it's surpassing that."
On Being 2-2 Over The Last Four Games
"It is what it is. I think what it teaches us is that we've learned and done a pretty good job learning from our experiences and situations. When I talk about developing a group, the development comes from the kids and us being in repeated situations and experiences, though success or failure. We take that experience and learn how to grow from that.
"That four-game stretch I think taught us that. We've grown as a staff. I think we're growing as a team. We're not there yet. We're not even close to what we can be, as a staff or team. That development is always a continuous process.
"We reflect back on those experiences, even though we move onto the next game. We reflect on what we learned. I keep notes of everything we do to remind me what worked and what to watch out for. The kids do a good job of that, too. The tough stretch was valuable in that it made us grow up quick. We'll need that the next six games."
On The Defense Growing Up
"I was very proud of those boys. We were down three defensive ends. Marke Powell got sick Thursday and couldn't go. The next guy picked up the flag in A.J. Johnson. We had three ends for the game. We still had five tackles. Derrell Johnson played 92 snaps as a true freshman. I asked Matt Milner how many he played and he didn't know. It was 94 snaps. Those guys took it to the next level. That's unconditional belief in what we're doing.
"I was proud of the way they executed what Brian and the staff wanted. I was proud of the improvement in fundamentals and technique. I liked the sequence and the way Brian blended calls. The defense had some tough things happen to them. Bradley Jacobs and the interception, but there was the interference call. Dustin Lineback had an interception, but there was a roughing the passer call. The first stop of the game, we forced them to punt and had to go right back out after the fumble. That's the growth. It takes time.
"They'll keep growing and developing. They're not close yet. They'll keep getting better. All I ask is for them to get a little bit better each week. I was very proud of the kids and the coaches."
On Lincoln Riley's Game Plan
"I told Lincoln I thought he had one of the best scripts I had ever been a part of. I thought he blended his calls and mixed well. Dominique Davis did a great job of orchestrating it. He had 14 completions in a row to start the game.
"I thought the kids did a great job of executing. I thought they did a great job of making some adjustments. That was a blitzing defense. He made them back off of the blitz. They didn't blitz as much after we hit them a few times. With the experience N.C. State has in its coaching box and on the field, he backs off of no one.
"When our offense struggled, they held together and kept their composure. They had some tough things happen. We had some fumbles, not because our kids were being lazy, but because of good defensive plays. But they hung in there and stayed the course.
"I thought they stopped themselves a little bit. In the end, when we had to have them, they made the drive. I knew when Dominique had the ball down there, Lincoln did not call the play. Dominique did not allow Lincoln to call the play on the last one. I saw him and knew he was going to take it in. I like that.
"It wasn't even a play call. Lincoln said he didn't call it, Dominique did. I was going for it on fourth down. I was not kicking a field goal. I would have gone for it again. I felt good about that.
"Dominique is growing as a leader. He's really calm. I'm really anxious to see how he keeps developing. He's grasping the offense pretty good. For a kid who didn't go through spring practice and all he's learned is from Lincoln during fall practice, he'll get better. He'll learn. He's a good kid, too. I like that boy."
On Injuries To Josh Smith And Willie Smith
"They're questionable. Hopefully those guys will be able to go tomorrow or at least by Wednesday. Cliff Perryman got some work last night. He still has his hand wrapped up, but he'll be back and maybe get some reps on special teams. He got some defensive reps last night, too. He looked good with fresh legs. Josh and Willie are old-timers. You can't keep them out. They're like old footballs, you can't get rid of them. They're around here now getting rehab. They'll be fine and ready to go."
