McNeill's Weekly Press Conference
October 03, 2011 | Football
Oct. 3, 2011
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Second-year East Carolina University Head Football Coach Ruffin McNeill addressed members of the media prior to this week's game against Houston. The following are selected comments:
Opening Statement
"It was a tough loss Saturday night against a very talented North Carolina football team. It was a team just like South Carolina and Virginia Tech in that you can't make mistakes. There is very little room for any kind of error.
"They'll be a team, like I told [head coach] Everett [Withers], that I think will contend for its division and conference championships. They have a really good football team.
"We made mistakes during the game. I know everybody has mentioned the turnovers that put us in a hole. We'll continue to emphasize and work on it. We have and will continue to do so. It'll get fixed by working on it."
On The Offense Against North Carolina
"I thought our offense moved the ball very well all game. Our line did a great job against their defensive line. That group, according to [Assistant Athletics Director/Strength and Conditioning] Jeff Connors, will send five or six guys into the National Football League.
"Our guys up front played really well and only gave up one sack. I thought Steven Baker stepped in for Grant Harner at very late notice and did a good job. I look for Baker to be a big guy for us up front. Hugh Parker also came in and did a great job Saturday. He was probably going against a guy who was bigger and faster than him, but Hugh really got after him. I was very pleased with Hugh.
"I also thought our wide receivers did a good job blocking. I know Danny Webster had a turnover and Joe Womack had a ball tip off him for an interception, but they did well. They all blocked well, especially Andrew Bodenheimer. Those guys really got after it. Lance Lewis did a great job blocking and catching the football.
"Reggie Bullock had a fumble, but also had 72 yards rushing. He is a guy who is still learning to play at the Division I level. He can, and will continue to, make people miss and create positive yardage.
"By looking at film and according to [offensive coordinator] Lincoln Riley, it was one of Dominique Davis' best games. He is far and away ahead of his schedule from last year in a couple areas. In touchdowns he's one down from a year ago and has thrown one more interception. He has seven picks this season, but three have been tipped balls. He had two tipped Saturday night and one last week against UAB.
"Dominique is ahead on yardage, attempts and completions from last year. I'm very proud of Dominique. Last Saturday, he did a great job of leading our team. He had some tough things happen to him, but I'm proud of him and what he has accomplished."
On The Defense And Special Teams Against North Carolina
"Defensively, it was another good job. They were put in some tough spots during the game, but I thought they held up well. Our defensive line faced another offensive line that was experienced. How many weeks in a row are we going to face these deep and talented lines? We'll see another one this weekend at Houston.
"Talking with Coach Connors, North Carolina's five guys all have NFL potential. Our defensive line did a good job all night long.
"Especially last year, North Carolina was able to run the football on us. They added a touchdown very late in the game against us last year. This year on a fourth-and-one play in the final quarter, I thought our guys did a good job stopping them. Those are things we can build on as a team.
"Our special teams were also solid again. We were a plus-74 in the hidden-yardage battle. Sometimes I know that goes unnoticed with the offense and defense catching everyone's eyes, but the group finished in plus territory for the third time in four games. That's not just a big plus, but a major plus for us. We'll continue to improve within the unit."
On The Effort Against North Carolina
"A lot of teams would have quit and stopped playing at the half. A lot of teams would not have continued to fight. Our guys did and I was very proud of that. We will build on that. We played hard and competed. We were in great condition again.
"Things we have to work on are the turnovers and eliminating the administrative penalties. The administrative penalties and illegal procedures we can correct. Those two things we have to get straightened out.
"I was very excited with how practice went Sunday. The guys, of course, are a little down. They wanted to win the football game like they always do. I like this group and this team. This team is going to be a special one this year. I believe that and know that.
"I thought we competed from the very beginning to the end, even when tough things happened. You just have to stay the course and stay behind our football team. I believe in our kids and love our kids. I love our football team. Our players kept playing and our coaches kept coaching. I was very proud of that fact."
On Houston
"We now go into conference play with the University of Houston. Kevin Sumlin has done not just a good job, but a great job taking over that program.
"He has Case Keenum back this year. Case is one of the marquee guys, not just in this league, but in the country. I had a chance to face him once when I was at Texas Tech. He did a great job against us. He has continued to do well after getting the sixth year of eligibility granted by the NCAA. He is one of the best quarterbacks I've been around. It'll be a great quarterback battle with two of the best in the league going against one another this week.
"Houston is 5-0 right now. They beat UCLA the first week of the season and had a tough game against UTEP last week, but were able to pull it out."
On Houston's Offense
"They have three running backs they'll play behind Case - Bryce Beall, Charles Sims and Michael Hayes. All three will be in the game, blended in and used via the run and pass. All three can catch, run and, in this offense, protect the quarterback.
"This is an offense we're very familiar with. One of the signal callers for them is [co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach] Kliff Kingsbury, who played quarterback for us from 2000-02 at Texas Tech.
"The receivers have great speed and athleticism. They are led by Patrick Edwards and Isaiah Sweeney. I know [East Carolina Director of Men's and Women's Track and Field/Cross Country] Coach Curt Kraft knows about Sweeney because he's a sprinter on their team. Patrick is one of the preseason first-team all-conference guys. They have a great group there.
"The offensive line, as I mentioned earlier, has four returning guys who have played a high number of games. Our nose guards are facing a center who is an Outland Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award candidate in Chris Thompson. He's a really good football player. In this offense, the center has to get everybody on the same page and Chris does a great job of that. The center has to make the correct line and protection calls.
"They've been near the top in the country in total offense the last three years. They're running the same type of system [former Houston offensive coordinator and current West Virginia head coach] Dana Holgorsen implemented when he took over there. That's why Kliff is so important. He understands the offense there, just like Lincoln does here."
On Houston's Defense And Special Teams
"Defensively, they're not giving up many passing yards. Brian Stewart, their defensive coordinator, I've known almost all his life, like Everett last week. Brian has spent time coaching in the NFL and landed with Kevin after coaching with the Philadelphia Eagles. He is doing a good job in Houston. He runs a 3-4 defense and we've visited him many times when he was with the Dallas Cowboys and I was at Texas Tech.
"I know it doesn't always show up in the stats, but they're doing a great job making plays. They're very active on defense. Their best leaders are linebackers Marcus McGraw and Sammy Brown. In this defense, linebackers are really featured.
"They also have two junior college guys from Navarro, which won the national championship last year. Chevy Bennett and D.J. Hayden have added athleticism and a winning mentality to the secondary. We know about those guys.
"Matt Hogan will be kicking and he leads the team in scoring. He has great range. He is like our kicker, Michael Barbour. Richie Leone is the punter. He averages 40-plus yards per punt.
"Their return guys are Patrick Edwards and Tyron Carrier, who can both really run. They have speed and experience with their specialists.
"It's going to be a great contest. I'm looking forward to traveling to Houston and battling on our road to the conference championship."
On The Defensive Approach To Houston
"You always have a different scheme for each group. We face this type of offense year round, but Case makes this offense go. Kliff also understands that position because he has played it.
"Defensively, you have to make sure you have your correct packages in the game. You know you need extra defensive back packages, just like people when they face us. North Carolina was in a nickel package most of the game. Most of our opponents jump into that five-defensive back package. You have to make sure you have that in place. I'm sure [defensive coordinator] Brian Mitchell will have those in place for us Saturday. You might also have some six-DB packages.
"But it all starts up front. With three very productive running backs, you have to make sure you're sound against the ground game. You also have to be able to defend a guy like Case who can audible into the right play. This offense is about the quarterback and the quarterback being able to get the offense into the right play. Defensively, you have to be ready to do the same thing. You have to be ready to audible into the right call. We're getting to that point now.
"I think it's best against a quarterback like Case, who has seen every look, to blend your coverages. You will not be able to fool him, but you have to blend your coverages, front looks, blitzes and stunts and where they come from.
"You can't give him the same look each snap. Or if you do have the same look, you have to do something different with it. He has seen, or been introduced to, just about every look you can have on defense. You have to make sure you do a good job blending and showing him everything.
"At the same time, you have to keep it simple for your kids so they can execute. The biggest thing on defense is to do a great job in open-field tackling. It's a perimeter game, but this team is also able to run the football. Those three running backs pound it inside with zone reads and sweeps."
On Similarities Between Case Keenum And Dominique Davis
"They're different quarterbacks. Dominique has called our last two games. After watching film, Lincoln said those were two of his best games.
"Case has mobility. I know he hurt his knee against UCLA last year, but he has great mobility.
"They're both great kids. They talked at the Conference USA Media Day. It's a good relationship between them as they hit it off right away. They both carry themselves with class and are competitors. They're both made for this type of offense."
On Playing On The Road
"My last time at Houston, they were loud. You could hear them for quite a ways. I know they have a 5-0 football team, so I think their fans will come out.
"I know Kevin will have those guys excited. I know the fans will want to come out and watch Case and Dominique and our teams' matchup.
"For me, the routine won't change. When you're away from your home crowd, you have to foxhole it a little bit with you and your group on the plane. There aren't going to be many people cheering for us, but that can be fun, too.
"We treat home games and away games the same. We get the group away for both. The travel part will be a little different this week. It may be good to go on the road, though.
"I think the guys have conducted themselves very well at home and in Charlotte. I know they'll conduct themselves in a professional manner in Houston.
"The preparation when we get there will be more mental. We won't go to the stadium or anything like that, but will jump into walkthroughs and film once we get to the hotel Friday. We'll eat, go to a movie and meet more at night.
"I'll certainly miss our home crowd, though. What a great home crowd we had Saturday night. I appreciate them for coming out."
On The Mental Impact Of Fumbles
"A lot has been made of the turnovers. Anytime they get asked about it by the media during interviews, it's only natural it'll be on their minds. We'll see those guys keep developing this season.
"It's not like we're trying to or that we practice fumbling. We practice to protect the ball. I thought Danny Webster, after that first fumble, came back and tucked the ball away high and tight. The guys are working on it every day and we'll keep working on it."
On Justin Dixon Returning To The Field
"I don't know right now. We'll see how that develops. He has to learn to do things our way, the Pirate way. He'll be there when I decide he's there. He's on my time schedule."
On Houston Not Being Ranked At 5-0
"I am surprised. They beat UCLA and won on the road at UTEP. That's a tough place to play. All you can do is what they've done, which is win. Kevin has done a great job. We know we'll have our hands full going down there.
"Watching them on film, they really do a great job up front offensively. When Dana got there and installed the offense, it's almost like it was here where you had to transfer those guys up front into a new thought process. Now they have those guys in place who fit that thought process. Kevin has built the team in that mold."
On Case Keenum
"He's good. There was a time with Case, Colt McCoy and Graham Harrell all from the same high school area. They were within a stone's throw of each other.
"Case is a good quarterback. As a coordinator, it was challenging to go against him. He has fun playing the game, almost with a Brett Favre mentality. He likes to sling it around and see what he can come up with. I like the way he carries himself and runs the team.
"It was really neat to see how Dominique and Case went right toward each other at the league's media day. They have a mutual respect for each other and a great relationship."
On Kyle Tudor And Justin Jones Returning From Injury
"They were banged up and sore Sunday, but excited to be back. I know Justin wanted to do well and the timing might have been a bit off. That's part of the process, though. They need to get back in the groove. They'll be good to go and getting better each day.
"Kyle is a leader for us on defense, along with Jeremy Grove. Youth and age does not hold me back from naming them leaders. Kyle is a guy who you will see grow, get better and return to game shape. So will Justin. They'll both have a better game this week than last week.
"For the rest of the team, it was game four, but for them it was the season opener. What a first-game experience, playing against North Carolina."
On Being 1-0 In Conference USA
"We mentioned that right after the game Saturday night. We know in all four games we've hurt ourselves with mistakes. All those teams have great talent and are well coached. South Carolina, Virginia Tech and North Carolina will all compete for conference championships, despite losses. All the teams we've faced are very talented.
"At the same time, we've made some mistakes we can learn from. Right after the game I reminded the team to stay focused on the goals we have. One of those is to win the division and go to the conference championship game. We did bring that up and talked about it again. Now we have to go to work and prepare for it."
On Having A Familiarity With Houston's Team
"I think it helps being familiar with the style of play. Kevin and I have faced each other eight times so we know each other pretty well. With Kliff on the Houston staff, he's a lot like Case. He has the same mentality. There are a lot of familiar faces on that staff.
"The offenses are also similar. They do a few things differently, but it'll be about execution and who can play the fastest. We have to make sure we tackle well in open space. It'll be an open-space day for both defenses."
On The Similar Offenses
"We hope it helps quite a bit. There are some route things they may do a little bit differently than we do, but it is similar. It's close with its speed and spread emphasis.
"Having our offense and defense go against one another during spring, fall camp and each week of the season will help. We go ones-on-ones each week of the season. We go six plays in team-on-team every day, so we face each other."
