McNeill's Weekly Press Conference
September 19, 2011 | Football
Sept. 19, 2011
Coach McNeill Press Conference
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 UAB. The following are selected comments:
Opening Statement
"Wrapping up Virginia Tech after watching the film, it was a tight ballgame. I thought we played hard and fast and did a good job of playing smart. That was evident by our zero penalties to Virginia Tech's 12.
"We improved our turnover ratio on offense, but still want to create a few more on defense. We had a chance to probably get two more in the game, but we are going to keep working on that aspect.
"I thought we competed, which is what we strive for. We want to compete no matter who it is or where we're playing. We were also in great physical condition. That was evident with how we were playing at the end.
"Last week was an off week, but a normal week in some aspects. Sunday, we practiced at night as usual and took Monday off as mandated by the NCAA. We went very hard Tuesday and Wednesday with a pair of physical days. It was a lot of what we call good-on-good, which means our first offense going against our first defense during run and pass periods. Thursday is what we call a varsity short, where we did a quick good-on-good. Then we got our young guys some work. It was a short and snappy practice Thursday.
"We gave everybody off Friday and Saturday and used that time for recruiting as coaches. I think we did a good job scouring the country from Wednesday night through Saturday. We had a chance to get everybody out on the road. I thought that was very successful.
"We resumed last night with our Sunday night practice. We're in game mode now. I'm looking forward to getting back in game week. Like I've mentioned in the past, the open week came in a little bit early for me. I like it around that sixth game of the season, a little bit more toward the middle. We adjusted and had planned for it, though. Now we have to make that run without a break, but that's OK. The biggest thing now is to get our routine and rhythm back. I think we'll accomplish that."
On The Focus Of The Off Week
"During the off week, we really focused on ourselves, like we always do. It was more this week than ever before on all three sides of the ball - offense, defense and special teams. We worried about us. We talked about making sure we improve the next time we step onto the field. The next two weeks we want to make sure we play with great fundamentals and technique. That involves only ourselves and is how we operate it. That was really big.
"The second thing we talked about was increasing our tempo on all three sides of the ball. Offensively, we want to speed up to get in the number of plays we desire. Defensively, we have guys who are really playing well. We also have some guys who can come in and be productive, which is what you want. I really feel good about the development of our depth. We want to be able to play 22-24 guys on defense."
On East Carolina's Special Teams
"I thought our special teams improved, especially our coverage units, going against a team that is known for special teams. I thought we more than held our own in coverage.
"Our return teams will continue to improve. I thought we did a great job. As far as our punt returns, I thought their punter held the ball up quite a bit. Hang time affects returns and gives the coverage team extra time to get downfield. We didn't return as well, but having Michael Bowman back was very nice. He'll be a big-time return guy all year long."
On UAB
"UAB is a team that I know the coaching staff very well. Neil Callaway was on the staff when I was playing here at East Carolina. It's always good to see him. He's a great person and coach.
"My mentor, who I began my collegiate coaching career under in 1985 at Clemson, Tommy West, has joined Coach Callaway's staff. Tommy is the defensive coordinator and was the head coach at Memphis and was at Clemson, Chattanooga and some other places before. He really raised me from a lamb in my coaching days. Coach Callaway has an old-school staff.
"They've had some tough games with Florida and Tulane to start the season, but it's conference time now. This one for us is our first league contest. It's a big game because it's the next one. Secondly, it's a conference game so we have to make sure we take care of it and prepare properly. I believe we practice how we play and play how we practice. I've told the team that. I'm really anxious to get a great week under us.
"Offensively, UAB is going to spread the football. They will get in some two-back sets, but they're a spread team. They'll get in a four or five-wide look and spread the ball around. Their quarterback, Bryan Ellis, who we saw last year, does a good job running their offense. The other guy they played a little bit versus Florida and Tulane is Jonathan Perry. He's a young guy who is 6-foot-2, 205 pounds and has mobility and athleticism. You may see two quarterbacks in certain situations. We're expecting that. They have a little more designed-quarterback runs with Perry.
"Up front, Matt McCants is an all-conference guy returning. They also have a Rimington Award candidate in Darion Smith at center. The offensive line has a group of athletic veterans. It'll be a great challenge for our defense. Those guys have been through some battles. It's like a couple weeks ago against Virginia Tech. Their line had been through some battles and wars, too. This team is the same way. They're trying to find their personality on offense, but the offensive line allows that to happen.
"The skill people are led by Nick Adams. We didn't see him last year, but he's a really good athlete who has speed. He is the return guy and he took one back for a touchdown against Tulane last week. He is also used as a wide out. Greg Franklin is the running back and does a good job moving the ball. I know they haven't put up as many points as they want to, but we're not worried about that. We'll see everybody's best shot because of who and where we are.
"Defensively, we feel they have one of the top linemen back in the league in Elliott Henigan, who did not play the first game of the year due to injury but is back now. He was a preseason all-conference player. I think that's who Coach West is putting a lot of emphasis on in terms of leadership. He moves around well. We have to make sure we contend with him.
"They return 10 starters on defense with their strong suit at cornerback. Three of the four in the secondary return with Terrell Springs and Marquis Coleman as the top corners. Keep an eye on those guys because we have to and will.
"All three linebackers return with Marvin Burdette as the top guy. He had 114 tackles last year and has 16 right now.
"Coach West will blend, that's the key word, fronts and coverages throughout the game.
"At the specialists, I already talked about Adams as a key returner. They also have Jackie Williams. He's a young guy who has speed and athleticism. He will be the punt returner.
"We're looking forward to the game and playing again."
On Conference Expansion
"It's been in the making for a few years now. Forming the super conferences is something we've been hearing since we were at Texas Tech. With me, I don't worry about something I can't control. I do worry about East Carolina. I love it here and what we do here. I love what we bring to the table, from every standpoint.
"I respect everybody here and how we do things. I've been fortunate enough to be around a lot of media and you all do a great job here.
"Our administration at East Carolina also does a great job. The facilities being built here are second to none. The reason I know that is because I've seen a lot of others. [Assistant Athletics Director/Strength and Conditioning] Jeff Connors helped design the strength facility and we'll keep improving that. It's already better than a lot of places that are talking about forming those super conferences.
"Our fan support right now in attendance is No. 1 in the country among all non-AQ BCS conference schools. We really have all the makings here.
"If Conference USA was to dissolve and somebody picked East Carolina, they would be getting a blessing because we have the total package. You want fan support? We have it. You want facilities? We have them. You want market value? We reach all of eastern North Carolina, over to Raleigh and Charlotte and up into Virginia, areas people don't always think about. We go everywhere.
"I was in South Carolina recruiting last week and everybody was watching. It's amazing going into those schools. We're welcomed there and in Georgia as well as Florida. We have all the tools and makings of being a blessing for anybody who would want us, including to Conference USA."
On Keys For Continued Improvement
"On offense it's about consistency, doing what we do and our tempo. You can place all the mistakes on me. The only thing they can be responsible for is penalties and lack of effort. Everything else is on me.
"I want them to have a great time doing what we do, which is being able to get the ball into five receivers' hands equally by handoff or pass. I think we've had a great off week in those terms. [Quarterback] Dominique Davis has done a great job and the offensive line has developed.
"The offensive line has been tested these first two games, which is important. The quarterback is always great if the offensive line is great. The line is key to the unit, just like the defensive line is the key to its unit. Sometimes that gets twisted and people think the quarterback is the guy. We're lucky to have a great quarterback and the line has really improved. There is not another team who has been tested like our boys up front have. I think the young men understand the concepts and what we want to get done.
"On defense we've worked on continuing to have a group of guys that, on a high percentage of snaps, are doing their jobs schematically and fundamentally. That has been a key reason for success. It hasn't been by accident or luck. We're not even close to where we can be, though.
"On special teams, it's continuing to emphasize the little things. We need to keep having good coverage units so we can win the hidden-yardage battles there. We need to have good returns to register hidden yards, too. We want a minimum of 10 yards on each punt return and to get the ball past the 30-yard line on kickoff returns. We break it down in those terms and work from there. The young men on special teams have done a great job.
"My emphasis has been on those three factors as well as the continuous focus on fundamentals, worrying about us, playing with great tempo on all three sides of the ball and not worrying about any mistakes except effort and penalties. I've got all the other mistakes"
On Lessons Taken From The First Two Games
"I think those two games exposed us and also showed us some areas we're strong in. When you play those types of teams, which I think will still contend for their conference championships, BCS bowl bids and possible national championship invitations, you have to be ready in a hurry. There's no room for error.
"I think there are a lot of things we did well and some things we can work on. I've mentioned before about playing hard and fast and we did that. We must continue to play smart like we have with just three penalties in two games. The turnover ratio has to continue to improve.
"Our conditioning level with Coach Connors and his group of Chuck Colborn, Tanner Kolb, Emmanuel McDaniel and Robert Tate will not have a drop-off.
"All those areas were brought out in the first two games. Those little things are really key and sometimes get neglected. We want to make sure we focus on those fundamental and intangible aspects of our team. We're in great condition, so let's pick up the tempo on offense, defense and special teams.
"These games have brought those focuses to the forefront and we hope for a carryover this week."
On The Offensive Struggles Against Virginia Tech
"Virginia Tech's defense did a really good job. I think people need to give Bud Foster credit. We have to execute and do what we do. We worked on that last week.
"I don't think Dominique was confused. We have to execute better on our side of the ball and they executed on theirs. They did a great job. They were able to get pressure with four and cover with seven on the back end. East Carolina used that same formula to win back-to-back Conference USA championships. C.J. Wilson, Linval Joseph, Scotty Robinson and those guys up front were able to apply pressure.
"We have to make sure we continue to improve. I'm always one to acknowledge if it's something we could have done differently, but I'd be disrespectful to Bud, a guy I've known for more than 20 years, if I did not give credit to him.
"Some people have talked about stealing signals, but I say good luck with that. We have tried that before and gotten our hind parts handed to us. I tried to do that against Case Keenum a few years ago when I was at Texas Tech and it didn't work at all. We knew exactly what he was doing, but by that point the ball was snapped.
"Virginia Tech has the range and skill up front that I really like. It also had that same range and length in the secondary. They had the tallest defensive backs I've seen since Oklahoma won the national championship. I give credit to those guys. They're really good football players. It wasn't about talking; they were confident and understood what they wanted to do.
"Lincoln and our offense are disappointed. We just want to win. I don't care about winning pretty; let's just get the victory. There's no such thing as a bad win. I don't want to hear any of that. Victories are precious and hard to get at any level.
"We'll continue to press on and stay the course."
On Starting The Conference Season Strong
"Winning is important period. When talking about winning a conference championship as a goal, we have a team that's hungry for a victory. Both ECU and UAB are starving for a win. It's very important to make sure we play well and come out with a victory. I don't care if it's pretty or ugly and I've informed the team of that. All we have to do is win by one."
On East Carolina's Running Game
"It's about having confidence and staying with it. I want those guys to believe in what we're doing, which they are. We had two older running backs last year in Giavanni Ruffin and Jonathan Williams. We also had a veteran offensive line with guys like Willie Smith, Cory Dowless and D.J. Scott. Those guys went through two championships.
"We now have four guys who have never started before and only Grant Harner who has. Let's allow those guys to develop and keep working them. They've been tested by two really good defenses.
"We also have the new set of running backs in Reggie Bullock, Michael Dobson, Torrance Hunt and Alex Owah. We'll keep working on it. We look forward to hopefully doing it well this week."
On Defensive Rotations
"We play everybody quite a bit. Our substitutions and rotations have been key. Derrell Johnson, Matt Milner and Michael Brooks have started, but you see Terry Williams, Antonio Allison and Lee Pegues rolling in, too. The linebacker position has had a few guys banged up, but outside man Chris Baker has played well and Justin Dixon is still learning how to play at the Division I level. Cliff Perryman and Marke Powell have played steadily.
"There are certain positions you cannot rotate within, I think. The secondary and offensive line must remain pretty consistent. That group has to learn, like a basketball team, that they have to work like a hand. The secondary's four guys and the offensive line's five guys must function together. In the secondary, you can spot one guy here or there, but you won't see as many subs in that group. I'm not into the flip-flopping business at quarterback and I think you get in trouble rolling guys along the offensive line, too, unless all 10 are equal, which would be really tough to find."
On The Reduction In Penalties
"I brought it up last spring about playing smart. I talk about it every day. When people ask what I look for on film it's if we're playing hard, fast and smart in terms of penalties - administrative or selfish. We have to continue that trend. We're not there yet.
"After evaluating some things last spring and what hurt us, I really looked at penalties. If you beat us, you beat us. Let's not give them yardage. A penalty is giving an opponent yardage. We want to make sure we're smart. Let's make them work for every yard."
"I think we've played and competed hard since we've been here. With Coach Connors we're now in great condition, so let's keep improving on playing smart."
On The Impact Of Weather
"We got tested the first game. It was very humid in Charlotte. Playing here in Greenville for the 3:30 p.m. start was also very humid. I think our strength and conditioning and how we train will be key. Most people will get away from gaining and just try to maintain, but we won't. We'll try to increase strength and conditioning throughout the season.
"Jeff and I are on the same page with all of this. It was a very conclusive mind-set between the two of us with what we wanted within our program. I trust Jeff and that trust has been verified. He understands how and what to get done. He also has a great group around him."
On The Injuries To Justin Jones And Kyle Tudor
"I don't have a timetable. I really wish I did. I rely on [Assistant Athletics Director/Medical Services] Mike Hanley. They're working hard and getting better each day, but I go strictly by what Mike says. We would love to have them back this week. It will not be a surprise when they return. I can't wait to get them back.
"They're working extremely hard in rehab and recovery. They're doing everything that Mike and his people are telling them to do.
"We want to get them back as soon as possible, but I want them healthy. I love the kids and the game, but I will not put them out there unless they're healthy and Mike releases them. If it's next week or the seventh or eighth game, we'll wait. I love those kids too much to put them out there under any other circumstance.
"I'm looking forward to getting them back. Justin is a big part of our package and a leader. Kyle has earned his starting position. He's a great leader who is a bulldog and gets after it."
On Planning For The Early Bye Week
"It wasn't hard. We had a plan. We already have a plan in place through the 2012 season and into the 2013 campaign. Antonio Huffman, our director of operations, and I talk all the time. We had this plan in place and had discussed it in June. We knew what we wanted to do during this open week. We knew when we would practice, what days we would go hard and how many days we would give them off. I would, of course, rather be 2-0, but the open date allows you to work on yourself, which is so important for me here.
"Coach Beamer at Virginia Tech doesn't just have a great team, but he has a great program. His program does not worry about who it plays. It does what it does on all three sides of the ball. I'd like to get our program to that level. I'd like to get our program to where we don't worry about the opponent, but you do what you do.
"During an open week, you work on yourselves. We didn't expose them to specific UAB items or schemes, but focused on East Carolina. Last night we started talking about UAB. This is a film day for us as coaches and we'll dive into UAB Tuesday through Thursday.
"Open weeks are good for fundamental emphasis and what you learned from those previous two games. It's a little early as I like the midseason break, but we'll be OK."
