McNeill's Weekly Press Conference
September 05, 2011 | Football
Sept. 5, 2011
Sept. 5 - 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 Virginia Tech. The following are selected comments:
Opening Statement
"It was a tough loss Saturday night against South Carolina. I've previously stated I think they are a team that really has all the parts on offense, defense and special teams. I know one of the things Coach Spurrier was concerned with was special teams and he brought in a new coordinator. I think that added to their football team.
"I thought in the second half their maturity level showed a little bit. They did a good job of making the plays they had to in order to win the football game.
"With all that said, I think there were some positives that came out of the game. I know the score didn't indicate that because we were on the tail end, but I was pleased with some positives. It was a learning experience we as a staff and football team can develop and grow from. We've evaluated the film and began correcting the mistakes last night.
"We'll be better from the experience; we'll be better this week. We're looking for that improvement from game one to game two that everybody talks about, but also for the rest of the season.
"I feel good about this football team. I was very pleased with how we handled everything from the bus trip, to the hotel, to the pregame preparation on the sidelines to the game itself. For a lot of those guys, it was their first time participating in a Division I football game.
"One of the ladies in our banquet room at the hotel told us we were the best group they've ever had. For me, that's a big thing. That's important. The hotel has housed NFL and collegiate football and basketball teams and our Pirates conducted themselves in public very well."
On Playing Pirate Football
"One of the main things I've asked them to do as a football team since last spring, and really since the day I was hired, is to make sure we're playing hard. After watching the film, I know we did that. I also asked the team to play smart. We did that, too. We had three penalties and South Carolina had eight. That's not perfect, which is what we ultimately want, but it's an improvement for this team. I thought we competed for the entire game. There was no doubt about that, even during tough times.
"I thought we were a highly conditioned team from the first play to the last play. We were not outmatched in strength. We were facing a team that's going to contend for its division title and possibly a national championship. I didn't really know how we would compare with them. I knew with [Assistant Athletics Director/Strength and Conditioning] Jeff Connors here and the emphasis we put on conditioning, we would be in great shape. We didn't get mashed or mauled around versus a very, very good football team."
On The Turnovers
"The one thing we know we have to correct is the turnover ratio. We have to get that fixed and we will. We already started making corrections last night. We'll keep emphasizing what we've been doing in terms of drills and exercises we're conducting in practice for both the offense and defense.
"The game was evident of the turnovers. We led 4-1 in the turnover ratio in the first half. When I say taking care of the ball, that's not just offense, but I mean special teams, too. Taking away the ball is not just defense, but also special teams' coverage units. All the special teams groups need to follow through with the turnover ideas as well.
"In the first half we did that. In the second half it was reversed. We didn't take the ball away defensively and didn't take care of the ball on offense. We have to get that corrected and we will."
On East Carolina's Offense
"Offensively, I thought we moved the ball pretty much how we wanted to. I give our opponents a lot of respect and always will. But in all respect to South Carolina, I think it was more of our mistakes stopping drives.
"Our offense did a great job moving the football. Our offensive line had the third fewest returning starts in the country and their defensive line probably has six NFL Draft picks on it. Melvin Ingram, Travian Robertson and Devin Taylor will all be high selections, as will Jadeveon Clowney, a young stallion, when he's eligible for the draft. Our line held up. Their defensive line got us a few times, which you expect with three first-time starters. There were some things that were really impressive for us.
"All four of our running backs had never played extensively in a Division I game before and they did some good things. Reggie Bullock, Michael Dobson, Torrance Hunt and Alex Owah were dependable and caught the ball well. I feel good about that group. It will definitely be able to do some things for us.
"Our receiver group was the one we knew we had the most depth in going into fall camp. We had some situations that limited our depth there, but I was pleased with the performances. Lance Lewis showed his level of play. It was not surprising to us or to Lance. He did a great job against one of the top defensive backs in the country. He had a turnover, but last night he was the hardest working guy at practice trying to get that corrected.
"The young players in freshmen Justin Hardy and Danny Webster are going to be productive Pirates for a long time. They have a chance to be very good. They were not intimidated by the moment. Hardy was involved in more than 80 plays. For a freshman in his first football game, that's impressive. He did not want to come out of the game. [Inside receivers coach] Donnie Kirkpatrick and I kept checking on him, but he always said he was good. That just demonstrates his mentality and our conditioning emphasis.
"Dominique Davis did a great job with audibles and getting us into the correct plays. He had one tough throw and a little stretch where he and I feel he could have done a few things differently. He came out and led a young football team. He had great poise and I was pleased with his level of play."
On East Carolina's Defense
"Defensively, I thought we showed an outstanding ability to overcome some criticism. The group went against a South Carolina team that will test and stretch every defense it goes up against. They can test you vertically and horizontally and have a Heisman Trophy candidate in running back Marcus Lattimore.
"I thought our defense did a good job. The score was not indicative at all of how our defense played. Our 3-4 alignment could not have been tested anymore than by South Carolina's abilities. Stephen Garcia is a really good football player and their leader. I thought we also did a good job on Alshon Jeffery, who is a big fellow and solid player.
"The defensive line did more than hold its own against the offensive line. They did a good job up front. The linebackers did a nice job running around. Marke Powell, Justin Dixon and Chris Baker all had played on the line before and made a nice transition. Cliff Perryman is the only one who had been a linebacker the whole time we've been here. They all made some plays.
"Inside were Daniel Drake and Jeremy Grove making their first career starts. They did some really good things. They were active and aligned our defense. They only had one or two missed calls. For those guys to be in that atmosphere with that type of pressure, they did a good job. Everybody up front relies on them to make those calls.
"Leonard Paulk stepped in for Emanuel Davis in the secondary and Paulk did an excellent job. He wasn't noticed, which meant he did his job. He made some plays, did a good job in coverage, competed the whole game and had a great mindset. It was also the first start for Derek Blacknall as a field cornerback. They tried to test him early with Jeffery, but went away from him. Damon Magazu and Bradley Jacobs did a good job aligning our secondary. That's very important against a team like South Carolina that can stretch you. Those two are leaders on the back end."
On East Carolina's Special Teams
"I was disappointed in our coverage teams to say the least. We'll get that fixed. We'll get that done. We try to directional kick as much as possible to pin returners, so we need our experienced specialists to place the football where we need to. We knew they would have great and talented returners.
"We also have strong returners. Our blockers have to do a great job for Lewis, Bullock, Michael Bowman, Webster and Hunt. They can all return the football. We have to make sure our guys up front do their jobs. For many of them, it was their first game. They had to jump straight into the fire. There wasn't any warming up for them. But we'll get that fixed because we have some players who can make things happen on the back end. I like those guys. You can't replace Dwayne Harris with one player, but it takes a group of players."
On Facing Virginia Tech
"We'll keep working and improving. We won't rest on anything we did well. The 24-hour rule has passed and our focus is turned to Virginia Tech. They were ranked 13th last week and are a typical Frank Beamer coached team.
"They'll have some really outstanding players on special teams, offense and defense. Of course special teams, `Beamer Ball,' are what they're known for. Coach Beamer has had to replace some specialists, but he has the top kickoff guy in the country in Justin Myer, one of the best I've seen in 31 years. They'll have a chance to win the Atlantic Coast Conference, go to a BCS game and compete for the national championship."
On Virginia Tech's Offense
"Offensively, you start with the line that returns four starters, including All-ACC selections Blake DeChristopher and Jaymes Brooks. They have a very good unit up front. It's very similar to South Carolina's. Their guys have been through it and won a championship together a year ago.
"At wide receiver, they return their top three but lost the tight end. Danny Coale, Jarrett Boykin and Dyrell Roberts are back again. They can really do some things. We'll have to be aware of them.
"At the running back position, David Wilson will be the tailback. I thought he was one of the best last year. He can run, has quickness and is a track star. He can catch the football and run it. He has great vision and presents a different look than Marcus Lattimore. Wilson has that breakaway speed as well as slashing ability.
"The quarterback position lost Tyrod Taylor, but replaces him with Logan Thomas. He's 6-foot-6, 254 pounds and can run and throw the football. He's in the mold and build of Cam Newton. He has been waiting for his turn and won the job outright in the spring. He did a good job in his first official start against Appalachian State."
On Virginia Tech's Defense And Special Teams
"It's a Bud Foster defense that's athletic all across the board. The defensive line will be led by end James Gayle and tackle Antoine Hopkins. It's a typical Virginia Tech line that's quick and athletic. It won't be the tall line like we saw from South Carolina. The last time I saw a group that was that tall was Nebraska in the early 2000s. This group will have athleticism, strength and power.
"The linebackers are led by Bruce Taylor. He had a great year in 2010 and is back. The other inside linebacker is Tariq Edwards. He's 6-foot-2, 231 pounds and has earned that position. Jeron Gouveia-Winslow will be the other outside linebacker.
"It's another year and they have another preseason all-America selection at defensive back. Jayron Hosley can cover and has a chance to be a top NFL Draft choice. He's a really good football player. At safety is Eddie Whitley, who earned the spot and does a good job running the secondary.
"Bud has put out one of the top defenses in the country year in and year out.
"`Beamer Ball' on special teams features the best kickoff guy I've seen in about 30 years in Justin Myer. He kicked off 94 times last year and 30 were touchbacks. We only had a chance to return one against him last year. The punt returner is Hosley and the kickoff guy is Wilson."
On Returning Home To Play
"We're looking forward to coming home. It's a team we know we have to prepare for. We touched a little bit on them during fall camp.
"We are home and looking forward to coming to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. It'll be a great atmosphere. We're looking forward to being around our people, but the Charlotte crowd was great. We travel well here at East Carolina. There was a fan group and great atmosphere in Charlotte. Now we get to come back to Greenville. If you want to see a big-time atmosphere, you need to come to Greenville and see it from beginning to end."
On Focusing On Special Teams Because Of Virginia Tech's Abilities
"We spend more time than anybody on special teams. I'm a former special teams coordinator, so we spend a lot of time with it. I meet with the group daily and sit in on all their meetings. We won't spend additional time on it this week because of Virginia Tech."
On Changes From Week One To Week Two
"I believe in what we're doing. We've had a plan in place for a while and will continue to improve. We're going to worry about East Carolina and make sure we get better. We're going to focus on what I keep harping on - continuing to play hard, fast and smart.
"These teams we're playing don't give us room for mistakes. Any miscue can cost you like we saw Saturday. We have to continue to take care of the ball on offense and take it away on defense. We have to compete continue our conditioning level."
On Injuries
"Mike Price will back for this week. He's feeling good. Kyle Tudor and Justin Jones won't be back this week."
On The Returns Of Michael Bowman And Emanuel Davis
"They were humbled before. From the first conversation with me, they understood what was happening. We're going to be decisive, precise and act quickly. I'm very clear on that. It's not based on who we play or who that person is. They understood from the moment they stepped into my office.
"It lasted through Saturday night and now they're more than welcome back. They served on the scout team leading up to the opener and did a great job of running opposing teams' plays.
"They did a great job addressing the team about the issue during fall camp. There was never any problem with attitude. They know the standard we hold them to. If you treat a person as he is, he'll say as he is. If you treat him as he can be, that's what he'll become. I believe that and they understand that. They made a mistake, have done everything I've asked and are ready for next Saturday."
On Virginia Tech's Strengths
"I always look at the strong suits. The quarterback and skill guys are good, but as a coach I look at their interior. The offensive and defensive lines are critical to any team.
"They return four starters on the offensive line. On the defensive line, they have fewer returners, but they have great athletes from all over. Coach Beamer has been there for 25 years so they've recruited well. Those two units are very strong, which to me equals a very, very good football team.
"People have worried about losing Taylor at quarterback, but Thomas is a big guy who can throw the football and run. All those quarterback-designed runs can carry over to Thomas. They're a three-headed football team with offense, defense and special teams.
"The group of coaches has been there for a long time and understands what Coach Beamer wants. It's a team that doesn't need to rebuild, but just reload."
On Limiting Turnovers
"I look at myself and wonder what I can do better. We always end each practice will ball security drills for the offense and special teams and strip drills on defense. My answer to a problem is to work, keep working and continue working.
"It could be a maturation issue, but we're not going to be into moral victories or excuse making. We have to tuck the ball away tighter and protect it. On defense, we have to keep tugging at the ball. The ball didn't come out by accident. It was a product of us tugging at it. We held onto the ball due to proper protection in the first half. We just have to keep working on it."
On What There Is To Learn From A Program Like Virginia Tech's
"I've been around the game a long time. I take a lot from my own experiences and always have big eyes and big ears, especially when I'm around coaches like Steve Spurrier Saturday. I talked to Coach Brown from Texas quite a bit. My dad, of course, too.
"Coach Beamer shows what having a plan, sticking to it and believing in your plan can do for your program. When he first took over, it wasn't like this. Through belief, faith and philosophies, he has it where he wants it now.
"They started off slow last year and then ran the table to play in a BCS game against Stanford. When you believe, it just matriculates through your football team. I learned that from watching him. He believes in his plan. It's not about what the opponent does, but what he does.
"Their offense changes and adapts, but they've always had a quarterback who can beat you with his arm and legs. Bud has been a big factor on the defense. He has had an opportunity to leave for head coaching spots, but he has stayed. Virginia Tech was not a stepping stone for Coach Beamer, just like East Carolina is no stepping stone for me. I watch what he does and those things are evident for his program."
On The Excitement Of The Home Opener
"I hope the kids are thinking about doing their jobs. If you want to be a hero for us, do your job. Young guys try to do something extra. I know they're trying to get an extra yard or cause a turnover, but tuck the ball or make a tackle. Be in your lane, block your assigned guy, make a great read or run a great route. I'm hoping they're thinking that.
"Defensively, I want them thinking about to continuing to improve and do their assignments. I want them to keep believing and trusting. It's how we improve each week. It's what we do and how we do what we do.
"The emotion from our crowd when we're going through the tunnel and the song comes on speaks for itself."
