Oct. 20, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. - On Tuesday afternoon, UCF held its weekly press conference to discuss this week's return to Conference USA play on Saturday as the Knights head to Houston to face Rice at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Below are some exerpts from today's event.
Looking back at the Miami game:
"I told the players that it was very disappointing. But, when you break it down, there's about six or seven plays that made a difference in the game and everybody can probably name them. The big thing there is that we didn't play like we needed to play as far as making plays. Defensively we made some plays that kept us in the game and offensively we had opportunities that we didn't take advantage of. It breaks down to about six or seven plays where if we made a play, it's a ball game heading into the fourth quarter."
On the possibility of a letdown going from playing Miami to Rice:
"I always treat each game as a separate season and this is why I do that. The players understand that the season is still out there as far as what their goals are to win the conference and get to a bowl game. That's still available. Nothing is said and done there. We've just got to take care of business each week. Rice hasn't won a game yet, but when I watch them on tape, they do a lot of good things. The thing that concerns me is that they have been doing some good things on offense but defensively they've given up points and that has made their offense play one-handed. We have to offensively have a very good game and go from there. They do a lot of things on offense that break you down responsibility wise in the run game and the pass game. It will be a big game for our offense to make sure that we do the right things and execute."
On UCF's defense:
"They're playing very well. The front seven is doing a lot of things that they should be doing. Any breakdown on defense last week was just our reaction to the ball in the air. There was no one running free as much as us not going after the ball and playing the ball when it was in the air. I thought their athletes got the ball, but we were in a position to make the play. Some of that is youth and inexperience. I see that group getting better each week. I really do."
On whether he thinks the team pays attention to the standings:
"I'm sure they do. I would hope to heck they do. I don't bring it up very much. I just peek at it once a week. If they don't their parents are. I would think that they're well aware of what is going on in the conference. That's the first thing after a game they wonder `how did they do' because they know what it's breaking down to. The only thing we can do is control our own selves. I tell them that you've got six games left to the regular season and you've got to go out and play each one as if it is the last game. It's like a game; you don't know what six or seven plays are going to make the difference."
On Rice:
"I don't look at records. I know they haven't won but they've played some pretty good opponents. When you watch them on film, what they do on offense gives defenses problems. They throw well. They've caused self-inflicted wounds a little bit. (Toren) Dixon is a very good receiver. They're getting people back healthy. Their quarterback is full strength now. We'll be seeing them with everybody back. Offensively, they do a lot of things. They spread the ball. They're a fast no-huddle team which always presents a problem. And they have a bunch of little backs that are quick and make you miss a lot. Anytime you're in the spread and miss, there's usually yards behind it. Defensively, they have four or five guys out there that make a lot of plays. They do a good job with their blitz package. The problem has been that people have gotten ahead so they made Rice play one-way football to catch up. Anytime you have a team doing that you have a little bit of an edge on defense as far as knowing what they are doing."
On if he has spoken to UConn head coach Randy Edsall about the tragedy there:
"I spoke to him. Randy was with me at Syracuse and he worked for me at Georgia Tech. It was sad. I said I'd do anything I can to help. I made the call and he called me back and let me know what was going on. It's sad. You never know today."