Nov. 24, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF head coach George O'Leary held his weekly press conference in Bright House Networks Stadium Tuesday, discussing with the media the Knights' strong play over the second half of the season and this Saturday's road game at UAB.
Currently 7-4 on the season and 5-2 in Conference USA, the Knights will face UAB in Birmingham on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. The game will mark the final regular-season contest for both teams.
On facing a mobile quarterback like UAB's Joe Webb:
""I think first of all let me say that I think Joe Webb is an outstanding quarterback. When I did the tallies on them 51-percent of the running game is him. Even when he drops back to throw, 23-percent of the time he is scrambling. I think he is a big athlete who can do a lot of things. The key is that you can't give him a lot of windows. You have to close the windows off and make him go outside...you have to squeeze the lanes off on him. He is a good player and I have been very impressed with him so far."
On facing UAB with seemingly so little on the line:
"We would be in a little more trouble if the bowl invitations were out and we knew where we were going, when we were going and who we were going to play. Our next bowl game is UAB is how I look at it. That is all we know right now and that is the next game. I think the players understand that. The big thing is that we have a lot we are playing for. We can still get a piece of the division if Southern Miss beats East Carolina. We still have that out there. The seventh win last week was big, but getting the eighth win and having the opportunity to get to a ninth win [in a bowl game] would make for a pretty good year. Anytime you get close to double digits I think it is a good season."
On the expansion of the offense during the year:
"I would say the first part of the season we were purposely limiting the offense because we were not ready to advance from a blocking scheme standpoint and a route recognition standpoint. I think each week we have added a little bit of offense, and the people that are at every game would notice that. Right now there is a new package in. It may not be new in terms of the play run or the pass thrown, but maybe a different formation, a different motion or a different shift. Anything that disturbs the defense or makes them have to adjust to something is a change. I think we have done a good job the latter part of the year of having enough bullets in the gun to attack a defense. We have consistent gotten better offensively each game because we have been very aggressive attacking the coverage. You always say `you throw where they are not and you run where they aren't.' You have more than they got in the box you run it and if you don't have as many, you pass it. It's as simple as that. I think the key has been the quarterback. He is a heady kid that makes good decisions."
On the improvement of the offensive line:
"I think it has been maturity. We have a lot of young kids up there that are giving us some downs. I think what we really took place is that the two guard positions really improved. Theo Goins came on really well and Cliff McCray really came on in terms of getting things done. That was the problem early in the year was the guard play. We have improved in terms of getting movement inside, and that is the key to running the ball is moving the inside people. They are playing with a little bit more confidence."
On the defense looking forward to playing good players offensively:
"They really do. We take great pride in that and the players take great pride in it. I think the best thing is when you don't have to talk about it but the players talk about it. When they bring it up then you know where their heads are. They have seen Webb, and to me he is an impressive kid. He can hurt you with his arm and with his feet. We have our work cut out for us, and the kids know that. They are talking about it which I think is key. It is one thing for me to talk about it and hope they are listening. When they are talking about it they are already listening."
On the progression of quarterback Brett Hodges:
"Don't forget now that when he was at Wake Forest he played in five games. There is a big difference between being a starting quarterback and the second-string quarterback. I think what he has done is come out and each week he has taken his game to a little higher level. I think his accuracy has gotten better, the Houston game he was 21-of-25 and this game (Tulane) he had a very high percentage also (19-of-28). He throws a very catchable ball. He leads them well in their routes. He anticipates and he puts the ball in the air before the cut. He has great perception on the ball on the deep throws. He is what you want. His biggest problem early was holding onto it too long, waiting on a better play instead of taking what the defense gave him early. I have been pleased with him. He has been well-respected by his teammates, and really coming in the first year he has done a great job picking it up and each week getting better and better at moving the football."
On what he talked to his team about after the Miami game:
"That was the sixth game and I told them we have a six-game season. We are going to treat it just the way it is and see what we can get done with this season. Treat each game as a championship game, and that is what I think for the most part the kids have done. They have gone out and played with great enthusiasm and great effort, and I think they have improved in all three phases - offense, defense and the kicking game."