UCF head coach George O'Leary met with the media Monday afternoon at Bright House Networks Stadium for his weekly press conference. He discussed last Saturday's contest against Missouri and looked ahead to the C-USA opener vs. East Carolina in Orlando Thursday.

On his team's performance:

"Just to review the Missouri game, what I said after the game was pretty much accurate. I thought offensively we weren't as physical as we were in the first half, especially on the backside blocking. I thought the quarterback had some throws that he needs to make but I think it's just him being young. Defensively, I thought we played well enough to win except that last series where we missed tackles and gave up a long touchdown run. Every phase of the game had a piece of it. I always say that there are six plays that make a difference in a game, and I think there was three this game. Obviously, the 80-yard touchdown catch where we had a tackle and didn't wrap up and it goes for 80 yards. That sort of gave them life. Next, was the punt return, which we had the whole right side not where they belonged from a contain element. And the fumble, because I really believe driving down 21-16, we have a chance with time on the clock because I thought we have them on their heels a little bit and then we fumbled the ball. ... That was the game, and we covered it on Sunday with them, I didn't spend a lot of time on it, except correcting mistakes so it wasn't one person or one group, every phase as far as special teams, offense and defense had a piece of it. I tell them everything right now is for the conference championship and we're playing a team that's 2-0 in conference play that's in our division, so every game is critical as far as our goal is concerned for Conference USA. Again, it was a disappointing game on Saturday. It's a game within reach and we have to make some plays to come out with a win."

 

On the tough loss for the players and putting it behind them...

"They understand. It's coaches too. I kick myself right before the half because I've had that happen in my history where I sent the field goal team out and guys upstairs were like 'coach, we can get one more play in.' And I should've stuck to my guns and kicked the field goal and score your points because the inevitable what you don't want to happen, happened. That had nothing to do with the locker room, I just think we went out in the second half and Missouri played like their defense could play. And we weren't as physical or executing offensively like we did in the first half. I think the players understand, I think they took the loss very difficult just like we do any losses. But they (players) understand that we have to get back and get ready for our Conference USA first game, first opponent vs. East Carolina."

 

On the letdown in the second half...

"Nothing was different, they didn't make any adjustments. Someone said, 'they came out in solid.' They were in solid the second play of the game, so that wasn't the answer. I think basically, it's when you have a chance to make plays, you have to make them. I look at the senior class on offense and they're the ones that have to get going. I talked to them about it, 'hey fellas, not everything is pretty. It's the end result and you have to keep working and working and good things will happen to you.' After halftime, there's nothing that I can say we're doing different, coaches make the adjustments that have to be made based on any changes to their offense and defense and we continue to the field. We got a turnover on the first series there, a pick by Kemal Ishmael and I thought we were on our way again. That was just disappointing."

 

On the defensive line's performance...

"When you go back to (Troy Davis') sophomore year, (inside is) where he executed the best because he's a very quick individual. I thought the defensive line was the most active they've been all season. They came up with five sacks and could've had two more if the quarterback didn't make them miss on the two. I thought they were more active and if they can continue that pressure, then we'll be fine on defense. I thought we tackled better except for a couple of plays where we tried to throw knockout punches instead of wrapping up and trying to secure the tackle."

 

What stands out for East Carolina...

"They went to a new defense, more of a 3-4 package now. They ran some of that last year, but now they are a 3-4 team. They have seven new starters out there; they look like they're faster than they were a year ago. Offensively, they seem to have found a running back they're real happy with, a junior college transfer (Cooper No. 21). A lot of their receivers are back from last year. The quarterback is thorough, he manages the game well. It's going to be typical of what we've seen this year, no huddle and a lot of different variations as far as formations. With the short week, today is like a Tuesday and tomorrow is like a Wednesday-Thursday type practice. I understand we had a tough game Saturday, not just contact but the heat. We're in fairly good shape; I thought our guys hung in there pretty well as far as what's taking place. You have to watch wearing them down in practice with a short week."

 

On running the ball more as the season progresses...

"No I think people are crowding the box with eight guys so were taking what's available. If you look at the conference and the amount of points given up and the amount of points scored, we're right about where we normally are, which I think is the number one thing you look at, as far as what you do when you have the ball in your hands and what they do when they have the ball in their hands. I think the big thing we still have to continue to get better on is ball security on offense and takeaways on defense."

 

On how Jeff Godfrey has progressed in his different roles on offense...

"Jeff's done a great job, he really has. We still need to find ways to get him the ball more in different situations. I think we try to utilize him as much we can in certain situations, and I've been very pleased with him as far as all that stuff that happened last year and it has been behind him. He's very happy of what he's doing right now and I'm putting him more on special teams. You may see him punt return this week."

 

On Blake Bortles...

"He's fine. People don't understand. A lot of things that happened to him are the first time it's ever happened. He's hasn't been out there for three years; he's been out there for one year (as a starter), four games, 25 percent of the season. If you get hit a couple of times, all of a sudden you start looking around and start getting a little antsy. Everybody's like that, until they have enough experience to get over that. I have put more pressure on practice this week to get some things done there but I have the up-most faith in him controlling the offense and getting things done right. I think there were times we probably were a little bit out of sync on Saturday. He'll be fine. A lot of the situations he'll be better the next time he sees that situation occur."