Pasqualoni Previews Game Against Rutgers
11/20/2000 9:10:39 PM | Football
On passing against Miami:
"All the way around Miami is a real good team. They have good players rushing on the inside and outside of their defensive line. They also have a good secondary. With their personnel and the blitzes they were running they certainly disrupted our passing game. We had a couple of opportunities. On our first third down it would have been nice to complete the pass R.J. Anderson threw to Maurice Jackson. Maurice was open and the pass protection was good on that play. It was difficult to pass against them."
On the experience gained by R.J. Anderson in the game against Miami:
"For any young player to compete in a game like the one we played against Miami it is going to be a good experience. There is no question that Miami is a real good team. The speed of the game is a bit different when you play them. For a young player like Robin (R.J. Anderson) to play against a fast defense it is an excellent experience."
On Miami's pass protection:
"They did a good job protecting Ken Dorsey. They doubled Duke Pettijohn. The tight end cut him and the tackle doubled him. The difference between this game and the Virginia Tech game is that when Duke was doubled, Dwight Freeney was coming from the other side and when Dwight was doubled that freed Duke. In not having Dwight we lost a bit in trying to defend the play action, which Miami did a very good job of executing."
On the offensive line personnel vs. Miami:
"We are trying to utilize our resources. Miami has two very good interior defensive linemen. Joe Burton has played guard and we wanted put some guys in there to block Damione Lewis. Having Joe at guard required Kevin Sampson and Giovanni DeLoatch to play tackle. We will continue to work people in and out of the offensive line rotation."
On running the option vs. Miami:
"In running the option you're trying to make their defenders play assignment football. It is an attempt to slow them down because they have very specific assignments. In looking at Miami's season they struggled with the option in their loss at Washington. Coming into our game they changed a lot of what they do in their approach to the option."
On the difference in the Miami program from two years ago:
"Two years ago the difference in this team that most of the Miami players were sophomores. They didn't have that much experience or depth in 1998. At that point we (Syracuse) had a senior quarterback (Donovan McNabb) who might have been the best quarterback in the country, a first-round draft pick at wide receiver (Kevin Johnson) and fullback (Rob Konrad). We had the experience at that point. Now Miami has gained experience."
On the mindset of Rutgers:
"They played well against Notre Dame and West Virginia. They will be very well prepared. They will be excited to come here and play the final game of the season for Terry Shea and for the seniors in their program."
On the goal of a winning season and playing in a bowl game:
"The big goal that we have left on the board is to have a winning season. This weekend will determine a lot about the bowl picture. All we can do is prepare for Rutgers and play a good game on Saturday. We want to be a 6-5 team and hopefully we'll get the opportunity to play in a bowl. Our focus needs to be on Rutgers and not a bowl."
On the play of defensive tackles Rickie Simpkins and Eric Downing:
"Eric Downing and Rickie Simpkins have played very disciplined, good football. They have gotten better every week. You don't play the kind of run defense we've been playing without having the strong play we have gotten from Eric and Rickie on the inside. Christian Ferrara and Louis Gachelin have also helped by being able to play and keep Eric and Rickie fresh. Their playing on Sundays has to do with what they are going to do from the time that the season ends to the day of the draft. Once the is season over they will start individual workouts and meet with various teams. For Eric and Rickie, as well as any of the other seniors that have aspirations to play in the NFL, getting ready is an everyday job. There is a lot that needs to get done before the draft, but only those individuals can do that work."
