Greg Robinson Press Conference 10/18
Head Coach Greg Robinson on how to teach ball security:
“A lot of things. It’s constant. You have to really coach it hard. It’s ball security, it’s tying it in no matter how hard you’re running. We have to work on that and we do. We lost a little but of a consciousness about it. I’ll give you a great example. Curtis Brinkley against Florida State gets that ball knocked out on the kickoff return. The next week against Connecticut, he returns a ball and he gets out. He’s up to the 30-yard line, picked up 25-30 yards, and now there is a guy coming to get him to make a tackle. I see him. Within four yards of the defender, he begins to secure the ball. He’s even cut his stride down. In essence, he’s saying that ‘I must be more conscious of the security than I do the extra yard right there.’ That’s one situation. Then when you’re out in the open field and sometimes you don’t see people. That’s all habit of how you secure the ball and how tightly you run with that football. Obviously, we got loose with it the other day. These are things that are techniques that we have stressed. Like I say, I’ve been good at it. The moment you assume you’re good at something, you’re about ready for a fall.”
Robinson on Steve Gregory returning punts:
“We’re addressing it, talked about it yesterday and worked on it with him again today. As important as it is for him to get a return, the most important thing is that he can just secure a first down for the offense. We’re excited about that. The home run isn’t necessarily the most important thing. It’s making sure that we still secure the football. We have stopped them on defense, we’ve recovered the football, and now we’re trying to advance it, but not at the risk of losing an opportunity for our offense to get the football. When you put all of that in the mind, I think it puts a little bit of control in them and the game has to have some of that.”
Robinson on addressing ball security in practice:
“We’re specifically going to put them through those situations. We went through it all this morning. We went through every bit of those things this morning. The coaches are creating things, and we’ve done these things. We need to re-emphasize and re-focus, we as coaches. I really do believe that the players will do what we ask them to do, and if we really stress this and get the point across, I think that we will gain from it.”
Robinson on if he has anymore changes to his lineups:
“I want to consider some young players who I see showing life and developing. Maybe, a play here and a play there. I’m not going to get into specifics right now because I really… to say who are they right now? I don’t know. I want to start to try to see if we can do that. In the receiving corps it’s being done. Even in the running back corps it’s being done to an extent. I just think that some of the young players who I think are starting to show some signs of maturity, that’s a good thing. I’m a believer on defense, and it’s hard at the corner position, but I think it’s easiest at the defensive line position, that you play in accordance to your ability and the ability of the guy behind you. What I mean by that is, if you’re the starter, and if the other player is only marginally behind you, it should come out where it’s 60 plays to 40 plays, or 55 plays to 45 plays. But then if there is more of a difference, it’s 60 to 20. Some positions are easier to do than others. We’ve been able to do that some at the linebacker position. We’ve done it a little bit at the safety position. I think that’s something that we’re trying to get involved so you’re always building you’re team. I always say you’re only as strong as you’re weakest link.”
Robinson on if he will play his younger offensive linemen:
“Maybe, if we can find a situation we can plug them in a little bit. It’s obvious that there are a number of seniors going out the door. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to push the seniors out. That is not the intent at all and I would never want to imply anything like that. But, once I start to see… some are developing, some aren’t developing as quickly as others. Maybe we can find a way. I’m using ‘maybe’ because I don’t want to make a statement and then all of the sudden somebody gets led on and they say, ‘Hey, I thought you said…’ No. you have to be careful in that regard.”
Robinson on how many changes there will be:
“I don’t know. I really don’t right now. I think I’m giving you something right there that I’m trying to find something there. But, I’m not ready to make a statement on who or how many.”
Robinson on SU’s defensive play this season:
“I think that they have played well. I think that they’re a good defense. They’ve answered the bell a number of times when put to the challenge. That’s the sign of a good defense. They understand that that’s what their role is and that’s what their responsibility is. I think that they’ve done a good job. I think sometimes statistics can be misleading and to be honest, I don’t get too hung up on it. There are certain statistics that I’m looking for and that’s turnovers, third down wins, scoring on defense, which we haven’t done yet, but we’ve been close to making that play. Rush per carry is important. It isn’t the total yardage. Like I say, if a team gets 58 tries to run the ball on you, there’s a reason. Again, those are just things. I think all in all, we’ve made progress and I think we will continue to.”
Robinson on what a good rush per carry number is:
“I think that anytime that you’re around 3.5, 3.6, you’re playing good football. The total can be misleading. I’m a believer in this. You might have a run that went 18 yards, and you had four runs that were two, two, and two, and then zero. So the total is what? 24. Out of four, that’s six yards a carry. I’d rather have it that way almost.”
Robinson on if he will change the offense when Joe Fields goes into the game:
“I think it has to stay our system and let them (the quarterbacks) play as opposed to building one or the other. That’s crazy.”
Robinson on instant replay and the Kellen Pruitt play at Rutgers:
“No, not really. The referee didn’t know, and that’s why I was not understanding from the ref what his mechanics were. He clearly stated to me that the umpire was the one that saw and it was calling it off. When I saw the end zone film, I could see what he saw. He saw that the ball was in a downward motion, different from maybe what I thought in a previous game. This ball was coming down and did come out and he did call it off. I can understand that one. Are there others?”
Robinson on if it is legal to tackle someone by the hair:
“I believe so.”
Robinson on if he discourages his players from wearing long hair:
“I’m not going to get into the hair issue. You know what? You might see a picture of me back then (laughing). What’s long hair? I don’t know. Neat is what we’re looking for.”
Robinson on whether it is difficult to keep the team’s confidence up and how important it is to keeping the team confident:
“More important than ever to just keep going and to keep our guys up. I use the analogy, again, that I used it last week. The race car drivers are on the track, they get into a spin. They’re taught not to look at the wall. You look at the wall, you’re going to hit the wall. Focus on the recovery point. Focus on the recovery point and you have a chance. That’s what we have to do. We can’t talk about what was. Wait a minute, what is, is. We must understand that what is, is, number one. And number two, we have to take care of today. It’s so true. It isn’t what people want to hear, but it’s so true. That’s what we’re going to focus on. We’re going to focus on how we can get better Sunday, Monday, today is Tuesday. I like to believe that Sunday and Monday… I swear that there were players around this place as much yesterday as there has been all year. Buzzing around, it’s a good thing. Will Hicks told me that there were a ton who came through the weight room to work out yesterday on their own. That’s great. It’s real important that we make sure that our minds are geared toward the proper thing, the things we can control.”
Robinson on if his previous years of coaching prepared him for this:
“I believe in my heart that this is my strength. I believe that. I think any coach who I worked for, you can go to, and they’ll tell you that. I just believe that, that you keep it going. As I tell those players, you play for 60 minutes. Well, this is an 11 game season, and that’s what you do. You signed on. Let’s go. You keep your mind focusing on the thing that you need to take care of. I like the challenge of it. I’d rather not have it, but I like it. It’s a great challenge. I look forward to when the worm turns. I really do because it’s going to happen. I really believe that our players believe that. They know now that a lot of the things that we told them and tried to coach them that were important, maybe sometimes you can only hear so much. When it’s new or whatever, and that’s all of us. It’s like being in class for the first time. Why do you go back and study your notes? Why do you go back and re-listen to the lecture? Because there are things that you say, ‘Wow, I didn’t even hear that part of it’. It’s the same thing. Now all of the sudden, more and more things are becoming more important, and they happen to be the same things that we talked about a month ago. We just need to keep re-confirming and re-establishing with our players the things that are most important. Eventually, there’s going to be a smack, and then you really want to take off on it. That’s the exciting part of it.”
Robinson on how he is holding up:
“I’m ready to go. I’m ready for you (laughing) and the questions.”
Robinson on coaching against Dave Wannstedt and if he thinks about the similarity between their seasons:
“No. Not at all. Dave ain’t feeling sorry for me and I didn’t feel sorry for Dave when he was going through his little turmoil. I know Dave. He is a great guy and we’ve known each other for a long time. He was at USC when I was at UCLA, the first time we came across each other back in 1982. We’ve known each other since. To be honest with you, I don’t think much about Dave right now.”
Robinson on Pittsburgh:
“I’m thinking about their players. I’m thinking about what (offensive coordinator Matt) Cavanaugh is thinking. That’s the name of the game right now, getting down to it. “
Robinson on Pittsburgh quarterback Tyler Palko:
“Who’s he? (laughing). I’m only kidding, c’mon. I like Palko. I like him. He is a competitor. He’s gifted. Walt Harris, who is a good friend of mine, has great respect for him and his family. He’s a Pitt guy. I think that says a lot about a kid. When a program sees him like that, that’s a good thing.”
Robinson on Pittsburgh’s offensive turnaround:
“I was just saying Sunday, you throw a three-yard pass, it goes for 65 yards, that’s a wonderful thing. They’re getting it done. They’re getting it done on offense, defense, and the kicking game. They’re playing good ball right now.”
Robinson on how important the second half of the season is for the seniors:
“I think it’s really important for them. The thing that they can’t do, is that they can’t lose hope. You and I all know that if this group of guys got this thing all turned and got on it, you people, as well as I, would really let them know how special that is. But, right now, they can’t even fathom down the road. They have to stay focused on being diligent on what they’re doing right now. Take care of it, and keep those blinders on. (smiling) God, that’s boring, but it’s so real.”
Robinson on if the seniors are a part of the new era:
“They know they are. Heck yeah, they do. As much as they have invested, this group has invested a ton. I can go through them to a man. They have invested. They really have. They’ve given it up.”
Robinson on if he has talked to (offensive guard) Jason Greene:
“No, I have not. I talked to his family, expressed exactly how I felt. That’s the bottom line.”
