Greg Robinson Press Conference Transcript 11/8
Head coach Greg Robinson on if Tanard Jackson will be available on Saturday:
“I believe so. He practiced on Sunday and he did a nice job.”
Robinson on if Jackson’s role will be limited:
“We haven’t gotten to that. It’s really more of just watching the rest of the week and seeing how he’s doing.”
Robinson on if Jackson had a separation similar to Joe Kowalewski’s injury:
“No. I think it was a slight dislocation that went right back in.”
Robinson on the quarterback situation:
“We’re going to keep it as we did the last game. They’ll both play and Joe (Fields) will start.”
Robinson on if the Cincinnati game was a glimpse that the quarterback rotation can work:
“Obviously, there were a number of things that we liked about it and that we’d like to build off of. That’s how I look at it right now.”
Robinson on if starting Fields gave the offense a spark:
“I saw some things out there, yeah. I thought both quarterbacks did a good job and competed well. I thought that it looked good and quite frankly, I think that Joe has worked hard all season and he sat back, you know, in less of a role. I thought it was fair to let him have a chance to get into the fray. I say let’s continue doing it.”
Robinson on if he liked the spark Fields provided:
“I can only tell you this, that first series was productive. It was good. That’s not to say that if Perry (Patterson) was in, it couldn’t have been the same thing. It did happen. I thought that Joe played better because I think he was more involved than he has been in the past. Perry was involved in the game. As it worked out, we finished with Perry. In basketball, they say it isn’t who starts, it’s who finishes. I don’t know, that sounds like a pretty good little cliché in there. So, my feeling is that both of them available and playing with us is a good thing. We’ll stay with the rotation the same that we did it last time.”
Robinson on if Fields experienced more spasms in his thumb after the Cincinnati game:
“No. He’s been fine. He’s been fine since the Sunday after that game.”
Robinson on if he made any changes during the bye week:
“Really, we had two days of good, hard conditioning, and then two good, hard practices. This was last week. One day we got caught in the rain, so we worked the running game almost exclusively that day. It was a very good, functional day for us. Then, the second day we emphasized the passing game more, and the third down world, which was good. Then, we came back Sunday and got to get started with South Florida work. Other than the wishbone that we’re going to run this week, there haven’t been any other adjustments (laughing).”
Robinson on if there will be changes from where the team has been:
“There have been a lot of reassessments, you know, but major changes from where we’ve been? No. I think we’ve about exhausted our major changes. We’re just trying to win a game right now, we really are, and maintain a focus of trying to improve and get better. I’ve been pleased with that.”
Robinson on if he will change punt returners:
“Possibly. I’ll leave it at that for right now. Bruce Williams could be a candidate.”
Robinson on why the South Florida running game has been so good:
“Number one, this is the best offensive line that we will have faced this year. To me, it’s hands down the best. They’re running back is talented. They have incorporated their quarterback more and more in the running game. Anytime that your quarterback is seriously involved in a running game, even though they’re not running triple option plays, it has the same thing. It takes you to your last man, the discipline of your defense. They tax you very well. On top of that, they have a receiving corps that is gifted. Obviously, (Amari) Jackson is the big name, but they have other players that have made very fine plays. The quarterback does a good job. He gets it out to them. It doesn’t have to be real complicated because people are trying to play the running game. They are a very, very good running football team.”
Robinson on why South Florida’s offensive line is the best they have faced:
“They have three seniors, a junior, and a sophomore. They perform very well, then, on top of that, they are talented. They’re big in certain spots and physical, and then they’re quick, very quick, in a couple of spots. Their center and their left tackle are very, very quick and effective.”
Robinson on what the team is taking from the Cincinnati game:
“Well, Cincinnati seems like about a month ago to me now. But, offensively, we flashed. There were big plays in the offense. It wasn’t just one. It was a number of them. Then, there were a couple of missed opportunities that big plays were there. So, to me that was encouraging. I like the way our defense responded in the second half to the challenge that Cincinnati had put to them in the first half. That’s pretty much what I saw.”
Robinson on if big offensive plays mean more now after struggling:
“I think that when you start getting big plays, it can loosen things up. If we continue to make big plays, now all of the sudden you’re able to chip away and work to control the football.”
Robinson on South Florida running back Andre Hall:
“He’s a very good runner. First of all, he’s tough and fast. On a little five-yard slant pass against Pittsburgh, he took it 70 yards for a touchdown, outran their whole defense. Not only is he a 205-pound back that’s very durable and tough, but he’s got excellent speed as well. He’s a good back, no question. So is #5 (Ricky Ponton), but he’s a little more rugged, bigger guy, a 215-pound back. When he gets in there, he pounds it too.”
Robinson on South Florida’s performance against Louisville:
“Very good. It was just that. They took control of the game. Their offense controlled Louisville.”
Robinson on if Curtis Brinkley is back practicing:
“Hopefully he is coming back. His dad had a bit of a relapse over the weekend, and Curtis went down on Friday and wasn’t able to come back last night. He was hoping to leave first thing this morning to get back.”
Robinson on the importance of the last home game:
“Obviously, there is homecoming and the last game for the seniors, I think it’s very important to those seniors. I know they’d like to go out winning. Particularly, we have a couple of seniors who are hometown players in Damien (Rhodes) and Joe Kowalewski For Joe, it’s been frustrating for him all this season. Also, the whole idea of the retirement of #44, that’s a special part of Syracuse history. We’d like to make it special in every way.”
Robinson on if he sympathizes for this year’s seniors:
“It never has been a rebuilding year. Rebuilding means that you’re putting them aside… we haven’t done that to them. We’ve given them every opportunity to excel, and I think that’s fair. I don’t feel sorry for anybody. I don’t use that term. That’s sympathy. I show compassion. Compassion means I understand what they’re going through and I’m going to help them get through it. That’s different, you see what I’m saying? I choose those words carefully because I don’t want any of our players to feel that they need sympathy. No. Understand and help to fight through it. That’s the mindset of our team and our coaching staff.”
Robinson on if Penn State was a more telling game for South Florida:
“They started the other quarterback, number one. So, it’s hard to tell. It looked different to me. It was a film I really kind of put aside, because I felt like it doesn’t look like the rest of it. It was a little different attack, a little different style. He (Pat Julmiste) has developed as time has gone on in the offense and he’s doing a nice job.”
Robinson on how South Florida was picked last in the league in the preseason poll:
“Back in August, when people were telling me what this was picked and that was picked, I told you, ‘Hey, I’m not a prognosticator.’ I don’t know how anybody could say that. Didn’t they play Miami? Should have beaten them last year. I don’t know about all that. All I know is this, what I see on film. They’re a good football team.”
