Head Coach Greg Robinson Transcript (August 31, 2005)
Head Coach Greg Robinson on the players feeling the pressure for game one:
“I doubt it. I think right now they’re in the ‘at-work mode’ and I like their focus.”
Robinson on West Virginia’s quarterbacks:
“Well, first of all there are just a few plays of film of Bednarik and there’s no film on White so I can only imagine. So it’s just a matter of really we have to defend their offense, and quite frankly, the game is really going to be about adjusting and improvising so we’ll have to take it as it comes.”
“Well, it’s the just way the game is. That’s what you’re dealing with. At the same time, those guys haven’t played a ton themselves. There’s a reason why they still have two of them available. So I think all of that will play out.”
Robinson on the enthusiasm surrounding the game:
“Well, you can feel that there’s a lot of enthusiasm and there’s a lot that’s been generated and I think that everybody’s feeding off of it. I think the team is. I think the coaches are. It’s a great thing. Even from the thought of the quad walk and just having the fans involved I think is a good thing.”
Robinson on advice he received throughout the week:
“Keep working. I haven’t had time to get a lot of advice during this week, I really haven’t. But I’ve talked to a lot of people over time and what most people tell me is just be me and the key to this game is all about preparation and that’s what we’re hard at work doing right now.”
Robinson on naming a starting kicker:
“We’ll probably wrap that up here tomorrow. I mean as we said, we’d rather be patient with it and just let it work itself out.”
Robinson on West Virginia’s offensive line:
“Their offensive line is very good. And people say they only have three starters back but there are two others who have started numbers of games so to me they’ve got five guys who have started football games and they’re very well coached and they’re very good.”
Robinson on Chris Thorner and Tony Jenkins:
“Well Chris had a very good spring and came back this fall and has only gotten better so it wasn’t a matter of over, it was just at that time through spring ball we rated him higher than Tony and really he hasn’t done anything to disprove that since spring. He (Thorner) plays very physical, he’s a very physical player and he runs better than people think. He brings a lot.”
Robinson on Tommy Harris:
“Tommy’s ready to roll and he’ll be going today. He’s had a very good training camp and we’ve been pleased. He’s sprite, he can run, and he brings some things to the table.”
Robinson on the importance of turnovers:
“Some people would tell you it is the key to winning football games, and I’m one that feels very strongly about that. It’s amazing when you’re plus in the turnover world.The ratio: +1 equals about 75% winning, I think +2 equals about 85% and +3 puts you in about the 95th percentile so it’s real important. I mean your chance for success when you’re plus is very good and when you’re minus isn’t very good.”
“I like to believe that in the past the teams that I’ve been a part of have been good at getting turnovers. So, I think the way that we play and the way that we tackle and the way that we go to the ball, all of those things are factors. I’m very interested to watch our group go. I like our group, and I’ll be interested to see where we’re at in regard to that.”
Robinson on individual players making plays:
“Well, there’s times where individuals can create it, sometimes on those interceptions, the person on the receiving end, it’s because maybe somebody else’s duty, maybe somebody in the rush, or whatever. I think anytime you have somebody who can create plays, that’s a good thing. You know we had Derrick Johnson last year (at Texas) who led the nation in caused fumbles, and I like to take credit for his talents (laughing), but, no, he’s so gifted, and when you have a person like that, that’s a plus.”
“I see that (potential) in several players, I really do. You know we have players who can get around and I think it’s built for more than one player. I just don’t see that very often. I think it’s a team defense and it’s a lot of people doing things. I think Anthony (Smith) is an aggressive player, but there are a number of guys, even in training camp, who have come up with some big plays.”
Robinson on the number of players that will see time on Sunday:
“I think immediately you have to say you’re going to play seven to eight defensive linemen, you’re going play three or four linebackers, and you’re going to play five or six defensive backs. That’s a given for the most part. So you know, you start doing the math.”
Robinson on the players that might see time:
“I think on the defensive line it’s Tony Jenkins, Nick Santiago, Lee Williams, Cornelius Campbell, Eugene Brown, Cory Brooks. All those guys could find their way into the game, and I might be leaving somebody else out of it. But that’s a number of the guys up front and so many of the linebackers are going to be on special teams and doing those things. I mention six secondary players in the scheme of defense but there could be eight or nine out of the 20 players on special teams, at least, so we’ll try to make the most of it.”
Robinson on Anthony Smith:
“He (Anthony Smith) brings a passion to the game and to the team. He plays defense the way you’re supposed to play defense. He has an aggressive mindset. He’s a tough, physical guy. He can run. Those are nice components. And, you know at the same time we have ways to utilize his abilities. He can cover. There are a number of things he’s being asked to do.”
Robinson on West Virginia”
“We’re not going to assume anything about them (WVU) and we’re just going out to play. We just need to play well and let things take care of themselves, really. If we’re playing well, we’ll be getting the ball.”
