Head Coach Greg Robinson's Press Conference Transcript (Sept. 10, 2006)
What do you know about your team today that you didn’t know prior to the Iowa game?
“I think that we grew from the week before. I thought that defensively, we played better in the running the game from the week before and that we tackled better. I thought that several times throughout that game that we did a very good job of run blocking against a very good run defense. Our offensive line, for a good amount of time throughout the day, protected the quarterback. I thought that we, for the most part, caught the football. There was a marked improvement in that area. These are positive things that I see. I could go on-and-on for and hour the more I think about it. Those are positive things that I see.”
Iowa was a quality team. Was that an effort that we hadn’t seen before?
“We have displayed that kind of effort before. I thought there was more execution this time. There have been very few times when I have just been disappointed of our football team’s effort since I have been at Syracuse. Sometimes the performance is questionable but I thought there was growth in the performance area. Until we win, I can’t say that it might have put us over the hump. We have to win to do that. Maybe through that game, and having to play a tough opponent like that, and taking it to the wire like we did is preparing us to get over the hump.”
Did you learn anything from watching the film of the second overtime?
“I think that on the second time that Tony (Fiammetta) carried the football, from my view of the film and I don’t have an angle right on top, I almost think that he might have scored. I noticed that Perry (Patterson) didn’t react any other time and he reacted on that one like he scored and I asked him and he said ‘I thought he went over.’ The other thing that I thought was strange was that we were on the two-yard line and we had a pass interference in the endzone and the ball was put back on the two-yard line, first and goal. I tried to get the attention but I couldn’t. It was noisy and things were going and we were going up to the line of scrimmage and we couldn’t get the attention (of the official) that we needed to get to try and see if something was done wrong. It would have helped. We obviously needed every little inch we could have got. First and goal on the one would have been better than first and goal on the two. I believe that (the rule) is half the distance to the goal. We were on the two-yard line. The foul occurred in the endzone. I thought that the ball shouldn’t have been put at the exact same place, not the two-yard line. Again, we still have to get it across that line. We got it to the one-yard line and still didn’t score. There are a lot of things that could be said. On the option play, if we make the block, Perry walks in. It is one of those things. If you just surge a little better up front, Tony scores. On the fake reverse play, if we handed the reverse off, it would have been a walk-in. We didn’t block very well on the play that Paul (Chiara) was running with. We missed – we didn’t miss — we were on target but their technique out-techniqued our technique. They did a good job of covering the pass off down there. They interfered the one time down there and they called that. There are a lot of things. The bottom line is we didn’t get it done and we need work right there in that area.”
Did the team prove anything to itself, the coaching staff or the college football world?
“They displayed a tenacity and a fight that I think to them, that is a very positive thing. Did it prove anything to anybody else? You would have to ask the others. That is not my call. The kids knew that they were in a battle and that they were swinging. They just didn’t land the last punch and that was the unfortunate part of it. I think that they’re set to keep going again.”
You had your first try at a challenge, what do you think at this model?
“What you thought was my first try, was not. When Taj (Smith) scored the touchdown, I was getting ready to (challenge) but right then the buzzer went off and the system worked. They had already buzzed down right then that they were reviewing that play. I never had to use the challenge. There came another situation later in the game (a Perry Patterson fumble call that was reversed) when I was getting ready to use the challenge again. Then again, right in the nick of time, the buzzer went off. When their offense was getting ready to run up there and run the play, they reviewed it again and it got overturned again. In my opinion, what is happening is what I would like to be the case. I don’t want to be an official. I am not a big advocate of the challenge because my job is to coach and their job is to officiate and they have created a system that has an opportunity to help the game. I think that yesterday afternoon, there were two situations where the system worked. They got it right and I give them credit for it. It is better than a year ago already. I think a year ago, the approach was they wanted to wait. Now if it is close, they are putting the buzzer on and saying, ‘Hold on, we are going to look at it.’ I thought the system really worked well.”
Will there be some changes in your offensive line?
“First of all, with Marvin McCall, we didn’t know until Friday afternoon that his situation was a little bit more severe then it what it was, so he ended up not playing. Now, can he play? Yes, he can play. In the case of Larry Norton, on Wednesday he injured his toe and was unable to play. As far as the rest of it – the more I think about it — I don’t know why I should really talk about all of the changes. I don’t know that that it is an advantage in any way for me or our team to be discussing that. Just like I didn’t know a thing about (Iowa quarterback) Drew Tate until maybe seven minutes before we came out for pre-game warmup. I never knew a thing about that. I wish I would have. I don’t know what the whole story is on that up to this moment. If I had known a day in advance, that would have been helpful. I don’t know if that is an advantage for me to be giving that (lineup changes) up. To me, it is all about gaining an advantage. Really, I don’t know what we are going to do. Our guys were fighting, clawing and scratching. Were they perfect? No, but they played better.”
You said that their techniques out-techniqued your techniques. Can you talk about that?
“In that situation, down there (on the goal line), they did. It wasn’t every guy. It happened to be this position right here or it happened to be something here or there. It wasn’t everybody and it wasn’t the same people. It was different plays, but you have to give Iowa credit too. They stacked it up pretty good. They did a good job. They said they were going to interfere, I think, on the passing game. They said ‘We are not going to get beat by the pass. We are just going to grab them.’ And that was their approach. They played well. That defensive line is a good defensive line and that (defensive end Bryan) Mattision kid, he is a tough rugged kid and he stepped up that one play and the very last play and did a really good job. I give him credit.”
Is that coaching?
“Maybe I should ask you? I think it is a little bit of everything. Of course it is coaching. It is ability. It is a lot of things. If you want me to say it is coaching, I will. If you want me to say it is ability, I will do that too. It is all of those things and I think that people know that.”
Can you talk about (wide receivers) Taj Smith and Mike Williams and the extra boost they provide?
“I think that Taj is a quick, fast, darting type player. He is a quick-twitch athlete. Anytime you have those type of players – a player that is 6’1” or a tad even taller than that – that is a positive. In Mike Williams case, he is what I term a big unit. He is 200 and something pounds and 6’ 2” and he maneuvers well. He is a leaper and very competitive. He displayed that in the game. When you feel that here you have a number of other receivers who are functional for us and you have people like Taj and Mike infused in there, it is a plus. Taj was with us in Spring ball, but Mike just joined us.”
You had less than 300 yards again and had one touchdown again. What are the numbers where you think your offense should have?
“I don’t know where we should be. There is not a magic number. I would like to score more points. I do know that. I do like that the first down totals went up. We did double our total from the week before. (smiling) Maybe we should double our total every week and I would be satisfied if we did that. The fact of the matter is, we just want to keep developing. Get more first downs. Total yardage? Yes I want more and more. More points – get more points on the board. Those are the things that we have to do.”
Did (running back) Curtis Brinkley separate himself at running back?
“I think that Curtis has done a good job in the first two games. He again was the leading carrier by more than double. As far as being the starter, I see him still being featured that way. Will others sill carry the football? Yes. I am not going to say what the game plan is. He is not going to be the only person carrying the football.”
Can you talk about (cornerback) Terrell Lemon’s effort?
“I think that the first interception, that was a great play. Not only that, it was timely. It was after the fake punt, or (smiling) the not-so fake punt. It was a remarkable play because he put himself in position to be in position doing the right things. Then, to make the catch that he did was outstanding. The other play, he just did what he was supposed to do. He was right in position and the quarterback threw and threw it right to him.”
Any injuries? (Wide receiver) Taj Smith came off the field against Iowa.
“I think he (Taj) is going to be okay. I will learn more here in a little bit. They said he was going to try go out and run around today, see how it is. There are bangs and bruises. (Wide receiver) Dan Sheeran broke a finger in pre-game warm-up. He won’t be able to practice for a couple of days because he is a receiver. I think other than that, we are in pretty good shape.”
Do you believe that (center) Marvin McCall will be ready this week?
“Yes.”
What about (safety and punt returner) Bruce Williams?
“I think he will probably be ready to help out.”
What do those turnovers (forced by your defense) do for your team?
“That (forcing turnovers) is the number one thing that we are thinking about on the defensive side of the ball. We are thinking about finding ways to score on defense. We still haven’t done that, but turning the ball over back to the offense as quickly as you can is paramount. To have a one-play turnaround, that is a big plus. What it does for you is get that ball back to the offense, number one. Number two, there is a sense of excitement and a momentum builder when you get a turnover. Those are big plays in football games that can really generate positive things.”
Can you talk about (free safety) Joe Fields and the tackle that he made?
“As a said it yesterday, I wish he would have lined up where we needed him to be (on the snap). He was about a yard wider than he should have been. If you remember, the quarterback got creamed on the play and had he been pulling the thing, I think Joe would have intercepted the ball. He has to learn that. To do what he did (on the tackle), I think that (Herb) Grisby is about as fast as they have. I could see his stride, he was stepping out. Joe flashed what he could do. There was anther play in that game where he broke on a deep ball that had it not been overthrown, he was going to get to that ball too. I am liking what I see. He is a work in progress. He also made a really good tackle yesterday. I mean formed up and did it the right way. At the point of contact and really struck the guy. He was proud of it.”
How about Fields’ touchdown-saving tackle?
“That field goal created the opportunity to go to overtime. It just shows you that you keep fighting like that. Then to do it the way he (Fields) did it, he knew he better make a move right now. He threw it (his arm) out there and put the hook out there and got him – kind of a Spiderman move.”
