Head Coach Greg Robinson Press Conference (October, 30, 2007)
Opening Statement:
"Good afternoon and long time no see. It is good to be back and obviously it means it's game week. I think the bye (in the schedule) was timely for us and I look forward to get going here for the start of November. With four BIG EAST games, the first one being Pitt, it’s a very important time for us."
"Good afternoon and long time no see. It is good to be back and obviously it means it's game week. I think the bye (in the schedule) was timely for us and I look forward to get going here for the start of November. With four BIG EAST games, the first one being Pitt, it’s a very important time for us."
On how the open week helped the health of the team and who will be returning:
"We would like to believe that we got mentally and physically rested. At the same time, I think, that we worked enough and conditioned enough to still be ready to go. We have work to do, obviously. As far as what we know about who is coming back, we know that we have (cornerback) Dowayne Davis back. We haven’t been in full pads yet, but I do think that (fullback) Tony Fiammetta will be back with us. From there, I think we’ll have to play it by ear. We’ll know more as the week progresses."
"We would like to believe that we got mentally and physically rested. At the same time, I think, that we worked enough and conditioned enough to still be ready to go. We have work to do, obviously. As far as what we know about who is coming back, we know that we have (cornerback) Dowayne Davis back. We haven’t been in full pads yet, but I do think that (fullback) Tony Fiammetta will be back with us. From there, I think we’ll have to play it by ear. We’ll know more as the week progresses."
On if anything in particular was addressed:
"It was as much about working a lot of different people. A lot of the young players we infused into many of the drills – the competitive drills that maybe they weren’t getting as much throughout the season. They got to do more of it and we got to see more of them. Obviously, the timing in the passing game is important, as is working on coverages and so on. We had a chance to work in those areas. "
"It was as much about working a lot of different people. A lot of the young players we infused into many of the drills – the competitive drills that maybe they weren’t getting as much throughout the season. They got to do more of it and we got to see more of them. Obviously, the timing in the passing game is important, as is working on coverages and so on. We had a chance to work in those areas. "
On who will be playing tailback:
"We have a number of guys who can play and obviously they even played fullback the week before. We have Doug Hogue, Paul (Chiara) and Jeremy (Sellers). Tony Fiammetta has carried the ball at different times."
"We have a number of guys who can play and obviously they even played fullback the week before. We have Doug Hogue, Paul (Chiara) and Jeremy (Sellers). Tony Fiammetta has carried the ball at different times."
On if he would move freshman Max Suter to tailback:
"Max is a defensive football player for us."
"Max is a defensive football player for us."
On what they have done with freshman running back Doug Hogue over the past week:
"We’re working. He is working, growing and trying to develop his game. We have not been in pads, so it’s hard for me to tell you that. I know this, he’s getting more turns and that’s a plus for a very young player."
"We’re working. He is working, growing and trying to develop his game. We have not been in pads, so it’s hard for me to tell you that. I know this, he’s getting more turns and that’s a plus for a very young player."
On freshman linebacker Parker Cantey:
“He did some good things in that game (Buffalo) and I think, Parker is kind of feeling his way into the line-up. I just think it’s about experience and he’s doing fine. He’s making progress and I see a lot of potential in Parker."
“He did some good things in that game (Buffalo) and I think, Parker is kind of feeling his way into the line-up. I just think it’s about experience and he’s doing fine. He’s making progress and I see a lot of potential in Parker."
On if Cantey is a strong side linebacker:
"Yes. That is what he has been for us since he joined the program. He's coming along. I think Parker has been a steady work in progress and I see development."
"Yes. That is what he has been for us since he joined the program. He's coming along. I think Parker has been a steady work in progress and I see development."
On Pittsburgh:
"They had a tough game against Michigan State that was a good hard fought battle that went down to the wire – it went down to overtime or double overtime. Against Cincinnati, they played very well. In Louisville, they did some very good things, obviously, to put themselves in position in the last play of the game to tie or win the game. They are a good football team and they have some very good players. They have some similarities in the sense that they have some young players they’re trying to bring along. At times it can look real grim and then times they are disappointed with certain things. All-in-all they are a team that is working hard and trying to get better and I see it."
"They had a tough game against Michigan State that was a good hard fought battle that went down to the wire – it went down to overtime or double overtime. Against Cincinnati, they played very well. In Louisville, they did some very good things, obviously, to put themselves in position in the last play of the game to tie or win the game. They are a good football team and they have some very good players. They have some similarities in the sense that they have some young players they’re trying to bring along. At times it can look real grim and then times they are disappointed with certain things. All-in-all they are a team that is working hard and trying to get better and I see it."
On Pittsburgh running back LeSean McCoy:
"I remember LeSean as a high school player and I knew he was a very gifted player and he is that. He's a fine runner and does a good job as a receiver out of the backfield. He's what people expected from him and he's a guy we have to deal with."
"I remember LeSean as a high school player and I knew he was a very gifted player and he is that. He's a fine runner and does a good job as a receiver out of the backfield. He's what people expected from him and he's a guy we have to deal with."
On Pittsburgh quarterback Pat Bostick:
"I see him growing and I think he’s getting more comfortable. I thought in the Louisville game, especially in the second half, there was a comfort level in this game. Pat has a strong arm and he's a heady quarterback who just is learning. He's coming along and he has a nice group of people (around him). He's comfortable throwing the ball to his receivers."
"I see him growing and I think he’s getting more comfortable. I thought in the Louisville game, especially in the second half, there was a comfort level in this game. Pat has a strong arm and he's a heady quarterback who just is learning. He's coming along and he has a nice group of people (around him). He's comfortable throwing the ball to his receivers."
On what makes McCoy a good runner:
"He's a darting-type runner who has good instincts. He can sense when he's kind of corralled and finds ways to get out of it."
"He's a darting-type runner who has good instincts. He can sense when he's kind of corralled and finds ways to get out of it."
On dealing with Pittsburgh running back LaRod Stephens-Howling:
"I think he's a very good player. He is down-right fast and he can make you miss too. For as good as McCoy is, you talk about a nice one-two punch. It's a good combination. He is not as big in stature as a lot of backs, but he plays big and he is quick and can make you miss."
On what impresses him the most about Pittsburgh:
"I just think they are a team that is working hard – they really are. They are a team that is fighting the fight right now and I see it."
"I think he's a very good player. He is down-right fast and he can make you miss too. For as good as McCoy is, you talk about a nice one-two punch. It's a good combination. He is not as big in stature as a lot of backs, but he plays big and he is quick and can make you miss."
On what impresses him the most about Pittsburgh:
"I just think they are a team that is working hard – they really are. They are a team that is fighting the fight right now and I see it."
On Pittsburgh linebacker Scott McKillop:
"He's a good player, a very good player. Between the tackles is where he is making a ton of his plays and does a good job of it."
"He's a good player, a very good player. Between the tackles is where he is making a ton of his plays and does a good job of it."
On how important the last four games are for the team:
"I really look forward to this month and I don’t mean that I’m looking past Pitt at all. It's the BIG EAST and this is the exciting time of the year when you have to make your move. To me it's exciting. It's really what you're looking for and I'd like our football to show that there is still a lot of development left in them and that they are ready to make a move."
"I really look forward to this month and I don’t mean that I’m looking past Pitt at all. It's the BIG EAST and this is the exciting time of the year when you have to make your move. To me it's exciting. It's really what you're looking for and I'd like our football to show that there is still a lot of development left in them and that they are ready to make a move."
On if the team is getting anxious to get back out on the field:
"Yes. It’s game week again. I can only speak for myself as we haven't been out on the practice field yet, but I think there is a sense of it's time to get back and let's get going."
"Yes. It’s game week again. I can only speak for myself as we haven't been out on the practice field yet, but I think there is a sense of it's time to get back and let's get going."
