Greg Robinson Press Conference 091607
On the direction he wants his coaches to take:
"We look at and critique what we see from the game and analyze each series. You go through it and see what you could have done and what you shouldn't have done. You see how you can improve. First of all with the defensive staff, I talk to them about how critical it is that we start right. On the opening series we give up a score and in some ways, it puts the offense at a disadvantage. Then I turn to the offense and talk to them about one-two-three series, three-and-out, and how you're now putting the defense at a disadvantage. It still comes down to execution and doing the things you have to do. Then, I try and look for where there are things we can build on. We have to work through the personnel and evaluate that. We evaluate the things we did and didn't do in the game. That's a lot of work, starting from late in the day yesterday to right now. There is a lot involved in it. I was back looking again right before this (press conference) and trying to piece it all together."
On why Syracuse was able to run the able more effectively against Illinois than against Iowa or Washington:
"In the first three series there were a couple situations where we could have ran the ball better than we did. Obviously, we got stoned on a couple of those and I think we could have run better. We're figuring out what we can do and I think we are improving. We're not where we need to be, obviously, in running the ball. That's obvious and it was obvious when the offensive coaches were showing the players today what they could have done here or there – boom, boom. I think running the ball is a lot like passing the ball, where communication is important. I think we are improving in those areas and identifying and hitting our targets better. Curtis (Brinkley) found some holes and I thought Jeremy Sellers did a couple of things in there that were good. You like to think that we're making progress there."
On what the factors were when deciding to move redshirt freshman Derrell Smith back to linebacker:
"We feel like we have to have some depth at linebacker. We know we're not very deep there. You know he played there last spring and all the way up to the Monday before the spring game. He had shown promise. I didn't want him to get caught in the running back position, where maybe a year from now Delone (Carter) comes back and is rolling good. I just didn't want him to get caught behind the eight ball. He had come to me last Fall and asked about moving to defense, halfway through the season. We moved him to safety first, but then he was kind of eating his way into the linebacker role. He went from about 210 to 220 but he was still moving around very well. He showed promise and then he did in again in Spring ball. So to move him over there to linebacker last week has everybody's best interest in mind."
On redshirt freshman linebacker Parker Cantey not getting on the field:
"Early in training camp, Parker had a little strained muscle and it affected him. I've liked what Parker has done on special teams the past two weeks. Matter of fact, I just got through watching him again. Parker is doing fine and he's feeling better. You can tell by the way he is running on special teams right now. We didn't use him much in the first game because he wasn't 100 percent at that time. It was just little nagging stuff."
On if he is ready to play linebacker:
"I think he can get in and get some time, some experience. I think he's at that point now where he has a pretty good feel. It just so happened that last week was a sub game – what I mean by that is a nickel-type game, where they had three and four wide receivers on the field the whole game. Both he and Ben (Maljovec) were limited."
On freshman running back Doug Hogue playing against Illinois and if he will start playing more:
"Early in training camp he flashed a little bit and then got a (foot injury) and that put him down 10 to 12 days. He's a promising back and one who we would like to keep just working in so we can have some quality depth throughout the season."
On if there are other freshmen he plans to infuse into the game:
"Some of it you don't always control. Sometimes injuries or something like that has something to do with it. We've played quite a few freshmen, and I can't go into every name we have played, but there has been good group of them, and a good group of redshirt freshmen, who have broken into the lineup. There are some young players who have created a competitive environment and that's good."
On if he believes they have the pieces to win several games this season:
"(Jokingly) I darn well better not make any predictions about winning ball games. (Seriously) Trust me we work very very hard at all of those things and I like to think we are a fundamental staff. I really do believe that. Many of you (the media) who have watched early parts of practice have seen that. We work and that's how you improve if you stay with fundamentals. I also point out that there were times (against Illinois) when a 226 pound back is coming through a hole and you have a 190 pound player who is in position and all that, but all of a sudden it's a drag down tackle. Whereas in another situation the match up is fine, but you over-pursue. I just think it’s a little bit of players have to make the play and other times it is fundamentals and getting the most out of it. I saw Bruce Williams come up and making a tackle against their back and there was no leaky yardage because he took the proper angle. We talk about that you don't come in there and really throw until you, Step on his toes or smell his breath.' Bruce's tackle was picture perfect. He timed it up exactly the way it was and I point it out because that is what you are looking to do. We work hard at it, but you have to be able to take it to the game."
On if there are players he expects more out of:
"At times there is some of that and I point it out to them and show them what I think they can do to improve. It goes back to the mad question. I have a hard time getting made at somebody when I look at it and say that is a young person who is really trying hard to get it right and the light hasn't gone on or maybe the comparison in talent to what they have in the match up against them on that particular play. I have a hard time getting real mad at them. That's kind of what I was saying. That's how it is sometimes. In some of these cases it's, 'I expect you to make this play.' Or at times that's tough on them and I understand that."
On if there are certain players he has to keep addressing:
"Yes, but that's coaching. That is what coaching is about. Sometimes a light goes on a little sooner for some than others. That's why some play earlier than others. I remember talking to you (the media) about Da'Mon Merkerson very early in training camp. He jumped out at me. He's very mature for his freshman status as a football player. The way he runs routes, the way he works on his special teams, the way he does certain things, he's very mature in his football abilities. Some it takes longer and some haven't been trained as well. It's no different in pro football with rookies. You'd think a guy from an outstanding program would have all the tools and all the know-how and it shocks you sometimes in the lack of fundaments some of them have. It takes a period of time for the light to go on. But that's part of coaching and that's the challenge of it – how quickly can you get somebody to improve."
On (strong safety) A.J. Brown's status:
"(Jokingly) I think he has a cast on both feet – I'm only joking, okay. (Serious) I don't know what his status is. I saw him walking around and I even got him to smile today, so that's a good thing. I'm not going to tell you that he is a 100 percent or anything like that."
On if (center) Marvin McCall couldn't play:
"We tried on Thursday to get him going and he showed a little life, but Friday was no different – he could kind of move around but he couldn't push off on anything."
On (wide receiver) Donte Davis's status:
"He had surgery on his thumb on Friday. That was freaky (his injury) because it was just a ball thrown to him and he went all week taping it up and kind of going. Then, last Saturday in Iowa he said something to the trainers and so we got back Monday took an x-ray and they found he had a broken bone in his thumb and he had to have it reattached. He's going to miss some time."
On if redshirt freshman center Jim McKenzie has played his way into the starting lineup:
"I'm not even going to say, but I'm going to give Jim credit for hanging in there. First of all, it's one thing to be an offensive lineman and to play as a redshirt freshman and it's another thing to be the center because at center you're making a lot of calls. For the most part he has done a real good job in that area – he really has. Has he played flawless football? No. He had an issue yesterday afternoon one time with protection. I give him a lot of credit. He hung in there very well."
On what he sees from punter Rob Long:
"What you see is what I see. He's backed up in the endzone and gets it out. The game isn't too big for him. Even when he doesn't hit one well he comes back the next time and hits it well. You always like athletes who can self-correct. Tiger Woods is pretty good at self-correcting. I have no idea what his score is right now (in the tournament), but he's still up there because it doesn't take him but a few holes to kind of figure it out. You like it when players can do that and I think Rob has shown that ability."
On if he will be in the nickel package against Louisville and how big of a challenge it is to try to stop Louisville's topped-rated offense:
"We'll be in nickel, but I will tell you this, they'll be in conventional two back and a tight end set, too. They'll have two tights and two wides, where you have to play, what I term, a regular defense too. We'll have to adjust. Where yesterday (against Illinois) it was almost completely three or four wides most of the time."
On why he thinks the Orange has been able to compete so well against Louisville the past two seasons:
"The first game, we had a good defense that year – we really did. We were good, but were on the field too much. By that time of the year those guys understood what we were trying to do and we gave them the kitchen sink. Offensively, we kind of came alive and I remember that game and I say if they call pass interference the time they hit Tim Lane – just like they had called on us early on the strip deal, all of a sudden it was 23-17, I think, and we were driving. Then last year, man, we had our opportunities. I can't tell you why other than we made some plays, but didn't take advantage of some situations. We got down inside the 10-yard line. I think it was four minutes to go and we had them backed up on the six and we get the ball and I think were done by five, I think. We had a chance to win. Brian Brohm is a real good player. We all know that. I like Brian and the way he competes. He just has a way about him and I think he is a real good quarterback."
On the offensive problems on second down:
"Second-and-long was, well, I shouldn't say that because we had second-and-one and we didn't make a play there on the 46-yard line going in. On that play we ran a toss and that play could have with just a guy bumping a guy that ball could have gone for I don't know how many yards. It was that far (indicating with fingers close) from being a real nice play and instead it was a one-yard loss. In our first three series our second down plays weren't very good. But, in fact, we could have made some plays on some of those situations. In the next two series I think we did have some very good second down plays."
On the defense and second down situations:
"In the first drive they started off with quick pass and make nine or 10 yards right there and we could have played that better. Second hit the little swing pass out there. Now we stuff them on the next play, they go out to the sidelines with their freshman receiver and we whack him pretty good and it's second and nine and a ball gets out for 25 yards. I think we could have made that play. It should have been third and eight. Better technique, right there. That was a situation where I thought we could have made a play."
On how the Louisville will be a fresh start as the first BIG EAST Conference game:
"The great thing about being in a conference with a BCS bowl situation is if you win the BIG EAST, there you are. It doesn't really matter what you do in any other games. I'm not implying that we are going to go to a BCS bowl game – we have work to do. As I said yesterday, we are a work-in-progress. I walked out of the meetings this morning with those coaches and I see some things. It is exciting to think that we are starting the BIG EAST and here we go."
On if the team was to blame for the loss to Illinois or if Illinois should get the credit:
"I think it's a combination of both. They played well and I was impressed with Juice Williams and their running back. Mendenhall, I saw the talent in him last year. He's a physical back with outstanding speed. That little 29 (Troy Pollard), man you felt him. You felt that quickness. He made some plays and on the defensive side of the ball. Early in the game, they did a good job. And then we kind of got the better of them for a while. I think some of it is us and some of it is them, in fairness."
