Head Coach Greg Robinson Press Conference (September 2, 2007)
Opening Statement:
"It’s a little unusual to have an extra day after a game to really try and analyze and assess the state of affairs and the feelings about the game. First of all, I give Washington a lot of credit. Quite frankly, I would say, they were maybe a better team than what I was expecting to come in here. Their defensive line was a very good group. They'll match up with probably anybody we play. I thought their ends and interior guys, including one of their defensive ends who came off the bench, were good players. Their linebackers were solid and did a good job. I thought they were a challenge. Offensively, Locker and their tailback (Rankin) and Russo, I thought we felt their speed. I give them credit.
"At the same time, as I looked at our film, we had opportunities. We were in a situation where we had a 3-0 lead and get a punt return to the 30-yard line and shoot ourselves in the foot with a block in the back – which was a legitimate call. Now that moved us right out of field position. Early in the game, on the opening drive we had a chance. We got it inside the 30, first-and-10, but we stall out there. I think it was as much us as it was the way Washington was playing on defense. Defensively, we came out and started very well. We got into a series where all of a sudden we had a first down and had a chance to tackle for a loss but the backside of our defense – the discipline of our defense – broke down. What was a lost yardage play turned into a 17-yard gain. I thought what happened from there was things proliferated – a breakdown here, a breakdown there. That's what lends itself to more plays and when you have to keep trying to play at the intensity level that we like to play at, but you have to regroup and restart, eventually something is going to give. That's really how I saw it begin to unfold on us.
"There were a lot of positive things in the game. First of all our quarterback did a lot of things. Andrew played well at times. He had some young mistakes that were costly for us. The offensive line, other than a couple of procedural things, in the first quarter they gave up a sack on one play and then in the second quarter another sack was given up, but I think that was strictly on Andrew. It was a quick game and he should have gotten ride of the football. He got out and tried to out-run their defense and all he had to do was throw it away. In the first half the offensive line did a good job of protecting and we were efficient at times. Defensively, like I said, we started off well, but after that we really shot ourselves in the foot . I give Washington credit. If we do things we're supposed to do some of those plays don't get out they way that they did."
"At the same time, as I looked at our film, we had opportunities. We were in a situation where we had a 3-0 lead and get a punt return to the 30-yard line and shoot ourselves in the foot with a block in the back – which was a legitimate call. Now that moved us right out of field position. Early in the game, on the opening drive we had a chance. We got it inside the 30, first-and-10, but we stall out there. I think it was as much us as it was the way Washington was playing on defense. Defensively, we came out and started very well. We got into a series where all of a sudden we had a first down and had a chance to tackle for a loss but the backside of our defense – the discipline of our defense – broke down. What was a lost yardage play turned into a 17-yard gain. I thought what happened from there was things proliferated – a breakdown here, a breakdown there. That's what lends itself to more plays and when you have to keep trying to play at the intensity level that we like to play at, but you have to regroup and restart, eventually something is going to give. That's really how I saw it begin to unfold on us.
"There were a lot of positive things in the game. First of all our quarterback did a lot of things. Andrew played well at times. He had some young mistakes that were costly for us. The offensive line, other than a couple of procedural things, in the first quarter they gave up a sack on one play and then in the second quarter another sack was given up, but I think that was strictly on Andrew. It was a quick game and he should have gotten ride of the football. He got out and tried to out-run their defense and all he had to do was throw it away. In the first half the offensive line did a good job of protecting and we were efficient at times. Defensively, like I said, we started off well, but after that we really shot ourselves in the foot . I give Washington credit. If we do things we're supposed to do some of those plays don't get out they way that they did."
On the offensive line and not running the ball:
"It wasn't that early. They were stacking the box unlike what they really had done previously a year ago. I think they said they are going to make us throw the football. We ran the football by throwing it out there to our wide receivers and we were pretty consistent to getting the ball to them and moving the ball. We had a situation where it was second and nine and we throw one out to Taj (Smith) and we throw it so low that he touches his knee down, but there's a chance for a six or seven yard gain to put it on the 24-yard line. They had eight men up in there and they were coming with the zone dog to stop the running game. We did a good job of getting out of some things and getting the ball out there to our wide receivers or even to Curtis (Brinkley). Curtis caught a couple of balls that were like running plays. When we say ball control we don't necessarily mean it has to be on the ground. We are going to try and take what they give us. I thought we were taking advantage of what they were doing."
On not playing other offensive linemen late in the game to get them experience:
"Hindsight is 20-20. If I had to do it over again I would have. I just had a lot of things on my plate at that time and I wish I had."
On not playing more linebackers:
"I think there is a difference in that group compared to the second-string offensive line who has been competing for starting jobs and, quite frankly, have done a good job all camp that it wouldn't have hurt to get some time. Our starting linebackers are ahead of the backup linebackers."
On addressing the run defense and the linebackers:
"It comes down to making certain plays when you have opportunities. What ended up happening after things started to go away from us, I thought, we got more tentative and when we got more tentative all of a sudden it was seven-, eight-, nine-yard plays that could have been two- or three-yard plays. Once that happens, now you're on the field for a while and all of a sudden it's not the same – you don't see the same defense flying around. You're playing defensively and we have to address some of those things and maintain our aggressiveness. We can't get cautious. I really think that's important."
On if he'll make personnel changes:
"I don't really know that right now. If there is reason to, yes."
On if the snap or the hold was the reason for the missed extra point:
"No all that was good – he (Patrick Shadle) just didn't hit the ball right."
On where the team's confidence is:
"I can give you an answer, but to say I can say it emphatically, I can't tell you that. We have to go out and display where our confidence level is. I like the young people we have in this program. I like our football team – I really do. There is a lot of character; they are mentally tough. I would be very surprised if we didn't respond in a very positive way. I believe in them, but I'm just talking if I say, 'Oh, they're just great.' No. They've been stung and they have to get over it. The moment you start feeling sorry for yourself, you have problems. I would expect our team not to behave in that manner."
On if the coaching staff has been "stung":
"I think so. Absolutely. At the same time, we don't have time to dwell. You don't have time to sit there and feel sorry for yourself. You better get right. I think that's what the intent is right now and we have to get back to work here today."
On freshman Max Suter's performance returning kicks:
"It was good to see. A number of those young guys did a good job (on special teams), but Max jumped out at you. He had gaping holes a couple of times, too. The blocking group did a nice job and Max was hell-bent for election to get that ball up field. We knew that about him and that's why he's back there. He likes to rip it up there and go. The play (freshman) Mike Holmes took one, it was a kickoff to the side, he scooped that thing up and scooted around the corner and did a nice job, as well. (Freshman) Mike Mele on the kickoff coverage got down there and got after somebody. (Freshman) Randy McKinnon got down in there and took a couple of guys out of the wedge. Having some of those young players infused has helped those special teams."
On the game getting away in the third quarter:
"I'm going to tell you this; I should have done a better job in there at half time. When I look at it and it's a 14-6 football game, we needed to go out and get a stop and we didn't. I take that on myself. I've been coaching defense a long time and I'm not trying to look over Steve (Russ)'s shoulder all the time. I wish I would have done a better job at half time to make a better adjustment for our team and I don't think I did a good enough job."
On running back Derrell Smith:
"I liked what Derrell did. It was against their backup unit for the most part. Needless to say, he rolled up in there and I liked what I saw in Derrell. It's not a surprise. He's had a good camp."
On the offense's pistol formation:
"It's still our offense. We're still running zone running plays. We're still getting the ball out, but you have the quarterback in a situation where he can throw the ball a little easier. It looks like the shotgun formation but the tailback is behind you as opposed to off to one side. The rest of it is our offense, but it's the ability to be off the line of scrimmage that can be a plus if you make it that way."
"It's still our offense. We're still running zone running plays. We're still getting the ball out, but you have the quarterback in a situation where he can throw the ball a little easier. It looks like the shotgun formation but the tailback is behind you as opposed to off to one side. The rest of it is our offense, but it's the ability to be off the line of scrimmage that can be a plus if you make it that way."
On if he saw things he liked with the pistol formation:
"That's what we are and we're going to do it. We were under center some, too. We'll be under center and we'll be in the pistol. That's what we spent spring ball and summer camp doing and I think there is a lot of merit to it."
On Iowa:
"We know some things about Iowa. Obviously we played them last year. I like the two running backs, Albert Young and (Damian) Sims, both are good players. I was very impressed when Albert played against us and Simms kind of came on in the end and I think he did pretty well yesterday. They have a young quarterback in (Jake) Christensen. I thought he showed some things yesterday. I like number 80, (Andy) Brodell. He is fast and is a very good football player. They're always going to have a good offensive line. (Head coach Krik) Ferentz – that's his world. I know their center is the same one who played against us last year, (Rafael) Eubanks. He's a good player. Defensively I like the front four. They're all back, (Bryan) Mattison and Mitch King, the nose tackle who's a very feisty player, and (Kenny) Iwebema, who I think might be an honors candidate in the Big Ten this year. Both their inside linebackers and their corners are back. They are a feisty defense and going in there and playing at night in there will be unusual. I think that will even be unusual for them. I don't know the last time they played at night. We just need to see it as an advantage to get back and go in and see if we can beat a Big Ten team on the road."
On Nick Santiago's status:
"He sprained his thumb, but he'll be alright."
On if Syracuse attacked Washington's secondary as much as he planned:
"I think we were. I thought what happened maybe a little bit was when we got into the second half and got down 21-6 – I don't know if we got a little impatient or whatever. We have to do what we can do and that's try and move the football just down the field. We took some shots and should have hit a couple or those. We were definitely working to attack them, but as we got behind it put our offense in a tougher situation."
On Andrew's Robinson's ability to throw a deep pass:
"His deep balls, I thought, were pretty darn good. The one offline to Taj, he might have been hit right as he was throwing. The one to (senior) Rice Moss was an inch away from being a great ball. He threw another one to Taj that was close to being an interference call, but I thought he threw it very well. I was very pleased with the way he threw it and his efficiency was pretty darn good, except two situations where he could have gotten ride of the ball and he didn't."
