Head Coach Greg Robinson Press Conference Transcript (August 4, 2008)
Coach Robinson Introduction:
”Good morning. Welcome to all the media. The beginning of the 2008 season is an exciting time. This team has done a lot of hard work and put themselves in position right now to take on a challenge, to turn this thing in a very positive direction and I'm very confident that the make-up, character and talent of this team and coaching staff will give us an opportunity to get this headed in a really positive direction. One thing I'd like to say is, and I've talked to our team about it, is that this is not about me. This is about a team getting ready for a football season and we're talking about this season. We're not talking about the future seasons or anything like that. So, I would really appreciate from you to not put the focus on something other than what I just talked about. It's about this team and about this season. Anything else really isn’t fair to these kids because that's not why you play the game of football. You play the game to go out as a football team and go out and do your very best. I know people here can appreciate where I'm coming from.”
”Good morning. Welcome to all the media. The beginning of the 2008 season is an exciting time. This team has done a lot of hard work and put themselves in position right now to take on a challenge, to turn this thing in a very positive direction and I'm very confident that the make-up, character and talent of this team and coaching staff will give us an opportunity to get this headed in a really positive direction. One thing I'd like to say is, and I've talked to our team about it, is that this is not about me. This is about a team getting ready for a football season and we're talking about this season. We're not talking about the future seasons or anything like that. So, I would really appreciate from you to not put the focus on something other than what I just talked about. It's about this team and about this season. Anything else really isn’t fair to these kids because that's not why you play the game of football. You play the game to go out as a football team and go out and do your very best. I know people here can appreciate where I'm coming from.”
In regard to the offensive line, how do you feel about the group heading into the 2008 season?
“We have seven to eight players who right now could go into a football game and perform for us. We have two seniors, Ryan Durand and Corey Chavers, then a number of younger players, younger redshirt sophomores who have been in this program for a period of time with a lot of coaching under them and I think there are some players in that group who are gifted. Since my first year here when we talked about recruiting, I’ve identified that the greatest need we had was to re-develop an offensive line. That might've been the weakest spot on the football team. When you go out and recruit a number of players it takes a period of time for the offensive line to develop. I do think that with this group, the number of guys who are coming back within the system, and now, this year, to have two coaches working with our offensive line in Mitch Browning coaching the tight ends and tackles and Chris Weisehan coaching the guards and centers, is positive. Obviously, when you have two fine coaches mentoring a group as opposed to one, there's more concentration and focus on individuals and I think that it's timely we've switched and infused both coaches together and I think that will also really show up.”
Aside from attitudes and confidence, what areas do you feel this football team has the greatest potential?
“Just as I talked about the offensive line, I think there's talent in the offensive line and I think that will be displayed as time goes on. I like the tight end position and the H-back position, or the fullback position that gets included with that. I know the way that we're trying to utilize these players on offense and I think that is a group that can be very good for us and I think that we can utilize the skills of those people. The running back situation can be as strong as it's been at Syracuse in a number of years. I think the depth and different types of talent that come out of that running back position can be a positive. With the receiver position there is talent there, but I think it must emerge. I think that there are a number of people who could emerge. At Newport (BIG EAST Media Day), I talked about my days with the Denver Broncos and I referred to Ed McCaffrey who had been let go by the New York Giants and hadn't been resigned by the San Francisco 49ers, and I also talked about Rod Smith as a practice squad player; both turning into pro football players. You just don't know.
“I think the quarterback position is as strong as it's been in years, also, since I've been here. Andrew Robinson is returning, a football player who at times did some excellent things and I think he was under duress a lot, but never folded. I think he'll be better because of that. I also think his skill level is going to be better, just as all of the quarterbacks who have been in our program, be it Cam Dantley, David Legree or Cody Catalina. They've been coached for a year and I think they're all going to be better. So on the offensive side of the ball, I think we've improved. It isn't just about attitude and all those things, even though that is very important.”
Are running backs Curtis Brinkley and Delone Carter both 100%?
“They're both 100%. We've already been through all that. We shouldn't need to repeat a whole lot of these questions. We know all those running backs out there will be ready to go. That's been identified.
“On the defensive side of the ball, I feel the same way. The issue that I have is that I've said this will be a very good defense, but I just don't know when. I think the offense is a little more in place and the defense has just a few more spots to fill. I think we need to watch it unfold in training camp. We're on a mission and we're working on becoming a very good defense by the 30th of August. But I know this – this group can run, from the defensive line, linebackers all the way to the secondary. In my opinion, I think this defense can run as good as any defense that's been around in a number of years. Making them play the game, that's coaching. That's what we have to get to. They're aggressive, but to be aggressive and play aggressive, you have to be confident. To be confident, you have to be assured of yourself and what you're doing so that's the challenge that we have on that side of the ball. Those are reasons, in my mind, to be optimistic. I do think that this is a team that has a work ethic and a spirit about them that goes a long way. I think it can take you beyond what your physical skills are. But I also do believe this is a team with physical skill. How good? Time will tell.”
How much are you depending on (defensive tackle) Arthur Jones to lead the defense?
“I think that Arthur will do it all through his actions. He's not a big talker. He's going to work very hard, as he has and that's what I expect from him. I don't know it'll be anymore than that. I know he'll be working very hard. We have high expectations for Arthur and a number of people.”
At the end of last season, you talked about the need to shake things up and you included yourself. Do you feel that's both happened with the way the program is approaching this season?
“I don't know if I made the statement, "shake things up". I don't think that's what it's all about. I think I talked about evaluating every detail. I don't just shake things up to shake things up. We haven't changed what we believe is the profile in what we try to recruit. But, do we evaluate every little thing? Yes. Have we evaluated every little thing? Yes. Have we worked and tried to improve things? Absolutely. I don't want you to get the idea because we had a 2-10 football season we had to shake things up. In some cases, no, stay the course. We can improve this. We can do this better. I think it's all about that.”
You mentioned the depth at the running back – is there a chance that (running back) Averin Collier redshirt this year?
“I really don't talk about redshirting players until that time comes. Averin is one who, quite frankly, I got pretty good news yesterday that he's a little ahead of schedule and we might see him on the practice field a little bit sooner than we thought. That is a credit to Averin and that doesn’t surprise me because that's how he's been since the day he got here. I really don't know (about redshirting), because you really don't know what could happen tomorrow in practice. I think it's important that you're always trying to utilize your talents the best you can and if redshirting can be a solution to something, then we'd go that route. But, right now it's too early to say.”
What impressed you about Averin Collier this spring?
“First of all, when you put the ball in his hands, he knows what to do with it. I think he's talented with the ball in his hands. He's a tough, strong runner and has good vision. On top of that, he can catch the ball and he can throw the ball. He's a blocker. He's intelligent and he absorbs, concentrates and learns well. He was 17-years old as he was going through spring practice, so I give him credit. I did like what I saw in spring practice until he got nicked up.”
In regards to Delone (Carter), are the reins still off him or do you still have to make sure he's not going out and trying to be a hero?
“He's full speed to go. I think with the number of tailbacks we have, we can limit the number of full-speed contacts they make. As I begin to grow more and more confident with specific tailbacks, we'll probably have less and less contact with them. I would suspect that we'll get Delone and all the tailbacks full-speed contact. In thud drills, they'll be hit, just not tackled to the ground. Before the first game, anybody who is playing will have been hit and taken to the ground, unless they have avoided that - which would be a nice thing.”
Do you see something in Delone that's maybe even more eager than he was the first day he came here?
“I see a more mature person. He was very eager and hungry the day he got here, I just think he's more mature. He's had to overcome a major setback and I think that anytime anybody comes back from something like that, the resolve is very, very strong and I see that in him.”
What's the biggest difference you can describe now between Brian White's offense and Mitch Browning's offense?
“I don't really want to get into all that. I don't think that's fair. Since day one, I've talked about how I perceive what I term the west-coast principles of Bill Walsh and that is controlling the football. That doesn’t mean it's not about scoring and that doesn’t mean it's not about throwing. It's controlling the football on the ground and through the air, but I think that's something we have not done since I've been here – control the football. I know that in Mitch's history, his teams scored a lot of points but have also had a lot of first downs. I believe first downs lead to touchdowns and first downs lead to breaking down the defense. That concept is one that I think we're on the right track with right now.”
You lost two big weapons at wide receiver. You talked about the fact that you're looking for someone to emerge. Is there anyone in particular who really excites you or you feel can be a big play guy for you at that position?
“I think most of you would say, 'How's Lavar Lobdell doing?' because Lavar was a very-highly recruited football player and we talked a lot about his potential. We'd love to see Lavar come on and have a fine year and there are certain qualities about Lavar, given the opportunity, he can make the most of. I think getting Donte Davis back is big. Donte is a nifty receiver who can get down field, but he's also a disciplined route runner. Danny Sheeran is a big, physical wide receiver, kind of out of the mode of Ed McCaffrey. I think of those four players right away. I think that Chaz Cervino is a player who as spring ball went on I saw improvement in him. His style is more of a Wayne Cherbet or a Wes Welker type football player. I'm just trying to give you the style of play, but I've seen a big improvement in his game and I'm really looking forward to seeing where he's at when we get started here today. Then there are a number of freshmen at that position. And, I've always thought that at the cornerback position and wide receiver position, young players can affect those positions maybe quicker than others. When Mike Williams came in here he impacted this team as a freshman and we have freshmen who I am interested to see what they can do. Marcus Sales has been in the program for a period of time, has been around these players and he got to sit in meetings in the spring. I'm interested to see if he can make an impact. I think Trey Fairchild came from a program at Dublin Coffman High School where he had a very fine career. Through his track times and things he's done in track, you can see that he's a fine athlete. I'm interested to see how he can impact us and I suspect there are others. I think it’s a good group to be working with and I know Chris White is excited to get going with them.
With (quarterback) Andrew Robinson having another year in your program are you ready for him to take that next step and have more weapons and maybe be that big-time quarterback you brought him into town to be?
When I brought Andrew in, as I've mentioned on several occasions, I've had the good fortune of working with Troy Aikman, Boomer Esaison, John Elway and Trent Green. If people were to ask me who Andrew reminded me most of, it's Trent Green. I thought that Trent Green was one of those players who could make other players look better. That's what he did so well. He didn't have the arm strength or the mobility of a John Elway. He might not have been what some may say the field general Boomer Esaison was. He didn't have the stature of a Troy Aikman, but he just played the game so well and in all areas, he was very functional. That's what I think Andrew is and I think he will be more so this year just by the way he's worked. I think any quarterback will tell you the more surrounding cast of football players you have around you, the easier your world is. I'm looking for that to happen with our quarterback situation. With Andrew, I think, if the other people come to fruition as I think they could, all of a sudden you'll see the efficiency of the quarterback position improve.”
Do you get a sense of urgency from the team this year more than in years past?
“What I tell you about this team is that there's an attitude about the team in terms of a sense of achievement. A 'You can't hold me back, we're good,' mentality. I don't know if it's so much urgency. Yes, they want to do it. They want to prove people wrong. They want to show what they are. I talked about the offensive line. I think they feel there's a dark cloud hanging over there. They want to remove that. There's all those things, but I don’t think a sense of urgency is the only the thing that's motivating. I think it's more of a spirited, spunky, feisty attitude that permeates through both sides of the ball. That's why I enjoy being around them. It isn't that they walk around with a scowl on their face or they walk around in the growl position 24/7. No, I think it's more they have a little look about them that, 'Hey, you just wait and see.' It's enjoyable to be around that and feel that.”
Is that the sort of attitude you would like to pass down to these guys, what you just talked about?
“I think it has to come from within. That's them. It's in them. I like to think that's what we've been looking for and putting together. I think it is a process, but I think they're excited about playing and getting going. That's really what I see about this team.”
Is that what makes this time of year so frustrating, is that you can't share it yet? You have to wait until August 30 to play Northwestern?
“You have to talk about it too much and as I made that statement the other day, the time for talking is over. The time for doing is beginning right now. It's time to do it. I don’t need to tell you all these things. You need to see it in action and I understand that and you all understand that. That's what you want. That's what our Syracuse community wants. They want to see it in living color. I understand that. That's what we want to do. So talking about it, after today, it kind of moves on. All of a sudden, it's begun. We're here and I'm excited about getting on that practice field and getting going.”
What role will (linebacker) Mike Stenclik have this season?
“Right now, he's battling. I thought that he had a good spring. I tell Jake Flaherty, that guy behind you, he wants in. Jake knows that and he's a prideful guy and he doesn’t want to let anybody in. But I love it and it's competitive. Mike's a good football player.”
Now that you've had a chance to work with him a little bit, what is Dan Conley like as a coach that maybe you didn't know about when you hired him?
“Over the last three years, working with him in camp and spending time with him, I knew he had a passion for coaching, not just for football, but a passion for coaching. I knew that he was a student of the game. I could tell by the kinds of questions he asked and the questions I asked him and his answers to me. I can tell that he's really gotten around and really studied the game. What I like is his demeanor in the meeting room and on the practice field. I think he's a fine teacher. He has a presence about him in which he's demanding and he holds his players accountable. I think that's a very good quality to have. He does not demean or de-value in anyway, but he is a demanding football coach and I wasn't certain of all that until I got to see him on the practice field or see him in the classroom, specifically in a setting like we have. I've seen that from him and I'm pleased, very pleased.”
How helpful is it to have a guy like that on your staff who can say, "I've lived the program" or "I was here when.”?
“It is very much so. And, just as important, the obstacles that he had to overcome as a player. Does he know about adversity? Absolutely. I think anytime you can infuse a person who has achieved and accomplished what he's accomplished with the adversity that's been in front of him, I think you've helped yourself.”
Could you talk a little bit more about the goal of making a bowl game? Is that the goal every year or is it just being made a bigger deal this year because of last season?
“I wanted to say it before I was asked (at BIG EAST Media Day) and I think in the past, we've said that the ultimate goal is to win a BCS bowl game. Realistically, for this football team, is to win a bowl game. If it was a BCS bowl game, I'd be extremely pleased. At the same time, right now, not just getting to a bowl game but to win a bowl game would be a definite accomplishment for this football team.”
