Head Coach Doug Marrone (Media Day Transcript)
Head Coach Doug Marrone
2012 Media Day
Manley Field House, Syracuse, NY
August 4, 2012
Opening statement:
"I appreciate everyone being here under adverse conditions (smiling). I guess we're testing to see how we do in this heat. Our team reported today at nine o'clock. Everyone has a copy of our roster. We have a lot of work to do. It starts with me. I have to do a better job. The coaches have to do a better job. Our players have to play better. Our goal is to focus on our players and to become a better football team during camp. I understand that we have a lot of hard work. I'm excited to get on the practice field on Monday."
On some of the new players on the roster:
"We always felt that this was going to happen. We were limited under NCAA rules on what we can and cannot say. We have players who are on the roster that due to injury will not be around. (Receiver) Kyle Foster is finishing up summer school and you won't see him around. He will report officially when the first week of school starts. Also in that category is (running back) Greg Tobias and (receiver) Macauley Hill. Also, (tight end) Lou Addazio finishing up rehabilitation in Philadelphia so he will report on August 19th. Davon Walls will be reporting, we believe, on Tuesday. He has a test, academics obviously, outside of Syracuse University that he needs to complete before he becomes part of the team. Everyone else is here. To answer the question now, obviously it feels good and our mindset is ready to get to work."
On the eligibility of some of the transfers:
"With (defensive end) John Raymon, we're going through the NCAA process with him right now. We do not know his eligibility for the season yet. When that comes, we will make an announcement. For (receiver Quinta) Funderburk, obviously he will sit out a year and that will be his redshirt year."
On the changes to the depth chart following the spring season:
"We met the other day and made some changes to what we're doing. The depth chart is a starting point in how we want to start. After that first snap, it’s a competition. Our players know that. A conversation I had with (strong safety) Shamarko Thomas at BIG EAST Media Day, I asked him if he realizes that he has to compete for a starting position to play strong safety. I asked him if he had a problem with that. He said absolutely not. If someone who plays as much as Shamarko understands, that's what we want all of our players on our team to understand."
On if Spruill will start the camp as a strong side linebacker:
"He will not be starting camp as a middle linebacker."
On the new additions to the coaching staff:
"I think all of our coaches obviously bring a lot to the table or they wouldn't be here. We have two new coaches on our staff, (linebackers coach) Steve Morrison and (secondary) Donnie Henderson. Steve brings a great deal of knowledge to the position and more importantly he has worked with Coach Schafer prior to here. We are excited about having him. That environment and that type of relationship are important in getting things done. Donnie brings a lot of experience to the table and experience to the room which will then help Coach Schafer on defense. We're excited. Donnie's had a great track record, not only as a defensive coordinator, but more importantly, as a defensive head coach. The players who he has coached have developed. It's a great relationship for myself because both Donnie and I have both worked together at the New York Jets."
On freshman running back, Ashton Broyld:
"Mostly, we will have him lined up at running back. We will have him lined up on some outside things and we will have him lined up at the wildcat position. We will have those things going on into camp and, like I said at BIG EAST Media Day, we need to do a good job of managing what he can handle. We don't want to look back and say gosh, I wish we had pushed him to do that and it would have helped us win. We are going to play all the players who we feel are going to help us win. Whatever we need to do to win and use those players. That's what we will do."
On the numbers of guys who can practice compared to the numbers of the previous three years:
"I think if you look at the roster and deduct the players who are not going to report, and if you deduct the specialists, I think we are going to be somewhere in the low 90s. Don't quote me on that. I think everyone can figure that out (looking at the roster). Everyone will be practicing. (Receiver) Chris Clark will be a little bit limited coming off of a wrist. (Defensive end) Brandon Sharpe has a laceration and will be a little bit limited just to make sure it doesn't get infected. As of right now, everyone will be on that field practicing."
On the changes he has made coming in to camp:
"From a schematics stand point, big plays have to available, as far as a process of how we do things both offensively and defensively. Obviously the players need to execute it and get it done. There is the accountability of when it's there, will you be able to take it? That's how you create it. You also create it through speed. You don't run a big play with a lack of some type of speed. We've helped ourselves in that area. Our focus right now is making sure to not put pressure on the big plays and just do all the right things as best as we can, play-by-play."
On how much (receiver) Marcus Sales will contribute:
"I'm excited. Again I'll give you some insight into our meeting. A lot of people come back and say, here we go. We're starting today. We haven't just started. We started in January. I started this right after the last game. That's when we started. We're transitioning back in as coaches. Right now our players are transitioning into more football-related activities to become better football players. In regard to Marcus Sales, he has given us some big plays in the past. I think we can always reference the Pinstripe Bowl. We're looking at what's going on today and what we're going to do now. We need to be a better football team on a daily basis and more consistent. For us, what are we going to be able to do to win? Marcus Sales has the ability to help us do that."
On holding a week of preseason camp at Fort Drum Military Base next week:
"Right now my mind is not on that. My mind is on today. However, to talk to you about how it came about was one part of that question. We have dealt a lot with the military since we have been here. We have a great sense of appreciation for the military. I don't want to stand up here on a soap box and go through all of that. I think we all are on the same page. I've always had a great sense of appreciation about what they've done and how they do things. For us, our players have had great interactions with them, and not only Syracuse football, but obviously the SU basketball program and other programs at Syracuse University, even from an academic standpoint. For us, what we wanted to do was to take that focus and change the environment a little for our players. Our reason for going up there is to become a better football team. We are looking to get some of the discipline, some of the practical leadership principles, and we look forward to what the soldiers and the administration up at Fort Drum have to offer."
On how important is it to have (quarterback) Ryan Nassib back:
"Players coming back, they have a background and some type of knowledge of our system. I can't answer that question until I see how we're playing now. We need to judge everyone on how we're doing now and that will give us the greater chance to win."
On going into camp without left starting tackle Justin Pugh (due to injury):
"I said this at BIG EAST Media Day that I really feel that Justin Pugh is one of the best left tackles in the Northeast. I can't say for the country because I haven't seen everyone in the country, but I have seen a lot of teams play in this Northeast region. He's an outstanding football player. The other side to this is that we recruited football player in Sean Hickey who had better numbers coming in than Justin, but had been hurt and been injured. That player has suffered quite a bit, not being able to participate, not being able to be part of the team. There has been times when he has been able to participate and he has been very exciting for us to watch develop. Sean will go out there and start at left tackle. We feel very comfortable with him being out there especially how hard his has worked and the numbers he has put up. He probably put up as good as numbers on the offensive line that you would look for in college or in the NFL."
2012 Media Day
Manley Field House, Syracuse, NY
August 4, 2012
Opening statement:
"I appreciate everyone being here under adverse conditions (smiling). I guess we're testing to see how we do in this heat. Our team reported today at nine o'clock. Everyone has a copy of our roster. We have a lot of work to do. It starts with me. I have to do a better job. The coaches have to do a better job. Our players have to play better. Our goal is to focus on our players and to become a better football team during camp. I understand that we have a lot of hard work. I'm excited to get on the practice field on Monday."
On some of the new players on the roster:
"We always felt that this was going to happen. We were limited under NCAA rules on what we can and cannot say. We have players who are on the roster that due to injury will not be around. (Receiver) Kyle Foster is finishing up summer school and you won't see him around. He will report officially when the first week of school starts. Also in that category is (running back) Greg Tobias and (receiver) Macauley Hill. Also, (tight end) Lou Addazio finishing up rehabilitation in Philadelphia so he will report on August 19th. Davon Walls will be reporting, we believe, on Tuesday. He has a test, academics obviously, outside of Syracuse University that he needs to complete before he becomes part of the team. Everyone else is here. To answer the question now, obviously it feels good and our mindset is ready to get to work."
On the eligibility of some of the transfers:
"With (defensive end) John Raymon, we're going through the NCAA process with him right now. We do not know his eligibility for the season yet. When that comes, we will make an announcement. For (receiver Quinta) Funderburk, obviously he will sit out a year and that will be his redshirt year."
On the changes to the depth chart following the spring season:
"We met the other day and made some changes to what we're doing. The depth chart is a starting point in how we want to start. After that first snap, it’s a competition. Our players know that. A conversation I had with (strong safety) Shamarko Thomas at BIG EAST Media Day, I asked him if he realizes that he has to compete for a starting position to play strong safety. I asked him if he had a problem with that. He said absolutely not. If someone who plays as much as Shamarko understands, that's what we want all of our players on our team to understand."
On if Spruill will start the camp as a strong side linebacker:
"He will not be starting camp as a middle linebacker."
On the new additions to the coaching staff:
"I think all of our coaches obviously bring a lot to the table or they wouldn't be here. We have two new coaches on our staff, (linebackers coach) Steve Morrison and (secondary) Donnie Henderson. Steve brings a great deal of knowledge to the position and more importantly he has worked with Coach Schafer prior to here. We are excited about having him. That environment and that type of relationship are important in getting things done. Donnie brings a lot of experience to the table and experience to the room which will then help Coach Schafer on defense. We're excited. Donnie's had a great track record, not only as a defensive coordinator, but more importantly, as a defensive head coach. The players who he has coached have developed. It's a great relationship for myself because both Donnie and I have both worked together at the New York Jets."
On freshman running back, Ashton Broyld:
"Mostly, we will have him lined up at running back. We will have him lined up on some outside things and we will have him lined up at the wildcat position. We will have those things going on into camp and, like I said at BIG EAST Media Day, we need to do a good job of managing what he can handle. We don't want to look back and say gosh, I wish we had pushed him to do that and it would have helped us win. We are going to play all the players who we feel are going to help us win. Whatever we need to do to win and use those players. That's what we will do."
On the numbers of guys who can practice compared to the numbers of the previous three years:
"I think if you look at the roster and deduct the players who are not going to report, and if you deduct the specialists, I think we are going to be somewhere in the low 90s. Don't quote me on that. I think everyone can figure that out (looking at the roster). Everyone will be practicing. (Receiver) Chris Clark will be a little bit limited coming off of a wrist. (Defensive end) Brandon Sharpe has a laceration and will be a little bit limited just to make sure it doesn't get infected. As of right now, everyone will be on that field practicing."
On the changes he has made coming in to camp:
"From a schematics stand point, big plays have to available, as far as a process of how we do things both offensively and defensively. Obviously the players need to execute it and get it done. There is the accountability of when it's there, will you be able to take it? That's how you create it. You also create it through speed. You don't run a big play with a lack of some type of speed. We've helped ourselves in that area. Our focus right now is making sure to not put pressure on the big plays and just do all the right things as best as we can, play-by-play."
On how much (receiver) Marcus Sales will contribute:
"I'm excited. Again I'll give you some insight into our meeting. A lot of people come back and say, here we go. We're starting today. We haven't just started. We started in January. I started this right after the last game. That's when we started. We're transitioning back in as coaches. Right now our players are transitioning into more football-related activities to become better football players. In regard to Marcus Sales, he has given us some big plays in the past. I think we can always reference the Pinstripe Bowl. We're looking at what's going on today and what we're going to do now. We need to be a better football team on a daily basis and more consistent. For us, what are we going to be able to do to win? Marcus Sales has the ability to help us do that."
On holding a week of preseason camp at Fort Drum Military Base next week:
"Right now my mind is not on that. My mind is on today. However, to talk to you about how it came about was one part of that question. We have dealt a lot with the military since we have been here. We have a great sense of appreciation for the military. I don't want to stand up here on a soap box and go through all of that. I think we all are on the same page. I've always had a great sense of appreciation about what they've done and how they do things. For us, our players have had great interactions with them, and not only Syracuse football, but obviously the SU basketball program and other programs at Syracuse University, even from an academic standpoint. For us, what we wanted to do was to take that focus and change the environment a little for our players. Our reason for going up there is to become a better football team. We are looking to get some of the discipline, some of the practical leadership principles, and we look forward to what the soldiers and the administration up at Fort Drum have to offer."
On how important is it to have (quarterback) Ryan Nassib back:
"Players coming back, they have a background and some type of knowledge of our system. I can't answer that question until I see how we're playing now. We need to judge everyone on how we're doing now and that will give us the greater chance to win."
On going into camp without left starting tackle Justin Pugh (due to injury):
"I said this at BIG EAST Media Day that I really feel that Justin Pugh is one of the best left tackles in the Northeast. I can't say for the country because I haven't seen everyone in the country, but I have seen a lot of teams play in this Northeast region. He's an outstanding football player. The other side to this is that we recruited football player in Sean Hickey who had better numbers coming in than Justin, but had been hurt and been injured. That player has suffered quite a bit, not being able to participate, not being able to be part of the team. There has been times when he has been able to participate and he has been very exciting for us to watch develop. Sean will go out there and start at left tackle. We feel very comfortable with him being out there especially how hard his has worked and the numbers he has put up. He probably put up as good as numbers on the offensive line that you would look for in college or in the NFL."
