Greg Schiano Press Conference Quotes - November 26, 2007
Nov 26 | Football
Opening comments:
"I thought we had a good couple of days last week before Thanksgiving, I thought some of our guys were able to heal up, re-energize. The guys who are in jeopardy injury-wise of not being able to play, aside from the long-term guys, Pedro Sosa is probably the biggest question mark in terms of if he'll be ready to go. I think we'll know more today or tomorrow, but he'll probably be a game-time decision however you shake it out. Mike Teel is good, he has practiced well. I think unless something arises, he will be good to go. The rest of the guys are feeling pretty good. We have a big challenge, the kids have worked hard, they are a very focused group right now, and we will have a few light days here and then head out to Louisville to play."
On Mike Teel's recurring injury:
"It's one of those things where if you get hit on the hand you get hit on the hand. I'm hoping that the rest, couple days off here, and he doesn't get hit during the week. So it's almost been two weeks since he's been hit, and hopefully it has healed up well."
On the extra time off in-between games:
"It's big, especially for the time of the year. We started August 2nd, and they had a bye week and a couple days early in the year, but it's a demanding schedule without a doubt. They get their day off on Monday, but really these guys are so committed, they are studying tape on their own, and some guys are getting stretched, doing things in the training room, so really it's hard to say they have off. Guys are committed to being the best."
On Louisville's offense:
"They present a lot of challenges. Offensively it starts with their quarterback. I believe he is the finest quarterback in the country as far as running the offense, pocket passer; he's a better runner than people think. He doesn't choose to run often, but he can run. He's athletic and can change direction. He has a very good group of receivers, very good. Obviously everyone knows about Harry Douglas, and Harry is probably the fastest receiver in the league, and one of the best receivers. Then their supporting cast, there are so many guys that run well, they are big receivers, they look like cookie cuttering. They are very dangerous, and it shows. If you look at their statistics offensively, they are very productive. If you watch their cutups, we have a big play cutup of plays more than 20 yards, and it's a long tape. They have a lot of big plays."
On Louisville's defense:
"Defensively I think they have given up some big plays, but they are a very aggressive blitzing defense that gets a lot of negative plays. We need to do our best to limit those negative plays. Those are hard to overcome, so we need to make sure, even if it's just a one-yard gain, you're on the plus side of things, because the next play might be a seven-yard gain. But when you get put in those negative situations, it leads to defensive favorable third downs, and it's a trickle-down effect. So we really need to be alert about that, and hopefully we can take advantage of some opportunities for some big plays. I don't mean chucking the ball over the place, I mean hustling, popping a run and hustling downfield to make blocks, and those kinds of things. No one has stopped them. No one on their schedule has gone and flat-out stopped them offensively. That doesn't happen. So it's a matter of how well we can play defensively, limiting the big plays, they're going to get some big plays they are that talented. We have to be productive on offense, and I think the kicking game is going to be crucial. They are sound, they do some different things that give you issues, we are better now in special teams. I don't think that was a strength of ours in years past but I think we're getting better now. It's going to be a great matchup."
On Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm:
"I'm sure there are some different things schematically they do this year, obviously with the coaching change, but there are a lot of things that are the same. I think when you are as good as he is; the improvement incrementally is not as noticeable. I just look at a guy who plays with ultimate confidence. The thing that impresses me the most about him is even when guys drop passes on him, and there have been some unfortunate circumstances. He doesn't get flustered. He is a pro, and he will be soon enough. He's a great quarterback."
On RU's quarterback depth:
"I think we have good depth at quarterback. In our recruiting we are involved in some good quarterbacks as well. With what we have in the program, and what we're recruiting to the program, I think we're in good shape."
On Rutgers defense facing Brian Brohm:
"We are a multiple front, multiple coverage defense. There are ways to do things to give them different looks. Brian is not only a physically very talented player, but I think mentally as well. He grew up in a football family, his brothers are coaches, his brothers have played in every level of football. This is a guy who is a product of many years of football experience, so I don't think he's easy to fool. I think that would be hard to do."
On the possibility of West Virginia playing for a National Championship:
"I'm hopeful that does occur, because that would be great for the league. I think it's great, they are a good football team, and they have the opportunity. They do a great job coaching over there."
On the different possible Bowls for Rutgers:
"They are nice people, the bowl representatives. We have relationships with them, we see them at our summer meetings, we see them here they come to a few of our games, and our athletic administration does a great job entertaining them, and I always make a point to spend some time with them. So over the years we've become friends."
On RU's secondary:
They are as flat-lined a group as I've been around. Ron Girault, Courtney Greene, Jason and Devin McCourty, they only do it one way. I know inside they are excited, it's a great challenge, but outwardly you don't see a difference."
On Mike Teel facing the team that gave him his first loss as a starter (on Nov. 11, 2005)
"The core of what he is is the same. He's a competitor, he's a great person. But certainly he's a much more seasoned football player now, seasoned quarterback. He understands it better. Like anyone you hope when they do it and do it and do it and they work hard like he does that they will become more and more prepared and more seasoned."
On getting ready to play a game with no BIG EAST title in the balance:
"You do it by recruiting the right people and having the right coaches. If you do that you can't wait to play. Game-day is my favorite day; I can't wait for game-day. I still get excited, even after all these years. You only get 12 of them. So I think I speak for our program when I say that there is never a game that you don't get excited for. And you throw in all the other things that go with this; we're playing a great opponent, playing on Thursday night when everyone in the country has an opportunity to watch you, that's exciting to me. It's all about preparation. Preparation to me is in three areas, physical, mental, and emotional. And if you prepare in those three areas the right way during the week, you're ready to go at kickoff. That's where our focus is. Mental is the game plan, the execution, knowing what to do. Emotional is, in my opinion, getting yourself ready. Everyone gets ready to play in different ways. I've played with guys who sleep in their locker right up to game-time; I've played with guys who bang their heads into their locker, and everything in-between. There's no right way to do it, players need to figure out what gets them ready to go out and do something that's not natural. It's not natural for them to go out and stick their helmet in someone's shoulder pad. Over the years they've made it natural through repetition, but they have to get ready to do that."
