University of Houston Athletics
Coach Dimel Discusses Upcoming Contest With the Longhorns
9/17/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 17, 2002
HOUSTON, Texas - Coach Dimel on Last Week's Contest
"Since this is after week three, I though it would be important to give a quick analysis of our play. As the head coach, I am disappointed. I still haven't let that Tulane game go, because of the turnovers inside of the 10-yard line which cost us the football game."
"However we also have to look at the positives that this football has had to this point. Starting a redshirt freshman at quarterback, the success that he has had, and the excitement of the coaching staff as to what he is going to do for us now and in years to come is a positive for our program."
"We had an injury in the offensive line last weekend with Chris Redding going down, but Tyrone Green came in and played extremely well at the left tackle spot. Green will probably start this ballgame at the left tackle spot."
"In the running back position, Joffrey Reynolds has been a workhorse. Anthony Evans will hopefully continue to mature and get better each Saturday. We are trying to get some of the younger guys into the games to help them get better. When Chris Robertson comes back that will defiantly be a plus to this program."
"Defensively, we played 13 defensive linemen Saturday, and all of them are stepping up and doing some good things. There is great competition in the linebacker and defensive line positions; whoever is playing the hardest will play the most. The big plus is that we have some talent to choose from in the defensive line and linebacker position, which was not the case in years past. I have been pleased with the way our secondaries have been playing and they are defiantly going to get tested in this weekends ballgame."
"Concerning our kicking game, having a special teams coordinator where that is his sole responsibility, and it has definitely paid off. We have outperformed our opponents in every aspect of special teams analysis over the last three weeks. Our kickers and punters have really improved. Dustin Bell is Conference USA Player of the Week, and Jim McClary is punting the ball very well."
Coach Dimel on the Longhorns
"We are very excited about the opportunity to play Texas. We went into our team meeting yesterday and there was a buzz in there that is louder than I have heard in a long time. I think it is the combination of them learning to win, enjoy playing football, and having the opportunity to play Texas this weekend."
"Texas will have a lot of weapons, and one of the things I like to study is how well a team has played at home in recent years. Going back and looking at their performance last year, they did not even have anyone give them a run for their money in Memorial Stadium. I think they blew everybody out by at least four touchdowns. Therefore, that is definitely a difficult place to go play football."
"Texas is an improved football team from what they were last year. Chris Simms is obviously a year better and more mature. Their receivers are the best in the country and their runningback is one of the top runningbacks in the country. Their O-line average is 6'5"-6'6", 325-330 lbs. They are definitely a difficult team to prepare for, because they are so diverse in what they do. They can run it and pass it well.
"Texas has great schemes on defense, schemes that are very unusual from what everyone else does in the country. However, they are very similar to what I faced at Kansas State against Nebraska, so at least when you watch the film on Sunday, you don't get shocked at what you see if you have faced it in the past and have a general idea of how to prepare for it. They also back that scheme up with some talent. They are younger on defense and they have had the top recruiting class in the country the last few years. They have some great speed on defense."
"Texas is a very balanced football team. This will be a very difficult task for us, but one that we are very excited about."
Q&A
Q: Do you think that this week's game will be a better measuring stick for your program, or do you think a game against one of the better teams in you conference would be a better measuring stick?
A: I think how we play against TCU, UAB and games like that which are ahead of us are better measuring sticks for what this football team can achieve this year. This week is a game that past history has show can get out of control pretty quickly, playing Texas at Texas, but a lot can be learned and gained from this football game. We can get a measure of where we are from being a national championship team form this ballgame.
Q: This is a classic David vs. Goliath here. How much do you play that in your favor?
A: I think our kids go into this game feeling like this is a great opportunity for them to be in front of 80,000 people and playing against a great football team. They just need to go into the game relaxed and focused. The pressure is not on our football team going into this game, so we can go into it relaxed and focused on trying to accomplish something."
Q: You had the lead a little bit last year, can you play off that a little bit knowing that you can go in there and do something?
A: I think they are going to be geared up because of the success that we had last year offensively, so I think that will put them at razors edge. We need to keep or game plan as simple as possible and execute as well as we can execute in this ballgame.
Q: You said Simms was a year better from looking at him on tape. How is he different this year as compared to last year?
A: I think that he is at a typical senior mark that is maturing with the program. When it is time for Texas to run the football he runs the football and when it is time for Texas to pass the football, he passes the football. He makes sure that he stays within himself as a senior and does whatever it takes to help his team win a football game and not trying to do too much.
Q: Has he gotten away from trying to force balls that shouldn't be forced?
A: I think he is just maturing and becoming a more well rounded quarterback through time.
Q: Do you think that with Simms the key is to force him to throw the ball?
A: I think we are defiantly going to have to stop their run game. Cedric had 208 yards last week and we are going to have to keep him from doing that. Our guys know this is going to be a very physical football game. We know Texas is definitely going to try to run the football at us.
Q: How are you getting Barrick and the young guys prepared for 80,000 fans?
A: We can't overemphasize it too much. I equate it to going to Nebraska to play. If we kept our guys low key then we always went in and played those games really well. We plan on keeping it low-key, just playing football, and not worrying about to venue we are in.
Q: With all of the turnovers you had in the last few games, obviously against UT that won't cut it. How do you make them more focused about that?
A: They just have to continue to work on squeezing the football. I think some of the interceptions in the Tulane game came out of desperation from Barrick. If you go back and look at Barrick's performance when we are ahead or when the game is close, he hasn't thrown any interceptions. He threw them late in the Tulane game trying to make things happen. I think his performance has been pretty good and hopefully it continues to stay that way. We have to do a better job of squeezing the football and keeping the ball from popping out of the runningback's hands. We worked really hard last week on trying to make sure their ball mechanics were better.
Q: What is the injury situation right now?
A: Chris Redding is the only injury that we have.
Q: Is he doubtful?
A: He is doubtful. He could be ready to play, but he won't start the game if he doesn't practice this week.
Q: How would you compare our team to Texas as far as receivers are concerned?
A: I think hey have four receivers that are going to play in the NFL. They have recruited that type of receiver. I think our receivers are very talented and as good as you can have. I don't know how you would compare them. I wouldn't want their receivers and I think our receivers are great for what we do. Their receivers fit their system and our receivers fit our system.
Q: In the North Texas game, Texas had some trouble moving the ball in the second half. It seems like our rotation of defensive players is a good point for us with the fact that we have a lot of depth there.
A: That is what is different about this year's football team than last year's football team. We will probably play five linebackers and twelve defensive linemen.
Q: Do you think we will match up well against their O-line?
A: I feel really comfortable about our defensive line, I am not concerned about who we play. If our defensive line plays at the level that they can play, they can play with anybody in the country.
Q: For various reasons on and off the field, there is a little bit of bad blood between the two programs and this is probably the last tine these two teams will meet up for a while. They are looking to drop a big number against us.
A: Absolutely, I think our team just has to stay within themselves and play with great emotion, but keep discipline with what they are doing and play with a great intensity and fire within them.
Q: What about Basher? Do you plan on kicking away from him or are you going to take your chances?
A: Well, we have some strategies there. I don't want that guy running up and down the field. We tried to recruit him, but Texas came in and got him.
Q: There has been some talk that Texas is a little soft in the middle on defense and we are strong in the middle. Do you think we will be able to run pretty good against Texas in the middle?
A: I think Texas has great defensive players and a great scheme that protects them. We are going to have to be very balanced with what we do to have success.
Q: When is the last time you were 36-point underdogs?
A: I have never been a 36-point underdogs and I don't like the feeling very much.
