University of Houston Athletics
Football Press Conference Quotes
11/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
For audio of today's press conference click on the following link:
http://cstvpodcast.cstv.com.edgesuite.net/houston/houston:110408_sumlin.mp3 | 
Complete Release in PDF Format 
HEAD COACH Kevin Sumlin
Opening Statement
"We are extremely disappointed and embarrassed about how we played last week, as coaches and players. Over the course of the last couple days, it gave us a chance to evaluate where we are schematically and personnel-wise. We have had a couple personnel changes over the year for a couple different reasons. Since the middle of last week we have had a chance to evaluate where we are and what we are doing, and have been able to go out and get a couple of extra practices in with some new guys."
On the positives from the game against Marshall
"Even though it wasn't what we wanted, there were a couple positives that came out of the game. Matt Hart went into the game and played pretty well. He played 58 plays of the possible 74. He is a guy that was on the scout team four weeks ago and is in the middle of the game, doing very well. Cory Johnson came in as a true freshman at long snapper. Every time you snap it's a pressure situation and he did a great job for us. Both of those guys will continue in those rolls. Loyce Means came in and played well at corner. Of all the negative things we had in that game, three guys came in the game and played at a level good enough for us to win."
On Tulane
"As Tulane come in here, they are a little bit like everyone else right now. They have lost one or two of their better players. Their running back is out for the season and they have had to make some adjustments playing a couple different quarterbacks. Coach (Bob) Toledo, knowing him for a long time, is going to set everything up with the running game and try and run it at you. He has always had a great running back and he is going to try and run the ball and go over the top on the play action."
"Improvement has come defensively (for Tulane). O'Neill Gilbert has done a great job with that defense. They are a great team defense. They show you a lot of different looks, a variety of blitzes and guys moving around all over the place. They have been in a game with a whole bunch of people, they played Alabama tough and LSU last weekend. They have been in about every game that they have played with the exception of Rice, so they will come in here and play hard.
"Our focus has been more about us, and our ability to come out and start a game fast and play for four quarters. We are at the point of the season where schemes are schemes and you have seen a bunch of different things and you adjust from week to week, but what we need to do is come out and play in a manner that we are capable of for four quarters."
On being two games away from bowl eligibility
"We aren't even talking about that right now. We are talking about us playing right now. Our goals are still ahead of us as far as the conference championship and the west championship. We control where we are right now with four games in the city of Houston and three at home and playing everyone on the West side. It all starts with this game. We are in a four game season. We are still in the thick of it and we control our destiny. It starts Saturday.
On the offensive line
"A lot of people try and get the best five on the field and there are plus and minuses to that. The best five not be the best tackle, guard or center. You have to have five linemen that work as a nickel; you can't have five pennies. Five pennies, five of the best guys, might not be your best offensive line. Those guys have to be able to communicate. Just because the guy is a great guard doesn't make him a great tackle. It's all about chemistry on the offensive line and ability. We have to find, not only those five, but one or two guys that are going to back-up at those positions. There is a possibility that a starter is going to be a back-up at another position. We can play the game with seven guys."
We have talent. We have some guys that have played in games and it will be their ability to step up and play in games. We have some young guys that have been playing special teams that haven't really been in critical situations offensively for us but have been practicing in them. We have L.J (Castile) and Chaz (Rodruiguez) and some guys that have been in some other roles but haven't been pushed to the forefront that probably will be."
On Patrick Edwards
"Partick (Edwards) got back Friday morning. He came to the complex and had his family here. They met with our doctors and talked about his rehab program and how he is going to heal up and what the time frame for all that. It's really a wait and see time frame right now just to see how everything goes. We aren't going to rush it. He, obviously, wants to play again and we'll see how that goes. He was in class yesterday and he was smiling. He was on some blood thinner over the weekend and he got off of it yesterday. The concern now is infection because he has a one-inch gash on the top of (his injury). He has a little fever today and isn't feeling really well. He is a courageous guy and a strong guy. He has said nothing to me other than his intent and want to play again. Based on how he has approached things and done things as long as I have know him, I would be shocked if that didn't happen."
Injury Report
"Josh Bell is out for the season with a ruptured achilles. Chris Thompson is doubtful for this weekend. We are two weeks and a day out from his appendectomy. Obviously, Patrick Edwards is out. Tyron Carrier will be ok. He had a concussion and didn't finish the game the other night. Matt Nicholson will be probable because he didn't finish the other night. Just like everyone else we are a little banged up but it this break has also given us some time to get some other guys ready and practice."
SENIOR OFFENSIVE LINEMAN Michael Bloesch
On the chemistry of offensive line and Matt Hart
"As far as the schemes and knowing what to do, he (Matt Hart) did a really good job last week. He came in and assignment wise did just as good as anyone else, which is the key. As an offensive lineman you have to know what you are doing before you do it. Getting back into the flow and speed of the game is different than practice. I think as he gets more playing time, and the more we play together, the better the offensive line will get."
On the injuries on the offensive line
`"I was really confident playing next to SirVincent Rogers, and I was excited to play with him. Once he went down that was devastating to Sebastian and I. We wanted to be the strength of the team, and he was another senior we lost. Losing Josh (Bell) was another blow. That is football; guys get injured and others have to step up. We have to make the best of what we got and fight hard together, and we can win some games."
On the chemistry and communication among the offensive lineman
"We talk to the guy next to us every play. Everyone is involved in a blocking scheme; therefore we have to be on the same page. I am not worried about the assignments or chemistry of the offensive line, I am more worried about communicating on and off the field and making sure everyone is on the same page."
On SirVincent Rogers' injury
"I talk to SirVincent all the time and he has been struggling through it. I tell him that everything happens for a reason. He will hopefully heal up, start training again and hopefully have a good pro day. He still has some things ahead of him and I know he is not going to give up. I definitely feel bad for him and it couldn't have happened to a better person. He is such a good guy."
On Sebastian Vollmer and himself leading the offensive lineman
"We were out at practice yesterday, and we are so low on offensive lineman that practice was five guys going the entire time. It is not fun practicing every single rep of practice, but in order to get that chemistry, I am willing to do it, and Sebastian is willing to do it and we know that the more practice we get with the guy next to us, than the better we will be during the game. We have to be the strong point and hold the team together. This is my senior year and I only have four guaranteed games left, and I am going to play as hard as I can, rally the troops and try and get something going these last few games."
SOPHOMORE QUARTERBACK CASE KEENUM
On the offensive line and the adjustments having to be made
"Coach has done a good job of rotating the guys in practice. He has changed out the left side and right side. He has stuck different guys in different spots. As the chemistry as a whole, they are working on it and trying to get the communication and chemistry going."
On getting off to an early start
"We can talk about it, but we need to just go out there and do it. We are tired of talking about it, the coaches are tired of talking about it and the media is tired of talking about it. We just need to do it. We have to execute, and we need to get first downs and execute on third downs. We need to put drives together and score touchdowns."
On adjusting to a new receiver now that Patrick Edwards is injured
"Patrick and I had great chemistry, and I hate seeing that he got hurt, but it happened. We have a lot of receivers that can play, are very talented and have worked hard. They are ready for the chance that they are going to get. As far as the chemistry, it is the same as the offensive line. Coach does a great job of rotating guys in there. I have thrown a lot of balls to those guys. We aren't going to miss a beat, and I am looking forward to this weekend."
