University of Houston Athletics
Football Weekly Press Conference
10/4/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 4, 2011
2011 Houston Cougar Football Press Conference Quotes
Houston Cougars (5-0 / 1-0 C-USA West)
Tuesday, October 4, 2011// Carl Lewis Auditorium //Houston, Texas
HEAD COACH Kevin Sumlin
On his thoughts on the defense so far...
"We talked before the season about bringing our third down percentage down and it has. We have to improve in our rush defense. It is nowhere near where we need it to be. Rush defense is a primary parameter, particularly in our first five opponents. We try to hold our opponents to 150 yards or less depending on what their scheme is. We have not accomplished that yet."
On what they need to do to improve on defense...
"If it was just one thing, we would fix it just like that. Last week they had over 300 yards rushing. 29 of those rushes were for 63 yards and the other 12 went for 258. You look at that and ask yourself what the problem is. As a coach, you have to go back and analyze whether it's your scheme, personnel or a great scheme by the other team. We had a few times where we had the guy go the wrong way on a stunt. All the gaps were closed but one and he went the wrong way and out the gate it goes. We have to be more consistent. That's not all coaches or players fault, it is a combination of things. We have to give our guys a plan that's executable and something our guys can handle. It isn't necessarily the front all the time. We got to a situation last week where I don't think we had any defensive backs left. But it is something we are working on and trying to correct."
On if the dropped passes affected the start of the game last week...
"It's hard to argue with 710 yards, but if we don't drop he ball we may have 1000 so I would say yes. We have gotten to the point where our fans, our coaches, and our team are disappointed if we don't score every time we have the ball. As much as I'd like for that to happen it's probably not realistic. We got the ball early and drove the length of the field and missed the field goal. To me that's not a slow start. We did what we needed to do but didn't execute at the end. That's Matt's first miss in a year."
"We're going to be fine. The pressure that we put on ourselves is a good thing but it's also dangerous. The expectation levels of our offense are very high but we have to be careful with how that affects our guys. But 700 yards and not turning the ball over on the road is how you win games. Everybody expects us to score every time and that's great. If we've built that kind of a reputation then that's great. We would like to score every time but that probably isn't going to happen. Statistically we're scoring as many points as anybody in the country so if we scored every time we had it that would be pretty crazy."
On if the number of plays is affecting the defense...
"The way we do things, the defense is probably going to be on the field 60 to 70 plays. Earlier in the year when we played North Texas and the defense was out there for 90-something plays, that isn't ok. Anybody offensively is looking to get 60 to 70 plays. We operate with a high tempo offense and we're looking to get 100 plays. We have to be prepared to play that many snaps."
On having a target on their back every week...
"That is just part of it. We're ok with that. Our fans expect us to win and that perception is out there. That's a hell of a lot better than the alternative. With that expectation you just have to go out and play. As I've said from day one I worry more about us than the other team. Our job as coaches is to take care of us and deal with the things that effect us being able to be successful. We have to get better defensively and shore up some things in our run defense. This week we're going to see some different things that present a few different challenges that we haven't seen yet. I'm more worried about what we're doing than what other people think."
On East Carolina being turnover prone...
"We emphasize strip drills every week. If there is one thing that we have done defensively it is getting turnovers and creating negative plays. We work that every week. We're plus-three in turnover margin right now as a team. It is just as important to work on ball security on offense, as it is to work turnover drills on defense. But they (East Carolina) have been able to move the ball and they have had problems with turnovers. Their offense is like ours in that they try to take advantage of space and utilize their speed. But we recognize that and will work on it the same way we've worked on it all year."
SENIOR QUARTERBACK Case Keenum On playing at home this week...
"It feels great. We're going to play three games at home in October. It's going to be nice."
On the challenges of playing on the road...
"It's always going to be challenging but it's fun. Coach Sumlin has said before that it is better to have 40 thousand fans booing at you than having nobody there; at least they are caring. You can feed a little bit off the energy of an away crowd. If it's a big third down and they are all loud then you get a first down and the whole crowd goes quite. I like to shut up the other crowd. Playing on the road is a different kind of fun than playing at home."
On the things he does during the game if someone is having a rough game...
"I always tell who ever it is, `Hey I'm still going throw you the ball'. I know no body is perfect. I've missed them probably when they were wide open. I'm going to let them know I have confidence in them and throw them the ball."
On wanting to score but being disappointed when they don't...
"That should be the mentality of most offenses but the difference with us is that we almost feel let down if we have to kick a field goal. We want to get in the end zone and score six points. We have a great field goal kick; Matt (Hogan) is one of the best in the country. We feel like we can go down a score every time we get our hands on the ball."
On the offensive linemen...
"I told them if they didn't have any sacks during any game that we would have to grill out. This weekend we grilled out and watched some football. They came together and picked up those blitzes. It's a good time for them to start meshing together. I'm going to continue to rely on them and hopefully I'll be grilling a lot more."
On Charles Sims...
Charles is one of the hardest working guys I've ever known. He doesn't know any other speed than going full speed. I compare him to my dog because he doesn't know when to stop. He only goes full speed and gets that ball. Charles has that same simple mindset, go full speed and get the ball, or get that touchdown in his case He is an awesome dude and I have a lot of respect for him. He has a great work ethic and the talent to go with it. Charles is a special player and a good guy off the field too."
SOPHOMORE DEFENSIVE BACK, Zach McMillian
On living up to his dad's legacy...
"There's pressure but I feel honored to follow in his footsteps. I really do enjoy being able to go out there and wear a jersey with his last name and his number. It's an honor."
On room for growth...
"I can always get stronger and faster but really making plays on the ball. I would much rather make interceptions and bigger plays. I'm doing my job but I'm not making those bigger plays to help my team win."
On being able to move onto the next play...
"I have a high level of expectations for myself. It's hard for me to just forget it. Every defensive back is going to get beat, that's a part of the position. The key is you've just got to be able to move onto the next play."
On defensive progression...
"We're getting there. We should be getting better each week and we should be able to take that next step. Especially secondary wise, now that we've got DJ (Hayden) back and we should be able to take that next step this week."
On trouble with communication between the backs...
"It's been hard because we've been shuffling in and out. We all know what we are supposed to do so it's on us. It doesn't have anything to do with the play call, we need to be able to go in there no matter what and execute. I don't think we've done that yet."
On East Carolina being underrated because of their record...
"They are way better, I just got done watching them on film. They are the real deal. Their receivers are the real deal and their running backs and quarterback make smart decisions."
On what East Carolina does to throw the ball successfully...
"They have a fast-pace offense. They moves the ball fast and they actually run their offense a lot like ours, with their runs, screens and draws. Based off of what they do its going to be a real test for the secondary because they spread us out and want to make plays and get the ball to their fast guys. We've got to go out there and execute. It's big on us."
On if the similar offenses will give UH defense an advantage...
"You know what you're going to get, but they do different variations based off of their larger receivers. So it's going to be a physical test definitely."
On if the game will become more of a one-on-one tackling game...
"They get the ball and throw quick passes, so you want to be able to be on them quick so they won't pick up speed or truck you or make you miss. But we're going to play as a team on defense. We know we've got another ten people on the field so we know we can depend on each other so that it'll never be one on one."
On what his strengths will be this week...
"We're going to mix it up. They've got some bigger receivers that like to jump ball with you and they're going to try to pick on me because of my smaller size.
SENIOR RUNNING BACK MIKE HAYES
On why the UTEP game is always a shootout...
"That was actually my first trip to UTEP. I know in past years when we were ranked high in the nation we've gone there and lost. So going in there and getting a win was big for us. I don't know why every time we go there it's a shootout, that's just how teams play each other sometimes."
On taking games one at a time...
"Like Coach says, each week we start out 0-0 and at the end of the week we need to be 1-0. We just work on playing one game at a time and just worry about the present and getting the win on Saturday."
