Postgame Quotes: Houston 31, Temple 10 - 10/17/14
10/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
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TEMPLE OWLS (4-2 • 2-1 The American)
at HOUSTON COUGARS (4-3 • 2-1 The American)
TDECU Stadium • Houston, Texas • Friday, Oct. 17, 2014
HOUSTON HEAD COACH Tony Levine
Opening Statement:
"I want to recognize our fans and our students. I thought it was a terrific turnout tonight; the students have really made a difference, especially on that side of the field. It was loud there tonight and I really appreciate, eight o'clock kick-off, the game isn't going to end till eleven-thirty, twelve o'clock at night on a Friday evening. Our alumni, our fan base, our students, getting off work and coming out and supporting us, I thought it was tremendous.
Second, I'd like to mention Matt Rhule and the Temple football program. He is a first-class person, doing a great job with that program; it's a first-class operation from everything that they do. They travel extremely well as a program and I just want to mention and recognize him and his program. He said some very kind words in his press conference last week about Derrick Mathews and what he meant to our conference and college football and I thought that spoke volumes of the type of person that Coach Rhule is and the type of program that he is running at Temple.
I'm proud of our young men, our coaches and our staff for the win this evening and the preparation on a little bit of short week. You can take it for granted outside our program and I've said this before: we would play on a short week every week if we could for the exposure for our program. However, you've got to make some adjustments, with that comes adjusting your practice opportunities and schedule. We were one practice short this week, losing the day and playing on a Friday after playing on a Saturday night on the road the week before.
I thought our young men, our staff, and our coaches really did a nice job in preparation. Two of the three things we talked about going into this game I thought we did a great job at: first and foremost, winning the turnover battle. We created four turnovers defensively, one for a touchdown. On offense and special teams, we did turn that ball over. Any time you are plus four in the turnover margin, you've got a great chance to win the game and that was our number one goal going into tonight's game.
Second was field position, I'll have to look at the numbers and see what it looked like on paper, but standing on the sideline, I thought we gave our offense outstanding field position for the most part tonight. I thought with our special teams, we gave our defense opportunities to take the field and force Temple's offense to go seventy-five, or eighty yards.
The third key for us, and what I was disappointed in, was reducing penalties. Against Central Florida, we had twelve penalties called on us; we cut that number to three versus Memphis and again, I said this during the past week, of the three against Memphis not one was a pre-snap penalty, nor was one a post-play penalty which was critical in that game, not backing us up offensively. Tonight, I felt like we took a step back in that area, we had way too many holding calls, some on special teams, some on offense and that is something we need to re-address moving forward.
I thought our young men played hard tonight, I thought we had some guys step in when their teammates were not able to play tonight due to injury and perform well. It was a great team win: offense, defense, and special teams. I thought we had some outstanding individual performances, certainly the guys that created the turnovers defensively go without saying: Howard Wilson, William Jackson, Steven Taylor, and Trevon Stewart. We had a big goal line stand there at the end defensively, and Steven Taylor's forced fumble and fumble recovery when Temple was at our own one-yard line was certainly a critical play in the game.
Offensively, I thought this was one of Ryan Jackson's better games since he's been at our program. I thought Kenneth Farrow ran extremely hard, and I thought our blocking on the perimeter by our wide receivers was excellent. I thought this was one of Markeith Ambles' better games since he has been here, and it was good to see Deontay Greenberry get in the end zone and have ten catches.
The last individual I'll mention will be our quarterback, Greg Ward. Greg was 29-of-33, an 88% completion percentage with 268 yards and two touchdowns. I thought he was very accurate tonight. I thought he made great decisions, and I was proud of the way he prepared and played tonight."
On big defensive plays affecting momentum:
"I thought it was a huge play (Walker's goal line fumble). P.J. Walker, their quarterback… it appeared he was trying to extend the ball over the goal line and Steven Taylor does a great job knocking it out and getting on it for the touchback, getting our offense the ball at the twenty yard line.
So I think as much as anything, you might have said this: it's the word "momentum". They had the momentum at that point, on that drive, getting down inside our 5-yard line and I think our defense, and specifically Steven Taylor, made that play right there. I think we were able to flip the momentum back to us, in just that one play by Steven."
On the defense's contribution to the team's success:
"Well I think a couple things here-
I think the way our defense is playing is allowing me to be a little more aggressive offensively; going for it on 4th down in an area where we might have punted in years past. To maybe pin them back and make them go 90 yards, rather than take a chance on 4th down at the 35-yard line with the risk of not converting and giving the opponent better field position.
I don't think we're doing a very good job right now, offensively, taking the field after we're creating turnovers defensively. I think when we get that type of momentum and create a turnover, you'd like to go out there and - within football programs it's called 'sudden change' - seize the momentum, get on the field and get a touchdown. Or at least get points on the board. Over the course of the season, and at times tonight, we've got to get more consistent offensively, taking advantage of the times that we get the turnovers on defense."
On his team moving the chains and holding the ball:
Momentum's been huge. One thing we've not been known for here is time of possession - I think we had the ball for 42 ½ minutes tonight, they had the ball for 17 ½ minutes - my seven years here, I don't know the last time I've seen us have the ball for 42 ½ minutes. A lot of that had to do with our defense taking the ball away, and our offense did a nice job moving the chains - that's something we've talked about - move the chains, don't back ourselves up.
In the last 20 games, our defense has forced 66 turnovers - that's not bad. I think that's really been helpful. That goes back to what I said about turnover margin. Offensively, zero turnovers is as big as our defense getting four."
On Greg Ward's comfort at quarterback:
"Just reminding everybody: last spring, Greg was a full-time receiver. This summer, Greg was a full-time receiver. When we got to August, Greg joined the quarterback meetings, but he was still playing wideout and playing a limited role at quarterback. The more he plays, the more comfortable he's going to get, and the more comfortable his 10 teammates around him are going to be with him and the execution of the offense. Going 29-of-33 (completions for Ward tonight) - I don't know in my 20 years I've seen that very often either, almost 90 percent completions.
On the success of the wide receivers:
"I think our wideouts are doing a nice job catching Greg's passes. The dynamic he brings - and we saw it again tonight on occasion, where he tucks the ball on a pass play, gets yards, makes people miss - you want to talk about momentum, it really energizes the sideline when he's running. It may be a gain of five, but when he runs and makes a guy miss completely, and gets up-field - that brings energy as well."
On Greg Ward's scrambling:
"When he tucks the ball, I am not cringing on the sideline. We want our quarterbacks to make good decisions with the football and not turn it over. I thought there were some times tonight where he started to scramble, and I thought we had receivers come open. If he chooses not to throw to them downfield, and wants to run and pick up a couple yards, we will never complain. It's when quarterbacks start to scramble and make poor decisions - I think in these first two games that Greg has started for us, for the most part he's made very good decisions. He threw the interception in the first drive against Memphis, I think he's settled down extremely well since then.
That's part of the dynamic he adds to the position - in terms of if he feels like coverage or protection breaks down, he's got the green light to tuck it and run. I think that's something opposing defensive coordinators and defenses have to game plan for."
On trying to keep Greg Ward free from injury:
"Well, football is a physical sport. The health and well-being of our student-athletes is first and foremost. He's a competitor, as is Deontay Greenberry, Trevon Stewart and everyone out there wearing a jersey that had 'Houston' across it tonight. They love to compete and play the game of football.
You absolutely hate to see a young man get injured - we've certainly had our share the last week to 10 days. I used the word 'slippery' this past week describing Greg. He normally doesn't take big hits. I think one time tonight, he got sacked and twisted under a lineman for Temple. We always know going in that injuries could happen, and you hate to phrase that they're part of the game. Unfortunately, they tend to be at times.
A couple weeks ago, we ordered him some rib pads and rib protectors, so he wears those. He's playing the position like he's played it in high school and played it since he's been here. That certainly is a part of the game."
On student-athletes seizing opportunities
"Markeith Ambles right now is playing his best football since he's been here in our program. Wayne Beadle is a young man who is a senior walk-on that starts now in place of Daniel Spencer. He has really made some great efforts in blocking extremely well, making some big catches tonight, big third down catches and conversions tonight. Demarcus Ayers didn't have too many catches tonight, but he's another young man who's stepped his game up. I thought this was one of Deontay Greenberry's better performances this year His blocking, his catching the ball, his touchdown catch was outstanding - even the short screens we threw him, giving him the ability to get up field.
Going back to Markeith, I think he's doing a really good job right now. We're going to have to continue to have that moving forward on both sides of the ball. William Jackson was called for a targeting penalty, the second half of the game - so by rule, he'll sit out the first half of our next game against USF. Khalil Williams was wearing number 2 tonight. We'll look at the film but he was all over the field, playing on some special teams. Trevon Stewart went out with an injury and Khalil was out there full-time in the second half.
We'll have to continue to have some young men step up - Landon Roberts was another one, he didn't play as much tonight because of what Temple does offensively, but I think in the next couple weeks you're going to see number 44 out there quite a bit at linebacker.
Steven Aikens, another young man who has been one of our most consistent special teams players, and was out there quite a bit at safety."
HOUSTON SOPHOMORE LB Steven Taylor
On the Houston defense forcing turnovers:
"I think it really comes from practice because Coach Levine and Coach Gibbs always talk about turnovers. They're constantly preaching "turnovers, turnovers, turnovers", so we work it every day in practice. We carry what we practice to the field on game days."
On the thought process that goes in to making turnovers:
"We concentrate on making the tackle first and the second guy coming in and trying to get the ball out."
On the defense's role in Houston's success:
"We have a great coaching staff, and they really know what they're doing. They call great plays and they design great defenses. We just listen to them, and we put out what they give us on the field."
On facing The American's no. 1 scoring defense:
"We don't pay attention to all of that. We just go out there and play our game. When we step on that field, every team we play against is 0-0. We try to play hard and execute our defense and offense."
On the play at the goal line, where Temple nearly tied the game:
"First of all, it was really hard to think because I had the student section behind me, and it was really loud. It got me going and I just made a play."
HOUSTON SOPHOMORE QB Greg Ward Jr.
On teammates talking about his future Heisman candidacy:
"I try not to listen to that stuff. I try to go out here everyday and play like it's my last."
On the big hit early in the game and what it did to him:
"It really just knocked me to my senses. I should have gotten down. It didn't cause me any pain, but I took it like a man. I was trying to get to the end zone. I should have gotten down."
On how it feels to sit on the sideline and watch the defense play:
"It actually pumps us up. It actually makes us want to go out there and do well. We can back the defense up and not turn the ball over."
On if he thinks to run first on every play:
"Some (plays) are designed runs and some are just instinct. If the pocket breaks down, I'm trying to make something happen on my feet, trying to get a play down or trying to score. I'm just trying to help the team out."
TEMPLE HEAD COACH MATT RHULE
Opening Statement:
"A lot of credit goes to Coach Levine. I thought (Houston) played outstanding football, and we're really disappointed. It was not a good day for us in any area: special teams, offense, or defense. I am extremely disappointed in the penalties and turnovers. We got the ball inside the five three times and we gave away points three times. We turned it over twice. We didn't answer the call. All that being said, I thought we still had a chance to tie it in the second half and come back and win the game. Down 31-10 in the fourth quarter, we took the ball right down the field and thought maybe at 31-17 that we could make it a game, but they made plays."
On the goal line fumble that cost Temple the tying touchdown in the 3rd quarter:
"We don't reach the ball on the goal line for a reason, and Houston learned that the hard way a few weeks ago against UCF. We did some things that are uncharacteristic of our team. One of those was reaching the ball over, and you see what happens. When you do things you are not trained to do, you see what happens. You fumble the ball away. Credit to them, they knocked the ball out. "
On his team's three interceptions:
"I thought the first one, (Trevon Stewart) made a great play on the ball. On the second one, (P.J. Walker) threw the ball where it was supposed to go, and it was a one-on-one shot down the sideline. (William Jackson) took the ball from our kid. And the third one was a tipped ball, probably a little bit high. So one bad decision, one probably on the receiver, giving him a chance to make a play, and then one was just a bad pass."
On the effect turnovers had on his team:
"We knew that coming in that that was what couldn't happen and it happened. I'm surprised it was that close, to be quite honest. (We had) four turnovers and a dropped punt. "
On his thoughts on the remainder of Temples schedule:
"We have a chance to win every game. This was a good contest, and I told our guys that as bad as we played, we still have chances. We have to go back and correct those things, and if we protect the football and take it away from the other teams, that means that we will have a chance to win We just didn't do that tonight.
On screen passes to Jahad Thomas
"Jahad did a great job tonight. He showed some elusiveness. Even in the passing game, Jahad was a bright spot for us with those screen passes. It is a shame that he didn't get into the end zone because had he done that it might have been a different game.
TEMPLE SOPHOMORE RB JAHAD THOMAS
On Temple's game plan:
"In the first half it seemed like everyone was uptight and we weren't playing our brand, our style, of football. In the second half we settled down a little bit and started playing our brand. Throughout the whole game we just weren't playing Temple football."
On turnovers hurting his team's chances to win:
"If it wasn't for the turnovers we definitely would have had a better chance of winning the game, but we still had a shot in the 4th quarter being down by three touchdowns knowing that the offense just needed to get each other going."
On how turnovers limited the Temple offense:
"We have a dynamic offense. Being down was never a factor. We just had to get something going, but the turnovers didn't allow us to get ready."
On the two big screen passes that he caught:
"That has definitely been a play that we go to a lot. It has definitely been working for us, and it is something that we connect on. Once I get the ball in my hands I just run it and go."
