University of Houston Athletics
Houston at East Carolina : Press Conference
10/8/2018 12:34:00 PM | Football
HOUSTON FOOTBALL
Monday, October 8, 2018 • Houston
Carl Lewis Auditorium • Athletics/Alumni Center
HEAD COACH MAJOR APPLEWHITE
On the offensive line
"I'm pleased with the stats, the numbers speak for themselves. I'm pleased with the way those guys have worked together as a group. They're developing their mentality as a group day-in and day-out. Having that mentality as an offensive line that 'you're only as good as your last game'. Rushing stats tell a lot in terms of how you're dominating the line of scrimmage. Sacks given up is another stat that tells a lot in terms of how you're working together in pass protection. It speaks a lot about D'Eriq, in terms of getting the ball out and the backs and wide receivers getting open. Sacks is kind of a team number. I think those guys have done a great job. We're not too much into the sit there, pause, take inventory on where we are and how good we are. We've got a heck of a challenge for us this week. They play a four-man front and a three-man front as well. They have some big guys up inside, they have some great defensive ends that are very athletic. Harvey in particular does some great things on tape, plays with a great motor, can rush the passer, and can play the run. The defense is much improved. From the offensive line standpoint, it's about the next opportunity and the next challenge and this going to be a hell of a challenge on the road."
On ECU's second in the conference defense
"They have good schemes and are very solid. They can be as complicated as they want to be and they can be as simple, play it straight, and come right at you. They've got two or three seniors and a junior in the backend. A very athletic linebacker, big shape and can move those guys up front. Their defensive ends, 44 and 40, both of those guys can do a great job at rushing the passer, but also convert speed to power and play the run."
On the defense aggressiveness and seeing more blitz this past weekend
"I think a little bit of both. We saw some opportunities as the game went on and continued to add pressure. We weren't getting hit as much down field once we settled in and we gave up that free on early, and guys were getting home. Elijah was making plays and sometimes it's not always the sacks, it's about the hurries that create the interceptions that create the batted balls, but being disruptive.
I felt watching the tape as a whole, it was one of the best, if not the best effort from our defense in terms of their overall effort to the football, raking at the football, and going at the football. We said that I would be surprised, we all did as coaches' right there at the end of practice on Tuesday said, 'I would be surprised if we don't get two or three takeaways.' The way we practice, the way we put an emphasis on it, the way we have coached it, the way we have responded to the coaching, the way we have carried it out throughout practice. I would be surprised if we didn't have two or three takeaways. And those guys went out and executed exactly what they had practiced, so again practice is a pretty good indicator of how we are going to play."
On Elijah Gooden and others playing time since Darrion Owens is out
"I think that is kind of the whole point, whether it would TSU, whether it be Arizona, getting those guys in so they can start to have an impact as we go into conference. This is at that point as a coach when you compliment a guy and you don't want them to 'psssssssh (throws up hand to indicate he doesn't want them to get a big ego).' You want them to keep growing and developing, but Elijah Gooden did an outstanding job. David Anenih took a step forward. That is something that we need to be able to play that field back-up position with Emeke and Leroy, have more depth there and have more depth at linebacker. Roman, Austin and Darrion are coming back this week, so to be able to have around three or four of those guys in those positions where they normally play can allow them to stay fresh."
On how Senior Linebacker, Roman Brown has taken on his role over the years
"He loves football. He loves football, and he wants to contribute. Seeing him from afar as a coach, no different than any other coach, those are the two biggest factors. He loves the game. He's a huge Philadelphia Eagles fan, and someone who just lives, eats and sleeps football. I mean, he knows who the third string wide-out is for the Arizona Cardinals; he understands it all.
Our first year in 2015, he was a scout team nickel. He was always out playing over the slot, or sometimes diving in the box. He was the guy that you had to constantly be communicating with as an offensive coach, scout team wise, to get in position. He's a guy that you could make eye contact with when he's out there on the field, and he'd understand exactly what you wanted as a coach; where he needed to be on a certain play, the work he needed to do, and the effort he needed to give you. If we needed to rerun a play again because it was a skewed look, then he got it right the next time.
He loves football, and he wants to contribute. That's how he contributed in 2015, 2016, 2017 and here we are in 2018. He has a passion for the game and he wants to be a part of a team. He's worked himself into that opportunity and that role."
On making adjustments to prepare for playmakers on opposing team
"You have to look and see if what we do offensively opens it up for this guy. Whatever our scheme is offensively, does it play into this guy's hands? If it does, then you better change it quickly or find ways to adjust. Or no, what we do is going to neutralize this guy. They have a great cover down at corner. We run triple options, so it's not a big deal. It's all about how it matches your scheme."
On how to approach an upcoming match
"You have to have a plan going into it, and you have to be able to adjust as the game goes on. Sometimes you can handicap yourself in the planning process. You can say 'we can't do that because he'll be over here, and we can't do that because he'll be over there.' All of a sudden you're in a neighborhood with nothing but one-way streets, and you can't do anything to the left or the right. You can only slide the protection this way and run power this way. You have made your offensive play calling very complicated. You have to account for whatever player it is. You better have a plan, and you better have a plan for when the situations are in his favor. If it's third and one and he's a pass-rusher, you have to have a plan for those type of things. "
On Ed Oliver and if his stats truly reflect his on-field production
"It's hard to account for the production he allows others to have. It reminds me of back in the day when we were playing against Dez Bryant. You always had to put a safety and a corner over the top of Dez Bryant, when all of a sudden Kendall Hunter kills you. Sometimes maybe he doesn't walk away with 12 catches for 200 yards and two touchdowns, but he shapes your secondary and the run support in a way that you get bled for 150 yards. Maybe that's his impact. There are certain things where players like that can create issues."
On health status of Isaiah Chambers, Terence Williams, and Darrion Owens
"Isaiah Chambers came back in, he went through our workouts and he was limited in practice. He'll be a guy that we monitor throughout the week for game day. Terence Williams had an ankle injury. He was limited yesterday at practice. We'll have to monitor him throughout the week. Darrion Owens will be back this week. We're going to have to monitor him too. He's questionable for Saturday. We're going to have to monitor all those guys with their injuries as we get closer to game day."
On capitalizing in the red zone
"Offensively we want to be at least 70% scoring touchdowns. That's our goal. They've done a great job. When you can run the football, run your quarterback, and your wide receivers are making plays, it's difficult to defend that in the red zone. When your quarterback is a runner, you have guys who are making plays with the football in the end zone, and you have guys who run the ball hard between the tackles, that's what you need. Defensively one of five touchdowns was outstanding. The three takeaways we had, could have been six takeaways. Two interceptions went right through our hands Thursday night. We had that fumble that was questionable on the sideline. We could have walked away with six turnovers. We had a turnover there where they had the ball on the nine or ten yard line, and we held them to a field goal. Two of those drives we dropped interceptions that resulted in giving up ten points. We have to focus on ball drills too. We don't have it all clicked, not just in one half of a good defense. One of five in the red zone in terms of defense and 8 of 23 on third down. Those are great stats, but we still have a lot to improve on. We need to keep our hands on those balls. Those interceptions were huge. We could have had a much bigger lead at the beginning of the game."
Monday, October 8, 2018 • Houston
Carl Lewis Auditorium • Athletics/Alumni Center
HEAD COACH MAJOR APPLEWHITE
On the offensive line
"I'm pleased with the stats, the numbers speak for themselves. I'm pleased with the way those guys have worked together as a group. They're developing their mentality as a group day-in and day-out. Having that mentality as an offensive line that 'you're only as good as your last game'. Rushing stats tell a lot in terms of how you're dominating the line of scrimmage. Sacks given up is another stat that tells a lot in terms of how you're working together in pass protection. It speaks a lot about D'Eriq, in terms of getting the ball out and the backs and wide receivers getting open. Sacks is kind of a team number. I think those guys have done a great job. We're not too much into the sit there, pause, take inventory on where we are and how good we are. We've got a heck of a challenge for us this week. They play a four-man front and a three-man front as well. They have some big guys up inside, they have some great defensive ends that are very athletic. Harvey in particular does some great things on tape, plays with a great motor, can rush the passer, and can play the run. The defense is much improved. From the offensive line standpoint, it's about the next opportunity and the next challenge and this going to be a hell of a challenge on the road."
On ECU's second in the conference defense
"They have good schemes and are very solid. They can be as complicated as they want to be and they can be as simple, play it straight, and come right at you. They've got two or three seniors and a junior in the backend. A very athletic linebacker, big shape and can move those guys up front. Their defensive ends, 44 and 40, both of those guys can do a great job at rushing the passer, but also convert speed to power and play the run."
On the defense aggressiveness and seeing more blitz this past weekend
"I think a little bit of both. We saw some opportunities as the game went on and continued to add pressure. We weren't getting hit as much down field once we settled in and we gave up that free on early, and guys were getting home. Elijah was making plays and sometimes it's not always the sacks, it's about the hurries that create the interceptions that create the batted balls, but being disruptive.
I felt watching the tape as a whole, it was one of the best, if not the best effort from our defense in terms of their overall effort to the football, raking at the football, and going at the football. We said that I would be surprised, we all did as coaches' right there at the end of practice on Tuesday said, 'I would be surprised if we don't get two or three takeaways.' The way we practice, the way we put an emphasis on it, the way we have coached it, the way we have responded to the coaching, the way we have carried it out throughout practice. I would be surprised if we didn't have two or three takeaways. And those guys went out and executed exactly what they had practiced, so again practice is a pretty good indicator of how we are going to play."
On Elijah Gooden and others playing time since Darrion Owens is out
"I think that is kind of the whole point, whether it would TSU, whether it be Arizona, getting those guys in so they can start to have an impact as we go into conference. This is at that point as a coach when you compliment a guy and you don't want them to 'psssssssh (throws up hand to indicate he doesn't want them to get a big ego).' You want them to keep growing and developing, but Elijah Gooden did an outstanding job. David Anenih took a step forward. That is something that we need to be able to play that field back-up position with Emeke and Leroy, have more depth there and have more depth at linebacker. Roman, Austin and Darrion are coming back this week, so to be able to have around three or four of those guys in those positions where they normally play can allow them to stay fresh."
On how Senior Linebacker, Roman Brown has taken on his role over the years
"He loves football. He loves football, and he wants to contribute. Seeing him from afar as a coach, no different than any other coach, those are the two biggest factors. He loves the game. He's a huge Philadelphia Eagles fan, and someone who just lives, eats and sleeps football. I mean, he knows who the third string wide-out is for the Arizona Cardinals; he understands it all.
Our first year in 2015, he was a scout team nickel. He was always out playing over the slot, or sometimes diving in the box. He was the guy that you had to constantly be communicating with as an offensive coach, scout team wise, to get in position. He's a guy that you could make eye contact with when he's out there on the field, and he'd understand exactly what you wanted as a coach; where he needed to be on a certain play, the work he needed to do, and the effort he needed to give you. If we needed to rerun a play again because it was a skewed look, then he got it right the next time.
He loves football, and he wants to contribute. That's how he contributed in 2015, 2016, 2017 and here we are in 2018. He has a passion for the game and he wants to be a part of a team. He's worked himself into that opportunity and that role."
On making adjustments to prepare for playmakers on opposing team
"You have to look and see if what we do offensively opens it up for this guy. Whatever our scheme is offensively, does it play into this guy's hands? If it does, then you better change it quickly or find ways to adjust. Or no, what we do is going to neutralize this guy. They have a great cover down at corner. We run triple options, so it's not a big deal. It's all about how it matches your scheme."
On how to approach an upcoming match
"You have to have a plan going into it, and you have to be able to adjust as the game goes on. Sometimes you can handicap yourself in the planning process. You can say 'we can't do that because he'll be over here, and we can't do that because he'll be over there.' All of a sudden you're in a neighborhood with nothing but one-way streets, and you can't do anything to the left or the right. You can only slide the protection this way and run power this way. You have made your offensive play calling very complicated. You have to account for whatever player it is. You better have a plan, and you better have a plan for when the situations are in his favor. If it's third and one and he's a pass-rusher, you have to have a plan for those type of things. "
On Ed Oliver and if his stats truly reflect his on-field production
"It's hard to account for the production he allows others to have. It reminds me of back in the day when we were playing against Dez Bryant. You always had to put a safety and a corner over the top of Dez Bryant, when all of a sudden Kendall Hunter kills you. Sometimes maybe he doesn't walk away with 12 catches for 200 yards and two touchdowns, but he shapes your secondary and the run support in a way that you get bled for 150 yards. Maybe that's his impact. There are certain things where players like that can create issues."
On health status of Isaiah Chambers, Terence Williams, and Darrion Owens
"Isaiah Chambers came back in, he went through our workouts and he was limited in practice. He'll be a guy that we monitor throughout the week for game day. Terence Williams had an ankle injury. He was limited yesterday at practice. We'll have to monitor him throughout the week. Darrion Owens will be back this week. We're going to have to monitor him too. He's questionable for Saturday. We're going to have to monitor all those guys with their injuries as we get closer to game day."
On capitalizing in the red zone
"Offensively we want to be at least 70% scoring touchdowns. That's our goal. They've done a great job. When you can run the football, run your quarterback, and your wide receivers are making plays, it's difficult to defend that in the red zone. When your quarterback is a runner, you have guys who are making plays with the football in the end zone, and you have guys who run the ball hard between the tackles, that's what you need. Defensively one of five touchdowns was outstanding. The three takeaways we had, could have been six takeaways. Two interceptions went right through our hands Thursday night. We had that fumble that was questionable on the sideline. We could have walked away with six turnovers. We had a turnover there where they had the ball on the nine or ten yard line, and we held them to a field goal. Two of those drives we dropped interceptions that resulted in giving up ten points. We have to focus on ball drills too. We don't have it all clicked, not just in one half of a good defense. One of five in the red zone in terms of defense and 8 of 23 on third down. Those are great stats, but we still have a lot to improve on. We need to keep our hands on those balls. Those interceptions were huge. We could have had a much bigger lead at the beginning of the game."
Players Mentioned
LB
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LB
/ Football
DL
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LB
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DT
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LB
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RB
/ FootballMedia Availability: Ashton Porter
Monday, April 20
Media Availability: Kentrell Webb
Monday, April 20
Media Availability: Keisean Henderson
Monday, April 20
Media Availability: Conner Weigman
Sunday, April 19