Weis Press Conference Transcript | Player Quotes
August 6, 2007
Assistant Head Coach (Offense)/Offensive Line Coach John Latina
On John Sullivan’s veteran leadership…
“It’s always important to have that. Any time you can have a guy that can control things in the offense line, whether it be your center or your guard or whatever, but any time you have a guy that is a really smart player that can calm inexperience players down, and those players are looking for his guidance and they trust when he tells them something, you know that there is a trust that they know that he knows. So I think that is a great benefit that we have.”
On the importance of the competition at offensive guard…
“I think other than our center, we have a bunch of young guys or either young guys or inexperience guys. Everybody is different. You never know when the light switch goes on, so you have to get them all equal reps and you have to give them all equal opportunity. You just don’t know who is going to take (the opportunity) the quickest.”
Assistant Head Coach (Defense)/Defensive Backs Coach Bill Lewis
On having Tom Zbikowski back…
“I think that it’s evident the way his teammates feel about him as far as him being one of our captains. So right away, it tells you that he has the respect of the other guys on the team. That’s important. Then, Tommy’s one of those guys that practices and plays the game the way you like to see it played. He’s a tough guy. He plays the game with a tough approach and I think that carries over. I think that’s where Tommy’s real leadership comes from. People watch him. Tommy’s not a particularly vocal guy, but he’s a very sincere, hard-working guy and I think for a young player, I’d tell him to watch Tommy, because he comes out and gets his work done on the practice field and then he plays the game hard and physical on the game day.”
On individuals competing for spots and it affecting team chemistry…
“We’re basically trying to rotate three units in the secondary. We try to give those people a similar number of repetitions early in training camp, so that they all have as fair of an opportunity as we can give them to compete against each other. I think that competition brings out the best in people who can perform. I think the real benefit that you get is that you should be getting everybody’s best on every repetition because they know they’re competing with other guys for that spot. We’ll draw the line early enough that we can get the kind of chemistry that we want with our first unit and second unit because they’re developing that with every repetition.”
On the 3-4 defense…
“We (secondary) have probably had the fewest adjustments to make because the coverage concepts in a 3-4 and a 4-3 are very similar as far as the secondary is concerned. You’ve got some different combinations up front between the two, and when it comes to fitting that four-deep group in behind, and as you start to go to your sub-package with your nickel and dime, that part is very, very similar. I think if you asked any of our guys, that’s not been a factor. We’ve been able to tie in most of our terminology to what we’ve been doing, so I think it’s been an easy transition.”
On the defense adjusting…
“It’s one of the big changes through the years, and in recent years in offensive football. I think offensive teams have done of couple of things. One is that they force you to defend every inch of the field by utilizing wide receivers, multiple wide receivers, spreading you out and making you cover the whole field. And then I think there’s much more of a willingness to throw the football in today’s game than in any other time in the history of the game. As a result, you’re seeing more skilled athletes on the offensive side of the ball. Guys like to throw and catch the ball … that’s fun. So I think we’re seeing the best abilities at quarterback, perhaps that we’ve ever seen in the games as it’s being played now, which is a game that involves a lot of throwing. I think we’re seeing the level of wide receivers, tight ends, backs being able to catch the ball coming out of the backfield – we’re seeing a better level of that than we’ve seen at any other time. That combination of the kinds of players, and then using all the different combinations, what you end up having to do from the defensive standpoint is you spend a big portion of the time adjusting the formations as opposed to just working on strictly fundamental techniques over and over again. Because, the first thing you’ve got to be able to do is see the formation, recognize it, align to it and then with all the different variations they have, you have to take any call you put down on your game plan, and you’ve got to be able to adjust to every one of those formations. It’s a challenge.
Defensive Coordinator/Outside Linebackers Coach Corwin Brown
On defense improving…
“We want to improve everywhere across the board and we have high expectations for all of our players, young and old. We would just like to see them go out and compete, make plays, not give up plays and give us an opportunity to win.”
On moving to South Bend…
“It’s Notre Dame for one, and it’s (head coach) Charlie (Weis) for two. Then you know the opportunity to work with these kids at this place, that whole combination is a winning combination.”
On Coach Weis…
“We go back a ways and I’ve always known him to be a direct and upfront guy. He’s a smart guy, a guy that I’ve always learned a lot from, even though I was on the other side of the ball. I’ve always had a tremendous amount of respect for Coach Weis and when you get that opportunity to work with somebody that you feel comfortable with, a person that’s like your mentor and that you’ll learn a lot from, you have to jump at that chance.”
On being at Notre Dame…
“The only thing I’ve thought about is that whenever opportunities arise, no matter where you are, no matter where you’re from, I’ve been taught from day one that you just do your job the best that you possibly can and you try to excel at that. So that’s what I’ve always done.”
On recruiting…
“I think it’s been a team process. Everybody has worked hard, we’ve worked together and we enjoy our jobs here. So each and every aspect of our job, as a coaching staff, we all try to excel at that.”
On the attitude of the defense…
“We’re going to hit and run and we’re going to attack the football and we’re going to play extremely hard. We want to try and play mistake-free, not give up big plays, basically do our job and our responsibilities, and there’s nothing magic about that. Just doing what you’re supposed to do. We have a certain way that we like to do things and that’s what we’ve been striving for.”
On the Notre Dame defense being perceived as a weak link…
“Well, we really don’t worry what others say about us. As a group, we look at where we want to go and what we need to get done. We look at our own goals and expectations and that, more than anything, drives and motivates us. So when we look at that tape, if we’re not what we say we are, then we’re going to fix that and get it right. That’s the kind of group we have. We’ve done that and we’re going to continue to do that.”
“I’m driven by one thing. When I look at that tape, if my guys are playing well, then we’re happy and we’re satisfied. If they are not playing well, then we’re not happy. That’s what we’re driven by.”
Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs Coach Michael Haywood
On a relatively young Irish backfield…
“I think that all of our running backs’ expectations are higher. With a young team, there are a lot of opportunities to have success and there is a lot of competition. Because of having young quarterbacks, (the running backs) see it as a light at the end of the tunnel that ‘we’re going to have to run this football’. When you’re in a room and you’re coaching, you coach so that the youngest guy in the room understands the concepts and what it takes to be successful on the play.”
On improvements at the quarterback position since spring practice…
“Guys change from the spring. Now it’s several months later and they’ve made significant improvements since that point in that time. So we have to wait and see where they are over the next two weeks before you can go in and make a sound judgment. That’s why there is going to be a great competition at the position.”
Wide Receivers Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Rob Ianello
On the returning receivers…
“I haven’t seen the receivers since the spring game, as far as on the field. It’s no secret that we have had some taller players the last few years and now we have some players who aren’t so tall. That doesn’t mean they are any less talented as a group or any less competitive as a group. They’ll be able to do some things that guys of their body type can do that maybe some other guys couldn’t do.”
On the impact of not knowing the starting quarterback on the receiving corps…
“We’re not worried about who the quarterback is going to be. We just have to worry about the fundamentals. Every ‘out route’ needs to look the same to whatever quarterback is playing. Every ‘in route’ need to look the same to whatever quarterback is playing. We just want to be fundamentally sound and make plays when called upon.”
Defensive Line Coach Jappy Oliver
On starting practice…
“It’s really exciting. We’ve been gone all summer and when you come back and look at the strides (the players) have made in the weight room and also in conditioning, that just fires you up even more. When you looked at the gleam in their eyes when they came in on Sunday, they kind of get you fired up because it looks like they’re hungry and ready to go. We have a new system and they’re excited about that and eager to learn more about that.”
On his first priorities once practice starts…
“We’re big on going back to the basics because we don’t taking anything for granted in terms of what guys have learned in the spring and how much they’ve retained. So we are going to go back to the basics and make sure they are squared away on the things that we instilled in the spring because, just like a kid going to school, once they leave for the summer, it’s not like they are going to pick up another book and do a whole lot of studying. We feel that kids are kids, so we are going to push the basics and make sure they are squared away. Obviously, (strength and conditioning coordinator) Ruben (Mendoza) and his staff have done a great job from a physical standpoint of getting them in shape and getting them bigger and stronger because we’ve seen the results of that. Now it’s our turn to introduce the x’s and o’s all over again and get them to play in our system.”
On how the guys have picked up on the new 3-4 defense…
“I was pleased. I thought our guys were receptive and it helps because I have some new guys and they are like eager beavers and all wide-eyed and you can’t give them enough. I didn’t have any problems and they are excited about taking this package a little bit further because we didn’t introduce everything that we are going to in this particular package.”
On Trevor Laws being a leader on the defensive line…
“We’ve been together three years now and I feel I know him a lot better than some of the other guys. He’s kind of a quiet leader and he leads by example. If anything, I’d like him to be a little more boisterous, but that’s a comfort level. If he feels comfortable about it, then he’ll do it. I think he’s excited about the new scheme and I think we’ll do some different things to help him out and free him up and kind of go from there.”
On the competition along the defensive line…
“It’s wide open. We’ve had some guys get bigger and stronger, which told me that they want to play. They are going to compete every day. There could be switches from day-to-day, week-to-week or game-to-game. From that standpoint, it just makes things a lot better if a young man knows he has a chance to play.”
Tight Ends/Special Teams Coach Bernie Parmalee
On the evolution of the tight end in football…
“Guys are getting bigger and stronger. When you have a guy who can run a 4.5, that’s just another weapon. It’s happening at each position. You just have to adapt to what you have. They’re spreading out a little more (on the field) and come around on plays with great hands. That’s just another weapon and teams are using it that way, giving them some mismatches down the middle. If a tight end can block and catch, that’s even better and it’s a better weapon to have.”
On John Carlson helping the new quarterbacks…
“He helps them out a lot just having been in the system and being a playmaker. As a quarterback, if you have a guy that you can rely on to get open for you, it’s always good to have that type of guy running down the field for you.”
On getting back to practice…
“It’s been a while since we last stepped on a field. We had our break, now it’s time to go to work. I’m excited because we have a lot of young guys who are very talented. You just want to get your hands on them and help them out to get them going in the right direction.”
Inside Linebackers/Special Teams Coach Brian Polian
On the questions surrounding the team…
“I think it’s just a fact of life in college football where you’re constantly graduating guys and there’s change. Even though the media or the people on the outside may see stability from year to year, there are always question marks in our minds. And it’s not so much question marks as it’s about who’s going to be the guy that’s going to step up and take the job. There are surprises from time to time. There are opportunities available this year and we’re going to find out over the next two weeks who are going to be those guys that step up and earn those jobs.”
On finding the right kicker…
“We’ve now combined (defensive coordinator/outside linebackers coach) Corwin Brown and myself with the specialist group, which I think is a good thing because it’s another set of eyes and it’s another opinion from a guy that’s done it and it’s a chance to keep close tabs on those guys. If that competition declares itself early, that would be great and if it doesn’t, we’ll just have to ride it out. It won’t declare itself in the first three or four days just because there aren’t enough opportunities. Ultimately, Coach (Weis) is going to create situations in practice throughout camp where we are going to try and exert pressure on all three of those guys and see how they react. Ultimately, we have to find the best guy and put him out there.”
On the linebackers being a strength of the team…
“I like the experience that we have on the inside when you have Maurice Crum and Joe Brockington, who have played a lot of football. You also have a veteran like Scott Smith, who, although he has not played a ton, he is a very smart guy and can play multiple positions. Toryan Smith is also going to be a factor. Steve Quinn has played a lot on special teams and now he’s going to have a chance to get some significant time on defense. Then you throw the two freshmen in the mix and let’s see what happens. It’s a good group and I’m excited to be around them.”
On Maurice Crum…
“I think Mo has done a nice job of stepping up into a leadership role and I think Joe Brockington, who has been around here a long time, has done the same thing in a room where we have a lot of young guys. Mo has played the most football in that room, followed by Joe and after that, you wouldn’t say there’s been significant time. So they’ve done a nice job and they both are a pleasure to coach.”
On what new defensive coordinator Corwin Brown brings to the team…
“Obviously, philosophically it’s a change. He’s very thorough and very knowledgeable in the system that he runs. He brings a lot of energy and I feel our kids really feed off of that. I know as coaches we feed off of that. It’s been a refreshing change and I’ve enjoyed being around him and that’s not being disrespectful to anyone who has been here before. He moves at a little bit different tempo and that’s been nice.”
Quarterbacks Coach Ron Powlus
On having three quarterbacks contend for the starting position…
“It’s exciting. I mean, it’s really, really exciting. The Notre Dame nation, University, and family were very fortunate for the quarterback that just left here (Brady Quinn). But Brady is not here, and we have guys that are competing for this job. It’s fun to watch them gain confidence. It’s fun to watch things click in their heads. It’s fun to watch them ‘get it’. And it’s fun to help them get there.”
On once being in the same position of the players he is now coaching…
“I talk to all these guys in the same light. I’ve been in all of their shoes – trying to win the (starting quarterback) job, having the job, being the starter, and being young and new. I try to relate to them and see where they are and where they want to go.”
— ND —