University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Meet the Press: Coach Dave Wannstedt Looks at Rutgers
10/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 16, 2006
Dave Wannstedt
October 16, 2006
On the
The best thing that really came out with last week's game against
On this week's game against
I don't know what needs to be said. There's probably not a football team that's been in the news, talk radio, or national TV since the beginning of the season more than
On
His health is fine. I expect him to be fine this week and play. We felt like we actually had a chance to break one in the
On
He's a real talented kid. If you remember last year he actually alternated as a freshman. Last week was his best week throwing the ball, he threw for over 200 yards. I think he had two touchdowns. He's capable. They're smart. When you're running for about 250 yards a game and you get the big lead, there hasn't been the need to throw it. They've done a very good job of protecting him. (Fullback Brian) Leonard is their leading receiver, the fullback. So when you have your fullback as your leading receiver and you're not throwing it as much and your tailback is the fourth-leading rusher in the nation, a lot of the passes you're going to throw to the fullback are going to be high percentage passes and that's what they've done. They've done a nice job of that.
On the importance of winning this week's game:
Now we're into the Big East schedule and they're all important in that way. It's not a matter of doing more this week, it's a matter of doing it better. I think that's how you approach a game like this. Our players understand that and that's the great thing. We know that it would be a big win for us. These are easier games for us to get ready for -- from a head coach standpoint -- than last week. Last week it's the mouse traps hanging all over and everyday is kind of a crisis -- are they here getting enough film, are they watching extra film, are they paying attention to detail, did the guys get their tickets? All these things are a part of last week. This week, we've had guys in here already. It's an exciting week. We're going to have a great crowd, national TV. That's why they came to Pitt, to play in these types of games.
On the success of
I think the film speaks for itself, they're going to watch the film and watch this guy run over people and run around people. And our guys know these guys. I looked at their roster this morning, they have 22 players from the state of
On
They're sound. They're putting the emphasis on the right things. That's why they're running the ball well. They're not turning it over, they're playing extremely well on special teams.
On
They pressure you a lot. They mix up their defense probably as much as anybody we've played the last few weeks. They've got a lot of speed. Their linebackers can run, they've got a couple good safeties. When you look at them (linemen) in person, they're 275, 280 (pounds) up front but they're all very athletic.
On
They're a power team. First thought that would come to mind is they're a power team. They're a power team but they'll run the misdirection stuff.
On the progress of Pitt's defensive line:
We haven't made many mistakes. Half the stuff was mental against
On Pitt's defense leading the nation in forced turnovers:
That's huge. Compared to where we were a year ago, we were horrible. We (coaching staff) were talking this morning (asking) what are we doing to lead the nation in caused turnovers? Just look at last week's game. H.B. (Blades) makes a huge hit, twice we sacked the quarterback and there was nothing crazy. One of our coaches made the comment that, `I think our guys are really focused in on what their jobs are.' When you know what you're supposed to do on defense, you can play reckless and that's what they're trying to get. When you play reckless, you're going to make more things happen.
On senior linebacker H.B. Blades wearing a
Yes (I do like to see things like that). I wasn't aware of that until this morning but I think it says something. You've got to look at that and see them beating us last year bothered at least one guy. I'd like to see 85 (team members) with
On an overall evaluation of Pitt's team so far:
I think we're right where we need to be. That's fine with me and I know it's fine with everybody on this football team. We're playing a ranked team this week and that's exciting. We'll find out.
On improving from last year's game against
I think running the ball probably becomes more important against tougher competition. You don't want to give a team like
That would be the ideal situation but I don't think we can go in there and try to do anything different. Right now we're confident. We're using a good mix of the run and pass and I think that's what's helped our offensive production and we're going to stay with that.
On the success of quarterback Tyler Palko:
He's preparing himself extremely well, he's taking nothing for granted and he's playing every week like it's the first week. That's what the good ones do. They're able to not get distracted with the interviews and the media stuff. He's playing very, very unselfish right now, very smart.
On the progress of the offensive line under the coaching of Paul Dunn:
They've done a great job. If you said draw your ideal offensive line the first thing you would say is I want guys who have been together two or three years. We don't have that. (Mike) McGlynn has been a three-year starter, we have a freshman, then we have (Joe) Villani, a (former) walk on who's staring his second year, C.J. (Davis) a true sophomore who is a year-and-a-half into it and Jeff Otah, who is a junior-college kid who has been playing football just a few years starting at left tackle. Paul has done a great job of getting these guys on the same page. They have to work together, run or pass to be productive. He's done a good job of that and our guys have really taken the extra step beyond what happens on the field to make themselves a good unit.
