Meet the Press: Coach Wannstedt Previews Cincinnati
11/17/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 17, 2008
Coach Wannstedt Press Conference
Nov. 17 , 2008
Cincinnati Week
Opening Statement:
"I think we know the excitement that our kids are feeling about playing this game this week. With Cincinnati winning last week and being the top team in the conference right now, it presents an exciting challenge for our football team to go there on the road. I'm sure it will be a sold-out game with a lot of energy. We'll see if we can go up there and play the type of football game for three hours that will be necessary to win. I thought our bye week last week went well. We covered a lot of situations and issues that needed to be addressed. Throughout the season I think we've cleaned some of those things up. Hopefully we've improved on them. Our kids have been good. We've worked hard. Having a bye this late in the season, some people might look at it as a negative. I think with as many young players as we have playing, we were able to utilize it in a very positive way. I think Cincinnati is a very talented team. Anytime you're starting nine seniors on defense and two juniors, it's really amazing. For them to come together as a group, I remember most of those kids were playing against us as true freshmen. They've played together a long time and they've had a lot of success on defense. This will be a huge challenge for our offense - from a run standpoint and a pass. Offensively they've dealt with some changes at quarterback throughout the season yet they're leading our conference in passing efficiency. They really have done a very good job of finding ways to insert a different quarterback without taking a step backwards."
On Pitt's history of success against Cincinnati:
"We will not be overconfident going into this game. Right now we're playing on the road. They (Cincinnati) are 8-2 and the conference leader. They won 10 games a year ago. This is a veteran team that won a lot of games. We will not be overconfident by any means. Our team knows the challenge that we have. Those winning streaks - I think our players will comment and tell you what you want to hear - but once you kick off I don't know if that means anything. I think if you asked our players last week if they practiced harder or gave more effort in the game because we hadn't beat Louisville in eight or 10 years, I think if they were honest, I don't think that had any bearing. We were trying to beat Louisville to get seven wins and put ourselves in the bowl mix and win a game at home. Those were the things that as you're into the game and the heat of the battle, that make a difference. The win streak - I think that's more for the media and fans. Cincinnati may use it as motivation but aside from that, I don't really see anything to it."
"He's done a very good job in all phases. The only thing he hasn't done is return kicks or punts. He obviously did that at Central Catholic and I'm not so sure that he wouldn't be effective doing some of those things from time to time. Number one, he's got legitimate speed and toughness - we all know that. I think some players can play fast when they have their pads on and other guys can just play fast when they're running the 40-yard dash. He's got really gifted speed but when he puts his equipment on and he's in a game in a live situation, he shows up. He shows up as having the burst and being able to carry his pads. He's instinctive. Some guys know when to come under the block and make a play and others don't. He shows God-given ability to play fast. He shows instinct and he's coachable. He's in there as a true freshman and he understands what we're trying to do in different phases. I think he has a nice combination of all three things that are necessary to play and particularly play as a freshman. He has enough speed and quickness to play as a cornerback but right now we're working him as a backup safety. I think we'll wait and see how it unfolds. Probably a safety but he'd probably be an outstanding nickel back too."
On Cincinnati's receiving duo:
"Both of those guys are different. (Dominick) Goodman is a big, strong and physical player with great hands. He's a playmaker in his own right. (Marshwan) Gilyard is a little bit smaller but he's very dangerous. He's probably the most dangerous guy we'll face once he has the ball in his hands. He's got the quickness and speed to make a lot of guys miss. The first touchdown he scored against Louisville last week, it was that quick screen underneath and he went 40 yards. Realistically he should have been tackled after about seven or eight yards and instead he made about four or five guys miss. He returns kickoffs for them and you see the same thing from an ability standpoint on his kickoff returns as you do when he gets the ball in his hands as a receiver. So again, they have two different receivers. One is big and strong with great hands and the other one is a little bit smaller but very fast and makes guys miss. They complement each other very nicely."
On work in the secondary during the bye week
"When you look back on the big plays we've give up this year on defense in the secondary, if a guy is covered those things are going to happen. There's going to be very good throws and very good catches by the opponent. The things that we've had a few plays against us have been mental mistakes. That's the communication part so we've put our emphasis there and obviously we're practicing to get better. There's still going to be times when guys make great throws and catches. If you watch our first touchdown to Oderick Turner against Louisville, they had him covered in the end zone. Jonathan Baldwin will make two catches a game when the other team has him covered. Those things are going to happen. You recruit to get the best talent that you can. The things that are inexcusable are the mental mistakes when someone's turned loose. I think we've done a nice job this past week of addressing those things and hopefully cleaning those things up."
On Pitt's recruiting the last four years:
"I'd like to think we've done a nice job. I base that on when we play an opponent and I look at their roster and asking who on their team would start for them and then who do they have that we'd love to start for us. I think we've closed the gap and I told our players that the two things I really thought about when I took this job was number one, winning a championship. Number two, I wanted to get this program to a point where we've got the talent that when we get off the bus and walk on the field when we're playing Cincinnati, the top team in our conference right now or Notre Dame, a national team, that our kids have enough talent from top to bottom to legitimately say that if we play good we can win. You feel good about having guys of that caliber across the board. We still have some work to do but I'd like to thing that we've closed the gap."
On playing Cincinnati with Big East implications on the line:
"It's exciting. This will be a real challenge but it's going to be exciting. Our players will be ready for it. Emotion will not be a problem. The key is that we focus our energy and our attention on what's going to win the game for us and not on things that have no bearing on the outcome. Yesterday we practiced last night and it was very business like. It's a night game so we'll have all day Saturday. It's not like we're going to wake up Saturday and it's going to be on us so we have to be in that mind frame Friday night. We're going to have some time Saturday to meet and have some walk-throughs and build things up one thing at a time."
On the idea of the River City Rivalry and its role against Cincinnati:
"I think that when there's something riding on the line it makes it all the more special. We've had some good games back and forth. Two years ago we won the game but it was a close game. Last year the same thing happened. They had the lead then it was back and forth. We were able to create a turnover in the fourth quarter and took the lead. Every year the games have been very competitive and very close. I expect it to be the same this week. The trophy we'll be in our locker room this week (on display for the players to see)."
On preparation against Cincinnati's offense:
"The one quarterback, (Demetrius) Jones, the one who transferred from Notre Dame - he's probably the only one who is a little different. The other two guys are very similar. They're passers and not really option guys, although they're all good athletes. I think you have to prepare that if Jones is in the game and they run their Bearcat package or whatever they call it, you're probably going to get a little more quarterback run whereas the other guys are going to throw the ball more. You prepare for everything and at this point in the season we've seen everything."
On Jonathan Baldwin creating competition at wide receiver:
"I would hope that he's pushing the other guys to play their best. I noticed that in practice and that's usually where it shows up. On Saturday, everybody's ready to play. I think what Jonathan Baldwin brings to the table is - as any player would when you have guys with talent and they're making plays - it generates a sense of urgency. I would hope that it would bring out the best in the other players. It's either going to bring out the best or they're going to want to transfer - there's really no such thing as in between."
On Cincinnati's two running backs:
"(John) Goebel is involved in the passing game a little bit more although he had two big runs last week. (Jacob) Ramsey is more of the power back - a between-the-tackles runner. They will also throw him the ball on the screen. One is more a receiving type runner and the other is more of a power type."
On Pitt's success with fourth-down conversions:
"I think that every time we get in a fourth-down situation our players want to go for it. That's a normal reaction. They're like the fans and the media. I think you have to look at the defense and what we feel we can execute and then try and make up a sound decision as to what your chances are of making it. You don't want to do something just to do it. We have been outstanding though. I was looking this morning at the statistics and we are sixth in the nation right now with our offense on going for it on fourth down and making it. When you look at our turnovers as a team, it's not where we need to be. That has been a little disappointing but when you look at the times when our defense has stopped people on fourth down and our offense has made it, if you put those things together, that's turnover of possession. Then you look at the number of blocked kicks, we have seven block kicks in nine games - that's turnover of possession too."
On playing with a lead as opposed to playing behind:
"We haven't had the lead much. We've fought from behind. Last week was the first week where we able to turn some guys loose and force some things and we got two defensive scores. When you look at the other games, we've either been behind or it's been close and there's not been a lot of pressure on the offense to have to drop back and throw it every time. That has a lot to do with it."
