Pre-Spring Practice Press Conference Quotes
Tuesday, March 13, 2012 | Football
University of Florida head coach Will Muschamp spoke to the media on Tuesday afternoon to preview the start of spring practice. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and new offensive coordinator Brent Pease also met with the media.
HEAD COACH WILL MUSCHAMP
Opening Statement: Congrats to our men's indoor team, three National Championships in a row. Obviously very impressive, and special congratulations to Jeff Demps, three‑time national champion in the 60‑meter, and Frankie Hammond had a great indoor season, as well. They really did a great job for our team and won a bunch of points throughout the year.
It's an exciting time getting ready for spring obviously as we head forward, and pro day today. Heck, we need more guys out there in position to be drafted. That's pretty evident as you go through our last two pro days.
I did a little research as I was kind of going through this, the 2007 NFL draft, University of Florida had nine guys selected. That was coming off a 2006 National Championship season. 2010 draft we had nine guys selected, that's coming off a 2008 National Championship and a 2009 BCS Bowl win, two losses in two years, so that's nine guys selected in each one of those drafts. There's 12 teams that had seven plus players invited to the combine, and all but four won ten or more games.
So we need to do a better job recruiting, need to do a better job evaluating, need to do a better job developing our players and coaching, that's the bottom line. We need more guys involved in that, and that self‑evaluation sometimes is a hard thing, evaluate where you are as a program. But that's the facts, and that's the way it is.
Off‑season has gone really well. Very pleased with Jeff Dillman and the job his staff have done. Our staff obviously worked through January in recruiting and we've had a good four‑week off‑season program, and I think we're in pretty good shape. We built our strength back, so I'm pleased with where we are as far as that's concerned.
As we hit spring, the emphasis to me as a team, obviously Brent [Pease] and Dan [Quinn] will have some things that they'll hit offensively and defensively, and DJ [Durkin] has some special teams he wants to emphasize on, but turnover margin. We're minus 12 last year. We're 113th in the country. It's really a minor miracle we won seven games. You can't win games turning it over and not getting turnovers.
When I was at Texas my second to last year, I think we led the country in turnovers. We emphasize it. It's not like we're all of a sudden going to start emphasizing it. Dan talks about it with our defense every single day. We've got to find different ways to emphasize it. I don't know what‑‑ if you do the same things you're going to get the same results. We had 15 dropped interceptions, so we had 15 times where we have both hands on the ball. And we've got to finish plays. We're going to do more ball drills. We're going to do some things that we've got to do to get the ball in position for our offense and let Brent and the guys have a chance. That's a huge point of emphasis.
We talked about last year turnover margin and explosive plays. We need to make a lot more explosive plays, but we need to limit them on defense, but turnover margin is really the emphasis we're looking at. Ball possession, security of the ball offensively, big emphasis. Mental and physical toughness.
We had some discipline issues, and that falls on my shoulders, 41 what I would call discipline penalties, jumping offsides, false starts, 23 false starts, 18 offside penalties defensively, so that's almost half of our penalties. Those are things we will not tolerate. We've got more depth on our football team now. There were some opportunities last time where a guy would jump offsides and we didn't have anybody else to go to. That guy won't play anymore, so we'll get him out and put somebody else in there.
As far as the physical toughness of our football team, I really challenged our team going into Bowl practice. Most pleasing thing in the Bowl game was taking six and a half minutes off the clock at the end when we needed to run it and they knew we were going to run it. That's what you've got to do in order to win games.
Last year as far as running the football is concerned, in the SEC games we finished eighth in the league. That's in the bottom half of the league of running the ball against the people that counts, and then sixth in the conference on defense. We had three opportunities in three games, as the game is ending, defensively to get off the field to make a stop to give our offense an opportunity to go win the game, and we were unable to do that in three games.
Again, the physical toughness of stopping the run and being able to run the ball when you need to, and again, not being hardheaded, we're trying to run the ball. When they load the box, you've got to be able to create some match‑ups outside and win, but to do the things you've got to do to win games, and we'll talk a little bit about that further.
Obviously we have a quarterback battle going into springs. Jeff [Driskel] and Jacoby [Brissett] will split reps, and we'll name a starter when we're ready. Whether that's spring, summer, fall camp I, don't know. We would like to declare a starter and move forward with it, but we'll name that when it's ready. And obviously Brent does an outstanding job with the quarterbacks, and we will evaluate that, he and I, as far as what's best for our football team. We want to name a starter, but we're going to do what we need to win games. If we've got to play both guys, we'll play both guys, and we will make that determination as we work through this. But both guys have had good off‑seasons and very pleased with their progress to this point and where we are.
Offensively obviously we'll have some changes, number one, because of personnel. We're a little different at the running back position than we were a year ago, and then Brent's personality and what he wants to do some things offensively, and Tim Davis, our offensive line coach. But again, with all that being said, on the same page philosophically what we want to be, and that's a balanced offensive football team, and being able to run it when we need to run it and throw it when we need to throw it and spread the field and create some match‑ups in those situations. In our league you've got to be able to do that. You've got to be balanced in our league; you can't be one dimensional. We obviously saw that this past season.
I think Steve handed the depth chart out to everybody so we can kind of go through that because I know that is the most important thing you guys want to talk about. It is the most critical part of the day, maybe for the month of everybody, more important than the NCAA tournament maybe is this depth chart right here.
But obviously on this depth chart, A.C. Leonard is still suspended from our football team. He's working through some measures to work his way back as far as being a part of our team again. There's no timetable on that, and it's not a right to be a part of our team, it's a privilege, and you've got to act a certain way. He's working through that, and he's jumping through a lot of things to get back on this football team. I've got zero timetable, and no decision will be made on fall for a while. This is a day‑to‑day, week‑to‑week operation for me.
As far as injuries and out for spring, it says it on there, Jeremy Brown will be out for spring, and I want to address this because one of y'all approached me, and I appreciate you approaching me about it, felt like that I misled you all on Jeremy Brown. Jeremy Brown was injured in training camp, and our medical evaluation was he was going to be out for about a week. That's what I was told, and that's what I told y'all. And when we're in training camp, I don't mind telling you about the injuries. Now, when we get into a game week situation I'm not going to do anything to help our opponent, so when I say I'm not sure about a guy, I don't know where a guy is going to be, he may or may not play, those situations obviously I'm not going to do anything to help our opponent as far as the game plan is concerned. But Jeremy was a situation where he rehabbed, it didn't work, we rehabbed a different way, it didn't work. We continued to progress, we tried to work him back in practice as the season was going, and he just never responded to rehab, so eventually we had surgery. So we all need to get on the same page as far as that's concerned with that situation. That was our diagnosis early. Obviously it was not the right one, so we had to have surgery, and that progress has been going very well.
Dominique Easley's progress is going very well. He's far ahead of schedule but will not go through spring. Cole Gilliam had a shoulder, will not go through spring. Kedric Johnson has a shoulder. Tommy Jordan has a shoulder.
Lerentee McCray still has some lasting effects from the hit he took in the Georgia game from his shoulder, and he probably could go through spring, but to me there's no sense in chancing it with him. He's a senior. He's a guy that's proven himself as a football player. Let's continue to let him heal through spring, get some other guys some opportunities, and so I'm going to hold him.
Marcus Roberson has been cleared but not for contact, so he starting spring will not be involved as far as the‑‑ other than walk‑throughs and things like that, he will not be cleared for practice. But we certainly feel like he's going to be cleared as far as we move forward. Ian Silberman had some looseness in his shoulder, and we decided to go ahead and fix that last week, so he will miss spring. We fully expect recovery for August and fall camp.
And [Neiron] Ball has been cleared for physical activity but not for spring, and we're still working through that process as we speak. But as far as the physical activity stuff, he can do. As far as the practicing and those things, we're not there yet, okay, so that's where we are with that.
As we look at the depth chart, there offensively obviously Matt [Patchan] and Xavier [Nixon] both played tackle for us. We're looking at Matt as more of a swing guy that can play right and left at this time. DJ Humphries is a young man that will figure into that position mid‑year and really looked good in the off‑season program. Mature, smart, driven, everything we thought in the recruiting process. He certainly has displayed that. We'll see how he does when the pads come on.
James Wilson has been granted an extra year. He'll be back and be slotted in there at left guard. Really played well for us as the year rolled along, is a physical guy, a guy that's got a little more girth and can get some movement.
Sam Robey is a guy that you can see the asterisk there, will cross‑train at guard and center.
Kyle Koehne will cross‑train at center and guard. John Harrison is back obviously at center. We expect for Kyle to give him some great competition there at right guard.
Jon Halapio has had a good off‑season. Jessamen Dunker is another good offensive lineman we've had in mid‑year. Real pleased with his progress. He's a guy that's 6'4", a 315-pounder that really moves well. He's a big guy that can move.
And then Chaz Green, who played probably his best football in the Bowl game, really progressed there, has had a good off‑season. Trip Thurman is another young man that we're excited about that will figure in the right tackle position or possibly an inside position.
At tight end, Jordan Reed, good off‑season. Omarius Hines is a guy that we're going to play at tight end and Brent is going to use him in the slot, as well, but he's a guy that we're going to give an opportunity to at running back a little bit. He's an explosive athlete, a guy that's‑‑ we need to get more out of him as a football player, and that's including on special teams and everything we do within the organization. Clay Burton had a nice off‑season, really has developed his body.
At the receiver position, Andre [Debose] and Stephen Alli.
At the running back position, Mike Gillislee and Mack Brown. Obviously our running game may change a little bit as far as the inside zone, some power and some inside track running game because of the size of our backs.
We talked about Jacoby and Jeff.
At the fullback position, Trey [Burton] will play the H, as well, also in the slot, and we'll move him around a little bit because of the things that he provides for us. Hunter Joyer can be a guy that can play in our one‑back sets, again, a guy that really, really pleased with him. He also will throw the shot for the track team in the off‑season at the conclusion of spring ball.
Latroy Pittman has been a young man that's come along and done some nice things for us, real pleased with Latroy and Quinton [Dunbar] and Solomon Patton.
The specialists will be the same, Kyle [Christy], and having Caleb [Sturgis] back is huge for us. Really excited about those guys.
Defensively, Sharrif [Floyd] really played well inside for us, really played well at defensive tackle, probably his more natural position. As you get in, you've got to get your best guys on the field, and that's really where we got in the cross‑hairs last year as far as Dominique and Sharrif with the NCAA going into the season not knowing when we were going to get him back. We decided to play him at end and Dominique inside. We may flipflop that as we go into fall. Sharrif will play both inside and outside. When we're in nickel situations, he will be an inside player. When we're in regular situations, he will play the end in spring, but he will also play inside, so will play both positions. We need Earl Okine to step for us.
As far as playing at the end position, Leon Orr is a guy that's had a nice off‑season, needs to continue to play well. We need for him to give us some snaps.
Damien Jacobs is a junior college player that we signed, came in here mid‑year, has done a nice job for us. We'll see what he can do inside. He'll play the nose and the three as well as Leon, and Leon can play some end.
Omar Hunter, we moved Nick Alajajian to defensive tackle. We felt like on the offensive line right now, we needed more depth up front defensively, especially with Dominique not going through spring. We wanted to give Nick an opportunity to come over and see what he could do on the defensive side of the ball, so we'll see how that works.
At the buck position, Ronald Powell has had a really nice off‑season. Gideon [Ajagbe] will work there, as well as at SAM.
Darrin Kitchens, we'll move Graham Stewart outside, he had been playing mostly at the Mike position, but we felt like we needed to build our depth outside a little bit more, especially with Lerentee not going through spring.
Jon [Bostic] and Jelani [Jenkins] both had really solid seasons for us. Excited about those guys back, and then you've got Antonio Morrison is a young man that came in mid‑year, has been‑‑ looked good in the off‑season program, we'll see how he does when the pads come on. Mike Taylor needs to continue to step up for us.
In the secondary, Loucheiz Purifoy really had a good Bowl practice, excited about his off‑season and progression there. Cody Riggs, Jaylen Watkins and then Willie Bailey, a mid‑year guy that's come in at corner, really looked good for us moving around.
All these guys look good out there in shorts, but we'll see when the pads come on and how they play when the fur starts flying.
At safety, Matt Elam and Josh Evans has had a off‑season. He needs to continue to step forward. Jabari Gorman is also a young man that will figure in that combination at safety along with De'Ante Saunders.
Got a couple guys out, which is disappointing, but again, you've got to continue to build the depth of your football team, and that's what we're trying to do through spring. Again, the point of emphasis to me is mental and physical toughness and turnover margin. As a team obviously Brent and Dan and DJ have different things that we've really tried to emphasize on the three phases of the game. So I'll open it up for any questions.
Q. How much will the offense change in the spring with the new coordinator?
WILL MUSCHAMP: Well, obviously our personnel is a little different, too, at the running back position. And the experienced quarterback position is a little different. So how much can those guys handle? The run game obviously will be a little different, Brent's personality and his experience in this league and at Boise State and at Baylor and the different places he's been, the idea is that he's brought in as far as he and Tim Davis and Brian White and Aubrey Hill and Derek Lewis coming together and Brent saying these are the things we do best. We need to identify those things early, find out what we do well and move forward with that. How much different it'll be, a lot of the same plays are the same plays, it's just a matter of how you execute them. You've got to play them a little better, we've got to coach them a little better.
Q. Would you talk about you've made some moves there on the defensive line in particular, and you've got a little bit more depth this year. Would you talk about what Jacobs and Orr bring to your package?
WILL MUSCHAMP: Well, Leon is a guy that we've really put some heat on. He needs to step forward. He needs to play lower pad level. He needs to play behind his pads. It's his opportunity to step forward and do some things for us. Damien Jacobs is a guy that we really like out of East Mississippi. He's been a nice addition so far in our off‑season program to see him move around and some of the things he does. He's got good lower body flexibility. He's got good quickness and initial quickness, and Dan and Brian have been real pleased with some of the stuff they've seen in the off‑season program. I think both of those guys are guys that need to figure into our depth, and however they play, it's nice to have some more numbers there as opposed to last spring, I can tell you that.
Q. Will Trey continue to play multiple roles for you guys, or is he kind of hunkered in at fullback?
WILL MUSCHAMP: No, I said he was going to play the H and play in the slot and we'll move him around a little bit. Tray is a good football player. He gets football. He understands it. He's a guy that can do a lot of things for us. We probably will have some sort of Wild Gator package there where he'll be involved in that, as well. It's something he does very well. Again, that's a guy that he can do a lot of things for you, special teams. He can do a lot of things for us.
Q. And then you mentioned at quarterback, making a decision when it's the right time and the possibility of two. Is that something you probably wouldn't prefer, to play two guys through the season?
WILL MUSCHAMP: Prefer to play one. Prefer to play one. But again, at the end of the day, you've got to make the best decision for the team. If one guy doesn't distance himself from the other, then you play two. You look at it as no different than any other position. We'll see how that plays itself out.
Q. Is identifying a couple of consistent guys at wide receiver and someone who can really be a big playmaker at receiver, how high on the priority list is that for you in the spring?
WILL MUSCHAMP: It's critical. Did you see us play in the fall? Yeah, so‑‑ again, I think that Quinton and Andre are certainly capable of that and Frankie. They're guys that have played. Again, you really want to look at, from the standpoint of your growth process as a college football player. Although Andre was a sophomore, he didn't play much as a freshman. He didn't play much receiver. So really you look at last year, that was kind of his freshman season of really playing and being relied to be a consistent player in the SEC. So he needs now to take the next step. He's played now. He's been in the big picture. He's been on the road. He's done all the things. Same thing with Quinton Dunbar; he was red‑shirted, and last year was his first year of really playing, and we were relying on him to be a big time playmaker as a freshman. That does happen some, but not as much as normal. So now he's been through that process. Now he's been through another off‑season program. He's been in the weight program now for two years, so he's gotten a little stronger. Now he's built his confidence up. Frankie Hammond is a senior. He's a guy that needs to continue to come on for us. You look at those three guys, and Solomon Patton, we need to find a role for him. I think the thing that excites me with Brent with some of the different packages we look at from a personnel standpoint of where he can fit in and go do some things for us. Stephen Alli needs to step in and do some things for us. Latroy Pittman has been a guy we've been pleased with. Ja'Juan Story needs to step up for us. He was red‑shirted last year. Let's see what he can do. So sure, you're always looking for play makers and certainly we need to continue to identify those guys and find out the guys who can score touchdowns. Don't throw it to a guy that can't.
Q. Slightly off topic, there's a lot of former Florida players who are high school coaches in the state. When you're recruiting, is that an advantage for you guys?
WILL MUSCHAMP: Sure. I always look at it as this: We have pro day today, so a lot of the NFL scouts, NFL coaches will call and they'll ask you about your players, but the most guys they ask you about is the opposing team because it's interesting to hear an opposing coach's perspective of what a guy is. That's why I always ask our guys. The film doesn't lie. So what do you think the other coordinator is saying about you. When they're sitting in that scouting meeting and they're talking about you on Sunday or Monday, whenever they have it, what are they saying about you? What is your film telling them? And I love talking to high school coaches about the kids we're recruiting, not the one they're coaching but the ones they play against. Is he a threat for you? Did you worry about blocking him? Could you block him? Was he a good decision maker? All those things. There's no question that that helps us tremendously.
Q. Does it help that a lot of former players are high school coaches in Florida?
WILL MUSCHAMP: Well, sure. Firsthand experience of being a Gator and being a part of the Gator Nation and going to school here and understanding the expectation level on and off the field and all those things, there's no question.
Q. With pro day today it was interesting to see Janoris Jenkins out there. Was that a gesture on your part, or was that a process of him showing up today?
WILL MUSCHAMP: It's open to the public, so anybody can come.
Q. Well, not anyone can get out on the field and everything like that.
WILL MUSCHAMP: I have no problem. He did a great job for the University of Florida when he played here, and I wish him nothing but the best.
Q. And you said when you were hired that you're not necessarily an offensive guy and you wanted to hire someone to run the offense. Is that still the case with Brent where he'll pretty much have autonomy?
WILL MUSCHAMP: Sure, as long as philosophically we're doing the things I want to do, yes.
Q. I know there's no point to looking back, but year one versus year two, is it easier, challenges? Last year do they all now know what you want, what you expect?
WILL MUSCHAMP: I wouldn't say‑‑ use the word easier, but I think from a standpoint of going through our defense instead of going up here and introducing a whole new concept, we've got some kids in the room now that are nodding their head and they understand what we're talking about. We've tried to keep as much verbiage the same as we can offensively so we keep some continuity on that side obviously and special teams, as well. From that standpoint and a coaching standpoint, our players will be our best coaches in some situations because of the experience of teaching. We do a little bit more than most people do. That's just what we do. So it's worked. Our players will be the best coaches in some situations this spring for our younger players.
Q. Are you a believer that there's the biggest jump from year one to year two?
WILL MUSCHAMP: Oh, yeah, there's no question. It's no different than game one to game two. You ought to make your biggest improvement from the standpoint of your young players developing. Again, I've said it before, 70 percent of our roster last year, over 70 percent was freshmen and sophomores, and a lot of those sophomores it was their first times playing. We had less starts than anybody else in the SEC on defense going into the year by a lot, so we had a lot of guys that hadn't played much, and in a new scheme and a new system. I'm just stating facts here.
So when you couple all that together, were there some rough days? Yes, there were. Are there better days ahead? Certainly there are, with the experience and the talent level and those things all considered.
Q. Is that tough having Roberson out in particular, a guy who was getting a lot of starts and then got hurt and now he misses spring?
WILL MUSCHAMP: Well, I'm just happy that he's probably going to be cleared for the fall, certainly. It's a scary injury any time you're dealing with the head or the neck, and I'm just very pleased we're going to get him back in the fall more than likely. And Marcus, it's been very, very frustrating for him. He's a good young man, and he's a competitive guy, and I know it's been very frustrating for him.
Q. And then as far as that quarterback battle is concerned, what will the guy who does end up being one, how will he distinguish himself in practice?
WILL MUSCHAMP: Manage our football team, on the field, in the locker room, in the meeting room, productive, accurate, whatever adjectives you want to throw on top of it, helping our football team move the ball down the field and score points.
Q. How do you see and envision the running game evolving with Mike and Mack in there differently from last year?
WILL MUSCHAMP: Well, I think last year we were more of a stretch perimeter running team. We tried to run the ball inside to keep people honest with us, so people wouldn't just edge us on everything as far as the defenses were concerned and try and hold the edges of the defense. So certainly inside zone and the power game, and whether it's one back or two back, and more downhill running. I mean, that's something that we need to be able to do, not just for our offense but for our defense with what we see in our league. You've got to be able to stop the north‑south running game, and that's something that we need more reps and turns.
Q. Do you feel like it's an unwritten kind of part of your job to get guys ready for the NFL? How much did you talk to Rainey and Howard just in preparation for the combine and pro day and all that?
WILL MUSCHAMP: I think that's a huge part of your job. That's why we run the systems we run from a standpoint of offense and defense and special teams. Other than punt, which is different rules from the NFL to college. We're able to release on snap, whereas in the NFL you're not allowed to. That's the only thing in our organization, as NFL scouts and coaches and general managers watch our film, that's different from the NFL game. Our basis of our defense is the same stuff we did at the Miami Dolphins, and the same things on the offensive side of the ball. When they watch our tape there are no projections, there are no I wonder if he can do this with our offense or our defense. That's part of the continual 365 days of preparing our players on and off the field for life after the University of Florida, whether that's in the NFL or it's in the business world. It's all the same to me. That's a continual education process.
And then as far as the draft is concerned, yeah, Dan sat down with Jay Howard and Willie Green and all those guys. Dan has been a part of ten combines, so to have that experience on your staff, and Tim Davis as an offensive line coach, myself, Bryant Young as a player, that's a great resource of information for our organization.
Q. Can you talk about what Hines brings to the running back position and how he has a chance to develop into that big back that you like with his size and physicality?
WILL MUSCHAMP: Well, we're going to see. I don't know. That's what spring ball is for is to experience and look at it, and that's what we want to do. Omarius came to us. It was something he came to us there, and we talked about, and obviously we've got Matt coming in as a freshman. We've got some different options because of Tray and Hunter and their versatility, but we said, let's take a look at this thing and see what we can do. We've got to be able to generate some things downhill and be able to push the pile. But again, Omarius is a very explosive guy and a guy that we need to get more out of.
Q. Would you talk about Tim Davis, hiring him, bringing him in, what he brings to the offensive line and to the running game in particular?
WILL MUSCHAMP: Well, I've worked with him, and I worked with him at the Miami Dolphins. He worked at Wisconsin with Brian White, so there's some familiarity there, some carryover. He and Brent's paths have crossed, haven't necessarily worked together but they knew each other, and then obviously the job he did at USC, won two National Championships and Pete Carroll endorsed him, and I know how Nick Saban feels about him, and he did a great job at Utah this past year.
But again, a guy that's passionate, and energy level, and going to reach his players off the field and understands what he's got to do to get guys and what makes them tick and what makes them go.
It's not just about Xs and Os, it's about when you're dealing with a college kid you're dealing with a lot of stuff. It's not just about Saturday afternoon. You deal with different stuff. You're an advisor, you're a father figure, you're a friend. There's a lot of things that go into being a college coach, and I think Tim understands that.
Q. You spoke a lot at the end of last season about how hamstrung you were by injuries and your numbers in practice. How much does it help to have kind of the bodies this year that you can grab a guy if someone screws up?
WILL MUSCHAMP: Well, when I'm sitting there scheduling practice, it's nice to not sit down and think about how we're going to structure the drills. We practiced the—I don't know, the last six or seven games of the year as an NFL team would. We serviced each other. When you look at the amount of reps a young player misses when you have to practice that way, Dan is the scout team defensive coordinator, and Charlie and Brian White were the offensive scout team coordinator. You just miss a lot of turns and reps, but that's what it was and that's what we did. I'm not complaining about it. But you get a lot more turns, you develop your players better, they get more turns, they get more reps, the young running backs get to see the hole more. There's a lot of things that you go into that you miss when you don't have that opportunity to have those type of situations.
Q. You haven't mentioned Tyler Murphy. What's his role or status for spring?
WILL MUSCHAMP: Yeah, he's a quarterback. Tyler is battling in there with Jacoby and Jeff and obviously they've kind of distanced themselves a little bit, but I'm very pleased with Tyler. He's a very good athlete, very smart, very dependable guy and a guy that certainly will get his opportunity and reps in the spring.
Q. Is he a guy who could move?
WILL MUSCHAMP: No, not at this time. I think Tyler is a quarterback, and that's where we see his future at the University of Florida.
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR DAN QUINN
Opening Statement: It was good to have pro day here with the guys and be involved with them, as well.
Q. What are your expectations for Damien Jacobs who comes in obviously older and experienced and can help you perhaps right away?
DAN QUINN: Yeah, the expectations for a guy who comes in as a junior college player, obviously they're coming in to provide a service where he can come in and play right away. That's the thing we talked to him when we were recruiting, hey we want you to come in and compete and it's the SEC and at a place such as this, so the expectation for him is, number one, let's come in and learn the system and let's help your skills develop and see how far we can take your career and go from there. My expectations going into the spring is let's learn the system and let's play with the technique that we want to do here. The off‑season program is for him get stronger, get in shape, push it hard, get to know your teammates, and now as we get forward to spring practice, the next step for him is learning the system and playing within that system to play it really well.
Q. How high a priority is upgrading the pass rush, and how much of that can happen schematically and how much just by having a bunch of guys who played last year back?
DAN QUINN: In regards to pass rush, I think it's going to be both ways. Some schematically related, some. Is there going to be some different schemes in terms of pressure package and that kind of thing, absolutely. And the next part of that, I think, will just be helping the players here improve, and that's really what our job is all about, and one of the parts that you really like about coaching, and certainly in college is helping the guys develop, and that's one of the things that I'm most looking forward to. So through the spring, one of the first things you do with all the players is you make a profile tape of them. Usually the things that you've done well, usually the things that you need to improve on, and here's the things we have to do in the off‑season to do it, and now through the off‑season, whether it's getting stronger, working technique, that kind of stuff, now as you're getting into practice you can really put it into motion. So I'm anxious, we met with the guys yesterday, saying, okay, now, we've all talked about the things we need to improve on individually. I've talked to them about the defense, about the things we want to improve, now let's go do it. And certainly pass rush for a number of guys was something that's going to be really unique, all the different things that go into it.
Q. Dan, how can you improve the turnover margin because it seems like so much of that is right place, right time and luck?
DAN QUINN: Yeah, there's really two kinds of turnovers. There's one that I'll call a conscious effort. You strip the quarterback, you've got a big hit on the running back. Then there's some that are just an unconscious effort; there was an overthrown ball, you picked it and you did. We've got to do a much better job of the conscious effort, making a big emphasis on taking the ball away. As coach had talked about, it's something that we address a lot. So what did I do this off‑season that was an important part for me, to call some other clubs and say what are some of the things you're doing that you guys played so well to get the ball away. I talked to the guys at San Francisco; they had a terrific turnover margin this year so important for me to reach out. Are you doing anything different. I got clips from really good TV copies of examples that were shown into practice. We're given a points system for how we're doing for each forced fumble, each interception, each takeaway, and we use the term ball hawk, and those are guys that can get a rip or a strip, a batted ball or an interception. We call them rips, strips, bats and picks, so it's kind of a culmination of things. It's awareness for the players, and I emphasized it, and as Will said, if you can do the same thing you'll get the same results. So we're going to challenge, do some different drills for it, and we're going to improve in that area.
Q. One of the things that you talked about last year was you had to develop more push up the middle, be able to collapse the pocket and be able to stuff the run. How has that improved? And talk about how that will be emphasized in the spring.
DAN QUINN: Sure. When you talk about in the run game really stacking in the middle, and that's where you want to be really strong, whether you're playing in a 4‑3 defense or a 3‑4 defense. Some of that is scheme related, okay, in this team we want to play some more 3‑4. We'll play both this spring. Pushing the pocket and trapping the quarterback in the pocket is something that you do as a four‑man rush, and it's something that we drill when we go against the offensive line. We'll go their five against our four, put a quarterback back there, and we've got to keep the guy in the pocket. There's drills that we're going to do this spring to help develop that. It is a mindset and guys working together where you and I would work together to make sure this guy doesn't leave the pocket. That teamwork is really what makes good defense, where the linebackers and the front and the secondary, they're all tied together. That connection is something that I thought the team did a good job of as we went through of building that, and it was something going into this year, the trust factor is there. We know what some of the guys can do, and now it's time for them to take a bigger step and go do it, so I'm looking to forward to getting started with it.
Q. What are the challenges that Sharrif Floyd faces when you're playing end and tackle and shuffling between the two, and isn't it tempting to just leave him at tackle because that's where he's really suited probably?
DAN QUINN: I think he does a good job. In the run game, he's really effective at defensive end, as well. One of the real challenges when you're playing two spots is just the learning of it. At defensive end you'll have certain blocks that will come that won't happen at defensive tackle, and certain pressures that we'll have, you'll have a different responsibility as a tackle or as an end. So sometimes there's some double learning in that way that you'll have to train at, so that's one of the real challenges for a guy when he plays two spots is just learning how to play two different positions. In other words, it was like a tight end playing running back. Some of the routes are different at running back than they would be at tight end if that would be a good analogy.
Q. Can you talk about why you chose to stay here as opposed to when you were approached by the Bucks?
DAN QUINN: Just kind of a personal philosophy. I'd rather not touch on that publicly. I'll just kind of leave it at that.
Q. What are the expectations now for Matt Elam going into this year? What do you expect him to be better at?
DAN QUINN: One of the things in going through with Matt, I thought that he can improve on is tackling. He's a very physical player, and we use him in run support. We use him at nickel. He's a good blitzer. Those are one of the things ‑‑ he can really improve at taking the ball away. He's got good ball skills to do it. We're going to put him in that position at safety and at nickel, so to me as a safety you've got to be a really good tackler. I think that's one of the areas of emphasis I wanted for him coming into the spring, and then just his attempts at the ball where he can get more interception, more rip attempts. He's one of the guys, as you know, I've talked about Matt before, he can really be a ball hawk. I think he's got all the right stuff about him to do that. So this spring that's what I'm looking forward to seeing him do.
Q. With pro day being here, what do you think Jon Bostic needs to do over the next 12 months to put himself in that conversation as a top draft pick?
DAN QUINN: For me he's an every‑down linebacker, and one of the things that I think when you see as a linebacker how many knock‑back physical hits as an inside linebacker that you put on tape, and that's one of the things we addressed with him, just like we did all the guys. What are some of the things that I need to see you do differently this fall, this spring, and for me his physical style of play was one that we're challenging Jon on, and I'm anxious to see what he's going to bring. He has got a very high football IQ. He runs well, and I'm anxious to see him take the next step as a player, and I think he'll do that.
Q. Last year Will said this was a soft football team, questioned some of the mental and physical toughness. What do you plan to do differently this spring to try to set a different tone for this season?
DAN QUINN: I think the off‑season program was the first step in that, and that's what you're trying to do. Let's face it, everybody in the country is talking about being a tough, physical team. Who wouldn't want to be on a tough, physical team? We all would be. How do you put that into action? And I think it starts in the weight room. For me, the strength and conditioning program, a lot of people say, well, it's injury prevention. There's something that you get accomplished when you go through a physical off‑season program that you come out the other end and you feel a little stronger, and you feel a little more ready to take on a different role on the field. And then when you get out on the grass it's the competition, and I think that's one of the really exciting things about coaching at a place like here that there's some really good competition on the other side of the ball. I think you gain something from that as a player when you have to go against a certain player, whether it's covering him or taking him on at the line of scrimmage or in that physical element. So that's one of the things that I'm looking forward to is competition going forward into spring practice.
Q. Getting back to the turnovers, could that have been a result of it's the first year and the guys are kind of worrying about not blowing their assignment maybe?
DAN QUINN: You know, I thought of that, as well, and thought, okay, are we just worried about‑‑ which is an important part of football. But I really stressed to the guys, hey, this is a part of our game, and it's an important part of our game, just like affecting the quarterback is, taking the ball is part of our defense. So as we're moving forward, I kind of felt that way, as well, but I really think, hey, it's all‑encompassing. It's part of our program. It's how we do our business here on defense, so it has to be part of what we do well. And I think there's some things on defense that we do do well, and that this year was not one of them. So that to me has been a huge emphasis going into this spring, and I'm looking forward to seeing that tide turn to where now, okay, we're playing good, solid, technical, fundamental hard‑nosed football and we're taking the ball away.
Q. In other words, if you did try and strip the ball you blew your assignment?
DAN QUINN: Yeah, I didn't want it to be where we were going off the ball and just doing your own deal, but I want to play just really good fundamental football, and then when I get a chance to get the ball, I'm doing that, as well, if that makes sense.
Q. When you look at the film last year, you guys finished ninth nationally, total defense, and most‑‑ I guess most people would say it was a good defense but not a great defense. What are the one or two things that maybe have to go into taking that next step to becoming a truly elite defense?
DAN QUINN: Yeah, and I think that's the real challenge, to say how do we go from here to take the next step, and one is going to be takeaways, where we're getting more opportunities to give the ball back, where we have an intimidating style of play, where we're taking the ball away and you're playing an aggressive style to give the ball back to the offense. It kind of sets the tone of the offense, hey, these guys on defense, they fly around, they get the ball off you. That's one. And the second element for us is creating more big plays where we can affect the quarterback better, and to me those are the two things that I want to do a better job of this spring, and that'll hopefully lead into the season for us is taking the ball away and the style that we do it in and affecting the quarterback more.
Q. How do you get them‑‑ you keep mentioning the word intimidating. How do you get these guys to become an intimidating unit?
DAN QUINN: I try to just show the example that we're doing it. One of the things I've said to the players, just being through some draft meetings through the year, there's a term called, for scouts, traits. This guy has traits of a good player. There's flashes. Okay, you can kind of picture what it would sound like. There's a player who shows traits of doing some things really good some of the time. Well, when you start doing it all the time, that becomes your style. And I think that's one of the things I mentioned to some of the players and to our defense. We had traits of doing some things good. Well, traits is a dangerous word to me as a coach who is evaluating those players saying, all right I want to see players who have that as a style, and to me that's one of the real things. We've shown some traits of some good football. Now that has to be our style and what we're about, that aggressive, fundamental hard‑nosed defense that we want to put on tape.
Q. Coach said he needs to see more out of Earl Okine. I'm wondering, what do you think will get him over that hump to become a great player, when he starts doing what?
DAN QUINN: I think when he starts doing it on a consistent basis. You know, just kind of like I used the word traits, there's times when Earl can flash some really good things, so consistency over time, doing it right over and over again, that's one of the things you're looking for as a coach as a guy you can trust to say here's how he's going to do it and you can count on that every day of the week. And to me that was a guy like Willie Green, who just you could count on him to do it right. And I thought, here's a really good example of a guy who when we talked last year some people played two positions, he started some games this year at defensive end, he started a Bowl game at linebacker, he worked out at two positions today, and that's a guy who hopefully will have a chance to move on and certainly helped himself by playing two positions, being more valuable where he had a bigger role to sell for himself.
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR BRENT PEASE
Opening Statement: I hope as time goes along I'll get a chance to know everybody. But I'm really looking forward to the opportunity that University of Florida, Coach Muschamp and everybody has given me to work for this institution. Really excited.
Q. Fans when a new coordinator comes in want to know what's his philosophy, what's his offensive philosophy, so what's your offensive philosophy if there is one?
BRENT PEASE: Well, I think there's five foundations we're always going to build around. One, we're going to have a pounding, running attack. We just want to have a running attack that's physical, downhill, and when we have to run the ball we're going to run the ball. It's going to be a part of our makeup, a part of our identity up front. Two, off of that you want to develop an explosive pass game, and that's where your launch plays come in. That's where you set up things that you can create those explosive plays that Coach Muschamp was even talking about. Third thing is the kind of creativity that we've always developed where I've been at before where we're going to have shifts in motion and make things difficult and cause confusion for the defenses. We're not going to be sitting ducks. You're going to see a lot of formation changes, motions, adjustments; really trying to create some stress points in the defense and what they have to adjust to. You're going to see the same football plays. We're not going to run anything different. People run power, we're going to run power; they run zone, we're going to run zone. No one is reinventing that part of it. But what we're going to add to it is creating those stress points. The fourth thing is eliminating turnovers. That's probably the one stat that in the last six years, Boise State, we had a stat that we actually kept in our locker room, and that's probably the most important stat for determining win‑loss is that we wanted to be in the top ten in turnovers. So obviously you've got to ‑‑ your defense has to work with you on it as well as your offense, but it's something that we're going to really work on and be conscious about and work drills and ball security circuits and do that for the offensive guys. And then the fifth thing is great quarterback play. You've got to understand what the kids can handle. I've been very fortunate in the kid [former Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore] I had last year. He was a Heisman Trophy guy, and he made a lot of things go, but he also had some good players around him. It wasn't just him. He'd be the first to admit that. But you've got to develop the kid that's there. The kids that we have, the kids that are competing for it, you've got to get consistent play. Great management, accuracy, decision making, kid has got to be tough, football players at the quarterback position. So develop those five foundations right there.
Q. One of the things that Boise State, everybody thinks they're a finesse team, but they showed against Georgia, toughness is really a big deal with them, particularly with the running game. How do you develop toughness in the running game? How do you become a team that dominates on the line of scrimmage and that translates into the offense that you want?
BRENT PEASE: One, it starts in the weight room. Like they say, probably three quarters of your game is probably won in the weight room right now. And then the coaches add in their fundamental teaching and the coaching and add in the schemes. But right now you're developing your toughness, your physicality, your discipline that you want to get to kind of blend into the scheme of your offense and defense and special teams. So that's all being developed right now, and then what we've got to do is go and put in our schemes that we're going to have in the run game and giving kids an opportunity to execute it. We've got to still make sure we have enough, whether it's a zone scheme, gap scheme, that we're giving our kids an opportunity to be successful with what they're doing and what they're best at. I know last year everything was a lot of outside stretch because of Rainey and Demps. I don't know if we have those kids this year. So we'll probably adjust a little bit to more inside zone and run some power, all that, to fit the kids that we have. And then continually build up repetitions over that and put them in tough situations and let the kids ‑‑ the one thing about linemen, when things get going and get rolling and they can block people, they continually want to do it, so they're telling ‑‑ they like to put the grind on people, so you've got to develop repetitions over it.
Q. So why Florida over the possible opportunity at Alabama?
BRENT PEASE: Well, really it came down to coming here with my wife, and my wife liked it, and Will. I've known Will for a while, and over the years the developing relationship I had with him and just looking at the opportunity, the kids, being indirectly connected to the program one way or another. And I'll tell you another guy that kind of really sold me on the deal is [athletic director] Jeremy Foley, and just all that coming in. When I came here, I mean, obviously I was ‑‑ everybody did things first‑class, and talking with Will and what he wants to do philosophically and what I've done in the past few years where I've been at Boise State and the things we've been around, seeing that those things can fit here. So I think there's a big upside, and I think where he's going to take the program and where I want to be a part of that. So that was my decision.
Q. Is it difficult at all as an offensive coordinator, usually OCs move and get to bring guys with him, whether it be running backs coach, receivers coach. Is it difficult to be the guy who has to kind of fit in with everybody around you?
BRENT PEASE: Sure. I don't know if it's difficult. We're kind of all used to it in the profession now, being a coach, and the ‑‑ and I've known Brian for a while, so I was comfortable knowing him. And now Tim Davis is here; kind of our paths have crossed through some people and stuff. And then I met the other coaches, and just in talking with them I think there's some things that blended, and it was kind of an easy situation for everybody. But I've been in a situation where I moved and I brought everything and terminology, how we're going to do it and changed it on the kids, and I think that's very tough. So that's one thing I said, yeah, I mean, that's what Will also wanted was that keep as much of it consistent for what they're going to be able to know and what they can do, and obviously we want to add some new things, but the one thing about the kids here, just talking ‑‑ they're all eager about it and they're very smart and they're willing to do that, and they've been through change before. It's like kids, like my kids moving here. That's what kids do. They're used to change at that time, so they can handle that. We'll blend all that in.
Q. You guys have Brissett and Driskel both listed as the No. 1 quarterback. Do either of them have an advantage based on last season?
BRENT PEASE: No, I don't believe that. I haven't really seen anything to associate ‑‑ I think it's coming in, everything is based off of the fact that they're here. I think the fact that they've been consistent off‑season in workouts, and they're two of the guys that can lead the team. There's going to be other guys that get reps, also, but right now they're the guys in the position that they kind of were at last year. They're the guys that can lead the team. I mean, I haven't even seen these guys throw a football other than watching film of them, and some of it goes back to some high school, when they were in high school and I watched them. That's kind of what I know of them right now.
Q. Did you recruit any of the guys that are on this roster at any time?
BRENT PEASE: Yeah, for about a day, you know. Not really. At Boise State there wasn't many kids that were going to probably be in that situation to probably move out there. No.
Q. When you did watch film from last year, offensively was there an area, because there was struggling obviously in every area, but was there one area in particular that you were surprised at how much work needed to be done?
BRENT PEASE: You know, not necessarily because I haven't focused on a lot of past film. That's just something I didn't want to do coming in here. I didn't want to get any preconceived notions of what I wanted to develop. I wanted all these kids to have a fresh start and I didn't want to determine this is what I see, this is their inadequacies or whatever. I didn't do that. I watched some film with some scheme stuff what they did and how things fit in, but I'd agree with what Will wants to develop, that we want to get more physical up front, we want to develop a little bit better tempo, we want to eliminate some turnovers, a lot of turnovers, and put ourselves in better situations. The things that the kids ‑‑ like being at Boise State, one of the things that's always worked so well is we were good offensively, but we were good because our defense played well, also, in all three phases of the team. Special teams helped set us up in great short field positions at times, and we fed off that. We fed off turnovers from our defense. And so ‑‑ and seeing all that, I want to see all that work together here, too.
Q. And Kellen seemed to be a kid that really worked at it off the field ‑‑
BRENT PEASE: Oh, yeah.
Q. Have you seen that at all even in a minor amount from either Driskel or Brissett at this point?
BRENT PEASE: Yeah, I think both the kids are very eager. I mean, there's been more than both of them that have come in, hey, can we get a playbook. Well, I've been here for two days, I don't really have one right now. But you can't give the kids those things at that time. But I think them coming in and studying the film of some things that we're going to put in and how much time they put into it, because that's one thing I'd say to them is the requirement for a quarterback. You've got to be a guy that you want to prepare. You've got to be that gym rat type guy, and that's why Kellen is so good. He's grown up with that. His dad was his coach through high school, and then he continued that. He knew what it was to prepare. These guys have shown that, Jeff and even Tyler and Jacoby. They've all been in there. They've been grinding on film on their own because they can take that and use as much of that time as they're willing to do.
Q. How much is the challenge of installing your scheme compounded by the fact that you've got a quarterback battle and they're both young guys who really haven't played a lot?
BRENT PEASE: Well, I think it's a challenge, but it's a good challenge because you want ‑‑ in spring it's a time to challenge everybody, so you've got to challenge your quarterbacks, see how much they can handle. How much they can handle tells us how fast and how much more we can add and move along. Then in the fall you kind of gear it back and try to do things that will be successful for what you're really trying to establish and the foundation and your philosophy. So we're going to tax them this spring. There's going to be mistakes, and I told the guys this. We're going to go out ‑‑ that's the one thing that was so beneficial to where we were was that kids taught kids a lot of places because there's been so much tradition brought up through it, but now you're not going to have that for the first week, two weeks, three weeks, whatever it takes. You're going to have guys trying to survive and am I doing this right, a little bit like you were talking about with Dan [Quinn], the guys are playing fast and creating turnovers. These guys are going to be hoping they're doing the right things. But eventually it'll click. There's got to be a patience level with coaches and understand that the learning curve and what they're going to do is going to be big at the beginning.
Q. Will mentioned if you guys don't find one guy that you'd be okay with playing two. Has that been something you've had to deal with before in terms of a regular season, switching between two quarterbacks, did it work well, are you a proponent of it?
BRENT PEASE: Yeah, I've been in a situation where you've had to use both. It'll work well if you've got the right type of kids that both can compete and you kind of use their strengths to how you're going to manage the game. Not particularly in favor of that. I'd rather see one kid step forward and take charge and be productive and let it be his team. But if that's not the way it works out, then as coaches you've got to do what's best for your football team.
Q. Obviously you have Aubrey [Hill] there to coach the receivers, but what role will you play in trying to bring that group along and get stuff from them that they haven't been able to produce the past couple years?
BRENT PEASE: Well, Aubrey is a good coach. He knows, and I think a lot of it in the passing game, because it ties in with the quarterback so much, that you just get those guys all on the same page. I mean, before I was doing quarterbacks at Boise State I coached wide receivers, so I kind of got that where I lean towards those guys a little bit at that time and I had a few good ones through the years there. So you kind of hope you find those kids here that kind of fit those roles that those guys did. As far as development, it's just being consistent and getting in a good time and a good rhythm, seeing situations that's going to make them have to compete for those type of spots in games or react to those type of situations. That's where I think my past experience has helped, that I can bring that to help and how the development of those kids have come along from their freshman year through their senior years.
Q. Will mentioned it the last time we all met together, but how important was it for you or how big of a factor was it for you that you got to witness a Bowl practice and see the team and see the coaches in action and stuff like that?
BRENT PEASE: You mean me personally?
Q. Yeah.
BRENT PEASE: Well, I think it's real important. I wanted to go there and kind of see what ‑‑ wanted to see how the guys threw the ball and how they competed and when practice was close to what we're doing. I think sometimes if you don't come here and kind of look at what's going on or test the waters a little bit to see if ‑‑ see if I'm a fit. I still want to be a fit and work well with the people that I'm going to be with, as well, just like in recruiting. You want a kid to be a fit at the school. Sometimes they're still good athletes but they might not be a fit for the situation.
I believe I'm a good coach, but I want to make sure I fit in with everybody. If I didn't, there probably would have been somebody else better for it.
Q. How do you see yourself as a fit?
BRENT PEASE: Oh, I think I've grown over time with the experience of understanding that there's a lot of ideas, understand how you mesh those people. I think the philosophy of what we're going to do is going to be what Will wants and also what the other coaches are comfortable with and my experience coaching young quarterbacks.
Q. Would you talk about the influences that have helped develop your philosophy? I know being part of the Boise system goes back to Mike Bellotti and UC Davis, but who else has helped your offensive philosophy?
BRENT PEASE: Well, I think when I was a player, one of the guys that coached me ‑‑ it kind of really goes back to when I was a player in college, Don Reed. You'd probably have to do some research on that. He's retired now. But he brought the passing game when I played at the University of Montana gave me an opportunity to play and go on and play professionally. After that when I got in, June Jones ‑ he's now the head coach at SMU ‑ and June was one of my coaches as well as Mouse Davis. Now I'm not really a run‑and‑shoot guy, but I believe in some of the philosophies and some of the schemes that can fit into a pro style offense and kind of the development of the quarterback spot. From there it goes ‑‑ I'd even say that Chan Gailey, you all know probably in this part of the country was an influence on me as a player, and then I get into the Boise State system where I think it really started with Dirk Koetter, and Dirk, who was the coordinator over at Jacksonville, he really started it, and then Dan Hawkins brought along, and then of course Chris Petersen who was the coordinator and the head coach I worked for there. I think a lot of the influence of that and the development of everything that's gone on there as helped me as a coach more so. Obviously I wasn't a player then but helped me as a coach see some things and improve and detail and get into the fundamentals of everything that can make the system successful.
Q. Is there anything intimidating about coming to a place like Florida that's got a tradition or a reputation of having a high‑octane, high‑powered offense?
BRENT PEASE: I mean, I don't really know ‑‑ I wouldn't say intimidating. From my state of mind, I'd say respectful. I've been in the SEC once before and not at a school with a tradition quite like this. But I understand what the past is here and what's gone on with the offenses, and I've faced it and been on the other side of it at times. I think more respect from my standpoint. But coaching is coaching. We're going to take all the kids that we have offensively, go out there and develop them and put a system in and be smart with what we do and try to line them up and give them a chance to be successful and score points.
Q. And what would you say is your demeanor out on the practice field?
BRENT PEASE: Come on, you guys have researched that already. What's my demeanor? My demeanor is very calm, cool and collected.
Q. At all times?
BRENT PEASE: No, not at all times. I'll blow a gasket here or there.
Q. What makes you blow a gasket more than anything else?
BRENT PEASE: I'm not going to blow a gasket. I'm joking around, okay. I've got an intensity point. The only thing that ‑‑ whatever really personally challenges me is if a kid is not giving effort. Everything else after that, I mean, there's obviously going to be mistakes, and we understand that. But if there is not effort involved ‑‑ because that's the easiest thing. That's what they all understand that is required is go out there and give effort, 100 percent. If you don't give your effort, then that's when you get challenged as a coach.
Q. Do you miss the blue turf yet?
BRENT PEASE: Do I miss the blue turf? No. It's hard on the eyes.
