Muschamp's Tuesday Press Conference: Video and Transcription
Tuesday, August 26, 2014 | Football
Florida Gators head football coach Will Muschamp spoke with the media on Tuesday about the team's depth chart and Saturday's game against Idaho, among other things.
Opening statement:
"Excited for Saturday night kickoff in the Swamp against Idaho. It's been a long time coming as far as our preparation through the offseason program and spring ball, and now into summer practice and training camp. Paul Petrino is an outstanding offensive football coach. Everywhere he's been, he's been successful. We will be welcoming back Bam Hardmon from Jacksonville, who coaches the defensive line for Idaho. He a team captain and played here from 1998-2002.”
"It's the first game, there's a lot of newness as far as a new offense. I am excited to get our guys out there in front of our crowd and our stadium, and let them see the work that they've put in and the fruits of what they've done in our coaching staff and players alike. We will probably play up to nine true freshmen in this game, and there will be about eight to nine redshirt freshmen playing in this game. So close to 20 guys will have their first experience of playing in The Swamp, so that will be a lot of fun. I'm very pleased with our effort, our preparation and how these guys have worked through the offseason into spring ball and into training camp. We had a very good practice last night and looking forward to another practice this afternoon.”
"As far as the injury report, Marcus Maye is the only person who will be questionable for this game at this time. He will not practice today. Hope to get him back tomorrow. We'll release a depth chart after the press conference is over with, which you'll be able to see the only notice there is that the backup quarterback will be Treon Harris heading into this game. There's really no separation from the backup standpoint. We met through the weekend and talked moving forward, and felt like Treon has some things he can provide for us offensively, but that's nothing that's made for the long term. No one's been redshirted. No decisions have been made with Will Grier, Skyler Mornhinweg or anyone else. All of those guys did some good things and we're going to move forward week-to-week on that situation there. We have a lot of depth at the running back position and the receiver position. If you look at our situation at tight end, especially with the addition of Jake McGee, Trey Burton has had a good camp. Offensive line wise right now D.J. Humphries will be the starter at left tackle. David Sharpe is going to play in the game; he came back off his ankle last night and he's still a little gimpy, but moved around pretty well. The combination inside of Max Garcia inside at center, Tyler Moore, Trenton Brown and Trip Thurman inside, Antonio Riles – continues to come on, I've been very pleased with some of his progress – Chaz Green, Rod Johnson, all of those guys we certainly feel like can play winning football.”
“Defensively, our front seven, I feel pretty solid about where we are on the defensive line. The four linebackers I've talked about pretty extensively through camp, along with Daniel McMillan and Alex Anzalone, have done some nice things. In the secondary Vernon Hargreaves, Brian Poole, Jabari Gorman and Keanu Neal will start in some form or fashion. If we're in nickel, we could have different combinations of Brian Poole playing the nickel, Vernon Hargreaves, Jabari or Nick Washington. If we're in regular, those four would probably be the starting four with Jabari and Keanu starting at safety and Brian outside with Vernon. Obviously, we're going to play three true freshmen corners with Jalen Tabor, J.C. Jackson and Quincy Wilson. Those guys will play on special teams during the game, and depending on how they progress in practice during the week we will determine how much corner they play. Nick Washington, Duke Dawson and Marcell Harris will all play special teams during the game, and how they continue to progress through the week will determine how much they play at safety, and possibly Nick at the nickel position.”
“We haven't decided yet as far as Austin [Hardin] or Frankie [Velez] who will kick. We've got confidence in both guys. Both guys had really strong camps, but we can win with both guys; I do know that. We haven't made the decision yet on punter as far as Kyle [Christy] and Johnny [Townsend]. We'll punt through the week and see where we go there.
Kickoff return we'll start with Andre [Debose] back there. He needs one more touchdown to set an SEC record. As far as the off-return, it'll probably be Valdez Showers or Brandon Powell. And then punt return, we'll probably start the game with Andre [Debose]. Demarcus [Robinson] can do it or Vernon Hargreaves, so we feel in pretty good hands as far as those things are concerned.”
“Lito Sheppard will be the Mr. Two Bits for the game, so good to get Lito back in The Swamp. As I said earlier, we'll be playing about nine freshmen and about eight redshirt freshmen. We do have some guys on the bubble — Khairi Clark, Taven Byran, DeAndre Goolsby, Will Grier are all guys that are on the bubble as far as playing or not. Those decisions will be made as the week continues to progress and moving forward."
On whether Treon Harris playing a similar offense in high school contributed to winning No. 2 QB…
"I don't think so. I think Will [Grier] and Treon [Harris] are both very talented players and there's some things we felt like he could provide for us offensively, making some short-yards situation, some red zone. He's done a nice job with some command things. There wasn't really enough separation as far as that position is concerned, but he deserved the opportunity and we're going to give him that opportunity."
On if Treon Harris plays in the second quarter…
"Well, we'd like to. Given the situation we'd like to. We'd like to play him. I think a lot of that will be determined game day, and the situation of the game and those sort of things, but we'd like to."
On first game excitement…
"I think so. Any time you go through a tough time in your life you reflect, you get humble, you work hard and you pull together and you understand the people around you are close to you. Certainly the people in the building, number one. But within that locker room, number two, and I've seen a very close-knit unit in that locker room, a lot of guys that know how to practice. They know how to practice the right way. They know how to compete and get after each other, but also take care of each other. It's been really a lot of fun in training camp. I really enjoyed being around the guys, and you could see the camaraderie and the togetherness in this football team. I'm looking forward to see them go and compete in front of our fans."
On if he said Will Grier was on the bubble as far as playing…
“I did say that.”
On if he wants to redshirt one of the quarterbacks…
“We haven't made any decisions on that. I'd like to in a perfect world, but at the end day it's a long season. Again, there was not enough separation right now for us to make a definite decision on anything at this point.”
On the offense being different from what he envisioned…
“Well, we're more talented. We're more talented, that's number one. We could line up and run the run-and-shoot for all I care. We're more talented. We are more talented at running back then we've been. We're more talented at receiver, we're more talented at tight end, we're better up front and we're better at the quarterback position. So it starts with talent, and probably one through eight are talented, and then I like what we're doing schematically.”
On his confidence in this offense and Coach Roper's presence…
“Players are a reflection of their coach. Kurt [Roper] is a very upbeat, positive guy. He's got a little edge about him. I think you see a certain carry-over in our offensive football team. I don't think there is any question about that. I think he's been a very positive addition, as well as the confidence of a Mike Summers, a seasoned veteran that our guys have really bought into and understood some of the things technique-wise he's teaching. But again, it starts with talent, and I think we're more talented than we've been. But Kurt's got an edge about him that I really like.”
On the potential of Treon Harris being featured in a wildcat package…
“Again, he presents some things that may take some hits off Jeff. It's a long season and that's something that certainly Treon's done before. But he's also a very accomplished passer and we've got a lot of confidence in him as far as continuing to do a lot of similar things we're going to do with Jeff; as well as Will [Grier] can do, and Skyler [Mornhinweg] as well.”
On whether a win versus Idaho will restore the team's confidence…
“I don't think so. You're going to have to face some adversity whether it's Saturday night or whenever it is. You've got to be able to play through those situations and coach through those situations and that's part of it. That's what good teams do. I think [this team] will embrace the adversity when it occurs and be able to handle it much better than we have before.”
On the offense changing its game plan in throughout a game…
“What needs to look different? When?”
On the whether the offensive needs look different…
“Well, we need to score points. That'll be a welcome difference.”
On how he will approach the game if UF has a big lead…
“I anticipate doing what we need to do to win the game. That's how I approach every game.”
On how he will split carries between the running backs on Saturday…
“We'll see how Saturday goes, but certainly Kelvin Taylor and Matt Jones have done some nice things. Matt is a guy who has played well for us through his career. And Brandon Powell is a different back than all those guys because of what he can present in the passing game. He's very good in protection. He gives us certainly a different change up for what the other guys do very well. The other guys are good players. He's just a different talent, skill set, as opposed to what those other guys bring us.”
On what he has seen from Idaho from studying its film…
“Defensively they're more of a four-down quarter's team. Ron [Lee, defensive coordinator] has done a nice job wherever he's been mixing up pressure and what they do. They did sign some junior-college players after this last season, so there will be some new faces that we will face. There will be some new wrinkles in any first game you're going to face. Offensively, very similar to what Bobby's [Petrino, Idaho Head Coach Paul Petrino's brother] done before. They're going to be very balanced in what they do in the run and the pass game with Paul [Petrino, Idaho Head Coach]. They do a nice job of free releasing the backs in a lot of situations and getting five out. You have to make sure you're covered down on every one. They create a lot of explosive plays because of that. If you don't cover down in what we call, scat protection, they'll get five people out on you quickly. You just have to make sure you're matched up where you need to be. We're young in the secondary, so we have to make sure those guys have their eyes where they're supposed to be and cover down on the guys as far as the receivers are. They have some explosive players. They have nine players from the state of Florida. So we need to go play well.”
On whether the quality of opponent Idaho is will allow him to play more freshmen…
“It doesn't matter who we're playing Saturday, those nine would've played. Going into the game, those ones that are somewhat on the bubble would be on the bubble. It doesn't matter. Given our situation in the secondary, we were going to play some freshmen regardless. The other guys in my opinion are Gerald Willis, David Sharpe, Treon [Harris] and C.J. Worton. They're all very good players and deserve the opportunity, regardless of the opponent.”
On whether Treon Harris will take his first snap in the second quarter…
“We'd like to, yeah.”
On UF opening its season with an unranked opponent for the 27th straight season…
“Well we are in 2017, I believe, going to play in Jerry World (AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas) against Michigan. I don't know if it has changed because of the college football playoff. That just was settled recently. We just received the SEC schedules within the last spring, so future scheduling has been very difficult for us moving forward until now. I've been concentrating on this year, not past that.”
On whether starting the season against an unranked opponent gives the Gators a disadvantage in the postseason…
“No, our strength of schedule in the Southeastern Conference speaks for itself. Look at the top 10 in the last 3-4 years.”
On when he will name a starting placekicker…
“We'd like to be able to get it done before game time, but I've got confidence in both guys, and both guys understand that. Frankie [Velez] has been very accurate from 30 in, Austin [Hardin] past that has a little stronger leg. Frankie was 1-for-1 in team competition during camp from 50-yards plus. I think both guys are very capable.”
On how Will Grier has handled Treon Harris being named the backup QB…
“We haven't talked about redshirting anybody at this time. Going into the first game we plan on playing Treon [Harris] and [that] could change in game two, could change in game three. It's a long season and both of those guys understand that situation. I talked to Jeff Driskel a long time yesterday morning about helping these guys through a very tough time. From a standpoint of what he went through in his quarterback battles here at the University of Florida. And he's got a great reference point to talk to those guys about what he's been through. So no one's made any decisions about redshirting. OK? And we're going to continue to rep on the offensive field with Will Grier and Treon Harris at this time.”
On whether Treon Harris can run a wildcat package on offense…
“Well we're going to run our offense. And he [Treon Harris] runs and has good command of our offense and what we do. So whether it's from the drop-back passing to running the quarterback run game, which Jeff will do as well, or pocket moving situations, he's going to run our offense.”
On his thoughts on where Latroy Pittman Jr. ranks at WR and his thoughts on the Gators depth at WR…
“Well right now if we started the game tomorrow, Latroy [Pittman Jr.] would start in the slot. So I feel very good about his progress along with Valdez Showers and C.J. Worton playing inside. We feel pretty comfortable with where we are there. We've got the ability to be able to put some other guys inside. Quinton [Dunbar], Demarcus [Robinson], Ahmad [Fullwood], Chris Thompson and Andre Debose have all been playing on the outside. And I've been very pleased with their progress. Alvin Bailey is another guy who has done some nice things. So I feel like we've got very good depth at the position.”
On how Latroy Pittman Jr. has matured and grown since his arrival in Gainesville…
“[Latroy Pittman Jr.] Really has matured and understood what it takes off the field to be successful and on the field as sometimes it takes guy some more time than others. Latroy and I talked the other day about it at length about how far he's come and how proud I am of him and what he's accomplished. It's not an add water [and get an] instant player, I know you guys all think that, but sometimes it takes a little bit of time for a guy to really come into his own. I think he's done some really nice things as far as going across the middle and catching the ball which you're going to have to do in the slot, and winning in the slot. He's been a very reliable guy for us so far in camp.”
On how Jeff Driskel has grown over the past year…
“I think that we never really, as a fan base, got to enjoy the progress that was made from year two to year three last year. But I see much more command, comfort level, also [we are] much better around him. You know, we're better upfront, we're better at wideout, we're better at running back and we're better at tight end. So I think all those components come together. He's a much better player because of the people around him. But I also see a guy that's very driven, which he always was driven, very competitive, which he was always competitive. But I don't think we ever got to see the improvements he made going into last year because of the limited time he had.”
On Demarcus Robinson's suspension from a year ago…
“Yeah, he's handled all those situations.”
On his feeling toward the season opener being a night game…
“Absolutely, early in the season, it's much better for our fans and it's much more comforting for them to have the sun go down a little bit. We appreciate the Southeastern Conference helping us out on that. Dr. [Bernie] Machen [UF President], myself or Jeremy Foley [Athletic Director] have nothing to do with the time of the day we play. That has to do with TV and the conference. So send your emails there. From that standpoint, it certainly helps our fans. Our guys are used to playing in the heat. They're used to being out there in that. We look at it as our advantage. Whether it's a seven o'clock at night, it's going to be pretty hot out there for us. It's no big deal when we play or where we play.”
On Matt Jones' excitement for the first game…
“He looked good last night. He is still excited. He's a very good player, and really smart. He has outstanding hands. He's very good in protection. He's up to 235 pounds and looks good carrying it. He looked outstanding last night, looked very fresh running the ball. Some of our defensive players commented that they're happy on Saturday they'll be tackling somebody else. He's a good football player. I'm excited about getting him back in The Swamp playing again healthy.”
On his state of mind?
“Very good. It was very frustrating for him early on. He went through a very tough fall, missing all of training camp, coming back and trying to get back in the swing, and the knee injury happened against LSU. Very frustrating fall for him, but a guy that I know is exciting after watching him practice last night, and seeing the tempo he practiced with and how he went about his business. That guy is pretty excited about football in Saturday, I can tell you that.”
