Muschamp's Monday Press Conference Video and Transcription
Monday, September 15, 2014 | Football
Florida Gators head football coach Will Muschamp spoke with the media on Monday about the Kentucky game, preparing for the first road game of the season this weekend at Alabama and more.
Opening statement…
To recap our win over Kentucky, it was a great team win as far as picking each other up. Parts of the game defensively, we played really well early in the game. Did some nice things offensively, moved the ball, did not score in the red zone, had a couple issues on third down. We had two drops, two protection issues that hurt us in the first half. Field position killed us in the first half, on average starting on the 15-yard line, but we moved the ball. That was the encouraging thing. I felt totally in control of the game until the 60-yard touchdown pass that gave them some energy, but our guys fought back and overcame those situations. Right now on the season, we're plus seven on the year in turnover margin and plus 13 in explosive plays. That's a good combination to have.
Going back offensively, field position really hurt us. We need to score touchdowns in the red zone. We had a couple issues there on third down, but we stayed balanced in what we did. I thought the offensive staff did a nice job with adjustments in the second half in getting in some 12 personnel and running the ball. We were able to create some holes in there. I thought our offensive line did a really good job of movement up front and handling all that stuff. Defensively, eight big plays. A busted coverage for a touchdown in a tempo situation, not getting aligned, two guys, that shouldn't have occurred there. 173 yards on six plays and you can't afford that and win games moving forward in those situations. But there were some things, all of them very correctable from a fundamental technique standpoint of how we play the slot and some things that we do. All are correctable issues, they're not things that can't be corrected.
Special teams, Kyle Christy punted the ball extremely well. I think his net was at 45. He really flipped the field and early in the game. That's kind of where we were. We had a hard time gaining some field position in the game.
Players of the game, offensively, Demarcus Robinson had an outstanding night. He and Matt Jones are offensive players of the week. Matt ran extremely well, especially late in the game. He's 235 pounds. He gets heavy as the game goes on. He showed you guys that. That was the form we saw a spring ago, you know, before last season. And with the runs he was making, really happy to see him healthy. Demarcus played well.
On the offensive line, Max Garcia played another good game for us. He got us in the right spots and did a nice job. Defensively, Brian Poole. Brian made a huge play in the overtime, knocking the ball off the guy, had a couple other knockdowns, had an interception, had a caused interception to Keanu Neal. Did a nice job of running out in the open field and showed a lot of range in that situation. You know, had the one ball on our sideline that if he leans a little bit more, I feel like he's got a chance to work himself and make a play on the ball. Played well, very productive. Ball hawks: Brian had two, Keanu had two and Dante Fowler had one. Special teams, Kyle Christy, again, punted extremely well. That was huge for us. And hard hat went to Marcell Harris. He did a really nice job of covering kicks.
Overall, as a team, we handled some adversity well. That was the first time we had to deal with it this season, so it was good to condition ourselves moving on the road.
On to Alabama. I've got a lot of respect for Nick (Saban). I probably wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for the opportunities he gave me early in my career and he's an outstanding football coach. He's got a really good football team. Offensively, they've got both Sims and Coker. Very similar guys. Both very good athletes, accurate throwers. There's not a whole lot of change schematically when either one of them are in the game. Very talented at the running back position in Yeldon and Henry and Drake and they've got some talented guys on the bench who can get in the game. But they're all guys who can run well, catch the ball well. They're good in protection and do a nice job.
They do a nice job with receivers. Amari Cooper has got 33 catches and has been targeted close to 50 times in three games, whether running or throwing it. 6-2, a big receiver that runs extremely well and can stick his foot in the ground, change direction. Really good ball skills. Christion Jones and DeAndrew White. DeAndrew has been hurt, but a guy that can really run on the top end there. Very talented there. O.J. Howard at tight end and Brian Vogler has been there for a long time. Both guys are 6-5+ that can run down the field and are solid on the offensive line.
Defensively, strong on the front seven and good on the back end. Landon Collins is an outstanding player and plays some dime for them when they go to their six-DB package and plays safety. He covers well.
Special teams, Christion Jones is as good of a returner as there is in the country. They're 100 percent on field goal kicking and their net punt is 45+. They've got a good football team. We're looking forward to going to Tuscaloosa for the opportunity.
Injury-wise, D.J. Humphries right now would be the only player that wouldn't be available to us this weekend. We're pretty healthy coming out of the last weekend. I'll open it up for any questions.
On possible changes in the secondary…
You know, we might, Robbie, looking at it. But I felt like there were just some fundamental, technique things in the slot. We didn't play in the slot very well. What happens, a lot of times, and I've been doing it a long time, when you have a guy that gives up a play, you start playing a little cautious instead of playing aggressive. You get tentative in your techniques and that's what happened to us a little bit, especially late in the game coming off the goal line. We just have got to make a play on the ball in those situations and go play the ball, be aggressive and keep that same mentality regardless of the situation and understand that you've always got to stay aggressive on the back end. That's where I felt like we got a little tentative when we gave up the play.
With that being said, we had the bust between Keanu and Vernon. Both of them are responsible for the situation that happened. Keanu comes back and has two interceptions to help us win the ballgame. You look at it from a positive standpoint, a young player goes through a very tough deal in front of 90,000 people and obviously everybody knows he's probably somewhat responsible for what happened. Whether they know it or not, it doesn't really matter. And then he rebounds himself and comes back and plays well in the game, and really settled down from there and played extremely well.
So with Marcus (Maye) in the nickel, there are some things we need to clean up as far as our technique and things are concerned. And the encouraging thing for me as you watch the film is it's all correctable. You're not looking at it going 'wow we couldn't cover this guy.' That wasn't the case. And then a couple of the deep balls - one on Jabari (Gorman) on their sideline, the one on Brian (Poole) on our sideline - well thrown balls.
Garrett Johnson, give him credit. The young man from Orlando made a terrific catch on Duke Dawson on their sideline. It's a 50-50 ball. We're there. I wouldn't have told Duke to play it any differently other than let's get the ball off the guy. The guy made a great play. And that's going to happen in our league, some. And especially the way we play. So those are some things that we need to handle better. We need to do a better job on the jump ball with Jalen in a couple of situations. There was some contact there. We need to be more firm with the contact and not let the receiver push off on us, and be more firm at the top of the route. So there are some things that are all correctable things as you watch the tape. I thought we did a better job with our eyes for the most part on the back end. We didn't get ourselves in a bad position other than the one bust. So, again, they're things we'll look at and we'll get corrected as we move forward today.
On the qualities of a Nick Saban coached team…
Well, they've recruited well. They've got really good players. That's where most of it starts and ends. They're very physical on both lines of scrimmage. They're going to be balanced offensively, however they get to it. Right now, the three games they are 50-50 run/pass to give you an idea of what I'm talking about in terms of balance given the situation. Defensively, they are going to be strong in the front seven. They are going to be able to play man-to-man and deny the ball down in situations and they're going to be solid in special teams.
On awkwardness in playing against mentor Nick Saban…
You know, not really. I mean, you know, I've got a lot of respect for him facing him as an assistant coach and then now as a head coach. So it is what is. Got a good football team. I think we do too.
On hopes of seeing Jeff Driskel run the ball more…
Sure. We do have some design runs and we saw a quarterback power there down in the red zone that was a good call in that situation. We had a couple keeps that I felt like he could've kept on some plays in the zone read that he didn't, and a couple that we don't want him to keep. So a lot of that is by call in those situations, but we'll continue to work that as a week-by-week process as far as how many carries he's going to have.
On success of the no huddle and tempo of the Florida offense…
They started some regular personnel, you know, on the early downs, meaning they left in their base personnel and the front seven stayed in big personnel. We felt like they would match nickel with us and they didn't. So there were some adjustments we had to make as far as what we were doing. And we went to more 12 personnel and most of our speed packages going into the game where we had 11 personnel, three-wide personnel. So we'll prepare for that moving forward. That was just something a little different for us. We felt more comfortable where we were in identifying what they were doing as opposed to trying to play fast. So that didn't have anything to do with the score of the game.
On whether there were thoughts of calling on Treon Harris to take over at quarterback after first half…
No. We felt good with where we were. We had two drops on third down. That wasn't Jeff's fault. We had two protection issues on third down. That wasn't Jeff's fault. There's 11 of them out there.
On Treon's capability to take over if needed…
Absolutely. And we have a plan every week for him in some situations to come in and play. Absolutely.
On Brandon Powell and Mack Brown's limited action…
Well, I think the game dictated that a little bit. Matt (Jones) was running extremely well and we went more to an inside running game based on a lot of things they were doing to us. They were bringing a lot of what we call Sam strong safety off the edge. So the counter game, I think we ran the counter 18 times in the game. We ran the power 10 times in the game. We ran the inside zone 10 times in the game. Those are all inside hitting plays. Certainly, Matt and Kelvin (Taylor). Certainly Mack (Brown) is a talented enough back to do it. Both of those guys (Jones and Taylor) had the hot hand and it worked pretty well.
On what Muschamp has learned from Nick Saban…
A lot of things, just from total program management. We'd talk in terms of evaluation of players and I learned a lot at the Miami Dolphins as well in that situation from our scouting department. But just philosophically, having an idea of what you want to be on offense and defense and special teams as a program. All of the things that I think are critical moving forward and where we're at.
On the importance of Matt Jones' ability to keep running after contact…
Well, in our league, in most situations, good coaches are going to have an extra hat in the box if you're going to be able to run the ball, so you've got to be able to break tackles. Matt certainly, I couldn't off the top of my head tell you how many yards after contact he had, but there was a bunch of running through tackles up front especially as we fatigued their defense.
Number one you have to have more than one. You got to have multiple guys. It's a long season and we're very blessed to have some guys that in my opinion are very talented at the positon. Some of them didn't even get an opportunity Saturday night. We will have a change of pace variety of talented guys.
On future contributions from other running backs…
I said earlier that we went to an inside running game with the counter, the power and the inside zone. We felt like the bigger back would have been beneficial.
On potential challenges facing a young team on the road for the first time…
The key ingredient is to have an experienced quarterback. That to me is critical. We have an experienced quarterback that's won big on the road in some tough places. We'll be fine.
On potential nerves from the new players…
We'll be all right.
On Demarcus Robinson…
He's a tough matchup just because he's got really good vertical speed. He can run through contact. He's stronger. He's a 6-2, 200-pound kid. A young man that catches the ball well. There's no question it's a huge something you've got to account for as a defensive coordinator. How many one-on-ones are you going to create for him, and they created a bunch. That's why we had some matchups and some situations we liked. They did a nice job with their pressure package, and I felt like as the game wore on we did a better job identifying it and getting the ball in the right spots.
On Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper…
Well, again, he's a guy that can stretch the field vertically. They do a nice job in the run game of getting the ball to him in a lot of what I call quick situation, of seeing a bad box, getting it out to him on the perimeter, creating some one-on-ones. They move him around a little bit and we've got to make sure we identify him and know where he is. He's been targeted a bunch in their first three games, so there's no question he's a playmaker.
On issues with the pass rush…
We did get tired, Jeff. There's no question. As far as an edge presence is concerned, Dante played extremely well. He was at the quarterback a bunch. He's a really good football player. We need to build more with Alex McCalister. We need to build more with Neiron Ball in pass rush. Because of the tempo, it was a little difficult to sub in some situations, and we couldn't get to some running packages we wanted to. But a lot of the passing game they had, you know, you could have rushed 44 and you weren't going to get there. The ball's out. So we did pressure a good bit in the game. We did hit the quarterback. We only had two sacks, but I look more at hits on the quarterback and I think we were up in 15, 17. You look at 40 something attempts. That's pretty good numbers as far as ratio is concerned of hitting the quarterback and having some pressures. I do feel like we didn't affect him as much as the game wore on, and I think that a little of those issues were some breakdowns on the back end and it wasn't as much due to the rush. There's no question we need to get more speed on the field in those situations and we need to get more production other than Dante as an edge rusher. You know, we had some decent push inside at times, but we need to get more.
On the offensive tackles facing Alabama…
Well, I think first game for Chaz (Green) going over and playing left tackle. There's some different technique involved in that, there's some changes involved, but I thought he played well. He just wasn't as used to setting in those situations, but I thought he played well. There's some technical issues we've got to get cleaned up and we knew that going into the game. But I thought Rod (Johnson) did a good job for his first start. He got a little excited early in the game, got a little chippy down there on the goal line which you can't do, but he's an excited young man, he's a really good athlete, he's got great feet and he's just going to continue to get better and better. They certainly present some edge guys. As far as some rush guys, Jonathan Allen is a really good player, so they'll give us some different looks and we've got to be able to adjust to those situations, which I think we've done a very nice job in two ball games adjusting to different looks in the game in what different teams are presenting us.
On wanting additional pass rush in overtime…
No. I think, again, a testament to our football team. We get a facemask penalty and Darious (Cummings) didn't mean to facemask the guy. Heck he reached out and the guy's facemask was sitting there and you'd like to tell him not to grab it, but it's tough in those situations. It's real simple to sit in the stands and criticize it, but sometimes as a player it's hard to deal with. We got first-and-10 on the 15 and we get a three-and-out. And then we get a three-and-out on the next possession. We had enough. They were playing for a field goal in that situation, running the ball, and for our guys to step up says a lot about them and the resolve they have.
On the effects of hit to Kelvin Taylor's back…
He's doing good. They got a good shot on him, though, didn't they?
On added motivation for Matt Jones after injury-shortened 2013 season…
There's no question. I think anytime you have something that's really, really important to you, and football is extremely important to Matt Jones, you have something taken away from you, and Matt went through a tough time last year. He really did. I remember him coming into my office and we had a lot of talks and things about life and what happens and dealing with adversity in life and all of those things. But Matt, there is no question. I don't know if I would say motivated because he was motivated before, but when you have something taken away from you that's really important and then to get it back. I'm just really proud of him and happy for him.
On this week's game vs. Alabama being a “statement game”…
They're all statement games. They're all important. They all count for one, so we understand the importance of the game. It's an SEC game. It's the next game. We're in a series of one-game seasons as far as I'm concerned right now, and that's how we're looking at it.
On offensive adjustments made after halftime against Kentucky…
We went to some more running game and 12 personnel because of some things they were doing that we felt like we needed some help on the edges a little bit. I felt that was a really nice adjustment in the game. I think, again, we just connected on some passes. I think Jeff was 18 of 22 in the second half, I guess, including the overtime. We were a little out of sync. We took four shots in the first half. We didn't hit any. And we had all four of them open. A little bit of an overthrow on the post, the deep ball to Quinton, got to keep the ball inbounds to Demarcus on the double-move over on their sideline. So we took some shots and didn't hit those. You know, everybody wants you to throw it vertical. Well, it's first and 10, and all of a sudden it becomes second and 10, so we just need to cash in on those situations. But he threw the ball extremely well. We protected a little better and we caught the ball.
On getting more receivers involved…
We had a bunch of guys catch passes, not as many obviously. I think we had 11 in the first game catch passes, to give you an example. I think a little of it is dictated by how the defense is playing you. They continue to pressure and create middle-field coverage or a flat-top blitz coverage where there is no help. In those situations you throw to matchups and we liked the matchup with Demarcus.
On the non-spearing call…
I don't have any comment.
On whether or not the league was called…
No, I don't have any comment. I can't comment.
On thoughts during 4th-and-7 in first overtime…
Hurry up. Well, we just had a little miscommunication on the original signal of the formation, not the play. Everybody knew the play. So that was, just from the standpoint of getting the formation right, I think we were right in taking the timeout earlier in the game -- I mean earlier in the overtime, excuse me -- we had a bad look and we didn't want to get a negative play. And based on the alignment, Kurt said, 'we're in a bad situation, we've got to get a timeout called.' So we had to burn the timeout there. Again, I think, we knew what we were going to go do; felt like we would get pressure on the play. I think we made a good call and I think Mark and them made a good call. I think you go after it and make somebody make a play against you. I think it was a good play on both parts.
On career play for Jeff Driskel given the circumstances…
Well, I think it certainly is, to have a play like that in a critical situation, no question for him. Really, I think Jeff is playing really well. Certainly, the throwaway in the first half, he was trying to throw it away and thought he had a little more on the ball than he did. Latroy Pittman made an outstanding play of really hustling to the ball and making the tackle right there, because that would probably have scored if he hadn't. You take a couple drops here and there in the game, a little off-kilter on the deep balls. He came back in the second half and really performed well. There is no question that was a huge play for him.
