McElwain's Monday Press Conference: Transcription
Monday, August 31, 2015 | Football
Florida Gators head football coach Jim McElwain spoke with the media on Monday about Saturday's game against New Mexico State and the team's depth chart, among other things.
Opening statement:
”We're obviously excited to get things kicked off. I think we've had an outstanding camp, and just to see the progress we've made from spring ball to now, the fusion of some of the new guys, I just really like the way the team is coming together. More so, I'm looking forward to seeing what our identity is going to be. This will be the first chance we have to get out there and see what we are, what we're all about and I'm excited to get the opportunity to open up in The Swamp. I'm really looking forward to that and I know our guys are really excited.”
“This week's opponent in New Mexico State, obviously they have a head coach that has some familiarity with some of the guys on our staff from his early days at Kentucky. He did an outstanding job at Kent State. He's now in that year three where he's got a chance to put his stamp on what they're [New Mexico State] all about. They've got a lot of returning starters on both sides of the ball. When you talk about what they do offensively I think it leads to their four returning starters on their offensive line. I think the important note here is that they only gave up nine sacks all of last year. The quarterback, obviously, does a good job of getting the ball out of his hand quickly, and getting it into some playmaker's hands. They have a true freshman running back that had 1100 yards rushing and a wide receiver that was all-league form as well. They've got some parts coming back on offense and a belief in their system. They're gonna play up tempo, do some things to try and create some explosive plays on a fast tempo so that will be really good for us. On the defensive side, I'd say their strength probably lies in their linebackers. They have a defensive line that rotated a bunch of players. I'm very familiar with their defensive line coach [Zane Vance] who was with us at Fresno, he does an outstanding job of keeping those guys fresh. There's a lot of movement up front. In their secondary, there are three or four starters now as you look at their two deeps that were put out today. There's a couple changes, there's some freshmen in there that we don't know too much about. There's a linebacker out of La Salle and a defensive back out of Texas that look like they must have really good camps that are listed in those depths.”
“When you look at it, as a program, the fact that they have the experience coming back is something that I think is probably pretty important. They won't be intimidated, they [New Mexico State] played LSU last year, and that's something that is big for them. They've [New Mexico State] seen it, and we're looking forward to getting our opportunity to get out there and see what we're all about as well.”
“If you look at it from an injury standpoint, a couple guys that will hold in today, Ivey and Neal are the two of note that will stay in from practice and work on rehab. However, I wouldn't put them out of question believe it or not.”
“We're really excited. I've got to tell you personally that the coaching staffs, our players, are really looking forward to establishing who we are and what we're all about, especially here in The Swamp.”
“On a side note before we go any further, you go through and get totally consumed with this football part, and it means a lot to a lot of people. I can't say I know him personally, but it hits home when you read about Cam Cameron and what they're going through at LSU, dealing with the cancer issue. It's just something that makes you sit back and realize that there are other things that are real important going on as well. Our thoughts are with him and what they're going through as well.”
On expectations going into game week:
“Here is what we try to do, we did everything we could to get them indoctrinated in how we go into the week. We tried last week to show them how a Monday is going to be like. We should be out there 58 minutes. It will be face first and 10, regular. With a little bit or Red area. It will be fast and we will work on fundamental drills and the kicking game. We will be working on situations that we put in on given days, short yardage we will be doing that on Tuesday. Red area third down on Wednesday. And of course a perfect Thursday as we get ready for our walk through on Friday. We try to get them into a routine is something that we try to introduce them to. Familiarity is going to take them a little bit of time for them to kind of understand what that is.”
On what is going to be accomplished in the next four days and what is a main priority:
“Well I think for us consistency and we threw a lot, we loaded a lot on them both offense and defense and special teams. We want to make sure our checklists are filled based on the unknown coming forward. It's like this week we are playing an unknown defensive coordinator, it's the first time that we are seeing him exactly what he is going to do and the 12 games from a year ago and go back and see what they did when he was on staff. You've got to be sound in what you are doing because at the end of the day there is a little bit of unknown in what his play calls are going to be in certain situations. So really for us it's being able to develop a consistency in really has answers moving forward in what they throw at you.”
On Antonio Morrison returning to play:
“Yea he is. You have heard me throughout, it is unbelievable what he has done. I am really proud of what he has done and to see him recover like this. It won't be one of those deals where he is playing 80 or 90 plays. At the same time, he has prepared himself and we will plan for that.”
On Ivey and Neal possibly playing:
“Well we will find out. We will hold them in just like I said tonight and I will let you know on Wednesday when we do our injury report.”
On game week preparations at Florida vs at Colorado State:
“Well I think first week anywhere there is going to be a few more people in the stands. Yet, you have got to be fundamentally sound in your preparations, it doesn't matter where you are at. What we do is that we have an established pattern of the way we go about things in our business and make sure that we check all the boxes that we have. Always going in the unknown of any first game, it doesn't matter what year it is or where you are at. There is always some anxiety because you really aren't sure and yet the excitements there because you have the opportunity to paint a picture of what we have moving forward. We have a lot of guys that we are looking forward to how they respond in a real game situation.”
On preparing the offensive starters going into week one:
“We'll see this is as hungry as they are and the young ones are just as hungry. To see them go out there and get after it. We still have to do and see what they are capable of. For us going in, to discover some explosive playmakers; guys who can stretch the field and picking our time to take those shots. One of the things that we stress is putting the ball down the field vertically and not worry as much horizontally and to do that consistency and performance is something that we have got to find out. We will definitely take our shots there is no doubt about that.”
On seeing plays work in practice and in the game:
"That's right. And yet, I'll shoot you straight. It hasn't been consistent to the point that we were hoping. And yet, what I think that you'll find out over time when you ask the people in the past, we always strive to make that consistency in everyday action. Not sure what we've gotten there yet."
On having an identity:
"Well, I know what we want it to be. And yet, this is an opportunity. There you go. First game, unknown. Yet, there are certain things that we want our guys to be able to do and show. With that, obviously the relentless pursuit of discipline and the ability to get off the field on third downs and maintain possession on third downs, are things that we need to do offensively to keep our defense off the field and obviously get the ball back. Those are things that trying to create some explosive plays and finding out who those guys are gonna be is something that we've got to be able to find out here in the first game."
On getting nervous:
"Well, shoot. I mean, I get nervous going to practice. The day you don't get butterflies is probably the day to get out of this. It's fun, and I don't look at it as nervous as much as the thrill of another year. There are a lot of things that go into that. And yet, a good thing is I don't have to worry about myself playing. So that's good for the Gators. I think our guys are excited."
On whether the starting five would look the same with a healthy Ivey:
“That's a position we've talked about it in depth all through camp, trying to find those eight or nine pieces and exactly what the best ones are in combination. You're going to see a lot of rotation in there as we go through this game. Trying to make sure that the five best communicate with each other to get the point across. It's one of the things as you know from the get go was key for us, both offensively and defensively, was the communication factor. The more those guys work together, the better that becomes. It'll be interesting to see the combinations and see what works out best."
On what has Ahmad Fulwood shown in camp:
“He has shown glimpses of it. We have talked about it before, I would like to see that he plays 6'3 rather than 5'8 at times. Go up and get the ball. Be aggressive in the air. Don't take no for an answer. There is a lot of things we need to do and establish in that group from the stand point of an aggressive nature in which you play position.”
On Nord and Dixon and then Callahan and the GAs in the booth:
“Yeah, as far as what we worked in the last part. Actually, I think we are probably going to bring Kerry down. We worked that a little bit simulated since that time, but other than that we will be pretty much set.”
On how the quarterback possessions will be split:
“We actually had a long meeting last night again and this morning just kind of looking at what's going to be best. I think you know, probably I don't know when we will determine it. We will go as is today. We have a prescribed amount of reps we are going to get and they split that in all the different situations again in the 58 minute practice we have. And come up with the best plan that we think is going to help us be successful.”
On the game situation for both quarterbacks:
“I think we do and I don't think that idea is going to be really uncovered until we get in the game situation. As much as you try to simulate it, there's no experience for doing it and uh, so I think it's going to tell us a lot you know when we get down and watch this video of this game.”
On the number of freshman that will redshirt:
“That's interesting. I mean there is no one that is guaranteed redshirt because you just never know right as you go forward. There will be a lot more guys show up in the game day statistics of the seven that are probably listed there. They may play their way into being on that sheet. Obviously, this is the first game, we are going to play a lot of guys and we will have the play to players' speech when we put that together on Fridays walk through. So they know exactly when they will be in in that kind of thing.”
On getting the word that Antonio Morrison will be ready to play:
“What he did just at the beginning of camp, there again what normally was a 10-12 month recovery he did in 6 months. And we have had the doctor in a bunch, probably more so for me not believing it. And yet the strength levels, all the tests, believe it or not it's actually tighter than the other one. And uh again that's a credit to him and what he did in the offseason to prepare himself to help this football team.”
On six receivers listed on the depth chart:
“I would say we would probably play nine though, you know, I don't know. There is going to be a rotation set. Um I guess guys, I mean I don't know what it has been in the past, what you read into the two deep you got to put the names in there right and you got to give them as game notes to the opponent. We are going to play a lot of guys so I guess what I just, whatever, you do what you want to do, but I wouldn't read too much into it."
On Chris Rumph increasing his effort during camp:
“His growth has been really, really good. His potential is off the charts and yet consistently working on the day-to-day detail of everything you do is something that is going to do nothing but help him as he moves forward. Done an outstanding job in camp as a lot of those D-linemen have. You know developing guys to be able to rotate in there to stay fresh that's going to be huge for us.”
On this game be an opportunity to see what the freshmen could do:
“Well, we'll play like I said, three to four running backs and are planned in the rotation. That's kind of how we have done it. Those guys getting an opportunity there again, this is new, this is college football. They were playing as seniors in high school only a year ago so we'll found out what the bright lights do to them.”
