Sept. 2, 2008

Coach Wannstedt Press Conference

Sept. 2, 2008

Buffalo Week

Opening Statement:

Because we're two days into our prep for Buffalo already, the comments will be brief from the Bowling Green game. The obvious is the disappointment we had in that football game because our kids did everything that we asked for to prepare for that game. I thought that they came out --we played 150 plays with two penalties, two five-yard penalties. We started off strong, the focus was there, we weren't overlooking anyone, and I thought our kids were fantastic in that area. In the second half the turnovers and the miscues and execution that we didn't make happen prevented us from scoring enough points to win the game. That is being addressed and we expect obviously a different result this week. Looking at Buffalo, they're a team that when you look at them offensively they've got three or four guys that are really talented. When you look at the quarterback, I think he's leading the country right now -- I know it's one game -- in passing efficiency. He set records a year ago at Buffalo and I don't think he's thrown an interception since the (Ball State) game, which was in September. He's a smart player, good arm, very accurate. They've got an outstanding running back, I think as good a running back as we face all year long. They've got a real good tight end and a big-play receiver that has a ton of speed. He makes big plays, had two long pass receptions last week. Defensively, their secondary is back in tact, they do have a few new players at linebacker and defensive line; most of the kids have played. I think when you look at the win they had last week against UTEP, we expect to get their best effort. (They will) come in here well coached and be prepared for this week's game. Now we've got to find a way to go out there and play the game and get back on track.

On the public reaction after the game:

I think as the head coach, I take the lead as much as I can. I talked to the team about that on Sunday. I said, hey, it's all part of it. When things are good, it's good. You're going to get a lot more recognition then probably what you deserve, and when things are bad, it goes the other way, its all part of the game. And I think if we're going to be a good football team, which I believe we are, we've got good solid people, intelligent kids, we have to be able to deal with the good or bad.

On the play of the offensive line:

I thought physically and effort-wise, outstanding. From a mental standpoint, there were numerous mistakes that would show up when you have a right tackle starting at the right tackle for the first time. John Malecki a year ago was playing defense. No one played harder and more physical than John, and (new) things are going to happen every game until he gains enough experience. Robb Houser is our center. He's making the calls, and it was his first game starting. So you're looking at three out of five (new starters on the offensive line), and obviously Jason (Pinkston) just playing five games. So it's not an experienced group, it's an inexperienced group for the most part. It's going to take a little bit of time to bring this group together; we knew that from the very beginning. And some of those things showed up on Saturday, and there'll be different looks this week, we have to handle it and learn from our mistakes and make corrections on the move.

On playing time of freshmen Lucas Nix and Andrew Taglianetti:

Lucas will play for sure. We need to get him in the game. Last week we were looking for opportunities, and it just never came up the way the game unfolded. He will play this week regardless. We need to get him on the field and get him some playing time. (Andrew) Taglianetti was on field goal block, punt return, punt team, and kickoff team. He didn't play any defense - I really didn't expect him to play any defense. Right now we have Irvan Brown and Elijah Fields alternating in at the safety position. He'll continue special teams and then we'll go from there.

On Elijah Fields' playing time:

We have packages where he's a major player, where we think we can take advantage of some things. Just the way the game unfolded, we had three or four possessions of their normal offense and then they went to the swinging gate and the totem pole, two different offenses. One that I've never seen and one we use on field goal, and they hit a couple plays on us and because of some of the things they did it really didn't give us a chance (to put Fields in defensively).

On the possibility of using more of a spread offense:

We go with no backs, we can go to empty, line up in no backs and throw the ball, do some of those things. But we want to run the football and I think with the talent we have at running back, that's more of our focus rather then five-wide. We're more of two back or two tight end set.

On not playing Gregg Cross against Bowling Green in retrospect:

I don't know, it's easy to look back and say maybe. We do have that ready to go, you've seen it work, seen it in practice. Even though we were behind and not scoring points, we felt like we had some opportunities to make some plays with what we were doing. To answer your question, that is a little package (featuring Cross) we do have. The situation just didn't come up when we felt he would have made a difference.

On punting in Bowling Green territory:

The one, it's at the 35-yard line, I think that's the grey area. The wind was in our face, a field goal wasn't really an option. At that point we're thinking field position. The second one, we punted down there and get it at the six. They go three and out and they punt it back to us and that's where we start right before the fumble. Sure, I think head coaches go back and reevaluate calls, but at the time, the field position, getting points on the field goal before the half, we do not waver on that. I think it is very important, particularly when the game is tied, you want to go into halftime with the lead.

On the possible lineup at linebacker if Shane Murray and Adam Gunn are not ready:

If that would be the case, we'll play a couple of young kids. Between Greg Williams, Brandon Lindsey, Tristan Roberts, Austin Ransom -- I know they're all new household names, but they've been practicing and they're ready to play. We're hopeful, I mean Shane is better day to day. We'll see where he's at today and Adam Gunn is better day to day.

On whether or not the fan reaction was justified:

It was probably justified. I mean, let's be real. We expected to go out there and play good and win the game, so when people are disappointed they are going to express it. And that's part of the business you know, got to be able to handle that. You know how I feel about this school, I love these kids, and my focus now is getting ready for Buffalo. I believe in these kids, I know we have a good football team, I know we have good players. We just have to keep pressing forward.

On LaRod Stephens-Howling playing well but getting fewer second-half touches:

He was, obviously when you look back on it, but we're trying to get LeSean (McCoy) going, too. And that's a little bit of a problem - there's only one football. See when LaRod was gong early, they were in their base defense, so we hit them on some creases, and then all the sudden they start doing different things and make it a lot more difficult. We turned a couple guys loose, when LeSean gets hit and fumbles, there was a linebacker right in his face, out of nowhere. We're going to use both of those guys. Nothing surprises me with LaRod, I've been his biggest fan for four years now. He's a heck of a player.

On the progression of quarterback Bill Stull:

Talking to people on the outside, colleagues around the country, that's probably the number one misleading fact about our football team, is that everyone was shocked that was Billy Stull's first full football game. The perception is he had been the starting quarterback for three years. I thought Billy handled it well. The worst thing that could have happened was to put him in that situation, you know, the plan was to throw it 35 times and run it 52. Not what it ended up. That's not us, you don't do that with three new linemen, a new quarterback starting just his second game, and that's the situation we put ourselves in. I thought Billy handled it well, and I do expect him to improve. He will, watching the tape and seeing what happened and going out and working on it on the field.

On the playing time of freshman wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin:

Jonathan will get a little bit more action this week. I thought that he obviously didn't get much last week but it was good for his first time getting in there. He's working hard and he'll be ready to go this week.

On LeSean McCoy and wanting to score a TD at the end of the first half:

I think every player wants to score. My one year on the Dolphins with Dan Marino, every time Jimmy Johnson said field goal or punt, Dan threw his arms up in the air and said why can't we go for it. So I think that's a reaction by every player of wanting to go for it and trying to score, and that's usually what makes the great ones like Marino, and I think LeSean will get there. That's the mindset they have.

On Buffalo's game strategy:

They're a two-back team, either two tight ends, or a fullback-halfback team. A lot of play action, a lot of run. A 4-3 team on defense, so they would fall into the terms of more traditional.

On defending the spread offense:

I think it's a matter of how good your defense is playing. I think without turnovers, defensively, we would have been fine. I really felt going into the game that they're going to score 14, 17 points, in that range. Obviously we all know, offensively we've got to score more points. I think that was the least amount they (Bowling Green) had in 21 games too.

On the return and play of wide receiver Derek Kinder and emergence of Jabaal Sheard:

I thought Derek played well. I was very pleased how Derek played for his first time back after missing a year of full-speed work. Physically he held up well, from the standpoint of being tackled, the knee, and the strength. Mentally he was fine. I think that will be a nice boost forward for this year for him. Jabaal played good. I told you, he's a player.

On possible improvements to the return game:

We are addressing that. Most important thing on any return game is, it's not the back end guys, it's the front line guys. They gave us a couple twists and a couple things on the coverage units where we turned some guys loose and that will be addressed. We have to make the simple blocks up front because we have some guys back there that can make some things happen. I like our returners. I thought that Aaron Berry, if he just catches that ball and doesn't even make a yard, we're going to have it at the 40-yard line. Completely lost it in the sun and it rolls to the two. Now, we drive it back out and punt, but that's a whole possession of eight or ten plays as compared to starting at the 40. I feel it's close. I didn't like our kickoff, but I liked our kickoff coverage. I thought that we were better there. Our punt return was ok. The punt team, we did the spread punt stuff -- that was our first time going through that. It's completely different from what we've ever done, but overall it was good, we have good coverage.