Oct. 8, 2007

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Coach Wannstedt's Monday Press Conference (10/8)

Dave Wannstedt

Navy Week

October 8, 2007

Opening Statement:

The extra days that we have had to prepare for Navy have come at a good time for a couple of reasons. With Pat (Bostick) at quarterback, it has given him a few extra days of practice and preparation which was needed. The other thing, more importantly, is that it gave our defensive coaches and players a chance to zero in on a defensive game plan to defend Navy's offensive attack which is different from a schematic standpoint. It is also different in the techniques that they use. It has been an interesting week and I think our defensive coaches have done a great job of coming up with some ideas and some different things in practice to give our kids a chance to get as true a picture as you possibly can when you have a scout team running the offense.

I know that our guys are looking forward to getting out there in front of a national audience. We have a lot of good things going on here, as everyone is aware of with Tony (Dorsett) coming back and Curtis Martin coming into town. It will be an exciting night for our players; they are looking forward to it. We will be ready to go.

On Navy's Defense:

They are a 3-4 team, they go 4-3, they do a lot of zone pressures, and they mix up their coverages. They change things up on defense more than any team we've played. It's important for us to go out there and be sound. And we will. They have given up some plays against the pass. I think if we're going to make improvement as an offensive football team, we have to go back to being balanced, where we were in training camp and the first half of against Eastern Michigan. We've only really played one half where we've been in a situation to do what we believe in and what we'd like to do from an offensive standpoint.

I think for us to have success (we are going to need to) score enough, because Navy is going to put some points on the board. They are going to move the football and it is important that our offense plays very efficient football. When we get opportunities to put points on the board we have to do it this week. We cannot settle for field goals. We can't have a penalty move us back and have to overcome that. We can't turn the ball over and give them an extra possession. We have to be balanced and that's nothing different than what we've been trying to do around here for the last few years. The last few weeks we haven't been able to do that because we've been rotating quarterbacks and trying to get these kids a chance to function. When you look at their (Navy's) team, they are leading the nation in rushing. Most of the time we get 13, sometimes 14 possessions on offense; their opponent averages 10 or 11. You're not going to get as many shots. They've only punted 10 times in five games. They'll go for it on fourth down more than anybody that I've ever seen. When they get to midfield and on, they are going for it on fourth-down. They put a lot of pressure on your defense. On the other side of that coin is when you get an opportunity, you have to take advantage of it.

On Navy's movement on defense making it difficult for Pat Bostick's preparation:

It could, but I think it's important from an offensive attack standpoint for us to come up with run and pass plays that can handle what they're bringing. Regardless, if they bring the mike linebacker or the strong side linebacker or the strong safety, we've got to come up with enough things so that we are sound in order to eliminate as many bad plays as we can. It's easier said than done, but that's what you have to do.

On expanding the playbook for Pat Bostick:

We need to take a step forward. In order for us to win this game, we're going to have to score 28 points and we're not going to do that totally on the ground. We're going to come out of this game balanced and mix it up. Pat (Bostick) has had some very good practices. I believe he is into it and knows what we're doing. He's looking forward to the opportunity.

On the offensive line's progression:

That's going to be a work in progress all year. We're rotating Joe Thomas and (John) Bachman at right guard. (Mike) McGlynn is more comfortable at the right tackle. I think everybody knows that Jason Pinkston had the shoulder surgery and he'll be redshirted this year. We've been working Chase Clowser in there, he's our swing tackle right now. We're thin there, but we've been working out with (Jordan) Gibbs and John Fieger and some of these freshmen (as well as) Alex Karabin. If they have to play, we're going to play them. We're going to do what we have to try and win the game. Hopefully I'll be standing up here after the Navy game saying, `Oh we came together as an offensive unit.' Well what made us come together? If we go out win the game, then all of a sudden you come together. That's how that works.

On Navy's offense and how it compares to the old Oklahoma option teams of the 1980s:

It's similar in that a lot of the things that we did preparation-wise are some of the things that we did at Miami when we were getting ready for Oklahoma. It's the triple-option threat and you have to be sound in your scheme and at the same time you have to be able to play the techniques that they present to you. By that I mean the full speed cut blocks - every time we worked on it this week it was live. If you look at our practice tape, about every other play I was looking away because guys were getting their legs cut out from under them. There's no way of getting ready for that type of technique and that type of attack without practicing them. It's as simple as that. We have put a big emphasis on that and I think our scout team guys did a really good job. I know our defense is appreciative of the effort that our young guys gave us this week.

On Pitt's national defensive rankings:

It probably doesn't show up in wins and losses, but we're fifth in the nation in passing defense, 27^th in rushing defense and (ninth) in the country in total defense. We're still in the top 10 in the country in total defense and when you look at the last three games, you say `well how can that be?' Obviously we're doing some real good things on defense, but you don't get a chance to stand up here and talk about them when you don't get the win. We're doing some good things on defense and our defensive guys are confident. This is a different challenge, it's exciting to them and I think they're looking forward to going out there and executing.

On the patience of the defense being a key in stopping the option:

They (Navy) are going to make first downs and they're going to move the ball. You don't want to give up the big play. They're going to have an eight-minute drive and that is a win for us. If they can keep the ball for eight minutes and run 15 plays, I'll be the happiest guy in the world. That's how you defeat this offense, you make them earn every yard and eliminate the big plays. Another thing is that their quarterback can throw the ball and they've got some speed at receivers. The thing that makes it so challenging is that you can't commit everybody to the run. You have to be smart, because the minute that you do commit everyone they throw it up. If you watch their tape, even when they didn't complete passes, pretty much every time they throw it up somebody is wide open.

On creating more turnovers:

We talk about that all the time. Obviously we're working extremely hard at it. The thought that comes to mind when you create turnovers is speed, and collisions usually have a lot to do with that. Sometimes you look at it and say, `How much are you blitzing? Are you getting enough pressure on them that way?' In the situations that we have been in, we haven't been ahead where we can turn the guys loose and get to the opponent. When a team has a 20-point lead, they're very conservative and it's tough to come up with turnovers. We have guys that can make the big plays and create the turnovers. We keep working on it and that's all we can do. I think sometimes they come in streaks.

On the importance of getting the ball first and getting a lead:

It would be great from a confidence standpoint. Forget about how it affects our defense and how it affects them. From a confidence standpoint, to be able to drive the ball down the field and put it in the end zone is something that we need desperately.

On putting on a good show for the national TV audience:

I think that's part of it. I talked to the kids this week and that's why they all came here, to be on TV and get out there and show what you can do. We've got that chance this week and we just have to go out and do it. The guys are excited about it. And we've got Tony (Dorsett) coming in and Curtis Martin coming in and Mark May and Lou Holtz broadcasting the game, so that's all part of that college experience that the kids talk about and look forward to. That's something, along with our tradition that we sell. Now we've got an opportunity, what are we going to do with it?

On how the team has responded to the recent losses:

The young kids, LeSean McCoy and Pat Bostick, if they were in here right now, you'd think we were 6-0. That's good, they should be that way. I think the guys that take it the hardest are the upperclassmen, the seniors. We have a small group of seniors, but Joe Clermond and Chris McKillop probably played their best games last week. Those guys played lights out. Mike Phillips is having a good year and Jeff Otah and Mike McGlynn are the other two seniors that are in the mix. We don't have too many of them, but they are great kids and they've worked as hard as anybody out there everyday. You look at your leaders and see what these kids are about and that's usually a reflection of how your guys are going to respond.

On the team's health:

Nothing has changed. Other than (Jason) Pinkston being out for the year, everybody should be ready to go.

On Bill Stull:

Nothing new. They have him out there with the Nerf balls to increase his strength and flexibility, but it's just a week to week thing.

On Doug Fulmer:

He's getting closer. There's not a definite date yet, but the target date was the end of October. So we're hoping to get him back for the last four games or so, which will be good because he's already used up his redshirt. There's no advantage to saving him.

On the return game:

We made some adjustments from a schematic and a personnel standpoint this week that we are hoping should help us a little bit with our return game this week. But that's an area where it hasn't been up to the standard that we expect our special teams to be.

On the need for a win:

Sure. We need to get back on track and we need this game to get to .500 and we'll go from there. Is it more important today than it was yesterday? No. Is it more important today than it was the opening game? No. I don't think you look at leadership that way. You're either a leader or you're not.

On dealing with criticism:

I've been through it on a lot of different levels for a lot of different things. You have to focus on what you're doing. You know the reasons why you are struggling and you look at it very objectively. You say, `Is there anything else we can do to improve the situation? What do we have control over? What don't we have control over?' and then you act accordingly.