Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcon Press Conference Comments
October 11, 2005 | Football
Oct. 11, 2005
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University football team, coming off a 24-point win over Ohio University, heads to New York to face the University at Buffalo this Saturday (Oct. 15). The Falcons' lone road game in the month of October begins at 1:30 p.m. On Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 11), BGSU head coach Gregg Brandon and several Falcon players met with members of the media and shared their thoughts...
Q: The special teams weren't so special Saturday.
Gregg Brandon: No. We struggled. The first punt that was tipped, our protectors were not close enough to the line of scrimmage. That's a detail thing, that's a coaching thing, and we've got to do a better job of that. And, Nate (Fry) took too many steps. He can't climb up those guys' (blockers') backs, or they (opponents) will jump over and block the punt. On the second one, (returned) for the touchdown, we had everyone accounted for, but we did not block one of the guys that we were supposed to block. So, it was not a scheme problem, it was an execution problem, or lack thereof. On the kickoffs, we have been inconsistent covering kicks all year because we have been inconsistent at kicker. The one they popped across midfield on us was supposed to be a sky left, and it ended up outside the right hash. So, we had three guys over there covering, and that was a problem. We've just got to keep working through those issues. The kickoff return, on the bloop kick (recovered by Ohio), just kind of got caught up in the wind, and the same thing happened to them. We struggled to handle that. On the opening play, we were trying to set up a reverse and it backfired. ... We've just got to do a better job.
Q: P.J. Pope seemed a little down on Saturday. How is he doing?
GB: Yeah, he's struggling a little bit. It's tough, you know. It's his senior year, and he's been the guy, and he just can't get healthy, which is unfortunate. But, we have capable players that are stepping up. B.J. Lane stepped up and did a nice job, and Bobby Thomas, a young freshman back, is getting better each week.
Q: Any other injuries?
GB: A few guys with stingers, but you've just got to fight through. That's all part of the game. When you get into this part of the season, the middle to latter part of the season, it's the 'grind time' and guys start to wear down a little bit. It's the teams that are the toughest right now who will be standing in November.
Q: You made a change at center during the Ohio game, bringing in John Lanning for Jon Culp.
GB: Ohio ran 14 blitzes that we had not seen in four previous games. Early on, we didn't handle them very well, and Omar (Jacobs) got hit a little more than I wanted. When we were able to get in the locker room at halftime and scheme 'em up a little bit, we played better. And, obviously, in the second half we pretty much moved the ball at will. But, Jon Culp was not executing at the level that he normally does, and that's why we put John Lanning in there.
Q: And the way to defeat the blitz is to be able to run the ball, right?
GB: Or to block them and get the ball off, because they're in man coverage. There was a run -- B.J. popped a run in the fourth quarter that was on an all-out blitz. He came right up the middle and there was nobody there, and we scored a touchdown. When you blitz, it's feast or famine.
Q: Was (Saturday) the most active Devon Parks has been, or was it just more obvious?
GB: I think it was more obvious. He's been a very active player throughout his career. In his freshman year against Purdue, he was all over the field. He showed up along with the rest of the defense (on Saturday) in a big way, I thought. He's disruptive and is relentless. You can watch the tape, and he did not take a play off. I mean, he was full metal jacket the whole game. He's started since he was a true freshman, and that's why he plays. He's 6-2, about 245 dripping wet, an undersized kid, but he just plays hard. That's how he survives.
Q: Buffalo has struggled to score points, but they have had success defensively. What have you seen on tape?
GB: Defensively, they are very quick and active, disruptive. They like to blitz, stunt and move. They are a team that, if you're establishing a rhythm offensively, which is what we try to do, they will try to get you out of that. And, they do a decent job of that. It's not like we are playing a team that has been getting blown out, week in and week out. I mean, they really got after Akron last week, and had a chance to win that game. So, we've got to know where they are, and we've got to block them. Offensively, they've struggled, they're playing a young quarterback, and any time you do that, you're going to take your lumps. But, their scheme is sound. They are doing some nice things. They do some things we do. But, they've struggled to execute at times.
Q: What is your defensive game plan for this week?
GB: Well, I think we can build off of last week. We tackled much better than we have. We've been emphasizing it more in the past couple weeks. Ever since Boise, when we were totally outhit, we have had physical practices, where we have really banged and tackled and worked on those types of things. And, it's showing up, it's paying off.
Q: Is it true that there can't be too much said about senior leadership on the defense, with guys like Teddy Piepkow?
GB: No question. Teddy and Mike Thaler are doing a great job of leading. I'm really pleased with the way Jelani Jordan has stepped up. And Mayberry -- Terrill's doing a nice job of leading, and those kids are playing together back there (in the secondary). Deaudre gets better, Antonio Smith gets better. I mean, you can see in our secondary, when you get a group of guys that play together extensively, it shows.
Q: Has the secondary been a pleasant surprise?
GB: Yes. I'm glad that Antonio Smith is ready to play. I'm glad that Mayberry can play safety. I'm glad that Perry's academic travails have been resolved, and I'm definitely glad that Jelani Jordan is tied for the conference lead in interceptions. So, yeah, it's been a pleasant surprise.
Q: Did you get a sense that people were almost embarrassed about the run defense heading into the Ohio game?
GB: Absolutely. We drew a line in the sand, and said, 'There's no way that this football team is last in the country in rushing defense. But, that's what the statistics show right now, so what are we going to do about it?' And, guys stepped up, and did a nice job.
FALCON PLAYER QUOTES
Devon Parks
Is the defense on a roll now?
"I think it is somewhere we want to be, but at the same time we can still be better. We are playing better team defense but it is still not quite where we want to be."
Is there a sense of confidence after the last two games?
"When you factor fundamentals and guys playing with passion and emotion, these are the results that you get."
Do you feel like you have something to prove on the road?
"Every Saturday you have something to prove. Each team is coming into to beat you. Period. Going out to Buffalo will be a good challenge. They have struggled, but at the same time we haven't played as well as we could on the road. But it will be a good challenge and we can step up to it."
What are your thoughts on Buffalo?
"Honestly, you can't really underestimate any teams. I see a team that is out there trying to beat us. The player across from you is trying to beat you. Their record may not show it, but they will be a great game Saturday."
P.J. Pope
What is it like to be on the sidelines and not playing?
"I try to keep a positive attitude. The guys won't let me get down, not Omar, B.J., or the coaches."
What is your role on the sideline?
"I try to be another coach on the sideline. I try to help B.J. out, and also Bobby, our young freshman. I just try to keep a positive attitude on the sidelines, because nobody wants to see a guy pouting. I try to be the biggest cheerleader when I am not playing."
Is it hard being on the sidelines and not playing?
"It's hard; I have never really had to just be on the sidelines since I have been here. With this being my senior year, I want this to be the best year. Everything happens for a reason, so something good will come out of this."
What was the difference this week?
"I think it is getting into a groove with the running game. Once you get a couple big runs, you get more confidence. Running the ball is all about getting a rhythm and about attitude. For the offensive line and the backs, we have to make it work and we can't have anything shut down."
Omar Jacobs
Are you confident after winning the last two games?
"Somewhat. We still have a lot of work, we have put up a lot of points and the running game came around, and that was great. Our offensive game is going well, but there are still a lot of errors we need to fix. Going to UB, they are the second ranked defense in the MAC, so that will be a challenge for us."
How great was it to have the running game break loose?
"There were a couple times I just watched them. I was so happy to have that back, and see guys just breaking runs, that I forgot to carry out some of my fakes. I love to watch them run. It's hard to give a fake and not look back at them. The O-line and everybody else were happy and it was good to get that going."
Is it tough going to Buffalo, back on the road, even though they haven't won?
"We are on such a high right now. We have won two games at home and with the defense and offense playing well, it doesn't matter where we go to play right now. We could go to California and play but it wouldn't matter because we are on that high. We are just playing the game between the lines and having fun."
Is the team's confidence back to where it was at the beginning of the season?
"You can see it on the field. Guys are flying around, jumping around and giving high fives. We had a blocked punt and nobody had their head down, guys were flying out on to the field ready to play defense. They were chest bumping and it was great. Just having those two games home and knowing how that feels; it is going to carry over."
What does it mean to have MAC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week in the East Division this week?
"It is not just one guy, everybody is doing their part. If one guy has the Player of the Week, that means everybody did their part. The offensive line was blocking, we were throwing and catching the ball and the defense was doing their part. When you get those types of awards, it is not an individual; it is a team award for us. That is big."
