"UCF Sports Today with George O'Leary" airs Sundays at 1 p.m. on My65. The biggest points that were repeated several times by GOL:
-Defense is not making plays when they have the opportunity. Missed opportunities for picks and the initial guy not making the tackle.
-Pass rush has been disappointing.
-Offensive line isn't blocking.
-Running backs aren't making people miss.
-Wide receivers can't get YAC.
So pretty much every area. He didn't harp on QB play, other than Bo making a poor decision on the second interception. The first one wasn't his fault, it should have been caught by Jordan Franks.
To open the show, Marc Daniels said it was a "Tale of two halves."
"First half we didn't play as well at times, but we made plays when we had to make them on offense and defense," O'Leary said. "We got the punt fumbled, and scored, then a nice pass for a touchdown. The defense wasn't perfect, but were stopping them, making them kick field goals. We need to play that way for 60 minutes and that didn't happen."
On South Carolina's mobile quarterback, Lorenzo Nunez.
"They had 72 yards rushing and he had 71 of them in the first half. I thought defensively we were doing some really good things. The one thing is we gotta get a pass rush going. That kid sat back there too long without much heat on them. That's tough on a secondary, but we had opportunities like in the first play of the game to get a pick and really good field position. And another touchdown they had, I thought we were in good position to pick the ball, get it on the 20 and the guy out-fights us for the ball."
On Bo Schneider's scoring drive with the TD pass to Tre'Quan Smith:
"I think he improved. I think he'd like to have some of those throws back. He never saw that Tampa Two LB dropping. I thought he played with more confident. He has to learn down and distance. Third and one and run for the first down. Don't worry about throwing it. I think he played with a lot more confidence out there.
"The biggest issue is we've got to sustain blocks up front. We're not making anybody miss as a running back or as a receiver. Those things have to happen. Yards after a hit, what did we average about three yards a play and seven yards longest run? Receivers, where it's being caught it's being stopped right there except for the touchdown pass."
First half highlights are shown. UCF was leading 14-8.
"We went in at hafltime. They were doing exactly what we thought they'd be doing. They didn't change very much. The biggest issue we tried to correct was sustaining the offensive line up front, staying on the blocks, so the running backs could make a move and get extra yards. Our running backs have to make somebody miss every once in a while and I don't see that happening out there. That's one of the issues. Second is wherever we throw yardage in the passing game, that's where it's stopping. There's no YAC. They've got to make somebody miss."
Did they "do more offensively" with Bo in this game?
"I think the biggest issue was production and executing. You can't be one-sided, one way or the other. The running game, I think we were three yards, four yards, three yards. You need chunk plays to keep them honest. I think the passing game, we've got to get more running around involved, get them on the run and make somebody miss for YAC after the catch."
On the muffed punt:
"Caleb Houston has been doing a great job punting the ball. That No. 11 is a great punt returner. I'm surprised he tried to field it. We have to do that. We have to get points off special teams. Our margin of error is not very much on offense or defense. We have to get great field position."
The OIA "Taking Flight" pass highlight was Holman's TD pass to Josh Reese in last year's BYU game.
On their thoughts going into the second half:
"I thought we had a great halftime, make the corrections we had to make, which was sustaining blocks with offensive line, pass rush on defense, and when you have an opportunity to make a play you have to make it. We miscued about three plays that could have been big plays. You made that quarterback look like an All-American with missed tackles. You can't do that. We had two guys on him on every play. You've got to make plays and get off blocks. We made those corrections. Then we were getting the ball back. Key thing, you get the ball and you have to make some hay with the ball. We didn't do that."
Marc mentions two of the interceptions in the second half, the first one off a tip.
"Jordan Franks should have caught the ball. Let's not play games here. It's a foot behind him. Any receiver catches that ball, I went through the tape. It should have been caught. It led to a bobbled ball and pick on their part which led to a score... I thought the game changed on the next pick. That ball shouldn't have been thrown. He didn't see the LB in cover two. Then (the South Carolina QB) threw a cherry up in their end zone which the safety should have caught. Kid made a great play, but we had two guys on him. That was the difference in the game. Two turnovers and they scored two touchdowns on that."
Second half highlights are shown.
On Tristan Payton:
"When you watch the highlights there, there's too much lateral movement instead of North-South movement. You catch the ball and get North-South. We're running too much lateral and the pursuit is catching up to them. Catch it and go. Tristan does a decent job with that. They've got to beat the initial tackle one-on-one and we're not doing that."
On South Carolina's success on third-and-long:
"I blame two areas: Secondary and poor pass rush. We had new legs out there and they've got to get to the quarterback. You can only cover for so long on some of those crossing routes. I thought it was a five, six-second deal. We're going to improve in that area this week."
Marc comments that UCF did shut down their running backs, the QB excluded of course:
"11 took it and reversed it. Nunez, we knew what was going to happen. We had two assigned to him. If one was blocked, the other has to make a play. Missed tackles or poor tackles on him in the second half... I think right now we had our opportunities. The biggest program is we have opportunities to make plays and the initial guy is not making that."
More on the game:
"I think the big thing is we went out there, should have duplicated the second half as we did the first. We had opportunities, but we just don't have enough guys making plays right now."
The "Play of the Game" highlight was Caleb Houston punt that was muffed and recovered at the one.
"The kid should have let it go in the end zone but he tried to field it. We feel on the ball and next play we scored. We hadn't done much on offense yet and you're winning the game. You have to be opportunistic to get things done."
The "Inside UCF Football" feature clip is on DE Thomas Niles. GOL later said he needs to provide leadership and he needs to step up, but he wishes they had "four of him" because he gives great effort. He comes to practice every day with a "coach me, coach attitude."
UCF opens AAC play next Saturday at Tulane.
"We're 0-0 and everybody except for Temple has a loss on that side of the division, I think. I have to look at Tulane, they had an open date this week. It's an away game with a young team. Conference play, that's what will be explained to the players. That's our one goal and it's still out there. The players have to understand. Our non-conference record you're not happy about, but I do think we've improved in some areas from the first game to the fourth."
Health report?
"We expect to get two or three players back. That's what the issue has been, particularly offensively. We had seven players that would have been starters that have been out. Now we're getting maybe three of them back. That will help the chemistry and consistency of the offense. And defensively, we have to find players that can make plays when they have the opportunity, and find some pass rush."
More on league play:
"Improvement is the focus. We have to get better in those areas I described. Get better quickly. Nothing is getting any easier in the schedule. We have to execute and be productive, making people miss and securing tackles."
No more freshmen anymore, Marc remarks.
"I think the QB improved. I know he wishes he had a couple plays back, but you can see his confidence as far as knowing what's going on and delivering the ball. We have to improve the running game and sustaining blocks. The backs have to make somebody miss. You can just have seven yards be your longest gain."
-Defense is not making plays when they have the opportunity. Missed opportunities for picks and the initial guy not making the tackle.
-Pass rush has been disappointing.
-Offensive line isn't blocking.
-Running backs aren't making people miss.
-Wide receivers can't get YAC.
So pretty much every area. He didn't harp on QB play, other than Bo making a poor decision on the second interception. The first one wasn't his fault, it should have been caught by Jordan Franks.
To open the show, Marc Daniels said it was a "Tale of two halves."
"First half we didn't play as well at times, but we made plays when we had to make them on offense and defense," O'Leary said. "We got the punt fumbled, and scored, then a nice pass for a touchdown. The defense wasn't perfect, but were stopping them, making them kick field goals. We need to play that way for 60 minutes and that didn't happen."
On South Carolina's mobile quarterback, Lorenzo Nunez.
"They had 72 yards rushing and he had 71 of them in the first half. I thought defensively we were doing some really good things. The one thing is we gotta get a pass rush going. That kid sat back there too long without much heat on them. That's tough on a secondary, but we had opportunities like in the first play of the game to get a pick and really good field position. And another touchdown they had, I thought we were in good position to pick the ball, get it on the 20 and the guy out-fights us for the ball."
On Bo Schneider's scoring drive with the TD pass to Tre'Quan Smith:
"I think he improved. I think he'd like to have some of those throws back. He never saw that Tampa Two LB dropping. I thought he played with more confident. He has to learn down and distance. Third and one and run for the first down. Don't worry about throwing it. I think he played with a lot more confidence out there.
"The biggest issue is we've got to sustain blocks up front. We're not making anybody miss as a running back or as a receiver. Those things have to happen. Yards after a hit, what did we average about three yards a play and seven yards longest run? Receivers, where it's being caught it's being stopped right there except for the touchdown pass."
First half highlights are shown. UCF was leading 14-8.
"We went in at hafltime. They were doing exactly what we thought they'd be doing. They didn't change very much. The biggest issue we tried to correct was sustaining the offensive line up front, staying on the blocks, so the running backs could make a move and get extra yards. Our running backs have to make somebody miss every once in a while and I don't see that happening out there. That's one of the issues. Second is wherever we throw yardage in the passing game, that's where it's stopping. There's no YAC. They've got to make somebody miss."
Did they "do more offensively" with Bo in this game?
"I think the biggest issue was production and executing. You can't be one-sided, one way or the other. The running game, I think we were three yards, four yards, three yards. You need chunk plays to keep them honest. I think the passing game, we've got to get more running around involved, get them on the run and make somebody miss for YAC after the catch."
On the muffed punt:
"Caleb Houston has been doing a great job punting the ball. That No. 11 is a great punt returner. I'm surprised he tried to field it. We have to do that. We have to get points off special teams. Our margin of error is not very much on offense or defense. We have to get great field position."
The OIA "Taking Flight" pass highlight was Holman's TD pass to Josh Reese in last year's BYU game.
On their thoughts going into the second half:
"I thought we had a great halftime, make the corrections we had to make, which was sustaining blocks with offensive line, pass rush on defense, and when you have an opportunity to make a play you have to make it. We miscued about three plays that could have been big plays. You made that quarterback look like an All-American with missed tackles. You can't do that. We had two guys on him on every play. You've got to make plays and get off blocks. We made those corrections. Then we were getting the ball back. Key thing, you get the ball and you have to make some hay with the ball. We didn't do that."
Marc mentions two of the interceptions in the second half, the first one off a tip.
"Jordan Franks should have caught the ball. Let's not play games here. It's a foot behind him. Any receiver catches that ball, I went through the tape. It should have been caught. It led to a bobbled ball and pick on their part which led to a score... I thought the game changed on the next pick. That ball shouldn't have been thrown. He didn't see the LB in cover two. Then (the South Carolina QB) threw a cherry up in their end zone which the safety should have caught. Kid made a great play, but we had two guys on him. That was the difference in the game. Two turnovers and they scored two touchdowns on that."
Second half highlights are shown.
On Tristan Payton:
"When you watch the highlights there, there's too much lateral movement instead of North-South movement. You catch the ball and get North-South. We're running too much lateral and the pursuit is catching up to them. Catch it and go. Tristan does a decent job with that. They've got to beat the initial tackle one-on-one and we're not doing that."
On South Carolina's success on third-and-long:
"I blame two areas: Secondary and poor pass rush. We had new legs out there and they've got to get to the quarterback. You can only cover for so long on some of those crossing routes. I thought it was a five, six-second deal. We're going to improve in that area this week."
Marc comments that UCF did shut down their running backs, the QB excluded of course:
"11 took it and reversed it. Nunez, we knew what was going to happen. We had two assigned to him. If one was blocked, the other has to make a play. Missed tackles or poor tackles on him in the second half... I think right now we had our opportunities. The biggest program is we have opportunities to make plays and the initial guy is not making that."
More on the game:
"I think the big thing is we went out there, should have duplicated the second half as we did the first. We had opportunities, but we just don't have enough guys making plays right now."
The "Play of the Game" highlight was Caleb Houston punt that was muffed and recovered at the one.
"The kid should have let it go in the end zone but he tried to field it. We feel on the ball and next play we scored. We hadn't done much on offense yet and you're winning the game. You have to be opportunistic to get things done."
The "Inside UCF Football" feature clip is on DE Thomas Niles. GOL later said he needs to provide leadership and he needs to step up, but he wishes they had "four of him" because he gives great effort. He comes to practice every day with a "coach me, coach attitude."
UCF opens AAC play next Saturday at Tulane.
"We're 0-0 and everybody except for Temple has a loss on that side of the division, I think. I have to look at Tulane, they had an open date this week. It's an away game with a young team. Conference play, that's what will be explained to the players. That's our one goal and it's still out there. The players have to understand. Our non-conference record you're not happy about, but I do think we've improved in some areas from the first game to the fourth."
Health report?
"We expect to get two or three players back. That's what the issue has been, particularly offensively. We had seven players that would have been starters that have been out. Now we're getting maybe three of them back. That will help the chemistry and consistency of the offense. And defensively, we have to find players that can make plays when they have the opportunity, and find some pass rush."
More on league play:
"Improvement is the focus. We have to get better in those areas I described. Get better quickly. Nothing is getting any easier in the schedule. We have to execute and be productive, making people miss and securing tackles."
No more freshmen anymore, Marc remarks.
"I think the QB improved. I know he wishes he had a couple plays back, but you can see his confidence as far as knowing what's going on and delivering the ball. We have to improve the running game and sustaining blocks. The backs have to make somebody miss. You can just have seven yards be your longest gain."
