GOL was still iffy on Holman's status. At the end, I asked a recruiting question about any concerns there with a couple recent decommits. He wasn't really worried at the present time, saying they'll be fine and that there are plenty of good players out there.
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On players being frustrated and doubting the system:
"I think it's youth. Youth and mistakes. That's what I see going on. On Saturday it was the same thing. Mistakes, offensive line wise in some blocking schemes, then you turn the ball over five times that leads to 28 points. Those are formulas for losing. You can't get that done. Then lost yardage with seven sacks. I think that's it. And defensively I thought we blew a couple coverages that young guys did and they can't do that. It's a matter of just coaching them up.
"As I told them, we're sort of our own mistakes we're making. They aren't doing anything different. I don't think anybody we've played against has done anything different that we scouted. We have to line up and fulfill what we're supposed to do. That's where I see the problems right now. We have guys making mistakes and it's costing us big plays."
On Holman's status and why he didn't travel:
"Holman was released by the doctor to throw and he didn't feel comfortable as far didn't have the speed on the ball, the velocity or the accuracy. There's no reason to take him."
On Holman's availability for this week:
"All three quarterbacks took snaps today. He's dressed and taking snaps. Now whether the hand is going to allow him to throw with accuracy and velocity he wants, I'll know at the end of the week."
On who starts if Holman can't go:
"Both quarterbacks got banged up a little bit, both Tyler and Bo as far as what was going on. They're still working some kinks out themselves with some of the injuries. I think both have played. I think Bo made some mistakes. In his defense, a lot of those things were basically pressure in his face and receiver not running some routes. But again, you got to be able to move and get rid of the ball and not take sacks like that. That's the big thing. Those are learned experiences. The more he sees it going on as far as that pressure, he has to learn to get rid of the ball and not take lost yardage.
"Other than that, I think he's playing with more confidence. I just think that when he had the throws to make he made the throws. But I think he was just under duress a little bit too much at times.
"Tyler went in. The one thing that's been his nemesis is basically holding on to the ball. I think he went out and threw on time. You can see the strength in his arm. He has great arm strength. Again, throwing to D'erren Wilson. I didn't realize he needed one more touchdown catch for a record as far as for a freshman, four in a game. Again, I think he had the chance to play because Payton went out of the game. Tre'Quan Smith went out of the game. We're just running down to people right now we have to put in you would have liked to have sat this year. Just the nature of the game. I need you now type of thing. That's why they're out there playing. Both him and Cam Stewart, freshman receivers, they have great speed and they're only going to get better as they play more often."
On the injury status of Drico Johnson, Tre'Quan Smith and Tristan Payton:
"Drico is probably doubtful. Payton I think will play. Tre'Quan practiced today. I think the only one I'm not real sure about is Drico."
On the status of D.J. Killings:
"Killings is back from his injury. He's practicing. We're starting to get some players back which is good. I'm waiting to see if Wilson can run full speed. I was told last week he was ready to go, but not from me watching him. I didn't think he could cut like he needed to cut in a game, so that's why he didn't play. This week he has to get ready to play and stuff, go from there."
On UConn's improvement from last year:
"A lot of them are back. That's one way. Nothing beats experience. I think their new quarterback, they got a transfer, has helped them solidify the offense a little bit more. Again, they have good size. They've always played pretty good defense. I think their new offensive coordinator there is doing more things to put points on the board and they're still very stingy on defense. I think that's the difference. They're 2-3 and easily could have a couple more wins there as I look on film.
"Again, it's a home game. We have four home games in the next seven. That's a big deal. We've got to go out and play ourselves. I worry about our own football team and not as much as the one we're facing. Getting better where we need to get better at. Stop making mistakes. I know they're young mistakes, but after a while we can't keep making them and giving up big plays."
On slowing down the tempo at practice:
"Well, no. We'll always try to play at the same tempo that we can. We have three different tempos out there that we play at. I think it all depends. Game day, kids, those injuries unless they're serious, injuries aren't really that big a factor. Maybe later in the game, but not in the beginning of it."
On whether he's surprised at the poor performance of the offensive line:
"They need to tighten their belt buckles and start putting hats on people. The biggest problem I think is sustaining blocks and running their feet on contact which has been the problem. I think they're on the right landmarks. They've got to sustain their feet and understand that it's not one hit and go. You've got to sustain blocks. That's where I think some of our issues have come from."
On the amount of walk-ons playing:
"People are yelling at me for 81 getting caught from behind, but he was a walk-on. 62-yard gain he fumbles the ball on a strip play. We were just down in numbers. He's a kid that I did put on scholarship this summer. He's helped us out in the number areas. Again, that's what we're playing with right now. That's what you've got to do. I could see it when he was running. I was yelling, 'Tighten the ball up!' He was shaking it. Again, normal receivers, they're in the house already. That's a touchdown. We turned a 62-yard gain into a 14 difference spread which you can't do. We gave up a blown coverage the next play. Then we had a sack for a fumble right after it. Those things are bang-bang. That's what we've got to react to and play better to."
On the overall psyche of the team:
"I think they take their leadership thing. We don't have a lot of seniors. That's the one thing. They've been very good. You demand excellence in practice. What we've got to do is take practice to the game field. That's what I'm pushing all the time. We go out and do some really good things and then in the game time we're hesitant. A lot of it is just youth and lack of experience in some situations. I don't worry about kids. Everybody is going to have opinions. Our fans, their parents. Everybody. The kids are fine. Kids are fine. As long as they stick together, which they have. That's the one thing I always talk about. Winners and losers. Losers find a way to lose. And we're finding ways to lose because basically we're not doing the things we're supposed to do that we know. Just not reacting the right way. Got to react quicker to things. Then when we have a chance to make a play, make a tackle, you've got to make it."
On Shaquill Griffin starting at safety:
"I thought the week before we let some plays up at that position that we should have had. At least three picks that should have been done at South Carolina. So I put him out there. He has to work on his open-field tackling. Obviously cost us a touchdown there. I think the big thing is he has good vision. He's probably a better safety than he is a corner from a vision and foot speed standpoint."
On UCF being more of a "hurry-up" team and playing at a faster tempo:
"We play better at a faster tempo. I think if we had the right players where I want them from an experience standpoint, it doesn't make any difference what tempo you have. When you have young kids, I think sometimes you're better off getting that ball snapped and going before a lot of things start happening in front of them and they start looking around. We play three different tempos and we'll use all three in this game."
On Tate Hernly starting at center:
"I thought he had a much better week than Jason Rae. He did. He was snapping pretty good during the week. I don't know where those snaps came from, like he was snapping to an ant. He actually graded out pretty well. He really did. Our problem was more in the outside area as far as missing some assignments they had in the pass protection."
On Shaquem Griffin recovering the muffed punt:
"I think it was great. The kid dropped it. Then C.J. blocked one and stuff. Once it goes past the line of scrimmage you always yell, 'Poison! Poison!' You don't try to pick it up and run with it. Get a young kid making a mistake. That gave us great field position, but you've got to take advantage of that and come away with touchdowns."
On the "stupid" rivalry with UConn:
"I don't know much about it. To be honest with you, I haven't even mentioned it to the kids, that there's a trophy involved in the game. We have issues we have to deal with... I think it was taken out of context. When he did that, from what I understand, he wanted to emulate UCF. I don't know if he wants to right now, emulate UCF. I think back when he did it, we were the top dog in the conference. I think he wanted his team to play the same way as far as not a lot of penalties, play hard-nosed and just line of scrimmage game and stuff. I think that's what he was trying to do, just to excite his team to get a trophy behind it. I haven't really dealt with Bob much about it. There's a trophy involved. I don't know if you asked the kids about it. I didn't bring it up. I'm more interested in getting a win, mainly because we don't have one."
On every East Division team having at least one loss:
"(The players) are aware of it. That's one thing they are aware of. We have to play everybody in our division. We just got to catch up. Tulane was in the other division. We still have the teams in our division left to play."
On freshman LB Pat Jasinski starting:
"He's played better than the guys we have lined up behind him from a speed standpoint, reacting to the downhill plays and stuff. I think we're trying to get 51 (Errol Clarke) more snaps out there but speed is an issue at times as far as coverage is concerned. I think Pat, for a freshman, he makes some mistakes but he closes to the line of scrimmage pretty well. He's a pretty smart kid that can understand tendencies and stuff like that."
On whether the second-half points at Tulane "shakes off" the second half slump:
"No. I think we're still making the same mistakes in the second half that we made in the other games. Turnovers, missed tackles and MAs. That's still occurring and I made sure the players understood it. You can't put your finger on one thing because both sides of the ball have a piece of it with missed tackles and mistakes as far as coverage is concerned with the young kids. You can't turn it over. That's the big thing. That's been our nemesis in the second half with the team. In the first three games we were ahead at halftime and this game last week."
On the penalties vs. Tulane:
"I got after them pretty good, the two defensive linemen. I thought they were very undisciplined on their part, cost us 30 yards in penalties. They heard me loud and clear Sunday night about it when I met with him as far as that won't be tolerated. I know there were some shots taken out there. You don't do what they did. That's not how we play. You play with your shoulder pads and your feet, not your mouth, shoving and talking a lot. That's not what we do in this program... It surprised me, but they were surprised Sunday when I took them in my office. It wasn't a very 'How do you do, let's have cake and ice cream.' They're going to do what we want done and not their deal. Both of them are good players for us, older kids. It's uncalled for what they did and they understand it thoroughly right now."
On the overall WR play vs. Tulane:
"I still don't think we're getting the YAC we should get. We need guys to run through the catch. We're hitting more guys on the move which I what I wanted to get done. Not a lot of standstill routes. They got to catch it on the run. They're getting better. Again, as soon as they start looking at coverage and all that, there's a lot of conversions that have to be made. It's a teaching deal with them all the time. Again, I think the quarterbacks are getting better as far as timing and throwing where they're supposed to throw which is helping them tremendously."
On Wilson and Stewart:
"They have to play. Once freshmen play beyond the third game, you've got to use them. Their redshirt year is gone. Both him and Cam Stewart will see time."
On putting up points gives the offense confidence:
"I don't worry about stuff like that. I really don't. The only thing I look at is basically defense vs. the score. That's what I look at. That usually dictates how you do. Not giving up easy scores. I think you've got to make people earn what they get. That's one thing we have to make sure we do this Saturday."
On how GOL is doing personally:
"It's something we're not used to. You move on. You've been at this long enough. Everybody has answers, but really the only answer is we've got to play better. Stop making mistakes. There's not a lot of things you can do. There's no magic wand you can wave. I think the kids need to understand that we're losing games because of what we're doing. Not necessarily because of what other people are doing. Missed tackles, turnovers. Those are things we can correct and we've got to get them corrected."
Whether this is a "rebuilding" year:
"Rebuilding? I don't know what word I'd use for it. Rebuilding is fine. When you have young kids, when you're the third-youngest team in the country and you lose nine, 10, I don't know how many kids that would have started. Young kids are elevated right away and some kids aren't ready to play yet and they're out there. They're not strong enough. They don't understand the speed of the game, but they've got to play. There's just too many of them in key positions at the receiver corps and the secondary. Positions that have to move the chains on offense and positions that have to stop the big score on defense. That's where we're really getting hurt a little bit as far as some of the games. Big plays on defense which you can't give up."
On whether he ever imagined they'd have this kind of start, being 0-5:
"The young kids, as I tell the coaches, I said there's only so many reps you can give young kids. The key is there's a reason you play better as a senior or redshirt senior than a freshman or sophomore. You have more experience on the field. You see more. That's what we're not seeing right now. Our vision in the secondary needs to improve. Just our understanding of receiver play and concepts needs to improve. They're getting better. They really are getting better. They'll get better as the quarterbacks get more accurate and throw on time."
On recruiting, and maybe going after JUCO prospects:
"Not really. We have a recruiting board and we pretty much stay on that. I'm not a big JC guy. I'm really not. From an academic standpoint. I think there's certain kids you go after, if they can help you and come in and start right away. Some kids recruit a lot of JC guys. I don't. I think they're in JC for a reason. I want to make sure academically I can graduate those kids and two that they're going to come in and be players for us right away. It doesn't make sense to bring a kid in and have them sit and watch what's going on. That makes no sense. I'd rather have a young kid scholarshipped and have five years to get him better."
On concerns with recruiting in light of a couple recent decommits:
"I don't. There's so many good players out there. I don't worry about recruiting until they have to make a real decision. Not all this hoopla going on right now and stuff. I think we'll end up getting the players we feel can help us win, just like we do each year. Hopefully we don't have to play them real quick."
On what can be done with the offensive line:
"Yeah. Bend your legs. Bend your leg and arch your back. Too many waist benders. All your strength in any sport is in your leg strength. As soon as you start bending at the waist, you've got no hip flexion, no strength. That's one of our issues, bring the hips with you. That's something we're working on all the time."
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