Head Coach Doug Marrone Press Conference Transcript (Oct. 3, 2009)
Syracuse vs. South Florida
Syracuse, N.Y. – Carrier Dome
Opening Statement:
“It was a very disappointing day out there. I thought we were going to come out and be ready to play. At the end of the day, it’s seven turnovers. We came out and had three turnovers right off the bat and weren’t able to take advantage by getting the ball early, going down the field, and putting ourselves in position. With this team, you have to get up on them. We talked about it to our team all week that you have to get a lead on this team to give us a better chance to win. At the end of the day it’s very disappointing from a coaching perspective. I’m sure the players are disappointed. I don’t know of any team that has won with seven turnovers, which is unacceptable. It’s my responsibility as the head coach, and I have to straighten it out.”
On the reason for the turnovers:
“You can ask all the players, we work on ball security constantly. Everyone in this room, everyone in this stadium, everyone who is on the sideline, they have that ball in their hands protecting it. We do not give the ball up, no matter what position you’re playing. We work on it constantly and it’s not acceptable. We have to do a better job of either coaching it, drilling it, or some way to make sure we don’t lay the ball on the ground or turn it over seven times.”
On how much the turnovers were a result of the South Florida defense:
“They have a good defense. They have some players, but again, it’s the same thing. If it’s a tipped ball, then that’s one issue, but there shouldn’t be any strips or punch-outs. There shouldn’t be any balls going into defenders hands and we should be fighting for that ball at receiver if that ball is in the air. If that ball is in the air, it should be ours. That’s how we coach it, and obviously I have to do a better job of it.”
On whether the turnovers were a result of graduate student quarterback Greg Paulus’ arm strength:
“No, and I give South Florida credit, they’re a good defense. It’s our execution. We have to execute better.”
On senior wide receiver Mike Williams:
“Mike Williams had a tremendous game. Mike went up there and got a ball and that’s what we’re talking about when the ball goes in the air. South Florida had a chance to get that one ball. Mike went up and grabbed that football. Mike has done a tremendous job and we need other players to step it up to help us out. I’m sure as we go along through this season, teams are going to take Mike Williams out of the game, and we’re going to need (senior wide receiver) Donte Davis, (sophomore wide receiver) Marcus Sales, and (freshman wide receiver) Alec Lemon to step it up for us. When they do, it will help out our offense quite a bit.”
On the defensive plan:
“I feel very comfortable with the plan. I would not have changed the plan going into this game. What I would have changed is, hopefully, no turnovers. Turnovers are the key. We didn’t talk about seven turnovers. We can’t win the football game if we turn the ball over seven times.”
On Syracuse’s defense:
“I thought they did a nice job. They gave up the big play in the second half and this tide of emotion. Our defense did a nice job of getting it back early on and giving us a chance. If we turned it over, our defense had to come up with a stop. That’s tough for the defense. Are there things we could do better defensively? Sure. We gave up the post touchdown. We have to do a better job of that, but at the end of the day, I thought our defense did a nice job. Our offense has to execute – the plan was good – and not turn the ball over. I hate to be repetitive about turning the ball over, but at the end of the day, that’s what it is.”
On whether South Florida quarterback B.J. Daniels was a better player on the field than on tape:
“We knew he was a good player. We tried to take it out of his hands early. They got us late with the quarterback run, the big play. I thought he did a nice job scrambling and finding players down the field. Our plan was to get the ball out of his hands. We understood what type of player B.J. Daniels is.”
On switching junior Da’Mon Merkerson from wide receiver to cornerback:
“Our plan all along was to get Merkerson in the game this week because he’s done such a good job at practice.”
On containing USF quarterback B.J. Daniels:
“With scrambles, in the last play, we dropped eight. We have to do a better job of protecting with scrambles. He’s someone we have to contain. He’s going to get out of the pocket, and you have to do a nice job of keeping him in the pocket and keep him giving the ball on his own reads. He’s a tremendous player. He’s a good football player, he’ll do very well.”
On whether Paulus showed a weakness after his interceptions:
“There was no wavering. Greg’s a competitor. We’re behind him 110 percent. I’m sure there’s a lot of things he’d like to take back, but it’s part of the game. We just have to keep pushing on. I’m sure their defense had an effect on us at times. Their whole defense has tremendous players. They have a terrific amount of talent on that field. My hats off to them. It’s disappointing because in my mind, I thought we would have executed better today.”
On the offensive line:
“I thought there were times when they did a tremendous job. We did a lot of things for them. We had a play-action pass, hit a big play. Greg’s arm got hit, and we gave up an interception there. You would’ve liked to hold on, but I thought our guys fought hard up there.”
On whether USF has more talent on the field than Syracuse:
“Did South Florida have better talent than Syracuse University? They do right now.”
