Pittsburgh Postgame Quotes
Syracuse Football
Syracuse vs. Pittsburgh
October 16, 2010
Syracuse, N.Y. – Carrier Dome
Pittsburgh Head Coach Dave Wannstedt
Opening Statement:
“I thought our players and our coaches did a very good job of preparing to come up here after a tough loss last week, bouncing right back, getting into conference play, against a very good football team. These guys have been running the ball with a lot of success. They have been playing great defense, playing up here with this crowd and this atmosphere. I would not want to play those tough road games again that we played but I thought that early on our players were not distracted by the noise and the crowd. I think that it may have helped us in preparation for this game. Today kind of started a new season, that was kind of the theme. I thought that offensively Dion [Lewis] and Ray [Graham] made some plays. I thought Tino [Sunseri] continued to progress. It was great for Mike Shanahan to get his first touchdown of his career. Brock DeCicco,his first touchdown. Devin Street, his first touchdown. Every year, at the end of the year, we step back and say boy, where did this guy come from and how did he step up, and we are seeing signs of that at this point. Defensively, it was the best game we have played all year. Forcing a couple of turnovers, scoring some sacks. We are regrouping on defense too, Brandon Lindsey is banged up and Dom [DeCicco] playing safety. The guys and the coaches are doing a real good job of trying to put this thing together. I thought the effort today was very good. Tristan Roberts, I thought he played extremely well. Ricky Gary, we gave him a game ball in the locker room. There is a kid that has been around here five years, been an alternate starter, already has his degree in his back packet, and comes up with a big play. That’s what this is all about. That is why we do what we do, because guys like that have success on and off the field. “
On the play of quarterback Tino Sunseri:
“We knew they are a pressure team. We didn’t think they would give us as much pressure in some of the formations and looks that we gave them today. They didn’t back away and I thought that he was forced to get rid of it a little bit early a few times on the deep balls so we didn’t connect. We didn’t have any crazy delay of games or any big missed cues on offense. I thought that was pretty smooth.”
On Pittsburgh's first touchdown of the game:
“We worked on that play in practice this week. Scott Turner, our receiver coach, had an extra period where he just worked on the blocking in that play. We obviously tried to split them to make a first down. That shows you Devin’s [Street] ability right there.”
On Cameron Saddler:
“Cam Saddler, I have to mention Cam, bouncing back after last week. I thought he made good decisions on the punts, caught the ball in a crowd, and the long punt return that he had set up our second score. Cam was big for us from the standpoint of getting some momentum going. “
On Syracuse’s defense:
“As aggressive as they were trying to stop the run, we felt like we had to throw the ball to try and get them off our backs.”
On called plays:
“The plan was good. We executed well enough to win.”
On Syracuse Head Coach Doug Marrone:
“Doug is doing a great job here at Syracuse. Look at the improvement that they have made in two years. I got to the hotel last night and put the TV on and his coach’s show is on. He must have said the word physical 10 times. By the time I watched his show and got to our meeting, I was in a lather. I got our guys together and I said ‘I don’t know if we do one thing but we better be ready to play physical.’ I thought our guys showed up.”
On the team’s overall performance:
“I think we didn’t do things to kill ourselves. We got touchdowns when we had opportunities. We didn’t have a bunch of crazy penalties on offense or defense that stopped drives. We were more consistent as a team. Field position was good, kicking game was good.”
On the Pittsburgh defense:
“The guys just made up their minds that they were supposed to win up here and they had to play good defense. We have to play good defense every week.”
On Henry Hynoski:
“He is the fuel that makes our running game go in the fullback position. We also have him involved in the passing game, probably a little bit more than what shows up. We call two or three passes where he is out in the flat and they [Syracuse] did a good job of covering him so we didn’t get anything out of it. We will put him in on third down sometimes just as a blocker because he is so good with protection. He is on special teams. He is a major player.”
On Brandon Lindsey:
“We told him he was going to play. We got down to five minutes to go in the game. He might play this week. He is ready to play but I am trying to do the right thing. If we need him to win a game we are going to play him.”
On Dion Lewis:
“He is playing outstanding. He is going to have his games. Trust me, he will have his carries.”
On BIG EAST play:
“We are just taking them one at a time. We have Rutgers next week and we are not saying a word. Trust me. And I hope nobody else does.”
On being 3-3, 1-0 in the BIG EAST:
“It is kind of a new season, and you hate to say that. Like I said last week, you have to not make the same mistakes. It is a new season; it is conference play and anytime you win a conference game on the road, it’s a good win. To come up here and play in this atmosphere and play a 4-1 team that is playing with a lot of confidence that just beat another conference team, it is really a good win.”
Pittsburgh Student-Athlete Quotes
Jabaal Sheard, Defensive Lineman
On the game plan and how the team executed it today:
“Last night we got the message that if you are better than your guy at your position, then we should win this game. And everyone was better at their position.”
On how the team played throughout the game:
“We had some good hustle. Once they got the first touchdown, we kind of got tired and relaxed. But we just have to continue to practice.”
Tino Sunseri, Quarterback
On whether the team exploited its chances with the match-ups it had:
“We didn’t necessarily come out and target certain people on the defense. We just came out and did what we have been working on since camp. We have a lot of guys who are just explosive when they come out on the field.”
On the plays and touchdowns made today:
“I want us to go back, understand what we did wrong, and try not to make those mistakes again and move forward. Even though we made a lot of great plays, we have to remember the conference isn’t finished in 60 minutes.”
On his confidence:
“My confidence all depends on how well I do. I think if I go out there and focus on completions, it’s a totally different game.I need to keep going, finish completions and follow progressions.”
On the season thus far, especially after a performance like this:
“After a few games, we knew they were tough. We have a 0-0 record, and they were ahead of us in the BIG EAST, so we wanted to come out fast today. We’re 2-3 and we had miscues along the way, but we’re going to be here, we are going to try as hard as we can and we’re going to come out each and every week to try to prove ourselves and try to win games.”
Ray Graham, Tight End
On the win:
“It felt great. For a BIG EAST game, we knew we had to come in ready. So when we came out, we came ready.”
On his touchdown:
“When I scored the touchdown, it felt so weird, I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t know what happened. I caught it, but I was looking at the referee and he didn’t put his hands up, so I didn’t know what was going on. But it was great.”
Ricky Gary, Defensive Back
On whether he was surprised about the open field on his touchdown:
“Yes, I was really surprised. I was thinking: is he really throwing this ball? When I caught it, I was thinking I have to score this one. So, that was the first touchdown of my career. “
On the player chasing him as he was running for the touchdown:
“Yes, I saw the player running behind me. I knew I had to run faster, I knew I had to score this touchdown.”
On the defense’s improvement and despite different personalities and players getting hurt:
“We have players who can compete and know we have to step up to the game.”
On how the season has gone so far and whether it can go a long way for the team:
“Yes, I do feel like we have it going for us. I think we have guys who really understand what it takes to win and to be on the big screen. We know we need to make big plays.”
On whether there is any negativity on the team:
“No, there isn’t any negativity. Players just need to be motivated sometimes. But, but we love each other. Everyone is going to make mistakes.”
