Doug Marrone Press Conference Transcript (vs. Connecticut)
Syracuse Football
Syracuse vs. Connecticut
Friday, October 19, 2012
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY
Syracuse Head Coach Doug Marrone
Opening Statement:
“I thought the kids did a nice job coming off of a short week. They came out there and they played hard. We executed well at times and at times we didn’t, in all three phases. Like I said before, we are going to continue to fight and we are going to continue to try to get better as the season goes on.”
On how SU’s defensive pressure affected Connecticut early in the game:
“I think that is a question that is probably more for Connecticut as far as whether they felt that way. I think at times we did a good job and at times we gave up some big plays.”
On how (running back) Ashton Broyld played today:
“I thought he did a nice job when he went in there. I thought he carried the ball well. He had some good reads, but just like everyone else, there are some bad reads. I was happy to be able to get him in there in that type of situation and to keep running the football. He’s worked hard. An opportunity presented itself. We had him in in a package. We are going to put the best players in that give us the best chances of winning. I give him credit because he worked hard during practice and earned the right to get back on that field to do a good job. I thought he did a nice job tonight.”
On the special team’s performance:
“I think we have been up and down in all three phases throughout the year and that’s why we were 2-4 prior to tonight. I thought they did a nice job. I was concerned about some things that Connecticut does. They have a very good return game, both in their punt return and their kickoff return. I think our kickoff coverage unit has probably been, statistically, the best unit that we have had. I felt good about that and we punted well. It was good to have Ritchy (Desir) back there. He got a return and got us some yards at times. We had some returns setup. We are working forward in the right direction. We still have a lot of work that we have to get done.”
On limiting the turnovers and the team’s performance in the red zone:
“When you say no turnovers, we had three fumbles. That’s a concern. Your concern is how we carry it. I thought defensively, they were going for some balls. They were doing a better job of that. That ball is still on the ground three times and we are fortunate enough to get it. There are a couple of other plays out there. I thought (center) Macky MacPherson did a very good job. The ball gets tipped in the air and he knocks it down. That’s another potential ball that could have been intercepted. We have to continue to work very hard on that.”
On (wide receiver) Alec Lemon’s performance:
“They are a man coverage team. Their two corners are probably the two of best corners that we have seen so far. Number five (Blidi Wreh-Wilson) is truly outstanding. He really is. You will see him play on Sunday for sure. We had to do some things with stack releases to try and help our kids. We had our kids on the inside, with Alec Lemon on the inside, and it was a pretty good matchup. I’m not saying that we had a better matchup and we knew anything. We felt good about that matchup. We were able to get him the ball and win.”
On an exciting conference win:
“It was a big game. You are fighting. The kids did a good job during the week. Whether you’re pressing or whatever you want to say, let’s call it like it is – we were 2-4 and that’s not good enough. The pressure is turned up. You have to try and brush it off. You have to go out and fight. You go out there and you have to win a game. The kids did a good job and they won. That doesn’t take the pressure off. If anything it shows, let’s take this next step. That’s what we will be working on, in the same sense this can’t be a comfort zone. There are still a lot of mistakes out there that needs to be corrected.”
On running the ball successfully:
“It was a big emphasis. I wanted to make sure that we did a good job during the week. There was a lot of frustration. I wanted to make sure that I did a good job with the players that they were rested. We knew we had to run the ball. When you watch it on film, not a lot of people run the ball on this team. We challenged those guys. We challenged them up front. We challenged their backs. I think we did a nice job. It shows that we can keep building and keep becoming more physical. I think up front, the defensive line played very physical against a physical offensive line. When we play this style of game we’ve had some success. We tried to makes some plays in that game. The kids played hard and physical. That was a tough game.”
On the message to his team now:
“’Get ready to come back and go. Congratulations. You guys worked hard. You guys had a good week of practice, like they have always had. You guys are fighting. You are pulling for each other. Enjoy the win.’ I’ve done a poor job in the past of making sure that they enjoy it. ‘Get ready to come back to work. Let’s get ready to do this again. Don’t forget, what has gotten us to this point now.’”
Syracuse vs. Connecticut
Friday, October 19, 2012
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY
Syracuse Head Coach Doug Marrone
Opening Statement:
“I thought the kids did a nice job coming off of a short week. They came out there and they played hard. We executed well at times and at times we didn’t, in all three phases. Like I said before, we are going to continue to fight and we are going to continue to try to get better as the season goes on.”
On how SU’s defensive pressure affected Connecticut early in the game:
“I think that is a question that is probably more for Connecticut as far as whether they felt that way. I think at times we did a good job and at times we gave up some big plays.”
On how (running back) Ashton Broyld played today:
“I thought he did a nice job when he went in there. I thought he carried the ball well. He had some good reads, but just like everyone else, there are some bad reads. I was happy to be able to get him in there in that type of situation and to keep running the football. He’s worked hard. An opportunity presented itself. We had him in in a package. We are going to put the best players in that give us the best chances of winning. I give him credit because he worked hard during practice and earned the right to get back on that field to do a good job. I thought he did a nice job tonight.”
On the special team’s performance:
“I think we have been up and down in all three phases throughout the year and that’s why we were 2-4 prior to tonight. I thought they did a nice job. I was concerned about some things that Connecticut does. They have a very good return game, both in their punt return and their kickoff return. I think our kickoff coverage unit has probably been, statistically, the best unit that we have had. I felt good about that and we punted well. It was good to have Ritchy (Desir) back there. He got a return and got us some yards at times. We had some returns setup. We are working forward in the right direction. We still have a lot of work that we have to get done.”
On limiting the turnovers and the team’s performance in the red zone:
“When you say no turnovers, we had three fumbles. That’s a concern. Your concern is how we carry it. I thought defensively, they were going for some balls. They were doing a better job of that. That ball is still on the ground three times and we are fortunate enough to get it. There are a couple of other plays out there. I thought (center) Macky MacPherson did a very good job. The ball gets tipped in the air and he knocks it down. That’s another potential ball that could have been intercepted. We have to continue to work very hard on that.”
On (wide receiver) Alec Lemon’s performance:
“They are a man coverage team. Their two corners are probably the two of best corners that we have seen so far. Number five (Blidi Wreh-Wilson) is truly outstanding. He really is. You will see him play on Sunday for sure. We had to do some things with stack releases to try and help our kids. We had our kids on the inside, with Alec Lemon on the inside, and it was a pretty good matchup. I’m not saying that we had a better matchup and we knew anything. We felt good about that matchup. We were able to get him the ball and win.”
On an exciting conference win:
“It was a big game. You are fighting. The kids did a good job during the week. Whether you’re pressing or whatever you want to say, let’s call it like it is – we were 2-4 and that’s not good enough. The pressure is turned up. You have to try and brush it off. You have to go out and fight. You go out there and you have to win a game. The kids did a good job and they won. That doesn’t take the pressure off. If anything it shows, let’s take this next step. That’s what we will be working on, in the same sense this can’t be a comfort zone. There are still a lot of mistakes out there that needs to be corrected.”
On running the ball successfully:
“It was a big emphasis. I wanted to make sure that we did a good job during the week. There was a lot of frustration. I wanted to make sure that I did a good job with the players that they were rested. We knew we had to run the ball. When you watch it on film, not a lot of people run the ball on this team. We challenged those guys. We challenged them up front. We challenged their backs. I think we did a nice job. It shows that we can keep building and keep becoming more physical. I think up front, the defensive line played very physical against a physical offensive line. When we play this style of game we’ve had some success. We tried to makes some plays in that game. The kids played hard and physical. That was a tough game.”
On the message to his team now:
“’Get ready to come back and go. Congratulations. You guys worked hard. You guys had a good week of practice, like they have always had. You guys are fighting. You are pulling for each other. Enjoy the win.’ I’ve done a poor job in the past of making sure that they enjoy it. ‘Get ready to come back to work. Let’s get ready to do this again. Don’t forget, what has gotten us to this point now.’”
