Indiana University Athletics
Cam Cameron's Tuesday Press Conference
10/13/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football
"Just a couple of things. One, I want to make sure everybody is clear on one thing. I have not lost any confidence in Andy Payne and I think I need to clear up that situation. Before every game we kick both ways and we find out the limit that our kickers have. I think one reason that Andy is kicking well is that we don't ask him to do things that he cannot do. He's very consistent and he's doing a great job. He kicked a couple in warm-ups from the 30, which is a 47-yard field goal, and the ball was just clearing the uprights. So we went into that game with that as the distance, and that's why on the play prior to that we were trying to get to that point. We ran a quarterback draw and had a missed assignment. Otherwise we were going to be down there where we could kick the field goal. You have to realize we had only given up one touchdown in basically three quarters of a football game. At that point in time you're thinking that your defense is playing well. The one thing you can't do is give them a quick score with a blocked kick. Secondly, you can't give them a short field to score. So we punted down near the 10-yard line and I think it was hard to predict that they would score three touchdowns in seven plays and a two-point conversion. That was kind of the entire scenario that took place at the end of the game. That was our thinking, but in no way have we lost any confidence in Andy Payne. He has done a great job. We were just out of his range."
On Andy Payne's range
"It depends on the wind and there was a slight cornering wind.
With the wind at his back, I don't think there is any question that he
could make one from 50. A lot of people don't know but he gets treatment
all day every day on his back. He's not kicking the ball quite as far as
he did a year ago. He injured his back this summer and he's not fully recovered
from that yet. Inside of 45 yards he's obviously been deadly and he's kicked
a couple just outside of that."
On the punting game
"That is the one area we have to get back on track. I have
a lot of confidence in him (Drew Hagan). He's not kicking the ball as well
as he is capable and he knows that. He has kicked extremely well in preseason
and early in the season. In the last two weeks he has not kicked the ball
well. We've got to get that addressed today (at practice). I have not
lost any confidence in him and we have got to get him back to punting the
way he is capable. It's all in his drop. The snaps have been good enough.
The timing is good. He's just not dropping the ball on his foot consistently.
He's dropping it too far to the front of his leg and that's why he's not
getting any extension and height on it."
On Antwaan Randle El's condition
"We saw him this morning and he was fine. He'll get an evaluation
prior to practice today and we are anticipating he'll practice today. Jim
Nevins, Jimmy Rider, and John McCarroll will monitor him pretty closely.
I expressed concerns all the way back to the Kentucky game about the number
of hits this kid has taken to the head. Some intentional, some unintentional,
and it's a concern. In this case it was not directly related to someone.
It was a situation where his head hit the turf. I've been concerned about
it (hits to the head) for close to four weeks."
On the running back situation
"Well, he'll (Frankie Franklin) start this week and Marcus
Floyd will back him up. We'll continue to use those two depending a lot
on how they practice today and tomorrow. That's the initial direction we
are going to go."
On running back Frankie Franklin
"Well, I just think that he has to continually push himself
in practice to where he can take a number of snaps in a game and not wear
down. He's got the freshest legs of our backs because he hasn't played
a lot. He's got some of the characteristics of a turf back. He's got the
ability to cut. He just has to continue to improve, but he gives you some
positive things. I think he really enjoys to play. I think he's tough,
now we just have to develop some consistency. He's never pouted. He's
never hung his head. He's always said I'm just going to wait until his
opportunity comes and when it comes I'm going to be ready. It's unfortunate
that the one play was called a fumble because you look at the scoreboard
and it obviously wasn't."
On the defensive line
"Yes, we're getting some good play inside but I think now is
where you really start to find out what you are made of. In terms of the
defensive line, everybody is banged up at this time of the year. The weather
is going to switch and everybody is going to run the ball more and start
pounding you more. Now it becomes a real test for all those guys if they
can hold up these next few weeks."
On Iowa
"As I look at them they're a staff and a program that's been
together and there are certain things they are going to do. They disguise
their defense on every play. They move the front on every play. They disguise
the secondary which can cause problems for a young quarterback. Offensively,
they're going to mix it up. They are going to throw screens, they're going
to throw deep. They're going to run and try to do things to keep you confused
and off balance. Once they feel like they've done that, they're going to
come right at you with the inside running game and the play-action pass.
They've been extremely successful doing that for the last 20 years. I
think offensively they feel the best they've felt all year. Iowa is a very
difficult team to prepare for."
On last year's game as a motivator
"I think in some situations that would be a key motivator for
you. We're just not to that point where anything this year is based on
something that happened previously. We're trying to improve on the way
we played against Michigan State. This will be a good test for us because
we have gotten a little bit better each week. I don't think anybody on
this football team or on this staff feels like we've come close playing
the way we are capable of playing. Offensively, we've played well, but
not anywhere close to where we are capable of playing. Defensively, we've
played at times the way we are capable, but not for four quarters. In special
teams, we get a little bit better each week. This will be our biggest test
this week. Kahlil Hill is leading the league in punt returns and he's ran
a kick back for a touchdown."
On team's reaction to loss at Michigan State
"We'll find out today as we get out to practice. I don't anticipate
any letdown. The key players in that become, with the exception of the
coaching staff, Chris Gall and Jabar Robinson. I think this team will react
directly as to how those two react. I think I have a good feel as to how
those two are going to react, they're going to be ready to play."
