Indiana University Athletics
Football Practice Quotes (9/22/05)
9/25/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 23, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Members of the coaching staff and football team took time out of practice on Sept. 22 to sit down with IUHOOSIERS.com to talk about this season's success and the upcoming contest against Wisconsin on Oct. 1.
Sophomore Defensive Lineman Charles Emerson
About the Play of the Defense:
"There is definitely a rivalry between us and Kentucky. We knew the record was 17-17-1. We knew we had a good defense and offense and played well as a unit. Going into the game, we were pretty well prepared. I thought we played well and it was great to have a home crowd of more than 40,000 people."
Are you more prepared to be a difference maker on defense:
"Definitely. I think we have a good scheme of guys coming in and out. We have a lot of depth. Rotating guys in helps us stay focused. I think Coach George really understands how we can play and prepares us every week."
What is the plan for how many snaps a game will one rotation play:
"There is no plan. Coach George is up in the box, so we really run our own show. When someone is tired, we just give a signal and another guy will come in for a couple of series. It is whoever is ready to go when they want to go."
Running Game Coordinator/Offensive Lineman Coach Bobby Johnson
About the running game and offensive line's play against Kentucky:
"I think the big difference was the intensity of this team. We really didn't change any schemes. We introduced maybe a new formation, but kept the overall schemes from previous games the same. I think it was the overall intensity that changed. We drove home the point in the week leading up to the Kentucky game that people think we are spread and we are going to throw it all the time. We knew we had to be more balanced. We were only averaging 2.8 yards a carry before the game, so every time we did a drill I reminded them about that 2.8 yards. We needed to improve the running game, and after a while the running backs started improving and challenging themselves to five yards a carry, which is pretty lofty coming from 2.8. The kids bought into it, and practiced hard. When we went out into the game and they had some success early on the ground, they really bought into the idea that they could get the job done. So, it was not really something that we drew up on a chalkboard, but rather an attitude of the team of executing and being physical. I always tell the line, you're either the hammer or the nail, you are hitting or getting hit, and there is nothing in between. The guys then just went out there and decided they were going to be the ones hitting. We also wanted to step up on or pass protection and keep people off Blake [Powers] when we are throwing the ball. We just took a more aggressive attitude to the game plan. "
You talked about having early success in the Kentucky game on the ground, is it the same thing now to move forward after having such a successful game:
"Without a question. Every week when we watch film, we tell the guys that it's never as good as you think and never as bad as you think. Coming into the first two games, they thought the film was going to be awful, but there were a lot of things they did well. Likewise, we came out of this week and saw some things we needed to improve on. We had a lot of positives from the running game and passing game, but we pointed out the things that we could make better. It was not a negative thing of tearing them down and making them think that we didn't play well, but telling them we had great offensive production and weren't perfect while doing it. Coach Hoeppner always says, `If you strive for perfection, you will settle for excellence.' If we keep trying to improve the little things, pretty soon that performance will not be something extraordinary but it will become the norm. If we keep improving and improving, the ground game could become a main staple in our offensive production."
You have a lot of returners from last year's squad on the offensive line. Is there still an adjustment for these guys to be able to play together:
"There is quite a bit of adjustment. What people don't realize is that, yes, we have a lot of guys returning from last year, but these five guys never started a game together as a unit. The offensive line is a unit that has to work together as one. It is not like when you line up four receivers and one guy can bust a route and you set up a good passing play. If one guy busts on the offensive line, the whole thing is thrown off. They are still getting used to one another. As a line, they are starting to understand what to expect out of one another. They are learning to trust one another. They are learning to play within themselves and do their job and trust the other guys to do theirs. Last week's game, I think, showed that we are starting to gel as a unit."
Senior Defensive Tackle Russ Richardson
About the play and success of the defense:
"We are really tight and trust of one another. It is just a matter of everyone trusting our buddies to do their job. That has a lot to do with it."
What do you feel this team has to do to keep the confidence going since you have an open week? Does that take any momentum away:
"No, we just have to look at in a positive way. We have an extra week to prepare for this team and they are worrying about someone else right now. It is a lot on the seniors to keep everyone's energy up and feeding off that energy. We don't want to get down and think about how hard it is to practice in this heat and get ourselves down. Instead, we are just keeping our energy up and feeding off that and having a good time too."
Does the 3-0 start make it that much more exciting going into Big Ten play:
"It is my senior year and I can't ask for anything else than to go into conference play undefeated. But, we have not done anything yet in my book. All the seniors look at that we are not going to settle for anything. We just take each practice like it is the first practice we have had out here, and take each game like it is our first."
What is it going to take stop and defend Wisconsin's running back Brian Calhoun? What will it take to slow him down:
"Just straight tackling and pursuit of the ball. It is gong to take the whole defense to fly around and work together."
What do you feel you need to do to keep the intensity and momentum going with the open week:
"I think this open week is good for us to get caught up on our school work, the things that people don't really see. It is a chance to get healthy as a team and get some rest for a strong team we will be facing in a couple of weeks."
How exciting is the start and the success of the team for you as a senior:
"It's great. We have not had a start like this in a while. It all means a little more, especially with it comes in your senior year. I have been playing since my freshman year, so it is good to actually start seeing some results."
Head Coach Terry Hoeppner
Opening Statement:
"We are taking advantage of this `OPEN' week. No one has planned any Caribbean vacations. Instead, the staff has put in some time recruiting, which we have wanted to do for a while. From the beginning, we wanted to play each game one at a time, but we had the idea in mind that we wanted to come out of this non-conference season 3-0. We wanted to go into the Big Ten riding some momentum, but also wanted to do it on the field. We played just good enough to win the first two games, but then it was the idea that we wanted to be physical and get the job done and we did that against Kentucky. All this did was to give us the confidence that what we are doing is working, and we need to do more of it. We know we have some things to improve one, but look at our quarterback Blake Powers. In terms of improvement, he has improved from game one and two. I think is you are talking about our most improved, he is both one and two."
Talk about James Hardy and his improvement:
"James Hardy is a such a natural receiver. I think in all my years coaching, I don't think I have seen a more natural receiver than James Hardy. He does things just naturally. You don't have to tell him to reposition his hands, he has just has a flare for running routes. He has the ability to know what the defense is doing on the field. He had a good game the other night against Kentucky by forcing a couple of penalties. If the opponent does not get some pass interference in the end zone, he is going to score. The whole, `Pay me now or pay me later,' idea. Hardy has a great future and we have been saying that all along. The reality is, that when he is on the field he makes plays and we hope he continues to do that for us. We need Blake to keep creating a chemistry with James."
Talk about your idea that fans help win games:
"Crowds help win games. This is what we have been saying since the beginning of the season. It was really satisfying to see so many fans come out against Kentucky. The team won, but the program won and the crowd came out and had fun and was a part of the win. It all started two hours before with the walk, and lasted until the fight song at the end of the game. It is supposed to be a celebration. If you go to a Big Ten school and Indiana, part of the experience should be with your friends in Memorial Stadium, or as we affectionately call it, `The Rock,'"
Talk about your seniors:
"I really rely on my seniors for leadership and guidance. It is a matter for me to let them know this is their team and their senior year. Every coach and every player needs to do what they can to play 12. We wear it on our hand to remind us of the vision of making it 12 games this season. I want to do it for the senior class because of the way they have embraced me and the rest of the coaching staff."
Talk about how the symbols of the "Play 12" and things like that play into your coaching:
"I don't know if they are symbols or not, but more of a concrete thing we can look to. Whether it is defending the rock, wearing a arm band that says `Play 12" or wearing dog tags, I want them to be constantly reminded of their accountability and responsibility to being a football player 24-7. I want them to be a student athlete and focus on school, but they are always football players. I want them to carry that accountability with them and be proud of it so that we can achieve our goals."
Would you rather not have an open week and just go in and play another game after such a great start:
"That is always a good media question. The reality of it is, if you have confidence in your staff and in your seniors to uphold the responsibility of keeping focused it does not make a difference whether it is an open week. Tomorrow is not Friday. It is another day of practice for us to get ready for Wisconsin. To everyone else in the world it will be Friday, but we see it as another day to practice."
