Sept. 29, 1999
Opening Remarks on Nebraska and upcoming Memphis ?The thing we?re trying to do most is to learn from (the Nebraska) game and put it behind us, which makes the Memphis game a really critical game for us. I think its a big game because our team has to bounce back from the loss (to Nebraska) and play on the road for the first time this year. Those are two big obstacles we have to get over.?
?We have to get our offense going again and get our defense playing up to their potential. We have to continue working on our kicking game to make sure it is sound. It is a matter of pulling it all together, going in to Memphis and finding a way to win. I think that Memphis has a very fine team. They totally out-played Tennessee. They are for real, particularly their defense. Their defense is the most confusing I have ever seen because you never know where they are going to line up. They have an excellent secondary. They jump all around, come from all different directions. It really limits which offense you can run. It reduces you to about 3-4 running plays and 3-4 pass protections. They have had some success running the ball. They have very fine special teams. It?s going to be a heck of a game. Our focus is not just to practice well, but to improve in practice. Therein lies the difference. We have to practice better consistently and improve.
On comparing this week to the week following the loss to Kansas State last season ?We had some experienced players. It was a very determined, gritty week of practice. We told ourselves that we couldn?t let it happen (again). We have to overcome it and bounce back. The first person we looked at was ourselves. It comes down to the fact that we have to hold ourselves accountable. On the other hand, we have to trust each another, have to depend upon each other and play as a team. Winning is important to our leaders.?
On Missouri?s defense against Nebraska ?I think our defense basically didn?t do one thing in that game. Nebraska got to play on a 56-yard field. That?s partly offensive fault, partly special teams fault and partly defensive fault. The one thing that we didn?t do on defense that, had we done it would have made a difference in the game, was defend the option. That is the offense that beat our defense in the game. The defense is disappointed in themselves. However, defense was just a part of the whole thing. That was a team loss. No one played well enough to win.?
On Missouri?s special teams ?If you chart the number of points that our special teams has created or scored, it is more than they?ve given up. The number one thing you want to do is be sound. I don?t know if we?ll ever be perfect. I see our special teams getting better. I think we?ve found a decent kicker (Brad Hammerich). (Punter) Jared Gilpin is giving us the hang time that we need to cover kicks. Our punt team is protecting and covering better. So, I have to look at those positives. The one good thing about those two snaps over the head (of Hammerich in the Nebraska game) is that we did not set the NCAA record of snapping the ball over the head. (Former MU football coach) John Kadlec had a guy who snapped the ball 35 yards. It cleared the endzone. The good thing is that (after those two snaps by long snapper Ben Davidson) he settled down and had good snaps the rest of the night. I don?t think we lost that game because of special teams. We lost it on (a lack of) total team effort?that?s execution, that?s mistakes on all fronts.?
On not having a specified special teams coach ?I?ve found the best way to (coach special teams) is to have every coach involved and that?s the way we do it. Every coach on our staff has some form of special teams responsibility. We break it down individually and by groups. We have seven coaches covering the punt. I don?t know how you can coach it any better than that. I think it would be very difficult for one coach.?
On the effect Missouri?s first road game will have on the team ?When you have some inexperienced people you have to take note of it. But a team has to learn how to play on the road. We don?t make a big thing of it.?
On Long Snapper Ben Davidson?s missed snaps ?Up to this point and time, I think (Davidson) has done a fine job with snaps. He just had two that got away from him. This kid?s a kid. He?s only human and is going to (make mistakes). The main thing is to recover from it. We lost a game. It isn?t the end of the world and it isn?t the end of our season. It?s not what you are, it?s what you do with your situation. The same is true of Ben.?
On the ability to coach composure ?That?s a good question. I think you can, somewhat. I think some people have it. The best form of composure is through experience. I think experience will build composure and confidence. I think success builds confidence and confidence builds composure. I think you can coach it somewhat, sure.?
On Linebacker Jamonte Robinson ?He is very quick. He has good senses of the ball, sometimes too good where he takes himself out of the play. Our biggest problem is that we have playmakers on our defense. You have to play assignment defense to stop options. Jamonte plays hard and has great quickness and will make a fine linebacker, but he is very young yet.?
?Andy Hill was watching Zain Gilmore at an all-star practice in Florida and saw Jamonte running around, making every hit in practice. (Hill) sent back tape and Ricky Hunley liked (what he saw). Jamonte went on to the all-star game and was an outstanding player. We knew nothing of him other than when we saw him (on tape and at that all-star game).?
On the defense missing assignments ?What they do is try to make a play but don?t follow through with their base assignment. What we are trying to do right now is tell the guys, ?Do your job first, then go make the play. It?s not going to take away intensity. Trust what you are coached to do.??