Aug. 30, 2004
Press Conference with Gary Pinkel August 30, 2004 Introduction: On upcoming game vs. Arkansas St.
"It's been a long awaited time in preparation for our first game. Our players have worked hard since the third week of January and I think their excited. We're looking forward for this to begin. Obviously, the preparation stages, we're still in. It's very critical, the next few days, and we'll know a little bit more about our football team come Saturday night." On Martin Rucker's starting position:
"He's had very good two-a-days. He's obviously a very good athlete, he's a very bright young man, he learns well, and he just has a lot going for him. Victor is still going to play, there's no question about that. We use tight-ends quite a bit, and as we always do when one player moves up ahead of another, we tell the player that moved up `Congratulations, and you better keep your job because the guy that just moved down is going to try and get it back,' and the competition makes your football team better. We are certainly pleased with both of them and T. Rucker's got a lot of ability and that says an awful lot of him being a red-shirt freshman and winning a starting job." On Damien Nash's starting position:
"Damien has been the starter, and really what it is, is that somebody's got to beat him out, and then we have a lot of competition there so that's real good. We will play more than one back. We have starters on both offense and defense going into this game, but as anybody knows in our program, we make decisions on Thursday when players will rotate in, and when they play. We will have some type of rotation going in for most of our players. We'll see how it goes. We're excited to see Damien. It's a year later, and he's a lot different player. Marcus Woods is doing a good job, Beau Viehnamm is doing a good job. What we do with Tony Temple just remains to be seen right now. He is very typical to probably three or four freshman that we have that are really good players, mature enough to play. Tony missed an awful lot. Can he learn enough to help us win this year? We're kind of right there with him. He's done a good job since he's been back, and healed with an injury. What we do with him, he will certainly be a part of the decision making, but we're consistent with how we handle all our players, and it will be the same way with him. On the leverage:
We have improved our leverage. It's an on-going concern. We've got to see it. All the talk is over with, all the hype's over with. That's the greatest thing about this week. All the `stuff' that's been going on doesn't mean anything. It hasn't meant anything. It's probably been exciting for our fans. There's the rankings that you go into the season with, which is fine, and that's the responsibility you have as a program. If you want to stay ranked, then you better win, and do it week in, week out. So if you look at our football team, we've been working in a lot of different areas, but we're going to see that. We're going to see about our leverage, and you won't test it in one game, too. This is going to be something you find out as the season goes on. Just in all the different areas in our football that we've worked on to improve. The proof is, you've got to go see it now. We'll find out." On Dedrick Harrington and David Richard changing positions:
"Both of those players, Dedrick Harrington and David Richard, both of them playing new positions, and athletically they're the mold. You would clone those athletes and have them in there for the rest of your career. They fit it, but now can you play linebacker well? I am very encouraged with how they work in practice, how much better they've become through spring football, and through summer ball. We'll see what happens. That's another area we're going to have to evaluate. In one game, you are not going to know all the answers to all of our issues. We're going to see page one, where we are at, and then you go on to the next one. That is the beauty of getting going here. Let's find out where we are at." On James Kinney being in a better position to make plays:
"They all work together. The best thing that helps the linebackers make plays is to have a good defensive line. It's amazing how much better a linebacker you can play when you have big guys up front that clog up holes and gaps. Most linebackers look more towards your defensive line. It's an athletic group of linebackers. It's as athletic as I've ever been associated with since I've been coaching. Only one guy has played linebacker and wanted a high level or played a high lever, and the other two have not. But do I expect them to do well? Yes. Do I expect them to get better as the season goes on? That is critically important. There are several areas in our offensive line that have got to get better. By game four they've got to be a lot better than game one. I guarantee that, and game seven, they've got to be a lot better than game four for us to achieve our goals. Those two inside backers as young players are the same way without question. I should note that Henry Sweat will probably play as much as all those guys play because we feel that he is a starter within himself. I am very pleased with his progress." On the passing game:
"We'll wait and find out. We've worked very hard at it. I expect us to be better there. What we care about mostly is that we will evaluate it as it goes on. We've worked very hard at it, and I'll be disappointed if we don't have significant improvement in it." On the evaluation of Joe Tantarelli and his starting position:
"We evaluate everything. Everything. Get-off time, height, percentages, everything they do. He won the job. Pretty easy, really, for that position. It's not real complicated. The height of the kick, and the get-off time is significant. If a player has a kick in practice that is too low, we can see it, or the get-off time isn't as good as we need it, then we count it as a miss. There are certain numbers that we have to hit in every kicking area in our football program." On Arkansas State:
"We played against them when I was in Toledo one year...I've had some experience a long time ago. A new staff is working hard to build the program. What I see on film is they run well, they're athletic, they have some young players on defense. Sometimes that is good. We're starting three red-shirt freshman on our offense, and I feel okay about that, so I think they feel good about that also. Anytime you go into a first game, there is always a major concern of different scheme, different offense, different formation, different philosophy, and on defense the same thing... You go in game planning on both sides on games like this, even kicking, being a little more cautious about what you're doing, and you have to be able to adjust to absolutely anything that happens. Regardless of what happens, you want to be able to adjust to any circumstance and any situation, and be able to help your players. First games are always scary because you don't have previous film." On concerns of the team being too tight/loose:
"The whole key is to develop a football team that knows how to mentally and emotionally prepare to play. That is probably my biggest concern with this football program. Are we going to take the next step there? Are we going to be able to get our players to play at a high level no matter who they're playing, when they're playing, where they're playing, and the conditions they're playing in? Can we get a football team that is mature enough to do that? And you do that through our preparation... We have a systemic plan and pace that we work very hard on. That is my biggest concern. I would like to find out if we've taken that step. I certainly hope we have. We're not going to know Saturday night. We're going to know as the season progresses. Last year we played hard every game, we wanted to win every game, but we did not play at the level it takes to win consistently, regardless of the conditions. This program's got to make that move. Are we there? I don't know." On William Franklin being at the number two receiving spot:
"He is one freshman I would say we are definitely going to play. We will play William Franklin. He's worked hard, he's very athletic, he's picked up the position very good... We expect to get him right in the mix and get him out there playing." On the team being ready to play Saturday:
"Right now I don't think they're ready to play, but hopefully by game day when we go through the preparation they will be. We have a very physical practice on Tuesday. Wednesday we have another physical practice called our workdays. Thursday we get the mental side down, and go through all the different situations, then we lock-in what we call the last 48 hours. I would like to think that we have a team that has worked so hard that they can't wait to get out and play. Time will tell that. Will Missouri take that next step? We'll see." Junior quarterback Brad Smith...
On stepping onto the field against Arkansas State... "We're looking forward to it. It's always a little different being out there against somebody else. It's something to get ready for." On the pressure associated with high expectations...
"It's a good pressure. It's something that we need to put on ourselves and each other to get to where we need to get to." On the performances of tight end Martin Rucker and wide receiver William Franklin in training camp...
"They don't play like freshmen or young guys. They went out and made plays, and that's all that matters. They did a good job." On what he expects from the Tigers' running game this season...
"You never know what to expect. (Damien Nash and Marcus Woods) have different styles than Zack (Abron) did. It's going to come down to making plays, and those guys can make some big plays. I'm sure they'll do a good job. We just have to go out there and play hard, and we'll see what happens." On improvements in Mizzou's passing game...
"In the scrimmages and practices we've done pretty well together. We see the things we need to work on and what we need to get better at. I'm excited about that, and I'm looking forward to being out there with those guys." On freshman wide receiver William Franklin...
"He's a great talent. He can do things to make plays. He knows what he's doing and how to go up and get the ball." On the team's goals for the Arkansas State game...
"The main thing is winning. Every game it comes down to execution. No matter who it is, we just want to execute." On his role in the running game in 2004...
"It's hard to tell. You'll have to ask our coaches to find out what they think, but whatever plays they call, we'll go out there and do our best." On making his third season at Mizzou a special one...
"I'm just playing right now and having fun. I'm playing to win every game. If we win a championship this year, that will make me more than happy." On preparing for the season's opening game...
"Around here it's about preparation and trying to get focused. We're paying attention to our game plan and trying to get everything in line and really sharp before we play." On staying focused amidst off-season hype...
"We just need to play football and use every day to get better. If we take it one day at a time, we'll be alright." On his comfort in the pocket...
"It's something that you have to work on and you have to practice. You can't just come out there and run around. You have to see it on film and know what situations you can do different things in. We worked on that and it's made a big difference."
Senior linebacker James Kinney On his thoughts heading into Saturday's season opener against Arkansas State...
"Basically we're just building up from two-a-days. I'm out there getting ready and getting my teammates ready. It's here right now. I'm excited to start smelling it and start tasting it, and I can't wait until Saturday." On the defense's transition from 2003 to the current season...
"It's been a smooth transition (from last year's unit). We've spent a lot of time working on our fundamentals. The coaches did a really good job of preparing us for the transition. It really wasn't too big of a change for me personally, but a couple of guys changed a little. Everything went smooth." On his leadership role on the Missouri defense...
"I think I've been leading the defense for a couple of years now. I'm just trying to better myself as a leader, and a player as well. I think it's my defense."
Junior offensive lineman Tony Palmer On the style of the Tigers' running game... "We have a running options-type style. We just block and they just find holes." On the 2004 Mizzou offensive line...
"The offensive line is coming along very well. (Redshirt freshmen) Tyler Luellen and Adam Spieker have done a great job stepping into the roles of (recent graduates) Rob Droege and A.J. Ricker. I'm really impressed with them, and how they've come along." On the elusiveness of Mizzou's backfield...
"You can say that we have a third tailback in Brad Smith. He makes something happen out of nothing. It's amazing to watch those guys do their thing. You never know what they're going to do.