Sept. 26, 2005
Missouri Press Conference
September 26, 2005
Coach Pinkel
Opening Statement:
"We had a good week. We got a couple of guys healed up a little bit which is very positive. We got a lot of work in, and we had a couple of days with full pads. I think that we have improved as a football team, and now we are able to work on Texas a little bit. Today is the day off for the players. We pretty much started last night in our normal game-day daily routine. So it's been a great week, we are playing a good football team. I always think that the top 5 teams in the nation are on a different level with personnel than anyone else in the country, and it appears to me that Texas is that type of a football team. It kind of separates the rest of the teams in the country. They are very worthy of being where they are at in the rankings. Mack Brown's done a great job. They are just loaded with talent in every position, and they're playing very well. It will be a very exciting and great opportunity for us, and it will also be a great challenge."
On Texas' new players:
"You can lose great players, and you recruit well and you have some great young players coming up, which is what they have done. They're very impressive on film; they run well, they're very athletic, and one of the leading rushing teams in the country. With (Vince) Young, it's just his maturity level. You can see the difference in him. He's got great supporting casts on both sides of the football, he's had comeback wins last year and certainly the Ohio State game this year. So I think that certainly adds to a lot of confidence any quarterback would have. They are pretty good."
On comparing Brad Smith and Vince Young:
"They're different size athletes. Brad's a little leaner. They're both great athletes, so it's just really hard to compare them in that way. What you see are two phenomenal athletes, and both of them can make a lot of things happen. I think that is what definitely causes defensive coordinators sleepless nights. That's the thing that bothers them most, turning an awful play into a great play. Both of those players with their athleticism can certainly do that."
On the lack of linebackers...
"It's a lack of depth, I think our linebackers are pretty good; they're really high-level guys. I feel pretty good about those guys. We can adjust if we want to if we can play a nickel scheme with our defense. We're also going to play Van Alexander and Brock Christopher. They're going to play because they are good athletes. We'll play five linebackers in this game."
On how healthy and strong he is for Saturday...
"My game is not going to change. I feel like going. I am going to play everything like it was before. In my mind I'm a hundred percent. I would say I'm about 80-85%. Blocking isn't that bad. A lot of those things haven't bothered me yet. I've blocked guys in practice and I've done some things with it except take blows. I think it's going to hold up pretty good for the rest of the season. I'm confident that I'll catch every ball I get, especially the deep balls.
On the absence of deep passes and what Coffey likes about them the most...
"Touchdowns...touchdowns. I don't think it's been missed. I mean a lot of other things have been working. It's clear to everybody that we haven't been going deep."
On taking down an elusive, strong quarterback like Vince Young...
"Yeah when you get a clean shot at the guy, especially since he's a quarterback, you're licking your chops thinking you're going to knock him out of the game."
On whether he thought he would have to play as much as he has...
"It went a little faster than I expected. I didn't really know what to expect, but yeah, it's been a quicker taste than I thought it would be."
On whether there's a little more stress on the linebackers this weekend...
"It's going to be like that for any quarterback you could say. I guess there's a little added pressure with Vince Young's athleticism. We need to work real hard at practice this week to learn to contain him."
On what needs to be done...
"The key is the offensive line. We can control the tempo of the game. We get out there and get a fast start; things are going to good for us. Just need to give Brad (Smith) all the time he needs to throw and open up those holes for Brad, Woods, and Temple to run through. The sky is the limit."
On the abilities of Vince Young and how to stop him...
"He's an outstanding player. I watched him when we were in high school together. He was good in high school and he's been good in college; he's a great player. Whatever the game plan is from the coaches, we just got to execute that."
On the differences between Brad Smith and Vince Young...
"Vince is a strider. It looks like he's running slow, but actually; he's running faster than you are. Brad goes out there and does things. I don't know what else man, but it's going to be a great show on Saturday."