Tigers Hold Weekly Football Press Conference
10/23/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 23, 2006
Head Coach Gary Pinkel
Opening Statement:
"Brian Smith got out of the hospital today. They kept him overnight Saturday and Sunday and I saw him this morning. He's in pretty good spirits. We all understand how difficult that is. He's on crutches and he can't put any weight on that leg and that hip until about 6-8 weeks. At that time, they'll see where he is. The good news is that he's going to be okay and he doesn't need surgery. They expect him to feel 100 percent. He's a leader for us. He's been here as long as I've been here and he's been such a great player and made such an impact. He's turned into an outstanding leader and you really feel bad for a player that was going to break the Big 12 sack record down the road and it doesn't happen. What I choose to do with all my players is look at the positive side. The positive thing is that he's going to be okay, he doesn't need surgery. There's an outside chance that he can get ready for a bowl game. He's been invited to some postseason bowl games in January, so that's another month after he gets off crutches that he can prepare for, so there are positive things out there. But we certainly appreciate all that he's done for Mizzou. I'm going to ask him to still provide a lot of leadership as a senior, and to help our team in terms of that because that's real important."
On Ziggy Hood and stepping up after the loss of defensive end Brian Smith:
"Ziggy's back. We moved him back up to starter and we adjusted our defensive line. Everybody's going to have to step it up a little more, it's not just the defensive line, but the entire defense. You lose a guy like Smitty and everybody's got to do more. Linebackers have got to play better, safeties have got to play better, corners have got to play better, and the offense has to play better. When you lose a great player like that, you have to deal with that."
Injury update:
"Brock Christopher had a slight knee sprain. He's going to be fine, and he's going to be 100 percent. Domonique Johnson, I don't think he will play this week, There's an outside chance and Trenile Washington will not play this week. As we get into the next week, both of them look more like they'll be ready at that time."
On Oklahoma:
"Looking at Oklahoma, it's the same program, just different players from the last time we played them. There are just a lot of great football players on the team. They've done a great job recruiting. They've had some difficulties. Obviously the quarterback situation they had this year, and Adrian Peterson, their tailback, and they have some other adjustments to make. I'm very impressed with how they've handled this as a football team, but I would not expect anything less from Bob Stoops because he's good at what he does. Defensively, they just keep getting better and better every week. They're one of the top defenses in the league right now and one of the top defenses in the nation. They've improved and have good players, and it'll be a great challenge for us. We're certainly excited about being in this position, you work very hard for this. We're glad we're playing at Mizzou and this is very exciting for us. Obviously we want to play well and we're going to have to play well. It will be a great challenge for our football team."
On the pass offense in the soggy weather conditions against Kansas State:
"I coached at Seattle, and we had rainy days. That was one of the rainiest days I've ever been in. To think that we could, and this is a great tribute to our receivers and quarterbacks and running backs and tight ends, handle that ball, except for a couple of missed throws. But certainly to be able to throw and catch in that weather, I felt great after that game, that we could do that in that kind of environment. That just goes to show you that they're good players, and they've got great focus. That was a heck of an accomplishment. That second half, it wasn't sprinkling out there, it was a heavy, nonstop rain, so I felt that those guys did a great job."
On the crowd and the players thanking them after the game:
"I really appreciate that, we had a good bunch out there through the third quarter until it got lopsided. They were loud too, sometimes I had to take my headset off because that's what helps me be able to focus. They got after it and we're real appreciative of that. It's good to pay some people back for what we have to go through."
Missouri Player Quotes
Sophomore defensive end Stryker Sulak
On the loss of senior defensive end Brian Smith:
"I'll be moved to a starter now. Of course this was a big loss for us. (Brian) was a big contributor to the team mainly on defense. We just all have to step it up. Hopefully, he will bounce back from it."
On if the defense is better than the statistics indicate:
"We do need to get a lot better on defense. Last week, we let (Kansas State) get some things, but we're going to work on that this week. We want to stop the run, and that's something we have to work on to get better."
On how big the Oklahoma game is:
"Well, every game we go into is a big game for us. We have only one game on the schedule right now, and that's Oklahoma. We started to prepare yesterday; we want to prepare all week. We'll go out there and do our best."
Junior offensive lineman Tyler Luellen
On what the team has been improving on throughout the season:
"The little stuff on our blocking schemes; it's all the little things that our center, guards, and tackles do."
On if Oklahoma:
"You have to go in every week knowing that each team is getting better and better. It's not going to change; you just try harder and harder each and every week. We cannot look at Oklahoma differently with their injuries because they're still going to come out to play."
On increasing respect with each win:
"I think in every program, in the country; you have to slowly build your respect from others. I think this year we are slowly starting to get a little more respect. Going out and beating Oklahoma would open eyes for other people and then maybe give us some more respect then."
Senior LB Marcus Bacon
On Kansas State:
"(We had) too many missed tackles. We got the job done, but in the end, it was a sloppy game for the defense. We did not come prepared like we should have. Rain or not, we're supposed to have a good Tiger attack, but it feels good to beat K-State. We just need to get better on the tackling."
On the loss of senior defensive end Brian Smith (One of the top pass-rushers in the Big 12):
"I would say (Brian) is one of the best passing threats in the nation. Yeah, he's one of my good friends and it hurts to see it happen on a fluke play. My heart just goes out to him, and whoever's taking his position we'll have to try and step it up because I am pretty sure they will do a fine job."
On what exactly happened to Brian Smith:
"It was just a fluke. I was running and we had apparently gotten the tackle, and I did not even know there was a fumble. (Overstreet) was running down field and you just try to pick up a block. (Smith) was in front of me to the side wrestling with a guy; pushing and shoving, and then his foot planted in the turf the wrong way and his hip popped. Just really a sad story."
Junior defensive lineman Lorenzo Williams
On the keys to this week's game:
"They (Oklahoma) always comes very prepared, so we have to get on our horse to stop the run, tackle better, and get to (quarterback Paul Thompson) when we can. That's what our game plan is going to be for the Sooners."
