Northwestern University Athletics
Transcript from Coach Fitzgerald's Monday News Conference
10/27/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 27, 2008
Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald
Weekly Press Conference
Opening statement...
"Thanks everyone for being here. We'll start off with an injury report. It looks like Tyrell (Sutton) will have surgery probably tomorrow for a wrist injury that happened in the third quarter of the Indiana game, so obviously our thoughts are with him. Same as what happened a week ago with Malcolm Arrington, it's disappointing for a senior to have something like that happen at the end of their career but through the adversity that Tyrell faces, we'll be right there supporting him. It's an opportunity for someone else to step up and Omar Conteh did that very well a year ago and has played well so far this year. It'll be his turn to take over the lead role as our tailback. C.J. Bachér is questionable right now to start the week.
Looking at the tape, to lose the turnover battle the way we did, to give up a fumble in the kickoff return game and to have two undisciplined penalties on defense really hurt us. The credit goes to Indiana for capitalizing on our mistakes. It's impossible to beat two teams in one Big Ten football game. (Beating ourselves) is what's most disappointing.
Looking to the future, we're playing a very good football team and one that has been very opportunistic all year. They are plus-15 in the turnover battle, leading the country in takeaways with 24. Adam Weber and Eric Decker do a great job, it's a quarterback-receiver tandem that's as good as any in the country. They seem to really be on the same page and you can tell they work so well together. I believe Adam got injured a couple weeks ago against Indiana but he's doing a great job managing the ball, he's thrown 10 touchdowns and only three interceptions. Defensively, Ted Roof has done a great job coming in and creating an identity, changing personnel from a 4-3 to a 3-4 at times. They've done a great job in the secondary creating all those turnovers, playing well as a unit and it's very impressive to say the least. Tim (Brewster) and his staff have done a great job so it'll be a great challenge for us. I thought our guys responded with the right attitude this morning and we'll get things going in the right direction."
On Tyrell Sutton...
"I doubt he'll be back for the regular season. We'll see how things go and take it week by week. We talked last night and he said last year unfortunately prepared him a little for right now. Last year he kept hoping he'd be back the next day because it was an ankle sprain and it was day-to-day. But he kept working through and I thought his attitude was great, he just wanted to get on the field and help the team win. Now he knows he just has to stay positive, be ready when he's ready. I thought he was great talking to him."
On the possibility of Mike Kafka playing quarterback at Minnesota...
"If Mike has to go for us this week I'm excited for him. It might be the opportunity he's been waiting for even though it's disappointing for C.J. as a senior. Mike has started games for us in the past and he prepares every week to be the starter. He's been a play away all year and I know he'll manage the game the same way Mick (McCall) has coached C.J. to do. I think Mike is similar to Adam (Weber's) skill set; they are both dual-threat quarterbacks. What all that means as far as game plan will be dictated as we work through the week and see where we are. But Mike definitely has the ability to run the ball as well as throw it."
On the positives he sees in the team right now...
"Well we've found a way to go 1-0 six times. I like how guys continued to battle on Saturday. We didn't play our best football but we kept battling, we had the ball across the 50 with four minutes left in the game and two points away. That being said I love the attitude and resolve within our program. We're going to take the same approach: we need to flush the things we've done well and for things we haven't done well, we need to learn from it, improve and move on. That's what our guys have done. They're ready to go. This is a great opportunity for us, we're invited again for homecoming and we're excited for the challenge."
On avoiding a slow first-quarter start...
"I disagree with your statement about us coming out flat against Indiana. We went on a 19-play drive from the 3-yard line and put some points on the board. I'm disappointed we didn't finish that drive but a 19-play drive is pretty impressive. As a defense we went out there and let them run but we shored it up. We just have to keep playing. What's encouraging to me is we get stronger as the game goes along. We haven't necessarily played our best football in the first quarter, I agree with that, but I would disagree with your statement that we came out flat at Indiana."
On Minnesota receiver Eric Decker...
"This year, he's around 66 receptions after having 67 last year, so his production is off the charts. He runs great routes, catches the ball well with his hands, he's a great blocker and a complete receiver. Couple that with being a baseball player in the spring and he's obviously an incredible athlete. We'll have our hands full in the secondary to be able to manage our coverage and have an awareness of where he is on the field."
On C.J. Bachér's injury...
"When I looked at the play and we asked C.J. from the sidelines if he was OK and he nodded his head yes, we trust our guys so the decision was he'd continue to play. Our guys are taught if you're injured to go down and have our trainers come out and look at you. All you can do is communicate."
On the play of Nate Williams in his first start at linebacker...
"I thought Nate did a nice job. There's a lot of room for improvement and he'll be the first to tell you that. He's probably more sore than he's been since his last high school game at Central Catholic but he played well. He was solid in the running game and put us in the right spots when he made some checks. I expect him to have a lot of growth this week and for him to get even better."
On preventing turnovers...
"A couple have been in the kicking game which is inexcusable. Other times, when the ball gets tipped, that's a problem and other times we've made poor choices. Then the time-up exchange we had at the end of the first half was a huge play on Saturday. That's something we do every single day and those details are the difference between winning Big Ten football games and being on the short end. That time-up play and that fumble was really hard to overcome. We needed to get off the field, we didn't put the fire out as a defense and we lost an opportunity for momentum."
On Adam Weber in offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar's system at Minnesota...
"First of all Adam does a nice job just taking what the defense gives him and not forcing the ball. Mike will run different formations and they do a nice job spreading the ball out even though Eric has the most receptions. A Chicago product, Brandon Green, had a big day against Purdue on Saturday and they get the ball to their tight end Jack Simmons a bit. They do a nice job spreading the ball out and Mike does a nice job coaching up the quarterbacks just like Mick does. I think there's good coordinators on offense and defense going up against each other this week."
On how substitutions will work at running back...
"It will be based on the flow of the game and how guys practice this week but Stephen Simmons will go into the game as our No. 2 and probably Scott (Concannon) or Jake (Schmidt) will be three and four. We have great depth there, we've recruited well. It's tough to lose a great player like Tyrell, it's frustrating for him but again it's another man's opportunity and all you can control is being prepared. I know Omar is prepared."
On Minnesota head coach Tim Brewster...
"Last year was really the first year Coach and I got to know each other. Obviously he followed Coach (Mack) Brown at North Carolina and Texas. I really respect the job Tim is doing with his staff and being able to stay the course by recruiting some guys who have stepped in and contributed right away."
On Minnesota's success this season...
"Having a plus-15 turnover ratio is a magical number. If you're taking the ball away from people and holding onto it you'll have success. If you look at every other stat head-to-head (Minnesota and Northwestern), it's pretty much even. The big difference is we are minus a couple turnovers and they are plus-15."
On Omar Conteh stepping in as the starter as he did last year...
"If I remember correctly, Brandon (Roberson) was a senior and he and Omar were practicing great, had great competition, and Omar won the job. I thought Omar played very well when he had the opportunity. He's been chomping at the bit, he has a great attitude that never wavers. That's why I'm excited for him. It's unfortunate the way it came about but he'll be prepared."
On if he'd change the play-calling if C.J. Bachér returns...
"No, at the end of the day we're going to take what the defense gives us and call the game accordingly. I think we had a great game plan and it's unfortunate that he got a little dinged up. Every spread offense in the country I'm watching runs the quarterback. It's an element of the offense and it's an inherent risk. That's why you recruit and get your other guys ready in case something ever does happen. If C.J. doesn't go I'm excited for Mike's opportunity."
