Fresno State Athletics
Pat Hill Quotes From Monday's Press Conference
9/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 22, 2003
On his views of the team after last week's victory
"I'm very happy with the progress we're making as a football team right now. I've said it since I've been here, the job of the coaching staff is to put together a plan each week that gives you an opportunity to win. A lot of those plans are put together because of personnel matchups, because of personnel you are playing against. There are all sorts of determining factors."
On the Bulldog defense
"I think our defense, once again, played very, very well. I think the only lapse they have had this year was maybe the missed tackling against Oklahoma in the first half. We've played very good defense."
"When you hold Louisiana Tech like we did, you are doing your job. There weren't any Louisiana Tech receivers that ran by our guys like they did against Michigan State. There weren't any guys that didn't have somebody on them right after the catch and I was very impressed with that. We kept the pressure up very well. My hat is off to the defensive kids for following the plan almost perfectly."
On Fresno State's offense
"The offense really stepped up, especially in the running game. Sixty carries and not a ball on the ground. Where we need to still improve offensively is our play-action game. We had some opportunities for big plays and we didn't hook them up. When you miss those opportunities in a close football game that's what keeps it close if you are playing great defense. We have to hit those opportunities better but I was please with so many things we did in that football game."
"On the offensive side of the ball, I was also pleased with the emergence of Dwayne Wright again and also Bryson Sumlin. We have three running backs that are pretty darned good."
"I don't think right now we have a chance to get into a high scoring game. That's my opinion. As time goes on, I think as this offense gets better, you're going to start to see the passing game really come on. But we had to establish something. And we decided to establish the running game and that's what we've established. As time goes on, hopefully we can put the whole thing together. I think that will happen for us.
More on the Louisiana Tech game
"I was happy with the game. I was really happy with the last 3:20 where they never got the ball back. We did that against a team with 10 people standing up there; we finally broke their will. If we can keep playing defense like that and control the clock like that against those spread offenses, we have a chance to win."
"I think that was a good Louisiana Tech football team. To go into East Lansing, Mich., and beat Michigan State and this week Michigan State beat Notre Dame, you know you're playing somebody.
On the running back situation
"Right now I have three running backs. I told Dwayne Wright that if he has a great week of practice, then I'll probably start him in the football game."
"I've based everything I've done here on production. His production right now merits him a starting position. He's got to be the type of practice player also. He's done a great job of coming into games and winning. The thing if Dwayne Wright starts this game is how he is when it's hot at the beginning of the game. How is it when both teams are ready to roll. There's a big difference between starting in the heat of the game and coming off the bench once the edges come off. I'm not saying he can't do it. We're going to find out."
"Rodney Davis is going to compete his rear-end off. He's been a very fine player for us. Bryson Sumlin has only been practicing two weeks since shoulder surgery. He made some big runs for us as a sophomore -- a former walk-on from West High in Bakersfield. We have quite a collection of backs."
"I know Rodney Davis has been a great starter for me. I have no problem starting him in this game if Dwayne Wright doesn't handle the status of starting running back during the week of practice. That's still a big thing to determine.
On other changes he foresees on offense
"I made it very clear to our wide receivers yesterday that I want to start rotating receivers more. I want to get Adam Jennings and Joe Fernandez in the game more. I want to see production out of that position. We are going to get better production at that position by how we play at game time. Right now Bernard Berrian and Marque Davis are obviously our starting wide receivers but I challenged them to step it up. If the ball's not quite there, find it, go get it, we need to make plays."
"When you are coming off a big win and you challenge a team about production, I think that's a good thing. Let's see how they respond to it. If we are going to make a run and to have a great year and win a championship, it starts now. I'm very proud of the way the kids played.
On Jeff Grady
"I think Jeff Grady this week will be the healthiest he has been. We haven't been able to move him in the pocket. Hopefully we can get back to moving him around. When you are forced to stand in the pocket I think it's a lot easier to keep their eyes on the eyes of the quarterback. I think Jeff's very, very close to hooking up on big plays and I believe he is going to. I have a lot of confidence in Jeff Grady. I think it's a matter of time until things start popping."
On Paul Pinegar's status
"He threw last night and is starting to get some velocity on the ball and his accuracy is good. I'm hoping to see him by Colorado State (Oct. 4) and Hawaii (Oct. 11) area. He'd be a lot of fun to have back in the lineup. I think he's an outstanding player. I know what our personnel is and we are going to put a plan together to be successful against Portland State."
"I believe our best chances are with Jeff Grady. If it comes to where Jeff Grady can't go, we're going to circle the wagons and do it with the next guy and we'll have to make some adaptations then to.
On Portland State
"They've always come in and played us hard. What I told the team yesterday was we do not want to concern ourselves with who play. We never really talk about our opponents much but more about what we have to stop our opponents. They cause you two problems: They can spread you and make a play and they also bunch you and if you don't have the right personnel groupings on the field, you can get you in unbalanced positions and they'll make plays on you."
"They'll play us very hard. They're trying to do what we're trying to do here. [Head coach Tim Walsh] tries to play against the big guys and my hat is off to them for that. When they come in here, they are going to play the game of their life, I promise you."
