Sept. 9, 2008
SAN DIEGO -
San Diego State Football Weekly News Conference
Aztec Athletics Center
San Diego State Head Coach Chuck Long
On the SDSU coordinators:
"(Offensive coordinator) Del Miller and (defensive coordinator) Bob Elliott called a great game (at Notre Dame). They were intense. They were very smooth with their play calling. They were aggressive. I really wanted to compliment both Del and Bob on a well-called game.
On the SDSU defensive unit at Notre Dame:
"I was very, very proud of their effort. We went in the game with seven defensive linemen down and some of those guys came back and played and played hurt. I am very proud of their effort. Our defense right now is ninth in the country in third-down defense, which did not happen last year. They are also 17th in the nation in red-zone defense. Those are two big areas of defense that you can build on and really help your football team the rest of the year. If you can establish those, you have a chance to win every game."
On the SDSU offensive and defensive lines at Notre Dame:
"The offensive and defensive lines were physical and intense. They really did a great job at the line of scrimmage and controlled it. Both coaches, Coach (Mike) Nelson and Coach (Jonathan) Himebauch, prepared them well. I believe that a team's toughness comes from both the offensive and defensive lines."
On Luke Laolagi:
"Luke Laolagi had 13 tackles (at Notre Dame), by far his best game as an Aztec. He had a big stop on 3rd and 1. I am really proud of Luke. He's really come a long way. Not only has he built himself up physically, he's gained good weight, he's playing really well at the linebacker position."
On the Notre Dame game:
"It was something to build on, especially the intensity level and the way we played. The way the game plans were executed was not perfect, but they were well put together and our guys did a nice job with it."
On the upcoming game at San Jose State:
"This is a big week for us (at San Jose State). It's another road game. I know our guys will be excited. I think they feel something very, very good about this week. I know we will practice with intensity and passion. Again, going into San Jose State, which is a good football team, well coached and a big challenge for us, we are hoping to get some guys back, but we're still in a state of flux especially on defense with the injury situation on who to play where. We'll figure out that during the week. I don't have a lot of answers right now, but we will figure it out during the week."
On SDSU's blitzing situation:
"We'll blitz. It was a game plan strictly put together for Notre Dame that enabled us to do more of it. They don't have any quarterback run game in their system. They have more of a traditional drop-back passer which allowed us to blitz more. Now this week, San Jose State has a quarterback run game. Now we have to pick our blitzes and make sure you are sound with them otherwise if you get out of that gap just enough, the quarterback run game will hurt you. ... Yes, we will have a blitz package. I really, at this point in time, can't tell you how much. But it will be an aggressive style of play on defense. We do have a different preparation this week with the quarterback run game and a spread offense."
On handling the Notre Dame blitz:
"We handled the blitz very well (at Notre Dame) coming at us. They blitzed about 80 percent of the time because they see Ryan (Lindley) as a drop-back passer. We handled it well and he gets rid of the ball fast. That's why there was only one sack in 59 attempts. We anticipate getting blitzed more. We don't necessarily have a quarterback run game as we did last year. That's why our running backs did a nice job of running the ball late in the second half and that's what we wanted to do, get them the ball."
On the SDSU offensive line:
"There was something a coach feels where something clicks. I just felt good about this offensive line coming out of training camp. They improved steadily each and every day. Del Miller is a hard one to please and he came to me at the end of camp and said, `Chuck, our offensive line has improved. They are going to be a good offensive line.' And he has coached it before. I rely on him with those kinds of opinions more than anybody because he's been there with an offensive line. I think that information coupled with the feeling that I had about them, I thought we were going to be solid there."
On the Notre Dame game:
"I never believe one particular play loses a football game. It's usually a series. You take the (Brandon Sullivan) fumble away, he had a great game. He ran the ball well, protected well, and caught it. He had an excellent game. He makes that fumble and we still have 10 minutes to go in the game. Our defense goes out there and you can't let them go 80 yards. And then our offense goes out there and goes three and out a couple (times). We still have time left. What happens with a fumble like that is momentum shifts. Good teams, teams that get over the hump, which we are trying to achieve, learn how to get that momentum back and create that momentum during the course of the game.
"The (missed) extra point was one of those momentum breakers. Coming out of that, we did create momentum back for us. We went out and had a nice long drive, ready to go up at least 19-7 with the possibility of going for two points and getting that. We created that momentum. It was good to see after the missed extra point, but we still have to create that momentum back and learn how to finish."
On Darren Mougey:
"Darren really had a good game. ... He made a terrific behind-the-back catch crossing over the middle and that was a good of a catch as you will ever see because that ball was underthrown a little bit. He just reached back and grabbed it and of course, that one over the middle. Darren is really starting to get into a groove at that position. You can see he is gaining confidence each and every game. Ryan (Lindley), our quarterback, is gaining confidence. It's a two-fold thing that you may not see, but we see every day at practice, those guys coming together."
Senior linebacker Russell Allen
On junior linebacker Luke Laolagi:
"Luke is a great player and we have come to expect great performances from him. He is maturing every week. He played like he is capable of playing against Notre Dame and that is what we need him to do."
On playing at San Jose State:
"Obviously this is a big game for us. The first two games we weren't able to finish the way we wanted to, but this is another opportunity for us to go out there and get a win and to start moving things in the right direction. We will be going into a tough atmosphere. I remember going there two years ago and they have some ruthless fans. They are a good football team and we know it is another challenge ahead of us and definitely a big game for us."
On the positives from the Notre Dame game:
"No one was happy about the final score. We weren't able to finish the way we wanted to, but there were definitely a lot of positive things to take from that game. Defensively, we were beat up and yet we played them tough, we played hard and showed a lot of heart. It proved that we can fight through adversity. We know that no matter what the circumstances are, we can get through it and be successful."
On the position change from linebacker to defensive end:
"It is definitely a whole different world. Those guys are big in there, especially at Notre Dame, but I felt like I did what I needed to do and I was able to maintain my gap. It is tougher to make plays when you're lined up right over a big guy like that. Normally I have a little bit of space to do what I need to do, but I enjoyed it. It was a fun challenge for me. It's a lot different than what I'm used to. If I have to do it again then I am more than happy to...whatever you have to do to win."
On the defensive performance at Notre Dame:
"Overall, I am happy with how the defense played, but we didn't win the game, so it could have been better. We had the lead late in the game and we weren't able to finish it off. So, that is a point of emphasis again this week. But, being so beat up and going in there with guys out of position, I felt like we did pretty well. We rose to the challenge and played a good football team, and we played them tough. There are definitely some things to be proud of coming out of that football game."
Redshirt freshman quarterback Ryan Lindley
On the offensive line:
"They are doing a tremendous job. Another thing to add to their credit is Brandon Sullivan and Tyler Campbell really doing a great job of pass protection. We've been working on having them help the line out a little bit with protection and that has made a big difference. I have rarely felt pressure to get the ball off quick and that is really all due to Coach Himebauch with their work out on the practice field. A lot of the credit also needs to go to the leadership of the line with guys like Mike Schmidt, Lance Louis and some of the older guys taking everybody under their wing and getting the younger guys prepared to play in the game."
On the passing game:
"I think we moved the ball very well. We did get stuck in a rut every once in a while and those are things that we need to work out, but I think we played well and we could have definitely won that ball game (at Notre Dame). I think it is working for us right now, so we are going to keep rolling with it."
On playing at Notre Dame Stadium:
"(The atmosphere) was great last week. I tried to get all the shock and awe out in the pregame (warm up). I walked around the field for a while and it was great. It was a lot of fun with all the history that is there. It was an honor to be able to play a game there."
On his comfort level with his receivers:
"I feel great right now with everybody. I know there are certain situations where I can give Darren (Mougey) the ball and he will make a play and there are other situations where I know (Vincent Brown) is the guy to go to. We have a bunch of different types of athletes at receiver as well as tight end and running back. We have a lot of guys that can catch the ball and make plays with it."
Senior wide receiver Darren Mougey
On his performance at Notre Dame:
"I felt good about it and every week I just feel more comfortable. I kind of got in the zone at Notre Dame and was able to make some plays. Those are things that I needed to do and need to continue to do."
On what SDSU needs to do against San Jose State:
"We just need to show up and play. Once we step in between the lines and the whistle blows, we need to be ready to play whether we are in front of 2,000 fans or 100,000 fans."
On redshirt freshman quarterback Ryan Lindley:
"Ryan is obviously a great quarterback. He has a great arm and has great field awareness and vision. He really sees the whole field. He knows where to put the ball when we need it. He is very football savvy and knows the game well for as young as he is."
On the transition from quarterback to wide receiver:
"The biggest advantage is knowing the system. Knowing as a quarterback where the reads are and what you want to do against certain coverages was a big advantage for me last year."
On the goals of the wide receivers as a whole:
"I would like to go into a game and have no drops. That is the goal every week, to have no drops and make as many plays as possible. So, if there is one drop, that is one too many. As a whole, we don't plan on having any drops and we can't have them in big games."