Sept. 27, 2016
SAN DIEGO -
San Diego State Football Press Conference Quotes
September 27, 2016
Head Coach Rocky Long
Opening statement:
"We had a good week (last week). We practiced hard for three days and took the weekend off. I got to watch a lot of football games. We moved up in the polls without playing a game. It's interesting how that works. We always beat bye - we're undefeated against bye. They never beat us and in this case we got to move up in the rankings. We came back to work on Sunday and we're back to reality.
"The truth of the matter is we are playing a very good football team, a very talented football team, that this year has been hot and cold. Every game they have been hot and cold. (South Alabama's) athletic ability is obvious because they beat a SEC school at their place. They have great athletes.
"My recollection of last year's game and reality were two different things. My recollection of last year was that it was a highly competitive, very close football game that we lost in overtime. That part's true, but I thought the two teams played equally - bad or good - whichever way you want to put it. When you watch the film and then look at the statistics, they should have beat us by about 21 (points). They ran the ball better than we ran the ball, they threw for more yards and had way more total offense than we did. The score was close, but in reality they completely dominated us, especially up front. They've got a lot of those same athletes back. I'm sure they have a lot of confidence because they've beaten us before and beaten us bad. At least physically they beat us bad.
"They've got a great coaching staff that did some things last year that we hadn't seen on film that gave us some problems and I'm sure they'll do it again this year. We're playing at their place and I'm told it's the first time a ranked team has played them at home. I'm sure they'll be excited about playing us."
On South Alabama's offense being similar to California's:
"Everybody lines up in the same formations but everybody runs different concepts. They have different concepts in the running game, they have different concepts in the passing game. Some are the same, but their personalities show up in their concepts."
On if last year's loss means anything for this year's game:
"Anytime somebody beats you, you relish the chance to return the favor. My idea that last year's game was two teams of similar playing ability was exactly wrong. They outplayed us bad. You have to give them credit. On offense, their quarterback is different but the rest of the skill positons are the same. They have four of their starting offensive linemen back. On defense they have seven starters back. It's the same players. I don't know what would be assumed that would be different this year from last year."
On South Alabama's win earlier this year at Mississippi State:
"They played well. They had just as many good athletes as Mississippi State did. Like one of their players in their press conference said, they could care less if we are ranked. Anybody can beat anybody at any time in college football and he's exactly right."
On last year's loss to South Alabama:
"They outcoached us too. We got outplayed, especially at the line of scrimmage, and they did some things schematically that caused us some problems that they hadn't done before they played us. I would assume they will do it again. I'm sure they are going to do some stuff against us that we haven't seen in practice or on film. They've got a real good coaching staff."
On South Alabama tight end Gerald Everett:
"I think he's an NFL player. He's got great size - he's 6-4, 240 pounds - he runs really fast, he catches the ball really well. In their scheme he doesn't have to block very much. In fact, very seldom is he a true tight end on the line of scrimmage. Most of the time he is a slot or a wingback. He's one of those great big wide receivers/tight end guys that are matchup nightmares. (If) you put a linebacker on him, he can't cover him. If you put a DB on him, he can be running right with him but he can't keep him from catching the football."
On any fear of coming out flat after a bye week:
"I don't think there is any fear that we will come out flat. I think the fear is how we'll play. A bye week is good for every football team. They come back refreshed. The guys that were beat up and banged up are not beat up and banged up anymore and have had time to recover. They'll be excited about playing. They like to play football. The real concern is how well they'll play. If you go two weeks and nothing except against a scout team look, you get into the game and all of a sudden everything is a whole lot faster than practice was. From week-to-week-to-week you don't lose that, but sometimes you do in a bye week. The speed of the game gets to you, especially in the beginning."
On getting into a shootout at South Alabama after not wanting to against California:
"In order for us to maintain where we are right now in terms of standings and all of that we have to win every game and it doesn't matter how we have to do it. If they score a lot of points, we have to score a lot of points. If we are having trouble scoring, we have to keep them out of the end zone."
On if SDSU will play any different with a national ranking in front of its name:
"I don't think it puts any added pressure on our team. I don't think young people of this age think about it that way. They're having a great time with everybody patting them on their back telling them that they are ranked. They are enjoying that. I think they think that's exciting, I think they think's that's fun, but I also believe that we have mature players. You can put us against any team in the country and we're liable to beat them, no matter who you put out there. And you can put any Division I team against us and we are liable to lose. That's just the way the game is."
Sophomore quarterback Christian Chapman
On handling the No. 19/24 rankings:
"We're happy about getting the recognition and moving up (in the national rankings), but we still have our mission to do. We're just taking it one week at a time. We're trying to finish the season with an undefeated record and have a number in front of our name then."
On South Alabama's defense:
"They're really athletic on the defensive side of the ball. They've got some big boys up front. It will be the same thing as last year as they are going to try to play tough and we'll have to execute."
On if he left a few plays on the field at Northern Illinois on Sept. 17:
"There were a couple of deep shots that I overthrew a little bit and a few third-down attempts that I missed. There were a few mental errors on our side of the ball that we need to clean up and hopefully fix them this week (at South Alabama)."
On coming off a bye week:
"Everyone coming off a bye week is really healthy now. We got rejoiced, it's kind of like our first game again. I think that's good. I got my energy back and I feel healthier. We're all hyped again and we are ready to get back into the swing of the season again. The young guys got to scrimmage on Thursday. It was nice watching from the sidelines to see how much they have improved since fall camp. A lot of guys have stepped up, maybe even a few who might help us in the near future."
Senior defensive end Kyle Kelley
On if the defense let up with a 28-0 lead at Northern Illinois in the team's last game:
"I don't know if we let up or they just got some momentum going. They had that one fly sweep play that kept working. It was a bunch of little things here and there that just added up for them. We still need to improve as a defense. It was only the third game and we still have a lot of improving to do. We'll keep on trying to get better each week."
On if there is any pressure playing as a nationally ranked team:
"It's nice being recognized as 19th right now. I'm not sure if it adds pressure, because we all have a goal of going undefeated this season. There have only been three games so far though, it only matters where we are at the end of the season. We're just worried about South Alabama. We're not worried about the (national) rankings."
On South Alabama's offense:
"They've got some good receivers and a good tight end. Their quarterback is new, but most of their offensive line and running backs are returning. It's pretty much the same group we saw last year. They look like a solid offense and we'll try to be ready for them on Saturday."
On last week's bye practices:
"I thought we had three pretty good practices last week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. They were good, long, solid practices. I think everyone got better. We had a very productive bye week."