| Stockstill: Memphis offense better than Clemson's |
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Posted: Tuesday, September 8, 2009 3:44 pm
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Raider running back Phillip Tanner
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Middle Tennessee's football team will face a better offense against Memphis this Saturday than it saw against Clemson in a 37-14 loss last Saturday, Raider Head Coach Rick Stockstill said at a Tuesday press luncheon.
Memphis also lost its opener, falling to No. 8 Ole Miss in Memphis, but was competitive until the fourth quarter.
Clemson capitalized off great kick returns, including a 96-yard kickoff return for a TD to open the game and a scoring punt return, plus two interceptions off tipped passes to get the Raiders down early and win in Death Valley.
This week's game marks the Raiders' home opener and has been designated the Blackout Game with a 6 p.m. kickoff.
Comments from Tuesday's luncheon:
Coach Rick Stockstll
Opening Comments
I was proud of the way we competed against a good football team last week. We didn't play as good as I would hope we would play, but Clemson had something to do with that. We made some mistakes and made some improvement throughout the game.
Memphis coming up will be a great challenge for us. Not many people believe it, but I think their offense is better than Clemson's offense. If Memphis didn't throw the interception right before halftime, then it is a 10 to 7 game at halftime. It was a close game throughout the second half and Ole Miss did not really take over until the end of the game. They have got a lot of junior college guys and transfers from other schools. A lot of their guys run well and they are talented at receiver, running back and other skill positions. We've got a big challenge ahead of us this week to get ready for them.
On building a home
It is important to win at home. It is hard to win on the road no matter where you play. They call it a home field advantage for a reason. Our players enjoy playing at home and it is important you play well at home in front of your fans.
On the importance of playing in-state teams and potential recruiting impact
I don't believe high school prospects go to one school or the other because this school won and the other lost. I love playing the in-state schools and believe this a natural rivalry that can be developed. They are in Conference USA and we are in the Sun Belt. We are only three and a half hours apart. It is easy for their fans to come here and our fans to go their. I think it is good for both schools.
On keeping Dwight Dasher focused and not thinking of the success he had two seasons ago against Memphis
He scored on a long touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. No one that plays in that game two years ago is thinking about that game. They have different coaches and we have different coaches. We've got to focus on the fundamental things we do and getting better. We have no control over what Memphis does. All we can do is control what we do. Dwight has got to get better and the whole team has got to get better.
On team excitement regarding the black jerseys worn last year and again on Saturday
I told the guys last year that just because you are wearing black jerseys and black pants does not mean you are going to play better. You have to prepare yourself mentally and physically for this game. I know they enjoy wearing the black uniforms. The black jerseys are the "In" thing. They are excited to wear them, but they are not going to make them play better and they are not going to make them tackle better or score anymore points. We've just got to go out their and play our game. I hope the fans get into it the way they did last year. It was a great turnout and a great show of support from the students on campus as well as our alumni and supporters from the community also. I hope everyone gets into it, but for the players it is just the color of the jersey.
On Memphis quarterbacks and different styles of play they present
I don't see much difference between the two of them. They do not change their offense based on what quarterback is playing. They are going to run the ball first and try to get big wins with their passing game. We played against Will(Hudgens) two years ago. They are both excellent quarterbacks who are big, physical guys. They are great competitors. Our plan will not change from a schematic point based on the quarterback who is in the game.
On what the coaches saw when watching Memphis play Mississippi
We did not have any film on them to that point so it was good to be able to watch the game a little on Sunday. They have a new defensive coordinator, but we were not really sure what they were going to do. We had a little film before Sunday's game, but had not done a lot with it because we were not sure what they would do. They hired from within and it looks like they did basically what they did last year.
I thought they looked good. They were playing the number eight team in the country and if they did not throw the interception it would have been 10 to 7 at halftime. It was still a close game throughout the second half until the last five minutes of the game. They are big and physical. They have got two big physical running backs and two receivers that are 6-4 and 6-8, and dynamic quarterbacks. Their defense is physical and got two interceptions off someone who is projected as the second quarterback to be taken in the 2010 draft.
On Clemson's success running the football verse Middle Tennessee
They had 202 rushing yards for the game and 94 on the last two drives. We've got to stop the run first. Memphis is not going to come in here and try to beat you throwing the ball, they are going to run first. They are going to beat you with the physical toughness of the running game. Memphis has a big offensive line and two talented running backs. If we can't stop the run, we are not going to win the game or at least not on defense.
On Malcolm Beyah playing on Saturday
Malcolm is probably still out. He hurt it in the last scrimmage. He tried to go last week and could not go. He has not practiced in two to three weeks. I do not see it happening unless he can go today. We have got a couple of people getting MRIs today and I will not know their status until I get those back. I would say we will probably have two people who started last week who will not start this week. I do not see Malcolm playing unless he is better today.
On stopping Memphis on third downs
The defense's job is to stop the other team from scoring, create turnovers, and get off the field on third down. When you do that, you are doing a good job defensively. They are a different team and we are a different team. The object on defense is to get their offense off the field. If you can do that then you can have some success.
On special teams
We have to address some things. We did not kick the ball like we wanted to kick it and we did not punt the ball like we wanted to all the time. It was not always David (DeFatta) or Alan's (Gendreau) fault. We got out of our lanes a couple of times. On the first kick off, we got out of our lanes and they took advantage of it. The same thing with the punts, some our guys got out of their lanes. We will continue to work and improve in this area.
Thoughts on team going into Memphis
They will not quit, they have got great determination and heart, and they will fight with you until the very end. I love their attitude and everything about them. They play the game until the last second on the clock. There are no pointing fingers at one another. I'm disappointed we lost, but I do not have any reservation or doubts about their commitment to being great. We played a good football team and did not play our best. If we had played our best we might have had a shot to win. It was 30 to seven at halftime. In the second half we started on first down three times inside the 35 yard line. If we had finished those drives, if we had done a little better in the kicking game and not given up those big plays, who knows. But they fought hard and were encouraged the way they played.
PLAYER QUOTES
Alex Suber
Talk about the season's first home game and Blackout.
It is real exciting to be able to come back home and play in front of our fans. The Clemson crowd was pretty hostile and crazy and I'm hoping we can get that at home. It is always good to play at home and the Blackout game is always exciting.
What was it like from an emotional standpoint to look around before the game started and see the sea of Clemson orange?
It gets you pretty excited and going. We have played a lot of big schools and crowds like that and to the older guys it isn't a big deal. But it does get you excited and ready to play.
Memphis has some very tall wide receivers. What is it like against those guys?
Yeah. They are extremely tall, but I stand next to a 6'2" guy and he is pretty tall.
You got to play with Michael Cannon (Memphis native) a lot over the past few years. What was he like as a teammate?
Actually, Mike is one of my best friends. He is my roommate and we came in together. We were born on the same day also so we are pretty close. He is a good guy.
How disappointed were all of you guys to see him watching the season opener?
Man, it stunk. We were really excited about him playing this year and being a starter. It was no fun not seeing him out there.
Phillip Tanner
How do you feel about the running game after a week?
I wouldn't say the opportunity wasn't there. After watching the film, I left a lot of yards on the field and I had a lot of misreads. The offensive line blocked really well and to be honest I am really excited about the running game this year more than any year since I have been here.
Talking about going into Memphis after last week, how much does it count to pick out some special team mistakes and some lost points on the field which would have made it closer? How much does it make you look forward to Memphis?
Every week you can go into the previous game and find what you did wrong in order to improve. There is always room for improvement and after looking at the film we saw things we did to ourselves. Not to take anything away from Clemson because they are a really good team, but we helped them in a lot of ways with turnovers and special teams. By getting those things together and working real hard throughout the week, we are really looking forward to Memphis Saturday.
Does it hold any special meaning for the first home game of your senior season against an in-state team who people are going to measure this program against?
Of course it is exciting, but at the same time Coach Stockstill has taught us to go out and play every game like it is our last. Therefore, I am going out and playing every play as hard as I can knowing I may not have another play or game after this year. I am laying it all out on the line.
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