Meet the Press: Paul Chryst previews the Miami game
11/24/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Coach Paul Chryst Press Conference Transcript
Miami Game Preview
Opening statement:
"I'm excited for this week and the opportunity that we have as a team to play against a very talented and well-coached Miami team. Shortly here, we'll get the group together and it'll be fun to get into the preparation and the challenge that Miami presents. I'm really excited for it."
On the availability of James Conner this week:
"We'll see how he goes. After the game he felt alright, but obviously it (hip) was hurting him. All of the guys that are injured, we'll see where they're at today. Tomorrow will be a little bit more of a test when we start a more active practice. We'll put the pads on tomorrow. Today we don't go pads. We'll get a feel for how they're moving around."
On Chris James' patience in running the ball:
"For Chris, one of his weapons is his speed. You watch his high school film and he was going to outrun a lot of guys. I remember a running backs coach I worked with in San Diego [with the Chargers], a great coach, and [Pitt running backs coach John Settle] actually says the same thing: it's "Slow-to, fast-through." You've got to be patient, then when you see it you trust it and go. I thought he had some moments where he had to be patient with it. I thought he ran really hard.
"You see it in James [Conner] even earlier in the year. James certainly had more carries from last year and this year, but I think all backs go through that. It was good to see Chris have some [runs] where he was patient, then accelerate."
On if the team is approaching Miami with bowl eligibility in mind:
"You don't know what every kid thinks. The biggest thing is playing Miami is great motivation. It's a heck of a football team on all three sides of the ball. They've got some special players on their team. You see that, and like we've talked a lot about, at the end of the year you either earn the right for another game or you don't. This week has enough merit. I know guys will be excited. I know they were after last week's game."
On the challenge of containing Miami tailback Duke Johnson:
"I think Duke and what they're doing in their scheme fit well. Their offensive line is athletic. Their scheme allows him to truly have some freedom to run. He's an extremely talented back. They've got a good line. Our run defense will be tested. There have been times when we've done some good things, and there are games were we haven't been great. We need to make sure we're really good against the run. He is a special player. The strength of their offense is that they've got some really good play-actions off of him. They do it differently, but each team presents you with conflicts where if you overcompensate, you're vulnerable. A lot of those old adages really hold true. You've got to tackle. You've got to get extra hats to the ball. But you also have to play disciplined.
"We're going to be tested, and we've got to play well. But I think the guys are excited. Anytime you go against a good player, if you've got any competitiveness in you, it's going to bring the best out in you."
On the benefits of getting extra practices with bowl eligibility:
"All you need is this week. I'll never say you don't value those extra practices. We value spring ball. We value the time we get every day after practice when we get 15 minutes with the young guys. Absolutely there's value to that. There is a ton of value to being able to be in a bowl, but you've got to earn that. Right now, the best way to get there is to play well this week. That's all the focus you need. That's all you can focus on."
On how to build on the Syracuse game and get more turnovers this week:
"You saw the difference that can make in a game. There are two sides to it. Ray [Vinopal] forced two. Pat Amara did a nice job when Bam [Bradley] was contesting the throw. If you get pressure on any quarterback, you'll make him uncomfortable. All of those things that lead to turnovers or takeaways are still true. Now, you've got to go do it against a different group of guys. That's why they're so special, because each one you get you've got to earn. Guys know the value of it, so I don't think it's like, 'Boy, now that we've seen what takeaways can do for us, let's crank it up.' But it is a little of a mentality. A lot of a mentality. You've got to go after the ball. You've got to go earn them. You see what it does to a game. Our players know that, and we know it on all sides of the ball."
On senior running back Isaac Bennett:
"I've loved the opportunities to be around Isaac. One of the things that makes him special as a running back is his knowledge. He didn't have a hard time picking up the system or adjustments as they come in the course of a week or course of a game. Extremely smart player, competitive, and I love who he is as a guy. Three years ago, he's making an impact on special teams. I think he's a guy that truly cares about his team and teammates, and will do whatever. I never once sensed or felt that he didn't have the confidence to be that guy that could carry a team as a running back. Whoever the back was, he was going to make sure he was ready and he was going to help that guy. That's what's impressive when you're around him. He'll do anything for any guy on this team, and when he's called upon, he'll be ready. Kickoff cover, he's fun to watch. Third down, normal down-and-distance, you can't say enough. Those are the kind of guys you love being around."
On the offensive line setting multiple backs up for success:
"It all goes hand-in-hand. No one in this group, in the line, fullbacks, tight ends, or running backs thinks it's just them. I don't think you'd ask one O-lineman and they'd say, 'Any back could run through this.' And yet, I think if you asked any of the backs they'd say, 'You know what, we're getting a lot of help.' Look what James [Conner] has done. Look what Isaac [Bennett] has done. Look what Chris [James] has done. [Rachid Ibrahim] did some good stuff the other day. That's the beauty of it. They all know that they need each other."
On the pre-snap penalties against Syracuse:
"Any game, it's disappointing to see. This week there were some times where we didn't overcome those [errors]. We've had them, but we were able to overcome them. Those unforced errors hurt you. Fortunately, the way the game played out, you're not looking back at it and that's the difference. But you have to approach it that way. We weren't great. We had the turnover in the red zone. We had good field position and got ourselves out of it. We had procedure penalties and a sack and never got back at it. Really, we had opportunities for points but put Chris [Blewitt] in a difficult [position]. Those are a lot tougher kicks when you're outside of 40. Every game, you've got stuff you've got to clean up and go with. You've got to keep the focus. Those things are big. When you go back and look at all of our [procedural penalties], is there something with the cadence? In the middle of making a call or trying to communicate, did something happen? At the end of the day, no one cares. You've got to handle it. You can't give away yardage. It's so hard to get."
On the emphasis of quality coverage on special teams:
"We have put a lot of emphasis on it. Last year, it was big in a negative way. Both in who we got on it and the amount of time. That's why you appreciate when you get those opportunities. I thought the return game was big. We had a 25-, 30-yard punt return that set up a score. A couple of weeks ago we played an All-American punt returner [North Carolina's Ryan Switzer]. It's the same guy. It does kind of go in bunches at times for whatever reason. I'm sure we're no different than anyone else in the amount of time we've got to spend on it. I don't think it's being officiated any differently or anything like that."
On what makes Miami linebacker Denzel Perryman special:
"I think he's really talented. He must understand their defense and the game at a different level because he plays really fast. He's physically got the talent and speed, but he plays fast. There are things that you see where there's awareness. Just finding the ball, not a lot of wasted movement. I thought it last year and even more so this year. He's a heck of a football player. I think he's special."
On receiver Dontez Ford's ability as a blocker:
"I think he does pretty well. He'll put it out there, and he's smart. I think that he can adjust. Sometimes when you're moving guys to different spots, you've got to make sure you're not putting too much on someone's plate and slowing them down. He's a smart, tough, dependable player."
—PITT—
