Riley meets the press
October 6, 1998
MIKE RILEY - OREGON STATE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH Question-and-answer session from media luncheon of Oct. 6, 1998
(How big was the win at Utah State?) It was really big. It was bigger than we said it was big last week. That part - to win that game - I almost didnt even realize it, everybody but one guy (defensive end Toalei Talataina) had never won a road game. The kids were really happy in the locker room after the game. I think, first of all, it was the release of tension because when youre in a game like that, everyone thinks you should win. I think everybody forgot how hard the game was last year, really. That team played well last year against us right here. A lot of things amounted to our team being really excited about winning the game. And there are all the tangible things weve already talked about - being over .500, winning all the non-conference games again, winning a game on the road - those kinds of things that are really important. I was nervous at halftime, because wed given them every chance to build momentum. Wed built up their confidence in being able to play with us, and wed continually shot ourselves in the foot to not give ourselves any chance to be successful. I was worried. But at the same time, I really did feel like, "Hey, this will be good for us." Because we can find out who we are - if were going to be any good this year, if were going to be what we want to be, then we have to come back and win this game. We have to fight and win the game. I thought we played a good half of football - not perfect, but pretty good. We started making some plays. And they did, too - they played pretty well. They ran the ball as well as anybody has on our defense this year. And the guy got outside of containment on us. They did a great job. The field conditions hurt our defensive speed. Our guys who are really extremely quick werent quick on that field, and that was a factor.
(Health of team) Really good. We wish Larry (Ramirez, offensive guard) was back this week. Jared Cornell really improved his game. But Larry is a very solid, capable player that we miss but he wont play this week.
(Quarterback Terrance Bryant have more confidence in line?) I think its real important that the quarterback has confidence in the protections. Some protections, when so many guys come, one of them is going to be free and the quarterback has to realize that and get rid of the ball. Another protection, maybe that same guy is picked up and hes got to have the confidence to stay in there and throw the ball; then if you get hit, its because theres a physical breakdown, not that theres not enough people to protect or that he missed it. So thats real important, and I think were gaining ground in that although we had an instance where he threw the ball where he didnt have to throw the ball; the protection would have accounted for everybody and he could have taken his time and made a good throw and gained some yardage. But that knowledge by the quarterback of the protection, and having confidence in it, is real important to the passing game and we gained some ground in that regard. I think we have to give our offensive line, our backs and tight ends and the guys that coach them, a lot of credit because that team was leading the nation in sacks and they did not sack our quarterback. They sacked Colorado eight times and it could have been 15 - Im not kidding. Our guys did a good job preparing for that team with a lot of variety and a lot of blitzes, and they had a lot of success. That was a positive thing. The other thing was, we came back and though we werent spectacular, we did run the ball with some effectiveness. Kenny (Simonton, tailback) got on track and was able to get going again, so that was good.
(OSU, by some lines, favored early in the week in Stanfords homecoming game) No way. Really? See, I dont deal in point spreads. Thats interesting. (That give OSU a mental boost?) I think this team has grown, and we have to prove it week to week. Im in a way glad to hear that. Im sure thats an interesting perspective on Stanfords part. I think its good. Thats real important, that we gain respect day-to-day, week-to-week, year-to-year, with this team because we cant grow without that. You cant get players unless people out there respect your program.
(On being relatively injury-free through five games) I think the point is emphasized through our strength coach and our trainer. I think our kids came in great shape. We said that right from the start - they worked hard. Thats probably the key. The other part is luck - I think youve got to say that. But I think our guys were in good shape in general and are doing well in that regard.
(Also help that only two of first five games this year were on artificial turf?) Now thats a good point, because we had all those home games (five straight at Parker Stadium to start the 1997 season). Our guys felt, after that ballgame, they rebounded real well. Sunday, they had more life - despite staying up until 5 a.m. (because of the overnight flight home) - than they had on a Sunday in a long time. Maybe it was the soft ground - I dont know.
(Do you like catching a team when theyve been struggling or would it be better if Stanford had beaten Oregon by 35 and Notre Dame by 18?) Thats hard to tell. I think that this Stanford team - Tyrone (Willingham, Stanford head coach) will have that team fighting. Their backs are really to the wall. Theyre either going to make a move to salvage their season or not pretty soon here. This is uncharacteristic and, Im sure, unexpected by them. I dont know what it means. I think it should be two teams that need to win badly playing in the game. Thats what it should be.
(Any chance of overconfidence getting to OSU?) Oh, gosh. Thats a really good point. I hope its not the case. That would be scary, if we felt like that. We had our early meetings today - I didnt have a team meeting - but maybe you could come and point that out to our team tonight. I will. Thats a good point. We sure shouldnt feel that way, because its going to be a real hard game. Stanford will fight real hard. They did play and beat North Carolina at home, and played Arizona pretty well early on in that game at home. I would anticipate them being pretty good.
(Stanford flanker Troy Walters may return from injury) He is a fabulous athlete - very versatile, fast, athletic. Hes a guy that, to me, last year was one of the front guys, focal points in the conference as far as talent. Hes one of their best threats - their best threat, probably. Its interesting. Theyre getting good production in their passing game. Where do they stand in the conference rushing the ball? (Ninth, avg. 96.0 yards per game) I think thats where the difference in their team is, offensively. Thats why its so important to run the ball.
(Stanford last in country in pass defense) For us, I think those things will come about because of our ability to run. I think if they could just concentrate on the pass, theyd be better at it. But the teams theyve played, besides just passing the ball, just pounded them. Arizona really just went after them running the ball first. So did Notre Dame.
(Punt return problems) Probably the next step is to find someone who will just catch all the balls - we thought we had him with Roddy (Tompkins). That was the main thing. But Roddy fumbled one, and we wanted to try Tim (Alexander). Tim actually looked good until that one, and that was scary. The next step is to just find whoever it might be that will just go catch the ball. I had to do that in Canada one year. I had James Jefferson III; he was leading the league, and then all of a sudden couldnt catch a ball. The last one he ever tied, it bounced off his head and I said "Thats enough." We had a guy from San Luis Obispo named Jeff Smith, a tall, skinny receiver; long blond hair; couldnt run a lick but he was a good possession receiver and he ended up being our punt returner. And in Canada thats such a huge deal because the field is so big. A guy like Gizmo Williams at Edmonton, theyve got all that room - its a fabulous weapon. And weve got this possession guy catching the ball and falling down. Thats what we may go to - our Jeff Smith out there somewhere.
(Will Tim Alexander be able to forget about the fumble?) Tim is so conscientious, I dont think he can forget.
(Does this become a mental thing?) Yeah, it does. (Does it go from one guy to another?) I dont know if its catching or not, but it is mental guy to guy. I know it is with (Ken) Simonton, because you watched him in training camp - he never dropped the ball. Now he cant catch one. Roddy has always been pretty darn reliable. Tim, being new, it wasnt surprising but it was a pretty crucial time.
(Is the cure to just have a couple games where you dont drop one and it becomes less mental?) Probably.
(Is it up to individual players on a fair catch, or do you coach that?) There are guidelines. Mostly, when youre back there, its the type of punt and what play is called - is it a punt rush? A punt return? So if you know its a punt rush, then any ball youve got to come up for, you should fair catch because youre not going to have any blockers - they tried to block the kick. But if theres a return on, you get a low kick, even if its low and short youve got a chance to return it. A ball over your head, even though its a great punt, you can return - those are the ones that outkick the coverage. Then there are those the ones right where you are, that have just about the right hang time, then you have to judge, get a feel. Those are the tough ones. But there are a lot of good guidelines on what type of kick and what your intent with the play is.
(Punt coverage team - Terrance Carroll came close to blocking one last week, OSU has been close on other punts this season) Were good at it. One game, we tipped two (vs. Nevada). So I guess that is something I think were pretty good at and well continue to try to do. We were a little conservative, and that was my fault (at Utah State), and we probably really could have gone after them. But Dave (Arslanian, USUs head coach) and their staff had a history of fakes. Every time we were going to do something in their kicking game, Id say to Bruce Read (OSUs special teams coach), "Theyre going to fake it, youve got to be ready for the fake" that he didnt go after it very much. He gave me a jab about it yesterday.
(Bret Hopkins punting) We wanted to give Bret a chance. We try to leave that as competitive as possible, and we felt the competition was getting closer and wanted to give Bret a chance. He did okay in his punt. He was a hair slow, so we went back to Mike (Fessler). Not real slow, but considering the game and everything ... we had predetermined wed do that, put him in there. Then I just thought with the game, the field conditions - more than the fact Bret was punting, I didnt want him not snapping because when he goes to punt he cant snap anymore. Thats an unusual thing. Theres still competition because the guy has improved some of the things we told him he needed to improve in order to punt.
(Kickoff returns) Bruce (Read) even said to me the other day, were going to start getting more squibs and pooches and stuff like that. One thing about kickoffs, that guy couldnt kick them into the end zone, so they really had to squib it or something not to. Nowadays, a lot of people have confidence in trying to pound the ball for a touchback. If you dont, then its not that hard for one guy to have a lot of room on a kickoff to go get the ball. So we call one of our returners a two-thirds guy; the other guy is a one-third. So if they put it anywhere in that two-thirds area, Tim will get it. Hes the two-thirds guy.
(Jose Cortez kickoffs) Its a weapon. Its a big deal, because there are a lot of good returners out there. If you can eliminate their chances with the ball, its real important.
(Any comment on what a win this Saturday would mean?) Its real early. Its just past the halfway point after that game. I think anybody on our team, anybody involved in the program, they could say youre going to be 4-2 after six games, everybody would say "Okay, well take it right now." Maybe not - maybe thats unfair. So I would like to think it would be a big push toward finishing with some more wins after that. I think this game is going to be really hard because of their situation, and theyre capable of winning games. But the games after that, youre talking Arizona, UCLA, Washington, Oregon ... those are pretty good teams. But the chances, I think, to win will increase with a win. Thats one thing about what it means to our team right now. The win itself is big, because it puts us in a situation most people would think is pretty darn good for right now. And it does give us a push - a better push. If we dont win this game, it doesnt mean we wont still do it, but it will be harder.
(What do you think of Stanford quarterback Todd Husak) I think he is productive. I read a statement by (Stanford offensive coordinator) Billy Diedrick that everybody wants to change, but he made a comparison to pulling a pitcher - if youre not hitting the ball, does that mean you pull the pitcher? He thinks there are other things involved and their quarterback is playing well, and I think he is, too. In the passing game, theyve been productive.
(Why didnt freshman wide receiver Shawn Kintner play at Utah State?) Thats a good question, but the answer is, he didnt need to. Right now, hes somewhat of an emergency guy. Thats what we determined going in. Hed like to redshirt at this point, and I told him Monday that he would redshirt if he doesnt play this week, that wed say thats it and put another guy in his spot. So thats where Shawn is. I appreciated hearing that. Thats kind of what hes wanted to do for a while. I think its all been good for him, though - traveling on the trips, practicing with the first time a lot - hes gotten to do more than most redshirt guys would ever do, so I think its been a good year for him.
(Is part of Stanfords lack of rushing because theyve been behind so early the last two weeks that theyve got to throw?) I think thats always a big factor. We all tend to get impatient. You try to run the ball, and youre behind, and you dont gain any yards. Normally, youd have a plan just to stay with it - just like for us in the game, our first runs were no good at all. Then if you keep trying it, youll find it. Especially against a team like we played thats blitzing - all of a sudden you hit a crease and youre gone and it looks good. But when youre behind and you run and it doesnt work, you say "Why is that any good to call?" So you lose your patience and your will to stay with the run, both. I dont know if that statistically proves out, but it probably does.
(Stanford also lost some good backs) Those guys, I thought, were really good backs. I think these guys are talented athletes. Theyre a talented team; I think theyre a young team and theyll grow. But I think as far as being able to make some plays and being capable of being Pac-10 players, they are definitely that.
