March 27, 2007
Head Coach Ralph Friedgen
On the opening of spring practice:
"We're very excited about spring practice opening today. Our team has worked very hard this winter. Our strength and our speed have improved and I think we've got a lot of momentum created by the win in the Champs Sports Bowl. It was a great experience and we're excited about the new season."
On coaching changes:
"We have a new secondary coach, Kevin Lempa. He comes to us from Boston College, and he's had the chance to coach in the NFL. The last two time we've played Boston College, they've had six interceptions, so it's sort of a `can't beat `em, join `em' situation. We're very excited about having him on the staff."
On players missing spring practice:
"We have some players that will miss spring because of injuries. Isaiah Gardner had a shoulder operation, and Isaiah Williams had the same thing. Rick Costa has a shoulder problem. Jermaine Lemons will hopefully be able to join us after his operation last summer."
On the offensive line:
"One of our concerns is depth in the offensive lines. Phil Costa tested very well there. He's made tremendous improvement, and we're looking for him to play more this year. Jack Griffin will provide some help for us. Scott Burley played very well at the end of last year. And we have guys like Andrew Crummey, Dane Randolph, and Jaimie Thomas who are all very good offensive linemen."
On the quarterback situation:
"We have to find a starting quarterback, and that should be a very heated contest. Whenever you play a new quarterback, it's a learning experience. They learn from their mistakes, so we have to be patient. Right now, we have six quarterbacks and it's hard to get all of them some reps. We have to make sure that we get everyone enough reps to evaluate them and make a good decision."
On filling linebacking voids:
"With Wesley Jefferson leaving, we have to fill the middle linebacker spot. Chase Bullock will start there, and Alex Schultz is a redshirt freshman that we have high hopes for."
On the overall outlook right now:
"We have a lot of speed on defense. We have a chance to be very good on defense. Offensively, we hope to get some help from the freshman class to fill in some depth."
On the quarterback contest:
"I'm not going to put parameters on finding a quarterback. The earlier I can do it, the better, but we're just going to have to see how that plays out. I'm anxious to see who can put the ball in the end zone. Sometimes we get tied up in a lot of other stats that aren't as meaningful as that one. We'll start off with Jordan [Steffy]. He's been the backup and he's taken the most reps in our offense, but by no means is that a lock on the situation. The quarterback situation is open, and the best guy is going to be the one that plays. Even if we name a starter at the end of the spring, that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be the one starting the first game in the fall. The main thing is how our team is progressing, and this is just one part of our team."
On Chase Bullock and the linebacking situation:
"Chase Bullock has really worked very hard. He's an excellent kid and he gives you everything he has. I hope he can come in and do the job. He's the kind of guy you want to find a spot for. Alex Schultz probably could have played last year, but we wanted to hang onto his redshirt. We think he has a very bright future. Chase has the experience, but he's got another guy breathing down his neck, and we'll see how he does. It will be a competitive situation."
On offensive needs:
"I think you're going to see Drew Gloster and Jason Goode playing a little more wide receiver for us. Da'Rel Scott is a running back even though we tried him at wide receiver last year. He can create some problems by putting him in the slot and creating some personnel matchups. We know we have to good running backs, but I really want to get a good look at Da'Rel and Morgan Green this spring."
On coming off a bowl victory:
"Last year at this time, we had a lot of kids that hadn't been to a bowl. There is a lot of confidence that comes with going to a bowl and being successful in it. They had a lot of fun with that. The Champs Sports Bowl did a tremendous job of hosting us. It was a very enjoyable bowl to go to, so it's whetted their appetite. That is something that we didn't have last year at this time that we have this year."
On the new spring practice format:
"We only get 15 days of practice, but we have been given us another week to get those 15 days in. It helps the players because they don't have to go out every day, and it helps the coaches because we don't have to worry about rainouts as much. Spring practice is an important time to find out what the nucleus of our team is going to be. When we come back in the fall, we don't have time to find out a whole lot, because we have to get ready to go for the first game. It's a very important time."
On depth at wide receiver:
"Last year, we had two young wide receivers who played very well for us. We have to get more, though. I'm encouraged by Emani Lee-Odai, who ran very well. We're hoping he has a good spring and can be a contributor for us next year."
On getting depth at the offensive line:
"All of our offensive linemen have run very well. Our starting offensive line is going to be pretty good, but we just need to find some depth behind them."
Richard Taylor (#9, DB)
On running track:
"There wasn't any overlap; this is what is most important to me. This is what is paying the bills. As far as I am concerned I am completely 100 percent committed to football."
On WR Danny Oquendo running track:
"Danny ran track and was a track star in high school but he had not done it here. It is very different to manage it at the college level. I think he did an excellent job. I wouldn't say I pulled him in; he certainly had the drive, but anything I could do to help him out I certainly would. That is what is so great about this team; guys will do anything they can to help each other out."
On last season's bowl victory:
"It is a confidence boost. We know we can win now. Our talent is measurable with any team in the ACC. We have faith in our coaching staff that they will prepare us to win every week. And as long as we are in that moment that Coach is always talking about, the moment of truth, the war of wills, that confidence is going to help us win that war of wills next year. In the previous five or six seasons, we didn't know that we could win, that we were a championship team. Whereas now, we have been there, we have been in the moments, and we love the fire."
On close games:
"We relish in the fire. We would rather have a game where we win by one point then to blow people out. I think it makes it better for the fans, too. Coaches would rather win by 30, but there is nothing more exciting than winning at the last second and rushing the field and your crowd rushing the field. It is a tremendous momentum boost. Once you get that type of momentum around your program it is hard for you not to succeed."
On new secondary coach Kevin Lempa:
"We have worked with him in meetings and winter workouts so far. I am extremely excited to work with him. He is a commodity and he is a people guy. You have to be a special guy to work with DBs because we are characters. He has a reverence in the meeting room where everyone will be quiet and just listen to him because they all want that knowledge so bad. We all know he has had 21 [NFL Draft] picks; we all want a piece of that too. I think that we are all extremely excited to work with a guy who is probably one of the best secondary coaches in all of college football. He is a winner and his DBs are All-ACC. I am extremely excited to work with a guy who has a warm spirit and at the same time is technically on."
On the secondary line:
"The secondary has changed in that there are not as many guys you know about like Josh [Wilson] and Domonique [Foxworth]. I have been here when those guys were here, but I don't think it is any less talented. I think that guys have just had to wait. Guys like Kevin Barnes, Anthony Wiseman, and I, we have been here for a long time. We have seen a lot, we got our reputations when we could. We made the plays when we were asked to make them. We are just really excited for an opportunity to step out and show what we can really do."
On containing QB Josh Portis:
"Portis is an animal. His athletic ability is not measurable; I can't tell you how much athletic ability he has. And just like me, he has things to work on and he will get them right because that is the kind of guy he is. He is a humble guy and even if he is named the starter, I don't think he will let it go to his head. I think he will stay grounded. He has an extremely good relationship with his mom and I think she keeps him in check day to day."
On QB Jordan Steffy:
"Jordan is my homeboy, I love Jordan. I have seen Jordan come a tremendously long way. He has had some setbacks like me. I have had 27 dislocations in my shoulder; he has had knees and stuff like that. He and I are in the exact same situation except we are on different sides of the ball in different positions. I think he is just as excited to be thrown into the fire and we can't wait to showcase. I think this season is an opportunity to showcase what we have been working on for 10 or 15 years now. I think it is going to be a heated battle."
Keon Lattimore (TB, #21)
On the running game:
"We have confidence and we can be comfortable. We have depth in positions that we use a lot."
On the offensive line:
"Just a couple seasons ago we had problems with the line. It is going to be one of those things we have to mingle with a little bit. That is why we go through spring camp; we are going to sort all these things out. By the time the fall gets here we will be ready and all of that will be taken care of."
On the quarterback situation:
"That is one of those things you just have to let the coaches worry about. We have a couple good quarterbacks; they compete and have been working hard. So, it will be interesting to see what happens but whoever gets the spot will do a good job. They all are taught the same thing they all know the same things, so whichever one steps up, they know what they are doing. They all are in the same meetings going over the same things and they have the same goals."
On outlook on the season after a bowl victory:
"It is always good coming into a season after a winning season. We want to thrive off a win and go to another bowl game, maybe a better bowl this year."
Lance Ball (TB, #44)
On being a leader:
"Throughout the years I have been playing, I have had to step up and be a leader. I take on pressure well, I think it is fun. Guys look up to me and I love being a leader."
On training:
"Since I have been in the program so long I have been doing the same lifting, I just wanted to switch it up. Trainers have been implementing different things to help me out like different squats, and more resistance work."
On importance of spring ball:
"Spring ball helps us start on a high note. This is a time to fine tune everything and get the young guys prepared for the season. We work our kinks out so we can start out on a high note."
On change in attitude after bowl victory:
"We are a little bit more confident, we have a little bit more swagger. Coming off a 9-4 season, we are going to be boosting ourselves and we are going to be more confident. I think that is what the team has now."
On the quarterback situation:
"There is a lack of experience, but Jordan and Josh have been studying their playbook with Coach Friedgen everyday. There will be some concern about playing time, but I have no worries. I think that they are prepared."
