Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Dale Lennon Football press conference transcript
09/12/2011 | 12:00:00 | Football
Sept. 12, 2011
By Logan Lee
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Saluki football coach Dale Lennon reviewed last week's game at Mississippi during his weekly Monday press conference and looked ahead to what the team will work on during the bye week.
Analysis of the Ole Miss game and season to date
Where I see things, kind of my evaluation of the team at this point in time, is that we were tested in week one and week two. We can evaluate ourselves as a football team. We have things we can work on this week, that we need to work on. We know what our strengths are and we know what our weaknesses are. We know what we have to do to take the next step.
The concerns I have with the game and the things that I think we can learn from -- I think we got overwhelmed with the nature of the game. That was a big-game setting. There were a lot of emotions at the beginning of the game. The mistakes that we made early on, they were very correctable, but they were basically mental mistakes or just not being quite in-tune with what was happening and therefore we gave up big plays. That's something that when we do get in the big games, we have to make sure our focus is where it needs to be and try to eliminate as many of the distractions as we possibly can. That in itself was an experience that we can hopefully use for the better.
We made too many mistakes against a good team. Offensively, we made four turnovers. You just can't give up the field position that we gave up. Our average starting spot was at our own 23. Their starting spot was at the 43. In any game, regardless of the level, you're going to put yourself at risk with those type of numbers.
Defensively, the thing we have to do better is that we missed tackles. That first big run of the game for them, we probably had six or seven missed tackles on that play alone. A lot of it is just technique and a lot of it is being aware of the situation and being able to adapt to speed, which was something we didn't do.
Special teams-- we have to be more assignment sharp. That punt return (for TD), it was probably the simplest thing that we teach that didn't get done. We just didn't have contain on the punt return. We had six guys going down the field and no one was blocking us, we were just out of position. And again, that just goes back to the emotions of the game, knowing your responsibilities and doing it. Those are things that we'll work on. They're very correctable. It's not a mismatch or physical deficiency that we had, it was just basically not playing the complete game.
The positive, though, which I think you can definitely build upon, this group definitely didn't give up. They had a lot of reason to, they had a lot of adversity. Even in the darkest six minutes in the game, when you're trying to figure out what's 21 times four, you know you're not quite sure if you can get the ship steered straight or the guys to stay positive, it's that next-play mentality that I think we held on to that you just say let's line up next play and see what happens. That showed us a lot about the team.
The thing, too, is that I think we've identified areas that I think we need to improve and I think they are definitely correctable. We know exactly what we need to get better at, and we have a week to do it and work on some drills, and I think the timing of the off-week was pretty good to us.
So, our week coming up, we're going to do the morning practices. We did that last year. We really liked it, the players liked it, so 6 a.m. we're on the field and we'll be done by 7:30. It will be short and sweet and no one is going to miss any classes. Get the guys up early, work on some things we need to work on, and bring some guys back as far as the health is concerned. We'll do that Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and then Friday will be a workout day for us (lifting and conditioning), Saturday will be off and then Sunday we'll start preparing for Missouri State.
Q: After the game last weekend you mentioned one of the reasons you didn't try an onside kick is that you weren't as good at it this year. Have you ever thought about asking Kyle Dougherty, who's down at Carbondale High School, to come help out with your kicker?
A: Kyle does a good job. That's one of those things that either you've got it or you don't and we can do it. (The decision) worked out for us. At the time, there was 6:39 left in the game, and the last thing we wanted to do was give up field position where all of the sudden you take yourself out of the game. We felt that to give us the best chance, we would kick the ball. We played defense, and got the ball back with 4:39 left in the game and down two scores. That was a decision that at the time you think both ways. Plus, we wanted to have better field position, and that's where they did a good job with their kicker and we ended up being backed up again. Kyle comes over here all the time. He lives with Paul McIntosh so he comes over here all the time. And the technique you use to do it, it comes natural to some people and some people it doesn't.
Q: You aren't going to be facing that caliber of a team on a weekly basis, but at this point ,how do you feel the team measures up as a whole with the FCS?
A: I'm not going to speculate on that. I don't know how good Ole Miss is. I like the opportunity to play an FBS team. I think we have a chance to be a very good football team in the Missouri Valley and I think the Missouri Valley is pretty tough. I look around at some of the scores, and again it's tough to draw any comparison because all you're doing is comparing scores. Youngstown State right now is a team that has my attention. They are a team on the rise and they have the talent. They did some nice things against Michigan State and they completely demolished Valparaiso, so those are some things that are pretty impressive.
Q: What do you think are your strengths and weaknesses?
A: I think right now we have to pay attention to the details, do the little things right. Our weaknesses aren't glaring but it is attention to detail. Execution offensively, execution defensively, being in the right spots, being able to run the defense and the offense specifically the way that you've coached it. Special teams, making sure that people are always in position. Right now, what we need to do a better job at is pay attention to detail.
Q: You had two sacks. How good do you think your pass rush can be?
A: I think we have a pretty athletic defensive front, again with the pressure that we bring, we better have sacks.
Q: What was the message to the team yesterday when you met for film?
A: The message was pretty simple. We came out of that game where we can feel good about things, but at the same time, we have to realize that it was our mistakes that are very correctable that cost us the opportunity to do better. I'm not saying it cost us the win or that we are supposed to win if we do this, this and this better, but we could have played a much better football game against Ole Miss and we didn't do that. That's something that you have to realize and understand and not be happy with. There's a satisfaction that we went in and we competed. We held our ground when we were in some adverse situations, but we could have easily done a lot better and that's what we've got to do.
Q: I know you mentioned that you'll know more about Kayon's (Swanson) injury tomorrow or Wednesday. Have they told you if it's a high ankle sprain or a lower one or anything at this point?
A: Ankle sprains just take time to develop. You never really know. You really don't know the severity of it until Wednesday, Thursday, Friday because that's when the healing period should be settling in, and sometimes it's not, so that's one of those wait and see. He's moving around on it and he's optimistic which is usually a good sign in itself, but you just have to let time answer that question.
Q: Do you think it's as bad as (Mike) McElroy's last year?
A: There's no way to tell. McElroy had to have surgery, so I would hope it's not that bad.
Q: Are most of our passing plays done in the pocket? Do you have any where Paul moves to the right or the left?
A: We've got him moving all over. That (first interception) wasn't Paul's fault. We didn't have the right timing of our offensive tackle throwing the block, so a lot of times the quarterback is thrown under the bus with everyone saying it's his fault, but in reality, he's doing he's doing exactly what he's taught to do. Now, that guy did a good job, we threw the block too soon and he was able to come off the cut block and then react up. When Paul threw the ball, the amazing there, is that guy wasn't even in the area and it was just his reaction time that got him there, then being a big guy with long arms he made the play.
Q: Turnovers were a big part of your season last year. Did you feel better about no fumbles against Mississippi and you did not lost a fumble against SEMO? Do you feel better about that this year?
A: It's four turnovers. A turnover's a turnover whether they come through the air or the ground. Our running backs did a good job hanging onto the ball but that's an expectation. We need to do better with some of our throws.
Q: Do you feel good about your ability to get the ball to your key playmakers?
A: I think we have done a good job of getting the ball to our key players on the offense. We had eight explosive plays on the course of the night and that's good against any defense, especially one from the SEC that really held a BYU offense in check the week before. I think that speaks that we do have some big playmakers on offense.
Q: You had said that (Bryan) Boemer was a little shaken up. Does that mean he's going to be limited this week, too, in practice?
A: He needs to heal up. He's just bruised.
