JDs Press Conference

[skip-zip]

JDs Press Conference transcript is posted on GoZips.com.Here's my comments.It doesn't mention anything about a starting quarterback, but he seems to be quite a bit more positive about CJ11s performance this week, than he was about CJ7s performance in the Can't game.He makes a good point that we've played one of the toughest schedules in the country to this point.He talks about something I especially want to keep in mind this week. Sure, winning BCS games would have been great, but the ultimate goal is to win the MAC and get to a bowl game. As long as we're in the MAC, I think that should always be our primary goal. He points out that everyone pretty much forgot about our win over NCST last year because of the way we played in conference play after that. And I think he's right.I think it's time for us to put last week's ugly loss behind us, and starting cheering our team on to a MAC championship run !!

[Dr Z]

On the loss to Connecticut...“The game was a tale of two halfs in many ways. We played pretty good football in the first half. We felt like it was game of momentum shifts and a couple of them we didn’t respond well too. We certainly had an opportunity for more points in the first half. Obviously, the momentum at half changed when we didn’t get any points out of the last drive but I thought we came out and rebounded from that fine. We got the interception right out of the half in the first series but then we got called for a hold after having the first down. We came back and defense again responded. From there I didn’t think we responded well to the momentum shifts. We are not a team that is going to come out and throw 50 points on the board very often. We got behind and did not recover well. We played a good football team but now we are into Mid-American Conference play the rest of the way. That’s where our goals are at.”On the schedule...“We have played the fourth toughest schedule to date. Ohio State and the University of Connecticut are two of the toughest defenses in the nation but there is still life, no doubt. We understand exactly where we are. We have goals that we set each year. Obviously, winning the MAC is the number one goal. We have BCS goals as well. If you recall this football team last year, the first thing that comes to mind is not the upset against North Carolina State it was the rest of the way. In the end the win against NC State was a great momentum builder and exciting but it meant zero to the season. The 2005-06 season we were 5-3 and lost, I believe, most of our BCS goals but we won the MAC Championship and went to Detroit for a bowl game. That is what people remember of that football team. Right not we are looking at the fact that we are 1-0 in the league.”On quarterback Chris Jacquemain...“Chris played pretty well, he had a good first half. He played well enough that we left him in for the second quarter series that Carlton Jackson was going to play. We thought we needed to continue with him. He did make some errors, the one critical one and he also took some sacks he shouldn’t have but I think he got that under control and did a better job in the second half.”On the third quarter breakdowns to date...“There are a couple reasons we haven’t done well in third quarters. At Ohio State we just got worn out. The defense had played so hard in the first half. At Indiana, the quarterback got loose and made some great plays and was even better than we thought he was. I think you go in with a plan and then make your adjustments at halftime. At UCONN we went and defensively were playing well. Then all of a sudden they go away from every tendency they have. We got hit a little bit off balance. We are playing good football teams. We obviously have to play better but to point the finger at the third quarter as to why, I don’t know. One of the challenges I have given to the team is to finish better. We finished well at Can't but had some breakdowns at OSU and Indiana.”On the loss of John Mackey to an ACL injury...“John is so vocal and so respected for his work ethic and how he plays. I think that inspires other guys to ramp it up a notch. Your talking about a kid that played through a shoulder injury last year I don’t think anyone else would have played through. There is that respect level and seeing that in the huddle juices the guys up a little bit. That is something that the defense collectively has to ramp up.”On the progress of the offensive line...“We are still making some mistakes that hurt us but we are getting there. In terms of grading they’re kind of borderline right now. In terms of passing I think part of that is competition and who we have played but I think we have made great improvements. Our missed assignments have been lessened dramatically. I’m not going to say I am happy with line but I am pleased with the progress.”On wide receiver Jabari Arthur...“I can’t say enough good things about him. He was the first player in our office this morning to watch tape. He sacrificed his dream of being a college quarterback. I thought he would do better at wide receiver and I think that’s proven out for him. In every way he is the right kind of guy. Obviously, he is a physical talent but also he has a mature demeanor about him that is really engaging. He is a pleasure to have on the team.”On playing Western Michigan Saturday...“They are a very good football team. In my mind they were the favorite to win the MAC. I thought they were the most talented with the most guys back. It is the same crew, they are physical, they run the ball well, have good skill players, and are big up front. Defensively, they are complicated and they are a physical football team. Last year they handled our offense up front. They also have a good kicking game, one of the best punters in the nation. Those are our challenges.”source