John L. Smith discusses Tyler Wilson's status for Saturday and his comments about players quitting along with several other topics on Wednesday. A partial transcript is below and you can listen to the conference above.
On Tyler Wilson:
“Tyler Wilson has been out there. We have at least been preparing like Tyler is going to be here. We still have not gotten clearance, so we are waiting and hoping and have our fingers crossed that he will be ready to go on Saturday. At least we are optimistic that may happen. With Tyler out there yesterday, what a great spark he brought to our football team and to our practice. It was a positive good day and when he is out there he is definitely the leader and spokesman.”
On the schedule in the weight room being pulled down:
“Symbolically the kids are saying that we don’t want to look at anything other than the Rutgers game and that is the only thing that was up there. I believe it was (Alonzo) Highsmith who got up and ripped it down. He and Coach B said we are going to take everything off that schedule except Rutgers, that is all we need to think about, which is a great statement for him to make and the mindset of our football team that we don’t want to be looking at anything other than them.”
On whether the mental or physical aspect of the game is the biggest hurdle this week:
“I believe a little bit of both just because of the fact that mentally we are down, we are hurting. We are working our tail off at fighting back and making sure that we stay postitive and taking the field with an attitude that we have to get better and we are going to get better. But when you have some bodies out of there it creates a bit of a physical aspect as well that you have to come up with some guys to overcome that. It is a little bit of a problem on both sides of that, but again mentally we just have to correct that. The physical part, we will plug some people in and they will continue to work there, they will go to the field, they will practice hard, they will get better. The mental aspect as coaches we are doing everything we can, we know our leaders are, to kick each other in the tail and to go to the field and work hard.”
On Knile Davis’ slow start:
“We have to get better in those spots as far as people blocking for him. It is not all Knile by any means. I think it takes a little time, and kind of always is a case for a guy coming off of an injury, is that it is not going to happen right away. Particularly going through fall ball and making sure we didn’t hit him. It is going to take a few weeks. I think he is starting to get confidence in the fact that not only can I take a hit, but I can deliver a hit. He is starting to deliver some blows and be the Knile that you saw a couple years back. I think he is getting better each week and will. We have to do a better job of opening some holes and getting him some space as well.”
On improving the defensive front seven
“In our down guys I see some improvement and I saw some improvement last week. I think the more practice we are putting in against one another on the field has improved us as far as our gap controls, our pad level and things like that that take place on our offensive and defensive fronts. You take a look at all of it, I think we need better play out of our linebackers and more consistent play as well. I think our front is gradually getting better, but I think our linebackers are a little bit inconsistent. (Otha) Peter has taken a lot of reps there as has (AJ) Turner who are both freshman. Freshmen as you know have a lot of growing to do to be able to play in this league right off the bat, so you are going to take a lump or two. That is where I see the improvement has to be made. I think we are making strides on the D-Line.”
On supporting Tyler Wilson’s comments about players quitting:
“I don’t go through everything that is going on the sideline as well, but again, that guy is showing the passion for the game. When he gets up and says things like that, he is just speaking from his heart, his passion for the game and wanting to do everything he can do to lead these guys. Certainly we are going to all be accountable for our actions. I think that he is saying nothing more than that is that look in the mirror and everyone be accountable for what took place today and let’s go to the field and get better.”
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