University Southern California Trojans
Hackett, Bellotti Preview Oregon Game
September 21, 1999 | Football
Sept. 21, 1999
USC Head Coach Paul Hackett - September 21, 1999
(re: San Diego State recap): "When we step back from the San Diego State game, and you can look at it as an overview, I think we were very fortunate to be able to recover and respond the way we did after getting ourselves in a real pinch. We played a solid first half, although we had opportunities to score more and didn't. Then we let them off the hook with that last play just before halftime, which gave them life. They did an excellent job of planning and playing against us. What I was most pleased about was that when it got to 17-14, and there were questions about whether or not we were going to be able to hold on and win the game, I thought we played very well. Offensively we had that long drive to make it a 10-point lead, and then our defenses' ability really shut them down. The concerning thing is when you go two weeks in a row throwing an interception for a touchdown for the other team? that's a little rough on your defense. Fortunately our defense has played well enough to overcome something like that. That's clearly something that has to be stopped. I felt as though we handled the adverse situation very well and once again I have to give a lot of credit to San Diego State. They played very, very well and we are fortunate to be 2-0."
"The focus, clearly, over the last 48 hours, has been over this team up in Oregon. We need to understand that this is a very dangerous football team in my opinion. First of all they have had two really big wins back-to-back in their own stadium. They've got some rhythm, some confidence? their quarterback, who was going to be the big question, is playing very well. He's thrown seven touchdowns and one interception... I don't care who you're playing, or when you're playing, that's incredible. They have that dangerous combination of excellent wide receivers, and excellent runner, and a very, very good quarterback. The biggest change in Oregon, from an offensive standpoint, is that their tightends are now pass receivers. They have athletic tightends, and that's far different from what they've had before. The fact that they're leading in every offensive category is legitimate. I think the job that they've done with a very banged up offensive line, a thin offensive line, has really been outstanding. So I give a lot of credit to their coaching and the way they've handled the quarterback transition. On the defensive side, this is where the strength of their team is. They have seven or eight starters back. Peter Sirmon really looks to be back into his form of two years ago. He's made a couple of crushing tackles to knock the ball out and force turnovers. I think that (Tamoni) Joiner is doing an excellent job at the cornerback position? they've had some injuries there that have been a problem. Michael Fletcher is playing very as sort of a linebacker/rover position. It's experienced people? it's the same group we played against last year, and struggled against last year up in Eugene. We've got to contend with the weather - we've got to contend with the crowd. Special teams? they've had a 99-yard kickoff returned for a touchdown, and a 52-yard punt returned for a touchdown. They have a veteran kicker? I guess what I'm saying is that we are stepping up in what we're all about. We have got to open the conference with a very, very good football team. I think this Oregon team is really outstanding and they have the chance to be one of the premier teams in the conference. We have our work cut out for us? I think it comes at the right time for us? I think we've had two games? we've a sense of where we're going, but I don't think we've established our identity? who we are or what we're doing - other that the fact that we play good defense. I think our defense has been the one thing that's been consistent through the two games. Offensively, we were disappointed with last week's performance? against Hawai'i, perhaps things were just too easy. We're working our way through a new football team, with a lot of new faces and a lot of young people. This is going to be a major, major test for us. I've said all along - our ability, as a football team will be determined by our ability to travel and play on the road. If we can travel and play effectively on the road, then we have the chance to be a very good football team. The second test comes this week and we're excited about it, we're ready for it."
"We're disappointed in the injury to Windrell Hayes who has been a real leader and real role model for our football team by the way he prepared for this season. We will miss him for a game, or two, but we have to be able to overcome that. That's what college football is all about. Overall we're fairly healthy? we'll get some people back? it's just going to be a test of where we are as football team at this point, and we're very much looking forward to it."
(re: restructuring the goalline offense): "No, we don't work on goalline until Wednesday. We've certainly been kicking around some things. There are some things from a strategic standpoint that we're reexamining. There are some things from a personnel standpoint that we're reexamining. Ever since we had to face the goalline situation without Petros, we've been a little up in the air. We've got Matt Welch now playing at tightend position? we're looking at all the ways which we can improve that phase of our offense. What we come up with, you'll see on Saturday night. We're just going to continue to work to get better in that area. That was one of our premier areas a year ago, and this year it has to be re-tooled."
(re: injury to Windrell Hayes): "What I think has to happen now is that Marcell Almond, as well as Steve Stevenson (who unfortunately had a week off due to his ankle), will have their roles increase. I think that Kareem Kelly and R.J. (Soward) will be the two starters until Windrell in ready to go. It's the freshman group again, all three of them now are going to have to play integral parts, not just one guy. As wee look back on the game, never having thought anything would happen to Windrell and Kareem would have to play 50 plays, that's a little much to ask of a true freshman. We do have three freshman and now, what they'll probably do is try and split some of the playing time. I think it's time for R.J. to do what we all know he's capable of doing. What's nice is that Kareem now has a little experience and he can now share in part of that role. Where exactly the other people fit in - Stevenson, Almond and Stanley Guyness who is ready to get going again - will depend on how the game unfolds. Clearly this is a blow, but someone else has to step up and fill the void.
(re: R.J. Soward's performance): "I think anytime you have someone that has the electricity to him that R.J. (Soward) does, I think we all look at those games where he is just unbelievable and we use those game as a standard for R.J. But I don't think that's realistic in college football, that anyone that you play against is going to allow on e guy to just be unleashed week after week. What has happened, with the emergence of Windrell Hayes, is that we have more of a balanced offense. That what you've seen in the first two weeks. There have been numerous plays that get called in his direction, but whether is be coverage or execution, it doesn't quite happen the way that it should. Therefore, he's probably had less production than any of us thought that he would at this point. But I think that's the function of a lot of things? the function of the design, more importantly, the defense? the function of his consistent performance and his ability to be on the same page with the quarterback. R.J. is feeling his way with Carson (Palmer) and that will get better game, after game, after game. With Windrell out of the game, at this point, the experience of R.J. Soward needs to come to the forefront."
(re: interceptions and R.J. Soward): "For my standpoint, it happened in Hawaii where we had the receiver doing one things and the quarterback doing another and it cost us the same way - we had an interception for a touchdown. This was a case where the same thing happened, R.J. (Soward) and Carson (Palmer) were not on the same page and it resulted in an interception. The second one was an unfortunate situation - the ball was thrown late, it was thrown slightly behind - what you always hope is that the receiver and the quarterback work together to protect each other. I don't like to point out and say that it's this or that, I think it's a combination of the fact that we are early in the season and we are not in sync. But once again, R.J. heard me say this before, the consistency in his play is lacking. He needs to be a more consistent route runner and performer in order to step up his game. Interceptions are not the responsibility of the quarterback? they are the responsibility of everyone involved, the pass protection, the receiver and the quarterback. Last year we never threw a ball to the other team? we don't do that and we've got to get that resolved.
(re: Kareem Kelly's play): "I don't know if you can ask much more of a freshman. I think he's come in and done everything we've asked of him. I think it is both a physical effort on his part, but also a tremendous mental effort to understand and learn all the things we ask him to learn. The one thing about Kareem (Kelly) and Darryl (Knight) and Lucais (MacKay), those guys that have been competing in track at the highest level for a long time, they're a little more game savvy than most because they have put their hand down with the best in the country. They've had to compete out in front of everybody. They've brought that mentality to our football team. Kareem has had the opportunity to display his talents, and he has taken advantage of that opportunity.
(re: Darrell Rideaux): "(Darrell) Rideaux has vastly improved. We were concerned against Hawaii and then he wasn't available. This week he should be ready to go 100 percent. We are very pleased with how he's responded to the treatments. It's one of those injuries that happened up at the state meet. He still a long ways off, but it's much, much improved."
(re: the running game): "Obviously there's concerns - we didn't run the ball very well. They did an excellent job with the run-blitzes to basically say that Chad Morton was not going to beat them, and force us to beat them with Carson Palmer and the receiver core. They did an excellent job of scheming and making it difficult for our offensive line. I don't think our offensive line particularly rose to the occasion, rose to the challenge, like they did the week before. Hawaii presented some of those same problems, although not as many, and I think that we handled it much better. We were ready to play and it was indicative after the first drive on Saturday. What we didn't do is convert the opportunities that the defense created for the offense. When you're in the redzone and you can't get in the goalline, you put yourself in a position to make it a long Saturday afternoon. I was most encouraged about Chad Morton who stepped up to the plate about 30 times, ran like crazy, bounced back every time and went back in the huddle and continued to come at you. That shows you the kind of runner, and the kind of running game that we are going to have. He did a marvelous job.
(re: too many carries for Morton?): "I thought at one time that he needed to get some rest. We discussed it and felt that because of the kind of game it was, as long as he felt he could go, he should go. One time I went back on the bench, and he was sitting off to himself, and I said that he had about the max (about 22 carries), and he said 'coach I feel great? I need to do this?. I need to go.' As long as he can go - he's the main man. When he needs a break or relief? we'll do it. I was really pleased with his performance."
(re: No.2 and No.3 spots): "That continues to be a mystery. Malaefou (MacKenzie) may be available? Frank Strong may be available? Sultan McCullough will remain in the No.2 spot, and get more practice this week. Jabari Jackson is certainly available, but we're a little wounded in the runningback position. We have guys who are somewhat compromised by injuries that won't go away. We won't go up to Oregon with much depth? we'll go up with Chad Morton and McCullough. Maybe as the week unfolds, we'll have the chance to add another guy or two to that.
(re: is Malaefou MacKenzie the goalline guy): "We were all very encouraged coming out of Hawaii, but he had a set-back in the bye week. It would have been awfully nice if he would have been in there on Saturday? if he would have been the guy to do that. A lots just going to depend on his health."
(re: what to do in the backup linebacker position?): "What we're going to do is work three different people in the backup outside linebacker position. We're going to work Darryl Knight, we're going to work Troy Polamalu, and we're going to work Aaron Graham. We will have three, two of which are freshman, to work in that position. Henry Wallace is working in the middle linebacker position as a backup to Zeke (Moreno). That's going to be the group. Last week was great experience for Aaron? to be thrown into your first game without ever having the chance to take a deep breath. In this game, all kinds of things went badly? the loss of Windrell Hayes, the play before halftime, the Markus Steele injury, the goalline problem? all things that we have now experienced before we have to go up and play a conference game. This is really about the conference, it's about the Rose Bowl. I'm pleased where we're at right now. The Pac-10 is extremely competitive, very even, and a little something here is going to make the difference. We have to find the edge."
(re: celebration penalty against SDSU): "I think in this particular case it was absolutely the right call. That's the way it's going to be? we're not going to have celebrating on this team or any other. In their opening drive of the game we gave them 30 of their yards, and they only had 40 something. It's unacceptable. We've got to get it resolved or it's going to cost us playing time. I don't want to take people out because they're playing hard and are emotional, but there's a control factor that has to exist. I've told the team, act like you've done that. We're a football team and we're judged by our performance? we don't have names on our back and we don't need them? It's your play that sets you out."
(re: Sultan McCullough and the penalty): "I have a philosophy and the guys know it. If something bad happens, I'll let you know, but I'm not going to penalize the football team. I'm not going to put them in the position where they don't have another opportunity. When it's over, it's over. You get an opportunity, as a member of this team, to right the ship. As upset as I was, I felt he should get the opportunity to get back in the game. If it continues, then perhaps we handle it differently. We are trying to get this penalty issue resolved? we all know how harmful it can be."
Oregon Head Coach Mike Bellotti - September 21, 1999
(re: outlook on team after first two games): "I think against Michigan State we were probably our own worst enemy? we had a fumble picked up and run back for a touchdown, we dropped a touchdown pass ion the endzone and we didn't play quite as well as we could on defense. We didn't quite handle some alignment situations and so I think we came away from that game somewhat encouraged because we thought we could be a good team, but also somewhat discouraged because our own mistakes had cost us. I think the last couple weeks we've improved, we've played a more complete game and we made positive steps against UTEP in terms of defending their run. We also played a fairly complete ball game against Nevada-Reno. I was very pleased with our defense because Nevada had the ability to put up a lot of points. We played a physical brand of football, which kind of took them out of the game early, and then everything else seemed to click for us. We feel good about the improvement that we're making."
(re: A.J. Feeley): "A.J. is really somewhat of a veteran of the program he's just inexperienced on the field. He's starting his fourth year as a redshirt junior who has a very quiet sense of confidence. He's a very poised young man, and is confident about what he can do. He's not trying to be Akili Smith, he's being A.J. Feeley. He's throwing the ball very well and making good decisions. He handled the situation at Michigan State very well. He was probably more nervous for his first home game here, but he got through that. He did a very nice job last week even though we didn't have to throw the ball that much. We anticipate a lot more pressure from USC, and they have such great team speed that we'll have to make good decisions from the quarterback position. I am comfortable and confident that A.J. will give us that."
(re: Reuben Droughns): "It has been a nice progression from the first game because he did look a little tentative at times? he was just feeling his way through. He played better against UTEP because he didn't have to play as much (only about two quarters). He only played two quarters this last game (Nevada) and was running with greater authority and much more physical. I think he's real close and getting a better feel for the game, though I hesitate to say that he's a 100 percent. This is great defense that we're going to face, highly ranked in the Pac-10 and in the nation, so it will be a great test for A.J., for Reuben and our entire offense. As I've said all the time? it starts at the line of scrimmage."
(re: Pac-10 performance): "People ask me this every year. When we're doing good, people are fired up, when we're doing bad? Let's wait until the end of the season. Teams develop over the course of the season. For my team, there were a lot of question marks heading into the season and so far I think we've had some positive answers to those questions. Other teams have more questions that have developed. I still like the Pac-10. On a game-to-game basis, I think the Pac-10 teams can compete with anyone in the nation, but obvious there's room for improvement. I don't rule anyone out yet and it's still a very competitive conference to talk about.
(re: thoughts on USC): "Just watching them on both sides of the ball? I think they've matured? their coaching staff is in its second year? and I see great improvement of defense. That (defense) to me is the most significant improvement. I know they had good defense last year, but they're probably better this year just by the nature of some of the things they're doing. They have tremendous speed? Markus Steele is easing the loss of Chris Claiborne because he just seems to be making plays all over the field. Carson Palmer is a much more experienced, much more mature quarterback that is becoming a great quarterback. They have such great team speed on both sides of the ball that it really is scary. I'm losing sleep trying to figure out how to counter their speed. We're a quick team with good team speed, but SC has great team speed. We have to avoid making some turnovers. They've done a great job? they have a great turnover ratio and certainly there's nothing that correlates better to winning than a great turnover-takeaway ratio. I'm concerned, they're a very good football team and we're going to have to play well. Certainly the winner of the this game will get a jump start right into the conference race."
(re: development of Tony Hartley): "We've had a lot of question this year regarding where is Tony Hartley. Fortunately for us, we've had a lot of players step up. Tony is maybe not having a lot balls thrown his way as much, but he attracted a lot of attention in the Michigan State game. He's caught seven passes for almost 20 yards a catch and two TD's already. We got him back in the game early last week. He is very quietly making an assault on just about every receiving record that there is. It hasn't been as quiet in the program because we recognize that Tony could play as a true freshman, he did. He's contributed every year and is one of the guys that we look on now as an established star player. He's a guy that just makes plays. Some of the catches he's made already this year - a fourth down conversion catch against Michigan State when everyone in the world knew it was going his way - it was unbelievable. I'm pleased that we have some other weapons to take the pressure off Tony, but I was also very pleased to get him actively involved in the game plan last week.
(re: Adam Kennybrew): "Yes, Adam has switched position from quarterback (which he redshirted last year) to fullback. He is very active right now playing on special teams, in fact, he did a very nice job last week on kickoff coverage team. Adam is an athlete and he'll play somewhere. He's learning some of the offensive stuff now? he got a couple carries last week in a mop-up role and we're hoping to expand that. Might be a defensive player down the road especially because he has the ability to run and to tackle, and he's not afraid to hit in the open field. I'm very pleased with Adam and what he brings to the program as a redshirt freshman. We're still seeking that ultimate position, but right now he's making an immediate contributions on special teams."
(re: Herman Ho-Ching): "I hope so and I believe so (that he'll be a confident running back this season). Herman is a gifted athlete that lost some direction last year. He'd never been hurt in his life really. When he hurt his knee then hurt his back I think, in his own mind, it took away his ability to do some things and he lost some focus. He struggled with that all last spring, even into the summer and recently he's had some of things that have woken him up. He played last week with great resolve to change some people's mind about him and his performance. He ran extremely hard? he played hard? he covered up and protected the football. I've said all along that he's a great running back. We have two great running backs and I want Herman to make a profit out of it. He showed at times last year some unbelievable toughness and maturity as a true freshman. Sometimes that gets overblown and everyone forgets that he was a true freshman, just out of high school. This year has a better understanding of how to carry that load and the role as Reuben's backup. It's key to note that he's going to get quality time, but he's got to earn that time. Then, when he gets the opportunity to produce, he has to make sure that he covers the football - which he did an excellent job of last week. I'm hopeful that that's a big step and a springboard back into a more active role for him.
