University of Memphis Athletics
Justin Fuente Weekly Press Conference Highlights
Sep 28, 2015 | Football
Opening Statement….
"We are getting ready to go on the road to South Florida and play a fantastic football team this Friday. They had two weeks to prepare for us. They are big and athletic and well accomplished on defense. They have added new coordinators and will present a challenge. They are athletic at quarterback and incredibly dynamic at tailback. They are playing a tough schedule obviously playing Florida State and Maryland. They had last week off so they have had enough time to prepare for us. We played them last year at the Liberty Bowl and it was a very close game. I would expect that it will be the same this year."
Fuente comments on the defense…..
"I think there are a couple of things you can kind of ask your team from looking at it. First of all, for the past two weeks, we have not liked what we have done defensively until the last five minutes of the game. This is a question you bring up to the kids, when your backs are truly against the wall, we seem to respond quite well. So what is the difference between that and the normal flow of the game?
"Second, I do not think it is anything you can point your finger to. We have to play better across the board. We have to get to the passer and rush the passer better. We must do a better job on coverage we give receivers. We have played good teams that are better throwing the ball but we have to play better across the board. I think we will and I think part of the challenge is that we have all these new starters out there. How do we progress and stay healthy so we can see progress? Can we improve throughout the year as those guys playing for the first or starting for the first progress throughout the season? Do we improve and that is our biggest challenge.
"I like the way our kids handled it last night (at practice). We had a very spirited practice and the kids did a great job. I think they have embraced the concept of trying to improve".
On if there is a problem with communication in the secondary ...
"I do not know if we have a communication issue. I just think a lot of it was forced. The tempo which Bowling Green's offense plays can cause communication issues. Is that an issue? Absolutely. Is it because they are going fast or do we just not know how to talk? It is a combination of both in my opinion. If I had to make a list of all the things we need to improve on I do not think communication would be Number One".
About the team's fourth-quarter play ...
"This is the type of question we ask the kids. I am not really positive but I like it. I love the intensity and urgency in which we play. I speak to their character, toughness, and them buying into the program to make those plays at the end. It is something to learn from our urgency and that is something I believe in. I cannot look into their minds, and it gets to the point if you do not do this then you will not win. We have been taking those steps these past two weeks. Hopefully, we will have that type of mindset on a regular, more frequent basis".
Justin Fuente Weekly Radio Show
Memphis head coach Justin Fuente's weekly radio show will air live this evening at 7 p.m. from Brookhaven Pub on WREC AM 600.
"We are getting ready to go on the road to South Florida and play a fantastic football team this Friday. They had two weeks to prepare for us. They are big and athletic and well accomplished on defense. They have added new coordinators and will present a challenge. They are athletic at quarterback and incredibly dynamic at tailback. They are playing a tough schedule obviously playing Florida State and Maryland. They had last week off so they have had enough time to prepare for us. We played them last year at the Liberty Bowl and it was a very close game. I would expect that it will be the same this year."
Fuente comments on the defense…..
"I think there are a couple of things you can kind of ask your team from looking at it. First of all, for the past two weeks, we have not liked what we have done defensively until the last five minutes of the game. This is a question you bring up to the kids, when your backs are truly against the wall, we seem to respond quite well. So what is the difference between that and the normal flow of the game?
"Second, I do not think it is anything you can point your finger to. We have to play better across the board. We have to get to the passer and rush the passer better. We must do a better job on coverage we give receivers. We have played good teams that are better throwing the ball but we have to play better across the board. I think we will and I think part of the challenge is that we have all these new starters out there. How do we progress and stay healthy so we can see progress? Can we improve throughout the year as those guys playing for the first or starting for the first progress throughout the season? Do we improve and that is our biggest challenge.
"I like the way our kids handled it last night (at practice). We had a very spirited practice and the kids did a great job. I think they have embraced the concept of trying to improve".
On if there is a problem with communication in the secondary ...
"I do not know if we have a communication issue. I just think a lot of it was forced. The tempo which Bowling Green's offense plays can cause communication issues. Is that an issue? Absolutely. Is it because they are going fast or do we just not know how to talk? It is a combination of both in my opinion. If I had to make a list of all the things we need to improve on I do not think communication would be Number One".
About the team's fourth-quarter play ...
"This is the type of question we ask the kids. I am not really positive but I like it. I love the intensity and urgency in which we play. I speak to their character, toughness, and them buying into the program to make those plays at the end. It is something to learn from our urgency and that is something I believe in. I cannot look into their minds, and it gets to the point if you do not do this then you will not win. We have been taking those steps these past two weeks. Hopefully, we will have that type of mindset on a regular, more frequent basis".
Justin Fuente Weekly Radio Show
Memphis head coach Justin Fuente's weekly radio show will air live this evening at 7 p.m. from Brookhaven Pub on WREC AM 600.
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