University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Joe Murphy
Mike Norvell Weekly Press Conference Highlights – September 3
Sep 03, 2018 | Football
Opening statement…
"I'm really pleased with our football team and the season opener. I thought it was a great experience. Memphis showed up – all of Tiger nation. It was one of the greatest Tiger Walks I've been a part of since I've been here. The atmosphere was incredible. The student section was great. And our football team showed up. You go through fall camp and the offseason, all the preparation that goes into the kickoff of the season, and to see our guys carry that preparation over and play at a really high level. We wanted to get off to a fast start. Other than the opening kickoff, we end up getting pinned inside the 5-yard line, our guys came out and responded. It was an impressive drive. I think our first drive of the season was 13 plays and 96 yards and finished with a touchdown. On the flip side, to see our defense and the way they attacked that first half of play was incredible. To hold Mercer to 37 yards of total offense and one first down, we had a defensive interception for a touchdown, the energy on every play was what we hoped to see. I was glad we were able to execute that.
In the second half, we were able to play a lot of young guys. We have many new faces that got their first experience out there at the Liberty Bowl. There are a lot of things we can learn from. The future is very bright with some of these young players that we have been able to bring into the program and their progression they have been able to accomplish in a short period of time. With all that being said, our focus is 100-percent on our conference opener. We have to go on the road in Annapolis to play a Navy football team. There have been incredible battles over the last few years between these two programs. This team is coming off a difficult loss. They traveled halfway across the world and got off to an uncharacteristic start. They got behind early against a really impressive Hawaii group. Just like you'd expect, they responded. They made it a 10-point game there late in the matchup but just weren't able to finish it off. We know we are going to get their best game. It'll be a 60-minute fight, just like every time Memphis and Navy have played each other. We're going to have to play our best game on the road for us to give ourselves a chance to be successful."
On things learned after last year's win against Navy…
"Well for one, that we could (beat Navy). Navy has had one of the most consistently successful programs over the last 10 or 15 years. The previous matchups had not gone well for us because we were just physically beat. Regardless of scheme and matchups, when it came down to 1-on-1s, we weren't productive in prior years. Last year was a difficult game. It was one that I thought our defense played at a high level. We were able to create five takeaways, so that was a big spark in the game. Still, it was a one-score game late in the contest. It's going to be the same type of ball game. We know it's going to be back-and-forth. We know we are going to have to play extremely well. We're going to have to capitalize on every opportunity we get. They are very explosive. Their quarterback Malcolm Perry is as good of an athlete and player that you will see in our conference. He can change the game on any snap. The fact they moved him primarily to quarterback I think is a tremendous weapon for their offense because of his explosiveness, but also they showcase their versatility in being able to move their new quarterback from last year to he was playing wide receiver and scored three rushing touchdowns last week. He can do so many different things. It's going to be a heck of a chess match. Having that experience last year, our guys know we can. We have to earn it in our preparation and it's got to show up when we kick off."
On preparing for Navy during preseason camp…
"Being an earlier game, we always try to focus on the first couple opponents when we get a little extra time in camp. We were able to introduce some thoughts and schemes, at least show our players some things we could expect to see. Really, up until Saturday, we didn't know who we were. We have some returning starters, especially defensively with eight guys coming back. To see them all operate as one, you try to build to your strength and put your guys in the best position to be successful. Even the work we did in the summer and going back to spring ball, that's still going to change. You're going to tweak things as we get to game week when you get a chance to see their different dynamics they have on their team. It's going to be a great week of preparation, and I know our kids are going to be up to doing their best so we'll be ready to roll on Saturday afternoon."
On Hawaii's success passing against Navy's defense…
"At the end of the day, our focus has to be on ourselves and making sure we execute our plan and our plays and how we put our guys in a position to be successful. You watch other teams and schemes, you might get an idea here and there. At the end of the day, Hawaii did a phenomenal job executing. They had great throws and catches and wonderful runs. A lot of those things were contested and challenging. They did a good job focusing on themselves, and we'll have to do much of the same. I know Navy is going to have a great plan for us. It'll be a great matchup."
On preparing for Navy's overall system versus individual players…
"I think it's personnel-driven. You have to be prepared for the scheme you could see, but you're fully aware of the capabilities of the guy in that position. When you have somebody as explosive as Perry, you have to ensure that, one, you're doing your initial job and, two, you keep him contained as much as possible. If he gets on the edge, he's a tough guy to bring down. He's not the biggest guy in the world, but he is tough to tackle. As you watch this team and the versatility of what they are able to do – they even mixed in a little bit last year, but also this year in their first game some of their spread formations that also add a different dynamic to their offense. We have to be prepared for it all."
On number of players that saw action…
"I don't have the exact number, but we played a lot. I think one of the things for us in that game was the two-minute drill. We had three timeouts, with the ball and 1:30 left. It was 49-0 and I called the offense over and said, "We are going to treat this as if we have no timeouts. I want to see us operate.' We put ourselves in a situation where, I knew if we scored a touchdown there or scored in the second half, I was going to roll with younger guys. We were able to execute in that situation. I thought our guys did a nice job and scored the touchdown. At halftime, we approached it as the beginning of the game, but with a new group of guys. Most of our starters at that point didn't go in. We were able to roll guys throughout the rest of the game. That's what made that experience so beneficial for us. We still ran our offense and ran our defense, so there were a lot of things to take from it."
On redshirt rule and utilizing playing time accordingly…
"That's something we discussed in our pregame meeting with all of our coaches. I have a plan with players on our team as to where they are right now and where they could develop to toward the end of the season. There were a couple players who I did not play in the game with that thought process in the back of my mind. It's unique. I loved it because it allows you to be more aggressive to see where guys are. A guy like Isaac Ellis, who played the entire second half at center did a remarkable job. In year's past, you hold off on playing him at that point because you are unsure. Now, you can throw him out there to see where his is in a game situation. If that arises in the future, he's going to have more confidence and we are going to have more confidence because we have actually seen him go out there and operate. I love that rule. It's beneficial for the student-athlete. It also lets them develop and stay engaged throughout the season. It was good to see all those guys on the field."
"I'm really pleased with our football team and the season opener. I thought it was a great experience. Memphis showed up – all of Tiger nation. It was one of the greatest Tiger Walks I've been a part of since I've been here. The atmosphere was incredible. The student section was great. And our football team showed up. You go through fall camp and the offseason, all the preparation that goes into the kickoff of the season, and to see our guys carry that preparation over and play at a really high level. We wanted to get off to a fast start. Other than the opening kickoff, we end up getting pinned inside the 5-yard line, our guys came out and responded. It was an impressive drive. I think our first drive of the season was 13 plays and 96 yards and finished with a touchdown. On the flip side, to see our defense and the way they attacked that first half of play was incredible. To hold Mercer to 37 yards of total offense and one first down, we had a defensive interception for a touchdown, the energy on every play was what we hoped to see. I was glad we were able to execute that.
In the second half, we were able to play a lot of young guys. We have many new faces that got their first experience out there at the Liberty Bowl. There are a lot of things we can learn from. The future is very bright with some of these young players that we have been able to bring into the program and their progression they have been able to accomplish in a short period of time. With all that being said, our focus is 100-percent on our conference opener. We have to go on the road in Annapolis to play a Navy football team. There have been incredible battles over the last few years between these two programs. This team is coming off a difficult loss. They traveled halfway across the world and got off to an uncharacteristic start. They got behind early against a really impressive Hawaii group. Just like you'd expect, they responded. They made it a 10-point game there late in the matchup but just weren't able to finish it off. We know we are going to get their best game. It'll be a 60-minute fight, just like every time Memphis and Navy have played each other. We're going to have to play our best game on the road for us to give ourselves a chance to be successful."
On things learned after last year's win against Navy…
"Well for one, that we could (beat Navy). Navy has had one of the most consistently successful programs over the last 10 or 15 years. The previous matchups had not gone well for us because we were just physically beat. Regardless of scheme and matchups, when it came down to 1-on-1s, we weren't productive in prior years. Last year was a difficult game. It was one that I thought our defense played at a high level. We were able to create five takeaways, so that was a big spark in the game. Still, it was a one-score game late in the contest. It's going to be the same type of ball game. We know it's going to be back-and-forth. We know we are going to have to play extremely well. We're going to have to capitalize on every opportunity we get. They are very explosive. Their quarterback Malcolm Perry is as good of an athlete and player that you will see in our conference. He can change the game on any snap. The fact they moved him primarily to quarterback I think is a tremendous weapon for their offense because of his explosiveness, but also they showcase their versatility in being able to move their new quarterback from last year to he was playing wide receiver and scored three rushing touchdowns last week. He can do so many different things. It's going to be a heck of a chess match. Having that experience last year, our guys know we can. We have to earn it in our preparation and it's got to show up when we kick off."
On preparing for Navy during preseason camp…
"Being an earlier game, we always try to focus on the first couple opponents when we get a little extra time in camp. We were able to introduce some thoughts and schemes, at least show our players some things we could expect to see. Really, up until Saturday, we didn't know who we were. We have some returning starters, especially defensively with eight guys coming back. To see them all operate as one, you try to build to your strength and put your guys in the best position to be successful. Even the work we did in the summer and going back to spring ball, that's still going to change. You're going to tweak things as we get to game week when you get a chance to see their different dynamics they have on their team. It's going to be a great week of preparation, and I know our kids are going to be up to doing their best so we'll be ready to roll on Saturday afternoon."
On Hawaii's success passing against Navy's defense…
"At the end of the day, our focus has to be on ourselves and making sure we execute our plan and our plays and how we put our guys in a position to be successful. You watch other teams and schemes, you might get an idea here and there. At the end of the day, Hawaii did a phenomenal job executing. They had great throws and catches and wonderful runs. A lot of those things were contested and challenging. They did a good job focusing on themselves, and we'll have to do much of the same. I know Navy is going to have a great plan for us. It'll be a great matchup."
On preparing for Navy's overall system versus individual players…
"I think it's personnel-driven. You have to be prepared for the scheme you could see, but you're fully aware of the capabilities of the guy in that position. When you have somebody as explosive as Perry, you have to ensure that, one, you're doing your initial job and, two, you keep him contained as much as possible. If he gets on the edge, he's a tough guy to bring down. He's not the biggest guy in the world, but he is tough to tackle. As you watch this team and the versatility of what they are able to do – they even mixed in a little bit last year, but also this year in their first game some of their spread formations that also add a different dynamic to their offense. We have to be prepared for it all."
On number of players that saw action…
"I don't have the exact number, but we played a lot. I think one of the things for us in that game was the two-minute drill. We had three timeouts, with the ball and 1:30 left. It was 49-0 and I called the offense over and said, "We are going to treat this as if we have no timeouts. I want to see us operate.' We put ourselves in a situation where, I knew if we scored a touchdown there or scored in the second half, I was going to roll with younger guys. We were able to execute in that situation. I thought our guys did a nice job and scored the touchdown. At halftime, we approached it as the beginning of the game, but with a new group of guys. Most of our starters at that point didn't go in. We were able to roll guys throughout the rest of the game. That's what made that experience so beneficial for us. We still ran our offense and ran our defense, so there were a lot of things to take from it."
On redshirt rule and utilizing playing time accordingly…
"That's something we discussed in our pregame meeting with all of our coaches. I have a plan with players on our team as to where they are right now and where they could develop to toward the end of the season. There were a couple players who I did not play in the game with that thought process in the back of my mind. It's unique. I loved it because it allows you to be more aggressive to see where guys are. A guy like Isaac Ellis, who played the entire second half at center did a remarkable job. In year's past, you hold off on playing him at that point because you are unsure. Now, you can throw him out there to see where his is in a game situation. If that arises in the future, he's going to have more confidence and we are going to have more confidence because we have actually seen him go out there and operate. I love that rule. It's beneficial for the student-athlete. It also lets them develop and stay engaged throughout the season. It was good to see all those guys on the field."
Players Mentioned
OL
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