Nov. 5, 2007
"It was a very frustrating game this weekend, a very unusual game. We are really disappointed and frustrated right now. We're coming back, though. We'll get back to where we need to be shortly.
"I was concerned about this game from the very start. I was concerned about our preparation - not necessarily our practices, because our practices were very good. I thought there was an overconfidence [going into the game] that we shouldn't have had. I thought we were too relaxed. I told the guys before the game that I didn't think they were preparing the way they should, and they had 20 minutes to get ready to go. We came out just like I was thinking we would. We fumbled the ball, then they caught a pass for a touchdown on their first play, then we had an offsides penalty and two holding penalties. So at halftime we regrouped, and it was like getting hit in the face. We didn't play great football until the end, but we came back and we fought hard in the second half.
"The way we do things is a winning formula and if we do what we're supposed to do, we'll win. We want our guys to act a certain way on a trip and at the hotel. We want them to be on time, be attentive and be serious -- not uptight, but bring a serious approach to the game. We want them to be confident, but not relaxed. We want them to have a little edge. It's combat. It's physical and it's tough, and you should get your body and mind ready to go. A young team needs to be constantly reminded of this, and that's what we're going to do. We're going to make sure we take care of all the little things so the big things take care of themselves.
"After the game, like our fans I was furious and mad at everybody. But the sun rose up again. People are looking to me and our coaches for leadership, and we're going to give the players the leadership they need.
"I said the game was going to boil down to [Rice quarterback] Chase Clement. He was probably responsible for 75 percent of the plays, and we couldn't tackle him. We talked about containing him and we did containment drills all week, and we couldn't tackle him. They did make plays on us. Their quarterback was the difference. He reminds me of [former Washington State quarterback] Jason Gesser. We had seven guys on defense who couldn't touch him.
"We were very disappointed with the way we played. We had numerous opportunities to score more points. We were not effective in the red zone and short yardage. Trevor Vittatoe bruised his shoulder and played through it and played pretty well. Their linebackers stuffed our run. If we had more confidence in the running game, we could've run the ball more in the fourth quarter and it might have been a different outcome. They turned the ball over numerous times, enough times to lose the game and it wasn't good enough for us to win.
"Penalties are part of the discipline problem. When we came here three and a half years ago, I thought we needed to work on structure and discipline and we still need to work on it.
"I think the coaches always assume the guilt in any game that we lose. Players win if we win and coaches lose if we lose.
"It was a bottoming out on Saturday as far as the way we've played this year. It was a pretty quiet plane trip coming back, and Sunday's workout was quiet too. It's up to us to get the spirit and enthusiasm back. I've got the players' back and they have mine. We're together as a coaching staff and as a team.
"We have to work on building the defense's confidence. You have to be confident to play defense. You have to be confident to play pass defense. There's not a defensive back in the country who hasn't been beat for a touchdown before. It's going to happen to everybody at some point.
"We'll make whatever changes are necessary [on defense]. We're going to have to make some changes scheme-wise, because it's a different type of offense that we're playing this week. And I think we'll make some changes on offense because it's a different defense we're going up against. We think we have good coaches and good players and a good scheme, but we're not winning. So we're going to bow our neck and do what we do and do it better, but we're certainly not going to shoot people or make them walk the plank.
"Quintin Demps was matched up with Jarett Dillard for most of the game [on Saturday], but they put him in different places and hid him in different spots. It was a good matchup for us most of the time, but it wasn't a good matchup in spots.
"That was probably one of Fred Rouse's better games, other than the fumble. I think he's pretty close to being in shape and being healthy. Brandon Jordan looks like he may be out for the season with a bruised spinal column and concussion. But he's walking around. He's fine.
"Now all of a sudden we're playing a team that's down and they played their worst game according to their coach, and yet they have the nation's leading rusher and the number one defense in our conference.
"Anthony Scelfo is the same kind of quarterback as Chase Clement. He's quick, he's fast and he throws the ball pretty well.
"Bob Toledo is a really good friend of mine. We enjoy each other's company. It looks like New Orleans is treating him as well as Mexican food has treated me since I got here. I don't know if he's gained weight, but there's something he's hiding underneath that sweater. He is a good man with a great family. We're personal friends off the field.
"Matt Forte has kind of got it all. He's got good speed, he's going to drag you for yardage, he's a strong runner, he's strong, athletic and quick, he's big. He's a professional running back. The offense that Bob runs is probably better for him than the offense they ran last year."
