Both Charlie Weis Jr. and Glenn Spencer spoke to the media on Wednesday ahead of the Bulls matchup with the Pirates as two teams from the bottom of the AAC last year square off.
CHARLIE WEIS JR.
On facing ECU
"So it's been a, it's been a good week of practice, you know, we've had to really turn up the intensity, obviously disappointed how the last two games have gone, especially on offense and how we performed. So we know we got to get better and work on the details of everything that we're doing and then playing a defense like us or ECU, extremely aggressive, they're going to, they're going to pressure about 75% of the game and, and heat it up. And that's what they do. So it's really important that we're really good communication wise, up front with our offensive line running backs and tight ends communicating on pressures and quarterbacks, make sure they're identifying their hearts and everything that they do. And we got to, you know, no, our tips and tells and be ready to anticipate what pressures are coming."
On the plan for this week
I mean, obviously, we're certainly looking for a little bit more stability as we go into this game plan. And everything we do, and try try to nail down who we're gonna play. But at the same time, you know, we're gonna rotate some guys in, you know, up front to make sure that that we stay fresh and, and do all that. But the biggest thing is, this week in practice, making sure we rep those guys to the places that they're going to play in the games, and really make sure we're all 100% on the same page, and what we're doing. Yeah, I mean, they just do a really good job of bringing pressure from all areas of the field. So it's not like, you know, you're just getting pressured to the field, or it's not just exterior pressure, or just interior pressure, there's edge pressure, there's interior pressure, there's corner caps, there's free safeties, they're bringing to off the edge from the field to off the edge from the boundary. So they do a really good job of bringing pressure from all different locations. And they do a good job of doing that, versus all the different formations that you can do out there. So we got to do a really good job of seeing our keys in the back end and making sure we're looking for what we need to make sure we get us into the right protections.
On Chris Carter's production at TE
"We really like the way that Chris (Carter) has developed. You know, he did a really good job on the one flat pass he caught I think it was on a third and three and did obviously, you know, want to get that fourth down, but he just wasn't able to a Chris has done a really good job, protecting, blocking, past catching. He's definitely a guy in the future that we think is going to be a really, really good player. So it's good right now within behind Mitch, to get some of that game experience and continue to develop."
On Johnny Ford
"Johnny's a guy who is a reflection of how he practices you know, he does a great job every week in practice and finishing, and how it does. And, you know, he's one of those guys that, hey, it shows up on game day, you know, how your practice is how you play. So I think it's a good example, to the rest of our players, if you're going to be a playmaker, that's how you got to practice."
On QB protection
"There's gonna be tons of pressure. So it's a couple things, you know, number one, it's challenging those running backs to put themselves in better position, you know, they're trying to cut and a place where they shouldn't be cutting, when a guy's playing high and, and knowing some of that, so they've definitely gone to work in protection this week. And then it's also schematically maybe finding a few ways to utilize maybe our tight ends and protection instead of the backs and kind of switch their responsibilities and doing some scheme things but also, at the same time we got challenged them that you're running back, you gotta protect when the time comes. So you gotta do a much better job with that."
On the RB situation
"We got Leo Parker in at the end of the game, and he did some good things, protection wise. So he's certainly a guy that we hope moving forward, can continue to improve and get better. So he's somebody that we can put in, maybe in some of those passing situations to have a bigger body. And then, you know, as you saw, we we got to use our backs in places that help them you know, and free releasing them and letting them run angle routes, like Johnny caught one in the game and do some things like that. So we can help those guys out as well."
On Noah Johnson not playing last week
"I do think that, you know, offensively, you know, we we have meeting and let them know that hey, you know, we're not playing to our standard and we got to get things going in the right direction. And I think they've really taken that to heart and gone to work this week and really put on their shoulders that we got to improve especially, you know, at some of those certain positions at quarterback and wide receiver. Noah has been doing a good job. So, you know, how it works is you know, different people get their opportunities at different times. And so My message to the QBs is always just work on being the best version of yourself. And I thought Noah's had a good week of practice this week. So he continues to improve. And, you know, at some point, you know, he'll get his opportunities."
On the OL starting to get healthy
"t was great having Brad (Cecil) back, I thought he did a, he did a really good job. Obviously, it wasn't perfect first game back, and some some little things fundamentally, but he did a really good job of, you know, with the protection stuff, and communicating and getting us into the right looks. And you know, just sometimes we didn't do a good job physically, with the protection in certain areas. But I thought Brad did a really good job. Just great having him back from a leadership standpoint as well, and bring guys along with them. Obviously, you know, right. Up front, yeah. You know, we had some major issues with pre snap penalties in our first scrimmage of fall camp. And so I really think it was at that point, that we really made an emphasis of this is something that we got to work on every single day. And so you know, throughout fall camp, it was, you know, we're doing up downs and different deals for every time that they fall, start, do something wrong. And so really just emphasize that to those guys throughout. And we really continue to do that to this day. Because we can't afford to do things like that. And to make those mistakes with the position we're at right now. So we got to keep getting better. But no, it's definitely been one bright spot. It definitely is, you know, it's the obviously we'd like better results, you know, most corn more than seven points, but know, there, you got to look at all things, and that's certainly a positive, we got to continue to make that a positive for ourselves and improving those other areas.
On Jordan Smith
"Jordan is gonna be a really good player in the future. You know, he's still developing in the passing game and doing some things and continuing to learn the playbook and some of those areas. So he's not quite ready yet. But we definitely think that he's going to be a guy, that can be a really good player in the future. But just right now, he's a little bit behind some of those other guys. But he's had a great attitude, continue to improve, he does a great job on the scout team. And given those guys look so really proud of him and how he's fared. You know, sometimes it's tough. You're a freshman coming in, you're a big guy on campus. And hey, now, you know, your fourth fifth quarterback on the roster, but you will know that from from how he practices and how he prepares."
On Katravis Marsh
"When he first got here, honestly, he was a little bit behind. But he's really just as practice has progressed, you know, we've seen his arm talent and how special that really is, you know, unfortunately, we didn't get to show it on Saturday in the way that we'd want to, but he definitely has the ability going forward. And we saw that and recognized it and then, you know, as he started to, you know, come back into the fold when Cade was unavailable, you know, kind of taking that third string roll, he did a really good job and practice well, and was preparing well, and so he continued to get better and better. And we know with his potential down the future, that he could be a really good player based on his arm talent."
On Marsh having played in high level HS games helping him prepare for a game like Cincy
"I don't think you know, even though, you know, he had three interceptions on Saturday, I don't think it fazes him, you know, playing playing a great team like Cincinnati. So that's definitely one of his strong points is, you know, he's playing at Miami central winning a state championship, he kind of knows what it takes playing great competition. And so that definitely helps him cuz, you know, he's not a guy that's gonna back down or, you know, be concerned with some of that."
CHARLIE WEIS JR.
On facing ECU
"So it's been a, it's been a good week of practice, you know, we've had to really turn up the intensity, obviously disappointed how the last two games have gone, especially on offense and how we performed. So we know we got to get better and work on the details of everything that we're doing and then playing a defense like us or ECU, extremely aggressive, they're going to, they're going to pressure about 75% of the game and, and heat it up. And that's what they do. So it's really important that we're really good communication wise, up front with our offensive line running backs and tight ends communicating on pressures and quarterbacks, make sure they're identifying their hearts and everything that they do. And we got to, you know, no, our tips and tells and be ready to anticipate what pressures are coming."
On the plan for this week
I mean, obviously, we're certainly looking for a little bit more stability as we go into this game plan. And everything we do, and try try to nail down who we're gonna play. But at the same time, you know, we're gonna rotate some guys in, you know, up front to make sure that that we stay fresh and, and do all that. But the biggest thing is, this week in practice, making sure we rep those guys to the places that they're going to play in the games, and really make sure we're all 100% on the same page, and what we're doing. Yeah, I mean, they just do a really good job of bringing pressure from all areas of the field. So it's not like, you know, you're just getting pressured to the field, or it's not just exterior pressure, or just interior pressure, there's edge pressure, there's interior pressure, there's corner caps, there's free safeties, they're bringing to off the edge from the field to off the edge from the boundary. So they do a really good job of bringing pressure from all different locations. And they do a good job of doing that, versus all the different formations that you can do out there. So we got to do a really good job of seeing our keys in the back end and making sure we're looking for what we need to make sure we get us into the right protections.
On Chris Carter's production at TE
"We really like the way that Chris (Carter) has developed. You know, he did a really good job on the one flat pass he caught I think it was on a third and three and did obviously, you know, want to get that fourth down, but he just wasn't able to a Chris has done a really good job, protecting, blocking, past catching. He's definitely a guy in the future that we think is going to be a really, really good player. So it's good right now within behind Mitch, to get some of that game experience and continue to develop."
On Johnny Ford
"Johnny's a guy who is a reflection of how he practices you know, he does a great job every week in practice and finishing, and how it does. And, you know, he's one of those guys that, hey, it shows up on game day, you know, how your practice is how you play. So I think it's a good example, to the rest of our players, if you're going to be a playmaker, that's how you got to practice."
On QB protection
"There's gonna be tons of pressure. So it's a couple things, you know, number one, it's challenging those running backs to put themselves in better position, you know, they're trying to cut and a place where they shouldn't be cutting, when a guy's playing high and, and knowing some of that, so they've definitely gone to work in protection this week. And then it's also schematically maybe finding a few ways to utilize maybe our tight ends and protection instead of the backs and kind of switch their responsibilities and doing some scheme things but also, at the same time we got challenged them that you're running back, you gotta protect when the time comes. So you gotta do a much better job with that."
On the RB situation
"We got Leo Parker in at the end of the game, and he did some good things, protection wise. So he's certainly a guy that we hope moving forward, can continue to improve and get better. So he's somebody that we can put in, maybe in some of those passing situations to have a bigger body. And then, you know, as you saw, we we got to use our backs in places that help them you know, and free releasing them and letting them run angle routes, like Johnny caught one in the game and do some things like that. So we can help those guys out as well."
On Noah Johnson not playing last week
"I do think that, you know, offensively, you know, we we have meeting and let them know that hey, you know, we're not playing to our standard and we got to get things going in the right direction. And I think they've really taken that to heart and gone to work this week and really put on their shoulders that we got to improve especially, you know, at some of those certain positions at quarterback and wide receiver. Noah has been doing a good job. So, you know, how it works is you know, different people get their opportunities at different times. And so My message to the QBs is always just work on being the best version of yourself. And I thought Noah's had a good week of practice this week. So he continues to improve. And, you know, at some point, you know, he'll get his opportunities."
On the OL starting to get healthy
"t was great having Brad (Cecil) back, I thought he did a, he did a really good job. Obviously, it wasn't perfect first game back, and some some little things fundamentally, but he did a really good job of, you know, with the protection stuff, and communicating and getting us into the right looks. And you know, just sometimes we didn't do a good job physically, with the protection in certain areas. But I thought Brad did a really good job. Just great having him back from a leadership standpoint as well, and bring guys along with them. Obviously, you know, right. Up front, yeah. You know, we had some major issues with pre snap penalties in our first scrimmage of fall camp. And so I really think it was at that point, that we really made an emphasis of this is something that we got to work on every single day. And so you know, throughout fall camp, it was, you know, we're doing up downs and different deals for every time that they fall, start, do something wrong. And so really just emphasize that to those guys throughout. And we really continue to do that to this day. Because we can't afford to do things like that. And to make those mistakes with the position we're at right now. So we got to keep getting better. But no, it's definitely been one bright spot. It definitely is, you know, it's the obviously we'd like better results, you know, most corn more than seven points, but know, there, you got to look at all things, and that's certainly a positive, we got to continue to make that a positive for ourselves and improving those other areas.
On Jordan Smith
"Jordan is gonna be a really good player in the future. You know, he's still developing in the passing game and doing some things and continuing to learn the playbook and some of those areas. So he's not quite ready yet. But we definitely think that he's going to be a guy, that can be a really good player in the future. But just right now, he's a little bit behind some of those other guys. But he's had a great attitude, continue to improve, he does a great job on the scout team. And given those guys look so really proud of him and how he's fared. You know, sometimes it's tough. You're a freshman coming in, you're a big guy on campus. And hey, now, you know, your fourth fifth quarterback on the roster, but you will know that from from how he practices and how he prepares."
On Katravis Marsh
"When he first got here, honestly, he was a little bit behind. But he's really just as practice has progressed, you know, we've seen his arm talent and how special that really is, you know, unfortunately, we didn't get to show it on Saturday in the way that we'd want to, but he definitely has the ability going forward. And we saw that and recognized it and then, you know, as he started to, you know, come back into the fold when Cade was unavailable, you know, kind of taking that third string roll, he did a really good job and practice well, and was preparing well, and so he continued to get better and better. And we know with his potential down the future, that he could be a really good player based on his arm talent."
On Marsh having played in high level HS games helping him prepare for a game like Cincy
"I don't think you know, even though, you know, he had three interceptions on Saturday, I don't think it fazes him, you know, playing playing a great team like Cincinnati. So that's definitely one of his strong points is, you know, he's playing at Miami central winning a state championship, he kind of knows what it takes playing great competition. And so that definitely helps him cuz, you know, he's not a guy that's gonna back down or, you know, be concerned with some of that."
