Sunday Night OT with Tracy Claeys 10-30-2016
Coach Claeys said he was pleased with team after the win, noting whenever you lose at home you have to get two wins on the road to make up for it. He said the defense continues to limit scoring chances for opposing offenses.
He noted the consistency to get to bowls is important, although he said the goals they have for the team, that you’ll be bowl eligible if you accomplish those goals. It is important to win in October and be a contender in November, and that if you keep winning you keep controlling your own destiny.
In practice they spend a lot of time in the redzone against each other, and that that is paying off in terms of them scoring when they get in the redzone and taking care of the ball. He said they are spreading it out now a bit more in the redzone, which opens things up. He mentioned Mitch’s read option and Rodney Smith’s touchdown on a fake jet sweep. He also said that putting them both on the field at once helps keep the defense off balance, and when they go to a one back set and spread it out, it forces the defense to show their hand.
Illinois Game
Claeys said Merrick Jackson was an unsung hero in the game yesterday, and hopes he can turn the corner to being a playmaker for them. On offense, he mentioned Colton Beebe as an unsung hero as well doing lots of things in the run game. Claeys said that he doesn’t believe in “gamers”, and that he needs to see the kids making the plays in practice before they get in the game.
Claeys talked about the nine-game Big Ten schedule, he said he doesn’t like that the bye week was very early for them this year. He believes the winner of the Big Ten West will have two losses because they all have 5 road games this year. He thinks that if there are 10 conference games, then it adds a home game and that he thinks fans will enjoy it, and that it is expensive to bring in non-conference opponents to play.
Coach Jay Johnson is very detailed with his script in practice, Claeys said. If they keep practicing and getting more detailed, then offensively it will pay off in the game. He said that they did more jet sweeps this week because that was something they thought would give them troubles. They did a better job yesterday with the offensive line penalties, and did a good job taking care of the ball.
Looking forward to Purdue
Coach noted that they cannot overlook Purdue, and that you try to bring up examples and talk about it, always having respect for your opponent. He said Baylor for example lost last week to an opponent, and no longer controls their own destiny.
Claeys said that the wind yesterday bothered the passing game. He noted that there were a few balls that should’ve been caught, and that they need to catch the ball better. He said Mitch (Leidner) and the two running backs will carry the ball more down the stretch. Once they start making catches on the outside, then that will take the pressure off the run game.
He said they are very excited about the freshmen class. They have a lot of young guys making plays, and it bodes well for our team in the future. He said that it also speaks to the older guys, he named Damarius Travis, Jack Lynn, and Nick Rallis that coach those freshmen up.
Purdue said there is not a pass that Purdue doesn’t like. Lots of screens and draws. We will have to tackle well and going to have to get pressure up front on the quarterback. Offensively we need to keep scoring points and get in the red zone. “If we get in the low 30’s, we feel our defense is good enough to win it for us.”
Coach Claeys said he was pleased with team after the win, noting whenever you lose at home you have to get two wins on the road to make up for it. He said the defense continues to limit scoring chances for opposing offenses.
He noted the consistency to get to bowls is important, although he said the goals they have for the team, that you’ll be bowl eligible if you accomplish those goals. It is important to win in October and be a contender in November, and that if you keep winning you keep controlling your own destiny.
In practice they spend a lot of time in the redzone against each other, and that that is paying off in terms of them scoring when they get in the redzone and taking care of the ball. He said they are spreading it out now a bit more in the redzone, which opens things up. He mentioned Mitch’s read option and Rodney Smith’s touchdown on a fake jet sweep. He also said that putting them both on the field at once helps keep the defense off balance, and when they go to a one back set and spread it out, it forces the defense to show their hand.
Illinois Game
Claeys said Merrick Jackson was an unsung hero in the game yesterday, and hopes he can turn the corner to being a playmaker for them. On offense, he mentioned Colton Beebe as an unsung hero as well doing lots of things in the run game. Claeys said that he doesn’t believe in “gamers”, and that he needs to see the kids making the plays in practice before they get in the game.
Claeys talked about the nine-game Big Ten schedule, he said he doesn’t like that the bye week was very early for them this year. He believes the winner of the Big Ten West will have two losses because they all have 5 road games this year. He thinks that if there are 10 conference games, then it adds a home game and that he thinks fans will enjoy it, and that it is expensive to bring in non-conference opponents to play.
Coach Jay Johnson is very detailed with his script in practice, Claeys said. If they keep practicing and getting more detailed, then offensively it will pay off in the game. He said that they did more jet sweeps this week because that was something they thought would give them troubles. They did a better job yesterday with the offensive line penalties, and did a good job taking care of the ball.
Looking forward to Purdue
Coach noted that they cannot overlook Purdue, and that you try to bring up examples and talk about it, always having respect for your opponent. He said Baylor for example lost last week to an opponent, and no longer controls their own destiny.
Claeys said that the wind yesterday bothered the passing game. He noted that there were a few balls that should’ve been caught, and that they need to catch the ball better. He said Mitch (Leidner) and the two running backs will carry the ball more down the stretch. Once they start making catches on the outside, then that will take the pressure off the run game.
He said they are very excited about the freshmen class. They have a lot of young guys making plays, and it bodes well for our team in the future. He said that it also speaks to the older guys, he named Damarius Travis, Jack Lynn, and Nick Rallis that coach those freshmen up.
Purdue said there is not a pass that Purdue doesn’t like. Lots of screens and draws. We will have to tackle well and going to have to get pressure up front on the quarterback. Offensively we need to keep scoring points and get in the red zone. “If we get in the low 30’s, we feel our defense is good enough to win it for us.”
