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Press Conference Transcripts
Transcripts from
Tuesday’s Under Armour Senior Bowl Press Conference.
MOBILE,
Ala. (January 23, 2007) --
Tampa Bay Head Coach Jon Gruden, North
Team Head Coach:
I thought we had a good practice today,
and I thought our guys did a great job.
We’re (the North) a physical team. I think
the North is a big football team, the South appears to be very fast. It
will be an interesting match-up. I like (Adam) Carriker from Nebraska.
He’s a big, physical defensive end that has impressed us over the guard
as a three technique, as well. He has stood out in my mind. There’s been
a number of guys flash, but I don’t want to make any public statements
about who I like but there are some guys who really stood out.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers and North team
head coach Jon Gruden give some instruction
to Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith
during Tuesday's North practice.
On Rutgers running back Brian Leonard:
I tell you he’s a big back, that’s how I
see him. He’s a versatile big back that can handle the balls in I-back,
he can catch the ball out of the backfield, and as a fullback he does
have some thump and obviously that’s going to be an area that he needs
to excel at I believe to really be a great pro.
This game is the best players competing
against the best players. The parameters of the game really allow the
players to go out and physically play. You’re going to see the guys that
like to hit, you’re going to see the guys make plays, you’re going to
see the guys that really, physically and mentally, are at the top of
this year’s crop. And that’s really what the Senior Bowl showcases.
What the coaching staff is supposed to do
for the players on the football team is to get them ready to play. I
want these guys to feel they have the best opportunity to go out there
and show their best stuff in front of all these coaches and scouts
because there is a lot of pressure on them and I want them to feel
relaxed, confident and I want that to show in their play.
San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Mike Nolan,
South Team Head Coach:
It’ s a pleasure to be here. I believe
coaching the Senior Bowl is really an honor, but it’s also a pleasure to
coach these young guys. Last year we were here and we drafted four
players out of this game, including three from the South squad, which
was the one we coached. One was from the North, a player that kind of
tore us up in the fourth quarter, so we felt we ought to get him in
Michael Robinson from Penn State.
San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Nolan
works with the South offense in
preparation for
the 58th Annual Under Armour Senior Bowl.
But it was the week working with the
players that led us to actually drafting the guys we took. I think it’s
important when you have the opportunity to sit down and eat with these
guys and get to know them. I refer to Michael Robinson only because he
was a player all week long we did not coach, but we were around him a
lot and the night we swapped teams, which was a Thursday night, we had
an opportunity to sit with him and speak with him first hand. We were
very impressed with him, and then the game went the way it went and he
did some nice things, so it was a no brainer for us as far as drafting
him.
About 95 percent of these players in some
capacity will be on an NFL roster next year, that has been my
experience. This is my sixth time coaching this game, four times as an
assistant and twice now as a head coach. Norv Turner, our offensive
coordinator, has got me beat, this is his seventh time, third year in a
row. So we are excited to be here for all the advantages we gain with
the players and for those reasons that’s why we chose to do it.
From a progress standpoint you’re trying
to put a team together in a mater of a week’s time. You have a lot of
guys who are obviously trying to showcase their talents on an individual
basis, but at the same time there becomes that camaraderie among them
that’s important when you’re trying to get to that team for Saturday’s
game. As I told them two nights ago when we first met on Sunday, they’ll
have some relationships that will begin this week that will last a
lifetime, certainly a lot of them will last their entire careers in the
NFL but some will last a lifetime. So the progress they’ve made right
now is just getting to know each other.
Individually, the guys get more confident
with each day. I think they start to showcase their talents a little
better each day and then they come together as a team.
On Ole Miss linebacker Patrick Willis:
Willis has a done a very good job. He’s a
very active guy. He’s a guy I came down here with a little bit of
knowledge of, just from a name standpoint. I certainly have not watched
any film of him prior to getting here. I’ve already noticed he’s got a
good nose for the ball and he’s a physical player, covers a lot of
ground, he’s a sideline to sideline guy. He looks to like he’s probably
got a very good career ahead of him. Last year, we coached some very
good linebackers in this game. In fact, one of them was the Defensive
Rookie of the Year from Alabama, DeMeco Ryans, and last year he did a
nice job during the week Initially, Willis has caught my eye a good bit
in the short time we’ve had practicing the last two days.
Texas defensive back Aaron Ross (31), the 2006 Thorpe Award winner, gets
some instruction from San Francisco 49ers defensive backs coach Vance
Joseph during Monday's Senior Bowl South team practice.
On the South Defense’s Speed:
I would say it is very noticeable from the
standpoint of coaches watching the guys, especially on defense. I’ll be
curious to see how it matches up with off of the North offense, but it
is noticeable.
On Florida Quarterback Chris Leak:
He’s got great lower body strength, and
lot of your arm really comes out of your motion and your lower body.
He’s a very classy kid. I’ve spoken to him a few times and he appears to
be sharp as far as the quarterback position goes. He’s got my attention
from the standpoint that he’s articulate, he’s bright, he commands the
huddle well. I think he’s done a good job in the pocket, good presence
in the pocket. He moves and finds lanes well. He’s got a pretty good
arm, puts good spin on the ball and gets it right to the receiver. From
my standpoint right now, I’m impressed physically. He’s got the right
power where you want it and that’s impressive to me. |
