Courtesy of Louisiana Tech Athletic Communications
Bulldog head coach Sonny Cumbie met with media members during his normal Tuesday press conference to talk about Saturday’s home game against North Texas.
Opening Statement…
“I was proud of our teams effort on Saturday night after having a chance to watch it and process it on Sunday. We talked about playing and out-efforting and out-physicaling our opponent against Northwestern State and I think we did that on all three sides of the football. Our execution on offense was better. The game plan and what we were able to have success with took a different turn in terms of the volume of running that we were able to do. We had a lot of success with that so we stuck with it. Our offensive line and running backs did a good job of seeing things up front with what they were given. Defensively, anytime you can have 12 tackles for loss, three takeaways and score a touchdown you have had a good night. But there are some things also there in terms of our run fits, limiting the explosive runs is something we have to get better at. Special team too is something that we have to have a higher attention to detail. We were able to create a takeaway on the punt defense. There are also some things in the punt return game and punt defense that affected us that could potential affect us negatively in terms of fielding punts inside the 10-yardline and being on the same page. I was very proud of our team. We have to turn the page quickly. That is our challenge as coaches is how do we handle this week and how are we going to get better. The focus for us is being a better football team at the end of practice than before. Regardless of the opponent or outcome we have to continue to progress as a football team. We do that with a great practice habit and how we approach things… I am looking forward to a great North Texas team. A team that beat us by 20 points last year and a team that plays really hard. Coach Morris and staff with a transition are trying to find their footing but they are great football coaches.”
On the student section…
“What really fires me up about this game was the turnout of our student section. I think our fans did a phenomenal job providing a home field atmosphere for our team. Our players really fed off the energy that our crowd provided. In particularly on third downs. Our defense would get stops and I think our band was on point in terms of whenever they played and whenever they were loud. They did a great job of providing a home-field advantage for us. I am excited about this game at six o’clock because I think our turnout will be even better. I think we will continue to improve our play and give our fans a lot to cheer about. I was really excited for our players to play behind the energy and enthusiasm of our student section and also the energy the crowd provided.”
On sustained drives…
“We take touchdowns anytime we can get them. Any time we can get them any way we can get them. Execution of 12-8-9 play drives has really been our Achilles heel a little bit. We have to get better at that from an execution standpoint but I love the explosive plays. The biggest adjustment for me in the game was that we were running the same thing some and had success so we just stuck with it. Having the patience as a play caller to continue to stick with what is working until there is an answer and you have to change something up.”
On finishing non-conference play strong…
“This football team since we have been here have really been challenging ourselves as coaches and players to string weeks together and be consistent. One of the cornerstones of our programs is consistency. How reliable are you and how reliable are we with our effort and our intent of our practice habits and our ability to challenge ourselves to be better. The opportunity to play an opponent like North Texas at home is exciting and we have to try and continue to build on the momentum that we had last week. We want to be a consistent team an that is what we are striving for is improvement and consistency. We are not trying to keep our eyes on the win loss record or the future or who we are plating and what is coming up next. It is about our effort and the ability to get better. As coaches kids can’t be serious about it if the coaches are. Our focus has been to improve every single day… Our sideline energy was really good from our regulators (players not dressed out). Our guys who dress and do not log lots of snaps could improve their energy levels and encouragement in a positive way. Overall, I thought our sideline energy was great.”
On offensive game planning…
“You put a plan together from the offensive standpoint of what you anticipate the looks being and go out and attack it in the run game and the passing game. You always want to be mindful of getting your playmakers the football. We want to be a team that throws the ball but we also know how we ran the ball last week was very effective. Our offensive line really did a good job of executing. For us balance is being able to run and throw it. Balance is being able to move the ball through the air and in the run game being able to have as many explosive plays as we did the other night. Which maybe can become the norm. We are going to try for it to be. It is a challenge to be that explosive on a weekly basis.”
On Jacob Barnes being named CUSA Special Teams Player of the Week…
“I was excited for Jacob. Any time you can be conference player of the week is a big deal. I am happy for him. Early on in the FIU game he was beating himself up a little bit. We told him he has been doing this a long time and the ball will come back to him and he will be ready. Anybody that is a pilot has to have a certain level of nerves and he has that. He is very calm and has ice in his veins. It means a lot to him. Sometimes he may not always show it but this place means a lot to him. For him to have success last week, we had a great operation time Gabe Pugh has gotten better and better at snapping it. Blake (Ochsendorf) has gotten better, our protection has been better and that is a product of what we have been doing. Anytime a player in this program is the conference player of the week it is a great thing. Jacob puts in a lot of work and we are going to continue need him this season.”
On North Texas Quarterbacks Stone Earle and Chandler Rogers…
“It is a challenge. They are both good players. They have the ability to extend plays probably Chandler a little bit more than Stone. We have to have an idea of what they are trying to do in their quarterback run game. That element of it will be there. With Stone it will be more of a scramble mode. They have some really talented receivers and their running backs had some success against us last year. Their receivers are very fast so our corners and secondary will have our hands full. Whoever they play at quarterback we will have a good plan for it and will be prepared for both.”
