Beamer PC transcript, Ohio State week

Introduction…

Talking about Ohio State, certainly one of the top teams in the country. You know, ranked high, in the top five for sure and I guess one poll hasn’t come out yet, they are waiting until after the game tonight. Last time they lost at home was in 2011, they have a 15 game win streak. Longest regular season win streak in the country at 25 games. A great atmosphere, largest crowd that we’ve ever played before. It’s quite a challenge, they are very, very talented. They miss their quarterback, but the Barrett kid, I think he came in and ran nine times for about 50 yards and was 12-of-14. So it’s kind of the same guy. A kind of productive, athletic, physical guy. The skill people are exceptional, defense up front exceptional. They certainly have the talent of a national championship team. They got a kicker there from Australia that just booms the ball. I mean just booms the ball. It’s a challenge for our football team. For our young team going to the stadium and the largest crowd we’ve ever played before, we’ll see how they respond, but it’s certainly…last week was a good opening game for them and this week is another step. We’ll see where that goes.

On coaching against Urban Meyer…

No, I don’t think we’ve ever gone against each other, but certainly his reputation follows him. A very knowledgeable coach, very good overall. They do a great job in their kicking game, I know he’s involved with that. Just a top program, you’re talking about a program that has great players but they are well coached. You say that most times, but they really are a well, well-coached football team, so give them credit.

On Shai McKenzie and Marshawn Williams being co-starters at RB on the depth chart…

I think you go back to the performance. I think all the tailbacks, the top three, got the same number of reps and you kind of go on performance. We certainly have great faith in J.C., dependable guy, you know what’s going to happen, but we also had some good production out of those first two. So that’s where we are right now, but you know, we’re going to keep competing every day in practice. That’s what I tell the kickers, that what we’ll tell the tailbacks, I think as long as there is competition, every one is getting better really.

On Carlis Parker, who didn’t play vs. W&M and isn’t listed on Tech’s depth chart…

He’s got some issues, some personal issues at home. We’re trying to help him in any way we can, and we’ll see where this thing goes. But we’re here for him, and I think he knows that. He’s just got to get through some things, some personal issues.

On if Parker is in practice this week…

He’s not in practice today. Of course we’re not practicing today, but he wouldn’t be practicing if it were today.

On if Parker is expected to return soon…

We’ll see. He’s got to work through and we’ve got to help him work through.

On implications of the big-time game…

I think anytime you’re playing a top program in the country, a team that people have mentioned for the national championship, if you can go in there and get a win it’s great for the program. I think our kids, I know myself, talking about the atmosphere, I like playing in a full stadium where they know Virginia Tech is there and their fans are excited and I know we’re going to take quite a few people ourselves. I’d much rather play in that situation than one in where the stadium is about half empty and no one cares what’s going on. I like that atmosphere and I think our players do too. It’s exciting, national TV, primetime, it’s a lot to look forward to.

On increased difficulty for Tech OL going against Ohio State DL…

I’d say it’s a big, big step up. Their defensive front, I’m not sure anyone is better in the country. They’re stout and athletic. They are tough. We have to step our game up a notch.

On difference between Braxton Miller and JT Barrett…

I don’t think much. Maybe experience, but this Barrett kid is 6’1”, 225. He had a great game against Navy running and throwing, so to me you kind of have the same guy, without some experience. But otherwise it’s about the same. Otherwise I’d say it’s exactly the same.

On Scot Loeffler’s knowledge coaching under Urban Meyer at Florida…

I think all Scot’s going to do is scare us about what we’re getting ready to get in to. He has a lot of respect for Urban, and I think there is some knowledge there, but really it’s what play do you call, when do you call it. What defense do you call, when do you call it. We go against people we’re very familiar with during spring practice, but still, one team moves the ball a little better or one team stops them. I don’t think there is much too that.

On goal line struggles versus William & Mary…

You know, we didn’t get them blocked but there were a lot of guys there to block. I think it’s a combination of both. We have to do a better job of getting them blocked and make sure we’re not running into more people. Always on the goal line there is going to be a free hitter, at least generally, but there doesn’t need to be more than one. So, I think it’s a combination of gameplanning and William & Mary doing a good job. And I’ll say this again, I was impressed with them. They got a defense. They’re going to be in a lot of ballgames.

On what can be learned from Navy-OSU film…

Not much. I think whenever you’re trying to break down film, you want to get a team that’s like you or is as much like you. Us and Navy are probably as far apart, other than the little option. A lot of option for them, but a little for us. But yeah, not much.

On preference between starting with top opponent (like last year) or playing them in week two…

I think there’s plusses both way. Whatever way we schedule them, that’s how we’ll play them. I think we saw some good things with a young football team, now how that young football team plays in this situation, which is away from home, in the largest crowd we’ve ever played in front of, a team that’s in our division but one of the top teams in our division. One of the two, three, four best teams in our division, so it’s a totally different deal and I think every week we get to learn something this week.

On if there will be a big jump in offensive tempo…

I think you can add on, and each and every week you try to change the tempo the way you want it or the way you’re trying to get it to. And there is reasons for doing different things, so I think we keep working with it and get better at it.

On kickoff returners…

You know, I haven’t really talked to Shane (Beamer) about that. What’s more important than who’s deep, is that the people up there right in front of them get movement, get going and move people, not get stalemated like we did last week. I think that’s the key issue is to create space and not to get blocked right back in, stalemated. That’s an emphasis for us.

On quick acclimation of Shai McKenzie and Marshawn Williams…

I think they both, they run hard. They are very smart guys. Football makes sense to them. They’re tough guys. There is a lot to like about those two guys.

On OSU not fitting the big, heavy Big 10 mold…

Since I’ve known about football, you’ve always said ok, Big 10, they’re not quite as fast as the Southeastern Conference. But this one, you don’t say that. You look at their skill kids, you look at their quarterback, you look at the speed they got on defense, this is not one of those teams you have associated with Big 10 in the past. It’s a very, very skilled football team.

On if Trey Edmunds could get carries this week…

He’s got to get back. We were going to get him in there late, but I think his leg or his knee was bothering him some. He gives it everything he’s got and he’s the greatest kid in the world, but he’s got to get back to where he was. I think the more time he has… he did a great job on kickoff coverage. Here is a guy that was the starting tailback not too long ago and you’re talking about going down there and covering kicks. It’s just a matter of him getting back to where he was.