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Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Gene Chizik press conference: LIVE!

I'll be live blogging Gene Chizik's press conference at 11:30 a.m. CT. Check back for what he has to say:
  • "I think this will really get us another step in finding out how good we really are. West Virginia is a very, very talented football team."
  • Special teams stands out the most. "We're not getting enough yards on our return teams." The team can't consistently drive 80 yards and score.
  • Punt return issues are "glaring."
  • Coverage teams are still giving up too many hidden yards.
  • On if he was told before the season he'd have 1,100 yards of offense after two games. "I'd be excited about it. The thing about going into the season is we didn't know what to expect."
  • Complacency is not an issue. "I don't think that's what we'll let them be and I don't think that's who we are."
  • TE Tommy Trott (knee) still day-by-day. (Shocking) Freshman Philip Lutzenkirchen would play in Trott's place. Also Gabe McKenzie and some hybrid guys, John Douglas and Eric Smith.
  • On some fans already penciling the Tigers in to the SEC championship game in Atlanta. "They are? I didn't know they were." Chizik didn't agree with that assessment, to say the least.
  • Jordan-Hare atmosphere is "second to none."
  • "We have not arrived."
  • Schedule has been a building block so far. Every team has given Auburn different issues to deal with.
  • On WVU RB Noel Devine: "He's a big-play guy. He's as fast as probably anybody in the country."
  • On WVU defense, which has three down lineman up front instead of four: "They're excellent at their trade. They're really good at run-fitting really, really well."
  • On QB Jarrett Brown: "Very, very athletic. Just a great athlete back there that can throw it and run it."
  • Auburn has been average this year on quarterback scrambles.
  • Is Auburn less under-the-radar? "I don't know. We're trying to work every week and do what we do."
  • Chizik's all about playing a BCS conference team from a different part of the country. "I think we're ready to play this type of game right now. If we had opened with them, I don't thin I could have said the same thing."
  • "Tell guys, if you want to change the team, change yourself."
  • Closer to getting the front seven rotation set. "We're getting some guys healthy."
  • Offensive pace during preseason and August has helped defense get conditioned for the season. On 15-play drives: "We're looking for who can survive those."
  • On offensive line: "I think they've played better every week. When you rush for 390 yards, it's not all tailbacks."
And that's a wrap. I'll be back with more updates throughout the day.

1 comment:

jdinmacon said...

Gabe McKenzie fell off the face of the earth it seems like. With Trott hurt maybe he'll make his return from wherever.