Emptying the Notebook: Tuesday Evening Media Session 9/9

With the Ohio State game in the rearview mirror, a handful of coaches and players spoke to the media today about Tech's upcoming matchup against East Carolina.

The first thought that comes to mind is the stark differences between the single-wing spread of the Buckeyes to the short passing attack of the Pirates. How big is the challenge going between two drastically different offenses?

"Well, I know they have a lot of quick throws," said Luther Maddy. "But it won't be as quick because we have obviously great DBs. So I think that'll force them to hold the ball more, and I think that allows me and the d-line to make more plays."

"They do want to establish a run, although it's subtle, but the want to run the ball," d-line coach Charley Wiles said. "You know, they've got to mix in that stuff. And some of their passing game is like runs to them, you know when they throw it out in the flat or throw it to the backs, swing the ball out there. It's like a sweep to them, just get it in good athletes hands in space. So, they got a bunch of good players and they're tough kids."

A short passing game like that will definitely put more pressure on the corners in man-coverage, but Kendall Fuller sounded like he and the rest of DBU are ready for Pirates.

"The way we talk about it, it's just being good in our techniques," Fuller said. "Because the way their passing game is, they'll hit short slants, even with guys on them. Their quarterback's good at getting it in there and things like that. So we're definitely going to be more physical, you know we've got to be able to break up those tight throws in tight areas, and it's going to be a fun challenge."

It seemed surprising, to the football novice at least, that teams are still throwing at Fuller after showing time and time again that he's one of the best corners in the country. Was Gray surprised that the Buckeyes kept throwing Fuller's way?

"You know what?" Gray said. "You can't not throw at Richard Sherman or somebody who's got that type of deal. You've got to at least check him out, because they may not be playing a great game or [see if] are they really that good, and I guess you've got to find out. And Ohio State, you've got to find out, really. You can't just let a guy take away a side of your field, I don't think you can. And he responded, he played great."

One of the heros of last Saturday's game was backup cornerback Donovan Riley, and Gray was asked about what Riley showed to feel confident playing him in the fourth quarter.

"I was really impressed with Donovan from the William and Mary game," Gray said. "He played great on special teams, he only got in like six plays but he had three tackles. He just seemed like a different kid. The focus was there, there was a purpose, and he practiced like that last week. So I had enough trust in him that 'hey, put him in in this arena'. You know, we're still working Brandon back in, and [Riley] responded."

Gray was also asked about the pressure all of the position coaches are under as Bud Foster tweeks a game plan from Ohio State to ECU and then back to Georgia Tech the very next week.

"Oh my god, it keeps it interesting," Gray said as he gave one of his patented hearty chuckles. "It actually keeps you fresh, to me as a coach. It's pressure because you've got to devise this scheme, stop this scheme. Next week's Georgia Tech, stop that scheme. It's fun, honestly. It's not really pressure, it's fun to devise, I think that's the neat part of it."

That sounds like a guy who has spent most of the last 20 years working next to Foster.

A growing storyline this season has been the emergence of not one, but two tight ends, in Ryan Malleck and Bucky Hodges. Mason highlighted earlier about how important those guys can be to the game, and tight ends coach Bryan Stinespring confirmed just as much.

"I have a couple of guys that you can put on the field to be effective not only in the run game, but bring something to the passing game," said Stinespring. "The ability to be in a two-tight end set, be in a constricted set, but also to be able to spread the field on the very next snap. I think it puts a little pressure on the defense and how they want to align, how they want to call their defense based on having Ryan and Bucky in the game at the same time."

Stiney alluded to the fact that Malleck has helped Hodges along a little bit as someone who is more seasoned at the position. What exactly has the junior been teaching?

"Yeah, I think we both help each other out," Malleck said. "I try to teach him, especially in the running game because he's new and played quarterback, try to teach him stuff in the running game like technique and stuff.

"He's a great blocker. The thing with him is, he's a physical dude. He might not have all the technique and stuff yet, but he's a physical dude and he'll make up for it."

In case any of you forgot, there is also a third tight end that showed some serious promise last year, sophomore Kalvin Cline, who has missed the first two games while dealing with problems in the knee that he injured in the Sun Bowl. He let everyone know what was going on with that.

"Early in the bowl game I had a tear in the PCL, and then it healed up pretty well," Kline said.
"And then about two or three weeks ago, right before the first game, I fell on it wrong and a cyst had formed back there again. And it burst, which caused a whole lot of swelling and inflammation, a lot of irritation that's been going on, so that's [made it] hard to run."

Frank Beamer already said that Kline was doubtful for the ECU game, if he misses any more games is there a conversation about a possible redshirt?

"There is," Kline said. "And you've got to be smart about it. You've got to have it in the back of your mind. But that's not in my mind right now. I'm focusing on now and trying to get ready each week. So if it comes to that, it comes to that, but my focus is trying to get ready each week."

That's something to definitely keep an eye on as the season progresses.

In lighter news to end today's notebook, I asked Maddy about what the defense needed to do to be better. After a LONG pause, and asking me how many rushing yards Buckeye quarterback JT Barrett had, he gave me this.

"There were a few plays where we lost contain, guys kicking out of their gap," Maddy said. "So I guess, we're not perfect, there's still room for improvement. Guys staying in their gaps, just play their role. Some guys are trying to do too much playing two gaps, but I think [if we] just stay in our game and play our role, I think that's where we can improve, then we will [give up] zero yards rushing."

Not such a bad goal to have.