11/12/2002 - Football
Paul Johnson Press Conference For Tuesday, November 12

Q. A little more on UCONN, I see that their quarterback has put up some decent numbers, what are your thoughts on him?

A. I think he?s a really good player. I was really impressed watching him on tape. He is 6-5 and has a NFL type arm. I?m really impressed with him and the running back. They have two quality football players in those two guys. They are really good.

Q. Can you describe their offensive system. Are they balanced?

A. They are like a lot of colleges. I call it the NCAA offense. They run some two backs, a little one back, they will spread you out, and they will run some power. I think they want to try and be balanced.

Q. Do you think the key with their running back is to try and keep him from breaking off the big run?

A. He?s got great speed. You have to try and bottle him up and keep him in front of you, because if he gets a crack he can go the distance. He?s a really good football player.

Q. But he?s not a guy that will pound it up in there.

A. He?s not a guy that?s going to keep on running in to you and try to wear you down, but he?s got some toughness. He?s taken some shots and kept going. He?s just a good player.

Q. They have put up more than 120 points in their last two games, has it been that they?ve just played bad defenses?

A. I don?t care who you play that?s a lot of points, but when you are scoring 60 points in a game you are usually getting them from everybody. The defense is scoring, the special teams are scoring, and you are getting turnovers. They are very explosive. They have a good quarterback and a running back that can take it all the way on any play. They have some big play capabilities.

Q. They are just up from I-AA (three years) and Coach Edsall said they still have a few holes. Have you been able to see where those holes are? Is it depth?

A. I don?t know. They are like every team. They are better at some positions than others. To say they have holes, I don?t know about that. I think they are a solid football team.

Q. Are you impressed with some of their scores? They played BC tough.

A. Yeah, they?ve played some teams tough. They hit the hard part of their schedule I think and went on a four game losing streak, but they have done a nice job of managing the part of the schedule that people would think they would be able to manage. I?m sure they are making progress and they are excited about where they are.

Q. Any more news on Candeto and Eckel?s status?

A. They didn?t practice today and we?ll just have to see. Kyle had a MRI today so we should know a little bit more when they read that. I think if Craig can do some things tomorrow and Thursday we may try and play him, if not we will start Aaron. We have confidence in Aaron. We also got Lamar back this week, which is good timing. At fullback, Bryce is out. He hasn?t practiced. If Kyle doesn?t play that moves Brimage up. I have confidence in Brimage. I think he has good vision. He just hasn?t played in a varsity game. I watched him play in the JV game and he did some great things. I have no problem with Brimage playing, I think he?d do fine. One man?s misery is another man?s opportunity.