10/16/2003 - Football
Transcript of Head Coach Paul Johnson's Comments Following Practice On

Q. You were talking about opportunity and opportunity leads to excitement.

How do you temper that excitement and try to keep the teams focus on Rice?

A. Rice is the opportunity. There isnt anyone else to be focused on.

Thats who we play this week and we're trying to win another game. I dont

know how long its been since Navy has won three in a row (1997). Its been

a while.

Q. Coach Hatfield says their field is the fastest turf in America. Is that

good for Navy?

A. I dont know. It will be good for fast guys.

Q. The injury situation. Mathews was back practicing today?

A. Yeah, hes trying. I dont think hes going to be able to play, but hes

back trying.

Q. And Smith is definitely out?

A. Yeah.

Q. In terms of the Rice style offense, can you talk about what they are

trying to do and what Hatfields scheme is with his option?

A. They run some things that are similar, but they run a lot of isos and

counter leads and they run probably more zone option than we run, they will

run some shotgun. They do different things. We get in a game with 80 plays

we probably run 50 option plays. They get in a game with 80 plays they

probably run 20 option plays, 20 power running plays, 20 shotgun plays,

whatever works. They arent just dialed in to the option.

Q. And defensively what do they do?

A. They are an eight-man front.

Q. With playing an option team, will the loss of Smith be felt more since

hes such a good tackler and that position comes up on the line?

A. Safeties are important when you play the option, the secondary is

important. Everybody has to have their eyes where they belong and play

their assignment. If everybody looks at what they are supposed to look at

well have a chance.

Q. How is Newsome coming in that regard?

A. Oh, Kevin will be all right. Hes played. I have confidence in Kevin.

Hes like everybody else. If he looks at what hes supposed to he will be

all right and if he doesnt he wont.

Q. There is a fine line between confidence and being cocky and youve worked

so hard to get these guys confident. Do you have any concern what so ever

that they are starting to get to full of themselves upon winning four games?

A. (Laughter). I hope not. I would hope you would have to win a lot more

than four games before you got cocky.

Q. At the same time they are getting patted on the back by a lot of people.

A. Hopefully they are smart enough to know what they did last week is over.

Whats the old saying, >=How do you like me now?<= go="" down="" there="" and="" lose="">

Saturday and see how you like me now.

Q. Thats what Eckel was saying, 4-8 isnt anything but 10-2 is and I guess

thats the attitude you want to hear.

A. Im not worried about any of that. Im worried about 5-2.