Aug. 16, 2010

Transcript of Navy head football coach Ken Niumatalolo's comments following practice on Monday, August 16, 2010

In Attendance: Bill Wagner (Annapolis Capital)

Wagner: You were really getting after the team there at the end, can you tell me what that was about?

Niumatalolo: We weren't ready to practice. They just came out here to punch the clock. We had no intensity. I was very disappointed with the way we practiced today.

Wagner: It was very hot out here and you are more than a week into camp do you think some of that is attributed to the guys being a little tired?

Niumatalolo: I'm sure that was some of it, but nobody cares. You have to come out and play. It is hot, guys are tired and we've been in camp for a while but you have to fight through it. This is the time when our team molds itself. We want the guys that can fight through things. Guys that can fight through the cramps, fight through the pain. It was just disappointing the way we practiced.

Wagner: Can I ask what did the guys that were doing up downs at the end of practice do wrong?

Niumatalolo: There are certain things you have to do before practice and they didn't do them.

Wagner: Is that what you are talking about, not following the details?

Niumatalolo: Details are the key. Guys might miss an assignment on offense, defense or special teams because they are tired and that is the time when you have to pay attention even more. We are always very detail oriented. Some people might think it's crazy when we get on guys for not touching the line or if you are supposed to weigh in at 4:00 PM you weigh in at 4:00 PM and not 4:05 or 4:07 or 4:08. That ties in directly with the military stuff. Normally we are pretty good at that. Normally the guys here are doing what they are supposed to do. If we ever get lax in the details we are in trouble.

Wagner: Looking at the depth chart I noticed three freshmen on the depth chart on the offensive line. Is that rare here for a freshman to get on the depth to the offensive line?

Niumatalolo: Yes it is. We have some young guys that we feel good about. They still have a long ways to go, but now is the time to throw them in and get some reps when we still have three weeks before the first game. We did the same thing last year with Josh Cabral. Hopefully they can learn from guys like Battipaglia and Molloy.

Wagner: Does the three freshmen on the offensive line speak to the fact that maybe some sophomores and juniors aren't getting the job done or are you just low on numbers?

Niumatalolo: It might be some of that, but we think they have a chance to be pretty good.

Wagner: Are all three guys from the prep school?

Niumatalolo: No, Travis Bridges is direct.

Wagner: That really is rare.

Niumatalolo: He's a big kid. He's probably about 290-295 right now. He's a young pup that has great potential, but he has a long ways to go. We are trying to toughen him up to the style we play. He will get there. He's a good kid.

Wagner: You have to feel pretty good about the fullback position. Alexander Teich started last year at fullback at the start of the year and then when he got injured Murray came in and had a hell of a year, a breakout type year, and now Teich is back fully healthy and it looks like he is running pretty good. Can you talk about those two guys? I talked to Coach Judge the other day and he said they were 1A and 1B, that they were both starter quality.

Niumatalolo: We are very confident in both of them. Alex was the starter and when he got hurt Vince came in and rushed for almost 1,000 yards. They are both very capable players. Teich kind of picked up his groove when he came back at the end of the year and played well. I feel very good about both players.

Wagner: Do you see the two guys splitting carries? There have been some years where the fullbacks have split the carries, like when you had Ballard and Kettani, and then other years, like with Eckel, you have gone with just one fullback.

Niumatalolo: I think you could see something like Ballard and Kettani. I don't know what the breakdown would be, but you could see something like that.

Wagner: I also wanted to ask you about Brye French. Obviously it is a unique situation with him playing lacrosse and he missed spring ball because of it. Is that something you frown upon, missing spring ball to play another sport?

Niumatalolo: He was a lacrosse recruit. We both recruited him, but he was more heavily recruited by Richie. It is what it is. It isn't what you want to have happen, especially in the spring. The offseason in football is huge. You might be doing something else, but your counterparts are lifting and getting bigger and stronger. You do a lot more running in lacrosse than you do in football, where in football you have more quick burst and stop, quick burst and stop. I definitely think it hurt him. If he would have played spring ball he would probably be contending for a starting spot at inside linebacker, but we have pretty good depth there now so we moved him to outside. He's still behind, but he has some football sense.

Wagner: Let's say he plays this year. Do you have to sit down and talk with him after the season and decide if he can play both sports?

Niumatalolo: Richie and I would probably have to talk, ultimately he might have to choose but it's his (Brye's) choice what he wants to do. We will cross that bridge when we get to it.