MONROE, La. - ULM
head coach Todd Berry met with members of the media Tuesday afternoon as the
football program held its first weekly conference of the 2012 season.
Below are selected quotes from Tuesday's press conference:
Opening Statement
"I am excited to get another season underway. There are a
lot of reasons to be very optimistic about this season. It is a bit different
not being able to open up this Saturday but we have dealt with this before, two
years ago. The majority of the team is used to this situation."
"There is that opportunity to watch some other games and
some other players. You hope that your team is cerebral enough to learn from
those mistakes they witness while watching those games. We are certainly going
to encourage our guys to watch a few games."
"We are healthy right now other than Khari Usher, which we
have known about for a while and we probably will not see him back until around
the conference schedule. We will miss him and his enthusiasm but I have been
pleased with our secondary in camp."
On Defense...
"We have a nice foundation on the defensive line that we
started a couple a years ago and now we are seeing it to fruition. I am excited
about that group and their energy and depth."
"Linebacker is another group where we have a lot of depth.
The spots are two-deep, which is what we want.
"I am very excited about our cornerbacks. We struggled early
on with some immaturity with some guys that maybe have not played the position
before or were very young. Now we have a group back there that has some
confidence and some athleticism. "
"Our safety Hawk position is very athletic and is the
fastest group we have been able to throw back there. Their ability to close on
the ball have forced the way the offense is attacking the defense in practice."
"We are not as deep at safety as I would like with Usher
being out. That is a position we need to see some guys mature and grow up."
On Offense...
"I have been very pleased with Kolton Browning and Cody
Wells in terms of their comfort level within the system and identifying defense
and getting us into good plays. That comes with experience."
"Our running back position continues to build depth. Jyruss
Edwards and Centarius Donald will both see a lot of time."
"We have three guys at tight end that we are looking at
playing this year. Keavon Milton should have an outstanding year. He is very
comfortable in the position. A pleasant surprise in camp has been Harley
Scioneaux. He has added some weight and is more athletic now than he was in the
spring. Kevin Steed has had a good fall camp too."
"Our receiving corps continues to be a strength as long as
we can stay healthy. Je'Ron Hamm is ready for his breakout. Tavarese Maye has
had a good summer and I think it was important for him to get back healthy
because he has some ability to be an explosive player for us. Brent Leonard is
one of the finest receivers I have ever been around and I generally do not pass
out compliments like that. He has great hands, he is a great route runner, he presents
himself well to the quarterback, physical and understands coverages."
"Our offensive line is still the question in my mind. I have
been excited about the group. We have some competition and depth for the first
time. We are a much more physical group than we have been in the past and Coach
Farmer has done a great job with that group."
On Special Teams...
"Our kicking game has improved. We have more coverage guys
than we have ever had. Justin Manton and Connor Fryoux have been kicking and
punting the ball very well. Connor does a great job of giving you that 40 yard
punt with four or five second hangtime that you are able to cover."
On Peaking Too Early...
"It's hard. I think it becomes more difficult with a team
that is chomping at the bit to play. This group has worked and invested and now
they want some dividends. This group is mature enough to handle it."
On Coaching Staff
Continuity...
"I think that is significant for a number of reasons. I
think anytime you have staff continuity, you have upped your chances of
winning. All you have to do is look around at all the successful programs
around the country and there is that blueprint. "
"It has been well-documented that almost all of these guys
on the staff have had opportunities to leave for more money at other places.
Anytime a team witnesses that, then the guys are more excited. If they are
staying they must have some good feelings on what is getting ready to happen."
On Team's Experience...
"I do not think this team is really all that caught up in
who we play, it is more how we play. They have played against some really good
helmets and Arkansas is a very good football team and there is a reason that
everybody feels as high about them as they do, they are good. We respect that
but we also recognize that we have played against high-level teams before and
because of that there is not that apprehension."
"Watching these kids grow up is really rewarding. I love my
guys because they will give it up. They are a lot of fun to coach and be
around. I trust them."
On This Saturday...
"As coaches we have all of these things we need to get done
before the season stats. My wife and I, we have this checklist. We have this,
this and this. We have to go to Chuck-E-Cheese and all of those other things as
a family. We have pretty much checked out all those boxes. We are going to
practice Saturday morning because I want the guys to be able to watch some
games. I am going to release the staff because that is what we are going to do
too. Sunday will be hard work day for us as will the rest of the week. I am
probably going to lock myself in front the big screen my wife so kindly got me
a few years ago and watch some games and maybe cook something out on the grill
and have some family time."
