Coach Erickson and Threet discuss match against Beavers

Head coach Dennis Erickson

Opening Statement:

“Oregon State doesn’t look any different than they have been the last five years. Their non-league schedule was tough. They had a chance to win both football games, though, and they are a quality football team. They were picked very high by everyone going into the season and I don’t see why they still shouldn’t be. They have a lot of experience back and any time you have the Rodgers brothers you have a chance. They make so many plays and they’re exceptional football players. Jacquizz Rodgers is so strong and quick, and he can break it any time. James Rodgers got hurt but I know he is going to play. The key is their offensive front and they have played together quite a bit. Their quarterback Ryan Katz is a guy we tried to recruit and he is very talented. He makes some throws that are very difficult to make, but like Steven Threet, he is learning and experience only comes from games. Their defense is aggressive and they recruit guys that fit their system. This is a huge game for both football teams and we look forward to playing. We have to find a way to win the football game and that’s the bottom line. Once you start winning games, it becomes contagious. We’re playing pretty decent and I am happy with where we are at, except not winning these last two football games. I like their attitude and mind set. We have to be road warriors for the next month, which is unusual. We don’t get into our stadium for a month, so we better be good at other people’s stadiums.”

On learning to win:

“I don’t think it’s learning to win, but earning and getting the win. Once you get that and know that you can win then it makes it easy in the fourth quarter. We can’t turn it over seven times in the football game and expect to win. People can ask you anything about that football game but that’s it right there. We were down in the red-zone nine times. We turned it over three times down there. We fumbled and had two picks down there. That’s almost half the times down there. We scored three touchdowns and had a field goal down there.  It’s not what we are doing down there.  We just have to execute and get points. On the other one, I went for it on fourth-down and they held us. If I had to do it again I probably would have kicked the field goal. No one is second guessing ourselves more than me.”

On Threet’s performance:

“Yes, I wanted to talk to him. I don’t have any loss of confidence in Steven Threet at all. He had a bad game and made some mental mistakes. That’s what comes with that position. With our offense, every time the football is snapped he has to make a decision, and that’s a lot to put on the quarterback. He just made some bad decisions on where to throw the football. He was trying to make a play. The great ones do that. He’s a competitor and he’s tough. He got hit a lot of times and he stood in there. He made a lot of good plays in that football game. You take the good with the bad, but he will get better because he wants to be the best he can be and help us win football games.”

On Threet under center in short-yardage situations:

“We still practice it. That’s not the problem. The plan with what we want to do in the run game is fine. Turnovers are the problem. We spend a lot of time on the run game in practice. If I thought having him under center was the answer, then I would have him there every down. That’s not the answer though. We just have to correct it.”

On changes to the offensive line:

“We’re going to move Evan Fickenberg to left tackle and play him there. We will give Andrew Sampson the opportunity to play right guard. We think he is a good football player who hasn’t had an opportunity there. Aderious Simmons will play at right tackle and we will mix him in some. That’s the only way he will get better and his upside is extremely good.”

On Trent Bray’s coach job with the linebackers:

“He has done a great job with the linebackers. He has a lot of personalities there to deal with. This wasn’t the easiest job for him, but he has done a great job with them. They are very fundamentally sound. They listen to him and have great respect for him. They played extremely well Saturday night. Vontaze Burfict was all over the place. Brandon Magee and Shelly Lyons both played well.”

On safety Max Tabach’s play:

“Max was very steady. He played 50 plays and played well. You will see a lot more of Max. He is very disciplined and physical.”

On the running back situation:

“We are talking about starting Deantre Lewis this week, as he has earned it. Cameron Marshall is playing real well too. They are different backs, which is a good combination to have. Cameron is a tough runner and is a good pass-blocker. Deantre gives us more out in space, as does Jamal Miles. All three will play, so it won’t make a difference who the starter is.”

On wide receiver Gerell Robinson:

“It wasn’t a surprise. He had a great spring and fall camp. He is healthy now and is making plays. It’s great for him and great for us. When you have him and Michael Willie, that is two pretty big guys out there.”

Junior Quarterback Steven Threet 

Thoughts after reviewing film:

“I thought we did a lot of good things, aside from the seven turnovers. Any time you turn it over that many times it is hard to win a football game. Especially against a team like Oregon. With 600 yards of offense there are some positive things. We have to learn from the mistakes and prepare for the next game.”

On what he took from the game:

“Field goals are okay in the red-zone. We have to get points when we are down there, especially in the fourth quarter. That has to be corrected.”

On the game:

“It definitely made for a miserable Saturday. On Sunday, you have to come in and watch film and learn from it. There are lessons to be learned and you have to wake up early Monday morning and start working on the next game. You can’t let the previous game effect preparation for the next game.”

On learning to win:

“I don’t think so. I think we have to make the plays when they present themselves. The defense got us the ball a couple of times in the fourth quarter and we have to capitalize on that.”

On confidence level:

“I think we are a very talented offense, with a lot of skill players. The offensive line is doing a good job, but we have to bring it all together. We have to execute consistently and we will do that.”

On connection with receivers:

“I need to make better throws. On the play to Jamal Miles, if I make a better throw it’s a touchdown. There is no miscommunication route-wise.”

On the lateral passes:

“That is a huge part of our offense and our run game. It helps us get the numbers we want in the box, to be able to run the ball. We have to make it work and we will continue to work on it and get better.”

On Oregon State’s defense:

“They are very sound. They have some great players. They play hard and are very physical. They will get after us. With a good week of preparation we will be ready to go on Saturday.”

On feeling of being close to getting over the hump:

“I think it’s frustrating and exiting. In terms of driving the field and not finishing off drives and getting points when we should. It is exciting though because we are very close. If we correct these mistakes then we are right there.”

On Deantre Lewis:

“He did a good job in camp. He learned the system well and he is a playmaker. If you get the ball in his hands he can do a lot of damage in space. The type of offense we run is very conducive to that type of player.”

On touchdown pass to Kerry Taylor:

“We tried to make a big play after the turnover. Coach called the play and Kerry ran a great route. He positioned himself far enough from the first defender, but outside the safety to create a window where I could fit it in.”

On not running out of bounds on his runs:

“I was just trying to get a couple extra yards. It’s close to the sidelines so I wasn’t taking head on hits which is what I try to stay away from.”

On playing on the road for a month:

“It’s strange and it will be a test for us. We’re excited about the opportunity and we have three good opponents. We are really focused on Oregon State and the challenge they present.”