Florida State University
Football Media Conference
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Tallahassee, Florida, USA
Mike Norvell
Press Conference
MIKE NORVELL: Good morning, everybody. Appreciate
you being here.
Obviously coming off the game last Saturday, I do want to
thank every Florida State fan that traveled over to Ireland
to make that trip, to be there to support us. It was an
incredible turnout. Obviously a great atmosphere. Just
such a special fan base.
I’m sick that we didn’t give you a better outcome.
Obviously it’s extremely disappointing. But I am so very
grateful for every Florida State faithful that made that trip.
It was really remarkable just to see that support.
Coming off the game, getting a chance to get back,
obviously it’s a big trip, a lot of different elements that go
into it. Grateful for all of our operations, everybody that
served a part of that, making that trip happen. It’s a lot of
moving pieces. I thought it went as smooth as could be.
Glad to get everybody back here.
Obviously we had practice last night. Adjusting to our
game week. Yesterday was a Sunday for us. Today is a
Monday. We’ll continue to progress as we go.
Going back and looking at the game, like I said, it’s
sickening that we came up short in that game. Obviously I
take total responsibility and ownership for that.
I think you go back and see the game, obviously it’s my job
to have the team prepared to go and play to the best of our
ability. I don’t believe that was our best.
You could sit there and you look at a lot of different factors.
When you look offensively, we really lacked the explosive
play showing up. We had a couple big runs, a couple
decent passes, but we just missed that explosive play. We
had seven possessions in the game, which really you got
to make every play count. Obviously both teams had
seven possessions, so it was definitely a unique game.
I was proud of our guys. We were able to own the ball
offensively. I think we scored on four of the seven drives.
A couple of those drives had to set up for field goals. Had
a fourth down where we didn’t convert. Just a few missed
opportunities.
I thought it was a pretty clean game in the sense of not
hurting ourselves. Obviously there were some things that
we left out there. They did a good job in some of the things
schematically of trying to add safeties. We had some
missed assignments in regards to how we were trying to
account for those guys.
At the end of the day it’s an opportunity for us to grow and
build. I was really proud of the guys offensively in that
fourth quarter when we needed a touchdown to be able to
put together that drive. I thought DJ did a great job.
Receivers answered the call. Being able to find a way to
finish in the end zone was big.
Ultimately, I mean, I’ve got to do a better job of getting the
ball to our play-makers and making sure that we’re giving
those opportunities, still being able to maintain the balance
that we have, that we desire.
I thought that was something coming out of the game,
definitely it’s something we all get to work and be better at,
but something specifically for myself. I got to make sure
when we come out of the game, we’ve been able to take
advantage of those opportunities.
Flipping over to the defensive side of the ball, obviously it
was a game that they were able to establish everything on
the run. It was unfortunate that we were not able to create
more explosives defensively. Had the one opportunity
where the ball was on the ground. We got to find a way to
create that takeaway, with that opportunity that showed up.
You do a lot of different things in the run game. They did a
good job with their shifts, their motions, trying to keep us
off balance, forcing communication.
I thought their front did a good job of neutralizing our
defensive front, which we got to have more production out
of that group. It is one of the best groups on this team.
Those guys, for a lot of different reasons, that’s something
that we’re going to continue and work and build.
I think one of the things I’ve been pleased with since the
game is just the ownership of coaches, players, everybody
involved, of understanding how much we have to continue
to pour into each other. You take ownership in getting
better.
I think when you look defensively, we continue to push and
challenge that forcing unit, whether it’s D-line, linebackers,
safeties, corners. We got to make sure our fits are tight,
that we do a better job of tackling in space.
I thought we had too many missed tackles in space. When
guys got on the perimeter, they had 15 design quarterback
runs. When that happens, it takes everything.
Obviously this week we’re going to play another running
back quarterback. It’s going to take all hats. If you’re
forced into the fit, we have to make sure we’re on point and
being in position, playing with our eyes, running through
tackles, and making sure we’re getting guys on the ground.
Like I said, we had too many missed tackles there in
space. Ultimately we got to be better in forcing and
stopping a team when they are obviously attempting to run
the ball, quarterback, running backs, speed motion,
whatever that might be. We just have to be better.
I’ve got a lot of confidence in this group. Still things, being
our first game, you get a chance to continue to evaluate
personnel, what are those best units. I think there’s some
opportunities for growth there for us as well, who, when,
where guys are playing. That’s something being in game
one, obviously sometimes you have to work through that.
We will definitely be better in that regard, make sure we’re
putting guys in best positions to achieve success.
Special teams-wise, I was really proud of Ryan, Ryan and
that field goal unit, to have two long field goals. One was a
career long for him. You see the confidence he has. Did a
great job in his kickoffs.
I thought our coverage unit was good in the opportunity we
had. We were limited. I think only 21 special teams snaps,
so really limited in that. Saw some good things; obviously
some areas we got to work to get better.
I’m excited and grateful for the opportunity to go respond.
Everybody’s disappointed in coming up short. That game
came down to one play. When you sit there and you look
at it, I mean, you could take 30 plays in that game, any one
of those have a different outcome, I mean, we’re probably
in a lot better mood right now than what we’re in.
How you respond to it, what you do… I mean
wants to find yourself in this situation, but I believe in the
character of the team, I believe in this coaching staff, I
believe in the talent and ability that we have.
We got to go play better. It starts with me. It’s my job to
make sure that in all things that we’re doing, come Monday
night, our best football shows up.
Last week there was a lot of different logistical things that
we worked through. Obviously I don’t know when our next
game of traveling abroad will be. You look at all things.
Why did some things show up the way they did?
Obviously we’re going to learn and work and get better
from it.
I thought our guys did a really good job in practice
yesterday. There’s definitely the right edge that we need.
Just for this week, obviously we’re playing a Boston
College team that’s kicking off their season, new coach,
new coaching staff, some very talented players, very
dynamic quarterback, some experienced guys defensively
that have been through it and done it. We know obviously
they’re coming in ready to kick off their season.
For us, it’s all about us going to get better. I want to see us
play our best game. We have to have our best week of
preparation in order to be able to do that.
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. When discussing the forcing unit, is it physicality?
Eye discipline?
MIKE NORVELL: I mean, you could sit there and go
through the course of an entire game. We gave up I think
three really explosive runs. I think you see a little bit of all
in that.
There was a play where we might have had a missed
assignment, thinking something else was coming rather
than staying the course of the job and responsibility. If you
have a little bit of extra space in there, you let a guy be
able to make something happen with that. Our eye
discipline, making sure our communication is on point, our
fits are tight, we’re running through, being able to make
tackles there in open spaces.
I think there were some times where there was some
hesitation that showed up. I know as we talked a week
ago before the first game, you sit there, What is the
concern going into the game? I believe in the talent and
the ability. In the moment of truth, when you’re out there,
do you trust your discipline, your details, are you able to go
put that on display?
That’s not just for new players. It’s also older and
experienced players. In that moment, you’ve got to trust
the things you’ve trained yourself to do. Whether it’s
open-field tackle. It’s those fundamentals. Do you rely that
on that moment? If it’s your block construction, how you
are fitting the gap, how 11 guys are playing as one there
defensively. It so critical.
I think those are things that you have to grow from, you
have to learn from, but you also see the importance of it
when you come out of the game. When those things are
the things that hurt you, I mean, it’s the sense of urgency to
get that fixed and to be better. It has to be done.
Q. How do you counter a game having such slow
tempo, limited quantity of possessions? Did you try to
do anything in the moment that just didn’t work?
MIKE NORVELL: Yeah, I mean, it’s the fewest
possessions I’ve ever been a part of in a game. It was
really both sides. They were able to extend drives there
offensively. We got to be better on third down defense,
getting off the field. Some of those things are a part of it.
On the flip side of it, we were methodical with our drives
offensively. We had multiple drives of nine, eight, ten-plus
plays. We need to see those explosive plays show up.
We did take our shots. We did have some opportunities.
Some of them didn’t play out the way necessarily that we
wanted. Those were a part of the plan. When you miss
out on some of those explosive opportunities, you have
these longer drives, it does shorten the game.
Like I said, it’s the importance of every play, making sure
you can execute. We tried to mix a few things up, just
what we were doing. Like I said, I’ve got to make sure I do
a better job as we roll through, putting our guys in the best
position to achieve success. We’re going to do that.
Q. Did you expect there to be so few possessions in
the game on both sides? How big of a part did the
helmet communication play?
MIKE NORVELL: I think it definitely plays a role. No, I
didn’t expect there to be that few. I think we had one
possession, if I remember correctly, one possession in the
fourth quarter. It was three possessions in the second half,
which is obviously very unique to have. Only had four
there in the first half. You don’t expect that few, but it’s
something that plays out in the course of the game.
I’m sure that was a big part of their plan, what they wanted
to do. Obviously, as it all kind of played out, it played out
pretty good for what they were trying to accomplish.
The helmet communication, I mean, it was good. In the
second half they said that their helmet communication went
down. We actually weren’t using it there in part of the
second half because the official came over and told me it
went out. Whenever we tried to use it, it wasn’t in full
operation there later in the game. That was all part of it.
I mean, that’s just the game. It’s different factors and
elements that you work through. But it was definitely
unique to only have 14 total possessions in the game.
Q. You talked about finding the balance on offense,
the explosiveness. The first half, the passing game,
the only real shot downfield was negated by the pass
interference. Is that what you thought was going to be
effective? Was that to help DJ settle in?
MIKE NORVELL: It was a part of our plan because we felt
like we’d have a chance to get leverage, get in space, let
guys have a chance to go make plays. Some of it was just
reads, being able to take something quick.
I thought it was a good start to it. I thought DJ settled in,
was able to get the ball out, spread around. Like I said,
you look at the first half, I mean, we were able to move the
ball on every drive. Unfortunately their corner made a
great play, great call on their part on the fourth down that
we came up short.
We were able to move the ball. Unfortunately we got to
make sure we finish those drives with touchdowns. That
was something that obviously you work to build off of. We
did have a couple opportunities didn’t go the way we
wanted. It was all kind of part of our plan.
Q. What has the mood of the team been like the last
few days, traveling around Ireland? Any leaders that
stepped up after the loss?
MIKE NORVELL: Obviously one of the things of staying
there the day after, we got up pretty early on Sunday, we
had a team meeting, met offensively, defensively. We
went through the film. Got a chance to watch the game.
Nobody was in a good mood.
Also with us going over there and playing the game,
probably over 90% of our team, the first time outside of the
country. I didn’t want to just go there and miss the
opportunity for them to have an educational experience.
They did get to go and see some of the town. Guys got a
chance to get that experience.
I am grateful for this team’s mindset. Like I said, the
ownership of it. Being a part of a team, you pour so much
into so few opportunities. There’s guys, even directly right
after the game, some of our best players, obviously us as
coaches, when you’re willing to take ownership of action,
obviously the commitment to do everything that you can to
go get better, to fix areas of mistakes, to understand the
importance of the smallest things, whether the play calls,
what you’re doing, a technique, a fundamental. We all
have a job and responsibility to each other.
I think our guys have had the right mindset in what we
need to do. It’s still all in front of us. We got to go and just
get better. I’m not worried about anything else beyond
that. I am not worried about anything we can’t control right
now other than going out there and putting our best foot
forward today, being prepared for our Tuesday practice
tomorrow, obviously as we’ll build throughout the course of
the week.
That’s what I desire. I think I got a football team that
understands that. Definitely showed it last night in their
approach.
Q. Do you think some guys during the game were
tentative, afraid to make mistakes?
MIKE NORVELL: I think it’s one of the things, when you
have some newcomers, guys that are in different roles,
different opportunities, that’s where you talk about you got
to trust your training, you have to be able to trust the things
you’ve done and prepared.
Do I think there are guys that played hesitant at moments?
Yes. That’s where you got to be able to work through that.
At the end of the day, as a coach, you try to do all the
things you can do to prepare them for that moment, how
you train, what you do, making sure that guys are going to
play fast through that.
There’s some guys that were a little bit limited there
throughout the course of camp, that were available for the
game, got opportunities. It was a mixed bag of results in
some of those things that we saw.
Obviously we got to do a good job as coaches of making
sure that we identify and make adjustments as we need
throughout the course of a game.
I think as guys are getting out there, guys having to play as
one, we’ve got to make sure that when we step on that field
there’s no hesitation, guys cutting it loose and being the
best that they can be.
Q. You mentioned earlier, but with Boston College
having a new coaching staff, is it difficult to get a read
on them heading into the game, especially when you
faced them last year in a shootout?
MIKE NORVELL: We obviously got a lot of respect for the
guys that they have, for the players that they have. Coach
O’Brien and his staff, obviously extensive, very successful
coaching career. Obviously with him, Coach Lewis, their
defensive coordinator, it’s a team that’s going to be very
well-coached. They’re going to be tough, they are going to
be physical, be able to attack you in a variety of different
ways, offensively, defensively as well as in special teams.
In all reality, we’re looking at everything, anything you can
imagine in preparation of what we might see. Obviously
there’s going to be things that they’re going to be able to
take from week one and probably try to utilize here for
them.
We got to stay focused on ourselves and be able to adapt,
adjust to whatever shows up.
Q. Curious about two guys on offense. Jaylin Lucas,
is there an expanded role for him? Also Hykeem
Williams, you announced he wasn’t going to be able to
play against Georgia Tech. What is his status?
MIKE NORVELL: You’ll see Hykeem progress through this
week. We’re hopeful that he’ll be available. Obviously
that’s going to be something you have to see throughout
the course of the week. He is progressing.
Shawn Murphy was another player that was out last week,
linebacker. He’s missed the better part of camp. We’re
hopeful, I don’t know if it will be this week, but hopefully
here in the next couple weeks.
Jaylin, he’s a guys that is an explosive play-maker for us.
He’s one of those guys, like I said, coming out of the game,
the fact of him, he was limited in touches. I got to do a
better job.
Obviously sometimes there’s a variety of different ways of
how the ball gets to somebody. But that’s a guy that we
need to be able to make an impact. He’ll continue to work.
He’ll continue to do the things that he’s doing to be better
and continue to be ready for those opportunities.
He’s done a good job throughout fall camp. It was
unfortunate I wasn’t able to get him to be a bigger part of
that game there on Saturday.
Q. You mentioned the game plan with DJ was to
spread the ball around, stretch the defense
horizontally. The last drive, when he made those
throws downfield, did that open anything up in your
head about how you can use him?
MIKE NORVELL: Didn’t go into the game not wanting to
stretch the ball vertically either. We called our shots. A
couple looks where obviously different dynamics. We
checked out of a couple based on the look that we were
getting.
There was opportunities we did. You try to push. More
confidence? Less confidence? I woke up on Sunday
confident. Going into Saturday, I was confident. I know
the guys that I coach. Sometimes there’s different
elements of a game plan of what you want to do, how you
want to try to get guys in space. That’s what we went into
it with.
Just unfortunate that connecting and being able to have
some of those vertical plays down the field didn’t show up
for us in week one.
We’ll continue to work and be better and try to capitalize on
those. It’s going to be something we do each and every
week.
Q. You only really used six offensive linemen on
Saturday. Was that part of the plan? How do you think
Coach Fertita did filling in for Coach Atkins?
MIKE NORVELL: I thought the communication went really
well. We used seven guys. Rob and TJ both played
throughout the course of the game.
Continuing to work through. I think we got guys that have
experience. I think there were some really good things that
showed up. As you go back and you watch the film, how
fine it can be with having to have guys all together.
Obviously it’s not just offensive line, it’s tight ends, running
backs, everybody being on the same page.
The finest of details where we had a couple of those runs
that were extremely close to being what you’re looking for,
the explosive plays that can be created.
I thought Gabe did a great job in his communication with
the guys on the sideline. Obviously with all the things
we’re doing within the staff, we’re going to continue to build
upon that throughout these next couple weeks.
I thought he did a really good job working with those guys.
Q. How much was footing an issue there? How much
does that play in setting the edge with a quarterback
like Haynes King?
MIKE NORVELL: Both sides had to deal with the same
thing. There’s times of guys slipping. That was all part of
it. Every surface is going to be unique to itself. A few
times that we lost our footing and allowed them to get to
the edge. We got to be better. I don’t think it was a huge
part of it. Definitely shows up. Those are things that
sometimes you can and can’t control.
We got to make sure we’re doing everything in our power
to have an edge defensively. Obviously whether it’s on
offensive or defensive side, make sure we’re staying on our
feet, having an opportunity to make the play.
Q. Last week you said going into the first game you
have the biggest menu of things you could see. Does
that still apply this week with Boston College having
not played yet? How different do you expect them to
be with Bill O’Brien being the head coach?
MIKE NORVELL: First two weeks we’re going to have a
huge menu of things that we could potentially see.
Obviously you got to prepare for all things. We’ll have our
thoughts of what we might see. You got to be able to
adapt and react to what shows up. That’s a part of it when
you play in week zero, your first opponent is playing in their
first game, especially with a brand-new staff. It’s a very
talented staff with some talented players to be able to work
with.
We’re excited for the week of preparation, doing everything
to put our guys in the best position to go in and have
success this week.
FastScripts by ASAP Sports
MIKE NORVELL: Good morning, everybody. Appreciate
you being here.
Obviously coming off the game last Saturday, I do want to
thank every Florida State fan that traveled over to Ireland
to make that trip, to be there to support us. It was an
incredible turnout. Obviously a great atmosphere. Just
such a special fan base.
I’m sick that we didn’t give you a better outcome.
Obviously it’s extremely disappointing. But I am so very
grateful for every Florida State faithful that made that trip.
It was really remarkable just to see that support.
Coming off the game, getting a chance to get back,
obviously it’s a big trip, a lot of different elements that go
into it. Grateful for all of our operations, everybody that
served a part of that, making that trip happen. It’s a lot of
moving pieces. I thought it went as smooth as could be.
Glad to get everybody back here.
Obviously we had practice last night. Adjusting to our
game week. Yesterday was a Sunday for us. Today is a
Monday. We’ll continue to progress as we go.
Going back and looking at the game, like I said, it’s
sickening that we came up short in that game. Obviously I
take total responsibility and ownership for that.
I think you go back and see the game, obviously it’s my job
to have the team prepared to go and play to the best of our
ability. I don’t believe that was our best.
You could sit there and you look at a lot of different factors.
When you look offensively, we really lacked the explosive
play showing up. We had a couple big runs, a couple
decent passes, but we just missed that explosive play. We
had seven possessions in the game, which really you got
to make every play count. Obviously both teams had
seven possessions, so it was definitely a unique game.
I was proud of our guys. We were able to own the ball
offensively. I think we scored on four of the seven drives.
A couple of those drives had to set up for field goals. Had
a fourth down where we didn’t convert. Just a few missed
opportunities.
I thought it was a pretty clean game in the sense of not
hurting ourselves. Obviously there were some things that
we left out there. They did a good job in some of the things
schematically of trying to add safeties. We had some
missed assignments in regards to how we were trying to
account for those guys.
At the end of the day it’s an opportunity for us to grow and
build. I was really proud of the guys offensively in that
fourth quarter when we needed a touchdown to be able to
put together that drive. I thought DJ did a great job.
Receivers answered the call. Being able to find a way to
finish in the end zone was big.
Ultimately, I mean, I’ve got to do a better job of getting the
ball to our play-makers and making sure that we’re giving
those opportunities, still being able to maintain the balance
that we have, that we desire.
I thought that was something coming out of the game,
definitely it’s something we all get to work and be better at,
but something specifically for myself. I got to make sure
when we come out of the game, we’ve been able to take
advantage of those opportunities.
Flipping over to the defensive side of the ball, obviously it
was a game that they were able to establish everything on
the run. It was unfortunate that we were not able to create
more explosives defensively. Had the one opportunity
where the ball was on the ground. We got to find a way to
create that takeaway, with that opportunity that showed up.
You do a lot of different things in the run game. They did a
good job with their shifts, their motions, trying to keep us
off balance, forcing communication.
I thought their front did a good job of neutralizing our
defensive front, which we got to have more production out
of that group. It is one of the best groups on this team.
Those guys, for a lot of different reasons, that’s something
that we’re going to continue and work and build.
147746-1-1004 2024-08-28 16:22:00 GMT Page 1 of 5
I think one of the things I’ve been pleased with since the
game is just the ownership of coaches, players, everybody
involved, of understanding how much we have to continue
to pour into each other. You take ownership in getting
better.
I think when you look defensively, we continue to push and
challenge that forcing unit, whether it’s D-line, linebackers,
safeties, corners. We got to make sure our fits are tight,
that we do a better job of tackling in space.
I thought we had too many missed tackles in space. When
guys got on the perimeter, they had 15 design quarterback
runs. When that happens, it takes everything.
Obviously this week we’re going to play another running
back quarterback. It’s going to take all hats. If you’re
forced into the fit, we have to make sure we’re on point and
being in position, playing with our eyes, running through
tackles, and making sure we’re getting guys on the ground.
Like I said, we had too many missed tackles there in
space. Ultimately we got to be better in forcing and
stopping a team when they are obviously attempting to run
the ball, quarterback, running backs, speed motion,
whatever that might be. We just have to be better.
I’ve got a lot of confidence in this group. Still things, being
our first game, you get a chance to continue to evaluate
personnel, what are those best units. I think there’s some
opportunities for growth there for us as well, who, when,
where guys are playing. That’s something being in game
one, obviously sometimes you have to work through that.
We will definitely be better in that regard, make sure we’re
putting guys in best positions to achieve success.
Special teams-wise, I was really proud of Ryan, Ryan and
that field goal unit, to have two long field goals. One was a
career long for him. You see the confidence he has. Did a
great job in his kickoffs.
I thought our coverage unit was good in the opportunity we
had. We were limited. I think only 21 special teams snaps,
so really limited in that. Saw some good things; obviously
some areas we got to work to get better.
I’m excited and grateful for the opportunity to go respond.
Everybody’s disappointed in coming up short. That game
came down to one play. When you sit there and you look
at it, I mean, you could take 30 plays in that game, any one
of those have a different outcome, I mean, we’re probably
in a lot better mood right now than what we’re in.
How you respond to it, what you do… I mean, nobody ever
wants to find yourself in this situation, but I believe in the
character of the team, I believe in this coaching staff, I
believe in the talent and ability that we have.
We got to go play better. It starts with me. It’s my job to
make sure that in all things that we’re doing, come Monday
night, our best football shows up.
Last week there was a lot of different logistical things that
we worked through. Obviously I don’t know when our next
game of traveling abroad will be. You look at all things.
Why did some things show up the way they did?
Obviously we’re going to learn and work and get better
from it.
I thought our guys did a really good job in practice
yesterday. There’s definitely the right edge that we need.
Just for this week, obviously we’re playing a Boston
College team that’s kicking off their season, new coach,
new coaching staff, some very talented players, very
dynamic quarterback, some experienced guys defensively
that have been through it and done it. We know obviously
they’re coming in ready to kick off their season.
For us, it’s all about us going to get better. I want to see us
play our best game. We have to have our best week of
preparation in order to be able to do that.
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. When discussing the forcing unit, is it physicality?
Eye discipline?
MIKE NORVELL: I mean, you could sit there and go
through the course of an entire game. We gave up I think
three really explosive runs. I think you see a little bit of all
in that.
There was a play where we might have had a missed
assignment, thinking something else was coming rather
than staying the course of the job and responsibility. If you
have a little bit of extra space in there, you let a guy be
able to make something happen with that. Our eye
discipline, making sure our communication is on point, our
fits are tight, we’re running through, being able to make
tackles there in open spaces.
I think there were some times where there was some
hesitation that showed up. I know as we talked a week
ago before the first game, you sit there, What is the
concern going into the game? I believe in the talent and
the ability. In the moment of truth, when you’re out there,
do you trust your discipline, your details, are you able to go
put that on display?
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That’s not just for new players. It’s also older and
experienced players. In that moment, you’ve got to trust
the things you’ve trained yourself to do. Whether it’s
open-field tackle. It’s those fundamentals. Do you rely that
on that moment? If it’s your block construction, how you
are fitting the gap, how 11 guys are playing as one there
defensively. It so critical.
I think those are things that you have to grow from, you
have to learn from, but you also see the importance of it
when you come out of the game. When those things are
the things that hurt you, I mean, it’s the sense of urgency to
get that fixed and to be better. It has to be done.
Q. How do you counter a game having such slow
tempo, limited quantity of possessions? Did you try to
do anything in the moment that just didn’t work?
MIKE NORVELL: Yeah, I mean, it’s the fewest
possessions I’ve ever been a part of in a game. It was
really both sides. They were able to extend drives there
offensively. We got to be better on third down defense,
getting off the field. Some of those things are a part of it.
On the flip side of it, we were methodical with our drives
offensively. We had multiple drives of nine, eight, ten-plus
plays. We need to see those explosive plays show up.
We did take our shots. We did have some opportunities.
Some of them didn’t play out the way necessarily that we
wanted. Those were a part of the plan. When you miss
out on some of those explosive opportunities, you have
these longer drives, it does shorten the game.
Like I said, it’s the importance of every play, making sure
you can execute. We tried to mix a few things up, just
what we were doing. Like I said, I’ve got to make sure I do
a better job as we roll through, putting our guys in the best
position to achieve success. We’re going to do that.
Q. Did you expect there to be so few possessions in
the game on both sides? How big of a part did the
helmet communication play?
MIKE NORVELL: I think it definitely plays a role. No, I
didn’t expect there to be that few. I think we had one
possession, if I remember correctly, one possession in the
fourth quarter. It was three possessions in the second half,
which is obviously very unique to have. Only had four
there in the first half. You don’t expect that few, but it’s
something that plays out in the course of the game.
I’m sure that was a big part of their plan, what they wanted
to do. Obviously, as it all kind of played out, it played out
pretty good for what they were trying to accomplish.
The helmet communication, I mean, it was good. In the
second half they said that their helmet communication went
down. We actually weren’t using it there in part of the
second half because the official came over and told me it
went out. Whenever we tried to use it, it wasn’t in full
operation there later in the game. That was all part of it.
I mean, that’s just the game. It’s different factors and
elements that you work through. But it was definitely
unique to only have 14 total possessions in the game.
Q. You talked about finding the balance on offense,
the explosiveness. The first half, the passing game,
the only real shot downfield was negated by the pass
interference. Is that what you thought was going to be
effective? Was that to help DJ settle in?
MIKE NORVELL: It was a part of our plan because we felt
like we’d have a chance to get leverage, get in space, let
guys have a chance to go make plays. Some of it was just
reads, being able to take something quick.
I thought it was a good start to it. I thought DJ settled in,
was able to get the ball out, spread around. Like I said,
you look at the first half, I mean, we were able to move the
ball on every drive. Unfortunately their corner made a
great play, great call on their part on the fourth down that
we came up short.
We were able to move the ball. Unfortunately we got to
make sure we finish those drives with touchdowns. That
was something that obviously you work to build off of. We
did have a couple opportunities didn’t go the way we
wanted. It was all kind of part of our plan.
Q. What has the mood of the team been like the last
few days, traveling around Ireland? Any leaders that
stepped up after the loss?
MIKE NORVELL: Obviously one of the things of staying
there the day after, we got up pretty early on Sunday, we
had a team meeting, met offensively, defensively. We
went through the film. Got a chance to watch the game.
Nobody was in a good mood.
Also with us going over there and playing the game,
probably over 90% of our team, the first time outside of the
country. I didn’t want to just go there and miss the
opportunity for them to have an educational experience.
They did get to go and see some of the town. Guys got a
chance to get that experience.
I am grateful for this team’s mindset. Like I said, the
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ownership of it. Being a part of a team, you pour so much
into so few opportunities. There’s guys, even directly right
after the game, some of our best players, obviously us as
coaches, when you’re willing to take ownership of action,
obviously the commitment to do everything that you can to
go get better, to fix areas of mistakes, to understand the
importance of the smallest things, whether the play calls,
what you’re doing, a technique, a fundamental. We all
have a job and responsibility to each other.
I think our guys have had the right mindset in what we
need to do. It’s still all in front of us. We got to go and just
get better. I’m not worried about anything else beyond
that. I am not worried about anything we can’t control right
now other than going out there and putting our best foot
forward today, being prepared for our Tuesday practice
tomorrow, obviously as we’ll build throughout the course of
the week.
That’s what I desire. I think I got a football team that
understands that. Definitely showed it last night in their
approach.
Q. Do you think some guys during the game were
tentative, afraid to make mistakes?
MIKE NORVELL: I think it’s one of the things, when you
have some newcomers, guys that are in different roles,
different opportunities, that’s where you talk about you got
to trust your training, you have to be able to trust the things
you’ve done and prepared.
Do I think there are guys that played hesitant at moments?
Yes. That’s where you got to be able to work through that.
At the end of the day, as a coach, you try to do all the
things you can do to prepare them for that moment, how
you train, what you do, making sure that guys are going to
play fast through that.
There’s some guys that were a little bit limited there
throughout the course of camp, that were available for the
game, got opportunities. It was a mixed bag of results in
some of those things that we saw.
Obviously we got to do a good job as coaches of making
sure that we identify and make adjustments as we need
throughout the course of a game.
I think as guys are getting out there, guys having to play as
one, we’ve got to make sure that when we step on that field
there’s no hesitation, guys cutting it loose and being the
best that they can be.
Q. You mentioned earlier, but with Boston College
having a new coaching staff, is it difficult to get a read
on them heading into the game, especially when you
faced them last year in a shootout?
MIKE NORVELL: We obviously got a lot of respect for the
guys that they have, for the players that they have. Coach
O’Brien and his staff, obviously extensive, very successful
coaching career. Obviously with him, Coach Lewis, their
defensive coordinator, it’s a team that’s going to be very
well-coached. They’re going to be tough, they are going to
be physical, be able to attack you in a variety of different
ways, offensively, defensively as well as in special teams.
In all reality, we’re looking at everything, anything you can
imagine in preparation of what we might see. Obviously
there’s going to be things that they’re going to be able to
take from week one and probably try to utilize here for
them.
We got to stay focused on ourselves and be able to adapt,
adjust to whatever shows up.
Q. Curious about two guys on offense. Jaylin Lucas,
is there an expanded role for him? Also Hykeem
Williams, you announced he wasn’t going to be able to
play against Georgia Tech. What is his status?
MIKE NORVELL: You’ll see Hykeem progress through this
week. We’re hopeful that he’ll be available. Obviously
that’s going to be something you have to see throughout
the course of the week. He is progressing.
Shawn Murphy was another player that was out last week,
linebacker. He’s missed the better part of camp. We’re
hopeful, I don’t know if it will be this week, but hopefully
here in the next couple weeks.
Jaylin, he’s a guys that is an explosive play-maker for us.
He’s one of those guys, like I said, coming out of the game,
the fact of him, he was limited in touches. I got to do a
better job.
Obviously sometimes there’s a variety of different ways of
how the ball gets to somebody. But that’s a guy that we
need to be able to make an impact. He’ll continue to work.
He’ll continue to do the things that he’s doing to be better
and continue to be ready for those opportunities.
He’s done a good job throughout fall camp. It was
unfortunate I wasn’t able to get him to be a bigger part of
that game there on Saturday.
Q. You mentioned the game plan with DJ was to
spread the ball around, stretch the defense
horizontally. The last drive, when he made those
throws downfield, did that open anything up in your
147746-1-1004 2024-08-28 16:22:00 GMT Page 4 of 5
head about how you can use him?
MIKE NORVELL: Didn’t go into the game not wanting to
stretch the ball vertically either. We called our shots. A
couple looks where obviously different dynamics. We
checked out of a couple based on the look that we were
getting.
There was opportunities we did. You try to push. More
confidence? Less confidence? I woke up on Sunday
confident. Going into Saturday, I was confident. I know
the guys that I coach. Sometimes there’s different
elements of a game plan of what you want to do, how you
want to try to get guys in space. That’s what we went into
it with.
Just unfortunate that connecting and being able to have
some of those vertical plays down the field didn’t show up
for us in week one.
We’ll continue to work and be better and try to capitalize on
those. It’s going to be something we do each and every
week.
Q. You only really used six offensive linemen on
Saturday. Was that part of the plan? How do you think
Coach Fertita did filling in for Coach Atkins?
MIKE NORVELL: I thought the communication went really
well. We used seven guys. Rob and TJ both played
throughout the course of the game.
Continuing to work through. I think we got guys that have
experience. I think there were some really good things that
showed up. As you go back and you watch the film, how
fine it can be with having to have guys all together.
Obviously it’s not just offensive line, it’s tight ends, running
backs, everybody being on the same page.
The finest of details where we had a couple of those runs
that were extremely close to being what you’re looking for,
the explosive plays that can be created.
I thought Gabe did a great job in his communication with
the guys on the sideline. Obviously with all the things
we’re doing within the staff, we’re going to continue to build
upon that throughout these next couple weeks.
I thought he did a really good job working with those guys.
Q. How much was footing an issue there? How much
does that play in setting the edge with a quarterback
like Haynes King?
MIKE NORVELL: Both sides had to deal with the same
thing. There’s times of guys slipping. That was all part of
it. Every surface is going to be unique to itself. A few
times that we lost our footing and allowed them to get to
the edge. We got to be better. I don’t think it was a huge
part of it. Definitely shows up. Those are things that
sometimes you can and can’t control.
We got to make sure we’re doing everything in our power
to have an edge defensively. Obviously whether it’s on
offensive or defensive side, make sure we’re staying on our
feet, having an opportunity to make the play.
Q. Last week you said going into the first game you
have the biggest menu of things you could see. Does
that still apply this week with Boston College having
not played yet? How different do you expect them to
be with Bill O’Brien being the head coach?
MIKE NORVELL: First two weeks we’re going to have a
huge menu of things that we could potentially see.
Obviously you got to prepare for all things. We’ll have our
thoughts of what we might see. You got to be able to
adapt and react to what shows up. That’s a part of it when
you play in week zero, your first opponent is playing in their
first game, especially with a brand-new staff. It’s a very
talented staff with some talented players to be able to work
with.
We’re excited for the week of preparation, doing everything
to put our guys in the best position to go in and have
success this week.
FastScripts by ASAP Sports
147746-1-1004 2024-08-28 16:22:00 GMT
