Rod Carey Talks to Media for First Time as Indiana Offensive Coordinator
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 >> Good afternoon, just wanna start by saying,
00:04 went through and evaluated our offense after the game was over early on Sunday
00:10 morning, and you go back and look at the data, we've in four FPS games,
00:16 have only scored three touchdowns in meaningful minutes.
00:21 And just not good enough, and I believe we can need to be much better,
00:27 have to be much better, and so just felt like this was the timing to be able to,
00:33 with the bye week, make a change and have decided to name Rod Carey as
00:39 our new offensive coordinator, and just really excited about the time
00:44 we spent together the last two years, was a lot defensively a year ago,
00:50 working with that side of the ball, and as a quality control personnel,
00:55 and then just a chance to help us as even as head coach to head coach,
00:59 with his vast experience as a head coach and experience as offensive coordinator.
01:05 And obviously helped us last year with the offensive line and
01:08 all different things to allow us to be able to improve in those areas.
01:11 So just excited about having him here with us, and obviously played here,
01:17 loves Indiana, passionate about Indiana football, and
01:22 wants to help us get where we need to be.
01:23 So sad about having Rod here with us, so we're gonna have him come today, and
01:27 don't wanna have any, I'm not gonna address anything personnel wise or
01:31 schematically at this time, just wanna introduce him as our new office
01:34 coordinator, so appreciate you, Rod.
01:36 [BLANK_AUDIO]
01:51 >> Hey, can we ever get a flat podium?
01:53 [BLANK_AUDIO]
01:56 >> I mean, this is gonna fall.
01:57 >> [INAUDIBLE]
02:02 >> Funny guy.
02:04 All right, so hi everyone.
02:06 Yeah, I'm excited about it.
02:08 Just, obviously the way it happened, you're never excited about that.
02:13 That's not, I've been in Tom's shoes before, those are hard choices,
02:20 and I have a lot of sympathy for the choice that he had to make, and
02:23 then obviously for Coach Bell.
02:24 I think the world of Coach Bell, I got the opportunity to work as quality control
02:31 this year on that side of the ball, obviously before this change, and
02:36 developed a relationship with him.
02:37 So the personal side of this is hard.
02:41 The business side is real.
02:42 I think we all get it.
02:44 We just ain't been good enough, guys, on offense.
02:47 I mean, and it's my charge to get us better.
02:52 I wouldn't have taken it if I didn't think I could.
02:54 So that's gonna be the mindset that we can.
02:58 I'm not gonna take a snap.
03:00 I did that here, and I can't do it no more.
03:04 So, but I think we can make a difference.
03:09 And those differences are coming together, so
03:11 let me head this off before I start questions, cuz you guys probably got a million.
03:14 And there's some I'm gonna answer, and some I can't, and some I won't.
03:17 There's nothing you can do mid-season as far as setup.
03:23 The setup is the setup.
03:24 The offense is the offense.
03:26 And so what you're trying to do is get us to run those plays better and
03:32 maybe do it with a different little flair here and there.
03:34 That's about all you can do.
03:36 And I'm excited about it.
03:38 I think the guys are too, being with the offense the last two days and
03:41 the offensive staff.
03:44 We've had flashes, so
03:46 we need to make those flashes more permanent light on type deal.
03:50 So with that, I can open it up for questions, guys.
03:52 And like I said, some I will, some I can't, and some I won't.
03:54 >> All right, Matt, let's go to you.
03:58 >> Hey, Coach.
03:59 >> Matt.
04:00 >> Our kids go to school together, up in Garrett.
04:03 >> Matt Weaver, 247sports@pigs.com.
04:06 Last year when you took over the O-line, you said there's no magic wand.
04:09 I can wave to make it better.
04:11 Obviously, I'm sure it's the same for this.
04:13 You just kind of talked about a little bit, but I guess what's your mindset?
04:15 What's your process when you come in midstream and you got a game in ten days?
04:18 >> Yeah, it's not ideal, right?
04:19 So thought process is do what we can to maybe simplify,
04:30 to maybe accentuate some things that we can do, do those more.
04:37 It's really the little things.
04:38 And you said it, I didn't.
04:40 I caught a lot of crap from my brother-in-law.
04:43 He said, "Are you going to use that term again?"
04:46 There's no magic wand, so you said it, I didn't.
04:48 But there is not a magic wand here.
04:51 It's the little things.
04:52 It's the details and really with the setup with the staff, too,
04:56 and how we're going to approach things.
04:57 So those little things tend to make a big difference.
05:03 >> Mike Kniselyk, The Herald Times.
05:04 Rod, in terms of the quarterbacks, are you taking on Walt's role,
05:08 kind of working with them directly, position coach-wise?
05:11 And then is the starting quarterback a question you can't answer or won't answer?
05:17 >> Both on the last one.
05:19 Okay.
05:20 But yeah, I'm going to do the quarterbacks on that.
05:23 And in my role as quality control, you're in those meetings,
05:28 you're not allowed to speak, but you're in taking notes.
05:31 So I have good familiarity of what they've been taught.
05:34 And like I say, I'll reiterate again.
05:36 I mean, I think Coach Bell is a good fundamental teacher.
05:39 So I think that part is in place.
05:44 >> Zach Osterman, Indianapolis Star.
05:46 I guess just following on maybe not just quarterbacks,
05:48 but especially if that is the position you're working with,
05:51 just I guess what's your approach to working with guys?
05:54 You know, you talk about understandably,
05:55 there's not time to just sort of tear it apart and build it back from the ground up.
05:59 What's the approach to working with, whether it's quarterbacks or another position group?
06:03 Just basically, I guess, approaching the players where they are
06:06 and just kind of trying to figure out what you can do for them in a short space of time
06:11 to get them more comfortable with the stuff you need to be better at.
06:13 >> Well, the first thing that we did is we were just honest with him.
06:18 And you have to do that.
06:22 You know, why are we in this situation?
06:23 Why is Coach Allen making this?
06:25 We haven't been good enough.
06:26 So, I mean, we had to have that conversation and they got that.
06:30 As far as how to approach it with them and get them excited, like, you know, they are.
06:37 Like, there's a crazy thing.
06:38 Like, they see the flashes and they know and they have good confidence.
06:42 And, you know, they're upset.
06:45 So, there isn't a lot of, you know, one for the Gipper speeches that you got to do here.
06:50 Like, they're, they want to be good and they have a lot of energy to do that.
06:55 So, I don't think there's a problem on any side of that.
07:00 The honesty and then the excitement.
07:02 I think that's my job just to get in there and prod that along more.
07:07 Does that make sense?
07:08 >> Okay.
07:09 >> But.
07:11 >> Coach, Mason Williams, the Hoosier.com.
07:13 You've spoke a lot here recently about the flashes that this offense has shown.
07:18 Are there any sort of drastic changes you need to make to have those become more consistent?
07:22 Or is that just, like you said, you kind of prodding it out of them more?
07:26 >> Yeah, there's no time to make drastic changes.
07:28 So, it's going to be the small details that we have to do that are going to add up to a difference.
07:35 Okay.
07:36 If I didn't believe that, I would not be standing in front of you.
07:39 And I told Coach Allen that, too.
07:40 If I didn't believe that, you know, not just me, but us and as we go forward, can we make a difference?
07:48 Yeah, I do believe that.
07:51 >> I'm Jack Ankeny, SI Indiana.
07:54 >> Hi, Jack.
07:55 >> Nice to meet you.
07:56 When you look at the offense personnel-wise, or I guess scheme, are there things that you look and say
08:01 that you feel like the offense can be successful doing?
08:05 >> Yeah, there are probably some things that we've done that we need to do more of that's been successful, right?
08:09 I mean, listen, this is the cheap seats version of it.
08:11 Like, you see something that you've done good, and we just need to do more of it, right?
08:17 You see something that hasn't been as productive, you just don't do that anymore.
08:21 You know, so that's the cheap seats version, but that's what we've been spending our time trying to identify as a staff.
08:28 That's one of the little things that we can do.
08:31 >> All right, Daniel on the right, Daniel on the side.
08:34 >> Hey, Coach.
08:35 Daniel, also SI Indiana.
08:37 Nice to meet you.
08:38 >> Good to meet you.
08:39 >> I think you mentioned in one of your answers there just the benefit of maybe simplifying reads for some of the guys in the offense.
08:44 Like, just not asking you, like, for specifically if the players in the team, but just in general football, like, how do you see, like,
08:50 when you simplify reads for maybe a quarterback or just all the players, not if it's how it helps them?
08:54 >> Yeah, well, I don't -- maybe you misconstrued me on that.
08:57 You know, simplifying the offense is what I was meaning.
09:00 So, you know, reads necessarily aren't going to change.
09:03 But maybe we're going to do more of the ones that they read better and less of the ones that they do don't read as well.
09:10 And so that's probably more in line of what we're going to get done.
09:19 >> Daniel Flick, IDS.
09:22 Last year, obviously it's kind of uncommon to have, you know -- the way that you came in last year, I believe it's almost a year to the day of --
09:30 >> Is it?
09:31 >> Maybe a week short, but pretty close.
09:34 >> Really?
09:36 >> Week short?
09:38 >> That's weird.
09:39 You just weirded me out.
09:40 >> Okay.
09:41 Sorry.
09:42 Pretty close.
09:43 Apologies.
09:44 >> So obviously kind of uncommon the way that -- I mean, it's like what now, a few years -- kind of consecutively, midseason.
09:52 What did you learn last year in that process that you feel like can kind of help you now?
09:56 >> Yeah, probably the things that I've been saying.
09:58 Like last year, there wasn't time to change, you know, what had been taught.
10:03 Because -- and then we had played Maryland right after that.
10:07 Like we didn't have a bye week, right, Jeff?
10:09 When I came in as the O-line, I think it was like -- it was like a five day.
10:13 So, I mean, there's a little bit of a breath here that we have.
10:16 But the thing you glean from that situation and this one is you have to take what is existing, do what you're doing in that existing sub better,
10:25 and what you're not doing good, just don't do that anymore.
10:28 Does that make sense?
10:29 >> Yeah.
10:30 >> Okay.
10:31 >> Pete DiFremio, IU Athletics.
10:34 Two-part.
10:35 One, you still hope that the offense would be a run-first type approach.
10:39 And two, the ability to deceive the defense.
10:44 Because if they know what you're doing, that's a big problem.
10:47 What can you do to maybe accentuate that, help that along?
10:52 >> Okay.
10:53 So I'm glad you asked that question.
10:54 You asked it a little different than I thought I was going to get it.
10:57 I'm just going to tell you I have a real easy philosophy on offense.
10:59 You ask me, "What do you like on offense?"
11:01 I say, "What works."
11:03 That's really what it is.
11:05 What works.
11:07 Misdirection, running, throwing, controlling the ball, controlling the game.
11:12 I believe that offenses control games,
11:14 and defenses play really well when an offense can control a game.
11:19 It doesn't always go like that for everybody all the time.
11:21 That's just not how it goes.
11:23 But Coach Allen and I are--I mean, I follow his lead,
11:27 and we've talked a lot about this in our course
11:30 and from my time being a head coach that that's the belief,
11:33 is that if we can control the game--
11:37 obviously, I have to score points, but you've got to control the game--
11:39 your defense is going to play great,
11:40 and you're going to get a lot of opportunities on offense.
11:42 So yes to all of the above for you.
11:45 Okay?
11:46 Misdirection, running, throwing, yes.
11:49 I like what works, and that's what we're in the middle of trying to figure out.
11:53 >> Mike, is that--
11:56 >> In terms of play calling, I think you only did it in 2012.
12:00 What have you kind of learned?
12:01 I mean, it's been a minute, so kind of when you look back
12:04 and things you've learned, how do you incorporate that now?
12:07 Do you kind of feel excited about that?
12:10 That's the last time I was an offensive coordinator,
12:13 but that's not the last time I called plays.
12:19 >> Did you call a point-and-play list?
12:20 Well, I mean, listen, I'm an offensive guy
12:22 and had two really good offensive coordinators,
12:25 and they did a good job, but there was times
12:27 I was heavily involved in that and doing some of that.
12:31 We never made that a big deal, but so been doing that basically my whole career.
12:40 So what have I learned from now until then?
12:43 Do what works.
12:45 I hate to be simple with it, guys, but we kind of have to be--
12:50 if we make it too complicated, no one's going to be any good.
12:55 So now it's modern offense, so it's not like we're just going to line up in the eye
12:59 and go, "Write three, Don."
13:01 We're not doing that, but we're going to be simple.
13:07 Only he gets that because that was a play call from Coach Mal.
13:11 It still's burned in my head.
13:12 Yeah, go ahead.
13:14 I was going to say Don would probably prefer that.
13:16 That's probably the play he would call if he had.
13:18 Just following on from the question about last year,
13:20 I recognize you're in meetings, you're around everything already,
13:24 but how much maybe do you draw on that experience of being in--
13:30 leading an offensive line room with this team specifically
13:33 and in this offense specifically, leading the line room, being in game planning,
13:37 the fact that you've had that experience kind of stepping into,
13:40 obviously in some ways, an even more prominent role within this group now.
13:44 Yeah, I told them last year--it's a really good question--
13:48 when I got up in front of the offense here on Sunday and I talked to them,
13:51 I said--you know, talked about all that, but I said, "I'm really excited
13:54 because I've been around you guys."
13:56 Last year, I was on the defensive side.
13:58 I mean, you want to talk about coming in and barely knowing names.
14:02 I was like, "What was your name again?"
14:04 "Oh, yeah, that's right, number 53."
14:06 "Okay, got that."
14:08 This year, much more familiarity.
14:10 Now, it's been centered around the quarterbacks,
14:12 but already having that relationship with the O-line
14:14 and being here for an offseason, obviously you get to know about everybody.
14:18 There's some guys I've got to develop those relationships with, no doubt,
14:21 because in a quality control role, you're in the backgrounds.
14:24 You're around, but you're in the backgrounds.
14:28 Coach, obviously the relationship that you have with Allen
14:31 with some of the offensive guys already was probably a big factor
14:34 into you being the one that's elevated into this position,
14:37 but what was that conversation like when Allen approached you
14:40 and asked you to be his guy?
14:43 You know, it's a double-edged sword.
14:46 I think that he was very heavy-hearted
14:50 because he knows the personal cost on that with Coach Bell.
14:56 So it wasn't like I'm sitting in there jumping for joy
15:01 because I had a heavy heart too.
15:04 But at the same time, there was good excitement from both of us,
15:09 but very tempered because of the transition
15:15 and how difficult those things can be.
15:18 So it was a double-edged sword.
15:20 It was good and bad at the same time.
15:23 I don't know how else to describe it.
15:27 Yeah, one of the things we talked about a lot with Walt
15:30 in his final few weeks was execution, specifically red zone execution.
15:36 I'm curious when you kind of look back at the first five weeks of the year,
15:40 what do you feel like needs to improve over the last seven?
15:43 You've got to get the ball across the goal line.
15:45 I mean, that's about as easy as it can get,
15:48 and that's everybody's execution on this.
15:51 And it starts with me, goes to the position coaches,
15:55 goes to the players and the quarterback, obviously.
15:59 We all carry that responsibility,
16:01 and so we have to get the ball across the goal line.
16:04 So by hook or crook, right, that's what we've got to do.
16:11 All right, thanks, guys.
16:13 Appreciate you.