UC Head Coach Scott Satterfield Houston Weekly Presser
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00:00 - All right, just start off real quick,
00:03 just, you know, past game, obviously disappointed,
00:06 frustrated, a lot of those things.
00:08 Reality is we need to play better,
00:09 need to coach better.
00:10 There's no question about it.
00:12 We got to do a much better job collectively
00:14 within our building.
00:15 You know, you only get so many opportunities
00:19 to show your stuff and we got to do better with it.
00:21 And that includes these next three weeks.
00:24 You know, we got Houston this week
00:26 and we're looking forward to playing this game.
00:28 You know, I think obviously, you know,
00:29 you're not going to be in a bowl game this year,
00:31 which is very disappointing.
00:32 We can't stand that.
00:34 But we're still trying to go win this game this weekend.
00:36 We're trying to go win these last three.
00:37 We want to finish on a strong note.
00:39 We were playing for these seniors
00:40 that have been in this program for many years
00:42 and we want to send them out the right ways,
00:44 things that they'll remember, you know,
00:46 and not just the bad things, you know,
00:47 so they have something great to remember
00:49 as we finish out this season.
00:50 You know, so as you think about, you know, playing,
00:54 you know, I know people talk about,
00:55 well, do you play a bunch of young guys
00:57 and all this and that?
00:57 We will play some young guys.
00:59 There's no question about that.
01:00 We did last week.
01:01 We'll continue to do some of that,
01:03 but we're still at the same time trying to win the game.
01:05 So we're going to put the guys out there
01:07 that will help us win and do the best job
01:09 that we can do in all three phases.
01:12 And, you know, it's crazy to think about this year,
01:15 you know, I look back on it and we're out gaining,
01:19 you know, opponents, I think six out of the nine opponents
01:21 and four of them over 100 yards, you know,
01:24 offensively, I think we're 23rd in the country right now
01:26 in offense, sixth in the country in rushing,
01:29 you know, defensively, our having rate on defense
01:31 is top five in the country.
01:33 I mean, we've done some really nice things
01:34 on that side of the ball as well.
01:36 Obviously the negative is turnover margin.
01:38 I think that's, if you had to point to something,
01:40 that'd be one of the biggest things I think I'd point to.
01:43 You know, last week we were minus two and, you know,
01:47 and that was a team that had been turning the ball over
01:49 this past, this year.
01:50 And, you know, and, but having said that in those games,
01:53 you know, we're losing turnover margin,
01:54 but we're still right there with a chance to go win.
01:56 And, you know, and so if we can clean up
01:58 some of those things, but it comes back to being disciplined
02:00 and that's what I mentioned in the game,
02:01 at the end of the game last night or Saturday night,
02:04 was being very undisciplined,
02:05 the things we're going to continue to work on,
02:07 it being a disciplined football team
02:09 and cleaning up some of those things.
02:10 And, you know, and I think I emphasize it, you know,
02:14 big time to our players and our team.
02:16 You know, you're playing Houston this week,
02:18 a team that moved up just like we did,
02:21 had a big win last week against Baylor,
02:24 went for two and got it to win the game.
02:26 And, you know, and I think they certainly
02:29 have some talented players, starting with their quarterback.
02:32 I think Donovan Smith is a really good player.
02:34 He's got great size, big, I didn't realize how big he was.
02:37 He can run too, he can throw,
02:39 completing 66% of his passes,
02:41 which I think is really, really good.
02:44 And a couple of dynamic receivers,
02:46 I think that are awesome players and in the returning game.
02:50 I think the one, the one number two,
02:51 I think he's got two touchdown,
02:53 kickoff returns for touchdowns, does an outstanding job.
02:57 Pump returners really good, number 15,
02:58 these are good players at DB, you know,
03:01 and then number nine leads the big 12 in sacks.
03:03 He's got eight sacks.
03:04 He's a, he's a big time edge rusher off the outside.
03:08 It looks like they've, they've tweaked their defense.
03:11 I think early on in the season was giving up some yards
03:14 and some points and that, that type of thing.
03:16 But the last three weeks,
03:17 they've really tightened that up a little bit better
03:19 and played more sound.
03:21 I think, you know, took Texas all the way to the end.
03:23 Of course, beat Baylor.
03:25 So I think they're playing much better
03:26 on that side of the ball as well.
03:27 But, you know, I just open up with questions.
03:30 - I ran some numbers this week.
03:32 I know you like when I do that.
03:33 - Oh, I can't, can't wait to hear it.
03:35 - You've only had 13 snaps with the lead on offense
03:40 in big 12 play.
03:41 For an offense that wants to run the ball
03:43 and control the clock, like how difficult does that make
03:47 the entire operation that you can't seem to play,
03:50 even when you get the lead, it vanishes?
03:52 - Yeah, I mean, obviously it'd be a lot better, I think,
03:54 if we had the lead more,
03:57 'cause it plays more into the hands of what you want to do,
03:58 run the football, control the clock.
04:01 You know, here's the other thing I think is that,
04:04 you know, and I think I've mentioned this,
04:05 but we have not started a drive on the plus 50
04:08 in since the first half of Oklahoma, five and a half weeks.
04:11 Like, I mean, I don't know if anybody in the country
04:13 has that's happened to, you know,
04:15 and so, yeah, you're right.
04:16 I mean, you're, you're playing from behind.
04:18 So it makes it a lot more difficult
04:20 to do what we really want to do.
04:21 At the same time, we still have been running the ball,
04:23 you know, at some really good clips and, you know,
04:27 but it would be so much better, yeah,
04:28 if you're getting the lead, you're controlling the clock,
04:32 and then you're getting the ball back on defense.
04:33 And what that does, it forces the opposing teams
04:36 to start forcing the ball more,
04:37 therefore creates more turnovers and more sacks,
04:40 because now we feel like, okay, they got to throw it more.
04:42 We can get to the quarterback, you know?
04:43 And I think that's one thing where we've,
04:46 we've been hurt on, you know,
04:47 we've only got four interceptions this year,
04:49 which is the last in the Big 12.
04:51 And part of that is because they don't feel pressured
04:55 to throw the ball late in the games, you know,
04:57 when a lot of times you can get those interceptions
04:59 and picks and, and I feel like, you know,
05:01 you start pressing a little bit,
05:02 which we've had to do at times.
05:04 And I think that's where we've gotten in trouble.
05:05 So yeah, I mean, I mean, it's a good point.
05:07 I mean, that's, you know, hopefully, you know,
05:09 we can continue to work and get those leads
05:11 and get ahead of the games where,
05:13 so that plan can, can really help you
05:15 obviously more than, than hurt you.
05:17 - Your job's obviously, obviously not easy.
05:20 How do you evaluate and figure out what to do
05:23 when you're thinking of red shirting?
05:25 But we're in an era when kids are jumping
05:27 all over the place and you're,
05:30 are you sometimes saving someone who might be off?
05:34 - Yeah, I mean, that's a great question.
05:35 It's, you know, particularly this era
05:37 in the transfer era, you know,
05:39 and a lot of these, these guys, when they come in,
05:41 I mean, they want to play right now
05:43 and some of them can't, it's hard for them to see,
05:46 you know, why they're not playing right now, you know?
05:49 And so we try to have conversations.
05:50 We try to keep the open dialogue,
05:52 open line of communications with our players to say,
05:54 listen, you know, you're going to be a really,
05:56 really good player because nowadays,
05:58 these young people, all of them, I got three kids,
06:00 they all, they want instant gratification, you know,
06:03 they don't want to have to sometimes work on that,
06:06 you know, for a year, year and a half.
06:08 I mean, I've seen some great players,
06:09 some players that are drafted that maybe,
06:11 it took two years before they even started, you know?
06:13 And then all of a sudden now they're, they developed
06:15 and they're really, really good players.
06:16 And, but it's having a little bit of patience
06:19 and continuing to work,
06:20 but some are not trying to hear that.
06:23 Some are wanting to play now,
06:24 some, and some that you end up registering, you know,
06:27 you think about as coaches, I'm thinking, man,
06:28 we don't want to register this guy for somebody else,
06:31 you know, because now he may, you know,
06:32 after a year or two,
06:33 may get decided to go play somewhere else
06:34 and that's not good.
06:36 So there's a fine line there, but I think, you know,
06:39 but if you want to build your program right,
06:41 I think if the players are not 100% ready,
06:44 then you don't play them, you end up registering them.
06:46 If some are ready, well,
06:46 you try to play them in four games
06:48 to get them some time in the game,
06:49 get them some experience,
06:50 because I do believe that next spring
06:53 and that next off season,
06:54 they're going to have something to build off of.
06:56 They're going to have something that,
06:57 that coach off of as well as coaches.
06:59 So I do think that is very beneficial.
07:01 And then there's others that, man,
07:02 you just want to go ahead and play.
07:03 And because they're, they're good enough to help you,
07:05 even if it is in a limited role.
07:07 - And on Saturday,
07:10 you were going to come in on Sunday and work
07:11 with whoever was there in terms of the discipline.
07:14 What was Sunday like?
07:15 Was there some push and pull
07:16 or was it kind of a better day?
07:18 - No, I mean, they all showed up.
07:20 That was good.
07:20 That was positive.
07:21 But it was a,
07:22 it was a heated meeting, the team meeting.
07:26 And, you know, and I think a lot of,
07:30 man, several coaches spoke up in the meeting and,
07:33 you know, which, and, and players, you know, I think,
07:35 you know, listen, 85, 90% of our players, man,
07:39 are 100% doing exactly what they need to be doing,
07:42 but then, you know, some are not.
07:43 And so it's, it's the key is,
07:45 and this, this is always going to be the deal.
07:46 You get the coaches,
07:47 we have to do the best job we can to get everybody pulling
07:49 in the same direction,
07:50 doing the things that it takes to win and to win games
07:52 and to play disciplined football.
07:54 And you know what, but when you don't, there's consequences.
07:57 You know, God, you're going to get called out.
07:58 You're going to get coached hard.
07:59 You're going to, you know,
08:00 and so that's what it was, was a lot of that, you know?
08:02 And I think to be able to point that out as a,
08:05 in a team meeting and a team setting,
08:06 so everybody can see it,
08:07 you put it all out there on the table.
08:09 So we, so we all know what we're working with
08:11 and we all know how we need to get better because maybe,
08:14 you know, you're a guy who had hadn't made those mistakes,
08:16 but you're hearing what the state, excuse me,
08:18 so I, but I don't want to make them.
08:19 So they need to hear that, you know,
08:20 it's not just a one-on-one conversation.
08:22 I mean, the whole team needs to hear it.
08:23 And that's kind of what, where we had not,
08:25 it was a really good meeting and, you know,
08:28 the guys are, you know,
08:29 shoot are coming out hard and trying to continue to compete.
08:32 I thought Sunday night was that way at practice.
08:34 And I think today will be,
08:35 those guys will come out and compete hard
08:36 and want to have a great practice today.
08:39 - New coaching staff and 20 plus transfers this season,
08:42 what have been some of the biggest challenges
08:43 throughout these first nine weeks?
08:45 - Well, I think, you know,
08:47 probably the biggest challenge is when you coming in
08:49 as a new staff, you don't truly know what you got
08:53 until you start playing and you start getting in these games
08:55 and you start figuring out, okay, well,
08:57 we're deficient here, we're okay here, you know,
08:59 those types of things.
09:00 And as you continue to play,
09:01 then also you don't know in the league, you know,
09:04 how are these other teams,
09:04 what are these teams looking like?
09:05 You know, how are these teams built?
09:07 What are their, what are the things that they're trying to do
09:09 to win championships?
09:10 You know, and as you go through the league,
09:12 you learn a lot about those things.
09:13 And so, you know, the challenges, you know,
09:17 particularly, and I think we've talked a lot about this
09:18 in the secondary, and you lose a guy like Sammy,
09:20 you know, arguably your best corner, best DB, you know,
09:23 and you don't have them out there.
09:25 And then now you're having to play some young guys
09:27 and guys that even, even older guys,
09:29 but they hadn't played a whole lot, you know,
09:30 but now they're having to go out there and play.
09:31 And, you know, so, so those types of things
09:34 are challenging, I think,
09:35 and trying to figure out the best way to help our team
09:38 at the same time, put our guys in positions
09:40 that they can make plays and not get, you know,
09:43 not get exposed, so to speak.
09:44 I mean, so we're trying to put them in a position
09:46 to make plays and that's been the challenge
09:48 really, really all year, you know,
09:51 and I think, I think, you know,
09:53 we've done a really good job in a lot of things
09:55 and some poor job and some other things
09:57 that's really cost us.
09:59 - Speaking of young DBs, Kaelin Carroll got the start.
10:02 Probably good that we didn't notice him much on that tape.
10:07 - 100%.
10:08 - What did his tape look like?
10:08 - He did, he played, he played very, very solid.
10:11 I obviously is the best DB played, you know,
10:15 compared, I mean, he's really basically two games, I guess,
10:17 that, you know, Oklahoma State and Central Florida.
10:21 So, but he did play well.
10:22 He had a couple of knockdown, you know,
10:24 batted balls, the guys were there,
10:26 and I thought he played with a lot more poise.
10:29 He didn't really get rattled, which was great to see.
10:31 I mean, he's a freshman, you know,
10:32 and it was great to see out of that
10:34 and continue to build off of that.
10:37 I think the biggest thing that as a coach
10:39 that I want to see, and I'm sure everybody else wants to see,
10:42 is our guys staying on top of receivers.
10:44 I mean, we've gotten in trouble this year
10:46 because we're letting some of these receivers get behind us.
10:49 And these quarterbacks are good, man,
10:51 that we're playing and they make you pay.
10:53 But staying on top, getting on top of the receivers
10:55 and not giving up those big plays
10:57 is the key to not giving up points.
11:00 And, you know, we've done a poor job with that all year.
11:03 And, you know, and I thought Kaelin,
11:05 I thought he did a very good job with that
11:07 in that regard on Saturday.
11:09 - With the bowl game, how do you keep the guys
11:13 playing for the front of the jersey and not the back?
11:15 - Yeah.
11:16 - When in fact, they kind of need to play a little bit
11:19 for the name on the back
11:20 because their careers are up in the air too.
11:23 - Well, I think, you know, number one,
11:25 we, you know, like what I mentioned earlier,
11:26 we want to send the seniors out on a high note.
11:28 I mean, you know, we don't want to just, you know,
11:30 continue to limp through the rest of the three games.
11:33 You know, we want to go out there and play our best ball.
11:34 I thought DP played his best game Saturday.
11:36 I thought Kaelin Carrier played his best game.
11:38 I think Braden Smith played his best game.
11:40 Ryan Montgomery played his best game, you know,
11:42 so we want to see that.
11:43 We want to see guys that really show up
11:45 and at the end of the season,
11:46 play your best game right now.
11:47 Let's go out and do the very best we can
11:49 and to send these seniors out on a high note.
11:51 And I think a lot of time, you know, pride comes into play.
11:54 I mean, you just want to go out there and lay down.
11:56 We're not doing that.
11:57 We're not built that way.
11:59 So I think we got a lot to continue to play for.
12:01 And I know, you know, in general, people say,
12:03 well, you don't have anything to play for.
12:04 Man, every time we're stepping on the field,
12:06 we got to have something to play for.
12:07 And we have not played great, you know, this year,
12:10 complete games.
12:11 And so let's strive to do that.
12:13 And I think we got enough guys in that room
12:16 that have enough pride about themselves.
12:17 They want to go out and do that.
12:18 - Back to my original point, on a positive note,
12:22 is it even more impressive what you've been able to do
12:25 in the running game that you haven't been in a situation
12:29 to play with the lead and you're still rushing the ball
12:31 the way you are?
12:32 - Yeah, I mean, you're right.
12:33 I mean, I think so.
12:34 And, you know, if you go back and you look at the last,
12:37 shoot, really the last several games
12:39 where they got a lot of people in that box
12:41 and we're still able to run the football,
12:43 nine guys in the box.
12:44 And I think that credit to our O-line, our tight ends,
12:47 our backs, continue to hit it in there
12:49 and making those plays.
12:51 I thought, you know, and I really did,
12:54 I thought Saturday we moved the ball well.
12:56 I mean, you know, minus the two turnovers, you know,
12:59 we played maybe as efficiently offensively
13:03 as we've played all year.
13:04 I think we threw the ball,
13:06 passing was the second most passing yards
13:08 that Central Florida had given up.
13:09 And we still rushed for what, 249 or something,
13:11 right around 250 yards.
13:13 I mean, we moved the ball really, really good,
13:15 you know, minus those two turnovers.
13:16 'Cause if you get those two turnovers, you take those away,
13:18 we're down there close to red zone inside there.
13:20 You're looking at some points, hopefully there,
13:23 you know, we did score in our red zone this past weekend.
13:25 So, you know, you come away with some points there,
13:27 you come away with the win probably
13:28 and get a lot of momentum
13:30 'cause one of them was right before the half
13:32 where we felt like we can get some points
13:34 going into halftime.
13:35 - You mentioned their big win.
13:36 What in the world did Kansas State do to them
13:38 to shut them out?
13:39 That seems mind boggling.
13:42 - You know, they played really good defense,
13:45 like really good defense.
13:46 And the thing about it, I think, you know,
13:49 the quarterback that day,
13:50 if you go back and look at his stats,
13:51 that's not the way he's been playing throughout the season.
13:54 In that particular game,
13:56 they did, it was less than a hundred yards passing.
13:58 And, you know, they obviously want to throw the football.
14:01 So I think the Kansas State's defense did a great job
14:03 and then offensively, man, extremely efficient,
14:05 extremely efficient.
14:06 They were good on third downs.
14:08 They were able to run the football
14:10 and control the game that way.
14:13 And they got up on them
14:15 and then they just continued to pour it on.
14:17 Conversely, Texas got up on them
14:19 'cause Texas was up 21, nothing.
14:21 And then Houston hit a couple of big plays
14:24 and got right back in that game.
14:25 And then it came down to the wire, you know,
14:26 in the fourth quarter.
14:27 So, but I think,
14:29 and I think I remember Coach Holgerson mentioned that,
14:31 you know, that's what a big 12 teams looks like,
14:33 you know, after they play Kansas State.
14:35 And Kansas State's coached well.
14:38 And man, they're big,
14:40 they're big, strong, physical football team.
14:42 And I think that's why they're able to do that,
14:44 you know, 41, nothing, maybe.
14:46 - Obviously the goal is to end five and seven for you guys,
14:50 but what does the end of the season look like
14:53 in terms of, you know,
14:55 it's a successful end of the season
14:56 to where you can start the off season on the right foot
14:58 instead of the wrong foot.
14:59 Is it a specific characteristic
15:00 you guys can progress on or develop?
15:02 - No, you just want to continue,
15:03 you want to continue to improve
15:05 and do the things it takes to win the games.
15:08 You know, we're going to play, you know,
15:10 three teams that are very, very solid football teams.
15:12 We know that, two of them on the road, you know,
15:15 so obviously challenging in these last three.
15:18 But if we can continue to grow as a football team
15:20 and get better, and, you know,
15:22 I talked about those individuals, you know, a while ago,
15:24 but if we can get a lot more other guys,
15:26 individuals playing their best games,
15:27 then we're going to have a chance to win.
15:29 That's what we want to see,
15:30 continue to see growth out of these guys.
15:32 You know, we got a lot of guys back,
15:34 coming back on offense,
15:35 and actually several on defense as well,
15:37 but, you know, continue to get growth out of them guys.
15:40 And that, you know, as good as you can finish,
15:42 that's going to propel you into the off season.
15:45 Man, I've already been meeting with Coach Nico.
15:47 We've got a great plan for when we get back in January
15:50 for our guys in the off season.
15:52 Our recruiting staff's done an unbelievable job
15:54 of securing high school guys
15:57 that are coming in here.
15:58 Half of them are coming in January, you know,
16:01 and then of course we all know here
16:02 in about two and a half weeks,
16:03 this portal is going to open back up
16:05 and we're going to be able to try to fill some gaps in
16:06 as well that, so it's going to be on, you know,
16:09 when December hits, you know, as far as recruiting goes.
16:13 And, you know, so, I mean, we got a great plan for that.
16:16 So I think all that stuff,
16:17 and over these next two and a half weeks
16:18 and playing these football games,
16:20 if we can, you know, get some great momentum
16:22 headed into December, obviously that's going to be,
16:24 that's going to be huge for us
16:25 as we head into the off season.
16:27 - Is that it?
16:29 - Any questions for Coach?
16:31 - All right, appreciate it guys.