Monday's CAA Football Coaches Call Transcript

09/24/07 7:30PM

Williamsburg - The following quotes and comments were taken from head coach Jimmye Laycock's session on Monday's CAA Football coaches conference call:

• Comments on the Virginia Tech game:

First, obviously Virginia Tech is a very good football team and program. No question we were honored to go play them. I thought our guys played hard. Defensively, I was pleased with our effort. I thought we stepped it up and improved on that side of the ball. We came up with some stops, forced them into field goal situations. I don’t know if there is a team or a quarterback in this country who could handle the pressure they put on you, I really don’t know. I think they came after us with a lot of different blitzes than what we had seen on tape. I thought Jake Phillips hung in there and played very well, our offensive line hung in there and played pretty well, our receivers did the best they could down field. We had one 94-yard drive that was pretty encouraging. We did some good things, but it was tough trying to go against that defense.

• It looked like Drew Atchison had some big numbers [5 receptions, 81 yards], talk about his progress.

He has really become more of an integral part of our passing game. He’s making plays, and he’s getting open. It’s easy for Jake to find him because of his size, but he’s really stepped it up. I thought he had a very good game against Virginia Tech, made some plays just like he has been making all year and hopefully he’ll be able to improve and be a big part of our passing game.

• What did you feel, in particular, that the defense did to take a step forward this week?

Well, I thought the way we stood up against their offensive line and running game, and then also how we tackled better. I thought we were going against some very good athletes and got ourselves under control better, and broke down and made some open field plays a little better than in the first three games. We still have room to improve, we still missed tackles, but I thought guys like Adrian Tracy and David Caldwell had very good games. Some guys up front, Sean Lissemore had a good game. Josh Rutter had a good game. We had a number of guys who I thought played well defensively.

• Thomas Schonder looked like he came in and did some good things for you [nine carries for 42 yards], did he play himself into a little more time, and what’s Courtland Marriner’s status right now?

I don’t know anything different in regards to Courtland’s status right now. I would doubt he will play, but I don’t know yet. I haven’t gotten any updated information that would say he’d do anything. Tommy did a nice job with a few runs against Virginia Tech, he probably did get himself more playing time.

• Beginning with Towson, you start a stretch of conference games to end the season, talk about that stretch.

[The whole league is] getting into the conference games now and every week it’s going to be a battle, it’s going to be a tough competitive game, and I don’t see anything different as we look at this Towson team. They’ve got a great quarterback and a much, much improved defense with what I’ve seen.

• You touched on the 94-yard drive against Virginia Tech, can you talk about what transpired and how that can help with confidence on the offense.

One thing we worked on specifically coming into the game was backed up offense, and darn if they don’t down two punts on the 2-yard line against us. At least we practiced it. Both times, we got off the end zone and one drive we completed some throws and Jake Phillips got Drew Atchison on a couple throws and mixed it around a little bit and made some plays. I thought Jake read well, under the pressure he was seeing and really in the absence of the running game.

• Jake Phillips was mentioned among the Walter Payton award candidates, is he deserving of that, do you feel like he’s one of those guys who should deserve some national attention for what he’s doing?

He is off to a very good start. We are going into league play and we’ll see how he plays, moving forward, but there hasn’t been anything that would make me think he shouldn’t be considered at this point. I think he is off to a very, very good start, and I think the way he stood up there and handled himself in some very tough situations against Virginia Tech didn’t hurt his chances, in fact I think that will make him better.

• With the injuries you have at running back, is Jake stepping up and taking more responsibility. Talk a little bit about that and how basically you have to repair the passing game.

Yeah, there’s no question, we lose DeBrian Holmes [broken ankle], we lose Courtland Marriner and we lost D.J. McAulay [knee injury] in the receiving corps, and I think everybody has had to step up. Jake has stepped up right from the beginning of the season and started playing at a higher level. He’s continued playing at a higher level and he’s very much in control and understanding what’s going on out there.