Butch Jones talks team progress and Memphis on Tuesday
While the Arkansas State Red Wolves fell on the road to Ohio State head football coach Butch Jones said that he thought his team took a step forward during the course of the game.
He spoke about that and more in his Tuesday press conference.
“I thought we took a step forward in our competitive character and as a football program and as a football team,” said Jones. “When you go back how are you better from these experiences? How are you better going where you have to compete in front of 100,000 people with crowd noise and distractions? How are you better from that in moving forward to the next great challenge of playing on the road in the Liberty Bowl? There’s so many things that go into it.”
Jones said there are some things his team needs to continue to work on moving forward.
“One thing that we have to do to improve as a football team is our ability to process and play fast, and then the way we started the second half,” said Jones. “The way we played the first half – it’s 17-9 with 5:23 left – gives us an opportunity to win the football game. We go in 24-9, still well within striking range, but I think you saw the maturity of a veteran team in Ohio State {that} came out and they tried to end it in the third quarter. We go two three-and-out’s, they score on two big possessions in explosive plays, then we out-gain them the rest of the game. I think that is a great teach point for our football team as we continue to move forward.”
This week the Red Wolves will travel to Memphis to take on the Tigers. Jones gave his thought on this week’s game.
“Now, we’re on to Memphis, another road game, another quality opponent, a very good football team,” said Jones. “They’re a veteran group. I believe they have 8 out of 11 returning on offense and 6 out of 11 returning on defense.”
“[Seth] Henigan manages their offense. He’s a really, really good football player,” said Jones. “They have great team speed, then it’s another challenge from a preparation standpoint because we’re going against two new coordinators. It’s really a challenge to decipher what they are going to do because each game has had a different flavor in terms of the schemes they have had to go up against.”
Jones said the Red Wolves will have to create their own momentum while playing on the road.
“When you go on the road you have to create your own momentum because you have very little fans there,” said Jones. “You’re on the road and that’s part of a home field advantage. That’s something we’re trying to create here with crowd noise and everything that goes into playing a home game. So, when you go on the road you’re responsible for creating your own momentum.”
Jones said that the Red Wolves must prevent explosive plays against the Tigers.
“They’re explosive on offense with a big imposive offensive line,” said Jones. “Like I said, the quarterback is really good. They have a really good scheme. They get the ball into the hands of their playmakers, and have 8 out of 11 starters returning. They have as good of a backfield as we’ve seen in terms of depth and the ability to make plays out on the perimeter, and they do a good job of the deep ball. We know we’re going to be challenged on the deep ball with double moves, the post, verticals, the [play action], and the tempo plays. I think that’s the other thing we’ve got to do a better job is getting lined up and playing faster both offensively and defensively, so that will obviously be a point of emphasis as well.”
The Red Wolves will have to expect different looks defensively from the Tigers as well.
“Defensively you have to prepared for anything and everything with a new coordinator with different schemes,” Jones continued. “You have to spend some time on four down, you have to spend some time on three down, you have to spend time on bear front, and all of the different coverage packages. All of those things that go into it you have to make sure you’re prepared.”
Jones said that you can’t sleep on the Memphis special teams play, either.
“One thing about Memphis, you cannot underestimate their special teams,” said Jones. “Last year they came in and they had a full 10 out punt rush against us every time we punted the football. We know we’re going to get a mixture of holed up and they do a great job of pressuring the kick, so their special teams are a whole other element that makes them a good football team. They are very complete when you look at them in all three phases.”
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