Michigan State University Athletics
Practice Update: Assistant Coaches Quotes
11/9/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 9, 2011
Podcasts: Dan
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State football team continued its preparation for Saturday's game at Iowa with its second practice of the week on Wednesday.
In the afternoon, offensive coordinator Dan Roushar and defensive line coach Ted Gill briefly met with reporters to discuss the upcoming matchup against the Hawkeyes.
The No. 13 Spartans (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten) travel to Iowa City, Iowa, this weekend to take on the Hawkeyes (6-3, 3-2) Saturday, Nov. 12 at 12:01 p.m. ET in Kinnick Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
Michigan State Offensive Coordinator Dan Roushar
On Iowa's defense in comparison to last year...
"When you watch them, they look very, very similar. As you mention, their personnel's changed. Their technique, the way they play, the style of football is the same. Last week against Michigan, what a terrific job they did against holding that explosive offense in check. So, when I look at it, it's different safeties, same corners, two starters return on the front four. There was an injury to a kid by the name (Dominic) Alvis. Looking at the guy who was playing there at the start of the season, I'm sure he's back in the rotation. Their linebackers are very solid, two of them played against us last year. They look like the same Iowa defense to me that we've seen each and every year in our preparation - same fronts, same coverages, they play their techniques extremely well, and they're very, very well coached.
On finding a consistency in scoring points in road games...
"I don't know if there is a common denominator. We thought we moved the ball well at Ohio State, and at Notre Dame we didn't have a very good day. We threw it 53 times, and I'm sure the yardage is up there, but not really what we'd like to do. We just got whipped (at Nebraska). Those guys did a great job coaching and preparing for us."
On how to improve after a great offensive game vs. Minnesota...
"The disappointing thing was that our plan was to run the football, and run it very consistently. We had some runs, some big ones, but as we look back we just felt like we wanted to run with the ball, and we wanted to establish a line of scrimmage. Some of their movement hurt us, but we just didn't block the ball enough. To their credit, they're playing well; I give them a lot of credit."
On if Cousins is forcing plays...
"No, I don't worry about him forcing things. I'm more concerned with him being tentative and worrying about making a mistake. He should just go play his game. He's an outstanding quarterback, he's very accurate, he threw the ball well last week. He got frustrated a little bit with some of the snaps that were coming back, or the timing of it. In the end you go back and evaluate, he threw the ball very well and our guys caught it very well."
On practice this week...
"I thought yesterday was very spirited. I thought our scout team, our preparation team did a phenomenal job. I thought it was a good day. We've got to execute better today from what we did yesterday, but that's part of the preparation. I was encouraged. I think the guys came in with the right frame of mind. I think they understand the magnitude of this game, and we're in a three-game playoff. We don't have any room for error, so we've got to keep going."
Michigan State Defensive Line Coach Ted Gill
On thoughts after watching Iowa's film...
"It's the same Iowa team. They're very physical and well coached. They've been highlighting their running game with (Marcus) Coker, he's a good player; (they have a good) quarterback and a host of good receivers. They've always been the same type of team. Coming in, they don't do a lot of different things. They do the same things and they do them well. They're a typical Big Ten team that doesn't change much, but has done a lot and kept continuity with their offense and it's really getting better and better."
On easing the pressure after knowing how Iowa plays...
"It sure does. They've been very similar the last five years. When you look at a team that you've been playing for five years, and they've been very successful, why change? That helps out a little bit, than having a guy who you don't know where he's going to be. It really helps to have a guy who plays very similar in those situations."
