[Fuller]

Things discussed

• Some brutal honesty about the first quarter against Notre Dame
• The targeting call against Josh Metellus, and the targeting rule
• Lavert Hill giving up a big play early on
• Ambry Thomas playing on offense
• Casey Hughes' status

[After THE JUMP: Mike Zordich isn't sure exactly what happened early on, but he's not happy about it]

 

How did you assess your group on Saturday?

 

“I would say for the first quarter, pretty bad. After that, they settled in and played well.”

 

What happened on the first two series there?

 

“If I had known that, it would never have happened. I don’t know. I had no idea what happened. The simplest things, the first third down, things we do probably 15, 20 times in practice. Didn’t do it. Why, I have no idea. Next play, (Lavert Hill) looks like he’s never covered a guy man-to-man. Interference, but the kid made a great catch anyway, so, you just never know. Never know. You just gotta learn from it. And we are, we’re moving on. But that was a tough one for all of us.”

 

Surprising to see Lavert get picked on a little bit early in the game?

 

“No, no, not at all. Those are big receivers. We knew they were gonna try to be physical with our guys at the line of scrimmage, which they were — give them credit — but early on, they did very well. Especially that play against (Hill), but I think after that — we didn’t give them much after that, but I — that was early and he just didn’t get a feel, good feel for it. They caught it.”

 

What did you say to Lavert after that?

 

“Not a damn thing. Go play the next play. There’s nothing to say. That’s what we preach all the time is, they’re gonna make catches. They’re gonna do that. So just dust yourself off and go make the next play.”

 

Was he supposed to switch that? Looked like there was some confusion on that first third down play

 

“There was. Yeah, that was supposed to be a switch call, Josh (Metellus) falling off and instead we picked ourselves and the guy got off scot-free.”

 

Was that just like an avalanche right away? One of those things that just — one thing after another after another?

 

“Yeah, that’s what it seemed like. And then that, then they scored, we come back — think we got our feet under us — Brad Hawkins is right there to make the play. Hats off to the Notre Dame guy. He made the play. Ball’s in the air, you gotta go get it. You gotta make plays.”

 

Too many missed opportunities, you think? It seemed like there were a lot of 50/50 balls that didn’t go your way

 

“Yeah, certainly that was a big one, cause that resulted in seven points. But, gotta make those kinda plays.”

 

But you guys felt like you were adequately prepared going in?

 

“Oh my Lord, yeah. Unbelievably prepared. And kids — our team — worked extremely hard. It was really frustrating. It’s frustrating today to talk about it. Because of how well-prepared we were.”

 

Did you notice anything upon reviewing film that you hadn’t caught the first time around, during the game?

 

“Can’t say that I did. Just hats off to Notre Dame for outplaying us early like that.”

 

What’d you think of Brandon Watson’s play?

 

“B-Wat? I thought B-Wat played a pretty good game. There was a couple technique issues, which is always gonna happen in every game, but special team-wise, he played well. Defensively, he played well for us. Had a nice interception for us, get the ball back to the offense early in the second half. So yeah. Pleased with his play.”

 

Looked like all three of those guys (Hill, David Long and Watson) kinda rotated the whole game?

 

“Yeah, that’s what it is. That’s how we practiced. That’s how we’re gonna play.”

 

Is it like a drive-by-drive basis or based on performance?

 

“No, it’s drive-by-drive. And there’s so many times there’s nickel called, so, all three will be on the field at the same time. So, good way to get a little bit of rest and keep those guys fresh.”

 

I’m just curious, when you’re coaching off that game, do you focus on the negatives from early-on or do you tend to focus on how they rebounded?

 

“Well, you as a coach have to focus on what you saw. Correct, absolutely. The second point is yes, you have to look at how they came back and they played well. They really did. I compliment them on that, it’s just trying to figure out why that happened in the first place?”

 

And you can’t put your finger on it?

 

“Nah, I really can’t. I really can’t. It’s a shame.”

 

What does being adequately prepared look like, before a game?

 

“What does it look like?”

 

Yeah, to you

 

“I don’t know. What does it look like to be adequately prepared before a game? I don’t know. I have no idea. I can’t answer that. I don’t understand that.”

 

Does the definition change when you maybe don’t start the game how you’d like?

 

“Yeah, if you’re saying based on the start of a football game, how do you — yeah. Absolutely. It coulda started better.”

 

Losing Josh to the targeting call so early in the game, do you have to, I guess, remind players to stay aggressive and not worry about that? How do you address that?

 

“Yeah, we talk about it all week. We watch film on things like, of that nature, to remind the guys of the hits that you can’t — those helmet to helmet. Was it helmet to helmet? I don’t know. Looked like a shoulder to me. But you gotta be smart. The play was made. Play the ball. Play the ball in the air rather than try to chop a shoulder off the guy.”

 

Coach, generally speaking, do you feel the ejection penalty limits those helmet to helmet contact at all? Is it doing it job to prevent players from (doing that)?

 

“I don’t know if it is. Because I don’t know if it’s called fairly, if that’s a valid way to answer it. Two years ago, we played Penn State here, and their linebacker is clearly going after the football. I mean, he’s not even looking at the receiver. And he gets called for a helmet to helmet. Is that fair? Is that a good call? I don’t know. I think the way it’s being called probably needs to be looked at, as well as we’ve gotta police it, certainly. And not a lotta players do it, but I think the way it’s being called has to do with that, too.”

 

Have you coached any differently since they made it — a few years back — making it the ejection?

 

“Yeah, you have to. You have to. I mean, shoot, when I played (the head) was what it was all about. Bang. You put your face on him. Now, you gotta keep that out of the way. It’s a whole different way to play, sure.

 

Was that more dangerous though, what you were doing, you think?

 

“I don’t know. Yeah, it’s safety and I appreciate it — I totally appreciate it. But don’t hurt the team because of your judgement call. Right?

 

It’s still proper technique the way you were doing it before, right?

 

“In every tackling thing we do, there’s proper technique for sure. Absolutely. We practice tackling. We practice.”

 

But even when you were playing, it was not like you were just a missile

 

“I mean, never used (the crown of the helmet), like I said, just put your eyes on things and go after it. But you never wanna use the crown of your head, that’s not the proper way to tackle. But you see with your eyes, that’s what leads you to things. Now you’re asking to keep that part out of the way — it’s just hard. I mean, those guys aren’t just standing still.”

 

Everybody knows Lavert and David, they’re talented, they can cover — have done really good things. Do they have that type of short memory that you like?

 

“Absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah. In fact, B-Wat does, too. They do. And it’s something we talk about. It’s something we’ve brought up, probably on a daily basis.”

 

Is there a challenge at all when you’re going up against, this week, Drake Harris, who’s been in your room and obviously was a receiver here?

 

 “For him and the other two guys. Number 7 and 87, freshman, 87, had a really good game last week (against) Syracuse. But we know Drake is a really good athlete. Hell of a basketball player. He can jump through the roof, so you gotta watch him. And then number 7, really, damn good game last week. Really explosive, very fast, so there’s a challenge for all three of those guys for us.”

 

Were you willing to let Ambry play some offense? Cause Jim (Harbaugh) didn’t say that couldn’t happen, on Monday

 

“Would I be willing?”

 

Yeah, I mean, do you have a choice?

 

“I don’t think I have a choice. Hey, the more he can do.”

 

Can he do it?

 

“Well, think about it, if he’s returning kicks, I’m sure he can. But that’s out of my court. Out of my court. Coach Harbaugh wants to take him, you can take him.”

 

Is Casey Hughes with the cornerbacks?

 

“Casey is with the cornerbacks, yes.”

 

Is he hurt, or what’s his status?

 

“He hurt his wrist, but he is back. He’s got a little cast on it in practice, but he’s good. Good to go.”