Video: Mike Leach Monday press conference

Video courtesy of WSU Athletics.

MIKE LEACH

Question: What did you see from the defense in its response to such a multiple offense?

Mike Leach: You know, the biggest thing is I think we do a pretty good job of, we keep fighting.  I think we played hard. We didn’t play precise. But the biggest thing is they’re trying to get the most out of each drive and so as a result we slow teams down or stop teams enough times, everybody together, we have a chance to win it. The biggest thing is you see them developing an identity and playing hard, and playing together.

Q: How’s Zach Charme performing?
ML: He’s OK. He’s going to be better. Both of our kickers are young guys and just have to learn and develop from experience.

Q: Is this Colorado team where your team was earlier in the year?
ML: They’re kind of in the same spot we are now, from the standpoint they’ve played everybody – a lot of these games have been kind of by an eyelash on both sides. We’ve come out on top of some of them but they were close on the same ones we were close on.

Q: Is a team that’s learning to finish more dangerous later in the year?
ML : I think they’re dangerous anyway. I think they play real hard and they do some good stuff. They’re explosive on both sides of the ball. They blitz more than most teams in our conference and offensively they move the ball all over the place, got a little razzle-dazzle to them and keep you guessing on offense.

Q: What does it mean to be ranked?
ML: It’s just something that we have to avoid the noise on, focus on the next practice and the next play. All that will take care of itself. That’s just the byproduct of focusing on individual plays and making the most out of that, and we’ve got to understand that and understand that what we’ve been doing up until this point is all that’s important now.

Q: What does that mean for the community?
ML : I think it’s good. I think it gets everybody excited and, of course our students and fans have been great. Our students and fans – this is a big game and we’ve had tremendous crowds at Martin Stadium and they need to remember that Thanksgiving Break starts on Sunday. So they need to be here and have a big night of it Friday and then of course there will be a great game. And then stick around on Sunday and then go enjoy Thanksgiving in Seattle.

Q: What is it about this team’s personality that’s allowed for so many comeback wins?
ML: Well one is that we don’t put people away earlier and so we need to develop a personality to get that taken care of, but the other thing is we don’t quit playing.  We’ve done a very good job of not quitting playing and trying to seize the opportunity each play, and that’s what’s key. You’ve got however many minutes in the course of a game, and in this conference in particular you have to get the most of them all in order to beat somebody.

Q: What do you attribute the offense recovering all eight of Falk’s fumbles on sacks?
ML: He should keep two hands on the ball more often and we should protect better. That’s what I think.

Q: Why switch Jacob Seydel out and put Andre Dillard in at left tackle?
ML: They were quick on the edge. They had fast people on the edge and Dillard’s a quick guy. He’s a quick-footed guy. He’s quicker than Gunnar Eklund, allows us to put Gunnar inside and put Dillard’s quickness on a quick guy. And then I thought Cole Madison played better the second half. He needed to be resurrected a little bit.

Q: Did you consider going the Dillard route initially?
ML: Thought about it. Thought about it and then Arizona State had a lot of nuance to their front and Seydel was more experienced.

Q: How do you think Dillard played?
ML: Thought he played pretty good. It’s really his first, I guess it’s basically a start. It’s his first one in the middle of a heated contest and I thought he did good.

Q: Is this team getting the respect it deserves?
ML: I don’t pay any attention to that. Respect’s pretty arbitrary, anyway, unless you actually play somebody. I don’t pay attention to that. That’s like caring what somebody thinks and I don’t really care what that many people think. Then there’s just less to keep track of so we just try to be the best we can be and focus on what we do, and try to do it to the best we can. And then hopefully a little clarity there will help us improve.

Q: Did you hear about the situation with UCLA warming up on your side of the field?
ML: Didn’t hear about it. You know, really pleasant stadium, really pleasant colors. So, I guess everybody’s in a good mood and running around excited for football. I thought they were very gracious hosts and didn’t have any problems. And heck, if we’d needed them to move we would have asked them to move but I don’t even think we needed to do that.

Q: How important is Senior Night?
ML : It’s OK. I don’t think it’s that important. The seniors are a part of your program for decades to come. There’s no real closure to Senior Night. It’s unfortunate that they don’t get to play again, but they’ll be a part of the Cougar program forever. So I guess I don’t really see it as an end. I plan to see them for the next game and for several weeks leading up to a bowl. We do want them to have a plaque or whatever to remember their experience, so we’re excited about that part. You’ve got to give it to them at some point, so I guess I do like that. I’m excited about their contributions; I think their contributions will resonate for decades to come. They don’t just deserve a plaque, they deserve more than a plaque and that’s as good a time as any, but I plan to see them for another month and a half.

Q: Do you have to take personality and ability to adapt into account even more when recruiting American Samoa?
ML : Well, I think the biggest thing is when they get here you just have to, and of course you want to have a support base and that started a long time ago.  We’re uniquely situated that way. We’ve got the ultimate godfather, Jack Thompson and his spirit is still felt here in a pretty big way. The biggest thing is you just have to understand there’s going to be some adjustment and it’s going to be more different from their home than other players on your team, and make sure they have the level of support they need. We have some players of varying ages, and some older ones, and I think that helps a lot. And occasionally on the outside, if somebody’s having a tough time just try to educate them what he’s going through. But I think they’ve done a really good job. And I think the other thing, I think over time guys like Destiny Vaeao do a really good job working with those young guys and just kind of acclimating them.

Q: It seems like they’ve been able to get on the field quickly despite the adjustments.
ML: Well, just on the field you just not be distracted. Once you’re on the field you can’t be distracted by class schedule’s different, you live in a different place, food’s different, where you get it and all that. So I think that some guys just adjust and expect they’ll be successful on the field, even though they have anxieties elsewhere. (Logan) Tago’s done a real good job adjusting, took him a little while. Kyle Sweet’s adjusted really well I think as a true freshman. There’ a couple others, I just can’t think of them. Oh, Darrien Molton would be one, for sure. Goes out there and plays like he expects to be there and belongs there. It’s just about working through the hurdle of reconciling the fact that you belong there. I mean, Kyle Sweet’s not surprised when he catches a ball, Logan Tago’s not surprised when he tackles somebody or somebody can’t block him and then Darrien Molton’s not surprised when he covers somebody or picks one or bats it down.  Part of it’s just not being surprised, because if you weren’t good enough to be here we probably wouldn’t have picked you anyways. But some guys it takes a year, year and a half to work through that.

Q: What was your blueprint for success for this program?
ML: No, you just work as hard as you can every day. You just work as hard as you can every day and the initial thing is just sort of your philosophy and expectations, and you have to get them installed as quickly as you can. You have to install and convert everybody but you want to reinforce them strongly so it’s understood there’s no changing or variance to it. Then after a couple years, older guys can reinforce it with younger guys, which duplicates your efforts and helps things accelerate a little better.

Q: Is your program where you wanted it to be four years in?
ML: I’ve never felt anything’s where you want it to be. You just keep pushing for better, you know? I mean, this isn’t a where-you-want-it business. You can be undefeated, but you can still improve.

Q :  How important have the seniors been in the evolution of the program?
ML: I think they’ve done a tremendous job. You’ve got guys that have really adapted and contributed to things, and done some good things. There’s no question, and I think that’s kind of a more courageous, more independent effort to do it on the front end because there’s not all the stuff in place to reinforce it. You just have to be committed to it to the point where you do it independently. Their courage in doing that I think has brought some young guys along, which is real important for our program?

Q: Do you have something different to sell in recruiting than when you came here?
ML: Yeah, this building. We’ve got the best facility in the conference. And for the first year or so, then they think it’s just me bragging, that it’s not true but I’m just bragging. Then as we get more recruits through here and players through here who see it and touch it, and then they hear it from people who have come up here and visited – whether it’s parents and players who have visited, then the facts get a lot more credibility to it and there’s an excitement to come up here and see it, too. And I think that broadens the recruiting base. And I think the building and our facilities, our new facilities, haven’t really had a huge impact up to this point other than just a vision or direction, but I think this year, as people are kind of educated on the subject, I think it’s definitely helped this year as the class starts to shape up.

Q: Are you seeing a recruiting impact in the team’s success?
ML: Yeah, I think so. I kind of worry about the next play, but the reception’s been real positive and a lot of people are very excited. We’ve got some guys playing well who can play better, but we’re improving.

Q: At what point last season did you decide to make a change at defensive coordinator?
ML: We didn’t have an identity, defensively, we had a lack of commitment as far as the message. There was some ambivalence and apathy that I didn’t appreciate. And then some resistance to change and move from that. I think in order to be successful on defense, offense or any side of the ball, it needs to be led with a clear message and a great deal of passion and I didn’t feel like we were measuring up to that.

Q: Luke is starting to get Heisman buzz. Is that noise you want to avoid?
ML: Well, we’re happy he gets that recognition because all awards are team awards. Luke’s not even in that conversation without the contributions of offensive linemen, running backs, and receivers, and then also some stops on defense and turnovers, and things like that. So as a team, we’re really excited about it and we’re thrilled on behalf of our team, and Luke is a representative of our team. So we’re pleased with that. But then Luke recognizing that, I’m sure, is planning to continue to elevate the efforts of those around him and so that our offense will work with a high level of precision.

Q: Oh, there’s no question. I got out of that Heisman conversation because it’s kind of political. The whole thing’s political. The entire thing’s political and there’s no question. When you consider who’s elevated our team the most, because the Heisman goes to the guy that elevates their team the most over the course of the season, I would like to see which guy’s done that. And I think there’s also a split in how people think about the Heisman. You know, I mean, the thing that I’ve always found ridiculous about the Heisman is first of all, the Heisman is given away before the national championship game. And so as they hand it out, they try to speculate who’s going to be the MVP for the national champion team. All this business of who elevated their team the most, that’s all gone out the window. And keep in mind, Paul Hornung wouldn’t have his Heisman if the measuring stick was who’s the best player on the national championship team, and nor would a bunch of others. So they’ve changed the way they gauged it. Now it’s just a byproduct of trying to speculate who’s the best player on the national championship team. Well what my suggestion is, go ahead and give the Heisman out right after the national championship. And then that way you’ll know who the MVP of the national championship team is and just hand it to him at the same time you hand the national championship trophy out, and I think that would simplify everything. But, failure to do that, and I think they should go back to the original definition, which is who has made the greatest contribution to his individual team and if that’s the case then everybody needs to vote for Luke Falk and everybody that doesn’t needs to reexamine why they’re voting for the Heisman to begin with.

Q: Do you sell the team’s youth to recruits?
ML: Well, yeah, here in particular. We’ve had a bunch of them. Everybody’s got a chance. You go out there and you go to camp and see who plays the best. If you’re in the two-deep, you’re not going to redshirt, you’re going to play. We’ve had a lot by necessity, just sheer numbers when I first got here. We weren’t able to have a full offense or defense without playing freshmen the first year I was here. And then we’ve got a bunch playing now. An alarming number.

Q: Does it affect your guys being the favorites for the first time in a long time?
ML: It better not. Underdog, overdog, none of that’s impacted a game. Nobody’s scored any points or gave up any points based on that. We need to just focus on what we do and worry about ourselves. If it does then we’re a weak-minded team and have even more work to do than I thought we did and we’ve got plenty of work to do.