University of Massachusets Athletics
Mark Whipple Quotes From MAC Teleconference (Nov. 24)
November 24, 2014 | Football
AMHERST, Mass. -
Head Coach Mark Whipple spoke with members of the media Monday morning as part of the Mid-American Conference Weekly Teleconference. Whipple addressed the outcome of last Tuesday's Akron game, the challenges that Buffalo will bring on Friday, as well as the meaning of Senior Day against the Bulls. Below is a full transcript of the teleconference:
On reviewing the Akron game and preparations for Buffalo:
"It wasn't our best effort, and credit to Akron. They did a good job; their offensive and defensive lines manhandled us. We just didn't make any plays when there were opportunities to make. They just played better all the way around, so hats off to them. It was their night. I'm just glad it's over; we're trying to get ready for Buffalo here [on Friday] and end on a good note."
On UMass' quarterback situation for the Buffalo game:
"Well, Blake Frohnapfel is getting better, but I would say it's 50-50. He has to practice and he hasn't thrown, so we'll probably be the same way we were last week. But you never know. He hasn't picked up a ball, so we'll probably go with [Austin] Whipple and do the best we can."
On expectations for Blake Frohnapfel coming into the year, compared to his performances:
"He had played at Marshall a little bit, and the people there had great things to say about him. They didn't want him to leave, but they wanted to do the right thing for him. Frohnapfel is a special person, a leader, and one of our captains. He was nominated the New England Player of the Year last week and Offensive Player of the Year. He's made a huge difference on campus as a student-athlete. Numerous faculty have praised him and talked to me about him. He's made an impact on the team. You just feel bad--the injuries are a part of it, though. The nice thing is that he has another year, so he'll be back. He's a great kid and I think he'll only get better as time goes on."
On Buffalo's offense and the slight differences in their defense:
"Their scheme is a little bit different, but we base out of an odd front, so it's not a huge distinction. I just think they have solid guys up front, and I'm really impressed with their back end. [Witney] Sherry and [Adam] Redden have made plays against everybody. They move around and can affect you in the blitz game and they've got a really solid blitz package. Like a lot of teams in the MAC, they've been up and down. Their offensive line is tremendous, [Joe] Licata has been around and has thrown the ball very well and very efficient. He's very solid and one of the best quarterbacks in the league. [Anthone] Taylor can pop; he's had a couple 200-yard games and is a good compliment of other backs. They're a really, really good football team, and we need to play our best game of the year to make this a game in the fourth quarter. Most MAC games come down to the fourth quarter and we're hoping we can make some plays then."
On expectations for UMass on Friday:
"We want a sense of pride. Without question, there wasn't a great effort last week. That's poor coaching. We certainly want our players to buckle their chinstraps and play a lot more physical. We told our six seniors that we've won two games at home--our last game at Gillette and our last game at McGuirk--we'd like to finish with three wins in a row at home and try to get the tradition that was here for a long time back in the fold with winning at home. That's a major key."
On defensive opportunities for UMass and how the unit has progressed throughout the year:
"I think when we've taken advantage of opportunities that we've played very well and changed the tempo of the game, which we did against Ball State. Last week, we had a couple chances when balls hit us in the hands and we dropped them. When the ball was on the ground, we did not get it. The week before, we had. Against Ball State, we finally had a fumble recovery. That will be a key--to change the momentum of the game with some defensive plays. When we've done that, we've played pretty well on defense. When we haven't, we've struggled. The same thing is true with red zone defense; people move the ball on us, and there's no question Buffalo will. There's been an emphasis on making them kick field goals instead of scoring touchdowns. We need to do a good job of that. [Jovan] Santos-Knox has played well and had a bunch of tackles last week. Trey Dudley-Giles is a little more solid in the secondary now that he's healthy, and Stanley [Andre] has been solid in the middle all the way through for the entire year. But we have to make some plays and that is what the focus is on for this Friday."
On evaluating quarterback Joe Licata and running back Anthone Taylor on film:
"You see their experience, and you see a really polished quarterback that knows where the ball needs to go and is very efficient. He spreads it around and just understands what is happening. He's a smart football player and made a ton of plays--his numbers speak for themselves. They've got an offensive line that can be dominant and has been dominant. [Anthone] Taylor can take it at any time. They've got everything you need in the MAC. They've got a bunch of receivers that can catch and a tight end that always makes plays. It's a challenge for us, especially considering the way we played last week."
On the uniqueness of Senior Day and what it means for the players, but also as a coach:
"I'm hoping it'll give us a little bit of an edge. We don't have to go on the road. Our guys got a real sense of [playing at McGuirk] and enthusiasm at the Ball State game. I thought our guys were ready to play. With the seniors, we touched on what it means as a former player and for some of the people who have come back that played here. We won our last home game, and they'd like to leave with three wins in a row at home. I think that's the most important factor. The feeling for the seniors is really how they can impact the program down the road."
