Quotes from Coach Tomey about the Warriors

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The transcript of Tomey's weekly press conference has lots of Warriors-related stuff.

About facing UH, Tomey said:
"We are thrilled to have Hawai’i coming to town and be tied for first place in our conference. I think when we looked at the schedule last year, we hoped that this would be a game that if we won it we could move into first place in the conference. That is happening and we are getting a chance to play a team that everybody thought at the beginning of the year would be the favorite to win our conference.

Obviously we are going to have to play our best game of the year and we believe we are capable of doing that. We are looking forward to the stadium being filled with students, boosters and football fans to watch good college football being played." (SJSU)


After they ran for 134 yards vs. Idaho (far above their season average), Tomey was asked if there is a number that he looks for in their running game and said:
"No. We are just looking for improvement, because we have been woeful rushing the football. Part if it is that we haven’t been persistent about it. If you make a yard, you have to run again. If you make no yards, you have to run again. It just doesn’t happen; you have to make it happen. I was real proud of the guys and how they ran the ball last week . The improvement in the running game is a very big thing.

We started three true freshmen in the offensive line and we didn’t give up a sack. But, our challenge goes way up this week. We are playing a much better defensive team." (SJSU)


Asked how important time of possession and controlling the ball was against UH, Tomey said:
"I think it is important, but I don’t think you should overstate its importance because you have to score. You would like to say that you will shut them out or you will limit the amount they will score, but they are going to score. So, you just hope to hold them to field goals rather than touchdowns.

You have to limit their big plays because they have so much fire power. They have been the best offense in the country for the past few years. We are going to try to shut them down as best we can and then move the ball when we have it. We would like to use some clock to keep them off the field but at the same time we have to score points. As a matter of fact we will need to score a bunch of points.

In order to have a chance to win we have to beat them a bunch of different ways. We have to win the turnover battle. We have to score points. We have to hold them. And then at a certain point, if you are fighting to win, you have to stop them." (SJSU)


Asked to talk about Colt, Tomey said:
"Colt may be the best quarterback in the country. He gets rid of the ball so quickly. He is a good runner. He has good judgment and he is tough. I have seen a lot of Hawai’i quarterbacks and he is certainly the best of the group. But Tyler Graunke, who came in the last game, is a great quarterback as well. I knew him from my time in Tucson and he is very impressive. So, it doesn’t really matter who is playing. They both play well and they both know the system." (SJSU)


Asked if UH's system is a bigger problem than Colt, Tomey said:
"Yes, because they are so good at it. Brennan is a problem, a big problem, but we have the same problem if Graunke is playing. The system is a great system. They are the only ones who run it in the country and they do it very well. They have great players spread all over the field who can run after the catch. Limiting big plays is a huge part of the effort defensively. And the most difficult part of that is their receivers are so quick, so athletic and such good run after the catch guys.

But it should be noted, the biggest improvement in their game is their defense. It is the best I have seen from them in the past five years." (SJSU)


Asked if their D will change based on who is at QB for UH, Tomey said:
"No. The ball comes out of Colt’s hands a little quicker, but Tyler has been in the system for four years and he knows it very well. It doesn’t matter who is playing, the problem is the same. They are both terrific players.

This may be shocking, but the first thing we have to do is stop the run and the shovel pass. If they can run the ball at will on you and throw the shovel pass on you, then in the fourth quarter, if you are trying to win, like Louisiana Tech was, it is impossible to call defenses. If you can stop the run then you have a better chance." (SJSU)


Asked how UH's offense is different than any other spread offense, Tomey said:
"It is totally different. They run a lot of quick, short passes to athletic receivers. The package is so well constructed and so well thought out. It has counters to everything. It has a good running game and I think Brennan is the perfect match for it because of his ability to get rid of the ball. His running ability, his courage and his toughness sets him apart. Plus, they have excellent linemen who run the scheme to perfection.

The ball comes out so fast. They operate out of the shotgun, the ball comes out fast and the routes are short, so they are a hard team to pressure. They don’t get sacked much. They don’t throw down the field much, the ball is snapped and it’s gone. All the routes are read on the run. The receiver’s route is determined after the ball is snapped not before. It’s based on what the defense does. They have very few plays, maybe five pass routes, period. The same guys play in the game. They see the routes over and over. They don’t substitute much. So they are very good at running this offense.

But it is not magic. They have to play and perform like everybody. We are going to line up on Friday night to play and believe that we can win. We will have a plan that we believe will give us a chance to win and we are going to execute it." (SJSU)