I searched in vain for a report regarding Fitz's Monday news conference. I found nothing and thought perhaps it had been canceled. However, I finally found a video recording of it on the BTN2Go International website.
So, I have dusted off my rather dusty reporting skills that I learned at Medill 40 years ago and wrote a report. There will probably be some typos and a mistake or two, so I do not want to hear any 'Medill F' crap.
I realized after I wrote this that Fitz said little that was interesting. As a former PR executive, I would advise him to be a bit friendlier and not act as if most questions were really stupid. The reporters are mostly trying to write positive articles about the team. Fitz even took a swipe at Skip Myslenski, the in-house reporter for the Northwestern Athletic Department. I am sure Fitz is much more pleasant to the fans than he is to the media.
· Offensive player of the game: Clayton Thorson
· Offensive big playmaker: Macan Wilson
· Defensive player of the game: Tyler Lancaster
· Defensive big playmaker: Kyle Queiro
· Offensive practice player of the week: Nic Urban
· Defensive practice player of the week: Moe Almasri
Fitz took a moment to single out Thorson, who had an ‘outstanding’ game. He said that if you exclude the dropped balls, Thorson would have been 33-38.
The coach then went on to repeat his usual praise of Duke Coach David Cutcliffe. “He’s a great friend and a terrific football coach. Fitz was impressed by Duke’s game last week, and said that Duke was “schematically very, very sound … It will be a great challenge for us.”
Fitz called the offensive line a “work in progress”. He said some guys played well and others were inconsistent. The line play was similar to the play of the whole team: “There were some areas that were really, really good, and other areas which need to improve.’
When asked for an update on the CBs who left the game injured on Saturday, Fitz replied, “They’re doin’ great.” He added that both were day-to-day, and a decision would be made closer to Saturday.
When asked what the ‘next level” would be for Thorson, Fitz replied that Thorson had to continue to improve. He noted the interception Thorson threw on Saturday, although he quickly added that he thought Thorson took care of the football well against Nevada.
Regarding the OL, Fitz said that when guys were close (in levels of ability), “we will continue to rotate ‘em.” He noted that the line play wasn’t great, “but we had over 500 yards, didn’t we? Not bad, but I guess we stink,” he said a bit snarkily.
On the new specialists who played for the first time against Nevada, Fitz said “there was a lot new”. He said the Charlie Kuhbander kicked well, but “he needs to become more consistent with his eyes,” comparing a placekicker’s “swing” to that of a golfer. He added that he thought that John Moten would improve as a kickoff returner, noting that Saturday was Moten’s first time returning kicks and that the kick return game needed improvement “up front’.
When asked a question about the defensive line, Fitz noted that the depth chart is subject to substantial change. “With so many young guys playing, every rep of every practice is a competition. I put out a (depth) chart today (Monday), but that could change after tomorrow’s practice …. If you are going to write article about starting groups, you’re wasting your time. It is a very fluid situation until guys separate themselves.”
He then quickly added, “Clayton Thorson will be our quarterback … not that Matt Alviti is doing a bad job; Matt had a great camp.
When asked whether the current group of receivers was the deepest he has had as a coach, Fitz noted that “we’ve only played one game.” He did say that he believed that he was playing more receivers than ever before, partly because there was not a clear separation in talent among many of the players. “That’s encouraging for now and for the future.”
Looking ahead to Duke, Fitz said that he is impressed by QB Daniel Jones. He called the Duke running backs “explosive”. He also singled out Duke’s linebackers for praise.
So, I have dusted off my rather dusty reporting skills that I learned at Medill 40 years ago and wrote a report. There will probably be some typos and a mistake or two, so I do not want to hear any 'Medill F' crap.
I realized after I wrote this that Fitz said little that was interesting. As a former PR executive, I would advise him to be a bit friendlier and not act as if most questions were really stupid. The reporters are mostly trying to write positive articles about the team. Fitz even took a swipe at Skip Myslenski, the in-house reporter for the Northwestern Athletic Department. I am sure Fitz is much more pleasant to the fans than he is to the media.
* * *
Weekly awards:· Offensive player of the game: Clayton Thorson
· Offensive big playmaker: Macan Wilson
· Defensive player of the game: Tyler Lancaster
· Defensive big playmaker: Kyle Queiro
· Offensive practice player of the week: Nic Urban
· Defensive practice player of the week: Moe Almasri
Fitz took a moment to single out Thorson, who had an ‘outstanding’ game. He said that if you exclude the dropped balls, Thorson would have been 33-38.
The coach then went on to repeat his usual praise of Duke Coach David Cutcliffe. “He’s a great friend and a terrific football coach. Fitz was impressed by Duke’s game last week, and said that Duke was “schematically very, very sound … It will be a great challenge for us.”
Fitz called the offensive line a “work in progress”. He said some guys played well and others were inconsistent. The line play was similar to the play of the whole team: “There were some areas that were really, really good, and other areas which need to improve.’
When asked for an update on the CBs who left the game injured on Saturday, Fitz replied, “They’re doin’ great.” He added that both were day-to-day, and a decision would be made closer to Saturday.
When asked what the ‘next level” would be for Thorson, Fitz replied that Thorson had to continue to improve. He noted the interception Thorson threw on Saturday, although he quickly added that he thought Thorson took care of the football well against Nevada.
Regarding the OL, Fitz said that when guys were close (in levels of ability), “we will continue to rotate ‘em.” He noted that the line play wasn’t great, “but we had over 500 yards, didn’t we? Not bad, but I guess we stink,” he said a bit snarkily.
On the new specialists who played for the first time against Nevada, Fitz said “there was a lot new”. He said the Charlie Kuhbander kicked well, but “he needs to become more consistent with his eyes,” comparing a placekicker’s “swing” to that of a golfer. He added that he thought that John Moten would improve as a kickoff returner, noting that Saturday was Moten’s first time returning kicks and that the kick return game needed improvement “up front’.
When asked a question about the defensive line, Fitz noted that the depth chart is subject to substantial change. “With so many young guys playing, every rep of every practice is a competition. I put out a (depth) chart today (Monday), but that could change after tomorrow’s practice …. If you are going to write article about starting groups, you’re wasting your time. It is a very fluid situation until guys separate themselves.”
He then quickly added, “Clayton Thorson will be our quarterback … not that Matt Alviti is doing a bad job; Matt had a great camp.
When asked whether the current group of receivers was the deepest he has had as a coach, Fitz noted that “we’ve only played one game.” He did say that he believed that he was playing more receivers than ever before, partly because there was not a clear separation in talent among many of the players. “That’s encouraging for now and for the future.”
Looking ahead to Duke, Fitz said that he is impressed by QB Daniel Jones. He called the Duke running backs “explosive”. He also singled out Duke’s linebackers for praise.
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