Q&A With BJ Part 1 and 2(BE Blog)
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Butch Jones: Each situation is different in its own regards. I'm excited about our players, and we have tremendous support here. I don't expect us to take a step back. It's pretty hard to build off a 12-0 season but ... I think there's a lot of hunger there. We haven't reached anywhere close to our potential here with this football program. I think the Sugar Bowl loss left kind of a bitter taste in our players' mouths, and I think it's been kind of a rallying theme all offseason. I think they were very disappointed in their performance and expected much more out of it. I think that's helped us have a great offseason in our strength and conditioning program.
You've worked in this conference before. Does having some familiarity with the Big East help you?
BJ: No question. I spent two years at West Virginia and also spent two years at Rutgers. I was actually part of the first Big East conference game ever when it was Rutgers-Boston College in 1991, and we won 20-13. I remember that like it was yesterday. I think having been in this conference and competed in this conference will be beneficial as well.
How exciting is it for you now to be a head coach in this league?
BJ: It's very exciting. I enjoyed my time at West Virginia, I enjoyed this conference and the bowl opportunities it presented. To be a part of this conference again is obviously very exciting, and over the years I've gotten a chance to know most of the coaches in this conference. I have great respect for it.
You must be pretty happy about the amount of talent you bring back on offense.
BJ: Yeah, you know I think the big thing for us in spring practice is going to be developing depth. We still need to find a couple receivers out on the perimeter. You just don't go and replace a Mardy Gilyard and what he was able to do, but I think the addition of Vidal Hazelton will help ease that process a little bit. But from a kick return, punt return standpoint, and even up front with the offensive line and also at the running back position, there's some individuals who need to step up. And then defensively, obviously it's going to stem from up front with the defensive line, and the to the second level with our linebacking corps.
You will be going back to the 4-3, right?
BJ: Our base will return to a four-man front, but we'll be real multiple within our scheme. We'll be able to maintain the same principles with a three-down front as well, but our base will be a four-down front.
It looks like it will be a young defense after losing several seniors. How much of a concern is that for you?
BJ: It will be a young defense, but I'm excited because we have some very strong personalities and strong leaders up front when you look at Dan Giordano or John Hughes, a Brandon Mills and Walter Stewart. I'm really excited about Derek Wolfe, and we've got some good leaders in JK Schaffer and Drew Frey. They've done a great job. But I think the theme all over the place is building depth. That's going to be our whole key.
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigeast/post/_/id/8142/qa-with-cincinnati-coach-butch-jones-part-ii
You've worked in this conference before. Does having some familiarity with the Big East help you?
BJ: No question. I spent two years at West Virginia and also spent two years at Rutgers. I was actually part of the first Big East conference game ever when it was Rutgers-Boston College in 1991, and we won 20-13. I remember that like it was yesterday. I think having been in this conference and competed in this conference will be beneficial as well.
How exciting is it for you now to be a head coach in this league?
BJ: It's very exciting. I enjoyed my time at West Virginia, I enjoyed this conference and the bowl opportunities it presented. To be a part of this conference again is obviously very exciting, and over the years I've gotten a chance to know most of the coaches in this conference. I have great respect for it.
You must be pretty happy about the amount of talent you bring back on offense.
BJ: Yeah, you know I think the big thing for us in spring practice is going to be developing depth. We still need to find a couple receivers out on the perimeter. You just don't go and replace a Mardy Gilyard and what he was able to do, but I think the addition of Vidal Hazelton will help ease that process a little bit. But from a kick return, punt return standpoint, and even up front with the offensive line and also at the running back position, there's some individuals who need to step up. And then defensively, obviously it's going to stem from up front with the defensive line, and the to the second level with our linebacking corps.
You will be going back to the 4-3, right?
BJ: Our base will return to a four-man front, but we'll be real multiple within our scheme. We'll be able to maintain the same principles with a three-down front as well, but our base will be a four-down front.
It looks like it will be a young defense after losing several seniors. How much of a concern is that for you?
BJ: It will be a young defense, but I'm excited because we have some very strong personalities and strong leaders up front when you look at Dan Giordano or John Hughes, a Brandon Mills and Walter Stewart. I'm really excited about Derek Wolfe, and we've got some good leaders in JK Schaffer and Drew Frey. They've done a great job. But I think the theme all over the place is building depth. That's going to be our whole key.
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigeast/post/_/id/8142/qa-with-cincinnati-coach-butch-jones-part-ii
