Tulane offensive coordinator Will Hall minced no words when he talked about the Wave's performance against Auburn on Saturday. He respects the talent level of the Tigers but laid the blame on himself for the Wave's struggle.
The passing game was really out of synch Saturday. What corrections need to be made?
"Yeah, it was just a humiliating performance. I feel like I humiliated anybody that knows me. It's something that I'll have a hard time getting over with the rest of my life. We just didn't play well. We had a lot of things there. We ran the ball well early and got some penalties, some post-snap penalties on some holds when we had a chance to take the lead. We dropped five passes, so really that's it. If we catch the balls that hit us in the hands, it's a different game. Obviously I didn't call my best game, which is something I'll carry with me the rest of my life.
"But it's something we have to move forward from. We think we got a lot better this week. We have a great offensive team but we have to play well on game day."
Are you worried at all about guys losing confidence in themselves?
"We're not preparing any different. You see me practicing all the time. I never come off the field, and I'm completely drenched, so I'm going to bring it every day. All it is, is No. 1 we were playing a defense that's got eight guys projected to be drafted right now. They are a really good defense. They're good versus everybody. They are good versus Georgia. They are good versus most everybody, but at the same time we've got to catch balls that hit us in the hands, and it's a different game. And then we have to not get penalties. We're good enough to play on that stage. It's very disappointing that I didn't do a good enough job to prepare us to do better in that deal, and I'll carry it with me the rest of my life because I let a lot of people down."
Did some guys get affected by the atmosphere?
"Anything could be the cause of that, but we had five dropped passes and obviously I could have called a better game, but we can't lose sight of the fact that we've got players that are really good. We were right there in the game with them through three quarters and we've got to do better and we've got to address those issues."
McMillan had a lot of passes that weren't close. He can make every throw. How do you make sure he's on point?
"Well, we just have to do better in the passing game, a little bit here or there. The week before we were 10 of 14 and everybody was making plays. Maybe if we catch those five balls early, it changes. He also made some phenomenal throws. The (would-be) touchdown to (Darnell) Mooney in the end zone was absolutely incredible. He's a good player. We've got a lot of good players. I have to put them in a better position to make plays, and we've got to prove to everybody we are better than that."
My two cents: I haven't had an assistant coach say stuff like that in a long time. I love that Hall holds himself accountable and the entire offense accountable and is not willing to accept performances like the one at Auburn. He's a winner and he's headed for big things in his career. The offense has issues on the line, although it held up pretty well against Auburn, and at receiver, but it is good enough to win a championship if McMillan throws better. Hall and Fritz protected him this week, but he was downright awful on many of his throws against Auburn. If he plays like he is capable of, this will be the best team in the West and maybe the entire AAC.
The entire staff is not happy about the way Tulane played against Auburn. That's a good thing. They really thought they could win that game and are not settling.
On to the practice: It is unclear if Tyler Johnson will play against Missouri State, but I don't think he will simply because it is more important to have him healthy for the Houston game.
The defense had numerous opportunities for interceptions against the scout-team offense today. Linebacker Lawrence Graham stepped in front of a hard pass and could not hold on, but I predict he will have an interception Saturday. I like his instincts in pass coverage.
Macon Clark has the best hands in the secondary. He snagged a ball with ease. P.J. Hall and Jaylon Monroe dropped interception opportunities, while Willie Langham made a diving catch for a pick.
I confirmed with Willie Fritz that Tyjae Spears did not play against Auburn, but I was wrong yesterday when I wrote that Sincere Haynesworth was the only freshman to get on the field. I sometimes forget that Dorian Williams is a freshman since he participated in spring drills, and I already had noted he played.
Fritz was not in a talkative mood today.
What is Tyler Johnson's status?
"We are going to see how he works out Saturday night."
What was your thought on the Macon Clark ejection for targeting?
"It was a bang-bang play but they've emphasized that now for a few years. You just can't do anything above the arm pits. We always talk about arm pits and below. It doesn't matter if it's shoulder led, helmet led, whatever. I had somebody tell me, oh, it was his shoulder. It doesn't matter. If it's above the neck area, they are going to call it a hundred times out of a hundred."
Overall how do you feel like the week has gone?
"Good. The kids have worked pretty good. We had a good workout today. Things are going well."
The passing game was really out of synch Saturday. What corrections need to be made?
"Yeah, it was just a humiliating performance. I feel like I humiliated anybody that knows me. It's something that I'll have a hard time getting over with the rest of my life. We just didn't play well. We had a lot of things there. We ran the ball well early and got some penalties, some post-snap penalties on some holds when we had a chance to take the lead. We dropped five passes, so really that's it. If we catch the balls that hit us in the hands, it's a different game. Obviously I didn't call my best game, which is something I'll carry with me the rest of my life.
"But it's something we have to move forward from. We think we got a lot better this week. We have a great offensive team but we have to play well on game day."
Are you worried at all about guys losing confidence in themselves?
"We're not preparing any different. You see me practicing all the time. I never come off the field, and I'm completely drenched, so I'm going to bring it every day. All it is, is No. 1 we were playing a defense that's got eight guys projected to be drafted right now. They are a really good defense. They're good versus everybody. They are good versus Georgia. They are good versus most everybody, but at the same time we've got to catch balls that hit us in the hands, and it's a different game. And then we have to not get penalties. We're good enough to play on that stage. It's very disappointing that I didn't do a good enough job to prepare us to do better in that deal, and I'll carry it with me the rest of my life because I let a lot of people down."
Did some guys get affected by the atmosphere?
"Anything could be the cause of that, but we had five dropped passes and obviously I could have called a better game, but we can't lose sight of the fact that we've got players that are really good. We were right there in the game with them through three quarters and we've got to do better and we've got to address those issues."
McMillan had a lot of passes that weren't close. He can make every throw. How do you make sure he's on point?
"Well, we just have to do better in the passing game, a little bit here or there. The week before we were 10 of 14 and everybody was making plays. Maybe if we catch those five balls early, it changes. He also made some phenomenal throws. The (would-be) touchdown to (Darnell) Mooney in the end zone was absolutely incredible. He's a good player. We've got a lot of good players. I have to put them in a better position to make plays, and we've got to prove to everybody we are better than that."
My two cents: I haven't had an assistant coach say stuff like that in a long time. I love that Hall holds himself accountable and the entire offense accountable and is not willing to accept performances like the one at Auburn. He's a winner and he's headed for big things in his career. The offense has issues on the line, although it held up pretty well against Auburn, and at receiver, but it is good enough to win a championship if McMillan throws better. Hall and Fritz protected him this week, but he was downright awful on many of his throws against Auburn. If he plays like he is capable of, this will be the best team in the West and maybe the entire AAC.
The entire staff is not happy about the way Tulane played against Auburn. That's a good thing. They really thought they could win that game and are not settling.
On to the practice: It is unclear if Tyler Johnson will play against Missouri State, but I don't think he will simply because it is more important to have him healthy for the Houston game.
The defense had numerous opportunities for interceptions against the scout-team offense today. Linebacker Lawrence Graham stepped in front of a hard pass and could not hold on, but I predict he will have an interception Saturday. I like his instincts in pass coverage.
Macon Clark has the best hands in the secondary. He snagged a ball with ease. P.J. Hall and Jaylon Monroe dropped interception opportunities, while Willie Langham made a diving catch for a pick.
I confirmed with Willie Fritz that Tyjae Spears did not play against Auburn, but I was wrong yesterday when I wrote that Sincere Haynesworth was the only freshman to get on the field. I sometimes forget that Dorian Williams is a freshman since he participated in spring drills, and I already had noted he played.
Fritz was not in a talkative mood today.
What is Tyler Johnson's status?
"We are going to see how he works out Saturday night."
What was your thought on the Macon Clark ejection for targeting?
"It was a bang-bang play but they've emphasized that now for a few years. You just can't do anything above the arm pits. We always talk about arm pits and below. It doesn't matter if it's shoulder led, helmet led, whatever. I had somebody tell me, oh, it was his shoulder. It doesn't matter. If it's above the neck area, they are going to call it a hundred times out of a hundred."
Overall how do you feel like the week has gone?
"Good. The kids have worked pretty good. We had a good workout today. Things are going well."
