Tulane's relationship with the Saints paid off again today when practiced was moved to the Saints indoor facility while a deluge hit New Orleans. There is no way the Green Wave could have worked out at Yulman Stadium.
I caught up with Willie Fritz when the team buses returned to campus.
How nice is to have the Saints indoor facility as a fallback option?
"We've missed I think seven practices this year and if we wouldn't have had the Saints facility, we probably would have missed 17 of them, so we're really fortunate to have it. It's just a great facility and it's so great to get on out there."
Tulsa's middle linebacker Cooper Edmiston has put up some terrific numbers (leading tackler, three interceptions, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries). What concerns you about him and the Tulsa defense?
"They run a unique defense. Their corners are a lot more active. They'll go ahead and pinch and send those guys. It looks like they've only got three down linemen and you've got the ability to run on them, but you don't. They'll recruit a ton of guys at the line of scrimmage. It's different."
Tulsa has its best defensive numbers in Philip Montgomery's tenure. What is the difference?
"They've totally changed what they were doing. They were a four-man front always. Now they are a three-man front. Their secondary and corners populate the run plays and there's not a whole lot of holes on pass plays. Based on what they're reading, it either triggers them to play run or play pass. This will be the only defense we play like this."
They have struggled passing, but what do you see in that offense?
"They really do a good job of running the football. So many people with that offense they run (the Art Briles Baylor offense) think it is just a passing offense, and that's not the case. When coach Montgomery was the offensive coordinator at Baylor, they put up huge rushing numbers as well. This guy (freshman QB Seth Boomer) does a good job running the ball. We have to do a good job being conscious of him running."
Your punting with Ryan Wright (46.0-yard average) and kickoffs with Zach Block (17 touchbacks in 29 attempts) has been really good. How much can that help?
"It helps a ton. It really helps you be a good coverage unit, both punt coverage and kickoff coverage when you get long, accurate punts and kicks. Zach is kicking the ball five to eight yards deeper than he was kicking when we first got here. He's really in a groove with his kickoffs right now."
How has the week of practices been going? It can tough when you are 2-5.
"It went pretty well, it really did. The guys have had a lot of enthusiasm. I think that's a credit to the type of young men we have. It can be difficult. Don't get me wrong. Even though this is how you are supposed to respond to adversity like this, often times people don't. I'm proud of the guys and the coaches. If you came out and watched practice, you couldn't tell any difference."
It seems like the guys who have come in the interview still believe you can win four out of your next five or win out and go to a bowl game and reach your goals. Does that permeate though the team?
"Yeah, I think so. The big thing I focus on is getting better every day. This game against Tulsa, you can't win two if you don't win one first, so we just want to do a great job this weekend. We need a win. No question about it."
Is Jonathan Banks available to play?
"Yeah."
I caught up with Willie Fritz when the team buses returned to campus.
How nice is to have the Saints indoor facility as a fallback option?
"We've missed I think seven practices this year and if we wouldn't have had the Saints facility, we probably would have missed 17 of them, so we're really fortunate to have it. It's just a great facility and it's so great to get on out there."
Tulsa's middle linebacker Cooper Edmiston has put up some terrific numbers (leading tackler, three interceptions, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries). What concerns you about him and the Tulsa defense?
"They run a unique defense. Their corners are a lot more active. They'll go ahead and pinch and send those guys. It looks like they've only got three down linemen and you've got the ability to run on them, but you don't. They'll recruit a ton of guys at the line of scrimmage. It's different."
Tulsa has its best defensive numbers in Philip Montgomery's tenure. What is the difference?
"They've totally changed what they were doing. They were a four-man front always. Now they are a three-man front. Their secondary and corners populate the run plays and there's not a whole lot of holes on pass plays. Based on what they're reading, it either triggers them to play run or play pass. This will be the only defense we play like this."
They have struggled passing, but what do you see in that offense?
"They really do a good job of running the football. So many people with that offense they run (the Art Briles Baylor offense) think it is just a passing offense, and that's not the case. When coach Montgomery was the offensive coordinator at Baylor, they put up huge rushing numbers as well. This guy (freshman QB Seth Boomer) does a good job running the ball. We have to do a good job being conscious of him running."
Your punting with Ryan Wright (46.0-yard average) and kickoffs with Zach Block (17 touchbacks in 29 attempts) has been really good. How much can that help?
"It helps a ton. It really helps you be a good coverage unit, both punt coverage and kickoff coverage when you get long, accurate punts and kicks. Zach is kicking the ball five to eight yards deeper than he was kicking when we first got here. He's really in a groove with his kickoffs right now."
How has the week of practices been going? It can tough when you are 2-5.
"It went pretty well, it really did. The guys have had a lot of enthusiasm. I think that's a credit to the type of young men we have. It can be difficult. Don't get me wrong. Even though this is how you are supposed to respond to adversity like this, often times people don't. I'm proud of the guys and the coaches. If you came out and watched practice, you couldn't tell any difference."
It seems like the guys who have come in the interview still believe you can win four out of your next five or win out and go to a bowl game and reach your goals. Does that permeate though the team?
"Yeah, I think so. The big thing I focus on is getting better every day. This game against Tulsa, you can't win two if you don't win one first, so we just want to do a great job this weekend. We need a win. No question about it."
Is Jonathan Banks available to play?
"Yeah."