(Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)
Aug. 29 at Wayne Densch Center
Availability: OC/WR coach Troy Walters, DC Erik Chinander
OC/WR coach Troy Walters
- The UCF Knights began their week of preparation on Saturday since their game is on Thursday.
Just a walkthrough. More mental, focus, making sure guys know their assignment, the details of everything. Tomorrow, we’ll hit the field. A little more running, but the work is done. Now the guys are ready to play. We’ve had a great fall camp, great week of practice, and we’re ready to play somebody else.
- With a new coaching staff at Florida International University, Walters is unsure what he and his team will see.
Yeah, it’s tough ‘cause you’re not sure what we’re gonna see. On offense and defense. So what we gotta do is just prepare and be the best that we can be. And, you know, let our schemes, let our system take care of itself. And then we gotta make adjustments as coaches on game day. You know, that first series, they may come out in something we’re not expecting. But this system takes care of everything. So, as a staff, we just gotta be ready for adjustments. Making adjustments on the sideline and get ready to go back out and play.
- Walters doesn’t expect an easy game against FIU.
Personnel-wise, they got most of the guys back from last year. Even last year when we played ‘em, they played hard. They’re a year maturer (sic). So we’re expecting a tough team—a physical team. We know the defensive staff and coaches that they have, and they’re gonna get the guys ready to go, so we’re gonna be on our A game.
- Freshmen Emmanuel Logan-Greene and Otis Anderson have been impressing in camp.
First of all, they learned the offense. You know, I tell the guys all the time that you have to know what you’re doing. You have to know the plays in order to be confident so that when you get out on the field, you can play fast. So they’ve come in, they’ve learned the offense, and then they got a mindset they wanna be successful. When their numbers’re called, they make plays and, you know, we’re gonna play with a lot of freshmen this year. It’s gonna be exciting because I think everybody knows they have a role, and they have an opportunity to make plays and help the team win.
- Anderson has stood out especially with all of the roles he plays.
He can kinda do it all as well. You know, he plays running back, wide receiver, kick returner. You know, he’s a tough guy. He gets after it in the run game, you know. He’s just dependable. For a freshman to come in and kinda gain that reputation, that says a lot about the young man.
- Gabriel Davis is another freshman that has played well in practice.
Gabe’s Mr. Steady, man. It seems like he’s been here two or three years because he knows the offense. He does exactly what you ask him to do, what you coach him to do. He’s coachable. He wants to be great, he wants to learn, and I can’t wait to see him on Thursday night. Because he’s put in the work. You know, they came in May, and he’s really studied the playbook, put the work in on the field. I can’t wait to see what he’s gonna do Thursday night.
- During this preseason, Walters has had to face a Knights’ defense that was ranked 41st in the nation, allowing 24.6 points per game.
We’re ready to go, man. Every day we go against our defense, we’re getting tested. So, we’re ready to go. We’re ready to play against someone else and see what we can do. But we’re confident. We know if we execute, we do what we’re supposed to do with detail, assignments and play with passion and enthusiasm, we’ll be okay.
- Walters said quarterback McKenzie Milton has become more of a leader in his sophomore season.
You know, McKenzie doesn’t change much. He’s the same. He’s cool under fire and, you know, he’s kinda stepped up his leadership role. Any time you’re a true freshman, it’s kinda hard to lead. But, now, with a year under his belt, he’s taken that leadership role. You know, he’s improved tremendously. Just understanding the offense, knowing the reads, and I can’t wait to see what he’s gonna do Thursday night.
- True freshmen Noah Vedral and Darriel Mack Jr. are competing for the backup spot behind Milton.
That’ll be a game-time decision. We’ll talk as a staff today and just kinda see who gives us the best chance to win. And we’re gonna put the team first. So we’ll have that discussion today and then see how it plays out Thursday night.
- Walters said his offense is “a lot more confident” than last year’s.
Offensively speaking, we’re a lot more confident. We know exactly what we’re doing out there. I think this time last year, guys weren’t sure, but now they know what we’re asking them to do. They know the offense, they know the game plan. And, now, you know, it’s just really about execution. The biggest thing I wanna see is really just enthusiasm and excitement. Play with passion. Play with excitement. We’re playing at home. And I think if we do that, we’ll be fine.
- Based off the preseason, Walters said he believes his team will do “special things” this season.
I’m excited. You know, we had a great fall camp. I really love the team that we have on both sides of the ball. On special teams we’re deeper. And just the unity that we have I think we’re gonna do some special things this year.
DC Erik Chinander
- With FIU’s new staff, Chinander and the rest of the staff aren’t sure what to expect from the Panthers.
Well, I mean, the game planning is what it is. You know, we don’t know exactly what they’re gonna do obviously. Brand new staff. Guys have come from all over the country to be part of their staff. I think they have an excellent staff. So it’s gonna be interesting to see exactly what they come out and do. We know the personnel a little bit, but we’re not sure about scheme. You know, one good thing about defense is I know this—it’s like a coat a paint. Effort covers up a lot of rough spots. So, hopefully, we can get those guys humming around Thursday night. And today, on the inside, we saw great energy. Even though it was only a walkthrough. Great energy, great communication. So I felt comfortable today. It felt good.
- The Knights are preparing for both of FIU’s possible starting quarterbacks.
- One is a dual threat, and the other is a pocket passer.
Yeah. I mean, last year we saw the dual-threat guy, and I know they also have a very good pocket passer we saw at the end of the game last year. We’ve seen them both on tape. So it’s a little bit of a different game plan. It’s not so much different calls—it’s more tweaking the calls for whoever’s in the game. So the guys are ready for both.
- Chinander expects more production out of his defensive line this season..
Yeah, I expect more production out of those guys this year. I expect them to run the show a little bit. But, with that being said, you know, there’s guys that can come in and spell them. It’s a little different than last year. Last year, we were trying to play those guys a little more, you know, as they clearly rose to the top of the depth chart. Now I think the depth chart’s much, much better. So we can keep those guys more fresher. So, hopefully, you’re gonna see a lot of bodies rolling in and out of there. Keep those guys fresh so they can play hard all game.
- Chris Johnson and Brandon Moore were named starting cornerbacks.
You know, I think just the knowledge of the system, and, at the end of the day, they were playing best. Chris, I think, you know, he has a little more confidence being a senior and those types of things. Chris tackled really well in the scrimmage. Brandon covered a little better, but he, in the last scrimmage, he tackled much, much better than he ever has as part of this team. So I felt good about him. But you’re gonna see some bodies in there also. So we’re gonna let that thing shake it out, but you’re gonna see some guys roll in there, and we’re gonna find out, when the bullets are flying for real, who’s got the juice.
- Cornerback Mike Hughes is playing for his third team in his collegiate career with the Knights.
He’s done well. He’s picking up the system fast. He’s obviously an intelligent player, you know, with his experience at [the University of North Carolina] and then going to Garden City Community College. So he’s had three systems in three years. But he’s doing a nice job so far, and you’re gonna see him in the game as well.
- Chinander is excited to see his guys play and see what they can do.
I think, for the guys, they’ve been hitting their brothers, their cousins, if you will, for a month now. So they’re ready to hit somebody else. I think they’re ready to test themselves. You know, you always worry about is there gonna be too much aggression? And, I guess, not necessarily aggression but overplaying stuff. You know, trying to fly to the ball too much, trying to make a big hit right away. You know, as you get into that first game. So, I think there’s gonna be a little bit of that, but I know the guys are ready to fly around. They’re ready to hit somebody. As far as me…I love practice. It’s a different deal, you know? Really, I tell the guys, “Monday through Friday—” not in this case. In this case, it was Sunday through Thursday or whatever. “Monday through Friday, those are my days. Saturday is your day.” So, I get my chance. I get my chance to get you ready, and then it’s your turn. It’s your turn to go. Now I gotta do my job on Saturday. I gotta call the game. I gotta make some adjustments, but I give them a 30-second scouting report. It’s their day. They’ve done a good job to prepare. They’ve done what we’ve asked them to, so it’s their day. So I’m excited to watch them. I’m not so excited for me. I’m excited for the kids to see them play.
- Two of Knights’ three coordinators will be on the sidelines during games this season.
I’m gonna be on the field. We made that move last year, and it worked out well. By nature of the team and the coaches we have, we have an unbelievable staff. I can trust any of those guys in the booth to give me the stuff, and Coach [Mike] Dawson’s been with me a long time. He knows exactly what I’m looking for. Coach [Barrett] Ruud I think is gonna move up there. But we have an excellent staff. I think Coach [Jovan] Dewitt needs to move down to the field for special-teams work, as he’s the coordinator there. So, it’s gonna be interesting. We’re gonna have two of the three coordinators on the field, plus the head coach. But I think, at some point, it’s kinda important the offense has a voice. Whether it’s Troy or Coach [Scott] Frost on the field. Special teams is gonna have a voice now. Defense is gonna have one voice as well. Not that all the other voices are bad, but, at some point in the game, you need to call everybody up, and you need to get on one page, and I think that’s important.
- Former Oregon Ducks defensive lineman Canton Kaumatule is transferring to UCF.
He was a kid—I recruited his family for a long time. I’ve known them for a long time. And, you know, he came to Oregon. For whatever reason, I wasn’t there when he had some medical deals. But he was cleared to play, and he was free to transfer, and he called us up and was interested in coming, and I’d love to have him just because the kinda kid he is and what kinda player he could be. He hasn’t done that yet, but I think the D-line in that room—I think the culture’s good in that room, and I think they’re gonna bring him along. So I’m excited about him.
Yeah, I think depth is always important, especially when you bring in a guy like that. You know, a huge guy. He can do a lot of things for you. You know, he can play any spot on the defensive line. I think he’s gonna help us. Help that room. He knows the way that I want the D-line to play a little bit already. So he’s got a little bit of a jump. So I think it’s gonna be a good fit for everyone.
