The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Set To Host No. 18 Marshall
11/17/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB football team will return to action after its second open date of the 2014 season as it hosts No. 18 Marshall on Saturday at Legion Field.
Head coach Bill Clark met with the media on Monday to preview this week's matchup against an undefeated Marshall team and discuss how the Blazers prepared during their bye week.
UAB fell to 5-5 overall and 3-3 in Conference USA play after its loss to Louisiana Tech, 40-24 at Legion Field on Saturday, Nov. 8. Senior wide receiver J.J. Nelson picked up his third C-USA Player-of-the-Week honor after totaling 220 return yards against the Bulldogs.
Fans can listen to Saturday's contest on the Blazer IMG Sports Network with David Crane (play-by-play), Steve Irvine (analyst) and Sam Miller (sideline reporter) on the call.
Ticket information for Saturday's game, which kicks off at 11 a.m. CT, can be found by contacting the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at 205-975-8221.
For more information on the UAB football team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_Football). For more on all Blazer sports teams follow the official Twitter account of UAB Athletics (@UABAthletics).
Head Coach Bill Clark
Opening comments
"Obviously for us, the open week came at a great time. We were pretty beat up, and when you don't have tremendous depth, it's important to get everybody back healthy. We will probably be about 99 percent strength and hopefully have two or three guys who we can get back and ready to go. We went just a few days last week and got out and did some recruiting, but we have moved onto Marshall. They have a tremendous team. The biggest thing about them is you just don't see a lot of weaknesses. They are great on offense, their defense is terrific and they are solid on the special teams. They are really well coached and they play hard and physical. It's all that you expect out of a team that is undefeated. It is going to be a huge challenge for us. It is Senior Day, so it's a big day for us. We haven't known these guys for a long time, but they have made a huge impression on me as well as the staff. They have really played well."
On benefits of bye week
"Just having those days of practice (for Lee Dufour) and being the guy and getting those extra reps helped him. We worked some other combinations of offensive linemen that were very important. We needed to get some guys back. (Jamari) Staples has been out, (Lamarcus) Farmer has been hurt since the Arkansas game and he is still nursing it. When you don't have depth, getting those guys back will really help us."
On a different feel for the final two games
"We just need to take them one at a time. We know what one win means to us, but we need to play for both of them. We understand how good the team we are playing this week really is and what kind of challenge that is. But getting to be at home, with the seniors' last game at Legion Field, we should be inspired. It is just another opportunity for us. You work so hard for these very few opportunities and we should be ready. We were all physically tired and mentally tired, which we all get this time of year. To have a little break is refreshing for me, and I know it was for our players."
On opportunity to play Marshall
"The fact that we have played Mississippi State and Arkansas helps us. When you look at their scores, it's daunting. They have put it on the people they have played and on some good opponents in our league. As the season has gone on, it has gotten worse. That Southern Miss game got out of hand quickly. It is every phase of the game that they are good at."
On Marshall RB Devon Johnson
"You think back to the wishbone. This guy is 6-foot-2, 250, and runs like a sprinter. He looks like a fullback and has that same mentality. He will hit it for two, hit it for three, and then he is in the secondary. They throw the ball so well in their spread formations, that as you cover their receivers it opens up the middle. It is not that they give you multiple formations. The brilliance is in the simplicity. They do a great job up front. They are massive up front and have a 6-foot-7 tight end. The way they use their running back, he's phenomenal. You see why they score so many points."
On tackling Marshall RB Devon Johnson
"He hangs inside. Most of his are inside runs. They will arc the tight end and he cuts it right back between that defensive end and three-technique. They understand what they are doing and how you have to play him. You have to take your poison. They are going to pack it in and they throw the ball so well. They throw vertical shots. It's not a lot of diversification of formations but they play fast. They get lined up, see what you're in, and they take advantage of it."
On being an underdog
"We should play like we have everything to gain and nothing to lose. Our guys have to understand just how hard we are going to have to play. One thing I notice about them is how hard they play. We should turn it loose. That open date hopefully helps us to be physically ready. That is what we are going to need this week."
On Marshall's defense
"I always go back and look at their defense. That is something I am constantly doing. I like simple defense and they a play a lot of man coverage. What happens when you play man coverage is you challenge every route. They have six in the box and are playing a lot of man three. They don't hide it. They are going to play man three with a safety, which tells you what kind of athletes they have outside. Their defensive line is tremendous. That is their simplicity carrying over from offense to the defense. There are no quick throws or easy throws. They are taking all of that away. When you are winning soundly, you should get a lot more respect. I have seen Mississippi State and Arkansas, and they compare favorably with those guys."
On becoming bowl eligible
"It's that next one that we need. This is one is the next game, they are undefeated, and at our place. We have all kinds of great possibilities here. This is why you play the game. This is the fun of these opportunities. There is pressure on our guys. I don't want them to feel that but I do want them to know how hard they are going to have to play. That is the thing you see when teams are getting blown out. That is something that really gets your attention. They are well coached. We have a huge challenge but this is something we should embrace and something we should love."
