Date Published: 8/6/2007 12:43:36 PM
Last Modified: 8/6/2007 12:43:37 PM

Media Day - Houston Nutt Transcript

Arkansas football head coach Houston Nutt held a press conference to start media day for the Razorbacks. The coaches and players met with local media outlets Monday morning. The following is the transcript of Coach Nutt’s press conference:



Opening Statement from Coach Nutt



During the first two days, I have been really proud of the seniors and the ownership they have taken from the summer until now. I have been really proud of Marcus Monk, Marcus Harrison, Matterral Richardson, Weston Dacus, Robert Felton, Peyton Hillis and a lot of our juniors have stepped up like Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. There will be more juniors that step into that role as far as taking senior leadership. Again, it is all in the attitude. You love their attitude and how they carry on their work. We are always anxious and looking forward to the first few days. We have a good group of freshman as well and they have really stepped up. Once they learn the speed of the game and the speed we demand, they will be fine. We will see what happens in the next few days as the guys adjust, but overall we are off to a good start.



What is the general feeling after the first two days of practice?



There has been good attitude, work ethic, mindset and listening skills. Our young players are very anxious and ready to learn. The first thing that jumps out is how the guys go about practice. Again, I have been really proud of the seniors and how they are taking charge. You love the start of (practice) and how they are all going about it. Things like Marcus Monk catching a six-yard hitch and running 50 yards is the type of work ethic, leadership and example that you have to be proud of so far.



About Marcus Monk taking on a leadership role



If there is one guy to talk about as a leader, his name represents leader. He showed good work ethic and attitude all summer, and ever since he has been (at Arkansas). He probably could have left early, but he didn’t, and he has gone about things in a good way and really taking ownership. I love the way he practices and he is going to be successful no matter what he does. That is really easy to see because he has the ingredients for the recipe and the recipe is character, integrity, work ethic and attitude. Marcus Monk has all those things.



How is the coaching staff preparing Casey Dick to be the starting quarterback?



First of all, we are telling him he has a good supporting cast, so he doesn’t have to be superman and doesn’t have to be a hero on every play. We are asking him to hand the ball off and we’re asking him to throw it. He just needs to keep things simple, and when there is a play to be made, he needs to do what exactly what he’s been doing in practice. I think you are going to see a different Casey because he is a different quarterback this year. The reasons I say that are, one, he’s older and has some games under his belt. The other reason is (offensive coordinator) David Lee. David Lee will have him ready. We will have a lot of confidence in Casey Dick by the time we are ready to go in the first game. To answer the question, he doesn’t have to press because he has his teammates (on offense) and the defense. He has Marcus Monk, Peyton Hillis, Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. When you have enough teammates around you, they are going to make you look good, so don’t press and just keep doing what you practice. I think you will see because of his age and because he is a little bit older and what all he has gone through, you will see he is will be much, much better.



About protecting Casey in the offense (scrambling, rollouts, etc.)



I don’t think we will ever tell him to take off scrambling because that is not what the offense is made to do. The offense is quick with play actions, so with his maturity, I don’t think he will be running around. That is not his forte and it is not what he does. As far as scrimmages, we will have a couple, but as far as tur

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