Dooley's Monday press conference video with FreakNotes

Derek Dooley, Denarius Moore, and LaMarcus Thompson speaking at today’s media luncheon.

FreakNotes (quick-hitting, semi-quotes from Dooley):

Can’t win with turnovers. Disappointed with breakdowns that don’t typically happen in practice. On defense our inability to win one-on-one killed us. Pass rush was terrible and we weren’t agressive in coverage.

Cunningham punted well, we covered punts well, and our field goals are good. Big discrepancy in field position due to kickoff coverage and kickoff returns. Even with all the mistakes, we had a chance to win the game, down seven with 11 minutes to go. We just didn’t execute.

Players of the week were Stocker, Walker and Reveiz.

Injuries: (7). Marlon Walls, Ben Martin, Naz Oliver, JerQuari Schofield, Cody Pope, Gerald Jones, Ben Bartholomew. Tauren Poole and Denarius Moore are banged up and day to day.

UAB returns 17 starters. They don’t have to bring their best to beat us. We have to improve and minimize mistakes or we will be real disappointed after the game. We must prepare as this is a top-10 team, because it’s the next game and counts the same.

Lots of breakdowns against Florida. The offensive line struggled: poor technique, confusion, and just got whipped at times. Quarterback had issues with decisions and accuracy. Running backs were poor in pass protection, technique, and were ‘jumpy’ when running the ball. Receivers had problems with technique and getting lined up.

Need to put together a full week of practice. We haven’t done that. It happens with young teams sometimes.

David Oku is not getting it done on kick returns. He has no conviction, runs tippy-toeing, and searching. At returner, you have to commit and hit the crease. It’s still Oku’s job, but we are going to look at some other guys.

Eric Gordon is doing a good job as punt returner, just hasn’t had many chances.

Our depth issues really show on special teams. We need guys that have the size and speed to be physical and athletic in space. Then you need some special guys returning. We are still trying to develop both.

Half of the game this week, you will see three true freshman and two sophomores on the offensive line. We can’t look to the free-agent wire and pick up guys on the street.

Matt Simms needs to be more confident and needs more air on his deep balls. We have guys that can go up and get the ball but we aren’t giving them a chance.

Denarius Moore has good speed but needs to be more consistent on every down.

LaMarcus Thompson is an example of a deep, core guy. He’s been very productive and good on special teams.

Gerald Jones will come out of his cast into a splint this week.

Giving up so many points in the second half of the last two games is a concern. Couldn’t get a stop in the fourth quarter against Florida. We gave up a third-and-9 and couldn’t get off the field. Oregon got us. The Florida game, we just didn’t execute.

To get better pass rush we need to stop searching, pin their ears back and go and disrupt.

A lot of leadership cam out of this game on defense. But on offense, most of our guys are trying to get out there and function themselves. The last thing they are worried about is the other guy. Simms has leadership qualities, but he’s focusing on him. Receivers, they are just trying to get lined up.

Joseph Ayres has limitations but plays hard and does what the coaches ask. He’s fighting.

What we are doing is not complex. We are doing a lot less than anywhere I’ve been around.

Schofield may not be back for two or three games. He fractured a bone in his foot.

It’s just Darin Gooch and Carson Anderson at center. The coaches laughed when I asked who is our third center.

Palardy is back from his injury but didn’t practice all week.

Not sure why pass protection from the running backs was an issue. They didn’t do their technique and did something different. We had a lot of guys inventing new stuff in the game.

We mixed up the blitzes pretty good but couldn’t get there and then couldn’t hold up in coverage.

We need to focus on keeping it simple. Do your job.