TheWolfpacker.com - Johnson, Williams meet the press

November 2, 2009

Matt Carter and Jacey Zembal
TheWolfpacker.com Editor

NC State senior safety Clem Johnson and redshirt junior receiver Jarvis Williams talked with the media Monday as part of the weekly football press conference. Click on the links to listen to their respective sit downs with the press.

A transcript is provided below.

Jarvis Williams audio press conference (8:01)

Clem Johnson audio press conference (12:31)

Clem Johnson transcribed:

Coach O'Brien thought that was your best game. Do you believe that?

"We are in the second half of the season and I'm in my last year. It's about time I start playing at my best. Although I don't feel like I'm there yet, but I'm definitely making progress. I feel like I'm getting back into the groove."

How does your play help elevate the defense?

"Right now, we are struggling. Anyone in particular on the defense, if they are at their peak right now, they can help us out. That is what we need, for someone to be at their best and have a good game."

Is it hard to play a good game in a loss like that?

"Definitely. I can have the greatest game, but if we give up 45 points and lose, then it really doesn't matter."

Is there a sense of stopping this recent run of defense?

"Yeah, it's embarrassing because we are better than that. It is kind of tough because I personally feel like we are practicing pretty well but aren't transferring it to the game field. It's pretty tough and definitely embarrassing. We aren't only representing ourself, but representing the University."

Where do the breakdowns occur?

"You have to give FSU credit. They are definitely good and fast. We aren't executing our assignments. The film shows it. We are missing tackles, so it is a combination of both."

Are you in shock that this defense is playing this way?

"Definitely. Our front four is experienced and definitely talented. We haven't been able to get it together. It's tough. We just have to find that solution and get it rolling again. I definitely think we will get it rolling again."

Does this feel similar to last year?

"It's similar. Year-in, year-out, you don't want to keep putting yourself in that same position and have that much pressure, just to fight for a successful season to just make it to a bowl. At the same time, it definitely does feel different. Just because we won four in a row, we can do it again. It feels different. I don't know why. Did we lose four in a row last year? [Yes]."

Does it feel different because you didn't expect this?

"Yes, definitely. I guess you could say that as well. We kind of wanted to start where we left off last year. It didn't happen."

Is it all or nothing now, and will that be too much pressure on the team or help?

"I guess we'll have to wait and see. I really can't answer that. There is pressure, but I don't feel like me personally, that I can't handle it. I would say the same thing for the man next to me."

Are the young guys have so much to think about?

"Not necessarily because our coaches are doing a pretty good job simplifying it and making it as easy as possible making a younger guy not think as much. It just comes down to fundamentals. We are just not tackling, and that's a big part of our jobs. It's not really something that is going on in our mind. The guys know what they are doing, they are just not getting it done."

How do you fight through the injuries?

"You just expect the next guy to come in and perform. I'm pretty sure if you go to the next team, they have the same thing going on when it comes to injuries. Injuries are a part of football, so you just have to go on."

Does the disconnect from practice to games have to do with lack of experience?

"Honestly, I don't know what it is."

Are you [not] optimistic about the season?

"No, definitely not. I have too much to play for."

Are you optimistic that something will work out?

"Definitely. I'm pretty confident we'll get this victory this weekend. I plan on busting my butt in practice as if we haven't lost a game yet."

Are you carrying a heavy load now with the special teams work?

"Obviously, last game was the first time I've returned both punts and kicks. I've been on special teams. It definitely caught up to me down at Florida State. I don't know if it was the heat, or having a bye week off and just getting out of rhythm a little bit. It caught up to me a little bit. I just have to condition more during practice and handle that this weekend. I plan on being in the same position."

Any superstitions changed?

"I don't know. You have to ask them. I plan on doing the same thing. The only thing I might change is to influence these guys to work harder in practice."

You think it is a work ethic thing or the pressure?

"Maybe people aren't necessarily trusting their instincts a little bit. As far as the pressure, I don't feel like a lot of these guys look into that too much. I think we are just focusing in on our team, and we kind of preach about that throughout the week, like in team meetings. We are just focused in on the team."

Do the guys out there just have to get better?

"Right. That is just executing and getting the job done. I feel like our coaches are putting us in a good position to win games, but we aren't doing our part. If one guy messes up, it really messes up a whole defense. We are just focused on doing our job. That is why I still believe in this team and having a successful [season], and winning the rest of these games. It is not like the coaches are making calls, we are executing the plays, and they are beating us. You know? We are just not executing our assignments. Once we start doing our jobs and doing what the coaches ask us to do, then I think we'll be fine."

What offensive style are you expecting from Maryland?

"Monday's are the day we start looking at Maryland, so I really can't go too far about Maryland because I haven't watched much tape. I came here first before the meetings."

Did you play against Maryland last year?

"Yes, I did. I remember Da'Rell Scott had a pretty good game that game. It was raining. There was a lot of missed tackles."

What is it like with Maryland quarterback Chris Turner able to run?

"Secondary-wise, our priority is pass first. We definitely have to stay in coverage. I know a lot of times when quarterbacks are scrambling, defensive backs have the tendency to come up on pass. He still has option to throw the ball. The defensive lineman have to contain. The linebackers have to do their job."

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Jarvis Williams transcribed:

I heard you went to Russell Wilson and said don't throw me the ball until the end zone, is that true?

"No, that's not true. He just caught me at the right time, and it was just an opportunity throwing the ball and just finding and getting open. He just found me open and gave me the ball."

Does the challenge of scoring so many points wear on you or do you cherish it?

"We just see it as a shootout. Our job is to score more points than the opponent. It doesn't matter how much the opponent scores, our job is to score more points, and that's how we see it. Just go out there and try to make sure we be that offense and compete with the team that's against us, just try to come out with a victory."

Maryland blitzes a lot. What is the important keys for a wide receiver against a team that does blitz a lot?

"Team that throws a lot of blitzes, just be alert for a lot of fastballs or for a ball not be perfect or something like that. The quarterback might be rushed or something like that, have to get the ball out of his hand faster. We just got to be more affective of having a feel for the ball and go out there ready for whatever is going to come at you."

Is that also more of an opportunities?

"That means there's a lot of space, a lot of opportunities to make big plays and a lot of yards. Whatever they do we'll try to make sure we capitalize. Coach calls the right plays for the defense that they come at us with."

Do you feel you have to score every time you get the ball?

"We always look to score. We don't want to go backward like dropped balls and sacks setting us back. We always want to stay focus and just try to score every play we can and get off the field fast or stay on the field long enough so their offense stays off the field and gives our defense a break."

What kind of matchup opportunities does spreading the field create for you guys?

"It creates a lot of mismatches as far as if the defense, like a hurry-up offense, they have to have a linebacker guard a receiver or a safety guarding a wide receiver. That is a great mismatch. We always seem to set up those kind of opportunities where the receiver has a mismatch and try to capitalize on it."

How does losing wear on you guys?

"We still have hope. We are still bowl eligible, trying to get to a bowl. We are just staying focused and coming out knowing that these are must-win games. We are focused on getting these wins. We have three out of the four at home. We just have to come out and play hard every snap now, and ball out each game."

Do you remember what it was like last year?

"Last year was scary sitting at 2-6, and worrying about whether we would make it to be bowl eligible. Coming into this year, we know what we are capable of since we've done it before. We are capable. We are just going to focus hard and win all these games."

Is this year more scary?

"I wouldn't say it is scary at all. It's just an opportunity to play ball with our backs against the wall, and go out and play."

You and Darrell Davis have been here forever. Is Davis playing wide receiver right now the way you expected him too?

"Yes. I knew that Darrell Davis had the capability of what he is doing now all the while. It's just time and opportunity, taking it in now. He's becoming a great wide receiver for our wide receiving corp."

What do you remember about last year's game against Maryland?

"It was very cold. It was probably one of the coldest, sloppiest games I've played in. We just stayed focused, and just tried to stay warm when we were off the field. Just play hard. We knew the advantage was too us because we knew where we were going, and the defense didn't know. The field was slippery. We just tried to take advantage of the wet field and come out with a win. They had a late field goal that gave them the win."

How satisfied was Coach Bible with you guys after the FSU game?

"He just said that we are just scratching the surface of our capability, knowing we can come out every game and put up those amount of numbers every game if we choose too. It's just about want-to from everybody and consistency you have to stay with. We can come out next week and do the same thing, and a week out. We can throw the ball and running the ball well, and just putting up big numbers."

How important is to get that consistency on offense?

"It's just that ability to want to, and stay focused and practice hard. Go over the scouting reports and know what we got to do. Just stay at practice and focus hard. We should come out victorious in the week ahead."

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