Coach E on Steelman's growth as QB

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Army coach Rich Ellerson talked about freshman Trent Steelman's growth under center from the season opener to the second game against Duke.

Army is looking a player besides slotback Pat Mealy to step up and make big plays. Ellerson thinks Steelman might be the guy.

"Made some progress. There was no short circuit. It was a very different challenge that Duke put in front of him than we had against Eastern Michigan. He did make progress. We need to keep stretching him. He is a threat with the football. He's one of those guys that can generate field position with his legs, with his arm, with the decision process. Some of that he did the other night and there's some opportunities he missed and we need to keep closing the gap."

"He's improving...He's a freshman. It's impossible to go out there and be nails the whole game. But when you are in one of those games where you are really looking for one play, you can't help but kick yourself a little bit because the ball necessarily goes through his hands. There were some opportunities there, not many, that he didn't take advantage of. But to his credit, he is better. The challenge from one week to the next was significantly different, in that regard, he got better and managed that difference against a very talented defense. Were we hugely successful? No. But neither was it a yard sale. We were giving ourselves a chance. A little better block here, a little better run there, a little better decision there, pretty soon, we are not a ball of butcher knives but we have made progress. It's close. It's not where we need to be or want to be but it's close."

Will Steelman be throwing the ball more Saturday top open up the offense? Steelman has completed two passes in each of his first two games. But Steelman has had some balls dropped by his receivers.

"There were some opportunities there (against Duke) but frankly there weren't a whole lot of them," Ellerson said. "we tried to create a couple and frankly, we didn't take advantage of them."

 

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Coach E's Tuesday presser: Ball State

Army coach Rich Ellerson addressed the media at his Tuesday press conference.

Here are some of the highlights:

Opening statement
"The pathology on Saturday would be that we played hard. We played harder than what we played the week before. That was encouraging. We lost the turnover battle. We lost the kicking game. In the mental game, we were much improved. We were penalized about half as mich as we were the week before, and with one exception, those were aggressive penalties. Those were penalties that were a (pass interference) or roughing the passer, but for the most part, again, aggressive stuff. Although we were caught one time in the neutral zone, that was a positive on the mental side of it. The critical situations, I thought in the first half, especially defensively, we were playing extraordinarily well in some negative field position. But as the game wound down, we had a couple of play where it looks like a guy dropped out of a spaceship he's so open. The fourth quarter and that goat rope at the end, you have to say that the critical situations were lost. Again, there are some silver linings in there, but clearly we're going to have to find some positive field position for our offense. We'll have to generate it with our offense with a big play. We're going to have to generate it with the kicking game. We're going to have to generate it with a plus-territory takeway, which we did one time the other night. But that's the nature of this beast. There's not a lot of margin for error. We knew this thing was going to be fragile, but we're going to continue to play aggressively, continue to attack, and if we can improve as much this week, in terms of the mental part of this thing, the precision, we will have a chance every week, but it's going to be difficult."

On if 6-foot-10 wide receiver Ali Villanueva, who caught four passes in the fourth quarter against Duke Saturday, will be a bigger part of the passing game in the future
"I'd like to think so obviously. The fact that's he's been in that situation, he's caught the ball. We had a couple of ball (in the first game) go his way and you could tell he wasn't quite game-ready catching the balls. That was the silver lining of that goat rope in the end (of the Duke game) was that he was in the game, catching balls and making plays."

On Ball State
"They've got a great quarterback, an offensive system that keeps you awake at night, a quarterback that has exciting legs. He can make all the throws. He hasn't played consistently for them up-to-date. But he's a freshman, he's going to be getting better by leaps and bounds. He does have the ability to pull the ball down and really make some magic with his legs. Defensively, I think they will look a lot like Duke, a very veteran defensive front, very active safeties. It doesn't get any easier. They are impressive on tape. They are very, very competitive."

On where Army is at
"It doesn't show up on the scoreboard but we've made some progress. In many areas, we made some improvement. We nice to find some explosiveness on offense. We need to find that or just a remarkable amount of consistency. We are finding ourselves on a long field. We got to generate some field position with our kicking game, our offense or with our defense and be able to capitalize on it. Duke started on positive field position four times and managed one touchdown. We started on their side of the field once and managed a field goal out of that possession. In terms of being opportunistic and being able to respond to adversity, we are on target. We are really doing some remarkable things in that regard. However, we have to create that field position. We can't wait for somebody to give it to us and that's where we will grow the most going forward."

 

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4-year backup QB Justice to get playing time for Ball State this week


A game that led coach Stan Parrish to say Ball State University couldn't run or throw the ball has led to big changes to the offense.

At Monday's weekly press conference, Parrish announced that backup quarterback Tanner Justice will likely be used Saturday at Army. Previously Parrish had said he would stick with freshman Kelly Page.

"My other quarterback is very much in my plans," Parrish said. "I should have done that Saturday night. [Page] needed to come out and see things and settle down."

Against the University of New Hampshire, Ball State gained only 58 yards through three quarters.

Justice, a senior, was the backup to Nate Davis for the last two seasons. He has attempted six career passes, completing five for 54 yards. Parrish expects Justice can have the same kind of effect on Page that Joey Lynch had on Davis four years ago.

"He understands what this kid's going through," Parrish said. "[Lynch and Justice are] very cerebral guys. They're team guys."

Parrish isn't sure how the two quarterback system will work yet but said they would not alternate series. Parrish also left open the possibility of Justice starting.

"I don't know who the starter is," Parrish said. "Right now Page is going to start."

Parrish said he had not told Page that he would now have to split snaps.

"I don't really care about reactions," Parrish said. "I'm trying to do what's best for this team."

Page has struggled this season, completing 30 of his 68 attempts for 254 yards. He also threw his first career touchdown against New Hampshire and has been intercepted twice. He is playing behind an offensive line with four new starters and without senior tight end Madaris Grant.

Parrish hopes the move can help his young quarterback through the tough transition.

"The kid is really, really under the gun right now," Parrish said. "This gives us a good way to help him get through it."

Justice is not the same type of quarterback as Page. Parrish said he doesn't have as much mobility but has a good understanding of the offense. "He knows what he isn't," Parrish said. "He's got a lot of leadership qualities."

During both of the Cardinals' games students could be heard chanting Justice's name, something that didn't surprise Parrish.

"Fans always like the backup quarterback," Parrish said. "Everyone would love us to bench the kid right now. But you've got to look long term."

In addition to the quarterback shakeup, Parrish said a few more changes were in the works for Saturday. Offensive coordinator Eddie Faulkner will come down from the booth to the sideline to provide more of a leadership presence for the unit.

"We need to do a better job during the game of seeing things, doing things, communication, etc.," Parrish said. "He's excellent down there."

Faulkner's place in the coaching box will be taken by tight end's coach Kurt Mattix, who will be better able to help offensive line coach Jason Eck make blocking adjustments.

Parrish again said there could be personnel changes this week. Running back Cory Sykes is expected to get more touches and has pulled even with freshman Eric Williams on the depth chart. Right guard Kitt O'Brien should also play this weekend.

The offense has also been simplified for the young group. Parrish said he removed seven game plans.

"We've got to help the lineman," Parrish said. "We have to use our best players, a guy like Cory Sykes. He's the fastest guy on the team. This is the best plan for this group to be successful."