Oct. 14, 2008

DEKALB, Ill.-Northern Illinois head football coach Jerry Kill spoke at Tuesday's weekly press conference at the Jeffrey and Kimberly Yordon Center to review last week's home victory over Miami (OH) and preview this Saturday's homecoming contest versus Toledo. Joining Kill were defensive tackle Alex Krutsch (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg), Trevor Olson (Richfield, Minn./Richfield) and Chad Spann (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) Below are excerpts from the press conference.

Head Coach, Jerry Kill:

On the team improving:

"If you talk to the defensive coaches, they will tell you that we missed more tackles this past week and did some things that maybe we did against Western Michigan and we've reverted back to some things that they were disappointed in. We've been addressing them, and we will be addressing them during this week. Offensively, we have played two pretty stiff defenses. We punted the ball three times and we were fourth and one or two a couple of those times. Against Eastern [Michigan] we were able to convert on all of those third downs. We were a yard or two short on some third down conversions, which we can't afford to do. When we cross that 30-yard line instead of kicking field goals we need to get touchdowns. Those are some things that we need to improve on. I think our timing offensively has been really good at times. Other times we are throwing the ball out of bounds. I still think because of our situation at quarterback our timing is not where it needs to be, but getting better. I think we slipped in some areas and got better in others. We are a better football team than when we started."

"If you told me that at the end of six games, where we are at right now compared to where we started back during spring ball, I'd have been shocked. We have come a long way since then. That credit goes to the kids because we were a long way away at that time from being a good football team. I think the key was the kids have worked very hard to be the best that they can be. They have given us everything they can give us and that is pleasing as a coach. What's going to happen the next six games, I don't know. But can we sustain this. We have some injuries, everybody does. The team that usually stays the healthiest over these next six games are the teams that have a shot at doing something."

On Toledo:

"Their coach is a hard nosed, tough guy. His teams play that way. His teams are physical, they are big up front on their offensive line and their quarterback is playing well. They're just bigger. Their receivers are big. Defensively, they run an eight-man front. They are going to bring people because they are aggressive and that's his style. They're an aggressive football team. Beating Michigan will certainly give them a lot of momentum coming into our place. I think our kids are going to work hard to get ready and we will be looking forward to it."

On the team's performance using three different quarterbacks:

"You really look at it from an offensive leadership standpoint, and you can look across the country at pro and college football, usually when you lose your number one quarterback, it is very difficult to sustain much on offense. Every once in a while you do have a number two that comes in there and gets it done. But to get down to where we have gotten and how the kids have responded has been truly remarkable. That credit goes to the kids. The great thing that we need to learn is to never underestimate people, not just kids, people and what they can accomplish if they have a good attitude. Whoever we've asked to step in there has done a very good job. The credit goes to the kids and how hard they've worked. I think the biggest concern for our football team is that you hit the grind. For six games, they've played as hard as they can play, but now comes the next six games. Now the training, strength and the grind of the season catches up with you. How are we going to handle that? That's kind of the next step of the story. How is that going to go, I don't know that, and I am looking forward to see what happens in the next chapter so to speak."

On quarterbacks coach Pat Poore:

"Coach Poore is very knowledgeable. He's been a head coach. He's had a good upbringing as a quarterback coach. I think most of it has to go to his personality. We have some unique guys, and we have put together a pretty good staff of different styles. I am very vocal, yet some other guys aren't very vocal on the offensive side of things and he's [coach Poore] one of them. We just got good chemistry on our coaching staff and I just think he brings an even keel to those quarterbacks which is important."

On Andy Dittbenner and Mike Salerno:

"This is not an easy place to kick in. Opponents will tell you that. I know when I came here you never knew which way the wind was blowing; it changes from quarter-to quarter. On Saturday, we didn't have a very good snap and hold. There's more to it than just a kick. We have to get after it a little bit in practice and put a little bit more pressure on some people to make the game a little bit easier. We try to put them in game situations and pressure situations in practice as much as we can to make it easier for them on Saturday. They have both done a good solid job for us. We have to do a good job in getting better, there is no question about it, but so far so good."

Alex Krutsch

On the defense's performance:

"We want to be the number one defense, and right now I think we are. But we are focusing on getting better as offenses have been getting better at reading our defense we got to get more complex and we definitely want to strive to be number one, that is a goal of ours."

On Toledo's scheme:

"The biggest thing is having recognition when they are running through stuff. You got to get your hand up and knock some balls down or tip them up and hopefully one of our linebackers will come down with it, things like that should help."

Trevor Olson

On using multiple quarterbacks:

"Its odd, but we just look at it as we have to protect, as an offensive line, as best we can. We just do the same thing no matter who is back there. We just do our business and do what we've got to do. I don't know of many other teams that are able to do that and still score touchdowns like we have been."

Chad Spann

On playing multiple running backs:

"All five of us bring a little something different to the table and we just look at it like who's hot at the time and who is doing the best right now, who's abilities are going to work for us the best right now. There is no tone of selfishness in our group right now; it's a tight knit group. We all want to do our part for the team whether that is on special teams or getting the bulk of the carries or getting four or five carries a game. We just look at the film and evaluate throughout practice every week who is working the hardest and who is doing the best."