Sports stats



Joe PaoPao's media comments

June 10, 2005 - Canadian Football League (CFL)
Ottawa Renegades News Release


Paopao: We are just coming out of staff meetings for the last 5-6 hours watching tape, talking like most people around the league, ‘where do you go from here.'

As for the game, overall, pleased. Like any first game, as they say in boxing, rope-a-dope kind of feeling. Not sure what to face. We wanted to keep things simple and ultimately, like anything else, you want to win. Our priority was to play everyone we dressed – just like they did.

They played 4 QB's and the key is to evaluate in the pre-season. Nobody gets points for wins in the pre-season. Every time you come up on the winning side, feels better.

But as a veteran coach in this league, I know it's about the season opener.

We know by Monday at midnight that we have to get to a 50-man roster and that has been our focus. In fact, I had to walk away from our (staff) meeting to visit with you guys (the media). We were not done talking about personnel.

When (the meetings) go that long, you are talking about tough decisions. In our case, that is a good situation. Sometimes one game truly isn't enough. Sometimes they played better than they showed in practice. How do you keep them around for another game? That is part of the problem. We have until Monday. Probably will let some guys go before the weekend is over. Can't promise anything.

Decisions will collectively be thought out and looked at again. We want to make sure that it is the right decision. That is where we have been today. We didn't get our tape in mid-morning. It's because of logistics. They're still in (St. Jean at) training camp. We didn't get it until between 9 and 10 (a.m. on Friday) and it put us behind the eight-ball a little bit.

Injuries, haven't talked to Steve (Dias, head trainer). At 1'o'clock this morning talked about guys dinged up. Most significant, George Hudson rolled on someone's foot and heard a tweak. Early indications are positive and haven't heard anything until we get an x-ray or MRI. Korey Banks got kicked in the back of the leg. He will be fine. Brian Oddi knee. Brad Banks will be fine. Shoulder a little dinged.

First time out, sometimes don't know (about injuries) until two or three days later when things subside. Going to meet up at 3:30 as a team, talk about direction we are going in this week. Of the pluses and minuses this week and then jog them out and literally have a long run, about a mile, and get the soreness out. Tomorrow we will come out and have a productive day. I can't give you more on injuries until I talk to the trainer and I have been in personnel meetings with the staff all day.

As the game goes, overall you're pleased but still a lot of work to be done.

Going into the game, questions included offensive linemen. Thought Reggie Nelson played well. Young guys played young. The lights were on, the cheerleaders were out and the guy on the PA system was cheering "First down, Montreeeaaaaaal." My point is, it's live plays on a 20-second play clock and you're a 20-year-old kid and you're playing two-time Grey Cup finalists and Grey Cup champions and the guys' eyes get big.

We'll play them again and do what they do as they get ready and those are the things as a coach you have to step back and realize what it takes to get better. We still have a ways to go.

Happy with defence. Bend but don't break. When they had point opportunities, we came up with plays.

In our minds, we're not good enough yet. (Last night was a) pre-season game, great.

As for the kicking game, I was really pleased. Extremely pleased. Told Pat Fleming, "we want you to kick away." He worked really hard in the off-season. He was 2-for-3 (hitting from 38-yards out and from 41-yards out) and missed from (47). I thought about punting (instead of attempting the 47-yarder) and said ‘no, give (Fleming) a chance.' Maybe he overhit it. You can't get an opportunity until you do it live.

Pat Fleming was also our leading special team tackler (with 6). Sometimes that is not a good sign, sometimes it's a great sign. He knew he was the last line of defence. There's nobody there but goal posts. It showed the toughness of the kid. I saw that he is a competitor. I talked to Matt at great length before and after and it was good to see Pat get in.

We're no different than they are. They played (starting quarterback Anthony) Calvillo for one series.

(New veteran defensive lineman) Johnny Scott in here today. We're bringing in another kicker for insurance purposes. The mandate by our league is that until he's signed we can't announce who he is. He has 1-3 days to show what he can do. He's a veteran, American kicker with pro experience.

It's about opportunity. That's what we sell to our players. If you'd like to play pro football, that is what we sell to our men – the opportunity. We'll always continue to look at guys and look at guys out there. If you stop recruiting, a guy may pop up. Look at Toronto, they brought in Arland Bruce (last year). He made a difference, we can all agree to that. We're always looking at linemen – defensive and offensively and we have to continue to work. Whether they come in and do well or not, it's not a perfect science. All you can do is based on what you know on a player, you will see in the middle of August, teams bringing in last NFL cuts.

Jason Armstead was part of that (in 2003) when he was cut in Pittsburgh. He was in for one day and we wanted him back for training camp (in 2004).

Whether it's college, NFL Europe, Arena, it's an ongoing process. Sometimes the availability is there – not even for need. It's just smart thinking. Investment. You have to continue to try to upgrade talent – even championship teams do. There is a percentage of change. 20% is the number. Look at the (New England) Patriots. Even big names come and go but there is somebody there. They may be no name guys or name guys, but it's still about continuing to upgrade whenever you can. It's tough on the guys who are here. We may not need (the new guys being looked at), but you want to see (the fresh crop of talent) and what they can do.

Pat Fleming showed he can kick field goals. Paul Peterson showed he could play quarterback – even against their No. 1 defence. That is our thinking around here.

Q: Kellet's condition?

A: An ongoing deal. In fairness to him, except for early, he has not missed a practice. He's done field goals and kickoffs and punting. When I talked to him, there is some miscommunication there. He dressed. If something were to happen, he was ready to play and would be in there... We knew it was more valuable to see Pat do those things. If we were to start our season (Thursday), Matt (Kellett) would have kicked. Right now, we may go with two kickers until we sort out our roster... We were counting on Brian Oddi but based on last night and this morning, until we get x-rays done, he may be out for several weeks. The more depth you can have the better. If Pat continues to work, he has a bright future.

Q: Does Matt have any danger of (getting cut)?

A: Could he have kicked yesterday? Yeah. If Pat were to go down, he was going to kick. I don't need to see Matt Kellett kick. He is a 10-year vet! He has kicked in Grey Cup's. He has won Grey Cup's. I wanted to see Pat kick and Pat did well. Right now? Is he in danger? No.

We always consider good players. That's the way I look at it. We always want to look at guys who will help you. Whether it's today or down the road. Johnny has to pass a physical and we have to see his medical history.

For us, (during the off-season), we probably looked at 10 kickers. We had an American kicker by the name of Derek Jones scheduled to come and until we picked up Matt, we thought we wouldn't need to use an import spot and consider using the import spot on an offensive lineman. Next to the quarterback, if you can kick a long ball, that's invaluable. That's priceless. We'll continue to do that. There are 3 or 4 quarterbacks out there worth taking a look at. The No. 2 quarterback is one play away from getting in there. Our job is to put the best players on the field and our players have to know that.

Q: Did Underwood play? When did he go in?

A: Yes. The entire fourth quarter in the middle. He's a big sucker. His play was okay, not bad, like the other guys. For him, it's accustomed to getting a yard off the ball. He's 6-10 by the time he throws his hands up.

Q: Has Pat's performance complicated kicking matters?

A: On this coaching staff, no. The more quality depth you can have, the better. You can never have enough quality players around you. Now we know if Matt Kellett goes down, Pat can step in. If Pat didn't kick (Thursday night), we wouldn't know that. I couldn't have told you that last year. The young man worked hard last year and I was happy with him.

We had talked about the potential of (Fleming) kicking the day before (the game).



Canadian Football League Stories from June 10, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Ottawa Renegades Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central