From JacketsOnline's Kelly Quinlan:
Thought Saturday made some improvement in some areas, still a ton of work to do, not where we want to be in any facet, look forwarding to growing and playing a Vandy team that has been very physical. Big win over MTSU, right next to them, big game for both teams. I'm sure they will come in with confidence and we have to get better.
ON CUNNINGHAM THE LB
He is a good football player and has good size, bigger than any LB we have played so far, good mobility and speed, cover him up and make him hard to block.
ON OL PECKING ORDER
Three man rotation at guard, would be Parker Braun battling Will Bryan to play, Shamire Devine would start, all three will play.
ON SEARCY MAKING BIG PLAYS
There is nothing that sticks out in practice, there are some guys when the lights come on or game starts they up their play. He just happened to be in the game at BC for the two pass plays, the ball has come his way and he makes plays and when you do that the ball tends to go your way. He looks like he is having fun and playing wide open with it.
ON QUA MOVING AROUND BEFORE SETTLING AT AB
We recruited him as an ATH, we had just a WR that class, we lost a bunch of DBs, we lost guys, the D asked for him, he wasnt playing on offense, then we lost A-backs and moved him back, I think this spot fits him best.
ON SCREENS
We will see it until our nose bleeds, the RBs are physical. We have been halfway decent against the run, but we haven't seen a power team, somewhat like BC, but 12 and 22 personnel they will come get you.
ON SUBS AT A-BACKS WHEN SEARCY
Usually I know who I'm subbing and what the play is, I feel good about seven guys there, some are a little more experienced, he is a better route runner, when he got the pitch on Saturday, he just happened to be the read.
ON FIRST TWO GAMES SHOWING WHAT YOU HAVE
They are like the first two games, last year we killed everyone and people talked about how great we were and we weren't. This year we struggle and people talk about how bad we are and we aren't. In 2014 we struggled out of the gate. Last week was a C, if you look at it, offensively take away the two fumbles we score 8 TDs in 8 possessions or 9, defensively we gave up 10 points, we were horrendous on third down, need to make 3rd and long and we are not creating enough negative plays.
ON ACC VS SEC
We are playing for GT and I guess the league. We hear a lot of it, but it hasn't been our experience it is any different and we play them like anyone on the schedule.
ON ACC RANKED TEAMS
I haven't paid much attention, the polls mean nothing, they are guesses this early. It is a crapshoot, easy to put Alabama at the top, I could do that, after that, you have to wait and see. You get them all ranked and then they play each other and don't fall. Louisville needs to be ranked from what I've seen, but I don't know who they play. If they look the same this week, they are for real. Until 3-4 games in it is reputation and off last year for a lot of programs.
ON KEEPING FOCUS AND NOT OVERLOOKING TEAMS
We are not overlooking anyone with how we played. Our guys understand if we don't play hard anyone can beat us. This is the type of team anyone can beat. We are not going to roll out with superior talent than others. I've been there when 2-3 games a year you could win with your C game, that's not the case here.
ON LAST YEAR COMPARED TO HOW THIS TEAM IS NOW
I think we have a chance to be better offensively, defensively we'll see. It is futile trying to guess right now, 18-22 year olds get better and I've seen teams grow and get better. Helps if you stay injury free and things fall into place.
ON VANDY'S RETURN GUYS
Hopefully Butker can kick it deep enough it is a roll of the dice if they pull it out, we don't take for granted they won't bring it out, so we practice covering it every day.
ON BLOCKING FIELD GOALS
Mike Pelton is coaching kick block team, if we can get kickers to kick them low, Mercer had the ball spotted six and half yards from center and kicked it low, Cerge got up there with his vertical (laughs). Our tall guys didn't block it, it was Kyle and Rook, our guys understand how important it is. We make a big deal out of the team meeting for the guys who does it. We got good penetration, time spent is the same. Guy gets a game ball in front of the whole team, big deal. You get the same thing as the players of the game if you block a kick.
ON PLAYING A MERCER WHO YOU HAVE A TALENT ADVANTAGE OVER
You learn a lot. Everyone has some good players. How many FCS teams have beaten FBS teams, doesn't count how many are close to doing it (shot at UGA). Some of those teams have good players, some matchups they get overmatched, some guys for Mercer got overmatched and some held their own, guys learn about their assignments, execution and eyes on D. Doesn't matter who you are playing if you are not doing those things you aren't playing well.
ON LB NOT MAKING PLAYS
Brant led the team in tackles, but clearly the screen game hurt us and falls on the underneath guys and some on the LBs and some on what we are doing. I didn't think they were outstanding, I don't think there was a group that good. Chase Alford will always play because he is a tough kid, Victor is a backup to PJ, not close enough for real competition, PJ is the starter, Brant is the starter, Chase is first in at either MLB or WILL, David and Terrell are close.
ON B-BACK COMPETITION
We were in shorts and helmets, both will play, one will start and both will play.
ON THIRD DOWN DEFENSE IS THERE A BENCHMARK YOU LOOK FOR
Less than 3 yards on first down, you are in good shape, there is not a benchmark or a number, like second and seven, you have to create some negative plays. I was looking at our self scout stuff. Mercer we punted once, we dropped a pitch lost eight yards, second and 18 and then end up in 3rd and 19, same deal, we have to get some guys. Mercer had eight times third to 2 or 5, they made six of them. Third and eight make a lot less. When we are good offensively, you give us third and three, it will be two plays to get three and you will never see the ball. Third and 13 we are out of our comfort level.
ON PASSING AND PASS PRO
Spent a lot of time working on it and guys are little better up there, better feet (OL) and we haven't played guys with great pass rushers yet either.
ON ADJUSTING TO SCREEN GAME
There was a lot going on, some times you borrow from Peter to pay Paul. Sometime you get caught, we mixed zone and man and that wasn't great against the screen game and guys need better recognition and guys have to get off blocks. They executed it pretty well.
ON LACKING A BIG PLAYER UPFRONT TO MAKE NEGATIVE PLAYS
When you get a guy in the backfield make the play, or get the sack. Every year they talk about how we don't have talent on D, we had six guys in NFL camps off our D last year, there are guys on the D now that will be in the NFL, we sound like it is a scout team, they all came highly recommended in recruiting.
ON THE CAPTAINS, HAVING SPECIALIST
I think it says a couple of things, it says the respect they have for Harrison, people can vote for offensive, defensive guy and third slip, JT got way more votes, for a kicker to say to win that says a lot about him as a person and what he does off the field. I spend a lot of time talking to guys about picking someone who represents your values and who you want to select. Jason Elam might have been one at Hawaii, but not as a HC.
ON UNIFORMS
I get stuff not matter what uniforms we wear, I have nothing to do with the uniforms, we will wear the same ones from last week, we wear white, we are having a gold out, but we are wearing whites again. I get emails about uniforms, more about them running or passing. We have several different uniforms, when it comes down, I let the players pick and now the captains, we have a big pick, white this week, gold helmet or white helmet, we will have a special game in gold or blue or camo, captains will pick. I focus on how we play more than what we wear.
ON WEARING WHITE ONLY
They've always worn white at home here, started here, GT and LSU have done that historically. In the nine years we've only had two people say no, Wake said no, didn't want to wear black early in the year. I can promise you the other coach isn't spending a lot of time thinking about it. Usually the ops guy gets it, I had Punt call Vandy what they are wearing, so we asked I didn't want to wear white helmets is they where.
Thought Saturday made some improvement in some areas, still a ton of work to do, not where we want to be in any facet, look forwarding to growing and playing a Vandy team that has been very physical. Big win over MTSU, right next to them, big game for both teams. I'm sure they will come in with confidence and we have to get better.
ON CUNNINGHAM THE LB
He is a good football player and has good size, bigger than any LB we have played so far, good mobility and speed, cover him up and make him hard to block.
ON OL PECKING ORDER
Three man rotation at guard, would be Parker Braun battling Will Bryan to play, Shamire Devine would start, all three will play.
ON SEARCY MAKING BIG PLAYS
There is nothing that sticks out in practice, there are some guys when the lights come on or game starts they up their play. He just happened to be in the game at BC for the two pass plays, the ball has come his way and he makes plays and when you do that the ball tends to go your way. He looks like he is having fun and playing wide open with it.
ON QUA MOVING AROUND BEFORE SETTLING AT AB
We recruited him as an ATH, we had just a WR that class, we lost a bunch of DBs, we lost guys, the D asked for him, he wasnt playing on offense, then we lost A-backs and moved him back, I think this spot fits him best.
ON SCREENS
We will see it until our nose bleeds, the RBs are physical. We have been halfway decent against the run, but we haven't seen a power team, somewhat like BC, but 12 and 22 personnel they will come get you.
ON SUBS AT A-BACKS WHEN SEARCY
Usually I know who I'm subbing and what the play is, I feel good about seven guys there, some are a little more experienced, he is a better route runner, when he got the pitch on Saturday, he just happened to be the read.
ON FIRST TWO GAMES SHOWING WHAT YOU HAVE
They are like the first two games, last year we killed everyone and people talked about how great we were and we weren't. This year we struggle and people talk about how bad we are and we aren't. In 2014 we struggled out of the gate. Last week was a C, if you look at it, offensively take away the two fumbles we score 8 TDs in 8 possessions or 9, defensively we gave up 10 points, we were horrendous on third down, need to make 3rd and long and we are not creating enough negative plays.
ON ACC VS SEC
We are playing for GT and I guess the league. We hear a lot of it, but it hasn't been our experience it is any different and we play them like anyone on the schedule.
ON ACC RANKED TEAMS
I haven't paid much attention, the polls mean nothing, they are guesses this early. It is a crapshoot, easy to put Alabama at the top, I could do that, after that, you have to wait and see. You get them all ranked and then they play each other and don't fall. Louisville needs to be ranked from what I've seen, but I don't know who they play. If they look the same this week, they are for real. Until 3-4 games in it is reputation and off last year for a lot of programs.
ON KEEPING FOCUS AND NOT OVERLOOKING TEAMS
We are not overlooking anyone with how we played. Our guys understand if we don't play hard anyone can beat us. This is the type of team anyone can beat. We are not going to roll out with superior talent than others. I've been there when 2-3 games a year you could win with your C game, that's not the case here.
ON LAST YEAR COMPARED TO HOW THIS TEAM IS NOW
I think we have a chance to be better offensively, defensively we'll see. It is futile trying to guess right now, 18-22 year olds get better and I've seen teams grow and get better. Helps if you stay injury free and things fall into place.
ON VANDY'S RETURN GUYS
Hopefully Butker can kick it deep enough it is a roll of the dice if they pull it out, we don't take for granted they won't bring it out, so we practice covering it every day.
ON BLOCKING FIELD GOALS
Mike Pelton is coaching kick block team, if we can get kickers to kick them low, Mercer had the ball spotted six and half yards from center and kicked it low, Cerge got up there with his vertical (laughs). Our tall guys didn't block it, it was Kyle and Rook, our guys understand how important it is. We make a big deal out of the team meeting for the guys who does it. We got good penetration, time spent is the same. Guy gets a game ball in front of the whole team, big deal. You get the same thing as the players of the game if you block a kick.
ON PLAYING A MERCER WHO YOU HAVE A TALENT ADVANTAGE OVER
You learn a lot. Everyone has some good players. How many FCS teams have beaten FBS teams, doesn't count how many are close to doing it (shot at UGA). Some of those teams have good players, some matchups they get overmatched, some guys for Mercer got overmatched and some held their own, guys learn about their assignments, execution and eyes on D. Doesn't matter who you are playing if you are not doing those things you aren't playing well.
ON LB NOT MAKING PLAYS
Brant led the team in tackles, but clearly the screen game hurt us and falls on the underneath guys and some on the LBs and some on what we are doing. I didn't think they were outstanding, I don't think there was a group that good. Chase Alford will always play because he is a tough kid, Victor is a backup to PJ, not close enough for real competition, PJ is the starter, Brant is the starter, Chase is first in at either MLB or WILL, David and Terrell are close.
ON B-BACK COMPETITION
We were in shorts and helmets, both will play, one will start and both will play.
ON THIRD DOWN DEFENSE IS THERE A BENCHMARK YOU LOOK FOR
Less than 3 yards on first down, you are in good shape, there is not a benchmark or a number, like second and seven, you have to create some negative plays. I was looking at our self scout stuff. Mercer we punted once, we dropped a pitch lost eight yards, second and 18 and then end up in 3rd and 19, same deal, we have to get some guys. Mercer had eight times third to 2 or 5, they made six of them. Third and eight make a lot less. When we are good offensively, you give us third and three, it will be two plays to get three and you will never see the ball. Third and 13 we are out of our comfort level.
ON PASSING AND PASS PRO
Spent a lot of time working on it and guys are little better up there, better feet (OL) and we haven't played guys with great pass rushers yet either.
ON ADJUSTING TO SCREEN GAME
There was a lot going on, some times you borrow from Peter to pay Paul. Sometime you get caught, we mixed zone and man and that wasn't great against the screen game and guys need better recognition and guys have to get off blocks. They executed it pretty well.
ON LACKING A BIG PLAYER UPFRONT TO MAKE NEGATIVE PLAYS
When you get a guy in the backfield make the play, or get the sack. Every year they talk about how we don't have talent on D, we had six guys in NFL camps off our D last year, there are guys on the D now that will be in the NFL, we sound like it is a scout team, they all came highly recommended in recruiting.
ON THE CAPTAINS, HAVING SPECIALIST
I think it says a couple of things, it says the respect they have for Harrison, people can vote for offensive, defensive guy and third slip, JT got way more votes, for a kicker to say to win that says a lot about him as a person and what he does off the field. I spend a lot of time talking to guys about picking someone who represents your values and who you want to select. Jason Elam might have been one at Hawaii, but not as a HC.
ON UNIFORMS
I get stuff not matter what uniforms we wear, I have nothing to do with the uniforms, we will wear the same ones from last week, we wear white, we are having a gold out, but we are wearing whites again. I get emails about uniforms, more about them running or passing. We have several different uniforms, when it comes down, I let the players pick and now the captains, we have a big pick, white this week, gold helmet or white helmet, we will have a special game in gold or blue or camo, captains will pick. I focus on how we play more than what we wear.
ON WEARING WHITE ONLY
They've always worn white at home here, started here, GT and LSU have done that historically. In the nine years we've only had two people say no, Wake said no, didn't want to wear black early in the year. I can promise you the other coach isn't spending a lot of time thinking about it. Usually the ops guy gets it, I had Punt call Vandy what they are wearing, so we asked I didn't want to wear white helmets is they where.
