DEREK MASON
Said watching the game again provided more clarity on what’s happening. They watched it as a team. It allowed them to see it’s a team game and they put it to bed.
Said it’s good to be back home.
Said he thinks the team will respond well.
He believes today’s practice was a step in the right direction.
Said he talked to the group about how it needs to be selfish and greedy at practice. Greedy players eat big meals.
Said Tuesday’s practice was “greedy” and now they have to stack “days on top of days.”
Was asked about youth. Said nobody really cares about that, or injuries, or whatever, but it does matter for them.
Said if all you talk about is the negative, that’s all the kids take from it.
QB change coming? Said he’s “evaluating everything” right now. He’s asked Riley Neal to be better. Did the same with offense and defense.
Said the blame was “with us.” I don’t know exactly what that meant.
Asked about opening up the offense. Said he saw some opportunities “to get after some things.” Admitted it’s been stagnant. Hinted the pace might be quicker. Said most was game-plan specific and didn’t want to mention more.
Made mention of schemes fitting players.
Was asked about Neal and fit for the offense. Felt they built it around Riley. Now it’s time for him to rise to the occasion and then it sounded like he hinted at asking Riley to do different things (I’ll post the video so you can hear the quote.)
Was asked about defensive issues. Said it comes back to doing your job. Said they haven’t had consistency of play, for example, at ILB where they’re not having the same people lining up next to each other every week. Mentioned safety, where they have two redshirt freshmen leading in tackles. “Everybody’s got to do their job.” Said schematically players are in the right places but they’ve not been consistent.
“We’ve got seven ballgames to play,” and said UNLV is the one to get next.
Was asked who was on leadership council. Said there are 16 guys. Mentioned Lipscomb, Vaughn and Peart. He wants them to influence the players around them.
Asked about UNLV. Said they’re “trying to find it” on offense, defense and special teams. Said they’ve got good speed on defense. They’ll pressure the QB a lot with zero pressure.
Told Riley “not to look over his shoulder,” but mentioned that “Deuce is coming.” Said Riley earned the job but Deuce has to prepare like the No. 1.
Are they looking to change play-callers, moving coaches from the booth to the field or anything of that sort? “It’s all being looked at. I’m not taking anything off the table.” Said he’d looked at everything multiple times.
DREW BIRCHMAIER
They have to keep creating their own energy and bring passion to practices. “Keep with the process.” Mentioned the picture of the miner mining with a diamond right in front of him that he doesn’t know about and he can’t get there unless he keeps working.
What happened in all the long runs? Said it’s not a huge fix, it’s just tackling. Said it’s frustrating because it’s so simple but it’s a great opportunity because it’s fixable.
How does a tackling issue come about? Said when guys are flying around trying to make plays, they can forget technique or correct angles. “When you’re trying to play fast, sometimes you lose the details.”
RILEY NEAL
Asked about attacking and being smart at the same time. “You take what they give you.”
Asked about competition. “It’s D1 football. There are good players at every position.”
Said he and Deuce Wallace “are really good friends.” They talk a lot in games about what they’re seeing.
Asked about commonalities of what defense gives them each week. Said each game is different and he sees different things every week.
Said mixing and matching on the line has been an issue with the injuries but guys have done a good job because of that.
Was asked why he hasn’t criticized the offensive line. “Every play is different… watching from the outside, you wouldn’t know if I messed up the protection… or (the offensive line) whiffed.”
DREW BIRCHMAIER
They have to keep creating their own energy and bring passion to practices. “Keep with the process.” Mentioned the picture of the miner mining with a diamond right in front of him that he doesn’t know about and he can’t get there unless he keeps working.
What happened in all the long runs? Said it’s not a huge fix, it’s just tackling. Said it’s frustrating because it’s so simple but it’s a great opportunity because it’s fixable.
How does a tackling issue come about? Said when guys are flying around trying to make plays, they can forget technique or correct angles. “When you’re trying to play fast, sometimes you lose the details.”
Said watching the game again provided more clarity on what’s happening. They watched it as a team. It allowed them to see it’s a team game and they put it to bed.
Said it’s good to be back home.
Said he thinks the team will respond well.
He believes today’s practice was a step in the right direction.
Said he talked to the group about how it needs to be selfish and greedy at practice. Greedy players eat big meals.
Said Tuesday’s practice was “greedy” and now they have to stack “days on top of days.”
Was asked about youth. Said nobody really cares about that, or injuries, or whatever, but it does matter for them.
Said if all you talk about is the negative, that’s all the kids take from it.
QB change coming? Said he’s “evaluating everything” right now. He’s asked Riley Neal to be better. Did the same with offense and defense.
Said the blame was “with us.” I don’t know exactly what that meant.
Asked about opening up the offense. Said he saw some opportunities “to get after some things.” Admitted it’s been stagnant. Hinted the pace might be quicker. Said most was game-plan specific and didn’t want to mention more.
Made mention of schemes fitting players.
Was asked about Neal and fit for the offense. Felt they built it around Riley. Now it’s time for him to rise to the occasion and then it sounded like he hinted at asking Riley to do different things (I’ll post the video so you can hear the quote.)
Was asked about defensive issues. Said it comes back to doing your job. Said they haven’t had consistency of play, for example, at ILB where they’re not having the same people lining up next to each other every week. Mentioned safety, where they have two redshirt freshmen leading in tackles. “Everybody’s got to do their job.” Said schematically players are in the right places but they’ve not been consistent.
“We’ve got seven ballgames to play,” and said UNLV is the one to get next.
Was asked who was on leadership council. Said there are 16 guys. Mentioned Lipscomb, Vaughn and Peart. He wants them to influence the players around them.
Asked about UNLV. Said they’re “trying to find it” on offense, defense and special teams. Said they’ve got good speed on defense. They’ll pressure the QB a lot with zero pressure.
Told Riley “not to look over his shoulder,” but mentioned that “Deuce is coming.” Said Riley earned the job but Deuce has to prepare like the No. 1.
Are they looking to change play-callers, moving coaches from the booth to the field or anything of that sort? “It’s all being looked at. I’m not taking anything off the table.” Said he’d looked at everything multiple times.
DREW BIRCHMAIER
They have to keep creating their own energy and bring passion to practices. “Keep with the process.” Mentioned the picture of the miner mining with a diamond right in front of him that he doesn’t know about and he can’t get there unless he keeps working.
What happened in all the long runs? Said it’s not a huge fix, it’s just tackling. Said it’s frustrating because it’s so simple but it’s a great opportunity because it’s fixable.
How does a tackling issue come about? Said when guys are flying around trying to make plays, they can forget technique or correct angles. “When you’re trying to play fast, sometimes you lose the details.”
RILEY NEAL
Asked about attacking and being smart at the same time. “You take what they give you.”
Asked about competition. “It’s D1 football. There are good players at every position.”
Said he and Deuce Wallace “are really good friends.” They talk a lot in games about what they’re seeing.
Asked about commonalities of what defense gives them each week. Said each game is different and he sees different things every week.
Said mixing and matching on the line has been an issue with the injuries but guys have done a good job because of that.
Was asked why he hasn’t criticized the offensive line. “Every play is different… watching from the outside, you wouldn’t know if I messed up the protection… or (the offensive line) whiffed.”
DREW BIRCHMAIER
They have to keep creating their own energy and bring passion to practices. “Keep with the process.” Mentioned the picture of the miner mining with a diamond right in front of him that he doesn’t know about and he can’t get there unless he keeps working.
What happened in all the long runs? Said it’s not a huge fix, it’s just tackling. Said it’s frustrating because it’s so simple but it’s a great opportunity because it’s fixable.
How does a tackling issue come about? Said when guys are flying around trying to make plays, they can forget technique or correct angles. “When you’re trying to play fast, sometimes you lose the details.”
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