On the team's plans for Thanksgiving Day …
“We'll have a huge team Thanksgiving feast on Thursday to accommodate our players who come from a long ways (away). We'll celebrate Thanksgiving together as a family, as a football family — the coaching staff, their wives, their kids, all of our players. We'll have it set up nice and fancy, all the decorations, and we'll have turkey, and we'll have chicken, and we'll have honey-baked ham, macaroni and cheese, dressing, all the stuff that comes with it."
On the focus of the team for this week …
“We had a really god day yesterday at practice. Morale was high. Energy was high. Just wanting to play well and understanding the opportunity we have before us."
On what he took from the Texas A&M game …
“What happens is you hear me say this all the time — Sunday is about the truth. Here's the truth. You held what was at one point the number four team in the country and a top 25 team to its lowest offensive output, well second only to Alabama, the number one team. That you played them as well as South Carolina, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, UCLA, on and on, as far as offensive production. You limited very explosive returners from their special teams, from a kickoff return standpoint, from a punt return standpoint. You moved the ball adequately offensively. We did the things we could do or needed to do to try and slow down a phenomenal Myles Garrett, which in turn didn't allow us to put as many guys out in a route as we would like. We felt we had shots down the field, but just didn't always have the time because they were disruptive from a defensive line standpoint. We made provisions to allow the quarterback to have time and at that point with limited people in routes, you just have to go. When it got tight in there, less field to defend, it gets a little tougher. I was pleased with the amount of time, especially in the third quarter, that the offense was able to take off the clock and position ourselves for scoring opportunities. We didn't always come up with points, whether it was field goals or a touchdown, but we moved the ball at times very efficiently. So, that was the truth. That was the game in a nutshell. We're a couple of players away. We may be a year or two away, but we'll get there. We're making the right strides and to measure yourself against one of the elite programs in our country, it was a great opportunity and I was pleased with the progress we're making."
On the confidence level of the players …
“I think they were confident going into the game. I think it was validation that we can, that we do belong, that we're up to the task for whatever's put before us, that if we play in earnest the way we're capable of playing, we can give ourselves an opportunity to compete with anyone."
On the play of Kyle McKinney in his first start at center …
“He did well; about what we expected and there's a lot going on at that position — lot of movement, lot of identification, run game, protection (in the) passing game, and to be able to snap and step and pick up the block and bump it off — so much goes on there. I thought he did a very good job. You know, a guy who did not play one game at the position, to step into that hostile environment and to play under those conditions, under duress at times, I thought he did well. Juan (Perez) was nicked and (Austin) Pratt was nicked. We started practicing him there a couple of weeks ago to prepare for this moment, hoping that it wouldn't come to it, but nevertheless it did. Like so many other times, whether it be injury or what have you, we don't make a big deal about it. The funny part is last Friday when I was sitting with the staff and we were going over the depth chart at each position collectively as a staff — because so much individual time is spent with the offense and defense, on Fridays we discuss as a whole the game plan so everyone hears it. Then we speak on those two guys' inability to play and the defensive staff didn't even know at that time. We don't make a big deal. It is what it is. That's why you wear the title of coach — you prepare the next guy to go out there and do his job."
On Charlotte …
“We watched them as a staff yesterday — their last game — and then again this morning. We intensify our study of their team. They're a very talented team. Their quarterback is a dual threat quarterback that has great ability to run, but more so to extend the play keeping his head down the field to take shots. So, scramble rules will be of essence this week. You may have them covered but the play can be extended to keep them covered, because they'll take a shot. He's made so many good plays doing that, as well. Their running game is very sound. Their back is a powerful, compact back who runs and gets tough yardage and is nearing 1,000 yards. He's a very quality back. They have two receivers — 10 and 13 — who are long, athletic, very talented receivers that they go to in the passing game. They throw very efficiently when they do throw, although not a whole bunch from a numbers standpoint. They're not going to throw it 70 times a game, but when they throw it, it's usually completed. So, they do a good job from an offensive standpoint. Defensively, (they're) one of the better teams in the country in pass defense. They'll pick it. I think they're in the top 10 in the country in total interceptions; one of the better teams in our conference. I think they're in the top three in rush defense, and so what they do is they invite you to throw and what it says is that they're secondary are ball-skilled guys in the back end. Their stout up front. Their defensive tackles are really good. Their ends are very fast. You look at their last six games, all of them have been two-possession games. They're three and three in those games, losing one by one point and another by six and another by nine I think. They're a very good football team that is thriving and doing a good job."
“We'll have a huge team Thanksgiving feast on Thursday to accommodate our players who come from a long ways (away). We'll celebrate Thanksgiving together as a family, as a football family — the coaching staff, their wives, their kids, all of our players. We'll have it set up nice and fancy, all the decorations, and we'll have turkey, and we'll have chicken, and we'll have honey-baked ham, macaroni and cheese, dressing, all the stuff that comes with it."
On the focus of the team for this week …
“We had a really god day yesterday at practice. Morale was high. Energy was high. Just wanting to play well and understanding the opportunity we have before us."
On what he took from the Texas A&M game …
“What happens is you hear me say this all the time — Sunday is about the truth. Here's the truth. You held what was at one point the number four team in the country and a top 25 team to its lowest offensive output, well second only to Alabama, the number one team. That you played them as well as South Carolina, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, UCLA, on and on, as far as offensive production. You limited very explosive returners from their special teams, from a kickoff return standpoint, from a punt return standpoint. You moved the ball adequately offensively. We did the things we could do or needed to do to try and slow down a phenomenal Myles Garrett, which in turn didn't allow us to put as many guys out in a route as we would like. We felt we had shots down the field, but just didn't always have the time because they were disruptive from a defensive line standpoint. We made provisions to allow the quarterback to have time and at that point with limited people in routes, you just have to go. When it got tight in there, less field to defend, it gets a little tougher. I was pleased with the amount of time, especially in the third quarter, that the offense was able to take off the clock and position ourselves for scoring opportunities. We didn't always come up with points, whether it was field goals or a touchdown, but we moved the ball at times very efficiently. So, that was the truth. That was the game in a nutshell. We're a couple of players away. We may be a year or two away, but we'll get there. We're making the right strides and to measure yourself against one of the elite programs in our country, it was a great opportunity and I was pleased with the progress we're making."
On the confidence level of the players …
“I think they were confident going into the game. I think it was validation that we can, that we do belong, that we're up to the task for whatever's put before us, that if we play in earnest the way we're capable of playing, we can give ourselves an opportunity to compete with anyone."
On the play of Kyle McKinney in his first start at center …
“He did well; about what we expected and there's a lot going on at that position — lot of movement, lot of identification, run game, protection (in the) passing game, and to be able to snap and step and pick up the block and bump it off — so much goes on there. I thought he did a very good job. You know, a guy who did not play one game at the position, to step into that hostile environment and to play under those conditions, under duress at times, I thought he did well. Juan (Perez) was nicked and (Austin) Pratt was nicked. We started practicing him there a couple of weeks ago to prepare for this moment, hoping that it wouldn't come to it, but nevertheless it did. Like so many other times, whether it be injury or what have you, we don't make a big deal about it. The funny part is last Friday when I was sitting with the staff and we were going over the depth chart at each position collectively as a staff — because so much individual time is spent with the offense and defense, on Fridays we discuss as a whole the game plan so everyone hears it. Then we speak on those two guys' inability to play and the defensive staff didn't even know at that time. We don't make a big deal. It is what it is. That's why you wear the title of coach — you prepare the next guy to go out there and do his job."
On Charlotte …
“We watched them as a staff yesterday — their last game — and then again this morning. We intensify our study of their team. They're a very talented team. Their quarterback is a dual threat quarterback that has great ability to run, but more so to extend the play keeping his head down the field to take shots. So, scramble rules will be of essence this week. You may have them covered but the play can be extended to keep them covered, because they'll take a shot. He's made so many good plays doing that, as well. Their running game is very sound. Their back is a powerful, compact back who runs and gets tough yardage and is nearing 1,000 yards. He's a very quality back. They have two receivers — 10 and 13 — who are long, athletic, very talented receivers that they go to in the passing game. They throw very efficiently when they do throw, although not a whole bunch from a numbers standpoint. They're not going to throw it 70 times a game, but when they throw it, it's usually completed. So, they do a good job from an offensive standpoint. Defensively, (they're) one of the better teams in the country in pass defense. They'll pick it. I think they're in the top 10 in the country in total interceptions; one of the better teams in our conference. I think they're in the top three in rush defense, and so what they do is they invite you to throw and what it says is that they're secondary are ball-skilled guys in the back end. Their stout up front. Their defensive tackles are really good. Their ends are very fast. You look at their last six games, all of them have been two-possession games. They're three and three in those games, losing one by one point and another by six and another by nine I think. They're a very good football team that is thriving and doing a good job."
