Sept. 2, 2008
Coach Rich Brooks
Opening statement…
“Other than a few bumps and bruises it does not appear that we have any injuries from the (Louisville) game that will keep anybody out of the game this week, which is very good news. We obviously have a challenge moving forward in our home opener. This team ( Norfolk State ) has speed. They do some things offensively that are very similar to the things that we try to do. They did them a lot better in their first game than we did. They use multiple sets, multiple formations, and their quarterback is a runner as well as a thrower. They throw the ball and run it well. Defensively they are a three-man front, which is something that we have not seen very often that will give us some problems on offense in an area where we do not need problems. We have enough (problems) of our own we need to correct. We need to make sure that we come out ready to play. Any time you play your home opener you need to be ready. We need to treat this as important as the Louisville game because any win puts you that much closer to where you want to go at the end of the year. Any missed steps along the way count equally in the records. This is one that we have to go out and win.”
On the opportunity for improvement between the first and second games…
“When you have a lot of players that have not really participated that much in regular games, they get a chance to experience what it is like, then they get the chance to go in and break it down on film and look at what they did right and wrong. Sometimes what you have been telling them does not click until they actually see themselves in that situation. I would not expect it to go from night to day, but hopefully twilight will arise for our offense. I think that we need to continue to work and it is going to be a process as we go through the season. Any week that you do not get better somebody is gaining ground on you. We started out with a pretty good defensive performance. The thing that we cannot do is get satisfied with it. We need to improve on the things we did wrong, and we did quite a few things wrong and they were pointed out to the players yesterday. We have a lot of work to do with this whole football team, not just the offensive side of the ball. The running backs have to hit the holes when the hole is there instead of guessing where it is going to be and running into a pile which they did on some occasions in the Louisville game. We have to create more holes with our line and our receivers have to block. Everybody talks about the passing game but the receivers have to block. We did not get a lot of that in this game and that has to get better. You do not make long runs unless somebody is down field tying up the defensive backs.”
On the defense getting ready for Dennis Brown, Norfolk State ‘s dual-threat quarterback…
“The quarterback (Dennis Brown) is an athlete and he will sprint to the perimeter and run. Hopefully, our defense is more experienced than every offense we are going to see. We have more veteran players, more speed, and we are more physical than we have been on defense. Hopefully, when we do see those types of offenses we will respond better to the dual-threat quarterback.”
On the advantage of playing at home…
“Particularly on offense I think it is really an advantage to be at home because you can communicate your snap count and checks better. It is a lot harder to do when you have the jet engine roaring in your ear on the road.”
On the communication issues at Louisville …
“It was a little bit of an issue, but it was not the main reason. I think for the first game with a center and a quarterback that really were starting for the first time, the snap count issue was pretty good. The get-off was not good enough and that comes from the center being into it and understanding as well as the quarterback being loud enough. When we get in the gun, the center is actually giving the snap count to the line. Those things seem simple but they are not, particularly when there is a lot of noise. I was overall pleased, but we have to get a lot better at it.”
On a change in the running back rotation…
“We are going to play the backs that give us the best opportunity to win. We had 64 snaps in the ( Louisville ) game. For those who did not think the new clock rule was going to shorten the game I think it did. They had 72 (snaps) and we had 64 (snaps), I think that is fewer snaps than almost any game we played last year.”
On the positives of the offense…
“I did not see panic or apprehension. I saw confidence and a little frustration which I liked because we were not doing as well as we need to do. I think the pass protection ended up being good in this game. Other than that we only had one turnover. I thought we were going to make it through the game unscathed in that area and that was disappointing when it happened.”
On Louisville ‘s defense…
“I thought it was good. They got after us. They were very physical. I knew the front four was going to be tough, but the surprising thing was how well the inexperienced linebackers played and they played very well.”
On quarterback Mike Hartline…
“I thought he managed things very well. He did not panic. I thought he did a very good, confident job of eliminating a lot of negative plays. We did not exactly ask him to win this game, but we certainly asked him not to lose it. Now as we move forward we will ask him to make plays that will help us win games.”
On David Jones’ performance…
“David played very well. He played more confident than he has ever played. He was aggressive. I thought he played the best game he has played since he has been here. He is a physical guy. This is his last year and I know he wants it to be a great year and he started out playing great football.”
On improvements for the offense…
“We need to have more aggressive blocking in the running game, but that would include the receivers too. Our receivers have to be physical and they have to block.”
#18 Randall Cobb, WR/QB
On watching Myron Pryor’s fumble recovery for a touchdown against Louisville …
“He’s a great player. He’s a great person that I work with every day. Just having him across the line in practice makes everyone on the offensive side that much better. You never expect a big man to go that far and not pass out before he gets there. Never in my life have I seen someone that big run that fast. I thought he was going to get caught by the running back for a second, but even he couldn’t catch him.”
On how many text messages he received after the game…
“I received a lot from friends and family. They were talking about Myron (Pryor) too and how he was rumbling down the field.”
On receivers blocking down field for the running game …
“Everybody told me I had a great game, but when I looked at the film I don’t think I did. You have to block because if you can’t bust a block for the running game, then the running game can’t help to open up the passing game. That’s something I have to get used to, it will take a little time for me. Sometimes it is fun to get someone turned off sideways and catch them off-guard. I like hitting people. I think we’ll do a lot more of one-on-ones in practice and blocking down on defensive backs. We have some great running backs so if we can give them that one extra second to make that one extra cut that could spring a big run, a big play or a score.”
On how comfortable he felt in his first collegiate game…
“I was very comfortable. Coaches have prepared us well all week. We came in with the attitude that we knew the game was ours for the taking we just had to go out there and work for it.”
On guarding against a let-down after the in-state rivalry game…
“It is a big game. It is our first home game. We are coming off of a big win. Just because they are a (FCS) school, we can’t change the way that we play. The atmosphere will be great for us because our fans will be on our side and it’s going to be a lot louder here. We have the greatest fans in the SEC; we just have to give them something to cheer about.”
On what he picked up from Mike Hartline’s performance against Louisville …
“It’s the little things he did, like his footwork and going through his progressions and everything. Mike’s a great quarterback. He knows exactly what he’s doing. Just the way he checked through his progressions, he made some good calls. I think he played a heck of a game. This whole program thinks he did. It’s very impressive. Mike played his heart out there and did everything he needed to do to get us the win.”
#98
Myron Pryor, DT
On being named SEC Defensive Player of the Week…
“I feel great about it. It’s an impossible award to get in the SEC, especially as a defensive tackle. Coach told me today at practice and I had a grin on my face. From here on out, I’m going to keep working hard and stay as healthy as I can. Players like me don’t get a lot of recognition because we’re in the trenches and we’re not supposed to be making big plays. One of the things we do is help out the linebackers and keep the (offensive) linemen off the secondary. This award shows that defensive tackles can do more than just hold blocks.”
On scoring a defensive touchdown against Louisville …
“I was trying to run as fast as I could and afterward my legs were burned out. To do that and be in the spotlight on TV makes me proud. Afterward, people kept telling me to kick my knees up to go faster.”
On staying healthy this season…
“When summer camp started I said if I could stay healthy then I could get into the backfield and make the quarterback nervous in the pocket. This game against Louisville made me, and everyone else, realize what I can do. There is no reason I can’t keep it up this season. As a defensive tackle we get banged and bruised. We need to get as much treatment as possible. They’re not injuries that will keep you out, but it’s something that will bother you. Staying on top of your body by keeping it healed and rested helps. You’re never going to be 100 percent in this position and if so, you’re lucky.”
On Kentucky ‘s defense…
“In the past we gave up big plays, but this year our defense is more dominant and we have a lot of chemistry. As a unit we work together and pull each other through. There is a strong bond between us and we know each other like brothers, which makes us better on the field.”
#7, David Jones, CB
On his first start at Kentuncky…
“I think our defense performed very well at each position. On my first career start at defensive back I feel like I played well, but there are some things that I need to change during the game. I made a couple of mistakes but overall I think I performed well against a big receiver.”
On playing completely healthy…
“I know that no one plays 100 percent healthy in SEC football. Right now I am healthy and able to go out and compete to my fullest. People were able to see what I can do during the Louisville game and see that I can compete with the best of them.”
On his mental preparation going into the Louisville game …
“My main focus coming in the Louisville game was to be prepared as possible. I watched a lot of film before this game. I knew that Louisville had a 6’8 receiver so I prepared myself mentally as much as possible. He caught one pass on me but I just kept competing on every play.”
