Oct. 25, 2009
Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp
On the defense: We played really well early in the game, especially offensively. We got so much momentum which really we fed off their momentum in moving the ball down the field and scoring in the first three possessions. The first two drives were key for us in getting off the field and getting Colt McCoy and our offense back on the field. The sack the third play of the game, to start the game with a three and out is always a positive. I’m real pleased with that. We made great adjustments in the game. They came out and gave us some different things that they had not done, which most people are doing to us now, which is a great compliment to our players. We made great in game adjustments, and after the one touchdown drive we didn’t allow anything.
On the sack on the opening drive: When people want to get in empty, we want to pressure them. We want to get after them. We dropped eight a little bit. We hadn’t shown that look versus empty all season.
On stopping the run: The key again when you play spread teams, how do you define spread? It’s running, it’s throwing, it’s creating space plays. They’re a good running football team. They schematically did some good things. On the one drive they had us off balance, which was my fault not shifting to a set, they had us a little out-flanked based on the bubble and the counter play coming back. Our players did a phenomenal job of adjusting in the game. We changed some things on the sideline and in halftime and really shut them down in the run game.
On holding Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert to 84 yards passing: He’s an outstanding quarterback. I think obviously his ankle is hurt and that’s unfortunate. He’s got tremendous arm talent. He’s a young quarterback and he’s going to be a really good football player in time.
On having tackles for loss: We always talk about dominating the line of scrimmage, and we felt like based on their zone schemes we were going to be able to get vertical in the run game. We certainly did that. We had three sacks, which is very pleasing. I’m real proud of our effort up front again.
On the two interceptions: We always talk about turnovers. The two most critical factors in determining a game is turnovers and big plays. I think they only had two big plays; two plays over 20 yards last night, and that’s disappointing. We’ve got to get that corrected. Unfortunately those things will happen at times, especially if we don’t leverage the formation as well as we’d like to do. Having turnovers is huge. It’s great momentum. It gets our offense back on the field. Good things happen when Colt McCoy and our offense are on the field.
On doing well stopping third downs: We talk about third down how critical it is to get off the field. On their lone touchdown drive they converted two third downs. That shows you how important it is. When you’re in those critical situations, you’ve got to get off the field, and we’ve done that at a very high rate this year.
On the game against Oklahoma State: We look forward to going to Stillwater. We didn’t play as well defensively as we would like last year. It’s a great opportunity. We expect a great game out of Zac Robinson. We expect Kendall Hunter back. (Keith) Toston is playing well. They’ve got good skill people outside. They do a nice job in the tempo and with what they do offensively. So, we’re expecting an outstanding football game.
Offensive coordinator Greg Davis
On the Missouri game: We scored touchdowns on the first three series. Shipley got us started with a little play action pass on the first play, good for 31 yards, great running. Colt was able to finish it off with a touchdown pass to Shipley. There were great individual efforts, as well as great team efforts. To score three touchdowns the first three series of the ballgame is always huge. We’ve been really talking to the offense about getting off to a good start. Jordan Shipley had seven catches for over 100 yards. We moved him back in to, I think, his natural position, the slot receiver, even though he did play outside some. When he’s in a slot, he has a lot of flexibility a lot of option route ability to move around, and he and Colt really hit on all cylinders in that area.
On the receivers besides Shipley: I thought the guys we elevated came in and did a good job. Marquise Goodwin had several big plays. Malcolm Williams came up big. The other guys responded well too. James Kirkendoll had a couple good plays. John Chiles caught his first touchdown pass as a receiver on a play where really he was a down the line receiver. Normally the ball doesn’t go there. He ran a great route and Colt was able to find him. I thought we protected well for the most part against a team that was doing all kind of twisting and blitzing to stop the run game.
On the running backs: Fozzy Whittaker and Cody Johnson both played extremely well. We were able to play a lot of guys. Any time this time at this point in the season that you can play a lot of different people, it helps build morale as you go into another tough environment this week. All in all, I thought the first half was probably as good a half as we’ve played this year. I’m a little disappointed in the third quarter that we came out and didn’t get a touchdown, but we were able to get some field goals. Then in the fourth quarter, we were able to play a lot of different people.
On Colt McCoy’s play: Colt McCoy continues to be one of the most accurate quarterbacks that’s ever played the game. He was 26 out of 31. That’s 84 percent. I think for the season now he’s completing somewhere around 72 percent of his passes. He was really sharp early. He completed his first 11 passes. The 12th one was actually a tipped ball at the line of scrimmage. He is really seeing the game. They gave him all kind of different looks. The touchdown pass to Shipley was against a blitz situation and several times during the ballgame he was able to come up with big plays against an all out blitz. I’m really pleased with how he played. I think the fact that we’ve gone back and we’re using a tight end more has really opened the offense up. It’s allowed for more play action. There were several plays off the play action. Greg Smith is playing well. We’ll continue to play with four and five wide receivers, but for the base of what we want to do, to give us the most flexibility, we have to play with a tight end.
On going three-for-three in the red zone: We had three opportunities in the red zone. All three came away with touchdowns. That’s really big. It’s something that we’ve been talking to the offense about that we want to get points in the red zone. Obviously field goals are points, but we need touchdowns, because when you can score touchdowns you have a chance to really put the game away.
On the touchdown pass to Chiles: On the touchdown pass to John Chiles, we ran two-by-two formation. We faked a zone and Colt rolled back into the boundary. Greg Smith did a great job of selling the run. He was actually the first choice as he came into the flat. Jordan Shipley was on an over route. John Chiles’ route in that situation is a mandatory outside release against an outside corner to get him to turn his back on the action inside. We fool the safety with the play fake, and when the corner set, John Chiles had done a great job of fighting his way outside and was open. Colt found him and it was an easy touchdown pass.
On Oklahoma State: Oklahoma State is always a tough opponent. Whether or not we’re playing up there or whether or not we’re playing at home. Some of the greatest comebacks in Texas history have come against Oklahoma State. To have a comeback, it means you got behind. They’re a very talented team on both sides of the ball. Halloween night, 7:00 in Stillwater, it’ll be rocking.
|
|
 |
