Postgame Quotes after the 27-15 defeat
Arizona State Head Coach Kenny Dillingham
On failing to convert on fourth-down tonight on multiple occasions:
“Unfortunate. Obviously, those are critical players in the game. But at the end of the day, we got to be more consistent in the second half. We didn't put together a drive and you're not going to win many football games when you're not converting third-and-1’s and fourth-and 1’s. I think that's the simplest way to look at the second half. We were getting into manageable down-and-distances and then we weren't getting the job done and we have to do a better job as a staff, putting our players in the best position to be successful.”
On the injuries on the offensive line:
“Yeah, we don't know right now on those guys if they'll be back for next week, but nobody cares about your circumstance. So, we just got to go back to work, play the guys that are going to play and put together the best plan going in the next week around them.
On the aggressive playcalling on fourth-down tonight:
“Fourth and 1’s are pretty much a go statistically. If you want to get really aggressive, they even say they're a go if you're on your own 19-yard line, but we're not quite that aggressive. But fourth-and-one, statistically, you're going to convert over a 75% chance. And if you convert, it's like a turnover. The issue is we didn't convert those. And when you don't convert those, it is a turnover. But you're playing the odds that you're going to convert the majority of those and we felt like we had a good plan going into it in those scenarios and we just didn't convert. And that's the story of the game. If you convert fourth-and-one, I think the game is different. We don't convert fourth-and-1’s and the game is how it is. So we got to do better at that. We got to do a better job as a staff, starting with myself, putting our guys in a better position to be successful.”
“I thought once again in the first half, he came out and played really well. I think in the second half they took away the deep ball, they backed everybody up and they challenged us to run the ball and we still couldn't get into a rhythm running the ball. And when you can't run the ball versus that defense consistently enough it's a challenge because they play with an extra safety. So when he's not in the run fit and he's playing the vertical passing game, you're plus-one in the run game. So throwing the ball, other than screens, you're going to be throwing into bad numbers and we just couldn't establish that run game and we got to do a better job as a staff creating angles and it starts with me.”
On ASU QB Jaden Rashada’s ability to move onto the next play:
“He showed it tonight. We're down nine points at the end of the football game and he throws a great pass down the sideline and responded there. So, he went back in the game as a young buck. He didn't cower, he didn't put his head down. He responded and that's what this program is about. That's what it's going to be about. We're going to continue to push the guys to respond. That locker room is upset. But like I told the locker room, ‘Everybody is rejoicing in the failure. The rest of the world is fired up. We need to respond, we need to come back tomorrow, come back Monday and get better and learn from your mistakes and grow.’ And that's all you can do.”
On the overall play of the defense tonight:
“Our defensive line did a really nice job getting into the backfield. First half, we did a phenomenal job stopping the run. Second half, they leaned on us a little bit, which is unfortunate and part of that is we couldn't keep our defense off the field. They were playing so many snaps and our depth isn't quite where we would like it to be and they started leaning on us and it showed. We got to do a better job on offense, keeping the defense off the field, and then defensively getting off the field.”
How would you assess how the offensive line played, especially after an injury?
“I thought it was some plays good, some plays bad. I thought our pass protection early in the game and going into the fourth quarter, the last two drives were pretty solid. Just got to get some more vertical movement and some more movement in the run game. Then we got to be better and make some people miss too. So, I think it's an accumulation of multiple things. It's not the O-line, it's myself putting together the best scheme. It's our tight ends blocking, our wide receivers blocking, our O-line blocking, our running backs hitting the hole, our quarterback controlling the player he has to control. I think there's a multitude of things that go into the run game. It's not just those five, it's all 11 and the coaching staff, and, like I said earlier, it starts with me. I’ve got to do a better job putting those guys in position to be successful.”
On utilizing Wildcat formations versus Oklahoma State:
“I thought it worked really well early. We were in 14-personnel and they showed to match 14-personnel and they did that early. So we took advantage of some things. They kept their 3-3-5 on the field versus 14-personnel and on 4th and 1’s they were stopping the run and that's something that we can't have happen. We can't be in 14 and a team being in a 3-3-5 structure and not be able to run the ball on 4th and 1. So, I think we have to be more creative offensively as a staff. If we're not winning that, then I got to find an alternative route to be successful in those situations.”
On going up against Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy:
“We talked before the game and he expressed that he's at his alma mater just like me, except he took over a program that was in a really good position and he talked about how his first year, he had a losing record and then he won seven games in two of his lower winning seasons in his career. And then it clicked in year four with his culture. That was kind of his message to me. ‘Don't waiver, don't worry about the results right now, worry about the process and if you stay true to the process, the results will happen.’ And I really appreciate that message from a guy who has done it a long time, who's been really successful, who has seen a lot of people succeed and a lot of people fail. And then he also said, ‘Make sure you go to your kids’ events. That's what this is about, and that's the balance you need if you want to do this for a long time.”
On the key to making second half adjustments:
“Other than them backing up their monster safety to take away the shot, there wasn't a change in a schematic plan. They run what they run, they do what they do. He declares what he's going to be early, in terms of what his coverage is going to be, and they stay true to that. So, I think we've just got to be able to run the ball better in the second half and that's pretty much it. We're not establishing drives and we got to get the rhythm and establish some drives.”
On what he can say about B. J. Green’s performance:
“He's been a phenomenal player for us all fall camp and all spring. He's a great worker. He's got great energy. I'm glad I have him on our team and I'm glad I get to coach him.”
On the initial game plan of facing Oklahoma State’s free safety:
“We knew how we could control him and get him in and out of run fits. So, we were pulling him out of run fits with some things. We knew they were going to play trap defense, so we did some things schematically to negate trap coverage to get our hats back because the whole defensive structure is built to get the ball to the perimeter, right. All the five-techniques, throw the ball to the edges, throw the ball to the monster who’s scraping to the corners who trap and then the safeties who add on if you block their corners. So we were trying to get on the deepest players and we knew we had a plan to do that and to be honest, that plan was there, but it's our job to adjust if things aren't working, even if we think it's the best thing. We have to be more creative to find a way to be successful throughout the entire football game, and I take responsibility for that. Our players are playing their butts off. Our players are playing hard. For the most part, we played disciplined football. I got to do a better job putting them in positions to be successful.”
On the decision to throw the ball on a fourth down with six minutes left in the game:
“We just had a call. They showed on their old tape that they were a big two-tampa, three- double-cloud team in 3rd and mediums. They played a little bit more four-match because they had better corners here. So, that was probably the only thing schematically different than what was shown on tape from his prior school and his prior week. He pressed his corners more, played more of a four-match coverage on those down-and-distances. They got us one on an interception with the safety driving the dig on a 3rd and medium, which didn't show up on tape a lot. It was just part of the plan. We had an opportunity and didn't take advantage of it.
On screens in second half and adjustments to set up run game better:
“That was just a compliment. When you're getting trap defense and you're getting everybody deep in the middle of the field, there's a cavity in there to throw intermediate screens. So, we tried to hit a few intermediate screens. We hit them in the first half. We hit them in the second half. We were close to really hitting a few that got out. None of them really got out, but we were close to hitting a few that got out. But that was really what they were giving us was run game and intermediate passing game and screens and they took away the shot game. Smart by them, force us to run the football.”
On whether Dillingham will always go for it after a penalty on a PAT:
“No, going into the game plan… They always subbed big people when we went big people. So we loved our game plan on 4th and 1. Ironically, it showed up in the first drive when (RB Cam) Skat (Skattebo) wound up in wildcat multiple times, and scored. So, we knew if we get to 1-and-a-half (yards), in today's game of kickoffs, a five yard in addition to kicking off doesn't really give you an advantage because you kick the ball out of the endzone anyways. So there's no advantage. but gaining a point going from the 1-and-a-half, you should take advantage of that. Especially when you feel like you have a good plan and obviously it worked there. But later in the game, like I said, they stayed in little people and we just didn't move them enough.”
On how much of a factor the athleticism of their running backs is in a game like this:
“I think it's huge. I think we need to get (RB) Tevin (White) a little more involved with his ability to break one right now. We're not breaking any. But I think both of those backs played well tonight. I think there were a few that we’d like to have back where we just got tripped up. But I think both those guys played well. But the thing that we really need to focus on as a team is responding still. Too many times we're still complaining and it starts with me. I got to stop complaining to the referees, even though I know there's some things that I want to talk to them about. I got to do it in a manner that reflects how I want my team to act. So once again, that starts with myself.”
Arizona State Quarterback Jaden Rashada
On how he would evaluate his play tonight:
“I thought I could have did a way better job. Offense could have had the defenses back more, but that's why we're here. You know, we learn, learn from it and, yeah, there's a lot of things I could have done better tonight.”
On how staying in the pocket can attribute to making deep plays:
“Just keeping my eyes downfield and just extending plays. It always makes the job harder on the defense.”
On what he learned about himself in his second performance:
“I just learned I have to deal with some things better, stay positive and just gather your teammates around and, you know, you learn more from losses than you do wins.
So, not complaining, but we'll learn from this and we'll come back better next week.”
Arizona State Defensive Lineman B.J. Green
On what some of the defensive keys were in the second half:
“We just have to stay consistent. Stick to the script that we had, just doing a 1-11, like coach always tells us, reminds us. At the end of the day, this stuff happens when everybody is doing their job at the same time and probably be straight back from that a little bit, but that's his decision. It's not loss, but it's a lesson. Just showing importance of that and just being consistent with good, and that occasionally great. There's great moments in there, but we have to be consistent in everything that we do.”
On Dillingham's message throughout the game:
“Like I said before, it's not a loss. It's a lesson, you know, this is something that we have to build upon. He's always been preaching like, how are we gonna respond to adversity?
And that's the challenge that we have for this week and we are going to accept that challenge and face it head first. Like it was never a point in that game where we didn't feel like we were gonna win and that's what we should expect to do every week. That's something that we just have to hone in on the little things because the little things matter.”
On how he feels the growth was pass rush wise from Southern Utah’s game compared to tonight:
“They were dominating up front and they helped us in the back game because they were trying to get the ball out a lot faster. Big props to our D line for really stepping up this game and getting the backfield, it helps, it helps a lot. They really, really improved from the first game to the second game.”
Arizona State Linebacker Tre Brown
On what he saw from their offense:
“With some of the things that, they brought in the second half, there were some misfits.
I missed the fit, one of the fits that, led to a big run, but other than that, once we started to dial in, the runs that they were doing and bringing, as you see in the end, we started to, started to stop it.”
On how he would evaluate that overall defensive performance:
“We obviously have to be better, you see the points on the board? We lost.
There's always something to improve from, as far as defense, but we played hard. We played with effort. We played with good respect. So we just have to make sure we're doing our 1-11.”
On how some it felt to have their backs against the wall on fourths downs:
“I wouldn't want to have my back against the wall with nobody else. We built that bond with each other. When stuff like that happens, I trust everybody right next to me. I trust the guys behind me to do what we gotta do. I feel no type of way about it. We were poised in the face of adversity, like I said before, because Coach Dillingham always challenges us like how we're gonna respond to adversity. That's the thing – that was just the challenge that we accepted at that time.”
Oklahoma State Head Coach Mike Gundy
Opening Statement:
“We played much better in the second half, made a few adjustments defensively that really helped us. We got beat once down the middle and got out of coverage. Overall, defensively we played pretty well. We missed some tackles again in the first quarter, did that last week, did it again this week. We tackled better as the game went on. Ultimately, we’re going to have to tackle well throughout the game. Then we tried to limit giving up big plays.”
On what was different first and second half with the run game:
“We changed the concepts a little bit. We went from an outside midzone to more of an inside zone. We were having problems with the back side running through on us. So we changed our scheme up a little bit.”
On anything new he learned about quarterbacks:
“I thought they all played good. Without watching tape, I thought they all played pretty good. We just rotate them through like Rangel was up, Bowman was up, Gunnar was up. So now we put Bowman up, Gunnar up and Rangel up. Just like in kindergarten with a single file line.”
On the offensive line:
“Without watching tape it’s really not fair. I know the backside backer was creating problems for us on the run-through. Then earlier we weren’t as physical with the point of attack at the strong side. That’s when we made some adjustments. In the second half, we ran the ball good enough for the rest of the year. If we can run like that in the first half and the second half, games will be fine.”
Oklahoma State Running Back Ollie Gordon
On feeling when run game starts to shake loose:
“I feel like once we get the ball moving just us increasing runs, our linemen handling our blocks but it makes them happier and go even harder. When we increase runs and they’re there to look up and make the holes, we just play even better.”
On tackling more in practice:
“I feel like it helps us because our defense gives us tackles and we go to run through the tackles. So in some games when we get one on one with somebody we run through them.”
Oklahoma State Wide Receiver Brennan Pressley
On being able to score after the defense shut out ASU second half
“Whenever defense is playing like that we need to take it upon ourselves and to make it mean something. Getting stops, interceptions, turnover. We just need to take it upon ourselves to make it count and mean something”
On offense using three quarterbacks and connections:
“We have a ton of reps going all the way back through spring so we know every quarterback and what they like and don’t like. So for us, it’s no different than practice, just get in there and figure things out.”
On if that was a gritty win
“I think and so does everyone else think that we can play better. There were just mistakes here and there with flags, false starts here and there, you know just little things like that. I think we definitely know we can play better and that’s the great thing apart of the game; you know if we played as great as we could today, then we would have nothing to look forward to. It’s all about fixing those mistakes getting into film tomorrow and trying to get better every single day.
On thoughts of wide receiver strength this year
“I think this is one of the deepest wide receiving cores I have been a part of so far. The playmaking abilities that we have and even some of the talent people haven’t seen yet like Leon Johnson or Rashod Owens. Some people like that who other people haven’t seen have an impact, like we know what they can do and given the chance they’re going to make plays. I think its really special and I think we're so deep… and I’m just excited for the season to see how it goes.”
Arizona State Head Coach Kenny Dillingham
On failing to convert on fourth-down tonight on multiple occasions:
“Unfortunate. Obviously, those are critical players in the game. But at the end of the day, we got to be more consistent in the second half. We didn't put together a drive and you're not going to win many football games when you're not converting third-and-1’s and fourth-and 1’s. I think that's the simplest way to look at the second half. We were getting into manageable down-and-distances and then we weren't getting the job done and we have to do a better job as a staff, putting our players in the best position to be successful.”
On the injuries on the offensive line:
“Yeah, we don't know right now on those guys if they'll be back for next week, but nobody cares about your circumstance. So, we just got to go back to work, play the guys that are going to play and put together the best plan going in the next week around them.
On the aggressive playcalling on fourth-down tonight:
“Fourth and 1’s are pretty much a go statistically. If you want to get really aggressive, they even say they're a go if you're on your own 19-yard line, but we're not quite that aggressive. But fourth-and-one, statistically, you're going to convert over a 75% chance. And if you convert, it's like a turnover. The issue is we didn't convert those. And when you don't convert those, it is a turnover. But you're playing the odds that you're going to convert the majority of those and we felt like we had a good plan going into it in those scenarios and we just didn't convert. And that's the story of the game. If you convert fourth-and-one, I think the game is different. We don't convert fourth-and-1’s and the game is how it is. So we got to do better at that. We got to do a better job as a staff, starting with myself, putting our guys in a better position to be successful.”
“I thought once again in the first half, he came out and played really well. I think in the second half they took away the deep ball, they backed everybody up and they challenged us to run the ball and we still couldn't get into a rhythm running the ball. And when you can't run the ball versus that defense consistently enough it's a challenge because they play with an extra safety. So when he's not in the run fit and he's playing the vertical passing game, you're plus-one in the run game. So throwing the ball, other than screens, you're going to be throwing into bad numbers and we just couldn't establish that run game and we got to do a better job as a staff creating angles and it starts with me.”
On ASU QB Jaden Rashada’s ability to move onto the next play:
“He showed it tonight. We're down nine points at the end of the football game and he throws a great pass down the sideline and responded there. So, he went back in the game as a young buck. He didn't cower, he didn't put his head down. He responded and that's what this program is about. That's what it's going to be about. We're going to continue to push the guys to respond. That locker room is upset. But like I told the locker room, ‘Everybody is rejoicing in the failure. The rest of the world is fired up. We need to respond, we need to come back tomorrow, come back Monday and get better and learn from your mistakes and grow.’ And that's all you can do.”
On the overall play of the defense tonight:
“Our defensive line did a really nice job getting into the backfield. First half, we did a phenomenal job stopping the run. Second half, they leaned on us a little bit, which is unfortunate and part of that is we couldn't keep our defense off the field. They were playing so many snaps and our depth isn't quite where we would like it to be and they started leaning on us and it showed. We got to do a better job on offense, keeping the defense off the field, and then defensively getting off the field.”
How would you assess how the offensive line played, especially after an injury?
“I thought it was some plays good, some plays bad. I thought our pass protection early in the game and going into the fourth quarter, the last two drives were pretty solid. Just got to get some more vertical movement and some more movement in the run game. Then we got to be better and make some people miss too. So, I think it's an accumulation of multiple things. It's not the O-line, it's myself putting together the best scheme. It's our tight ends blocking, our wide receivers blocking, our O-line blocking, our running backs hitting the hole, our quarterback controlling the player he has to control. I think there's a multitude of things that go into the run game. It's not just those five, it's all 11 and the coaching staff, and, like I said earlier, it starts with me. I’ve got to do a better job putting those guys in position to be successful.”
On utilizing Wildcat formations versus Oklahoma State:
“I thought it worked really well early. We were in 14-personnel and they showed to match 14-personnel and they did that early. So we took advantage of some things. They kept their 3-3-5 on the field versus 14-personnel and on 4th and 1’s they were stopping the run and that's something that we can't have happen. We can't be in 14 and a team being in a 3-3-5 structure and not be able to run the ball on 4th and 1. So, I think we have to be more creative offensively as a staff. If we're not winning that, then I got to find an alternative route to be successful in those situations.”
On going up against Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy:
“We talked before the game and he expressed that he's at his alma mater just like me, except he took over a program that was in a really good position and he talked about how his first year, he had a losing record and then he won seven games in two of his lower winning seasons in his career. And then it clicked in year four with his culture. That was kind of his message to me. ‘Don't waiver, don't worry about the results right now, worry about the process and if you stay true to the process, the results will happen.’ And I really appreciate that message from a guy who has done it a long time, who's been really successful, who has seen a lot of people succeed and a lot of people fail. And then he also said, ‘Make sure you go to your kids’ events. That's what this is about, and that's the balance you need if you want to do this for a long time.”
On the key to making second half adjustments:
“Other than them backing up their monster safety to take away the shot, there wasn't a change in a schematic plan. They run what they run, they do what they do. He declares what he's going to be early, in terms of what his coverage is going to be, and they stay true to that. So, I think we've just got to be able to run the ball better in the second half and that's pretty much it. We're not establishing drives and we got to get the rhythm and establish some drives.”
On what he can say about B. J. Green’s performance:
“He's been a phenomenal player for us all fall camp and all spring. He's a great worker. He's got great energy. I'm glad I have him on our team and I'm glad I get to coach him.”
On the initial game plan of facing Oklahoma State’s free safety:
“We knew how we could control him and get him in and out of run fits. So, we were pulling him out of run fits with some things. We knew they were going to play trap defense, so we did some things schematically to negate trap coverage to get our hats back because the whole defensive structure is built to get the ball to the perimeter, right. All the five-techniques, throw the ball to the edges, throw the ball to the monster who’s scraping to the corners who trap and then the safeties who add on if you block their corners. So we were trying to get on the deepest players and we knew we had a plan to do that and to be honest, that plan was there, but it's our job to adjust if things aren't working, even if we think it's the best thing. We have to be more creative to find a way to be successful throughout the entire football game, and I take responsibility for that. Our players are playing their butts off. Our players are playing hard. For the most part, we played disciplined football. I got to do a better job putting them in positions to be successful.”
On the decision to throw the ball on a fourth down with six minutes left in the game:
“We just had a call. They showed on their old tape that they were a big two-tampa, three- double-cloud team in 3rd and mediums. They played a little bit more four-match because they had better corners here. So, that was probably the only thing schematically different than what was shown on tape from his prior school and his prior week. He pressed his corners more, played more of a four-match coverage on those down-and-distances. They got us one on an interception with the safety driving the dig on a 3rd and medium, which didn't show up on tape a lot. It was just part of the plan. We had an opportunity and didn't take advantage of it.
On screens in second half and adjustments to set up run game better:
“That was just a compliment. When you're getting trap defense and you're getting everybody deep in the middle of the field, there's a cavity in there to throw intermediate screens. So, we tried to hit a few intermediate screens. We hit them in the first half. We hit them in the second half. We were close to really hitting a few that got out. None of them really got out, but we were close to hitting a few that got out. But that was really what they were giving us was run game and intermediate passing game and screens and they took away the shot game. Smart by them, force us to run the football.”
On whether Dillingham will always go for it after a penalty on a PAT:
“No, going into the game plan… They always subbed big people when we went big people. So we loved our game plan on 4th and 1. Ironically, it showed up in the first drive when (RB Cam) Skat (Skattebo) wound up in wildcat multiple times, and scored. So, we knew if we get to 1-and-a-half (yards), in today's game of kickoffs, a five yard in addition to kicking off doesn't really give you an advantage because you kick the ball out of the endzone anyways. So there's no advantage. but gaining a point going from the 1-and-a-half, you should take advantage of that. Especially when you feel like you have a good plan and obviously it worked there. But later in the game, like I said, they stayed in little people and we just didn't move them enough.”
On how much of a factor the athleticism of their running backs is in a game like this:
“I think it's huge. I think we need to get (RB) Tevin (White) a little more involved with his ability to break one right now. We're not breaking any. But I think both of those backs played well tonight. I think there were a few that we’d like to have back where we just got tripped up. But I think both those guys played well. But the thing that we really need to focus on as a team is responding still. Too many times we're still complaining and it starts with me. I got to stop complaining to the referees, even though I know there's some things that I want to talk to them about. I got to do it in a manner that reflects how I want my team to act. So once again, that starts with myself.”
Arizona State Quarterback Jaden Rashada
On how he would evaluate his play tonight:
“I thought I could have did a way better job. Offense could have had the defenses back more, but that's why we're here. You know, we learn, learn from it and, yeah, there's a lot of things I could have done better tonight.”
On how staying in the pocket can attribute to making deep plays:
“Just keeping my eyes downfield and just extending plays. It always makes the job harder on the defense.”
On what he learned about himself in his second performance:
“I just learned I have to deal with some things better, stay positive and just gather your teammates around and, you know, you learn more from losses than you do wins.
So, not complaining, but we'll learn from this and we'll come back better next week.”
Arizona State Defensive Lineman B.J. Green
On what some of the defensive keys were in the second half:
“We just have to stay consistent. Stick to the script that we had, just doing a 1-11, like coach always tells us, reminds us. At the end of the day, this stuff happens when everybody is doing their job at the same time and probably be straight back from that a little bit, but that's his decision. It's not loss, but it's a lesson. Just showing importance of that and just being consistent with good, and that occasionally great. There's great moments in there, but we have to be consistent in everything that we do.”
On Dillingham's message throughout the game:
“Like I said before, it's not a loss. It's a lesson, you know, this is something that we have to build upon. He's always been preaching like, how are we gonna respond to adversity?
And that's the challenge that we have for this week and we are going to accept that challenge and face it head first. Like it was never a point in that game where we didn't feel like we were gonna win and that's what we should expect to do every week. That's something that we just have to hone in on the little things because the little things matter.”
On how he feels the growth was pass rush wise from Southern Utah’s game compared to tonight:
“They were dominating up front and they helped us in the back game because they were trying to get the ball out a lot faster. Big props to our D line for really stepping up this game and getting the backfield, it helps, it helps a lot. They really, really improved from the first game to the second game.”
Arizona State Linebacker Tre Brown
On what he saw from their offense:
“With some of the things that, they brought in the second half, there were some misfits.
I missed the fit, one of the fits that, led to a big run, but other than that, once we started to dial in, the runs that they were doing and bringing, as you see in the end, we started to, started to stop it.”
On how he would evaluate that overall defensive performance:
“We obviously have to be better, you see the points on the board? We lost.
There's always something to improve from, as far as defense, but we played hard. We played with effort. We played with good respect. So we just have to make sure we're doing our 1-11.”
On how some it felt to have their backs against the wall on fourths downs:
“I wouldn't want to have my back against the wall with nobody else. We built that bond with each other. When stuff like that happens, I trust everybody right next to me. I trust the guys behind me to do what we gotta do. I feel no type of way about it. We were poised in the face of adversity, like I said before, because Coach Dillingham always challenges us like how we're gonna respond to adversity. That's the thing – that was just the challenge that we accepted at that time.”
Oklahoma State Head Coach Mike Gundy
Opening Statement:
“We played much better in the second half, made a few adjustments defensively that really helped us. We got beat once down the middle and got out of coverage. Overall, defensively we played pretty well. We missed some tackles again in the first quarter, did that last week, did it again this week. We tackled better as the game went on. Ultimately, we’re going to have to tackle well throughout the game. Then we tried to limit giving up big plays.”
On what was different first and second half with the run game:
“We changed the concepts a little bit. We went from an outside midzone to more of an inside zone. We were having problems with the back side running through on us. So we changed our scheme up a little bit.”
On anything new he learned about quarterbacks:
“I thought they all played good. Without watching tape, I thought they all played pretty good. We just rotate them through like Rangel was up, Bowman was up, Gunnar was up. So now we put Bowman up, Gunnar up and Rangel up. Just like in kindergarten with a single file line.”
On the offensive line:
“Without watching tape it’s really not fair. I know the backside backer was creating problems for us on the run-through. Then earlier we weren’t as physical with the point of attack at the strong side. That’s when we made some adjustments. In the second half, we ran the ball good enough for the rest of the year. If we can run like that in the first half and the second half, games will be fine.”
Oklahoma State Running Back Ollie Gordon
On feeling when run game starts to shake loose:
“I feel like once we get the ball moving just us increasing runs, our linemen handling our blocks but it makes them happier and go even harder. When we increase runs and they’re there to look up and make the holes, we just play even better.”
On tackling more in practice:
“I feel like it helps us because our defense gives us tackles and we go to run through the tackles. So in some games when we get one on one with somebody we run through them.”
Oklahoma State Wide Receiver Brennan Pressley
On being able to score after the defense shut out ASU second half
“Whenever defense is playing like that we need to take it upon ourselves and to make it mean something. Getting stops, interceptions, turnover. We just need to take it upon ourselves to make it count and mean something”
On offense using three quarterbacks and connections:
“We have a ton of reps going all the way back through spring so we know every quarterback and what they like and don’t like. So for us, it’s no different than practice, just get in there and figure things out.”
On if that was a gritty win
“I think and so does everyone else think that we can play better. There were just mistakes here and there with flags, false starts here and there, you know just little things like that. I think we definitely know we can play better and that’s the great thing apart of the game; you know if we played as great as we could today, then we would have nothing to look forward to. It’s all about fixing those mistakes getting into film tomorrow and trying to get better every single day.
On thoughts of wide receiver strength this year
“I think this is one of the deepest wide receiving cores I have been a part of so far. The playmaking abilities that we have and even some of the talent people haven’t seen yet like Leon Johnson or Rashod Owens. Some people like that who other people haven’t seen have an impact, like we know what they can do and given the chance they’re going to make plays. I think its really special and I think we're so deep… and I’m just excited for the season to see how it goes.”