Football Weekly Press Conference: South Carolina
Oct 27, 2015 | Football
Head coach Kevin Sumlin, coordinators Jake Spavital and John Chavis, and several players met with the media on Tuesday at the football weekly press conference inside the Kyle Field Media Center.
Texas A&M is preparing for an 11 a.m. game Saturday against South Carolina at Kyle Field, which will be televised nationally by SEC Network.
A summary of comments is posted below, along with video. Audio is available through additional links on the page.
In times like this as a team there's speculation and people wondering what's the pulse of your football team and where is everything. I can tell you that after some open discussions and meetings with our accountability council on Monday this team is not a divided football team. Not divided by players or by positions. After anything like we've been through the last two weeks I would say the word is 'frustrated', just like everyone else. Like fans. Like coaches. Like me. If they weren't frustrated at this point that would be another issue. We had open discussions about where we are and what we need to do to get the ship turned back to where we need to go. Notice I didn't say turn around. Turned where we need to go. Our players understand that. Think we've done some things internally and had some discussions not only as football team but as a staff. Sunday and Monday we looked at where we are and what we are doing. Offensively we haven't played very well the last couple of weeks. A lot been said about certain positions like quarterback. We haven't played very well across the board offensively. As coaches it's my job, our job, to address those issues. You know me, everything I've talked about it's not what you do it's how you do it. Examining what that is and what that looks like for us. Without going into it, really all the way into it, we made some changes offensively in how we'll do some things offensively and approach the game plan.
With that, Monday morning I met with all three quarterbacks at 9:30. Sat down and talked with all those guys. Said here's where we are as a team. All three of you guys have played in games now. Some have had great moments, some bad moments, and a little bit of both. Looking for consistency across the board at quarterback. Cutting down on turnovers. This week you'll be evaluated not only based on practice, percentage in drills and everything else, but also evaluated in your leadership skills, communication with teammates and the coaching staff and general overall play and demeanor. Friday before that practice we'll announce who the starter is for this game. That being said that's where we are right now as a football team. Got to continue to play with same kind of urgency we're playing with on defense and special teams. Playing very well on special teams. Hiccup with Christian Kirk on the turnover (last week) but generally we've been very solid. Got to pick it up on offense. That's where it is from a quarterback standpoint this week.
Gives us an opportunity with a South Carolina team coming in with a new coach. Coach (Shawn) Elliott has done a great job. Tribute to Coach Spurrier in the first game and he got the win. There are a lot of guys on this staff obviously that I know. Do a great job. Will come in here 1-0 from his standpoint. Opportunity for us to right the ship with another SEC opponent coming in here Saturday and get back on the winning side. For us it's a big game because it's the next game. But it's also a chance for us to get rolling again. Interesting thing we talked about yesterday, we're not 2-5. We're 5-2. Have opportunity to close this season out with some opponents to get some big wins and still have a great season and still be in the thick of this thing at the end.
Leaning on Dave Christensen for more play calling. Lot of guys in that room have been play calling. It's the kind of staff where everyone has been a part of it. In this meeting with quarterbacks there were five people, me, Jake (Spavital) and the 3 QBs. Same message. Guess what, guys? All five of us in this room are just like me. Get way too much credit when we win and a lot of the blame when we lose. What we do about that? My job is to assess, evaluate and move on and put together what I think gives us the best chance to win, period. And then also from a players' standpoint put on the field the guys I feel give us the best chance to win. That's where that is. Collectively as an offensive and defensive staff everything has to run thru one person, but offensively and defensively it's not like Chief (John Chavis) and Jake just give guys, 'Hey here's what you're doing'. Doesn't work like that. Plenty of guys on staff that contribute to the game plan and that's not going to change.
Jake Spavital still primarily play-caller. Yes.
Evaluate his performance to this point. Been up and down. But guess what, life pays off on results. Up till week 5 there was not any question. It's not one person. It's not just one guy. It's not one situation. Can we be better? Yes. That's why we are making some changes. That's all part of it. In this business you're only as good as your last outing. Our last two have not been very good. We've made some changes, we'll get rolling and we'll see. Will see five weeks from now what the thought process is.
Report of alleged spat between Kyler Murray and Jake Spavital. Not getting into specifics of what happened on the sideline. Will say Kyler has done the things necessary that we've asked him to do, based on what happened on the sideline. Hopefully that's been a learning experience for him. Because of that, since that time, I think it has been. He has come back has practiced and is doing the right things. That's why he was part of discussion yesterday in this competition.
Why wait to take Kyle out of game and what led to struggles. If I knew what led to the struggles the last two games it would have been fixed. He's fine. Here's what it is. Let's just be honest. Easy to have 20/20 hindsight. Game five he has the highest QB rating in the SEC. We go to game six, he throws three pick-sixes. Put another guy in, he throws an interception. That had not been the M.O. of this team. Not how he played first five games of the season. Go to the next game, he's played very well on the road in past. Was bit of a surprise to I think everybody. Hard to play that position looking over your shoulder all the time, does that makes sense? Lot of other positions you can yank guys in and out. But without confidence it's hard to play quarterback. You kind of want a guy to play himself out of it but it wasn't happening and we made the change. Looking back at it yeah it's easier to say that, but that was the thought process coming in to game six and game seven.
What you need to see on field offensively. More consistency. Move the football. Never really in a rhythm Saturday and really for the second half against Alabama. What is that, a rhythm? Means making first downs. Been a big-play offense a lot of times in years past. Got to shore up protection. We need to throw the ball down field, we drop back, we get sacked. When you're behind that much, it really makes you one dimensional. Got to establish a rhythm offensively in run and pass and really take our shots when we have them instead of just trying to get the ball down field a lot in the opening part of the game. To establish that rhythm we have to run the ball better. If you look back we started off running pretty good. Missed a play to Ricky Seals-Jones where he was wide open, which may have changed things on the road by taking the crowd out of it. Moved the ball down inside the 25 and get a holding call. Get back to the 50 and we have to punt it. Got to establish that rhythm. Comes from plays, things we can handle, but also eliminating penalties that are drive killers.
Offensive line changes and backups to Tra Carson. Tra is a good back. He's not the most explosive back, a wire-to-wire guy. He's a pounder. Guy will get yards. A sure backup we don't have right now. James (White) came in and gave us some carries. Will continue to get healthy which will take some off of Tra, he's been carrying the load. Be some changes not necessarily with personnel in the offensive line. But there will be some changes, a couple things with what we're doing. Maybe we're trying to do too much up front as far as angles and numbers and reads and things like that. Maybe just looking at it our guys are better coming off ball and going straight and doing things that way. Without getting into specifics there will be some things that will change not necessarily from a personnel standpoint but from a schematic standpoint.
Pharoh Cooper. Guy who I think was on coaches All-SEC preseason teams for a few positions. As receiver he's dynamic. As return guy he's dynamic. They will find any way to get the ball to him. Heck of a player. We have to be aware of him defensively but he's also a player that can change the game. A lot like Christian Kirk as a punt return guy and kickoff return guy. Threat to go wire to wire and score anytime he's got his hands on the football.
Skai Moore. All over the field. Leading tackler by a long ways. (Co-defensive coordinator) Jon Hoke has come in, I've known him for long time, really schematically they're a lot different than they were last year. More of a keep it in front of them style. More aggressive last week then they had been across the board. Skai does a great job. Little bit of a tweener. Linebacker that is maybe a little bit undersized, but makes up for it with speed and quickness. Great vision. Attacks the line of scrimmage. Makes a lot of tackles.
What you've seen out of leadership this weekend. We don't practice on Sunday. Got back here 6 a.m. Sunday. Have an accountability council, two guys voted on by every member of his class. Then our captains. Those guys are really the conduit to the team. Really talk openly. Had a great discussion yesterday about where this team is, what the expectations are. It's frustration, and that's healthy. Good to be able to discuss it, not complain about it, be open about it. Then as a coaching staff and with that leadership group here's what we need to do. What's the difference between 14 days ago and today? Real easy to get into the mindset right now or yesterday or Sunday or after the game that this is a bad football team. It is not. What has to be talked about openly and what we discussed is what has happened in these 14 days and what we have to do to change it. Our guys understand it. All starts today, back on the field in full pads. One day at time from here on out. When our guys or coaches left two weeks ago, there was too much big-picture thinking, I'll just put it that way. By everybody. Now after two weeks it's been kind of an eye-opening experience. Now we've got to get back to one-week thinking. And what's important is South Carolina.
Reaction to Steve Spurrier resigning immediately. Guy I've always looked up to and continue to look up to. Heard me say on SEC Now he's kind of the guy who I always wanted to be. Came into SEC, won in this league, threw the football, played defense, won national championships and did it his way. Had a huge impact on me from the outside, getting to know him through Bob (Stoops) and a few other guys. Lot of things that are football related that he brings to the table. Also lot of things from a personal growth standpoint that people won't ever know that he's helped me with. Said it before it will be a long time, maybe never, that one guy will win a Heisman coach a Heisman winner and win a national championship. That's why there are already statues of him.
Differences you've seen with Shawn Elliott in charge. Anytime there's a change, in my experience, it does one of two things. Goes down or goes up. Doesn't stay the same. Some energy in there that Shawn brings. Always been there. Looks to me like Joe Robinson is getting more time with the special teams now. Look a little bit different than they had in the past. More aggressive on special teams. Will be a challenge for us. Look at where they are and what they are doing, as I said before, that coaching staff has to look at it like they are 1-0 now. They're looking to get win number two this week. They will come in here after a bye week. Will be prepared. Still got great coaches on that staff.
What Kyle Allen needs to do to win starting battle this week. Has to show more consistency. Take care of the ball. I'm really focusing in on timing, precision, communication, leadership. Not qualities of execution. Just all the 'it' factors in what we're looking for. Need to see more consistency out of Kyle.
Ride with starter Saturday or have a quicker hook. Depends on flow of game. If goes out there and lays an egg obviously we'll put in next guy. Told all three they better be ready to play. Based off what happens we'd go with the next guy.
Jake Hubenak. Done a great job for us ever since he stepped foot on campus. Can operate offense effectively. Can communicate. Can throw the football around. Went out and showed great poise Saturday and executed it cleanly. Thought he did great job for us at Ole Miss.
Your performance personally Saturday. Begins with me. Lot of things we can get better at. Have to do a better job finding easier completions for the quarterbacks. Overall been an up and down ride with this offense. We know we'll get this fixed. Offense is based off rhythm and once we find it it's one of most dangerous in country. Really began the second half of the Mississippi State game. Haven't found that rhythm but that's why we've opened up some positions. Quarterback is getting amplified but it's all positions.
Identity of this offense. Just matter of struggling. Lot of it is confidence. Will get it fixed this week. Will get back after it versus South Carolina.
Kyle physically okay Saturday. We had many talks about that on the sidelines, Coach Sumlin and I. He was fine. Nothing wrong with him. Wasn't all Kyle's fault at the beginning. Protection breakdowns missed assignments, then missed executions by him. Kept with Kyle until we felt we needed a change.
Impressive thing about all 3 QBs. Had great practice yesterday. All three upbeat. Running around. Executing. Best execution in a Monday practice we've had. Looking forward to the outcome.
Incident on sideline with Kyler. We're very close in that quarterback room. Just kind of something that is between the room. I wouldn't look too far into it.
With protection issues, Kyler's mobility might give him leg up in battle. We put him in versus Alabama, there were protection issues there too and sometimes he got out of the pocket and sometimes he didn't. All three quarterbacks bring something to game. Got to play to their strengths when they're in.
Gone through this last year, what gained from that experience. Just have to get back into rhythm. Get confidence back. It's a good offense. Showed signs of it. Focus on first downs each play. Little things will add up for us. Got to get back to work and go from there.
Offensive line this week. I need to see improvement with everyone. We have a left guard we rotate. A true freshman that was going against a very athletic defensive line and they were giving us a lot of different looks. Have to keep gelling together. Know they will. Very confident in what we'll accomplish with this game plan. Everyone across board has to get better and focus on attention to detail.
Emphasis on getting ball to playmakers like Christian Kirk in more creative ways. We try that every week with Christian. They put an emphasis on taking Christian out of game. And put an emphasis on taking Josh (Reynolds) out of game. Were a lot of people bracketing Christian and Josh. When that happens we've got to have others step up and make plays, got to get the run game going and be more efficient.
Appreciate the route Jake Hubenak has taken. No question. Maturity about him, when you talk to him. Been through it all already. Been thru a Division I program that's had success offensively. Then move to junior college and work your way back up to here. Knows highs and lows of what goes on. Knows definition of being a team. Understands that everyone plays a role. Got to commend how he handles situations. Trying to help Kyle, Kyler, the receivers, anyone out when he can.
Impressed with defense holding off last score as game ended. What you have to do. Way this team has practiced, all way back to spring practice. They want to do well. Want to win. Not going to turn down anything from anyone.
Armani Watts. Played well for us. Both of our safeties have. Glad to look at stat sheet and see he made those plays, but in my room (linebackers) I challenged those guys to make plays. Have to keep ball off safeties. We have to grow up there. Have some fundamental issues we're addressing. Will keep addressing until we get it right. Not an effort thing. We've got guys getting cut. We work cut blocks. No good to the defense if you're on ground. Got things to work out. Hopefully he won't have to make that many tackles in another game. But I'm proud of what he did. Played well.
Battle between Myles Garrett and Laremy Tunsil. Did more than hold his own. Seven tackles, deflected pass. Big holding call. Think Myles did a great job. I'm biased but I think he won most of the battles without any question. Played awful well for us. Proud of him.
South Carolina offense and QB Perry Orth. Honestly we don't know who we're going to see. We know Perry will be the starter. (Lorenzo) Nunez is a different animal. In preparation we need to be ready for both because they're totally different. With open week and not a new staff but new leadership we don't know fully what to expect. Have to prepare for a lot. They can throw the ball. Have good receivers. Nunez can run ball as well as any quarterback in the league. Have to be prepared for both.
Reaction to Spurrier leaving. Obviously a great football coach. One of best in business. Very, very competitive. Hall of fame guy. Hate to see guys that lead the sport leave it, but if he felt like it was time I respect his decision. We had some good battles. Always fun playing against him.
Matter of time before A&M offense can find rhythm. No doubt. No question. We'll keep working. We have issues on defense we will keep working on. We have to do a better job of creating short fields for our offense. But there's no doubt. Seen it already this year. Will get it corrected. I don't worry about it.
South Carolina offensive differences with new leadership. May see a little more two-back. May see more option. Lot of it was the same. But I think they'll be a little more two-back, two-tight ends. But again we have to prepare for it all.
Texas A&M is preparing for an 11 a.m. game Saturday against South Carolina at Kyle Field, which will be televised nationally by SEC Network.
A summary of comments is posted below, along with video. Audio is available through additional links on the page.
KEVIN SUMLIN PRESS CONFERENCE SUMMARY
In times like this as a team there's speculation and people wondering what's the pulse of your football team and where is everything. I can tell you that after some open discussions and meetings with our accountability council on Monday this team is not a divided football team. Not divided by players or by positions. After anything like we've been through the last two weeks I would say the word is 'frustrated', just like everyone else. Like fans. Like coaches. Like me. If they weren't frustrated at this point that would be another issue. We had open discussions about where we are and what we need to do to get the ship turned back to where we need to go. Notice I didn't say turn around. Turned where we need to go. Our players understand that. Think we've done some things internally and had some discussions not only as football team but as a staff. Sunday and Monday we looked at where we are and what we are doing. Offensively we haven't played very well the last couple of weeks. A lot been said about certain positions like quarterback. We haven't played very well across the board offensively. As coaches it's my job, our job, to address those issues. You know me, everything I've talked about it's not what you do it's how you do it. Examining what that is and what that looks like for us. Without going into it, really all the way into it, we made some changes offensively in how we'll do some things offensively and approach the game plan.
With that, Monday morning I met with all three quarterbacks at 9:30. Sat down and talked with all those guys. Said here's where we are as a team. All three of you guys have played in games now. Some have had great moments, some bad moments, and a little bit of both. Looking for consistency across the board at quarterback. Cutting down on turnovers. This week you'll be evaluated not only based on practice, percentage in drills and everything else, but also evaluated in your leadership skills, communication with teammates and the coaching staff and general overall play and demeanor. Friday before that practice we'll announce who the starter is for this game. That being said that's where we are right now as a football team. Got to continue to play with same kind of urgency we're playing with on defense and special teams. Playing very well on special teams. Hiccup with Christian Kirk on the turnover (last week) but generally we've been very solid. Got to pick it up on offense. That's where it is from a quarterback standpoint this week.
Gives us an opportunity with a South Carolina team coming in with a new coach. Coach (Shawn) Elliott has done a great job. Tribute to Coach Spurrier in the first game and he got the win. There are a lot of guys on this staff obviously that I know. Do a great job. Will come in here 1-0 from his standpoint. Opportunity for us to right the ship with another SEC opponent coming in here Saturday and get back on the winning side. For us it's a big game because it's the next game. But it's also a chance for us to get rolling again. Interesting thing we talked about yesterday, we're not 2-5. We're 5-2. Have opportunity to close this season out with some opponents to get some big wins and still have a great season and still be in the thick of this thing at the end.
Leaning on Dave Christensen for more play calling. Lot of guys in that room have been play calling. It's the kind of staff where everyone has been a part of it. In this meeting with quarterbacks there were five people, me, Jake (Spavital) and the 3 QBs. Same message. Guess what, guys? All five of us in this room are just like me. Get way too much credit when we win and a lot of the blame when we lose. What we do about that? My job is to assess, evaluate and move on and put together what I think gives us the best chance to win, period. And then also from a players' standpoint put on the field the guys I feel give us the best chance to win. That's where that is. Collectively as an offensive and defensive staff everything has to run thru one person, but offensively and defensively it's not like Chief (John Chavis) and Jake just give guys, 'Hey here's what you're doing'. Doesn't work like that. Plenty of guys on staff that contribute to the game plan and that's not going to change.
Jake Spavital still primarily play-caller. Yes.
Evaluate his performance to this point. Been up and down. But guess what, life pays off on results. Up till week 5 there was not any question. It's not one person. It's not just one guy. It's not one situation. Can we be better? Yes. That's why we are making some changes. That's all part of it. In this business you're only as good as your last outing. Our last two have not been very good. We've made some changes, we'll get rolling and we'll see. Will see five weeks from now what the thought process is.
Report of alleged spat between Kyler Murray and Jake Spavital. Not getting into specifics of what happened on the sideline. Will say Kyler has done the things necessary that we've asked him to do, based on what happened on the sideline. Hopefully that's been a learning experience for him. Because of that, since that time, I think it has been. He has come back has practiced and is doing the right things. That's why he was part of discussion yesterday in this competition.
Why wait to take Kyle out of game and what led to struggles. If I knew what led to the struggles the last two games it would have been fixed. He's fine. Here's what it is. Let's just be honest. Easy to have 20/20 hindsight. Game five he has the highest QB rating in the SEC. We go to game six, he throws three pick-sixes. Put another guy in, he throws an interception. That had not been the M.O. of this team. Not how he played first five games of the season. Go to the next game, he's played very well on the road in past. Was bit of a surprise to I think everybody. Hard to play that position looking over your shoulder all the time, does that makes sense? Lot of other positions you can yank guys in and out. But without confidence it's hard to play quarterback. You kind of want a guy to play himself out of it but it wasn't happening and we made the change. Looking back at it yeah it's easier to say that, but that was the thought process coming in to game six and game seven.
What you need to see on field offensively. More consistency. Move the football. Never really in a rhythm Saturday and really for the second half against Alabama. What is that, a rhythm? Means making first downs. Been a big-play offense a lot of times in years past. Got to shore up protection. We need to throw the ball down field, we drop back, we get sacked. When you're behind that much, it really makes you one dimensional. Got to establish a rhythm offensively in run and pass and really take our shots when we have them instead of just trying to get the ball down field a lot in the opening part of the game. To establish that rhythm we have to run the ball better. If you look back we started off running pretty good. Missed a play to Ricky Seals-Jones where he was wide open, which may have changed things on the road by taking the crowd out of it. Moved the ball down inside the 25 and get a holding call. Get back to the 50 and we have to punt it. Got to establish that rhythm. Comes from plays, things we can handle, but also eliminating penalties that are drive killers.
Offensive line changes and backups to Tra Carson. Tra is a good back. He's not the most explosive back, a wire-to-wire guy. He's a pounder. Guy will get yards. A sure backup we don't have right now. James (White) came in and gave us some carries. Will continue to get healthy which will take some off of Tra, he's been carrying the load. Be some changes not necessarily with personnel in the offensive line. But there will be some changes, a couple things with what we're doing. Maybe we're trying to do too much up front as far as angles and numbers and reads and things like that. Maybe just looking at it our guys are better coming off ball and going straight and doing things that way. Without getting into specifics there will be some things that will change not necessarily from a personnel standpoint but from a schematic standpoint.
Pharoh Cooper. Guy who I think was on coaches All-SEC preseason teams for a few positions. As receiver he's dynamic. As return guy he's dynamic. They will find any way to get the ball to him. Heck of a player. We have to be aware of him defensively but he's also a player that can change the game. A lot like Christian Kirk as a punt return guy and kickoff return guy. Threat to go wire to wire and score anytime he's got his hands on the football.
Skai Moore. All over the field. Leading tackler by a long ways. (Co-defensive coordinator) Jon Hoke has come in, I've known him for long time, really schematically they're a lot different than they were last year. More of a keep it in front of them style. More aggressive last week then they had been across the board. Skai does a great job. Little bit of a tweener. Linebacker that is maybe a little bit undersized, but makes up for it with speed and quickness. Great vision. Attacks the line of scrimmage. Makes a lot of tackles.
What you've seen out of leadership this weekend. We don't practice on Sunday. Got back here 6 a.m. Sunday. Have an accountability council, two guys voted on by every member of his class. Then our captains. Those guys are really the conduit to the team. Really talk openly. Had a great discussion yesterday about where this team is, what the expectations are. It's frustration, and that's healthy. Good to be able to discuss it, not complain about it, be open about it. Then as a coaching staff and with that leadership group here's what we need to do. What's the difference between 14 days ago and today? Real easy to get into the mindset right now or yesterday or Sunday or after the game that this is a bad football team. It is not. What has to be talked about openly and what we discussed is what has happened in these 14 days and what we have to do to change it. Our guys understand it. All starts today, back on the field in full pads. One day at time from here on out. When our guys or coaches left two weeks ago, there was too much big-picture thinking, I'll just put it that way. By everybody. Now after two weeks it's been kind of an eye-opening experience. Now we've got to get back to one-week thinking. And what's important is South Carolina.
Reaction to Steve Spurrier resigning immediately. Guy I've always looked up to and continue to look up to. Heard me say on SEC Now he's kind of the guy who I always wanted to be. Came into SEC, won in this league, threw the football, played defense, won national championships and did it his way. Had a huge impact on me from the outside, getting to know him through Bob (Stoops) and a few other guys. Lot of things that are football related that he brings to the table. Also lot of things from a personal growth standpoint that people won't ever know that he's helped me with. Said it before it will be a long time, maybe never, that one guy will win a Heisman coach a Heisman winner and win a national championship. That's why there are already statues of him.
Differences you've seen with Shawn Elliott in charge. Anytime there's a change, in my experience, it does one of two things. Goes down or goes up. Doesn't stay the same. Some energy in there that Shawn brings. Always been there. Looks to me like Joe Robinson is getting more time with the special teams now. Look a little bit different than they had in the past. More aggressive on special teams. Will be a challenge for us. Look at where they are and what they are doing, as I said before, that coaching staff has to look at it like they are 1-0 now. They're looking to get win number two this week. They will come in here after a bye week. Will be prepared. Still got great coaches on that staff.
JAKE SPAVITAL PRESS CONFERENCE SUMMARY
What Kyle Allen needs to do to win starting battle this week. Has to show more consistency. Take care of the ball. I'm really focusing in on timing, precision, communication, leadership. Not qualities of execution. Just all the 'it' factors in what we're looking for. Need to see more consistency out of Kyle.
Ride with starter Saturday or have a quicker hook. Depends on flow of game. If goes out there and lays an egg obviously we'll put in next guy. Told all three they better be ready to play. Based off what happens we'd go with the next guy.
Jake Hubenak. Done a great job for us ever since he stepped foot on campus. Can operate offense effectively. Can communicate. Can throw the football around. Went out and showed great poise Saturday and executed it cleanly. Thought he did great job for us at Ole Miss.
Your performance personally Saturday. Begins with me. Lot of things we can get better at. Have to do a better job finding easier completions for the quarterbacks. Overall been an up and down ride with this offense. We know we'll get this fixed. Offense is based off rhythm and once we find it it's one of most dangerous in country. Really began the second half of the Mississippi State game. Haven't found that rhythm but that's why we've opened up some positions. Quarterback is getting amplified but it's all positions.
Identity of this offense. Just matter of struggling. Lot of it is confidence. Will get it fixed this week. Will get back after it versus South Carolina.
Kyle physically okay Saturday. We had many talks about that on the sidelines, Coach Sumlin and I. He was fine. Nothing wrong with him. Wasn't all Kyle's fault at the beginning. Protection breakdowns missed assignments, then missed executions by him. Kept with Kyle until we felt we needed a change.
Impressive thing about all 3 QBs. Had great practice yesterday. All three upbeat. Running around. Executing. Best execution in a Monday practice we've had. Looking forward to the outcome.
Incident on sideline with Kyler. We're very close in that quarterback room. Just kind of something that is between the room. I wouldn't look too far into it.
With protection issues, Kyler's mobility might give him leg up in battle. We put him in versus Alabama, there were protection issues there too and sometimes he got out of the pocket and sometimes he didn't. All three quarterbacks bring something to game. Got to play to their strengths when they're in.
Gone through this last year, what gained from that experience. Just have to get back into rhythm. Get confidence back. It's a good offense. Showed signs of it. Focus on first downs each play. Little things will add up for us. Got to get back to work and go from there.
Offensive line this week. I need to see improvement with everyone. We have a left guard we rotate. A true freshman that was going against a very athletic defensive line and they were giving us a lot of different looks. Have to keep gelling together. Know they will. Very confident in what we'll accomplish with this game plan. Everyone across board has to get better and focus on attention to detail.
Emphasis on getting ball to playmakers like Christian Kirk in more creative ways. We try that every week with Christian. They put an emphasis on taking Christian out of game. And put an emphasis on taking Josh (Reynolds) out of game. Were a lot of people bracketing Christian and Josh. When that happens we've got to have others step up and make plays, got to get the run game going and be more efficient.
Appreciate the route Jake Hubenak has taken. No question. Maturity about him, when you talk to him. Been through it all already. Been thru a Division I program that's had success offensively. Then move to junior college and work your way back up to here. Knows highs and lows of what goes on. Knows definition of being a team. Understands that everyone plays a role. Got to commend how he handles situations. Trying to help Kyle, Kyler, the receivers, anyone out when he can.
JOHN CHAVIS PRESS CONFERENCE SUMMARY
Impressed with defense holding off last score as game ended. What you have to do. Way this team has practiced, all way back to spring practice. They want to do well. Want to win. Not going to turn down anything from anyone.
Armani Watts. Played well for us. Both of our safeties have. Glad to look at stat sheet and see he made those plays, but in my room (linebackers) I challenged those guys to make plays. Have to keep ball off safeties. We have to grow up there. Have some fundamental issues we're addressing. Will keep addressing until we get it right. Not an effort thing. We've got guys getting cut. We work cut blocks. No good to the defense if you're on ground. Got things to work out. Hopefully he won't have to make that many tackles in another game. But I'm proud of what he did. Played well.
Battle between Myles Garrett and Laremy Tunsil. Did more than hold his own. Seven tackles, deflected pass. Big holding call. Think Myles did a great job. I'm biased but I think he won most of the battles without any question. Played awful well for us. Proud of him.
South Carolina offense and QB Perry Orth. Honestly we don't know who we're going to see. We know Perry will be the starter. (Lorenzo) Nunez is a different animal. In preparation we need to be ready for both because they're totally different. With open week and not a new staff but new leadership we don't know fully what to expect. Have to prepare for a lot. They can throw the ball. Have good receivers. Nunez can run ball as well as any quarterback in the league. Have to be prepared for both.
Reaction to Spurrier leaving. Obviously a great football coach. One of best in business. Very, very competitive. Hall of fame guy. Hate to see guys that lead the sport leave it, but if he felt like it was time I respect his decision. We had some good battles. Always fun playing against him.
Matter of time before A&M offense can find rhythm. No doubt. No question. We'll keep working. We have issues on defense we will keep working on. We have to do a better job of creating short fields for our offense. But there's no doubt. Seen it already this year. Will get it corrected. I don't worry about it.
South Carolina offensive differences with new leadership. May see a little more two-back. May see more option. Lot of it was the same. But I think they'll be a little more two-back, two-tight ends. But again we have to prepare for it all.
Players Mentioned
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