Kevin Sumlin, coordinators Jake Spavital and Mark Snyder, and select players met with the media Tuesday at Texas A&M's weekly football press conference inside Kyle Field.
Audio and video clips will be available to the left throughout the afternoon. Quotes will be posted below.
HEAD COACH KEVIN SUMLIN
“I thought last week was a great experience for our team. We were able to get through Saturday without Mike Matthews playing center, and playing Jordan Mastrogiovanni a little bit in the first quarter. (We) held Ivan Robinson. (We) got great experience for our young players. For us to operate the way we did offensively, averaging 9 to 10 yards a play, and defensively to have our young guys come out particularly up front play very well…to get some of the young guys the experience they needed, I think that's something we needed to do as we make this run through the SEC. We have a number of players that needed to show they can handle any kind of situation. We got Shaan Washington back, and for him to have a couple of sacks and play in the manner that he played, that's important going into this week. Defensive depth is something we've talked about and tried to address here. There were a lot of positives out of (Saturday). We got to play about everybody and had only one significant injury, and that was Alex Sezer with a twisted ankle.”
Walk us through the challenges that Arkansas' run game will present…
“It's the same challenge that Arkansas' run game presents everybody. They are the number one rushing team in the country. I think we're the top two scoring teams in the league, two of the top three in the country, really with two contrasting styles. They have two fantastic running backs. The point total is interesting to me based on who they played. You can run the ball the way they run it, but I think where they've really improved is quarterback play. Keon Hatcher is a threat on the outside. He can loosen you up. I saw a stat the other day in their press release where if their offensive line was in the NFL they'd be biggest in the league. They are big guys. They run behind them and they create a lot of problems for you from a passing standpoint. We talk about their running backs, who are tremendous players, but I think Brandon Allen has really improved as a passer. You can't score that many points running the ball all the time. They've created big plays out of their run game. They also lead the country in kickoff returns. They're running the ball really well and the play action game has become a big deal. They are a much improved football team over last year. I would argue they should be ranked. Their one loss was to a top-5 opponent. They went on the road and beat a Big 12 opponent by three touchdowns. Then they come home and beat Northern Illinois, who has been playing pretty good football. I would argue they should be a top-25 team.
“We're in the SEC West now. We're going to have to be at our best Saturday afternoon to win this game. I don't think that's going to change for the rest of this year.”
Two status checks…Speedy (Noil) and Cam (Clear)…
“Cam played last week, and we'll see about Speedy.”
You mentioned the size of the offensive line…is it just the size of the offensive line or is it technique why they run the ball so well?
“It's what they do. It's what you spend time doing. I've said there are a million ways to skin a cat. There's no arguing they are very, very good at what they do. It was Bret's deal when he was at Wisconsin and he's stuck to his guns on that. That's what you believe in. When you're good at something you understand not only how to do it but the problems that come along with it and how to rectify those. There's no doubt they believe in their system. They might have taken their lumps last year but it is evident right now they're a very confident football team, and they should be based on way they've played.”
Are there any other defensive players you're waiting to see break out?
“We'd like for any defensive player to break out (like Myles and Shaan). I don't care who it is. We've got a couple guys that have potential. You never know. Shaan Washington I think has been overlooked. Just the fact last week that he came back and played the way he played shows that he's got the potential to be one of those guys. We've got a number of guys like that but until that really happens you don't know. We're getting better, but we'll see where we are after Saturday. It's a big test for us, particularly up front in our front seven. We'll see where we are as defensive front and as a team.”
Talk about the depth of the wide receiving corps and how that's helped Kenny Hill settle in…
“I think we've completed balls to 14 or 15 guys, from highly-recruited guys to a guy named Boone Niederhofer who no one knew who he was until last week. We have confidence in those guys. We've got plenty of guys that play here. The best players play here. We rotate through that. You have guys like Boone, guys like Malcome (Kennedy) who has been here forever. Travis Labhart is another guy…he was practicing against the women's basketball team, and the next thing you know he's got a pro tryout. We've got confidence in what we do and how we train our receivers. They earn that kind of confidence in practice. Guys like Boone and Jeremy Tabuyo--guys like that who had big games last week--they earned that respect in practice and in games. If we stay healthy we can be pretty good at that position. That's what that rotation is all about.”
Everyone in the SEC West is ranked except Arkansas, who you say should be ranked. How do you work through the depth of this division?
“You truly have to be one week at a time. You play every week and you try and get through it. First of all you try and win and then you try and stay healthy. That's the truth. We've got a number of capable teams, which you've seen step outside our league and play very well. Within the league some people have been surprised by that, some people haven't. I think the focus for us is on us. Every opponent we have in our league is capable of winning a lot of games and beating you. You can't look past what's going on this week. Your preparation is more about you and this particular week than it is for the whole season. What we've tried to do here is approach the whole season in the offseason through recruiting and through player development. You get into the season, you go week to week. Yeah, we look at the whole schedule before the season starts, but then once you get into it you can't. You just can't, because of the real potential and strength of these teams you're going to play.”
Has having to play a big conference game so early the last few years gotten you ready for going through the gauntlet?
“People I think have forgotten about that. You hear a lot of talk about us not playing anybody. I think they've forgotten about the first week. You're only as good as your recent week and we get that. Our focus has to be on what's coming up this week. You can't be focused on the big picture. You just can't. There's no use feeling sorry for yourself. Every week is big for a lot of folks. The great thing we talk about here is it's a privilege to be playing I think at the highest level you can in college football…the expectations, the venues, the national exposure…because the games are big and something is at stake every week. A lot of people can say that, but it's really not true. In this league, particularly in the west, you've seen teams make dramatic improvements and we're about to see that this weekend.”
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR MARK SNYDER
You are facing the number one rushing offense in the SEC…what's your plan of attack?
“We've been working on this for quite a while. We worked on it through spring and through fall camp. We had a couple of weeks (of it) getting ready for South Carolina. Some of that recall has to come back for some of our guys. This won't be the first offense we face who likes to run the ball. They're awfully good. Bret knows what he's doing. I spent 10 years in the Big Ten going against Coach Alvarez, that's where he got it from. We've got to build a wall and stop them.”
Talk about the depth of the defensive line and how that may help this weekend…
“I watched last year's game. Alonzo (Williams), (Julien) Obioha, Gavin (Stansbury) played about the whole game. That's rough duty when you have guys that big laying on you the entire game. I think our depth will help us some. We've got a nice rotation going. It's going to be interesting to see how we stack up.”
Evaluate Shaan Washington's effort Saturday….
“Shaan is still a work in progress. We moved him positions. (We had him) a little more spread out Saturday. We played to his strengths. Inside is different than playing outside. There's still work to do there but I think what he brings to the table is a very physical presence. These guys are good. Two of them are very big. (Shaan) will bring some strength inside for us.”
On Arkansas' quarterback play and their offensive scheme…
“They run that offense so well. Most of their passing game is not real scientific. He's delivering the ball and he's got a really good tight end. (TE) Hunter Henry is not getting enough credit. Brandon (Allen) is delivering ball to those guys.
“Arkansas is going to make you defend the run and try and go over the top. They will try and beat you with the deep balls and keep the chains moving with the intermediate passing game. It's no secret what you're going to see Saturday. All 11 guys will have to tackle. That's the bottom line.”
What's your confidence level in some of the younger defensive linemen going into Saturday?
“It's going to be interesting. It's fun to watch these guys play. We'll know a lot more come Saturday, because they are going to have to play.”
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR JAKE SPAVITAL
What does a guy like Malcome Kennedy mean to this offense and this wide receiving corps?
“Going into the season he was guy who has played big games and made big catches. But I leaned on him (in the offseason) to be a vocal leader. He's very important to this team and the direction we're going.”
Is it harder to prepare for Arkansas with all the defensive injuries?
“A little bit. They came out and played Texas Tech a little bit differently. The scheme stays the same it just comes down to personnel. We have to get a feel for that the first few drives of the game and we'll have to attack it from there. The scheme will stay the same though.”
How much does it really help you that they've played Texas Tech, with Kliff Kingsbury there?
“It does here and there. Obviously the personnel is different. Kliff (Kingsbury)…I grew up with that guy in this tree, and it's good to get some ideas from him and what we may need to attack. We do have different personnel than (Texas Tech) but his insight is always helpful.”
After four games what are the biggest unknowns for your offense and especially Kenny Hill?
“We're starting conference play again. We've got to stay healthy from here on out. The first four games were more of just figuring out who will step up and who we are as an offense. Going into this week I think you have to build a lot of packages, everything you can imagine. We'll have to throw it all out there and whoever is on, we have to lean on that package.”
You've started quickly most games. Are you big on scripting plays coming out? To what do you attribute your quick starts?
“I try and script the first three plays of the game. That's not very many, but a lot of things can happen those first few. I try and get as multiple as I can in the first few drives just to see how teams will play you. You try and script for success because you want to start fast. It's very important to utilize each drive and try and get points out of each drive.”
Talk about the value of having such a deep group of receivers…has that helped Kenny's development?
“It definitely has. We have 10 to 12 out there who consistently make catches. That's good especially with injuries. Boone went in and did a great job for us. Over the past three games it's been good for Kenny to build continuity with each kid and understanding what they do best and which routes they run best. If you have confidence in the backups you can keep the offense moving consistently and not have to target specific receivers.”
Kyle Allen got a whole half of play Saturday. What did you think of what he showed?
“I thought Kyle did well. He operated the offense pretty well. At that point in the game we did utilize the run game more. From his standpoint I thought he was good in how he managed the game. What people don't realize is SMU was a mentally challenging game for those quarterbacks. He did a great job switching checks and getting the ball to the perimeter when he needed to. I thought he got better.”