Head coach Kevin Sumlin, coordinators Jake Spavital and John Chavis and select players met the press on Tuesday at Texas A&M's weekly football press conference inside the Kyle Field Media Center.
A summary of Coach Sumlin's comments are posted below.
Thought our fans did a great job Saturday. Wanted to thank the 12th Man and the team wanted to thank the 12th Man. It was a situation where it was kind of a double jeopardy deal. Forecast not good for Saturday, and early 11:00 game. Friday night we went to bed and the weather was even worse. Great crowd Saturday. Really loud and really affected the game. Will need that again this weekend. Wanted to say thank you. We appreciate that and we don't take that for granted.
Kyler Murray. What was important was it wasn't just about Kyler, it was about the other 10 on the field at the time. We have to remember he hasn't been here very long. First complete game. Now that it's on video people will start to watch, particularly this week with Will Muschamp, who's been around. Now that he has a resume on film where he's more than just running around and being a situational player. We have tendencies now that we'll have to look at. Operated tempo for three quarters effectively. Players did a good job. Kyler's comfortable in that setting. Receivers, when the ball wasn't accurate, made plays. Helped us. Able to run the ball effectively. Doesn't happen without an offensive line that I thought for most part played their best game of year.
Still a competition at quarterback. No. Kyler will start this game.
Moving forward, Jake Hubenak and Kyle Allen. We'll see. They will share reps this week. Based on what happens there we'll see what happens at that position, who the next guy is in the game. Reality was you don't plan on a quarterback's helmet coming off during a series. We yelled we need a quarterback. Think Kyle's helmet was on the bench, Jake was standing close and ran in game for one snap and came back out. Way it's set up Kyler will get a lot of snaps this week, which he needs. We'll figure out at the end of the week where Jake and Kyle are.
Comparing Kyler to Johnny Manziel fair. I don't think it's fair to compare. We never compare quarterbacks. Everyone is their own guy. Because he plays here at A&M that's going to be a comparison. Don't think it's fair, really don't. Each guy has his own skill set. Is little bit different. Idea is to be successful and consistent at position, whatever that is. Two different guys. Whether fair or unfair, that's for you guys to decide. We don't talk to Kyler in terms of anything about Johnny. He's got his own things to deal with this week, a veteran defensive coordinator, another SEC team, he has video now where people can see some strengths and weaknesses. We have to bolster his weaknesses and get the other 10 guys involved to not put the game on his shoulders. That's exactly what happened last week. He was the beneficiary of the other 10 guys on the field playing pretty well. He did good job operationally and he's got talent.
Sliding before hits. That's what he needs to do. He's competitive, a baseball player too. Instinctively, that's who he is. Not the biggest guy in the world. Doesn't need to take a lot of hits. Early in the year you saw that. Also if you get your helmet ripped off, and you have a big scrape across your face, that will wake you up too. Bad things can happen. Thought he was smart and poised to be able to handle that in those situations. Probably could have scored twice if he stuck his head in there but had confidence to get ball down there and run plays.
Preparing Kyler for opponent this week. Every week we go in with a plan. Video on both opponents. Try to get a feel for what you think will happen. Try to get a feel for what may be best for your team. Might not be what's best for your offense to handle. Will try to give him tools necessary for him and our offense to be successful. It's also about the other people on the field and what they can handle. Matchups, things like that. When people think of matchups most start thinking about the perimeter. But in this league matchups are interior. (Carl) Lawson is one of elite players in this league as a pass rusher. Have big guys up front. Have to look at what we are doing how we are doing it across the board. Plan is not just about Kyler but about everyone on the field from a matchup standpoint.
Confidence in Taylor Bertolet. He's been pretty good for the year. We've kicked more field goals this year than we have in the first years. Averaged maybe 11 or 12 field goals over the last three years. Kicked more, kicked him a lot more. He missed one early. Made some big ones for us. We still have a lot of confidence in Taylor. Had a solid year. Everyone was worried if he'd make any field goals but he has made some big ones for us.
Special Teams. Kicking game will be big this week. Inside the numbers, it's amazing. In (Auburn's) games, there have only been 9 kicks returned, 5 kickoff returns out of these 7 or 8 games and 4 punt returns. They have a strong kicker and are fourth nationally in kickoff returns. Strong punter. Strong return game. Inside the numbers that's where the hidden yardage will be in this game. Special teams will be big. Look at their record and they've lost a lot of one-score games, games that can go either way. Special teams have been a big part of keeping them in there. Sean White had his best game last week. Guy we think a lot of. He's warming up just in time for us. They have a lot to play for as do we. Since we've played the visitor has won the game. We've gone over there twice and won, and they came here once and won. Won't be intimidated coming in here. Played very well last week against Ole Miss. We have to be ready to go. Will get their best shot.
Kyler's presence a factor in Tra Carson's good game. Yeah, had something to do with it, putting pressure on the perimeter a little bit. Obviously the touchdown was a factor, pulling it and getting into the end zone. His ability to get to the perimeter certainly didn't hurt us at all. Maybe loosed some things up inside. Auburn sees that all the time in practice. Gus always has been really, really good at running the ball and finding the power running scheme even though it is a spread offense. Attacks both interior and perimeter. They see that in practice and we have to make adjustments ourselves. (Kyler's) ability to get to the perimeter and put pressure on edges certainly didn't hurt us last week.
Offensive weapons, RBs Damian Lewis and Peyton Barber. If you watch auburn, they really want to be a power run team…the backs, the way they're able to handle it with quarterbacks as part of run game, whether it's individually or getting an extra blocker on perimeter. Been very, very effective for them. Once you commit eight or nine guys up there to get that thing stopped big plays come off the play-action. Always have had the guys to do it. Lot of talent on perimeter. Shawn White is a guy like I said we thought a lot of during Elite 11. Not surprised he's come on this year. What hurt us Saturday was we gave up 4 big plays for almost 200 yards. Got to shore up our run defense. Got to eliminate big plays. Keep the ball in front of us. Make them earn everything. Contest balls in passing game. Try and create turnovers. Defense hung in there and created turnovers but we have to eliminate big plays, particularly against an offense like this.
Art to forcing a fumble. We put an emphasis on it, turnover margin, from beginning. Talk about penalties and turnovers every week. In our two losses that's been what's so disappointing. Other games have gone pretty well in those areas. Think our guys understand that. Only had three penalties Saturday and we were +2 in turnover margin. Put a real emphasis on it defensively. Also know that the emphasis of running to ball with purpose means more guys to the football. Even with missed tackles guys are there. But when the ball gets loose more guys are around it to get it. Those are effort plays. That's why I've been pleased with effort. Like a lot of people we go through a turnover circuit. Had an effect in a lot of games positively, and few games negatively. Some guys do it better than others. People say certain guys have a nose for the ball but usually they are just playing harder than everyone else. Not a coincidence. Guys study the tape, know what's happening and play with high-level effort to put them in position to make those types of plays.
Eliminating big plays in run game. Got to get better. Been an issue the last couple of weeks. Take those 4 plays, 180-something yards, that's too much. Got to have a way to do that. Working on that. Communication becomes an important part of what we are doing. Every time we simplify things it gets better for us, but we have to communicate better. We won't tell the crowd to quiet down when we are on defense, we love that crowd. We have to communicate better on defense. Just like when we're on the road we have to communicate better on offense. That's part of football.
Kyler's progress. Going to continue to keep getting better. From what you saw from the Arizona State game until now, you can continue to see he's becoming more and more comfortable operating the offense. Each week based on what we think will give us more success we will put that in the game plan. Kyler is capable of handling that.
Will Muschamp defense. Very physical unit. Playing with lot of energy, emotion. Can tell that comes from Coach Muschamp as well. One of more physical fronts we will see. Very talented defense. Will be a big challenge for us. Think they are lot better than what the stats show. Playing with an edge. Injury bug got them early in year. Think they are back to full health. Expecting a big challenge for us.
Kyler looking more comfortable throwing once he starts running. Don't think so. Will go out and execute offense best we can. Don't think anything phases him. Calm, cool, collected back there.
Called runs vs South Carolina. Probably 3 or 4 of them were. Lot were read-oriented. Kyler is a guy who naturally will run the ball. We always have the quarterback run game packaged in.
Kyler being comfortable. A lot has to do with him being here in summer. Working him each day on reps. Given him plenty of reps throughout camp and the first seven weeks of the season. Operated and communicated game plan very efficiently. Reps will bump up even more with the 1s now.
Comparisons to Johnny Manziel fair. No, I don't think they're fair. Play is similar, but I wouldn't compare them.
Speedy Noil. Healthy now. Dinged up at beginning of season. Can see how gradually reps have increased each game. Have to get back into rhythm of things. Playing with high energy. Good to see him back out there.
Make a point to script in safe throws for Kyler vs South Carolina. Not what you think. Lot was based off how they'd play us. Took us a bit to figure that out. They changed up what they'd shown in previous games. You always have progressions. Kyler sometimes would hit his first read but other times went to second or third read. Handled it well.
Kyler handling the attention. Handled it well. Been great. Attitude and way he's handled situation has been great. Played at a high level. Will need same preparation this week to have a good game vs Auburn.
Tra Carson benefitting having Kyler Murray in backfield and James White back. Having James back is huge. A lot of the success Tra had was based on being fresher in the game. Kyler, the way he plays probably opens up more runs for running backs.
Freedom for Kyler to change things. All the freedom I give every quarterback. He made a few checks in the game, things we discussed throughout week and he saw. Certain looks they gave where he changed play and attacked it and I thought he did great job with that. Has all the freedom to change to whatever he feels comfortable with.
Lean on Coach Chavis to see how he'd stop offense. Kyler only has so much on tape. He's a dynamic thrower as well. I talk to Coach Chavis every week on how he thinks teams will play us. Don't know how Coach Muschamp will play us. Seen teams play running quarterbacks multiple different ways and we have to be ready for all of them.
Christian Kirk. Handling things great. Not a selfish kid. Do anything he can to help team win. Gets so disappointed in himself because he feels he can do more for team. Will naturally see more touches for Christian come (after games that Ricky Seals-Jones and Josh Reynolds have had). Teams will have to figure out a way to defend Ricky and Josh and that will open more touches for Christian.
Midseason QB change challenges. Got to keep it rolling. Not just about the quarterback position, but about the other 10 around him. All have to go out and battle, compete each week and play for each other. Team game.
Always better coming in after a win. Been in the game long enough, you don't take winning for granted. A win is always a good win. Not the way you envisioned it. Saw things that we've got to get better, got to have a sense of urgency about getting them better. Starts with run defense. Not happy with where we are but are working on it. Approach you have to take. Got to go out every day and try and fix problems. Problem is not effort. Unit continues to play and work hard and will continue to get better.
Richard Moore. Getting to point where can do some things. Not ready to do everything. Felt coming into fall camp he was a guy that could make a good contribution. But you have to deal with injuries and him missing time. But he's a talented young man that can certainly help us.
Emphasizing forcing fumbles. Do turnover circuits, but biggest thing is stripping the football. In circuits you teach technique of stripping the football. Go into much detail. This team really is buying in to fact that we need to create turnovers. Easiest and quickest way to get off the field. Got guys buying in and that is contagious. Even though you're drilling it doesn't mean they're going to do it, because lot of thought process goes in to being ready to play snap of football. Would be amazed at some of things they need to see before snap, or during snap. Then they run over and are you going to tackle them, get them to the ground, or try and strip the football. Gotten better. They're buying into it.
Big stops when needed but big plays out of nowhere. Don't think it's physical. We've gone back and looked, can't put finger right on it. If you could, it would be fixed already. Been a multitude of things. A linebacker not in gap. A missed tackle here or there. Didn't miss many but they're very noticeable when they go for long runs. Continuing to grow. Confidence. Knock on wood, we've played our best football in the fourth quarter. We've got to play that kind of football in first and second quarters. If we can do that you start looking at a good defense. Had 4 plays for almost 200 yards. Can't play defense in this league and give up 190 yards on 4 plays.
Reason for 4th quarter success. Biggest thing is as hard as we have played we've been able to turn it up a notch in the fourth quarter. Will battle. Not afraid of that. When backs to wall they seem to play better. Need to start playing that way entire game. It's some adjustments, but it's more credit to the way players play in the fourth quarter.
First time you noticed Donovan Wilson. Saw a little bit of that in spring practice. Defense was a breath of fresh air (in spring) because of the change. Guys got an opportunity, will be a competition on the field. Myles Garrett, you have to earn your positon like anyone else. Donovan saw that opportunity. When there's hope and you see it all of sudden things change for you. Done an incredible job. What we've asked him to do. Results have shown.
Will Muschamp. Biggest thing is his intensity. Certainly tremendous knowledge. Have the opportunity in years we don't play each other where we're sharing information, not on daily or weekly basis or anything like that. Always been impressed with him as long as I can remember. Done a tremendous job. Got great, great respect not only for what he does but how he does it.
Sean White. Very impressed. Able to handle that offense. Done a great job. Has tremendous arm. With the multitude of things they do, for him able to grasp all those concepts and put it all together (is impressive). Seen him improve week to week.
Going up against a Malzahn offense. All about discipline. They do a lot of jobs but ultimately they want to run the football right at you. Want to play physical. When they get you in situations they will use a lot of motion to try and destroy your eye discipline. Eyes have to be disciplined, know where guys are. Can't take your eyes off them because you'll give up big plays.
A summary of Coach Sumlin's comments are posted below.
Thought our fans did a great job Saturday. Wanted to thank the 12th Man and the team wanted to thank the 12th Man. It was a situation where it was kind of a double jeopardy deal. Forecast not good for Saturday, and early 11:00 game. Friday night we went to bed and the weather was even worse. Great crowd Saturday. Really loud and really affected the game. Will need that again this weekend. Wanted to say thank you. We appreciate that and we don't take that for granted.
Kyler Murray. What was important was it wasn't just about Kyler, it was about the other 10 on the field at the time. We have to remember he hasn't been here very long. First complete game. Now that it's on video people will start to watch, particularly this week with Will Muschamp, who's been around. Now that he has a resume on film where he's more than just running around and being a situational player. We have tendencies now that we'll have to look at. Operated tempo for three quarters effectively. Players did a good job. Kyler's comfortable in that setting. Receivers, when the ball wasn't accurate, made plays. Helped us. Able to run the ball effectively. Doesn't happen without an offensive line that I thought for most part played their best game of year.
Still a competition at quarterback. No. Kyler will start this game.
Moving forward, Jake Hubenak and Kyle Allen. We'll see. They will share reps this week. Based on what happens there we'll see what happens at that position, who the next guy is in the game. Reality was you don't plan on a quarterback's helmet coming off during a series. We yelled we need a quarterback. Think Kyle's helmet was on the bench, Jake was standing close and ran in game for one snap and came back out. Way it's set up Kyler will get a lot of snaps this week, which he needs. We'll figure out at the end of the week where Jake and Kyle are.
Comparing Kyler to Johnny Manziel fair. I don't think it's fair to compare. We never compare quarterbacks. Everyone is their own guy. Because he plays here at A&M that's going to be a comparison. Don't think it's fair, really don't. Each guy has his own skill set. Is little bit different. Idea is to be successful and consistent at position, whatever that is. Two different guys. Whether fair or unfair, that's for you guys to decide. We don't talk to Kyler in terms of anything about Johnny. He's got his own things to deal with this week, a veteran defensive coordinator, another SEC team, he has video now where people can see some strengths and weaknesses. We have to bolster his weaknesses and get the other 10 guys involved to not put the game on his shoulders. That's exactly what happened last week. He was the beneficiary of the other 10 guys on the field playing pretty well. He did good job operationally and he's got talent.
Sliding before hits. That's what he needs to do. He's competitive, a baseball player too. Instinctively, that's who he is. Not the biggest guy in the world. Doesn't need to take a lot of hits. Early in the year you saw that. Also if you get your helmet ripped off, and you have a big scrape across your face, that will wake you up too. Bad things can happen. Thought he was smart and poised to be able to handle that in those situations. Probably could have scored twice if he stuck his head in there but had confidence to get ball down there and run plays.
Preparing Kyler for opponent this week. Every week we go in with a plan. Video on both opponents. Try to get a feel for what you think will happen. Try to get a feel for what may be best for your team. Might not be what's best for your offense to handle. Will try to give him tools necessary for him and our offense to be successful. It's also about the other people on the field and what they can handle. Matchups, things like that. When people think of matchups most start thinking about the perimeter. But in this league matchups are interior. (Carl) Lawson is one of elite players in this league as a pass rusher. Have big guys up front. Have to look at what we are doing how we are doing it across the board. Plan is not just about Kyler but about everyone on the field from a matchup standpoint.
Confidence in Taylor Bertolet. He's been pretty good for the year. We've kicked more field goals this year than we have in the first years. Averaged maybe 11 or 12 field goals over the last three years. Kicked more, kicked him a lot more. He missed one early. Made some big ones for us. We still have a lot of confidence in Taylor. Had a solid year. Everyone was worried if he'd make any field goals but he has made some big ones for us.
Special Teams. Kicking game will be big this week. Inside the numbers, it's amazing. In (Auburn's) games, there have only been 9 kicks returned, 5 kickoff returns out of these 7 or 8 games and 4 punt returns. They have a strong kicker and are fourth nationally in kickoff returns. Strong punter. Strong return game. Inside the numbers that's where the hidden yardage will be in this game. Special teams will be big. Look at their record and they've lost a lot of one-score games, games that can go either way. Special teams have been a big part of keeping them in there. Sean White had his best game last week. Guy we think a lot of. He's warming up just in time for us. They have a lot to play for as do we. Since we've played the visitor has won the game. We've gone over there twice and won, and they came here once and won. Won't be intimidated coming in here. Played very well last week against Ole Miss. We have to be ready to go. Will get their best shot.
Kyler's presence a factor in Tra Carson's good game. Yeah, had something to do with it, putting pressure on the perimeter a little bit. Obviously the touchdown was a factor, pulling it and getting into the end zone. His ability to get to the perimeter certainly didn't hurt us at all. Maybe loosed some things up inside. Auburn sees that all the time in practice. Gus always has been really, really good at running the ball and finding the power running scheme even though it is a spread offense. Attacks both interior and perimeter. They see that in practice and we have to make adjustments ourselves. (Kyler's) ability to get to the perimeter and put pressure on edges certainly didn't hurt us last week.
Offensive weapons, RBs Damian Lewis and Peyton Barber. If you watch auburn, they really want to be a power run team…the backs, the way they're able to handle it with quarterbacks as part of run game, whether it's individually or getting an extra blocker on perimeter. Been very, very effective for them. Once you commit eight or nine guys up there to get that thing stopped big plays come off the play-action. Always have had the guys to do it. Lot of talent on perimeter. Shawn White is a guy like I said we thought a lot of during Elite 11. Not surprised he's come on this year. What hurt us Saturday was we gave up 4 big plays for almost 200 yards. Got to shore up our run defense. Got to eliminate big plays. Keep the ball in front of us. Make them earn everything. Contest balls in passing game. Try and create turnovers. Defense hung in there and created turnovers but we have to eliminate big plays, particularly against an offense like this.
Art to forcing a fumble. We put an emphasis on it, turnover margin, from beginning. Talk about penalties and turnovers every week. In our two losses that's been what's so disappointing. Other games have gone pretty well in those areas. Think our guys understand that. Only had three penalties Saturday and we were +2 in turnover margin. Put a real emphasis on it defensively. Also know that the emphasis of running to ball with purpose means more guys to the football. Even with missed tackles guys are there. But when the ball gets loose more guys are around it to get it. Those are effort plays. That's why I've been pleased with effort. Like a lot of people we go through a turnover circuit. Had an effect in a lot of games positively, and few games negatively. Some guys do it better than others. People say certain guys have a nose for the ball but usually they are just playing harder than everyone else. Not a coincidence. Guys study the tape, know what's happening and play with high-level effort to put them in position to make those types of plays.
Eliminating big plays in run game. Got to get better. Been an issue the last couple of weeks. Take those 4 plays, 180-something yards, that's too much. Got to have a way to do that. Working on that. Communication becomes an important part of what we are doing. Every time we simplify things it gets better for us, but we have to communicate better. We won't tell the crowd to quiet down when we are on defense, we love that crowd. We have to communicate better on defense. Just like when we're on the road we have to communicate better on offense. That's part of football.
JAKE SPAVITAL PRESS CONFERENCE SUMMARY
Kyler's progress. Going to continue to keep getting better. From what you saw from the Arizona State game until now, you can continue to see he's becoming more and more comfortable operating the offense. Each week based on what we think will give us more success we will put that in the game plan. Kyler is capable of handling that.
Will Muschamp defense. Very physical unit. Playing with lot of energy, emotion. Can tell that comes from Coach Muschamp as well. One of more physical fronts we will see. Very talented defense. Will be a big challenge for us. Think they are lot better than what the stats show. Playing with an edge. Injury bug got them early in year. Think they are back to full health. Expecting a big challenge for us.
Kyler looking more comfortable throwing once he starts running. Don't think so. Will go out and execute offense best we can. Don't think anything phases him. Calm, cool, collected back there.
Called runs vs South Carolina. Probably 3 or 4 of them were. Lot were read-oriented. Kyler is a guy who naturally will run the ball. We always have the quarterback run game packaged in.
Kyler being comfortable. A lot has to do with him being here in summer. Working him each day on reps. Given him plenty of reps throughout camp and the first seven weeks of the season. Operated and communicated game plan very efficiently. Reps will bump up even more with the 1s now.
Comparisons to Johnny Manziel fair. No, I don't think they're fair. Play is similar, but I wouldn't compare them.
Speedy Noil. Healthy now. Dinged up at beginning of season. Can see how gradually reps have increased each game. Have to get back into rhythm of things. Playing with high energy. Good to see him back out there.
Make a point to script in safe throws for Kyler vs South Carolina. Not what you think. Lot was based off how they'd play us. Took us a bit to figure that out. They changed up what they'd shown in previous games. You always have progressions. Kyler sometimes would hit his first read but other times went to second or third read. Handled it well.
Kyler handling the attention. Handled it well. Been great. Attitude and way he's handled situation has been great. Played at a high level. Will need same preparation this week to have a good game vs Auburn.
Tra Carson benefitting having Kyler Murray in backfield and James White back. Having James back is huge. A lot of the success Tra had was based on being fresher in the game. Kyler, the way he plays probably opens up more runs for running backs.
Freedom for Kyler to change things. All the freedom I give every quarterback. He made a few checks in the game, things we discussed throughout week and he saw. Certain looks they gave where he changed play and attacked it and I thought he did great job with that. Has all the freedom to change to whatever he feels comfortable with.
Lean on Coach Chavis to see how he'd stop offense. Kyler only has so much on tape. He's a dynamic thrower as well. I talk to Coach Chavis every week on how he thinks teams will play us. Don't know how Coach Muschamp will play us. Seen teams play running quarterbacks multiple different ways and we have to be ready for all of them.
Christian Kirk. Handling things great. Not a selfish kid. Do anything he can to help team win. Gets so disappointed in himself because he feels he can do more for team. Will naturally see more touches for Christian come (after games that Ricky Seals-Jones and Josh Reynolds have had). Teams will have to figure out a way to defend Ricky and Josh and that will open more touches for Christian.
Midseason QB change challenges. Got to keep it rolling. Not just about the quarterback position, but about the other 10 around him. All have to go out and battle, compete each week and play for each other. Team game.
Always better coming in after a win. Been in the game long enough, you don't take winning for granted. A win is always a good win. Not the way you envisioned it. Saw things that we've got to get better, got to have a sense of urgency about getting them better. Starts with run defense. Not happy with where we are but are working on it. Approach you have to take. Got to go out every day and try and fix problems. Problem is not effort. Unit continues to play and work hard and will continue to get better.
Richard Moore. Getting to point where can do some things. Not ready to do everything. Felt coming into fall camp he was a guy that could make a good contribution. But you have to deal with injuries and him missing time. But he's a talented young man that can certainly help us.
Emphasizing forcing fumbles. Do turnover circuits, but biggest thing is stripping the football. In circuits you teach technique of stripping the football. Go into much detail. This team really is buying in to fact that we need to create turnovers. Easiest and quickest way to get off the field. Got guys buying in and that is contagious. Even though you're drilling it doesn't mean they're going to do it, because lot of thought process goes in to being ready to play snap of football. Would be amazed at some of things they need to see before snap, or during snap. Then they run over and are you going to tackle them, get them to the ground, or try and strip the football. Gotten better. They're buying into it.
Big stops when needed but big plays out of nowhere. Don't think it's physical. We've gone back and looked, can't put finger right on it. If you could, it would be fixed already. Been a multitude of things. A linebacker not in gap. A missed tackle here or there. Didn't miss many but they're very noticeable when they go for long runs. Continuing to grow. Confidence. Knock on wood, we've played our best football in the fourth quarter. We've got to play that kind of football in first and second quarters. If we can do that you start looking at a good defense. Had 4 plays for almost 200 yards. Can't play defense in this league and give up 190 yards on 4 plays.
Reason for 4th quarter success. Biggest thing is as hard as we have played we've been able to turn it up a notch in the fourth quarter. Will battle. Not afraid of that. When backs to wall they seem to play better. Need to start playing that way entire game. It's some adjustments, but it's more credit to the way players play in the fourth quarter.
First time you noticed Donovan Wilson. Saw a little bit of that in spring practice. Defense was a breath of fresh air (in spring) because of the change. Guys got an opportunity, will be a competition on the field. Myles Garrett, you have to earn your positon like anyone else. Donovan saw that opportunity. When there's hope and you see it all of sudden things change for you. Done an incredible job. What we've asked him to do. Results have shown.
Will Muschamp. Biggest thing is his intensity. Certainly tremendous knowledge. Have the opportunity in years we don't play each other where we're sharing information, not on daily or weekly basis or anything like that. Always been impressed with him as long as I can remember. Done a tremendous job. Got great, great respect not only for what he does but how he does it.
Sean White. Very impressed. Able to handle that offense. Done a great job. Has tremendous arm. With the multitude of things they do, for him able to grasp all those concepts and put it all together (is impressive). Seen him improve week to week.
Going up against a Malzahn offense. All about discipline. They do a lot of jobs but ultimately they want to run the football right at you. Want to play physical. When they get you in situations they will use a lot of motion to try and destroy your eye discipline. Eyes have to be disciplined, know where guys are. Can't take your eyes off them because you'll give up big plays.
Watch: @daeshonhall at weekly press conference #AUBvsTAMU #12thMan https://t.co/AbTB1qrggE
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