Photo by: Jack Coil/Texas A&M Athletics
Mike Elko Press Conference Quotes: Florida
Oct 06, 2025 | Football
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION--Texas A&M football coach Mike Elko met with the media on Monday in his latest weekly press conference.
The fifth-ranked Aggies (5-0, 2-0) close out a three-game homestand when they host Florida (2-3, 1-1) under the lights. Kickoff on ESPN is set for 6 p.m. Fans can also listen to the game along the Texas A&M Sports Network (1620 AM/94.5 FM locally) or worldwide inside the 12th Man Mobile App or at 12thman.com.
Opening Statement
"I just want to start by recognizing a big event Wednesday night. We've got a top-10 women's volleyball game going on over in Reed Arena. Congratulations to Coach Morrison on the start that the girls have gotten off to, and anybody who can get out and support them, they've got Kentucky coming into town. ?That'll be a great game for them. We'll be watching, we always do at the radio show. It's kind of a radio show ritual to watch the A&M women's volleyball game on TV. ?But please get out to Reed and give them some support.
"I want to recognize the 1975 team. This is a throwback jersey game for us, and we'll be recognizing the 1975 team. They were the Southwest Conference champions. They reached as high as No. 2 in the polls that year, and produced 10 NFL draft picks, which is still the largest number in any given year for Texas A&M football. And so it'd be great to get as many of those guys as we can back on campus. It's always great when we get former teams back on campus as we kind of continue to try to build this Aggie football family to be an all-inclusive thing.
"Looking back at the game the other night, starting with our players of the game. From a scout team perspective this week, offensively it was Josh Moses. Defensively it was Deyjhon Pettaway. And on special teams it was Johnny Ryder. Our defensive lineman of the week was Cashius Howell. He had three sacks, and so again another very disruptive, productive night for him getting after the quarterback. Our offensive player of the week was Rueben Owens. It was great to see him really kind of hit his stride, 21 carries for 142 yards. Really did a nice job consistently running the football the way we would like to see him do it. And obviously he has home-run ability. Really big night for him. The defensive player of the week goes to Daymion Sanford. Daymion had nine tackles, two TFLs, one sack and one interception. So when you talk about filling a stat book. that's kind of what that feels like. Daymion was the co-SEC Defensive Player of the Week this week. Cashius was the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week this week. It was nice to see our defensive kids get some recognition. And then our special teams player of the week was KC Concepcion for continuing to do a really good job back there returning punts.
"I think as we looked at the game…the iPads make it a little bit easier because you have a little bit clearer view when you come in after the game of what actually happened. But again, I think defensively we played really well start to finish. I think we gave them one drive early. Outside of that we really did a good job of executing what we were trying to get accomplished. Holding them to a field goal on the one drive I thought was big also. That's one of the things that we really emphasize when we play those teams, trying to make sure that when they do move the ball that you can limit them to field goals. Our drive efficiency was 10 out of 12 which is really good for the evening. Offensively it was interesting, because we were efficient driving the football nine out of 12 times. I think the game changes a little bit because we don't convert the 4th-and-1, which we come away from with zero points. And then we throw the interception in the first half, and we come away with zero points. I think those two drives coming away empty obviously were huge killers for us in terms of trying to build some early momentum, some early points. I thought we came out in the second half and got into a much better rhythm. We were able to finish drives with touchdowns. Three straight drives through the end of the third quarter into the fourth we were able to score and that gave us a chance to pull away and win that one kind of going away. So it was a good night. It was a good night for us, taking the next step forward.
"Now obviously we have an enormous challenge this week with Florida coming in. I think Florida's by far and away the most talented team that we've played this year. They've got an excellent group of players. They've played a very competitive schedule. They've played in two top-10 road environments already, so they're going to be well-versed in what this is like and what it's going to be like coming into Kyle Field. Coming off of a huge top-10 win last weekend, so they'll be full of confidence and certainly very excited to come in here and give us their best shot. We're looking forward to the challenge and we'll be excited to get back under the lights in Kyle Field."
You guys have shown the ability to win a shootout, a grindout game, physicality. How much of that is the in-game chess piece, or is it some of the stuff leading into the week for the game prep?
"Yeah, probably a little bit of both. I think when you go into a game, you kind of have a feeling for where the advantages are, what the game is going to look like, what success potentially is going to look like. Sometimes success is going to look like we're going to have to make an awful lot of stops on defense because their defense is really good and we have an advantage with our defense. Sometimes it's the other way, where we're going to have to score a lot of points because the matchup with their offense and our defense maybe isn't ideal. And then I think sometimes you go into a game and it starts going a certain way and you have to adjust. And I think that's one of the things we try to do really well. You get these analytics books off of a certain score projection, but the game doesn't always go that way. And so I chuckle sometimes when people stick to the books, because sometimes in game the actual percentages and the probabilities are not the same as what maybe you thought they would be going into it. So we try to adjust as best we can on the fly to kind of marry game flow and what's happening with the choices and decisions we make."
What assessments do you have of DJ Lagway so far?
"DJ's obviously a kid that we've known. Tried very hard to get him here. An extremely talented quarterback. I think, again, media narratives to me are so funny. I think he's playing so much better. I think he's made a lot of growth and taken a lot of strides. You see him very, very comfortable back there. And so, yeah, I think he's playing at a really, really high level. He's a really talented kid."
What's been maybe the key to some of the offensive success in the red zone and how much of that maybe goes back to that kind of 'finish' mantra y'all have had this year?
"I think finish for sure, that's a big part of it. Our ability to run the ball I think helps. That makes it easier. Our ability then to create some separation in the one-on-one matchups that you get because you can run the ball. And then I just think, again, you emphasize things and you get some and you don't get some, but we do put such a tremendous emphasis in it. I don't think there's a lot of teams that go out on Monday and spend 10 minutes working third downs inside the 10-yard line. I don't know that that's normal. We do, and that's just because of the premium of those plays. We throw the touchdown to KC on a 3rd-and-goal…the difference between that touchdown and a 14-3 lead, and that becoming a field-goal drive and a 10-3 lead, is so enormous in terms of how the game plays out. We try to really focus on that area of the field and it's been good to us so far this year."
Marcel made his first start against Florida last year and had a pretty successful game. Just what do you think maybe getting off on the right foot and having a game like that did for his confidence and mental fortitude?
"Listen, that wasn't an easy situation. And I think not a lot of people wanted to give us a ton of credit for that win last year. But that was a big win. And that turned out to be a really good Florida team. That is not an easy place to play. I think you've seen results since that game speak to how hard it is to go play in The Swamp. And so for Marcel to go in there as a first-time starter, play the way he did, win the game the way we did…yeah. I think that brought a lot of confidence into him and then to into us as a team in terms of what we can do. Now having said all of that, none of that helps us this year. If we don't focus and do the work and preparation we need to get ready to go this year, none of that will matter."
As you started to dive into Florida and their offense, what really stood out to you the most about them and the way they were able to pass the ball this last weekend against Texas?
"I don't really know that I looked at it like that. I didn't just watch one game, so I don't know that I have a great feel for that question. I think they're really physical. I think they have really talented pieces on the outside. They create a lot of stress on you in terms of how you commit numbers to the run versus commit numbers to coverage. And they're able to kind of take advantage of you in a lot of different ways. So I would say they just present a lot of challenges to you in terms of defending them."
How much do you think your increased involvement with the defense, and maybe in what ways, has it helped the defense so far?
"Probably not as much as you guys want to give it credit for. I think we've got a tremendous defensive staff. I think Jay does a phenomenal job. Bringing Lyle in has just added another experienced person to kind of help with it all. Those guys are doing a phenomenal job of coaching the group. Everybody wants to try to make narratives, but it is what it is. I think those guys are phenomenal coaches."
I was just gonna ask about Nate (Boerkircher)…how does one even figure out that he can run the ball like that? And what led to you guys making that decision to make him that situational guy?
"Obviously we challenged ourselves a lot this off season to kind of do some studies on how people run the ball, what people do to effectively run the ball in short-yardage situations. I love Marcel, but he's not a 215-pound, 225-pound quarterback. And so that kind of takes the quarterback sneak out of our equation a little bit. So maybe just some different creative ways to get some bigger guys in there that can kind of get into the wedge a little bit off of some misdirection is maybe where that came from."
We've seen the run game get going really well over the last few games. How pleased are you with the execution of your offensive line?
"I think really good. The challenge that I laid out to them was stop having those two plays a game that send us backwards, whether it's a penalty or a critical mistake. It's why we didn't have an offensive lineman of the week this week. Each kid graded out really well. I think each kid had a really solid game. I think we created movement. We obviously ran the ball really well. I thought we protected Marcel really well. But we have high expectations for that group, and let's get rid of the two plays that each one of them had that make you pull your hair out. And I think if we can do that, there's probably still another level that we can get to with them and offensively."
And we've seen Cashius Howell have so much success on the field this year. How have you seen him take steps as a leader on that defensive line?
"He's a personality guy, so he's got a really electric personality…Kids decide to come back for that last year of school and some handle it a lot of different ways. Some guys come back and they kind of go into coast mode. I've been here, done that. I've been through the offseason before. They maybe don't take the work ethic or the practice habits to the level you would like to see. He was the exact opposite. He has done this thing as well and as good as you could ever hope for a kid. He's changed his body. He put in a ton of work with Coach Moffitt. He's practicing better. He's preparing better. And I think the players see that. As much as it is some of the conversations that he has from a leadership standpoint, I think it's also an ability to point to him and say, hey, look at him. Here's a kid who was under recruited, started at Bowling Green, and look at what he's worked himself into becoming. He's just a testimony to how he's gone about his business, and I think that in its own way creates leadership value."
As you look back and evaluate Marcel over these five games, what have you been impressed by the most and where would you say that you look for continued growth the most?
"Obviously I think you see a much more mature quarterback in his ability to sit in the pocket and deliver the football. He would tell you himself, I think, that last year at times he was too quick to run. He wasn't 100% confident progression-wise, where his eyes needed to go. He knew he was really athletic and at times maybe he would rely on that too quickly. When you watch him play now, I'm not even really sure that you could evaluate him as a runner. He does not run a ton. He's doing a lot of his work from the pocket which I think is really important for us to grow as an offense, but also for him from a health standpoint and everything that goes along with that. And then the growth is maybe starting a little bit cleaner--he still gets a little bit anxious in the beginning of games, and that's where you see kind of most of his inaccuracies--and connecting on some of the deep balls a little bit more consistently."
What can you say about Daymion Sanford's improvement heading into the season along with the past few games, especially in the absence of Scooby Williams?
"Daymion has stepped up and played two really, really big games for us as a starter the last two weeks. He also played a really big second half for us on the road at Notre Dame. He's a kid that we have a lot of confidence in. I told the guys this this morning. It's not lost on me that our two players of the week this week weren't necessarily starters game one. When you talk about what it really takes to build a program, to build a program that can go the distance in this conference week in and week out, you need a lot of kids to be bought in. You're going to need a lot of kids to be able to come in and have success. Fortunately, Daymion was a kid who was ready when his number was called. That won't be the last time that story comes up, and we're going to need to have guys who are capable of answering the bell."
Taurean York is close to 200 tackles. What is it going to mean to you to see him reach that plateau when he reaches it?
"I didn't even know that. That's good information for me. It's a really cool milestone for him. I'm hopeful that I'm around to see him get to 300, to be honest with you. I think that's what he's capable of. He's getting really comfortable out there in the system. He's doing a phenomenal job operating and I think he's doing a really, really good job with what we're asking of him."
What have you tried to do with Le'Veon Moss, with the upset stomach, the nervous stomach? What kind of precautions do you try to take, or is it just something that you will have to continue to live with?
"Yeah, it's just something we're working through with him. I don't know that there's a ton of precautions. I don't know that there's a lot of medicine for it. We're just kind of working with him on something that he's fighting through."
I was wondering if you could speak about the Florida offensive line. Defensively, I think most folks who watched thought they'd be pretty good defensively. As you watch their offensive line, what stands out for them?
"They've got four of five starters back from last year. They're a really talented group. They were a really talented group last year. They've got multiple NFL draft prospects on the line. I think their left tackle is probably one of, if not, the best tackles in the conference. So they're a really, really talented group."
Five games into the season, this team's approach to each game…when you look back to last year, do they have a better eye for detail? Did they build on that last year? What about this team's characteristics preparing for each game?
"I think we'll see a little bit, to be honest with you. I mean at this point last year, things were going really well too. We were in the middle of a seven-game winning streak and we were playing consistent…so we'll see. We'll see what this team can do better as we move forward."
Piggybacking off some of the linebacker play, they've been so effective in the blitzing and getting sacks. Getting that kind of pressure from that group, then, what does it do for the defensive unit as a whole?
"I think TFLs are a big part of it. I think if you look at, you know, a lot of people have talked about our 3rd-down success the last two weeks. I think, you know, one of the hidden stats in there is 3rd-down distance. Our ability to create some negative plays on 1st- and 2nd-down, our ability to create some sacks or some pressures or some tackles for loss in the run game puts people behind the sticks and forces them into tougher 3rd-down situations. As much as we've been good on third down the last two games, I also think a large part of our success is we've been very much in advantageous 3rd-down situations. Daymion Sanford early in the game…they get a first down, he gets a sack. And now all of a sudden it's 2nd-and-16. Second drive comes out, he gets on a blitz and he gets a TFL and it's 2nd-and-16. Those things are hard to overcome as an offense. Some of that is what you're trying to create on defense. And when you have kids who have the ability to do that, obviously it gives you a chance. A team goes 1st-and-10, 2nd-and-6, 3rd-and-2…your 3rd-down percentage is not going to nearly be what it's been for us."
You talk so much about finishing, especially with last year's team. How have you seen the players grow in their ability to finish out these games?
"I just think they're becoming more and more confident. We talk about this a lot. It's an empowering feeling to know that you have control of the outcome of things. It's also a very nervous feeling when you're not sure if you do. When I can do my absolute best, and it might not actually work out for me, is a really scary place to live. And I think one of the mindsets that we've really tried to instill in them, and I think they're starting to understand and embrace is, you control this. How you play, how you prepare, you ultimately can put in the work. You ultimately can play the game at a level that will make you unstoppable. And I think they're starting to believe that that's real. And the more that belief comes, the more invested they become, the more work they put in, the more they're able to finish. Because they just have confidence that no matter how it goes they're going to find a way at the end to get the job done. And I think that's what separates really great teams from average ones."
How has an improvement from the cornerback duo of Dezz Ricks and Will Lee allowed the front seven to get so much pressure?
"When you have when you have confidence in that group to be able to play man to man--and let's not lose sight of what we're able to do with Tyreek Chappelle at the nickel spot too, because we talked about how big of a deal that was when he went down last year--and then even the edition of Jordan Shaw, who stepped in the other night and played really well. When you feel as though you're not worried about that group you can maybe be a little bit more aggressive at times or you can put those guys in a little bit more isolation at times. And that always helps what you can dial up and what you can create."
The fifth-ranked Aggies (5-0, 2-0) close out a three-game homestand when they host Florida (2-3, 1-1) under the lights. Kickoff on ESPN is set for 6 p.m. Fans can also listen to the game along the Texas A&M Sports Network (1620 AM/94.5 FM locally) or worldwide inside the 12th Man Mobile App or at 12thman.com.
Opening Statement
"I just want to start by recognizing a big event Wednesday night. We've got a top-10 women's volleyball game going on over in Reed Arena. Congratulations to Coach Morrison on the start that the girls have gotten off to, and anybody who can get out and support them, they've got Kentucky coming into town. ?That'll be a great game for them. We'll be watching, we always do at the radio show. It's kind of a radio show ritual to watch the A&M women's volleyball game on TV. ?But please get out to Reed and give them some support.
"I want to recognize the 1975 team. This is a throwback jersey game for us, and we'll be recognizing the 1975 team. They were the Southwest Conference champions. They reached as high as No. 2 in the polls that year, and produced 10 NFL draft picks, which is still the largest number in any given year for Texas A&M football. And so it'd be great to get as many of those guys as we can back on campus. It's always great when we get former teams back on campus as we kind of continue to try to build this Aggie football family to be an all-inclusive thing.
"Looking back at the game the other night, starting with our players of the game. From a scout team perspective this week, offensively it was Josh Moses. Defensively it was Deyjhon Pettaway. And on special teams it was Johnny Ryder. Our defensive lineman of the week was Cashius Howell. He had three sacks, and so again another very disruptive, productive night for him getting after the quarterback. Our offensive player of the week was Rueben Owens. It was great to see him really kind of hit his stride, 21 carries for 142 yards. Really did a nice job consistently running the football the way we would like to see him do it. And obviously he has home-run ability. Really big night for him. The defensive player of the week goes to Daymion Sanford. Daymion had nine tackles, two TFLs, one sack and one interception. So when you talk about filling a stat book. that's kind of what that feels like. Daymion was the co-SEC Defensive Player of the Week this week. Cashius was the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week this week. It was nice to see our defensive kids get some recognition. And then our special teams player of the week was KC Concepcion for continuing to do a really good job back there returning punts.
"I think as we looked at the game…the iPads make it a little bit easier because you have a little bit clearer view when you come in after the game of what actually happened. But again, I think defensively we played really well start to finish. I think we gave them one drive early. Outside of that we really did a good job of executing what we were trying to get accomplished. Holding them to a field goal on the one drive I thought was big also. That's one of the things that we really emphasize when we play those teams, trying to make sure that when they do move the ball that you can limit them to field goals. Our drive efficiency was 10 out of 12 which is really good for the evening. Offensively it was interesting, because we were efficient driving the football nine out of 12 times. I think the game changes a little bit because we don't convert the 4th-and-1, which we come away from with zero points. And then we throw the interception in the first half, and we come away with zero points. I think those two drives coming away empty obviously were huge killers for us in terms of trying to build some early momentum, some early points. I thought we came out in the second half and got into a much better rhythm. We were able to finish drives with touchdowns. Three straight drives through the end of the third quarter into the fourth we were able to score and that gave us a chance to pull away and win that one kind of going away. So it was a good night. It was a good night for us, taking the next step forward.
"Now obviously we have an enormous challenge this week with Florida coming in. I think Florida's by far and away the most talented team that we've played this year. They've got an excellent group of players. They've played a very competitive schedule. They've played in two top-10 road environments already, so they're going to be well-versed in what this is like and what it's going to be like coming into Kyle Field. Coming off of a huge top-10 win last weekend, so they'll be full of confidence and certainly very excited to come in here and give us their best shot. We're looking forward to the challenge and we'll be excited to get back under the lights in Kyle Field."
You guys have shown the ability to win a shootout, a grindout game, physicality. How much of that is the in-game chess piece, or is it some of the stuff leading into the week for the game prep?
"Yeah, probably a little bit of both. I think when you go into a game, you kind of have a feeling for where the advantages are, what the game is going to look like, what success potentially is going to look like. Sometimes success is going to look like we're going to have to make an awful lot of stops on defense because their defense is really good and we have an advantage with our defense. Sometimes it's the other way, where we're going to have to score a lot of points because the matchup with their offense and our defense maybe isn't ideal. And then I think sometimes you go into a game and it starts going a certain way and you have to adjust. And I think that's one of the things we try to do really well. You get these analytics books off of a certain score projection, but the game doesn't always go that way. And so I chuckle sometimes when people stick to the books, because sometimes in game the actual percentages and the probabilities are not the same as what maybe you thought they would be going into it. So we try to adjust as best we can on the fly to kind of marry game flow and what's happening with the choices and decisions we make."
What assessments do you have of DJ Lagway so far?
"DJ's obviously a kid that we've known. Tried very hard to get him here. An extremely talented quarterback. I think, again, media narratives to me are so funny. I think he's playing so much better. I think he's made a lot of growth and taken a lot of strides. You see him very, very comfortable back there. And so, yeah, I think he's playing at a really, really high level. He's a really talented kid."
What's been maybe the key to some of the offensive success in the red zone and how much of that maybe goes back to that kind of 'finish' mantra y'all have had this year?
"I think finish for sure, that's a big part of it. Our ability to run the ball I think helps. That makes it easier. Our ability then to create some separation in the one-on-one matchups that you get because you can run the ball. And then I just think, again, you emphasize things and you get some and you don't get some, but we do put such a tremendous emphasis in it. I don't think there's a lot of teams that go out on Monday and spend 10 minutes working third downs inside the 10-yard line. I don't know that that's normal. We do, and that's just because of the premium of those plays. We throw the touchdown to KC on a 3rd-and-goal…the difference between that touchdown and a 14-3 lead, and that becoming a field-goal drive and a 10-3 lead, is so enormous in terms of how the game plays out. We try to really focus on that area of the field and it's been good to us so far this year."
Marcel made his first start against Florida last year and had a pretty successful game. Just what do you think maybe getting off on the right foot and having a game like that did for his confidence and mental fortitude?
"Listen, that wasn't an easy situation. And I think not a lot of people wanted to give us a ton of credit for that win last year. But that was a big win. And that turned out to be a really good Florida team. That is not an easy place to play. I think you've seen results since that game speak to how hard it is to go play in The Swamp. And so for Marcel to go in there as a first-time starter, play the way he did, win the game the way we did…yeah. I think that brought a lot of confidence into him and then to into us as a team in terms of what we can do. Now having said all of that, none of that helps us this year. If we don't focus and do the work and preparation we need to get ready to go this year, none of that will matter."
As you started to dive into Florida and their offense, what really stood out to you the most about them and the way they were able to pass the ball this last weekend against Texas?
"I don't really know that I looked at it like that. I didn't just watch one game, so I don't know that I have a great feel for that question. I think they're really physical. I think they have really talented pieces on the outside. They create a lot of stress on you in terms of how you commit numbers to the run versus commit numbers to coverage. And they're able to kind of take advantage of you in a lot of different ways. So I would say they just present a lot of challenges to you in terms of defending them."
How much do you think your increased involvement with the defense, and maybe in what ways, has it helped the defense so far?
"Probably not as much as you guys want to give it credit for. I think we've got a tremendous defensive staff. I think Jay does a phenomenal job. Bringing Lyle in has just added another experienced person to kind of help with it all. Those guys are doing a phenomenal job of coaching the group. Everybody wants to try to make narratives, but it is what it is. I think those guys are phenomenal coaches."
I was just gonna ask about Nate (Boerkircher)…how does one even figure out that he can run the ball like that? And what led to you guys making that decision to make him that situational guy?
"Obviously we challenged ourselves a lot this off season to kind of do some studies on how people run the ball, what people do to effectively run the ball in short-yardage situations. I love Marcel, but he's not a 215-pound, 225-pound quarterback. And so that kind of takes the quarterback sneak out of our equation a little bit. So maybe just some different creative ways to get some bigger guys in there that can kind of get into the wedge a little bit off of some misdirection is maybe where that came from."
We've seen the run game get going really well over the last few games. How pleased are you with the execution of your offensive line?
"I think really good. The challenge that I laid out to them was stop having those two plays a game that send us backwards, whether it's a penalty or a critical mistake. It's why we didn't have an offensive lineman of the week this week. Each kid graded out really well. I think each kid had a really solid game. I think we created movement. We obviously ran the ball really well. I thought we protected Marcel really well. But we have high expectations for that group, and let's get rid of the two plays that each one of them had that make you pull your hair out. And I think if we can do that, there's probably still another level that we can get to with them and offensively."
And we've seen Cashius Howell have so much success on the field this year. How have you seen him take steps as a leader on that defensive line?
"He's a personality guy, so he's got a really electric personality…Kids decide to come back for that last year of school and some handle it a lot of different ways. Some guys come back and they kind of go into coast mode. I've been here, done that. I've been through the offseason before. They maybe don't take the work ethic or the practice habits to the level you would like to see. He was the exact opposite. He has done this thing as well and as good as you could ever hope for a kid. He's changed his body. He put in a ton of work with Coach Moffitt. He's practicing better. He's preparing better. And I think the players see that. As much as it is some of the conversations that he has from a leadership standpoint, I think it's also an ability to point to him and say, hey, look at him. Here's a kid who was under recruited, started at Bowling Green, and look at what he's worked himself into becoming. He's just a testimony to how he's gone about his business, and I think that in its own way creates leadership value."
As you look back and evaluate Marcel over these five games, what have you been impressed by the most and where would you say that you look for continued growth the most?
"Obviously I think you see a much more mature quarterback in his ability to sit in the pocket and deliver the football. He would tell you himself, I think, that last year at times he was too quick to run. He wasn't 100% confident progression-wise, where his eyes needed to go. He knew he was really athletic and at times maybe he would rely on that too quickly. When you watch him play now, I'm not even really sure that you could evaluate him as a runner. He does not run a ton. He's doing a lot of his work from the pocket which I think is really important for us to grow as an offense, but also for him from a health standpoint and everything that goes along with that. And then the growth is maybe starting a little bit cleaner--he still gets a little bit anxious in the beginning of games, and that's where you see kind of most of his inaccuracies--and connecting on some of the deep balls a little bit more consistently."
What can you say about Daymion Sanford's improvement heading into the season along with the past few games, especially in the absence of Scooby Williams?
"Daymion has stepped up and played two really, really big games for us as a starter the last two weeks. He also played a really big second half for us on the road at Notre Dame. He's a kid that we have a lot of confidence in. I told the guys this this morning. It's not lost on me that our two players of the week this week weren't necessarily starters game one. When you talk about what it really takes to build a program, to build a program that can go the distance in this conference week in and week out, you need a lot of kids to be bought in. You're going to need a lot of kids to be able to come in and have success. Fortunately, Daymion was a kid who was ready when his number was called. That won't be the last time that story comes up, and we're going to need to have guys who are capable of answering the bell."
Taurean York is close to 200 tackles. What is it going to mean to you to see him reach that plateau when he reaches it?
"I didn't even know that. That's good information for me. It's a really cool milestone for him. I'm hopeful that I'm around to see him get to 300, to be honest with you. I think that's what he's capable of. He's getting really comfortable out there in the system. He's doing a phenomenal job operating and I think he's doing a really, really good job with what we're asking of him."
What have you tried to do with Le'Veon Moss, with the upset stomach, the nervous stomach? What kind of precautions do you try to take, or is it just something that you will have to continue to live with?
"Yeah, it's just something we're working through with him. I don't know that there's a ton of precautions. I don't know that there's a lot of medicine for it. We're just kind of working with him on something that he's fighting through."
I was wondering if you could speak about the Florida offensive line. Defensively, I think most folks who watched thought they'd be pretty good defensively. As you watch their offensive line, what stands out for them?
"They've got four of five starters back from last year. They're a really talented group. They were a really talented group last year. They've got multiple NFL draft prospects on the line. I think their left tackle is probably one of, if not, the best tackles in the conference. So they're a really, really talented group."
Five games into the season, this team's approach to each game…when you look back to last year, do they have a better eye for detail? Did they build on that last year? What about this team's characteristics preparing for each game?
"I think we'll see a little bit, to be honest with you. I mean at this point last year, things were going really well too. We were in the middle of a seven-game winning streak and we were playing consistent…so we'll see. We'll see what this team can do better as we move forward."
Piggybacking off some of the linebacker play, they've been so effective in the blitzing and getting sacks. Getting that kind of pressure from that group, then, what does it do for the defensive unit as a whole?
"I think TFLs are a big part of it. I think if you look at, you know, a lot of people have talked about our 3rd-down success the last two weeks. I think, you know, one of the hidden stats in there is 3rd-down distance. Our ability to create some negative plays on 1st- and 2nd-down, our ability to create some sacks or some pressures or some tackles for loss in the run game puts people behind the sticks and forces them into tougher 3rd-down situations. As much as we've been good on third down the last two games, I also think a large part of our success is we've been very much in advantageous 3rd-down situations. Daymion Sanford early in the game…they get a first down, he gets a sack. And now all of a sudden it's 2nd-and-16. Second drive comes out, he gets on a blitz and he gets a TFL and it's 2nd-and-16. Those things are hard to overcome as an offense. Some of that is what you're trying to create on defense. And when you have kids who have the ability to do that, obviously it gives you a chance. A team goes 1st-and-10, 2nd-and-6, 3rd-and-2…your 3rd-down percentage is not going to nearly be what it's been for us."
You talk so much about finishing, especially with last year's team. How have you seen the players grow in their ability to finish out these games?
"I just think they're becoming more and more confident. We talk about this a lot. It's an empowering feeling to know that you have control of the outcome of things. It's also a very nervous feeling when you're not sure if you do. When I can do my absolute best, and it might not actually work out for me, is a really scary place to live. And I think one of the mindsets that we've really tried to instill in them, and I think they're starting to understand and embrace is, you control this. How you play, how you prepare, you ultimately can put in the work. You ultimately can play the game at a level that will make you unstoppable. And I think they're starting to believe that that's real. And the more that belief comes, the more invested they become, the more work they put in, the more they're able to finish. Because they just have confidence that no matter how it goes they're going to find a way at the end to get the job done. And I think that's what separates really great teams from average ones."
How has an improvement from the cornerback duo of Dezz Ricks and Will Lee allowed the front seven to get so much pressure?
"When you have when you have confidence in that group to be able to play man to man--and let's not lose sight of what we're able to do with Tyreek Chappelle at the nickel spot too, because we talked about how big of a deal that was when he went down last year--and then even the edition of Jordan Shaw, who stepped in the other night and played really well. When you feel as though you're not worried about that group you can maybe be a little bit more aggressive at times or you can put those guys in a little bit more isolation at times. And that always helps what you can dial up and what you can create."
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/ FootballThe Pulse #12.8 | Hostile Takeover
Wednesday, October 29
Conversations: Albert Regis
Tuesday, October 28
Weekly Press Conference: Jay Bateman
Monday, October 27
Weekly Press Conference: Collin Klein
Monday, October 27
