Collin Klein, Jay Bateman: CFP First Round Press Conference Quotes
Dec 16, 2025 | Football
Offensive coordinator Collin Klein and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman met the press on Tuesday at the Aggies' latest press conference of game week for the College Football Playoff First Round matchup with Miami.
Can you tell us how difficult it is to be trying to get started as the head coach somewhere else and then keep your focus also on being the offensive coordinator here, and why can all these Aggie fans feel confident that you can still do the same job?
"I mean, it is definitely a challenge. There's no question about it. There's a lot of things that are moving really, really fast and when things happen in this world they happen very, very quickly and in a lot of ways out of the blue. Very, very fortunate in this situation that Coach Elko and I were able to communicate, make sure we were able to get a plan together pretty much right from the start of how we were going to walk things out to make sure that we were staying on top of things and doing it the right way. And then also sending the right message to our team, that it's about finishing and being right in the now, wherever we are. We have some really, really good people in both places that have really helped me, and helped us, stay on track and do the job how it needs to be done."
The transfer portal starts in January. You guys have done high school recruiting. Has the break in kind of the roster-building aspect helped you guys that are kind of in this transition period stay present in this moment between the two?
"I think it's definitely slowed it down. Coach Elko and I, when we first got down here two years ago, the landscape was different, right? It definitely quiets December down a little bit and creates a little bit more stability."
And then just from what you've seen from Holmon Wiggins, what do you think you've seen from him that maybe gives you confidence he can take the reins as offensive coordinator and be successful moving forward?
"Coach Wiggins is awesome. He's a dear friend and we've gotten extremely close these last two years. His attention to detail and his care for the kids…I mean, he's an all-around football coach. He's not just the receivers coach. He understands all three levels, how they all fit together, limitations and structures and how that all goes. Understands quarterback play, and I respect the heck out of him in every area. I'm so proud and excited for him to be able to carry on kind of what we've built here and what the kids have done to lay the foundation for what I believe is a lot of good years to come. For him to be able to lead that, there truly is no one better."
There have been reports about, tight ends coach Christian Ellsworth following you over to K-State. Is that true? And are there any other guys you expect to kind of follow you over there?
"There's a lot of things in flux right now, and probably can't comment too much on this at this moment in time. But as things become clearer through this process it will hopefully take shape."
As far as Le'Veon Moss goes, how has he kind of handled his time off? And what do you think he'd bring to the offense if he's able to come back?
"Yeah. I mean, I love Lev, shoot all of those guys and him…just how he's attacked his rehab, how he's attack the process through it, like he always does…headfirst. Seeing him be able to move around again and feel good about where he's at and feel comfortable, obviously really excited for him to be able to finish truly the way he wants to."
On film, what challenges does the Miami defense present?
"Their front seven is really, really good. They really get after the passer. They get off and shed blocks. They pursue the football and keep you on edge schematically. You can't just fall asleep and take things for granted. So it's a really good unit."
I know we talked to Mike about just kind of the calendar of the coaching carousel and where it falls in and how there's not really he says much you can change…how difficult is it to have to be making these changes in this time while everything is going around, both on the field and personally, too?
"I don't think there's a perfect time or a perfect calendar that anybody could come up with. Change is always hard, but at the same time, it's what we preach to our players from day one…with all the distractions in their world that is in college football nowadays, that wasn't the case even when I was playing, hey, you've got to be in the now. You've got to be where your feet are and you got to do your very, very best that you possibly can for those guys next to you because they're counting on you. So that's kind of the mindset that we as coaches--and there's a few other people similar around the country that are kind of in this situation00that's truly how you have to walk it out."
What will you remember most about Aggieland?
"Oh my gosh. Our experience has been, me and my wife Shalin and our family, it's been over the top. We had high expectations, you never know what to expect, but this place is special. It's blown every expectation we had out of the water. The people are incredible. The value system is incredible. Our players and the people that that Coach Elko has brought into this program are our friends and family for life. That's going to be really hard to leave because it's family. We couldn't be more honored to have been a part of this family the last two years."
What stands out to you about Miami's secondary and what challenges might they present?
"Well, I think they have really, really good length. I think they run well. They really are tight in the quarterback's eyes and are able to track the football. You can see that they pattern match and understand what teams are going to try to do to them in certain coverages. They play smart and play fast and they play really hard."
What do you think about the progress Marcel Reed's made as a player, as a person, and morphed into the leader of a CFP level program? What's going to be your main takeaway of his development?
"I love Marcel. Change is always bittersweet because he and I and our relationship and what we've gone through the last two years, and the steps of growth and progress that that he's made and that he's helped our offense make and our program make, is really hard to put into words, to be honest. That relationship will last a lifetime."
As you make the transition over to Kansas State, how aggressive do you plan to be in recruiting in the state of Texas in the future?
"Most importantly, when you're leading a program, it's trying to find the right fits and the right people and the right type of players in those positions. And Texas has a lot of those, right? Probably like most Power 4 programs in this day and age, it's going to be a pretty national effort for sure. And there's definitely a lot of good players in Texas."
Having Le'Veon back for the playoffs, what kind of wrinkle does that add to this offense? It's something you haven't had in a few months.
"It's always good to have a sledgehammer in the bag (laughter). No, I mean, he's awesome. And it's probably a little unfair just because our running back room, we've been able to run the ball through the course of the season even since he got hurt at a really, really high clip. So obviously really excited about him. Happy for him to be able to finish this season and be able to get back out there on the field and want him to finish strong. Obviously he is he's a difference maker when he's got the ball in his hands."
You obviously practice against the best third down defense in the country. But Miami comes in as a top-10 unit. When you look at a team that's so successful on third down, does it change your approach at all on first and second with how you kind of scheme and try to win those early downs?
"There ain't no doubt. The best way to win third and long is stay out of it. And that is a proven fact. There two edges put a lot of pressure on you as far as their ability to get to the quarterback, and then if you try to chip or max protect or whatever it is you try to do, then you take people out of the concept and kind of lose advantage down the field. It's going to be a back-and-forth game and trying to find the line of how aggressive we're able to be, when to be aggressive. We have to stay on the field. So it's going to be a big challenge for us."
I'm curious what you've seen from the tight ends these last couple of weeks at practice and what they mean to this offense.
"First of all, every single one of them are some of our hardest practice players on the roster. Every single day, every one of those guys, the way they approach their work, the way they attack their work, the way they finish every drill, every rep, it's a credit to Christian and that entire room of the edge that they have played with and brought to our offense. They do a lot of things probably behind the scenes that maybe are not front and center that make everything go. We've gotten very balanced production out of it to where it's not just one guy, you know? And they've really embraced that, to understand that it's a group effort. Everyone's going to get an opportunity at some point and are very happy when the other person gets that opportunity. Definitely a glue and an integral part of what we've done."
What are some of the things you cut back on right now to save time, given your added responsibilities of doing two jobs at once during the CFP period?
"Well, I don't think there's really a whole lot from a game-planning perspective because the routine is the routine. The process is the process. Being able to have two weeks to kind of put it together has definitely helped to get ahead on some of that work. But I really try not to make it any different for our players, any different for our staff. Just to try to stay in that routine because that is the now and that's what we have to focus on."
It's been reported that you'd be heading to Kentucky…why do you feel like that was maybe the next step for you after the season ends?
"I was really intrigued with Will Stein, the new head coach, and when he reached out to me (I was impressed with) his vision. I went up to Kentucky a couple years ago when I was at Florida. They beat the brakes off of us and I thought, man, it's really a nice place. I think the chance to have autonomy as defensive coordinator was really important to me. This was one I thought I felt really good about. And that was kind of the decision."
Take us through the process. It seems like it's pretty common right now across the country. There's a lot of coaches that might be having a next move, but they're staying at their current school. What's the process here like for you guys in this building and just kind of how that dynamic has played out?
"I hope if you asked Taurean (York) and Daymion (Sanford) and Scooby (Williams) and Noah (Mikhail), they would say there's nothing different, right? I'm spending the same 24 hours a day I've spent on football with them. Will's (Stein) been great. He's going through it, too, at Oregon. I'm just really focused on winning this game and the path through the playoffs for these kids. I feel like that's the most important thing. I get home at night and I spend as much time as I can reaching out to Kentucky players and doing those things and trying to get ready for when that happens."
I want to ask you about (Texas A&M's next defensive coordinator) Lyle Hemphill, too. What do you think he'll bring to the table as defensive coordinator here?
"I've been really impressed with Lyle. He's helped us and helped organize some things. I think it's been great."
What has A&M has meant to you has been in two years here.
"It's awesome. It's a great place. I knew it when I came here. I have has a lot of friends here. I love my players here and I've coached some really good players. It's been awesome."
What have you seen so far from Miami's offense and what kind of challenges do they present?
"I think it's really good. They're a really good team. I feel like I've been recruiting against them my whole life, so I know a lot of those kids. I think Mark Fletcher Jr., the running back, is a really good player, physical. No. 6 (CharMar Brown), the backup, is really good player, physical. That's where it starts, right? I think Coach (Mario) Cristobal - they're going to be big up front. They're going to block you. They're going to hand the ball off to the running backs and they're going to make you tackle the running backs. They do a really nice job that way. Obviously, (quarterback) Carson Beck's a really good player. He was at Georgia when I was at Florida. We defended him. He's got great arm talent. He's big, played a ton of football. So I think you're there. I think maybe the best player we've played the whole year is No. 10, the slot receiver, (Malachi) Toney. He just plays so hard and he blocks people. They throw him screens, he breaks tackles. They put him in the backfield and he throws it or he runs it. What a tremendous player he is. So he's going to be a real challenge for us. So, yeah I think they're really good. I think they're physical and they know how they want to play football. I've got a lot of respect for their defensive coordinator and how they play defense. It's going be a real challenge."
How difficult is it as a coach with the coaching carousel taking place right now?
"You've got to have a great wife, man. You know, gotta have a great wife. So, I think she knows right now I'm really focused. I'm getting up the same time, going back at the same time. I'm doing this job the same as I was doing it two weeks ago and so was Collin (Klein). Then when you do get a little bit of a break, when you do get a night off, you pour everything you can into the new opportunity. That's part of the deal. With success comes other opportunities and when you get those things you have to maintain everything you have to win this game for our players. That's the most important thing."
Miami has been really good about protecting the football, so as a coach, what is the point of emphasis: are you trying to just rally to the ball? Or are you trying to get in the punch? What's the scout here?
"That's a great question. Their ball security is really good. I think the running backs do a really good job with that. When they have turned the ball over, it's been in the pass game. So I think that when we have our chances there, when the ball gets tipped, when it is overthrown, we've got to take advantage of that. Against Texas we had a couple chances to intercept the ball and didn't. So when we get those opportunities, we've got to make them count. You have to affect the quarterback. We've been able to affect the quarterback. I think that's going to be really important in this game is when we have our chance to affect the quarterback, we affect him. Then if mistakes are made, we take advantage of it."
So of the 12 offenses you faced is Miami comparable to any of those teams you have faced? Or are they a separate team of all their own?
"I think there's some similarities to Auburn with the physical run nature of how they want to run the football, maybe a little more skilled. But no, and I think Mike (Elko) has told you this too; I think this is the best offense we have played. I think it's the most complete offense. They've got a number of kids on our team that are going to be drafted really high. I think it's going to be real challenge. I think they do a really good job."
You mentioned how getting to the quarterback is going to be key. Do you feel like that's kind of plays into your strength? And then when you look at Carson Beck, his experience in the SEC, do you feel like that helps him at all in a game like this coming to Kyle Field?
"I think Carson is a really good player. I think he's played in these environments. He's played in big games. I think he's been prepared for the noise. Obviously Kyle Field is the best, so I think it's going to be a challenge for him. But he's certainly played in these games before. I played against him when he was at Georgia and I was at Florida at the World's Largest Cocktail Party. That's a that's a lot of people there, too. He played pretty good in that game, unfortunately. I think he's a good player and he'll be ready I'm pretty confident."
The media got a little peek of about 15 minutes of practice today with the guys in helmets, sweat pants. Y'all are in uncharted waters having a couple of bye weeks and now is this just kind of a normal game week for y'all?
"I think Mike's done a really nice job. I think we're pretty much into a normal game week right now. Today was a normal Tuesday. But the preparation we did the four or five days before this made it so the schematics are in place now. So now we can really focus on the fundamentals, getting back to playing fast, fundamental football. I thought we did that today. I thought it was good. We're trying to make this week as close to a regular game as it can with the week ahead of time to prepare them a little more so that now we're ready to go."
Coach Elko calls it "misfits" and they have been the issue with big plays. This year has been a recurring issue. What do you think it's going to take to tighten that up? And what kind of progress do you think you've been able to make in the last three weeks?
"If it was one thing, I think we'd say, 'fix that,' you know? So I think part of it is the run structures have been a little bit light at times. Sometimes you're playing the pass a little bit. That happened some. Our kids are well aware of the mistakes that they've made at all three levels. We're committed to fixing those things and I think the extra time, the extra preparation for an opponent will help with that a lot."
Without rehashing the first half of South Carolina or the second half of the Texas game, what have been some of your overall thoughts about the defensive direction in the last month, and is the unit ready for this type of challenge?
"It's been a little more up and down than we would like, but I think our kids are ready to play."
Why is Miami so successful on third down and do you believe this is the most critical factor of the game?
"I think the third-down matchup is going to be key. I think they do a really nice job of staying out of third and long. We do a really nice job of getting people into third and long. So I think that will be a big part of it. I think when you've got physical backs and a veteran quarterback who sees things really well, I think they get you in third and (short) and their ability to execute is really high. So I think it's going to be important for us that we keep them off schedule. We get them into third and long where we've been a lot more successful this year."
How much has it hurt your defense by not having a healthy Scooby Williams?
"Daymion (Sanford) has done great, but I think Scooby has the ability to make some splash plays, like run some things down. Some of the plays Scooby made against LSU, I thought he played dynamite. So the good news is health wise, you guys saw him out there (at the open practice), you saw him running around out there and I think he'll be able to help us this weekend. He adds a little bit more depth to it now, right? And maybe we don't have to play quite as many snaps with those two guys and I'm excited to see him play."
Coach Elko has talked a lot about the OGs of this squad and Cashius being one of them. How big is their leadership this week as you guys get ready for this big game?
"When we got here there was some work to do on the roster. Will Lee III was a transfer. Cashius was a transfer. Scooby was a transfer. I think back to when Nick (Scourton) got here coming from Purdue and how hard he practiced and how hard he played and how he prepared and I think rubbed off on other people. And so I think now you've got now we've got Cashius doing the same thing. Like nobody practices harder than Cashius and you see the success he's had. What you're trying to do is create is a player-led standard. You're trying to create a standard on the defense that is driven by the players. And when your best players are doing that; when your best players practice the way they practice and they compete and they prepare. When you look at how hard Taurean York prepares. Like we ran a play today in practice and Taurean comes running at me and he's like 'what game is that from. I've never seen that play.' And so when they prepare like that when they when they practice like that and your best players do that then the player-led standard is established. With some of these veteran guys that are finishing up here, you can't measure how much they've impacted our defense and that we want to make sure they finish this thing the right way."
OC COLLIN KLEIN
Can you tell us how difficult it is to be trying to get started as the head coach somewhere else and then keep your focus also on being the offensive coordinator here, and why can all these Aggie fans feel confident that you can still do the same job?
"I mean, it is definitely a challenge. There's no question about it. There's a lot of things that are moving really, really fast and when things happen in this world they happen very, very quickly and in a lot of ways out of the blue. Very, very fortunate in this situation that Coach Elko and I were able to communicate, make sure we were able to get a plan together pretty much right from the start of how we were going to walk things out to make sure that we were staying on top of things and doing it the right way. And then also sending the right message to our team, that it's about finishing and being right in the now, wherever we are. We have some really, really good people in both places that have really helped me, and helped us, stay on track and do the job how it needs to be done."
The transfer portal starts in January. You guys have done high school recruiting. Has the break in kind of the roster-building aspect helped you guys that are kind of in this transition period stay present in this moment between the two?
"I think it's definitely slowed it down. Coach Elko and I, when we first got down here two years ago, the landscape was different, right? It definitely quiets December down a little bit and creates a little bit more stability."
And then just from what you've seen from Holmon Wiggins, what do you think you've seen from him that maybe gives you confidence he can take the reins as offensive coordinator and be successful moving forward?
"Coach Wiggins is awesome. He's a dear friend and we've gotten extremely close these last two years. His attention to detail and his care for the kids…I mean, he's an all-around football coach. He's not just the receivers coach. He understands all three levels, how they all fit together, limitations and structures and how that all goes. Understands quarterback play, and I respect the heck out of him in every area. I'm so proud and excited for him to be able to carry on kind of what we've built here and what the kids have done to lay the foundation for what I believe is a lot of good years to come. For him to be able to lead that, there truly is no one better."
There have been reports about, tight ends coach Christian Ellsworth following you over to K-State. Is that true? And are there any other guys you expect to kind of follow you over there?
"There's a lot of things in flux right now, and probably can't comment too much on this at this moment in time. But as things become clearer through this process it will hopefully take shape."
As far as Le'Veon Moss goes, how has he kind of handled his time off? And what do you think he'd bring to the offense if he's able to come back?
"Yeah. I mean, I love Lev, shoot all of those guys and him…just how he's attacked his rehab, how he's attack the process through it, like he always does…headfirst. Seeing him be able to move around again and feel good about where he's at and feel comfortable, obviously really excited for him to be able to finish truly the way he wants to."
On film, what challenges does the Miami defense present?
"Their front seven is really, really good. They really get after the passer. They get off and shed blocks. They pursue the football and keep you on edge schematically. You can't just fall asleep and take things for granted. So it's a really good unit."
I know we talked to Mike about just kind of the calendar of the coaching carousel and where it falls in and how there's not really he says much you can change…how difficult is it to have to be making these changes in this time while everything is going around, both on the field and personally, too?
"I don't think there's a perfect time or a perfect calendar that anybody could come up with. Change is always hard, but at the same time, it's what we preach to our players from day one…with all the distractions in their world that is in college football nowadays, that wasn't the case even when I was playing, hey, you've got to be in the now. You've got to be where your feet are and you got to do your very, very best that you possibly can for those guys next to you because they're counting on you. So that's kind of the mindset that we as coaches--and there's a few other people similar around the country that are kind of in this situation00that's truly how you have to walk it out."
What will you remember most about Aggieland?
"Oh my gosh. Our experience has been, me and my wife Shalin and our family, it's been over the top. We had high expectations, you never know what to expect, but this place is special. It's blown every expectation we had out of the water. The people are incredible. The value system is incredible. Our players and the people that that Coach Elko has brought into this program are our friends and family for life. That's going to be really hard to leave because it's family. We couldn't be more honored to have been a part of this family the last two years."
What stands out to you about Miami's secondary and what challenges might they present?
"Well, I think they have really, really good length. I think they run well. They really are tight in the quarterback's eyes and are able to track the football. You can see that they pattern match and understand what teams are going to try to do to them in certain coverages. They play smart and play fast and they play really hard."
What do you think about the progress Marcel Reed's made as a player, as a person, and morphed into the leader of a CFP level program? What's going to be your main takeaway of his development?
"I love Marcel. Change is always bittersweet because he and I and our relationship and what we've gone through the last two years, and the steps of growth and progress that that he's made and that he's helped our offense make and our program make, is really hard to put into words, to be honest. That relationship will last a lifetime."
As you make the transition over to Kansas State, how aggressive do you plan to be in recruiting in the state of Texas in the future?
"Most importantly, when you're leading a program, it's trying to find the right fits and the right people and the right type of players in those positions. And Texas has a lot of those, right? Probably like most Power 4 programs in this day and age, it's going to be a pretty national effort for sure. And there's definitely a lot of good players in Texas."
Having Le'Veon back for the playoffs, what kind of wrinkle does that add to this offense? It's something you haven't had in a few months.
"It's always good to have a sledgehammer in the bag (laughter). No, I mean, he's awesome. And it's probably a little unfair just because our running back room, we've been able to run the ball through the course of the season even since he got hurt at a really, really high clip. So obviously really excited about him. Happy for him to be able to finish this season and be able to get back out there on the field and want him to finish strong. Obviously he is he's a difference maker when he's got the ball in his hands."
You obviously practice against the best third down defense in the country. But Miami comes in as a top-10 unit. When you look at a team that's so successful on third down, does it change your approach at all on first and second with how you kind of scheme and try to win those early downs?
"There ain't no doubt. The best way to win third and long is stay out of it. And that is a proven fact. There two edges put a lot of pressure on you as far as their ability to get to the quarterback, and then if you try to chip or max protect or whatever it is you try to do, then you take people out of the concept and kind of lose advantage down the field. It's going to be a back-and-forth game and trying to find the line of how aggressive we're able to be, when to be aggressive. We have to stay on the field. So it's going to be a big challenge for us."
I'm curious what you've seen from the tight ends these last couple of weeks at practice and what they mean to this offense.
"First of all, every single one of them are some of our hardest practice players on the roster. Every single day, every one of those guys, the way they approach their work, the way they attack their work, the way they finish every drill, every rep, it's a credit to Christian and that entire room of the edge that they have played with and brought to our offense. They do a lot of things probably behind the scenes that maybe are not front and center that make everything go. We've gotten very balanced production out of it to where it's not just one guy, you know? And they've really embraced that, to understand that it's a group effort. Everyone's going to get an opportunity at some point and are very happy when the other person gets that opportunity. Definitely a glue and an integral part of what we've done."
What are some of the things you cut back on right now to save time, given your added responsibilities of doing two jobs at once during the CFP period?
"Well, I don't think there's really a whole lot from a game-planning perspective because the routine is the routine. The process is the process. Being able to have two weeks to kind of put it together has definitely helped to get ahead on some of that work. But I really try not to make it any different for our players, any different for our staff. Just to try to stay in that routine because that is the now and that's what we have to focus on."
DC JAY BATEMAN
It's been reported that you'd be heading to Kentucky…why do you feel like that was maybe the next step for you after the season ends?
"I was really intrigued with Will Stein, the new head coach, and when he reached out to me (I was impressed with) his vision. I went up to Kentucky a couple years ago when I was at Florida. They beat the brakes off of us and I thought, man, it's really a nice place. I think the chance to have autonomy as defensive coordinator was really important to me. This was one I thought I felt really good about. And that was kind of the decision."
Take us through the process. It seems like it's pretty common right now across the country. There's a lot of coaches that might be having a next move, but they're staying at their current school. What's the process here like for you guys in this building and just kind of how that dynamic has played out?
"I hope if you asked Taurean (York) and Daymion (Sanford) and Scooby (Williams) and Noah (Mikhail), they would say there's nothing different, right? I'm spending the same 24 hours a day I've spent on football with them. Will's (Stein) been great. He's going through it, too, at Oregon. I'm just really focused on winning this game and the path through the playoffs for these kids. I feel like that's the most important thing. I get home at night and I spend as much time as I can reaching out to Kentucky players and doing those things and trying to get ready for when that happens."
I want to ask you about (Texas A&M's next defensive coordinator) Lyle Hemphill, too. What do you think he'll bring to the table as defensive coordinator here?
"I've been really impressed with Lyle. He's helped us and helped organize some things. I think it's been great."
What has A&M has meant to you has been in two years here.
"It's awesome. It's a great place. I knew it when I came here. I have has a lot of friends here. I love my players here and I've coached some really good players. It's been awesome."
What have you seen so far from Miami's offense and what kind of challenges do they present?
"I think it's really good. They're a really good team. I feel like I've been recruiting against them my whole life, so I know a lot of those kids. I think Mark Fletcher Jr., the running back, is a really good player, physical. No. 6 (CharMar Brown), the backup, is really good player, physical. That's where it starts, right? I think Coach (Mario) Cristobal - they're going to be big up front. They're going to block you. They're going to hand the ball off to the running backs and they're going to make you tackle the running backs. They do a really nice job that way. Obviously, (quarterback) Carson Beck's a really good player. He was at Georgia when I was at Florida. We defended him. He's got great arm talent. He's big, played a ton of football. So I think you're there. I think maybe the best player we've played the whole year is No. 10, the slot receiver, (Malachi) Toney. He just plays so hard and he blocks people. They throw him screens, he breaks tackles. They put him in the backfield and he throws it or he runs it. What a tremendous player he is. So he's going to be a real challenge for us. So, yeah I think they're really good. I think they're physical and they know how they want to play football. I've got a lot of respect for their defensive coordinator and how they play defense. It's going be a real challenge."
How difficult is it as a coach with the coaching carousel taking place right now?
"You've got to have a great wife, man. You know, gotta have a great wife. So, I think she knows right now I'm really focused. I'm getting up the same time, going back at the same time. I'm doing this job the same as I was doing it two weeks ago and so was Collin (Klein). Then when you do get a little bit of a break, when you do get a night off, you pour everything you can into the new opportunity. That's part of the deal. With success comes other opportunities and when you get those things you have to maintain everything you have to win this game for our players. That's the most important thing."
Miami has been really good about protecting the football, so as a coach, what is the point of emphasis: are you trying to just rally to the ball? Or are you trying to get in the punch? What's the scout here?
"That's a great question. Their ball security is really good. I think the running backs do a really good job with that. When they have turned the ball over, it's been in the pass game. So I think that when we have our chances there, when the ball gets tipped, when it is overthrown, we've got to take advantage of that. Against Texas we had a couple chances to intercept the ball and didn't. So when we get those opportunities, we've got to make them count. You have to affect the quarterback. We've been able to affect the quarterback. I think that's going to be really important in this game is when we have our chance to affect the quarterback, we affect him. Then if mistakes are made, we take advantage of it."
So of the 12 offenses you faced is Miami comparable to any of those teams you have faced? Or are they a separate team of all their own?
"I think there's some similarities to Auburn with the physical run nature of how they want to run the football, maybe a little more skilled. But no, and I think Mike (Elko) has told you this too; I think this is the best offense we have played. I think it's the most complete offense. They've got a number of kids on our team that are going to be drafted really high. I think it's going to be real challenge. I think they do a really good job."
You mentioned how getting to the quarterback is going to be key. Do you feel like that's kind of plays into your strength? And then when you look at Carson Beck, his experience in the SEC, do you feel like that helps him at all in a game like this coming to Kyle Field?
"I think Carson is a really good player. I think he's played in these environments. He's played in big games. I think he's been prepared for the noise. Obviously Kyle Field is the best, so I think it's going to be a challenge for him. But he's certainly played in these games before. I played against him when he was at Georgia and I was at Florida at the World's Largest Cocktail Party. That's a that's a lot of people there, too. He played pretty good in that game, unfortunately. I think he's a good player and he'll be ready I'm pretty confident."
The media got a little peek of about 15 minutes of practice today with the guys in helmets, sweat pants. Y'all are in uncharted waters having a couple of bye weeks and now is this just kind of a normal game week for y'all?
"I think Mike's done a really nice job. I think we're pretty much into a normal game week right now. Today was a normal Tuesday. But the preparation we did the four or five days before this made it so the schematics are in place now. So now we can really focus on the fundamentals, getting back to playing fast, fundamental football. I thought we did that today. I thought it was good. We're trying to make this week as close to a regular game as it can with the week ahead of time to prepare them a little more so that now we're ready to go."
Coach Elko calls it "misfits" and they have been the issue with big plays. This year has been a recurring issue. What do you think it's going to take to tighten that up? And what kind of progress do you think you've been able to make in the last three weeks?
"If it was one thing, I think we'd say, 'fix that,' you know? So I think part of it is the run structures have been a little bit light at times. Sometimes you're playing the pass a little bit. That happened some. Our kids are well aware of the mistakes that they've made at all three levels. We're committed to fixing those things and I think the extra time, the extra preparation for an opponent will help with that a lot."
Without rehashing the first half of South Carolina or the second half of the Texas game, what have been some of your overall thoughts about the defensive direction in the last month, and is the unit ready for this type of challenge?
"It's been a little more up and down than we would like, but I think our kids are ready to play."
Why is Miami so successful on third down and do you believe this is the most critical factor of the game?
"I think the third-down matchup is going to be key. I think they do a really nice job of staying out of third and long. We do a really nice job of getting people into third and long. So I think that will be a big part of it. I think when you've got physical backs and a veteran quarterback who sees things really well, I think they get you in third and (short) and their ability to execute is really high. So I think it's going to be important for us that we keep them off schedule. We get them into third and long where we've been a lot more successful this year."
How much has it hurt your defense by not having a healthy Scooby Williams?
"Daymion (Sanford) has done great, but I think Scooby has the ability to make some splash plays, like run some things down. Some of the plays Scooby made against LSU, I thought he played dynamite. So the good news is health wise, you guys saw him out there (at the open practice), you saw him running around out there and I think he'll be able to help us this weekend. He adds a little bit more depth to it now, right? And maybe we don't have to play quite as many snaps with those two guys and I'm excited to see him play."
Coach Elko has talked a lot about the OGs of this squad and Cashius being one of them. How big is their leadership this week as you guys get ready for this big game?
"When we got here there was some work to do on the roster. Will Lee III was a transfer. Cashius was a transfer. Scooby was a transfer. I think back to when Nick (Scourton) got here coming from Purdue and how hard he practiced and how hard he played and how he prepared and I think rubbed off on other people. And so I think now you've got now we've got Cashius doing the same thing. Like nobody practices harder than Cashius and you see the success he's had. What you're trying to do is create is a player-led standard. You're trying to create a standard on the defense that is driven by the players. And when your best players are doing that; when your best players practice the way they practice and they compete and they prepare. When you look at how hard Taurean York prepares. Like we ran a play today in practice and Taurean comes running at me and he's like 'what game is that from. I've never seen that play.' And so when they prepare like that when they when they practice like that and your best players do that then the player-led standard is established. With some of these veteran guys that are finishing up here, you can't measure how much they've impacted our defense and that we want to make sure they finish this thing the right way."
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