Tuesday Press Conference Quotes
October 10, 2018 | Football
Head Coach Mike MacIntyre
Opening Statement
"Last week's game was a good win for us. I thought our kids player really well, especially in the fourth quarter. We're excited about going to USC to play in the Coliseum against a very talented football team. They have some great older players but they have some excellent freshmen running around that keep getting better each week as I've watched them on film. It's going to be an extremely tough contest and one I know they'll be excited about and our guys are excited about."
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On Physicality Of Team
"All the USC teams that we've seen have been so talented. I thought in 2016 we matched up pretty well with them. It went right down to the wire. Last year, [Former USC QB] Sam Darnold was so electric, it was tough. I do feel like we match up well, but they're extremely talented like they always have been. Some of their talent is young but they've gotten better each week just as far as, you can see the talent, you can see them make plays, but just getting used to playing and feeling comfortable. I've been impressed with them."
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On Play Of TB Travon McMillian
"Travon has played really well. He is really a team guy, which is really exciting to see. That's what I was told, that's what I understood (before he arrived), but sometimes that's hard. He's come in here and has been a phenomenal team guy. He's really tough. He's carried the load. All our running backs have done well, Kyle Evans has done some good things. Travon in that last drive the other night (against Arizona State) was pretty sharp. He knew we had to get one last first down and had a herculean effort to get there and he was totally exhausted after that. I think he had 30 carries and he hadn't had 30 carries since he was a freshman in college. He is a big part of our offense. We need him to be around that 100-yard mark each game. Hopefully we're in situations where they know we have to run, and we have to go run and finish a game out."
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On Replacing OLB Jacob Callier
"Jacob has really done well this year. He has some sacks but he also has a lot of hurries and pressures. He was going to end up having six or seven sacks by the end of the year, maybe more. He was really getting good. He had lost weight, he was playing at about 230, the year before he was 250-ish. He's changed his body, he's quicker, more explosive. We're going to miss Jacob. Thankfully, Carson Wells has had a little time to come on. Davion [Taylor] has gotten a lot better, Alex Tchangam has gotten a lot better, all those guys have kept improving. We're going to miss Jacob. He'll redshirt now and he'll be a sophomore again next year, so the positive of that is having three more years."
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On Game Against USC Meaning Something Extra
"No, the way we look at it is it's our team against their team in 2018. Any time you're playing a Pac-12 game it's big. Any time you're playing a Pac-12 South opponent, it's a little bit bigger because you can separate yourself or they can close the gap. That makes it a big game."
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On Growth Of USC Freshman QB J.T. Daniels
"He really has (grown throughout the season). He can make every throw. You hear that, but he can do it. I've been very impressed with him. I know they got beat by Texas, but early on in that Texas game, boy he was really (good). I was impressed because he was coming off a game against Stanford where he didn't play as well, he came right out the chute (against Texas) and I think was 7-of-7, he was making throws. He is very talented. With the week off, I imagine with the week off he'll get even better watching his mistakes and seeing where he can improve."
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On Not Yet Forcing A Turnover In Pac-12 Play
"We need to get some more turnovers. We've dropped a few picks that we could've gotten. Both teams we've played have had good ball security, they took care of the football. We didn't have any turnovers either. If we do that, we'll be ok. But we do need to make turnovers and I'm pretty sure they're thinking they do too."
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On QB Steven Montez's Experience On The Road
"I think it helpls a lot. It helps at every position, but to me all of those situations really help a quarterback. There's a lot of great quarterbacks in the league (NFL) like Drew Brees, Peyton and Eli [Manning], Tom Brady, all those guys played their whole time in college, got a little bit better. They kind of groomed themselves, saw a lot of different things, so I think the more you play (the better). The great thing about Steven is, he learns from it. You can play and not learn from it. He learns from it. He sees it. The other thing I love about Steven is he can make a mistake, learn from it, and put it right behind him and move on. Some guys let it bother them and they freeze in the pocket or they don't want to throw it again. Not Steven. He learns from it and keeps playing. Coach [Kurt] Roper has done a great job of teaching him that, working with him on a lot of different things and having his eyes in better spots. Of course Chev and Klayton (Co-Offensive Coordinators Darrian Chiaverini and Klayton Adams) have done a good job of utilizing him in the offense."
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On Playing USC In The LA Coliseum
"Of course (you have) the history of The Coliseum. There's going to be a great crowd there at night. I think our guys will go there and play just like they did at the other places. They'll be excited about playing there. I always say that stadiums are nice, crowds are nice but it's about the dudes on the field in between the white lines. (USC) has always had really good dudes. How we play and how we handle it will be important and our guys are excited about going to play just like I know USC is. I think there is a special thing for kids that grew up on the west coast basically that The Coliseum is a mecca of football and sports. It's unique. That adds a little mystique to it."
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On Focus Of Team
"They're a locked in bunch. This group gets it. That's why they're fun to coach, I like being around them, they're fun guys. The thing that I've liked about them is that they're focused but they're loose. That's hard. You coach it, you teach it, you work with them and sometimes when guys get really focused, they get tight, then to overcome it they get loose and they can't focus. This group can focus and stay loose, which is a great attribute."
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On Uniqueness Of Having A Team That's Focused Yet Loose
"It's pretty rare, when you have a whole group that can do that. I think really the true leader of that is [QB] Steven [Montez]. That's Steven. He's focused, but he's loose. He enjoys playing, he loves practicing and being around the guys, he has a great personality. I think they've kind of taken to that, but at the same time they see how much he's studying now and he comes prepared. They see that you can do both and that's been good."
"Last week's game was a good win for us. I thought our kids player really well, especially in the fourth quarter. We're excited about going to USC to play in the Coliseum against a very talented football team. They have some great older players but they have some excellent freshmen running around that keep getting better each week as I've watched them on film. It's going to be an extremely tough contest and one I know they'll be excited about and our guys are excited about."
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On Physicality Of Team
"All the USC teams that we've seen have been so talented. I thought in 2016 we matched up pretty well with them. It went right down to the wire. Last year, [Former USC QB] Sam Darnold was so electric, it was tough. I do feel like we match up well, but they're extremely talented like they always have been. Some of their talent is young but they've gotten better each week just as far as, you can see the talent, you can see them make plays, but just getting used to playing and feeling comfortable. I've been impressed with them."
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On Play Of TB Travon McMillian
"Travon has played really well. He is really a team guy, which is really exciting to see. That's what I was told, that's what I understood (before he arrived), but sometimes that's hard. He's come in here and has been a phenomenal team guy. He's really tough. He's carried the load. All our running backs have done well, Kyle Evans has done some good things. Travon in that last drive the other night (against Arizona State) was pretty sharp. He knew we had to get one last first down and had a herculean effort to get there and he was totally exhausted after that. I think he had 30 carries and he hadn't had 30 carries since he was a freshman in college. He is a big part of our offense. We need him to be around that 100-yard mark each game. Hopefully we're in situations where they know we have to run, and we have to go run and finish a game out."
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On Replacing OLB Jacob Callier
"Jacob has really done well this year. He has some sacks but he also has a lot of hurries and pressures. He was going to end up having six or seven sacks by the end of the year, maybe more. He was really getting good. He had lost weight, he was playing at about 230, the year before he was 250-ish. He's changed his body, he's quicker, more explosive. We're going to miss Jacob. Thankfully, Carson Wells has had a little time to come on. Davion [Taylor] has gotten a lot better, Alex Tchangam has gotten a lot better, all those guys have kept improving. We're going to miss Jacob. He'll redshirt now and he'll be a sophomore again next year, so the positive of that is having three more years."
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On Game Against USC Meaning Something Extra
"No, the way we look at it is it's our team against their team in 2018. Any time you're playing a Pac-12 game it's big. Any time you're playing a Pac-12 South opponent, it's a little bit bigger because you can separate yourself or they can close the gap. That makes it a big game."
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On Growth Of USC Freshman QB J.T. Daniels
"He really has (grown throughout the season). He can make every throw. You hear that, but he can do it. I've been very impressed with him. I know they got beat by Texas, but early on in that Texas game, boy he was really (good). I was impressed because he was coming off a game against Stanford where he didn't play as well, he came right out the chute (against Texas) and I think was 7-of-7, he was making throws. He is very talented. With the week off, I imagine with the week off he'll get even better watching his mistakes and seeing where he can improve."
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On Not Yet Forcing A Turnover In Pac-12 Play
"We need to get some more turnovers. We've dropped a few picks that we could've gotten. Both teams we've played have had good ball security, they took care of the football. We didn't have any turnovers either. If we do that, we'll be ok. But we do need to make turnovers and I'm pretty sure they're thinking they do too."
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On QB Steven Montez's Experience On The Road
"I think it helpls a lot. It helps at every position, but to me all of those situations really help a quarterback. There's a lot of great quarterbacks in the league (NFL) like Drew Brees, Peyton and Eli [Manning], Tom Brady, all those guys played their whole time in college, got a little bit better. They kind of groomed themselves, saw a lot of different things, so I think the more you play (the better). The great thing about Steven is, he learns from it. You can play and not learn from it. He learns from it. He sees it. The other thing I love about Steven is he can make a mistake, learn from it, and put it right behind him and move on. Some guys let it bother them and they freeze in the pocket or they don't want to throw it again. Not Steven. He learns from it and keeps playing. Coach [Kurt] Roper has done a great job of teaching him that, working with him on a lot of different things and having his eyes in better spots. Of course Chev and Klayton (Co-Offensive Coordinators Darrian Chiaverini and Klayton Adams) have done a good job of utilizing him in the offense."
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On Playing USC In The LA Coliseum
"Of course (you have) the history of The Coliseum. There's going to be a great crowd there at night. I think our guys will go there and play just like they did at the other places. They'll be excited about playing there. I always say that stadiums are nice, crowds are nice but it's about the dudes on the field in between the white lines. (USC) has always had really good dudes. How we play and how we handle it will be important and our guys are excited about going to play just like I know USC is. I think there is a special thing for kids that grew up on the west coast basically that The Coliseum is a mecca of football and sports. It's unique. That adds a little mystique to it."
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On Focus Of Team
"They're a locked in bunch. This group gets it. That's why they're fun to coach, I like being around them, they're fun guys. The thing that I've liked about them is that they're focused but they're loose. That's hard. You coach it, you teach it, you work with them and sometimes when guys get really focused, they get tight, then to overcome it they get loose and they can't focus. This group can focus and stay loose, which is a great attribute."
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On Uniqueness Of Having A Team That's Focused Yet Loose
"It's pretty rare, when you have a whole group that can do that. I think really the true leader of that is [QB] Steven [Montez]. That's Steven. He's focused, but he's loose. He enjoys playing, he loves practicing and being around the guys, he has a great personality. I think they've kind of taken to that, but at the same time they see how much he's studying now and he comes prepared. They see that you can do both and that's been good."
Quarterback Steven Montez
On His Improvement From Last Season
"I think it's a combination of everything. [QB] Coach [Kurt] Roper has done a phenomenal job with all of the quarterbacks here and getting them to understand the game plan, understand the defense, and understand what we want to do with the ball. I think that is where my improved completion percentage comes into play. Just the footwork with all of the timing that we have on our offense and all of the passes that we throw. It is a combination of all things."
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On Being Physical Against USC
"It is going to be really key. The physicality is going to be huge for us. USC has historically been a really good team. Two years ago, they won a Rose Bowl. They have been a good team and they are a good team. That is how we're preparing for them this week. We know that when we go in there it is going to be a dog fight, but we are excited for it. We hope to make the game physical and hopefully get some success."
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On Throwing The Deep Ball
"Last year, we kind of struggled hitting the deep ball. A lot of times it was me. I was underthrowing and overthrowing the receivers and we had some guys open. This year, we are doing a better job of hitting the deep ball. On that play (30-yard TD to Laviska Shenault Jr.) I saw that it was a single high safety and the corner was pressed. There was no chance of getting cloud or anything over there. I knew Viska was going to beat him just because that is what Viska does. He is really quick off the line and is a really strong and really faster receiver. It is tough to guard him. I saw him open and we completed it. It was good."
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On TB Travon McMillian
"Travon is a really good back. He is killing it right now. He's playing well and he loves to pass block as well when we pass the ball. He does it all for us. He is really good, and so is [RB] Kyle Evans. He does a great job as well when he goes in there."
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On Playing USC
"We have never beaten them. That right there is motivation. We are going to go in this game just like we've gone in these past five games. We come in, put in our work in the week and hopefully we play well on Saturdays. It is another game for us. It's the next team on our schedule."
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On WR Laviska Shenault Jr.
"This is kind of a crazy comparison, but he reminds of LeBron [James]. He keeps getting better. You think 'Alright, he has already played this well up to now, maybe he'll have a slower game.' It is just never like that. He is doing more crazy stuff and keeps getting better every week. That is the scariest thing about him because you think, 'What he is going to do this week?'"
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On Playing With WR Laviska Shenault Jr.
"It is cool for us on offense obviously because he is a huge weapon and we use him a lot of different ways. He kind of does it all. That is very intimating for a defense because I'm sure they are thinking, 'How are we going to stop this guy? How are we going to try to contain him this game?' I really don't think you can. He can just do so many different things. He can beat you at receiver, we can put him at running back, we can use fly sweep, and put him in wildcat. We can do so many different things with him that it is just so difficult to stop him. He is an animal. He is just a great ball player who knows the game, and is very, very good at it."
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On USC's Confidence
"I think that they do have a lot of confidence because historically, they have been good. They are good year in and year out. I think they should be confident because they win games and they do well. We are a confident team this year as well. It is going to be a good game between us."
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On Getting To Know QB Coach Kurt Roper
"The best way to describe it was literally just like students in class. Right when we came in, we knew he knew his stuff. We knew that if we listened to him, he was going to teach us a lot about the game. We would have our notebooks out every week, writing down notes. Whatever he said, we would write it down. Just listening to it and being like a sponge, taking in all if the information he is giving us because he knows the game. He knows the game better than anyone I've ever met. Every day when I talk to him, I kind of think, 'Oh, wow. That makes sense. That is why that happens.' It literally happens once every day just because he is constantly teaching us something new about the game, about fronts, run schemes, and anything, anything about football."
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On History With USC Impacting Game
"No, I don't think so. Every year is a new year. Anybody can be beaten at any time. That is how we've looked at every single game we've played so far. We know we can be beaten as well, but we understand that if we put in the work during the week and we work hard and study film and do all the right things during the week, then on Saturdays we should be feeling very, very confident about what we are doing. That will allow us to play fast and play smart."
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On WR K.D. Nixon
"K.D. is a great football player. They're both (Nixon and Laviska Shenault Jr.) from DeSoto, Texas. DeSoto, historically, has had some really good football players that come out of there, and they are both very good football players. K.D. is just so fast and so shifty off the line. When he is even with somebody, he is going to run away from them, just because of his speed. We use him in a lot of different ways too. Sometimes you'll see him at the wildcat position. We use him in the fly sweep. We use him the same (as Shenault Jr.), but Viska is just a little harder to bring to the ground just because he is so big and strong. K.D. is just so quick and so fast. It makes it hard to guard him. He knows the game too."
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"I think it's a combination of everything. [QB] Coach [Kurt] Roper has done a phenomenal job with all of the quarterbacks here and getting them to understand the game plan, understand the defense, and understand what we want to do with the ball. I think that is where my improved completion percentage comes into play. Just the footwork with all of the timing that we have on our offense and all of the passes that we throw. It is a combination of all things."
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On Being Physical Against USC
"It is going to be really key. The physicality is going to be huge for us. USC has historically been a really good team. Two years ago, they won a Rose Bowl. They have been a good team and they are a good team. That is how we're preparing for them this week. We know that when we go in there it is going to be a dog fight, but we are excited for it. We hope to make the game physical and hopefully get some success."
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On Throwing The Deep Ball
"Last year, we kind of struggled hitting the deep ball. A lot of times it was me. I was underthrowing and overthrowing the receivers and we had some guys open. This year, we are doing a better job of hitting the deep ball. On that play (30-yard TD to Laviska Shenault Jr.) I saw that it was a single high safety and the corner was pressed. There was no chance of getting cloud or anything over there. I knew Viska was going to beat him just because that is what Viska does. He is really quick off the line and is a really strong and really faster receiver. It is tough to guard him. I saw him open and we completed it. It was good."
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On TB Travon McMillian
"Travon is a really good back. He is killing it right now. He's playing well and he loves to pass block as well when we pass the ball. He does it all for us. He is really good, and so is [RB] Kyle Evans. He does a great job as well when he goes in there."
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On Playing USC
"We have never beaten them. That right there is motivation. We are going to go in this game just like we've gone in these past five games. We come in, put in our work in the week and hopefully we play well on Saturdays. It is another game for us. It's the next team on our schedule."
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On WR Laviska Shenault Jr.
"This is kind of a crazy comparison, but he reminds of LeBron [James]. He keeps getting better. You think 'Alright, he has already played this well up to now, maybe he'll have a slower game.' It is just never like that. He is doing more crazy stuff and keeps getting better every week. That is the scariest thing about him because you think, 'What he is going to do this week?'"
Â
On Playing With WR Laviska Shenault Jr.
"It is cool for us on offense obviously because he is a huge weapon and we use him a lot of different ways. He kind of does it all. That is very intimating for a defense because I'm sure they are thinking, 'How are we going to stop this guy? How are we going to try to contain him this game?' I really don't think you can. He can just do so many different things. He can beat you at receiver, we can put him at running back, we can use fly sweep, and put him in wildcat. We can do so many different things with him that it is just so difficult to stop him. He is an animal. He is just a great ball player who knows the game, and is very, very good at it."
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On USC's Confidence
"I think that they do have a lot of confidence because historically, they have been good. They are good year in and year out. I think they should be confident because they win games and they do well. We are a confident team this year as well. It is going to be a good game between us."
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On Getting To Know QB Coach Kurt Roper
"The best way to describe it was literally just like students in class. Right when we came in, we knew he knew his stuff. We knew that if we listened to him, he was going to teach us a lot about the game. We would have our notebooks out every week, writing down notes. Whatever he said, we would write it down. Just listening to it and being like a sponge, taking in all if the information he is giving us because he knows the game. He knows the game better than anyone I've ever met. Every day when I talk to him, I kind of think, 'Oh, wow. That makes sense. That is why that happens.' It literally happens once every day just because he is constantly teaching us something new about the game, about fronts, run schemes, and anything, anything about football."
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On History With USC Impacting Game
"No, I don't think so. Every year is a new year. Anybody can be beaten at any time. That is how we've looked at every single game we've played so far. We know we can be beaten as well, but we understand that if we put in the work during the week and we work hard and study film and do all the right things during the week, then on Saturdays we should be feeling very, very confident about what we are doing. That will allow us to play fast and play smart."
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On WR K.D. Nixon
"K.D. is a great football player. They're both (Nixon and Laviska Shenault Jr.) from DeSoto, Texas. DeSoto, historically, has had some really good football players that come out of there, and they are both very good football players. K.D. is just so fast and so shifty off the line. When he is even with somebody, he is going to run away from them, just because of his speed. We use him in a lot of different ways too. Sometimes you'll see him at the wildcat position. We use him in the fly sweep. We use him the same (as Shenault Jr.), but Viska is just a little harder to bring to the ground just because he is so big and strong. K.D. is just so quick and so fast. It makes it hard to guard him. He knows the game too."
Defensive End Mustafa Johnson
On Development Under Defensive Line Coach Kwahn Drake
"I've grown a lot since spring ball. He's taught me a lot of new techniques, how to play box and how to anticipate what's going to happen before the play happens. So he taught me a lot of football knowledge and on top of that taught me a lot of life stuff, helping bring the energy to the team, helping out with the D-line and turning up."
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On CU's 0-12 All-Time Record Against USC
"We are definitely aware of it. I think that's why our intensity, our mindset, has gone up another notch. During these practices a lot of energy has been showing and a lot of intensity a couple of things have been breaking out, but we are just all here to play. Ready to go."
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On USC's Offense
"They are big and they are strong. They're going to keep moving their feet. They are picking them up and putting them down. They have some speed and a lot of athletic guys, but I'm more focused on playing the block. I know they have a lot of good technique, they have strong hands and they are going to come out ready to play."
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On His Sack On ASU QB Manny WilkinsÂ
"My job is to play the quarterback and my angle originally, I was coming out I saw that he was booting out, so I know the guy is a little faster than me so I had to change my angle. I don't know if you guys saw the video, I widened out a lot to force him to cut back inside towards my help. Then, I was able to plant my foot in the ground and make the play. I don't know if you guys saw the video but I took up a big patch of dirt trying to stop him. Then, I just kind of went through my progressions and was able to make the play."
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On Physicality
"It's going to be very important that we keep the temperature going, keep our physicality going and turn it up even more than we have. It's going to help us with a lot of messing up the run game, help messing up the pass game. Our goal is always to stop the runs, keep teams one dimensional. I think our physicality is going to make a big difference because it's going to allow us to make more plays on the ball and disrupt their offense. That's what our goal is."
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On Playing At USC
"Our main goal is that we focus on one team and the most important team is us. We know that if we go out there and we do what we've been working on all week, talking about all week and execute our game plan, we plan to be victorious. That's just kind of our mindset. We focus on one team, that's us and we go game by game."
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On Mindset Facing Freshman QB In USC's J.T. Daniels
"It doesn't really change my mindset, but I do think that it is beneficial for us because he is young so applying pressure on him, we don't know how he's going to react with that coming on him."
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On Facing A Balanced USC Offense
"It just comes down to our film work because most teams come out with a script and a plan of what they are going to play to see how we play each thing. I think if we come out and execute what we are going to do, they are going to have to focus on certain aspects of their offense and what's going to succeed for them and I think basically we are going to focus on certain plays that we can dominate on and that's going to make them reduce their playbook."
On Quiet Confidence Of Team
"Our confidence is very high. We are very prepared, we are very ready. We do have a chip on our shoulder, but I think the key factor in this whole things is that we don't let it go to our heads. I think our coaches do a good job of letting us know during practice that yeah, we've been winning, but we still got another game to play, we still got more games to play and we want to keep this going. So we can't get a big head and start thinking past what we got next."
On QB Steven Montez
"I think he's shown he can get it done. Throwing the ball, running the ball, he's showed that he's very versatile. He's elevated his game from spring ball, from fall camp, everything's changed. I think he's definitely a motivator on the team, he's a play maker and he helps get the job done on offense."
"I've grown a lot since spring ball. He's taught me a lot of new techniques, how to play box and how to anticipate what's going to happen before the play happens. So he taught me a lot of football knowledge and on top of that taught me a lot of life stuff, helping bring the energy to the team, helping out with the D-line and turning up."
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On CU's 0-12 All-Time Record Against USC
"We are definitely aware of it. I think that's why our intensity, our mindset, has gone up another notch. During these practices a lot of energy has been showing and a lot of intensity a couple of things have been breaking out, but we are just all here to play. Ready to go."
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On USC's Offense
"They are big and they are strong. They're going to keep moving their feet. They are picking them up and putting them down. They have some speed and a lot of athletic guys, but I'm more focused on playing the block. I know they have a lot of good technique, they have strong hands and they are going to come out ready to play."
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On His Sack On ASU QB Manny WilkinsÂ
"My job is to play the quarterback and my angle originally, I was coming out I saw that he was booting out, so I know the guy is a little faster than me so I had to change my angle. I don't know if you guys saw the video, I widened out a lot to force him to cut back inside towards my help. Then, I was able to plant my foot in the ground and make the play. I don't know if you guys saw the video but I took up a big patch of dirt trying to stop him. Then, I just kind of went through my progressions and was able to make the play."
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On Physicality
"It's going to be very important that we keep the temperature going, keep our physicality going and turn it up even more than we have. It's going to help us with a lot of messing up the run game, help messing up the pass game. Our goal is always to stop the runs, keep teams one dimensional. I think our physicality is going to make a big difference because it's going to allow us to make more plays on the ball and disrupt their offense. That's what our goal is."
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On Playing At USC
"Our main goal is that we focus on one team and the most important team is us. We know that if we go out there and we do what we've been working on all week, talking about all week and execute our game plan, we plan to be victorious. That's just kind of our mindset. We focus on one team, that's us and we go game by game."
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On Mindset Facing Freshman QB In USC's J.T. Daniels
"It doesn't really change my mindset, but I do think that it is beneficial for us because he is young so applying pressure on him, we don't know how he's going to react with that coming on him."
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On Facing A Balanced USC Offense
"It just comes down to our film work because most teams come out with a script and a plan of what they are going to play to see how we play each thing. I think if we come out and execute what we are going to do, they are going to have to focus on certain aspects of their offense and what's going to succeed for them and I think basically we are going to focus on certain plays that we can dominate on and that's going to make them reduce their playbook."
On Quiet Confidence Of Team
"Our confidence is very high. We are very prepared, we are very ready. We do have a chip on our shoulder, but I think the key factor in this whole things is that we don't let it go to our heads. I think our coaches do a good job of letting us know during practice that yeah, we've been winning, but we still got another game to play, we still got more games to play and we want to keep this going. So we can't get a big head and start thinking past what we got next."
On QB Steven Montez
"I think he's shown he can get it done. Throwing the ball, running the ball, he's showed that he's very versatile. He's elevated his game from spring ball, from fall camp, everything's changed. I think he's definitely a motivator on the team, he's a play maker and he helps get the job done on offense."
Colorado Tailback Travon McMillian
On Similarity Between USC And Miami (FL) Who He Faced At Virginia Tech
"Playing against Miami was a good experience. Those guys talk a lot of trash. They are really big and really physical. It is similar to playing USC. Everybody on the east coast kind of looks up to Miami. I know in the west coast, guys look up to SC. It will be a challenge for us, but I am excited to be able to play against these guys and be able to display what we do. You can't be intimidated. We just have to be ready and be focused. It isn't about matching what they do. This group and these guys on our team have our own swagger about ourselves and how we handle things."
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On Leadership Of OB Steven Montez
"He is always locked in, but can be loose as well. That is good. He is always focused and always knows where our guys are supposed to be and who is supposed to be doing what. When we have a leader who can guide us, that helps out the team a lot."
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On Decision To Come To CU As Graduate-Transfer From Virginia Tech
"I definitely wanted success for myself. When I was looking at different schools, I had a really great relationship with Coach Mac (Head Coach Mike MacIntyre) and he had a great relationship with myself and my family, as well as [RB] Coach [Darian] Hagan. When I came here on a visit, I felt really comfortable. When I first committed to Virginia Tech, it was important for me to have that family atmosphere, especially in the locker room with your team. I felt that when I was here. The guys in the locker room, Steven [Montez] and all of those guys, made me feel really welcomed here. That is what made me really come here."
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On Team's Focus
"It comes from Steven [Montez], but it also comes from how we prepared this summer. A lot of people were doubting us this summer, and we knew that. We knew that we had to stay low, keep our mouths closed, and go to work. Our entire team has that entire mindset about them. We are all really dedicated to what we do. This is extremely important for us. We are taking it really seriously."
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On Team's Physicality
"I feel like we were really physical (against ASU). Each and every week, I feel like our O-line, our backs, and everybody, even our receivers, have been way more physical, blocking on the perimeter. Our O-line has been handling a lot of movements and things like that. It is a challenge every week. Every week you have to be physical and every week is a new week. The stage gets bigger and bigger each week. You have to be more physical each and every week. That is how it is."
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On His Big Game Experience Helping Prepare For USC
"I am willing to do whatever it takes for the team. Whether it is pass blocking or catching the ball out of the backfield, whatever it takes. I am willing to help whoever needs help. If anybody needs advice about anything I am willing to give advice about it. It is not just me who has experience. There are also other guys that have experience. We can all help each other out."
Â
On Fifth-Year Senior Wisdom
"You have seen certain looks and you've seen certain blitzes. The terminology is just different from conference to conference sometimes. Having experience takes pressure off you because you have been in that situation. I feel a lot more confident in the offense and in the system as the weeks have progressed. I am going to continue to go hard in practice each and every week and get better."
Â
On Chance To Beat USC For First Time In Program History
"Our team has the mindset that it doesn't matter who the opponent is. If we prepare the way we are supposed to prepare and do the right things, we should be ready to go. I think we are doing the right things this week and I don't think we have any injured guys or anything like that. We are looking pretty good. We are going to keep pushing and not be satisfied."
On What He's Improved On Since Suiting Up For Virginia Tech
"Everything. Everything. This entire offseason I dedicated my life to my footwork, jump cuts, pass protection, making sure that my hands are inside and that I'm striking, and just having good eyes really. That's what it's really about. When you're a running back, you have to have good eyes, seeing the backers, see the flow of the defense, and knowing the running scheme. Knowing where our guys are going to be, who we are doubling to, and who we are kicking out. Things like that. I worked extremely hard this offseason to become a better student of the game and really understand what's going on."
On Life Out West
"When I came to visit Colorado, it was my first time in Colorado. I have only been to the west coast twice. I went to California two times my entire life. I am an east coast guy. I like it. I want to stay here, that is for sure. I definitely like the west coast better."
"Playing against Miami was a good experience. Those guys talk a lot of trash. They are really big and really physical. It is similar to playing USC. Everybody on the east coast kind of looks up to Miami. I know in the west coast, guys look up to SC. It will be a challenge for us, but I am excited to be able to play against these guys and be able to display what we do. You can't be intimidated. We just have to be ready and be focused. It isn't about matching what they do. This group and these guys on our team have our own swagger about ourselves and how we handle things."
Â
On Leadership Of OB Steven Montez
"He is always locked in, but can be loose as well. That is good. He is always focused and always knows where our guys are supposed to be and who is supposed to be doing what. When we have a leader who can guide us, that helps out the team a lot."
Â
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On Decision To Come To CU As Graduate-Transfer From Virginia Tech
"I definitely wanted success for myself. When I was looking at different schools, I had a really great relationship with Coach Mac (Head Coach Mike MacIntyre) and he had a great relationship with myself and my family, as well as [RB] Coach [Darian] Hagan. When I came here on a visit, I felt really comfortable. When I first committed to Virginia Tech, it was important for me to have that family atmosphere, especially in the locker room with your team. I felt that when I was here. The guys in the locker room, Steven [Montez] and all of those guys, made me feel really welcomed here. That is what made me really come here."
Â
On Team's Focus
"It comes from Steven [Montez], but it also comes from how we prepared this summer. A lot of people were doubting us this summer, and we knew that. We knew that we had to stay low, keep our mouths closed, and go to work. Our entire team has that entire mindset about them. We are all really dedicated to what we do. This is extremely important for us. We are taking it really seriously."
Â
On Team's Physicality
"I feel like we were really physical (against ASU). Each and every week, I feel like our O-line, our backs, and everybody, even our receivers, have been way more physical, blocking on the perimeter. Our O-line has been handling a lot of movements and things like that. It is a challenge every week. Every week you have to be physical and every week is a new week. The stage gets bigger and bigger each week. You have to be more physical each and every week. That is how it is."
Â
On His Big Game Experience Helping Prepare For USC
"I am willing to do whatever it takes for the team. Whether it is pass blocking or catching the ball out of the backfield, whatever it takes. I am willing to help whoever needs help. If anybody needs advice about anything I am willing to give advice about it. It is not just me who has experience. There are also other guys that have experience. We can all help each other out."
Â
On Fifth-Year Senior Wisdom
"You have seen certain looks and you've seen certain blitzes. The terminology is just different from conference to conference sometimes. Having experience takes pressure off you because you have been in that situation. I feel a lot more confident in the offense and in the system as the weeks have progressed. I am going to continue to go hard in practice each and every week and get better."
Â
On Chance To Beat USC For First Time In Program History
"Our team has the mindset that it doesn't matter who the opponent is. If we prepare the way we are supposed to prepare and do the right things, we should be ready to go. I think we are doing the right things this week and I don't think we have any injured guys or anything like that. We are looking pretty good. We are going to keep pushing and not be satisfied."
On What He's Improved On Since Suiting Up For Virginia Tech
"Everything. Everything. This entire offseason I dedicated my life to my footwork, jump cuts, pass protection, making sure that my hands are inside and that I'm striking, and just having good eyes really. That's what it's really about. When you're a running back, you have to have good eyes, seeing the backers, see the flow of the defense, and knowing the running scheme. Knowing where our guys are going to be, who we are doubling to, and who we are kicking out. Things like that. I worked extremely hard this offseason to become a better student of the game and really understand what's going on."
On Life Out West
"When I came to visit Colorado, it was my first time in Colorado. I have only been to the west coast twice. I went to California two times my entire life. I am an east coast guy. I like it. I want to stay here, that is for sure. I definitely like the west coast better."
Players Mentioned
OLB
/ Football
TB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
TB
/ Football
QB
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WR
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WR
/ Football
OLB
/ Football
OLB
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