Alabama State's Ja'Won Howell, Kisean Johnson and Dematrius Davis after a Labor Day Classic Win Against Southern
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00:02 >> Keith Mims, WAGG 16, 100.1 FM,
00:06 Birmingham, Alabama, home of Keyshawn Johnson.
00:11 This question is for you, Keyshawn.
00:14 I spoke with coach just a moment ago, and was just telling him that you seem to be
00:20 playing with such a swag and a sense of confidence tonight.
00:25 You had a lot of yards after catch.
00:28 Talk a little bit about the work that you put in this summer that really adds your
00:32 confidence at a very high level.
00:34 >> A lot of early morning, a lot of late nights.
00:38 That's all I really can say.
00:40 It's a continuous, it's just one move, and you never get satisfied.
00:44 Never be complacent with one move.
00:46 And when the lights come on, everything just come to me.
00:49 I put in all the groundwork.
00:51 When the lights off in the stadium, when the lights off in the conference,
00:54 I put all the groundwork.
00:55 So when the lights come on, it's showtime.
00:58 >> A question for Keyshawn and Demetrius.
01:01 You guys seem to be firing on all cylinders today.
01:04 Anything to say about your performance today?
01:06 >> So it's just a four in one connection.
01:10 When I see something, I let him know.
01:13 He see something, he let me know.
01:14 >> For a lot of that, you guys seem to just, you just need to outfield.
01:17 You just need to look.
01:18 >> Just fire me.
01:19 So a couple of times on the side, I told him, just fire me.
01:21 Somewhere down there, just fire me.
01:23 Just that four in one connection.
01:26 >> JaJuan, it was a unique offense you saw today.
01:28 A lot of direct snaps, screens, running plays.
01:30 How was working through that offensive set throughout the week and
01:33 seeing it be successful tonight?
01:34 >> It just make us feel great that our preparation actually came to fruition.
01:40 We had a lot of success running the ball tonight between me and Jada.
01:43 So we're showing something new.
01:45 Like what we're doing, gotta improve on some things.
01:48 But it was a solid night running the ball, so it's very efficient.
01:52 >> Demetrius, how comfortable were you out there?
01:55 You looked really good all game, so just kinda just telling me what was the points.
01:59 >> Yeah, I was very comfortable.
02:00 I trusted my whole line, my receivers.
02:02 I just, I felt like everything we ran was gonna work.
02:05 So yeah, I was very comfortable.
02:08 >> You kinda transitioned from a more run-heavy offense to really throwing the
02:11 ball downfield in the second half.
02:13 What was that like for you as kind of the offensive focus changed
02:16 throughout the game?
02:17 >> Yeah, we had some quick stuff at the beginning of the game.
02:19 So that allowed us to open the walls and downfield throws and stuff like that.
02:23 So we just set them up all the time.
02:27 >> I know you wanted to work your game as a passer.
02:28 How do you feel about that aspect of your game as you're going to your second year?
02:33 >> Yeah, I know I gotta get better.
02:34 My dream is to go to the NFL, man.
02:36 It's a passing league, so I gotta get better every day.
02:40 >> Keyshawn, after that first touchdown, did you kinda know,
02:43 yeah, it's gonna be one of those games?
02:45 >> Yeah, I knew that Wednesday.
02:47 >> [LAUGH] >> Yeah, Wednesday.
02:49 But I ain't seen it yet, man.
02:50 It's just a start.
02:53 I ain't gonna hit my head on it, man.
02:54 I'm gonna get back in that lab, keep working, get ready for miles.
02:57 I put my mind at miles.
02:59 >> I know the defense didn't represent themselves tonight, but
03:02 Hero Blood started strong for Southern.
03:04 But then the defense really stepped it up second, third, fourth quarter.
03:07 What did you guys see from them as they kind of just flipped the switch to really
03:10 take control?
03:10 >> I can say intensity.
03:13 They bumped it up a notch.
03:14 And just seeing us make plays, they gave them confidence.
03:18 Every time they came up to the side, they're like, man, y'all moving fast.
03:21 We got y'all.
03:22 Just keep doing what y'all doing, man.
03:23 We got y'all, man.
03:24 We laying y'all down, cuz when we ain't paying attention, we posted.
03:27 So just seeing us make plays, we wanted to make plays.
03:30 So we knew that we was gonna get it right.
03:33 It was just a start a little flat, but they just did that top defense.
03:38 >> I counted about eight trick plays in backfield today.
03:41 Is that something that we're gonna be seeing a lot in the future?
03:45 >> Yeah, we had some directs tonight, some misdirection.
03:48 We definitely see that, for sure.
03:51 >> John, first season of the RB1, coach talked about that leading up to this year.
03:56 How did you personally feel about your performance as the starting running back?
03:59 >> My performance tonight, it was pretty solid.
04:02 But I have an obsession with getting better.
04:06 So I'm gonna go back there and rewatch the film and see if I missed a hole or
04:10 if I hesitated going through a hole or I missed a read.
04:14 So it was a solid performance.
04:16 I'm gonna get a pilot yardage in the play, just staying consistent.
04:19 It was my biggest thing, just being consistent.
04:21 So there's gonna be more to come.
04:24 There's gonna be more explosive runs and more touchdowns.
04:27 So we will get everything we have.
04:29 Go correct mistakes and watch the film and go from there.
04:32 Take care of my house.
04:34 >> Keith Mims, WAGG 16, 100.1 FM, Birmingham Summit Media.
04:40 Question for Demetrius.
04:43 You had double figure targets with Keyshawn tonight.
04:47 Do you have that same kind of confidence in all of your receivers?
04:52 You had completions to five different receivers tonight,
04:57 really pass the ball around to different receivers.
05:02 Do you have that same kind of confidence in everybody who's out there?
05:06 >> Yeah, I feel like anyone that's out there with me, I can throw it to them.
05:09 And I think it's a great job out of coaches, putting the right guys out there.
05:13 And me and Keith have been working since January,
05:15 one on one on the field, on the practice field.
05:18 So we just got that connection, and I'm gonna go at him in every game.
05:21 So he knows it.
05:22 So yeah.
05:24 >> All right, guys, appreciate it.
05:27 >> Save.