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00:00 >> All right, good morning, appreciate everybody being here.
00:02 I was coming off game on Saturday night, getting a chance to go back and
00:08 watch the film.
00:09 I thought it was a good game for us, and one that we talked to our team beforehand
00:15 about trying to put on display the identity of who we are.
00:19 You have an emotional game week one, you coming into week two, short week,
00:25 having to kind of condense our schedule in a few ways to get prepared, to get ready.
00:30 And I thought our guys came out and really did a good job throughout the game.
00:35 They played for 60 minutes.
00:37 We were able to, I think we played 102 players,
00:41 which is the most I've ever played in a game before, which was a great experience and
00:45 a great opportunity for guys to kind of showcase where they are.
00:49 A lot of great young players got extensive experience, and
00:54 I think that's gonna be something we can build upon.
00:56 I thought our defense, especially our first defense, was dominant throughout.
01:01 That was an offense that's well coached.
01:05 I mean, they have a talented back that I think is a really, really good player.
01:10 It's a good skill position, guys, but I mean,
01:12 I thought our defensive front was great, was a great enforcing unit.
01:18 I thought we were improved in our communication in the back end.
01:21 There's still two or three plays where we've gotta be better,
01:25 just in certain adjustments where we let guys get free.
01:29 But great pass rush, forced quick throws in those situations.
01:33 But I was really pleased with the way that our defense came out and
01:38 the way that they were able to play for 60 minutes.
01:42 Offensively, I thought we did a good job of our response.
01:46 We had some missed opportunities.
01:47 There were some plays that we definitely left out there.
01:50 But those guys continued to fight, continued to work.
01:55 I think we played maybe 50 snaps in the first half,
01:59 which was kind of what we wanted to do.
02:00 We wanted to try to push the tempo.
02:02 We wanted to try to wear those guys down, knowing if we got in the second half,
02:08 to be able to really establish the run game.
02:10 And I thought our backs ran hard.
02:13 I thought our line did a good job creating some scenes.
02:16 But like I said, we had a few missed opportunities, but
02:18 then we had some great plays.
02:19 You have my guys out on the perimeter as well.
02:21 So to come out of that game and to have some disappointing moments and
02:26 still have the margin of victory of what it was,
02:30 I think a Southern Miss team's gonna be a good team.
02:33 I think they're gonna compete in their conference.
02:35 And I mean, they played really hard.
02:37 So it was a good test for us.
02:40 I was proud of our guys and their response.
02:42 And that gets us into this week.
02:44 You open up ACC play, going on the road,
02:47 playing a Boston College team that's tough, they're physical.
02:53 Their offensive line is really, they've got a lot of guys back.
02:58 Last year, they really dealt with a lot of injuries that was tough and
03:01 challenging for them.
03:03 They're gonna try to create movement up front.
03:06 They made a switch at quarterback with Thomas Castellanos.
03:11 Now starting that quarterback to Thomas is somebody that we recruited.
03:15 We were looking at him as a running back athlete as he was coming out.
03:20 And I mean, he's really done a nice job.
03:22 He went to UCF, now transferred to Boston College.
03:25 And you see the playmaking ability that he has.
03:29 And he was a great player in high school.
03:30 He was somebody that you absolutely have to work to contain.
03:33 They got a couple guys on the perimeter that can run and create separation.
03:37 So it's gonna be a good matchup.
03:41 It's one that our guys, we're excited to get started in conference.
03:45 And we understand what we wanna achieve and what we wanna do.
03:49 This is a first step when it comes to coming into conference play.
03:53 This is a big game up at BC.
03:59 I mean, this is their bandana game.
04:01 Wells Crowther, the young man that played for them years back.
04:06 And actually on September 11th, lost his life.
04:10 Helping others there going into the towers before they collapsed.
04:16 And it's a game that will honor him and his legacy.
04:20 I talked to our team about that a little bit last night.
04:23 Just out of respect for Wells and just the family and all that he embodied.
04:30 And so this will be an emotional game.
04:33 I'm sure it'll be a great atmosphere there.
04:37 And it's an opportunity for us to go on the road and
04:40 kick off conference play, which we're definitely excited about.
04:43 >> First question will be Ira, second row on your right.
04:45 >> Okay, different kind of two for one.
04:48 I'm gonna ask about two different guys.
04:49 And one question though.
04:51 Darion Williamson is showing his flash potential.
04:55 How good was it to see him healthy again and playing the way he did?
04:58 And then also, how far has the new span come?
05:00 >> Well, I mean, both those guys were guys coming out of the game,
05:04 guys I was really proud of.
05:05 They didn't play perfect games.
05:07 There's things that they have to, some mistakes they gotta clean up.
05:10 But I mean, for Darion to have that first touchdown,
05:13 he's a guy that's had to battle injuries.
05:15 He's had to overcome some challenging situations.
05:18 But he is really coming into his own as a player.
05:22 And it was great to see him make that big play.
05:25 And obviously had a couple of you throughout the game.
05:26 And just really like what he brings to our wide receiver room.
05:30 He's explosive, he's big, he's fast.
05:32 He's got great ball skills.
05:34 And I mean, I think he's a dynamic guy in special teams units too.
05:38 So it was great to have him back out there.
05:41 And then Deuce fan, when Deuce came here,
05:43 we were basically starting from square one.
05:46 I mean, Deuce was a transitioning quarterback,
05:50 moving to the receiver position.
05:51 So he's had to learn a lot.
05:53 And that process, it sometimes takes time.
05:56 But if you watch him, I would say probably one of the most improved players on our
05:59 football team when you take just his rock running ability,
06:02 the things that he's done, he's definitely explosive when you get the ball in his
06:06 hands, he's got great speed, probably one of the faster players on our football team.
06:09 But to see him make the difficult catch coming across the middle,
06:14 and just, obviously with the speed sweep later in the game, it was an explosive play.
06:18 And I'm proud of him for his growth.
06:21 And you adding that into the room that we have,
06:25 I mean, it allows you to work to keep those guys fresh.
06:28 And be able to have a great rotation where we can always continue to apply
06:33 pressure on defensive backfields.
06:35 We're hopeful that we'll get Tron back here soon.
06:39 He's working through it.
06:40 I know I mentioned Juttai at the beginning last week.
06:44 And so we were down a few guys, but I mean, I thought of King Williams,
06:48 who came in, had a fourth down conversion, which I'm really proud of him for.
06:51 I think he's, the last three weeks, I mean,
06:53 he's really taken some major leaps and bounds there to receiver position.
06:57 And you see just a variety of different guys.
07:00 You have Andrew Jacobs scored a touchdown there late, which I was proud of him.
07:03 Dustin Hill had a big catch.
07:05 We got a really good group.
07:07 Winston Wright, you had a couple of really nice return and
07:12 still doing some good things there offensively.
07:14 So I know it's a broader question, but I mean, it's a response to the question.
07:19 But I'm excited about that group and the continued growth and development.
07:23 Like I said, we had some missed opportunities there where guys,
07:27 we got the ball in our hands and just we weren't able to finish it going to the
07:30 ground.
07:31 So there's something that we're looking at just as coaches to make sure we continue
07:35 to implement drills to help with that.
07:37 Because it wasn't just like, there weren't a whole lot of just straight drops.
07:41 It's like guys catch the ball, but when it got to the ground,
07:43 just weren't able to continue to secure them and finish the play.
07:47 And then there were some good plays that Southern Miss defensive backs made as
07:50 well, a couple of the vertical passes.
07:52 So that's something that we're challenging our guys with and
07:55 looking forward to seeing them get better.
07:56 >> I'll go to Brendan here on the left.
08:00 >> Kind of a follow up to that, what is the message to Johnny Wilson this week?
08:04 Make sure he's in a good spot mentally and just moving forward.
08:07 >> I mean, just go get better.
08:10 I mean, Johnny is a great player and he did a good job in his house.
08:15 Obviously, he put himself in a good position.
08:18 Just had a couple times when he hit the ground, the ball rattled loose.
08:21 And nobody wants that in that moment, but it's what happened.
08:25 And so you learn from it, you get better.
08:27 And I'm definitely excited for him to get a chance to respond.
08:31 But he knows what he needs to do.
08:36 And I love his attitude, his work ethic.
08:40 He's gonna come back and be in great shape for it.
08:44 >> Next will be Essend, third row on your left.
08:46 >> You've talked a lot about the young defensive back group that you have.
08:50 How much they got a lot of playing time, I think it's a couple of snaps.
08:55 How big was that playing time for them and what do you see from them this past game?
08:58 >> No, it was great because you got to see, it's one thing to see it in practice, but
09:02 it's another thing when they had to go out there on the field.
09:03 And it's more than anything, it's the communication, and
09:07 it's trusting your eyes, trusting your keys.
09:08 And there were some good and bad when it came to that.
09:11 But for a young freshman, everybody wants to play.
09:15 Everybody wants to have an opportunity to get out there and make an impact.
09:17 And there were some really good things that showed up.
09:21 I thought we had two opportunities at interceptions that we had to make sure we
09:25 finished, but I thought those guys competed, they battled.
09:29 It was good to see a larger workload that they got to work through.
09:35 But there's still some things with their eyes and
09:38 just particular communication that was great for us to be able to go back
09:42 yesterday and try to help build the confidence and
09:45 what and how they need to do things.
09:48 And so definitely fired up about that.
09:51 I thought our linebackers, a guy that really stood out to me was Blake Nicholson.
09:56 I know it's not deep in the back, but I mean, he had an unbelievable play on
10:00 a wheel route.
10:01 He did it on some of our special teams units.
10:04 I'm really, really excited about where he's going.
10:07 I know Justin Cryer got some good work there, a linebacker as well,
10:11 DeMarco Ward.
10:12 So it was good to see some of those young backers get in there as well.
10:15 So I thought it was a good workload.
10:18 >> I'll come back to the front row for Chris.
10:21 Akeem Den, obviously went off, it looked like he was grabbing maybe his hand.
10:24 I'm just wondering if there's any update on him after the game.
10:27 >> We'll see, we'll track how everything goes this week.
10:30 We got a couple guys that missed the game.
10:32 We were down, Rob and Maurice there on the offensive line.
10:36 We'll see where that goes here this week.
10:38 Obviously Akeem went down in the game, was not able to return.
10:42 Johnny went down, was not able to return.
10:45 But we'll see how they progress.
10:48 I thought they came in well last night,
10:50 as we were able to start getting treatment and things like that.
10:54 So I'll give you probably a better sense of it as the week progresses.
10:59 >> We'll go to the right side for Kurt.
11:02 >> You talked about Akeem, the catch he made.
11:04 I know he had a really impressive block downfield on Brock's run as well.
11:08 I guess, how do you see him take to that?
11:10 Seems like he enjoys that aspect of the game.
11:12 And when a guy is able to put in that kind of effort, how much that helped you?
11:16 I mean, be more willing to play him more, I'm sure.
11:18 >> Yeah, no, I mean, he's definitely put himself in a position.
11:20 And I think for him, he's just getting in shape.
11:22 I mean, his first nine months here, I mean, it was a process.
11:27 And so, but you see now that he's in shape,
11:30 you see him starting to utilize his mind, his fundamentals.
11:34 Being able to apply the technique, he's definitely got the want to.
11:38 And that's something that, he's a great young man.
11:40 I think he's got a special future and
11:43 definitely excited about what he's bringing to that receiver room.
11:47 But when you have that type of work ethic and
11:49 that type of passion to get better, I mean, good things are gonna happen.
11:52 And now that he's gotten to a point where he's in much better shape,
11:57 we're able to see better flashes of what we think he's gonna become.
12:01 >> Next will be Corey, second row on the right.
12:06 I know the answer to this is probably no, but I'm gonna ask it anyway.
12:09 >> No. >> Do you allow yourself to embrace what
12:12 this program has become, considering where it was two years ago,
12:17 18 months ago when we were in here interviewing you after games and
12:20 before games, number three team in the country, real championship aspirations.
12:24 Do you allow yourself to appreciate?
12:26 >> Appreciate or embrace, both.
12:31 >> Take both.
12:31 Take both.
12:33 >> Yes, there is an appreciation for where we've come,
12:37 because I watch our players work.
12:39 I watch what they put into it.
12:41 I see how hard our coaches coach.
12:42 I see the program wide investment to see guys believe, get better,
12:49 and then you obviously respond to the situations that we have found ourselves in.
12:53 So I appreciate that.
12:55 Embrace, man, there's no difference in how I approach, well,
13:00 somebody says that we're highly rated or highly ranked or not.
13:04 None of that matters.
13:04 It's about what we are willing to do when we show up and when we go to work.
13:09 I believe in this team.
13:10 I believe in this team for what they've been through.
13:13 I believe in this team for the guys that have said yes to come be a part of it and
13:17 the challenge that are presented to them.
13:19 When they were making that choice, we're very transparent.
13:22 I want guys to know exactly what they're coming into when they come into this
13:27 family and for the ones that have said yes, man, I'm really proud of them.
13:32 And it's a daily challenge for us to, and
13:36 that's why last week was a big game for us.
13:38 Like people, nothing ever, you can take nothing for granted.
13:43 And it was, to me, we didn't play a perfect game.
13:46 We had a big victory and that was great.
13:48 But it was more to see the approach,
13:50 to see our guys work throughout the course of the week.
13:52 And there were some moments where it was up and down.
13:55 I think I talked about that a little bit on Wednesday.
13:57 But watching them on Friday, you can see in the GPS data,
14:01 that was the most explosive moments we had in a practice, right?
14:06 Since we've been here in a game week.
14:08 And to do that on a short week, that shows you intent.
14:11 And I respect that from our players.
14:14 And so the new expectation, right, needs to be better than that.
14:18 And that's where you continue to push for best.
14:22 And that's what, I think our guys embrace it.
14:25 They don't always like it.
14:26 I mean, it's just like anything.
14:28 I mean, we all wanna take a deep breath.
14:29 We all wanna be able to have a relaxing moment.
14:32 So yes, there's an appreciation.
14:34 But there's also responsibility that comes with the steps that we've taken
14:39 to go get better.
14:39 And that's what we're continuing to push to do.
14:42 >> We'll come back to Brendan for our earlier left.
14:43 >> You praised the run game earlier on.
14:46 I guess what stood out about what you guys did well this past week?
14:50 And then specifically,
14:50 Kaziah Holmes, how did he do when he got his opportunities?
14:53 >> It was good.
14:54 I thought there were some explosive runs.
14:56 The offensive line did a really nice job.
14:58 And there was a few mistakes that we had.
15:01 We had guys playing in different positions.
15:03 Some guys getting more opportunity.
15:06 I thought Darius Washington, I just can't say enough about him.
15:10 He's remarkable.
15:12 He can literally play all five positions.
15:14 And to go in there at center, he managed the game well.
15:17 Like I said, it wasn't a perfect game.
15:19 But he really did a good job of going in there and making a positive impact.
15:23 And it was a game, as we continued to go through it,
15:28 we wanted to be able to continue to lean on.
15:32 We threw the ball a lot early.
15:33 And that was part of my thought process.
15:36 I mean, in being able to attack and to force those guys to run.
15:39 And then obviously, to be able to have some of the tempo.
15:42 As we got up into the 40 and 50 plays,
15:44 I thought we really started to lean on those guys pretty good.
15:47 And opened up some big seams and
15:49 our backs did a great job of being able to convert on that.
15:52 Really, every back had a good run in that game.
15:55 And it was, obviously, Trey had three touchdowns.
15:58 Cuz I was great seeing him get in the open field.
16:00 You have his touchdown run, he had a big run.
16:03 Morris Ophelia had a big run.
16:04 Even CJ Campbell had a couple really nice runs.
16:06 So I mean, it was great to see those guys and
16:09 how they were able to take advantage of it.
16:11 But I thought our whole line did a really nice job along the side of our tight ends.
16:16 >> You're good?
16:19 We'll go to Allison.
16:22 Then Ira.
16:26 >> Coach, kind of expanding on what Corey asked, but
16:29 just because this team so highly ranked now.
16:32 And I asked you about the maturity of them on Saturday, but who do you turn to?
16:36 Do you have to direct them, like guys stay focused?
16:39 Is that an internal thing?
16:40 Do they do that?
16:41 And what kind of mindset, I guess, of this team right now?
16:43 >> It's all.
16:45 I mean, there's no, we can't, that's coaches, right?
16:48 It's all of us.
16:49 And that's where, for me, the mindset that I bring to practice,
16:52 the mindset I bring to a meeting.
16:53 I've gotta work hard to live to be the example for them.
16:59 And we got great players and we got great young men that want to,
17:03 they want to achieve greatness.
17:04 They want to get better.
17:06 And so we have the opportunity.
17:08 This is what we do with that opportunity.
17:10 And so it's, the older guys that have lived it,
17:15 they probably, we built that trust throughout time.
17:19 But for the newcomers, sometimes you gotta paint the picture for them.
17:24 But when they see the older guys and the investment, the work.
17:28 Like last night, we did our developmental practice with some of the guys that
17:32 don't get as many reps.
17:34 And it's just a little extra time for
17:37 those guys to be able to kind of showcase themselves, their growth.
17:41 And that was one of our best days we've had since I've been here.
17:44 And I mean, those young guys, they came in there and it was impressive.
17:48 The urgency, the drive, the fundamental focus that it came with.
17:54 And so, and that's necessary.
17:56 Because you never know at what point we might be calling on one of those guys to
17:59 have to go in there and make a play.
18:01 But it's everybody.
18:03 And that's what makes this game so special.
18:05 Because if I'm just talking to one or I'm just talking to a couple, and
18:09 we only have 75% of our guys that are getting better, well, 25 is gonna show up.
18:14 And obviously, we gotta make sure that there is that sense of urgency
18:18 across our program, and that's never gonna change.
18:21 And it's something that we talk about throughout the year.
18:26 And that's why I always say, Florida State's not for everybody.
18:30 It's just for the real ones, the ones that truly desire to do something special.
18:34 And you see that in the way that our guys are working.
18:37 >> All right, last one will be Ira.
18:39 >> We talked to Darian a couple weeks ago, and he said that when he first got here,
18:44 you guys had just gotten here, and the program wasn't what it needed to be.
18:49 But he said over the last year or two,
18:51 he's really come to just trust you and the staff completely.
18:54 Like, was he a guy that you know that he could be this kind of a leader in terms of,
19:00 I mean, Jerry Burr said Darian was one of the guys that said to come back.
19:04 And did you see that in him when he first got here, or
19:07 how has that relationship kind of grown?
19:09 >> I love Darian, and I mean, just who he is and the growth that I've seen.
19:13 And that's where leadership comes through example and experience.
19:17 And he's had to grow up.
19:21 He's had to grow up a lot in his time here, from day one to where he is now.
19:24 And that was a really good moment.
19:27 I loved watching him get that pick six the other day.
19:29 And it was just, he's faced adversity, he's had to overcome challenge.
19:33 But I mean, he is, we talked about that buying and building trust.
19:37 I mean, that's hard earned.
19:38 And he's made the choice, cuz I mean,
19:42 we're not changing to the standard of how we're gonna operate.
19:45 And he made the choice to.
19:47 And when guys see that growth in an individual that has talent, that has ability,
19:52 he's had to overcome some challenging moments where maybe people doubted or
19:58 questioned, and for him to be able to block that out and just focus on getting
20:02 better, and now you're seeing his best game on display.
20:06 And he's still gonna get better throughout the course of the season.
20:09 But that's a young man that his leadership has come from his experience and
20:14 the willingness to push and to overcome in those situations.
20:18 So yeah, he's one that I think has earned a leadership role through that,
20:24 and I'm just really proud of him.
20:25 >> All right, thank you, Coach.
20:26 >> All right, you guys have a great day.
20:27 Thank you.