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00:00 >> All right, get a few opening comments and then we'll take the question.
00:03 >> First off, hats off to Shane Beamer and his team.
00:06 What a pretty good job those guys did.
00:10 They came into a tough environment with some relatively young players.
00:14 They played great composure and started with a really good plan against us.
00:18 I thought they executed, out executed us for sure there in the first quarter.
00:23 I think your kids played hard.
00:25 They played really hard.
00:26 Next thing I'd like to thank our fans.
00:28 The momentum in the second half was created, number one,
00:31 by the offense having a really good possession in the second half.
00:34 But the fans, I think the fans and the feeling of that momentum is a powerful
00:39 thing.
00:39 And the momentum of our fans in the second half of sticking with us,
00:43 sticking by us, and staying with us was incredible.
00:46 And that momentum turned things around for us and gave us a lot of momentum, so
00:50 that was good.
00:51 >> What was the message and the mood that happened?
00:54 >> Calm, composure, we talked about our four DNH rates.
00:58 When things get tough, that's what you do, you rely on your DNH rates.
01:03 I was pretty excited at half because I said we're gonna find out what kind of
01:07 team we've got.
01:09 And I said this is it, right here, this is our moment.
01:11 We've had moments in other games.
01:14 We're gonna try to win one moment at a time in the second half.
01:16 Nobody's gonna go out there and score a 14 point pass down.
01:19 We're gonna win one moment at a time, play by play.
01:22 And when we lose a moment, we gotta win the next moment.
01:24 And they kind of bought into that.
01:25 And the drive allowed us to get some momentum and
01:30 that was the difference in the game, the momentum of the second half.
01:33 >> Coach, it seemed like they were having some success,
01:35 are they getting some pressures?
01:36 I guess, what was the key to the adjustment or if there was one?
01:39 >> It seemed like they were getting pressure, they did a good job.
01:42 You block five guys and do five and six man protection and
01:45 they bring four to five guys, they're gonna get pressure.
01:48 You gotta win quickly, you gotta get the ball out, you gotta have a good plan,
01:50 you gotta have guys to get the ball, you gotta make them pay.
01:53 They made us pay, we pressured.
01:54 And they made us pay here, probably the most pivotal play of the game,
01:57 was the first third down in the red area.
01:59 And we pressured, and they got a really good call against that red.
02:04 And we missed about five tackles.
02:05 So at the end of the day, is it what they did, is it what we did?
02:09 And their pressure was effective early and we made them pay for some of it.
02:14 And we got a running game going, that was the biggest difference.
02:16 >> Dominic Leather had five catches in the second half,
02:18 the Fowlers had four.
02:19 Just what do you say about those two guys who stepped up and
02:21 made you play in the second half like an offense?
02:23 >> Again, I think of those nine, six of those or seven of those were runs.
02:28 We had this conversation before.
02:29 >> We did.
02:30 >> Those runs were almost good.
02:31 >> [LAUGH] >> Catches that were runs.
02:35 Actually, the run game worked a little more.
02:38 And then the run game you don't recognize worked well too.
02:41 So both of those were good.
02:42 We take a lot of pride in that because if we're gonna struggle to run the ball or
02:46 if we're gonna struggle to have healthy backs, we have to create it in other ways.
02:50 >> Do you expect DeJohn to be that effective when he first came back?
02:53 >> Absolutely.
02:54 I would expect DeJohn to be that effective last week, this week, or next week.
02:58 He's a good back.
02:59 He's a tough football player.
03:00 And I'm fortunate that he was healthy today.
03:03 >> What was the injury for Marius and
03:05 what did you make about the offense when he played once he went out?
03:08 >> Well, he practiced that way all the time.
03:09 So it's kind of what we do.
03:12 We put the next man up.
03:14 I don't know if it's an ankle sprain or not significant, I have no clue.
03:18 It seems like ankle sprains all over the country right now.
03:21 Everybody's got ankle sprains.
03:22 We've got ankle sprains everywhere.
03:24 But I don't know how significant it is.
03:26 We'll find out.
03:27 But I was proud of Truss being able to bounce out there and play.
03:29 If you remember Truss's history, he's been out there and
03:31 played I guess two years ago, three years ago.
03:34 He's played out there before and I can't say how he played, but
03:38 we remember running the ball.
03:39 >> Coach, it seems like Mike Dale Williams had several forms of
03:42 definitive pressure today.
03:43 Just kind of talk about his.
03:45 >> Really good pass rusher, man.
03:46 He's our most dynamic rusher.
03:48 I know you probably saw it better than me.
03:50 I was watching the coverage, but I felt like he was back there a lot.
03:53 And he's gonna have to be effective for us in order to get pressure.
03:57 >> Kirby, three games in a row, you guys have had slow starts.
04:00 What can you put your finger on?
04:01 What are you seeing out there?
04:03 >> We adjusted all that halftime.
04:05 We played really good in the second half.
04:07 >> What can you say about the first half?
04:08 >> I can say that we're gonna play good in the second half.
04:10 We're gonna try to figure out what's going on in the first half.
04:13 I thought that we created an identity today in how we came out and
04:16 played in the second half.
04:18 Give them credit and say, hey, good job.
04:23 What can we do better?
04:24 And try to keep adjusting and keep getting better.
04:28 I mean, I thought their quarterback was on rhythm.
04:30 And you gotta do something to get him off rhythm.
04:32 He was very effective that first drive.
04:35 And we gave him two plays that we shouldn't give up.
04:37 The big post to 17 on the second touchdown drive and
04:40 then the third, I don't know, the third grounder.
04:43 We gave up a big play.
04:45 I just give them a lot of credit for that, less than they know.
04:49 >> One possession in the first quarter, four total in the first half.
04:52 How much of that is the new clock rules and
04:54 how much of that is their ability to matriculate the ball out in the field?
04:56 >> Both, I mean, they play with pace.
04:59 I mean, for them to play with pace, it's a long drive.
05:01 You gotta get out in the field.
05:03 And I told them, I said, look, we're gonna get six possessions in the second half.
05:06 I don't know, I mean, we're gonna get, so we're gonna get six possessions and
05:09 we're gonna get a score on four out of six.
05:10 We're gonna win one moment at a time.
05:12 And we're gonna go out and do it over and over again.
05:14 And the outside of possessions that ended in field goals in the second half,
05:18 that we ended up missing, but outside of that,
05:21 I thought we did really well for our possessions.
05:22 >> Kurt, how concerned are you about the kicking game and
05:25 what you've seen in this first three games?
05:27 >> Well, it's seen better in practice.
05:28 It's been really consistent in practice.
05:30 And I don't know, we'll go back and watch the tape, look at it, and
05:33 continue to reevaluate it, cuz we gotta do something there.
05:36 We gotta be able to score points.
05:38 I'd like to not have to kick those three goals.
05:39 That's the first answer.
05:40 >> Going back to Dejan, just what did you see from him today and
05:43 how much of a boost is it for you guys when you have him?
05:45 >> Well, it's huge.
05:46 He makes people miss and the whole, he gets yards as a contact.
05:49 He's very confident.
05:50 He's an experienced player.
05:51 He's tough.
05:52 Just a traditional Georgia high school football player.
05:55 Just a really good player, in a really tough area, and effective runner.
05:59 Great job.
06:00 >> Coach, tomorrow, Rob Tomlin's had a couple of big plays,
06:02 especially on that first drop in the second half.
06:04 What was it like seeing his progression and
06:06 now he's making an impact on the field for you?
06:08 >> Yeah, I thought he had his best week of practice last week.
06:10 And we gotta find ways to get him the ball and use him and use his skill set.
06:15 And then that second half, he's never gonna call it twice.
06:18 He made both plays, he's great at that.
06:19 >> What was your initial assessment of Dave Daniels' play, which knocked him out?
06:23 >> I don't know, cuz there's a couple plays where he played a little high,
06:26 a little hesitant.
06:27 But I do think he got better as the game went on.
06:30 He played better, and Dan played too.
06:32 So those guys both played in that position with JB being out.
06:38 I thought they stepped up big time.
06:39 That was a tough game to go into for your first start.
06:42 >> Kendall Bell's left the game with an injury, and
06:44 then Marvin Jones, she knew it was gonna be an update on him.
06:47 >> Yeah, so Kendall had, I'm not sure.
06:51 I think they had taped him up, and they're saying that he might be able to come back.
06:54 I wanna say it was MCL, but I'm not sure.
06:57 And we had Dylan and Dejon being able to go.
07:01 And Marvin's dealing with a little bit of a sickness there.
07:04 And hopefully get him back this week.
07:05 >> What is it how important it is for you guys to face adversity and
07:09 how you respond?
07:10 You talked a little bit about the identity.
07:12 So what specifically did you see and learn about your team tonight?
07:15 >> Did they answer the bell?
07:16 There's lots that we can talk about, and they gotta do better, lots.
07:20 Start fast, start better.
07:22 What's causing it, why are we doing it?
07:24 And the world has questions and all these things.
07:27 And you know what?
07:27 I found out a lot more about my team today than I did any other day this year.
07:31 And I'm just thrilled.
07:35 I came to the locker room, they were committed to each other.
07:38 They were talking about what they gotta do better.
07:40 Offense was over here, defense was over there.
07:41 Nobody was bickering.
07:43 Complete control, calm, amongst the storm.
07:46 They responded.
07:47 >> What did you say about Carson Beckett?
07:48 How he responded just to being pressured so much during this game?
07:52 >> I did a good job.
07:52 I don't even know what his numbers ended up being, 27 or 35.
07:56 Is that what he was?
07:57 >> Sir. >> That's pretty good.
07:58 I don't know.
07:59 So I made those runs.
08:00 But that's the deal.
08:03 And that's what he's done well.
08:06 He broke the ball down the field well.
08:08 But he got rid of the ball we had too.
08:09 He made plays with his feet.
08:11 We took off running and made plays.
08:12 So Carson has done a tremendous job being the commander and
08:16 leader of this offense.
08:18 Just he had to get better.
08:19 He had some throws that were a little bit inaccurate.
08:21 But very pleased with what Carson's done.
08:24 >> How close was Devon being able to go today?
08:26 Is it the same situation with Ladd?
08:27 >> No, Ladd was not dressed out.
08:31 >> Yeah, it's been the same situation with Ladd as before.
08:34 >> Yeah, it's the same situation as before.
08:36 In fact, Javon, I don't know, he was gonna be a game time decision.
08:39 He'd be practiced a little bit on Thursday, I think it was.
08:44 He went out and moved around and felt okay.
08:46 And then he did warm ups.
08:48 He didn't feel like it was all there.
08:49 And it bothered him.
08:50 So he had to go get the guys.
08:53 >> Obviously, you wanna play to your standard and whatnot.
08:55 But are you almost relieved that you got this test out of the way earlier this
08:59 season?
08:59 >> I'm not relieved, I'm not ever relieved.
09:02 I mean, my expectation is we go out and dominate and create a nightmare and
09:07 make people never wanna play you again.
09:08 We didn't do that today.
09:10 We didn't make them never wanna play us again.
09:11 But we did respond to the adversity.
09:15 And that's all it is.
09:17 I mean, it's gonna happen all over the country, guys.
09:19 Go look.
09:20 It's gonna happen all over the country.
09:22 People have to play close games to get better.
09:26 And the expectation is created for these teams that are the top tier teams.
09:30 It wasn't created by them.
09:31 It's created by perception.
09:33 You are what you do on the field.
09:35 And we are right now a team that's played three average first halves.
09:40 I don't know if they're even average, but maybe they haven't responded.
09:45 >> How do you feel as a secondary respondent in that second half after
09:48 Rattler made some big plays in the first half?
09:50 >> I don't know, I still thought we got some guys.
09:52 We got more pressure.
09:54 But we gotta be able to cover.
09:55 They got good people that can throw and catch the ball.
09:57 That's the name of the game.
09:58 And he can throw it now, Scott can spin the ball, he can throw the ball.
10:02 And he's played a lot of football.
10:04 >> Coach, you just mentioned getting more pressure.
10:06 You also talked about Michael Williams.
10:07 What'd you think about the defensive line unit as a whole and
10:09 how they kinda transformed from first half to second half?
10:12 >> I thought they were more disruptive.
10:13 We had them off rhythm.
10:14 So it's easy to say we got pressure in the second half.
10:16 We had them behind the sticks, had them off rhythm.
10:19 They were a little bit sloppier.
10:20 They had us off rhythm in the first half.
10:22 And the momentum was a beautiful play.
10:25 >> Cash Jones finds the end zone for the second week in a row.
10:28 How's he taking advantage of his opportunity?
10:30 >> Good player, man.
10:31 He's a perfect example of work hard, stay in the program, stick around,
10:37 get calloused, get injured, just keep working.
10:41 Just keep working when your opportunity comes.
10:43 I mean, the guy was a really good special teams player last year.
10:46 He goes out there today and makes two great runs, right?
10:49 He had two really good runs.
10:50 I know the one touchdown run, he does what he's supposed to do.
10:54 He makes plays with his feet.
10:56 I mean, he's a product of the culture that we create in hard work.
11:00 >> For a minute, you did blocks, obviously, before playing a lot of snaps.
11:04 Is he banged up?
11:05 How much is he kind of fighting for some?
11:08 >> I don't know, good to me.
11:09 Did he do something today to look like he was hurting?
11:11 >> No, he went to the tent for a minute.
11:14 >> I don't know, maybe he got a bathroom check.
11:15 I don't know.
11:16 >> [LAUGH] >> They were saying on TV.
11:19 >> I missed it, too.
11:20 I was running over people.
11:21 I mean, he had two plays where he couldn't get a yard and he made nine.
11:25 >> [LAUGH] >> I mean, I'm very pleased with him.
11:28 He's a product of it.
11:30 >> And what is that thing that he does where he's going backwards?
11:32 How often does he do that?
11:34 That you've seen, not in games.
11:35 Y'all see that?
11:36 >> Tackle?
11:37 >> I don't know how to describe it.
11:38 >> I missed it, cuz the two of the runs, I was watching people walk and
11:41 pray we weren't getting over.
11:41 >> It's kind of like going backwards.
11:42 >> A back side run, maybe?
11:43 >> Yeah, that deal, I don't know.
11:45 >> I just know I wouldn't wanna tackle him.
11:46 You've seen his guys.
11:47 I mean, he runs through tackles and hits people, and it's physical.
11:51 So I don't know how he does it.
11:54 >> Speaking of holding the one, you're down there and knocking on the door,
11:57 Tate gets the hold, and you guys, that was just a,
12:00 can you just talk about that particular- >> Yeah, I didn't see it.
12:03 I mean, it was on the other sideline.
12:04 He pulled around.
12:05 He got up.
12:06 >> You had him.
12:07 >> No, I didn't.
12:07 And there's, in one moment, we lost that moment.
12:10 We gotta win the next one.
12:12 And we're literally playing moment by moment.
12:14 And when you do that, it minimizes the pressure you feel in every moment,
12:19 cuz you're trying to move on to the next one.
12:21 And we try to make it really simple for them.
12:23 >> How similar did this game feel to sort of like the Missouri game last year?
12:26 And how proud are you that this team specifically was able to overcome
12:30 the second half deficit?
12:31 >> Yeah, I mentioned that at halftime, too.
12:35 I've used that as a reference of we've been here before, we've done this before.
12:40 We are resilient.
12:42 And we have, Shane said it after the game,
12:45 he said you showed why you have a championship caliber football team.
12:48 Cuz teams that are championship caliber,
12:51 they find a way when they don't have their best game.
12:54 We gotta figure out why we don't, why didn't we have our best game.
12:57 I certainly felt like we had great practices, and I felt like we improved.
12:59 I mean, I honestly thought we played so much better offensively.
13:03 We didn't get rewarded for playing better because of A, kicks, and B,
13:08 not cashing in red area.
13:10 We gotta be more effective in the red area.
13:12 But 29 first downs, good read.
13:16 >> Along the same lines,
13:16 what did you feel like you learned about your team today?
13:18 >> Resiliency, I mean, they're not gonna quit.
13:20 They're not gonna point fingers and blame each other.
13:22 And I also learned they better read, read, better get better.
13:26 >> What did you do to get better in the first half?
13:28 As we started practice, what has gone with it?
13:31 >> Better planning, I mean, better execution.
13:33 I mean, you gotta break things down.
13:37 We had one less possession because they got the ball first.
13:40 And that first possession seemed like it was really long.
13:42 So opportunities, we did better.
13:45 I wish I had the answer.
13:47 I don't. I'm not smart enough to have an answer to that.
13:49 >> Coach, I think I saw you were going around Carson running in before the half.
13:52 I'm curious what that message was to him.
13:55 >> You believe in you.
13:56 We're getting ready to come out here and do this thing.
13:58 They're bringing a lot of pressure.
13:59 We got answers for pressure.
14:00 We practiced pressure.
14:02 We knew that they were gonna bring pressure.
14:03 I would bring pressure if I was them too.
14:05 And I thought he, it's the pressure we got.
14:08 We're good. He was very confident about it.
14:10 He's not frustrated.
14:11 That's the one thing about that kid now.
14:12 He's not emotional.
14:14 And that's the opposite of me.
14:16 >> [LAUGH] >> You mentioned a little further on
14:20 Carson, you mentioned last week how, I guess, refreshing it is or
14:23 I guess assuring it is.
14:24 When he comes off the field, he knows exactly what he has seen.
14:28 I guess, talk a little bit more about that.
14:30 >> Well, they play quarter coverage and he's reading this and
14:32 he goes high, low and he sees it and he throws it.
14:34 He does a good job.
14:35 Now, he can't be perfect when there's pressure in there.
14:39 So there's times that things are beyond his control.
14:42 He probably made five or six checks today in the looks that we didn't wanna run
14:45 that play, we would've run another play.
14:46 And he did a great job of that.
14:48 He keeps us out of bad situations, which is what you ask your quarterback to do.
14:52 We put a lot on him.
14:53 Put as much on him as we put on Spence and he handles that well.
14:56 And I think the guy's got great command of our offense and understands it.
15:01 >> Coach, momentum is such an intangible thing.
15:07 Can you just talk about the spark of energy or enthusiasm or
15:11 whatever that's going through the bench and the air?
15:13 When the third quarter starts, if you got a goal in and
15:16 your defense is stopping and your offense is scoring, just that energy and
15:20 enthusiasm, what's that like on the sideline?
15:22 >> It's awesome.
15:23 I mean, I can't put it really into words.
15:25 I mean, I felt us taking over the game with the momentum of the fans and
15:30 the fans like a steamroller.
15:32 Decisions you make as a coach, whether you're doing this, this, or this,
15:36 that goes into your thought process.
15:37 Because we got momentum, I don't wanna lose momentum.
15:39 So I'm not gonna do something silly or stupid right here.
15:42 Let's keep momentum going and I think that becomes really important.
15:45 >> On Ty Keane, I mean, an athletic pass breakup in the first half and
15:49 then closing out the game in the second.
15:50 To see all that he's come through to get to this point,
15:52 how rewarding is it to see him really just go out there and play so well?
15:55 >> It's very rewarding.
15:56 He's tough, he's physical, he's a leader on our team.
15:58 He practices so hard.
15:59 I mean, he holds kids to a standard.
16:02 He had a tough year last year.
16:03 He was upseated by a younger player and he had a hard time with that.
16:10 And he overcame that.
16:11 He told us before the season, he said, guy, I lived in a tough world last year.
16:15 I was always upset and frustrated.
16:16 I wasn't playing, I was coming off an injury.
16:18 And now this year, he's playing well, he's playing with great toughness.
16:22 He just embodies what we're about in teaching other players what to do.
16:27 I mean, he's a great kid.
16:28 >> Let's take two more questions.
16:29 This was the first game that Daly never didn't have to split snaps really.
16:32 What helped him earn that starting spot across Camargo?
16:34 How do you think he did?
16:35 >> Practice.
16:36 I don't think he played great, but he practiced better.
16:39 And if other guys wanna play, they need to practice better.
16:41 [BLANK_AUDIO]
16:44 >> What do you attribute the red zone issues today to?
16:47 >> I had to watch the tape.
16:49 I can't even say penalties, going backwards.
16:52 I don't know, we had a successful first half play and then we don't cash it in.
16:57 I gotta watch it and see, I can't even remember those sequences.
17:00 But it seems like when you're first to ten on the ten,
17:03 there's really not a worse situation from the ten in.
17:06 Like when you get a big play and score, or you get a big play to the four, and
17:10 you outscore.
17:10 But when we have first to ten, there's 20 yards right there, and
17:13 we have not executed well there.
17:16 We gotta work on it and get better at it.