Post-Game Quotes: Wyoming
9/27/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
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Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio
Opening Statement...
We came out ready to play and focused. We had great energy at the start of the game. I am impressed with our start by our offense. The first six drives resulted in a touchdown and we scored 42 points in the first half, something that is tough to overcome. Defensively, we came up with three turnovers and a blocked kick, which I like, resulting in great opportunities for our offense. I am very impressed with Jeremy Langford's play. The thing that continues to impress me is how we come out and how focused and ready to play we are. (Connor) Cook came out and played well. Our receivers made some great catches. Defensively, we gave up a couple plays. On the third and one, we had a chance to call a timeout and didn't, so that one is on me. That play should still not go the distance. We had a couple balls go over the top, but we got that fixed at halftime. Craig Bohl has not lost a lot of games. They are well designed and their backs run hard, and they will continue to work at it.
On the offensive explosion so far this season...
We have never exploded like this out of the gate with our offense. It is a great advantage when you are not turning over the ball, and when you can run and throw it. We have good receivers, and I have said that all along. We have been impressed with our offensive practices and habits, and we've really said that since spring.
On the offensive line...
We had more penalties than we have had, especially holding. We can't have penalties. You can't beat yourself with penalties. We took one touchdown off the board because of a penalty and did not get that back because we went for it on fourth down. Jack Allen was held out this week. It is not a long term thing, but we held him out as a precaution. Our guys will be ready to play; I think we got through this pretty good.
On Jeremy Langford...
I think it was important that we went into the game saying that Jeremy (Langford) needed 20 carries. Nick Hill was impressive again. Delton Williams runs firm and physical. He is a truck who just keeps rolling. All three of those guys did the job and it was a great performance by our football team.
On the offense rolling...
We have good coaches and good players. Whatever happens out there is going to happen. All I ask our players to do is come ready to play and give their heart and soul. I want energy. We do the best we can and compete. I have always been proud of our effort.
On Nick Hill's heart...
Pound for pound, he is probably one of our most explosive players. He is 190 pounds and goes 100 miles per hour. He has had a great spring and fall camp. Now he is a senior. If you want to be a good program, you need your seniors. I think Nick Hill is having his best year and you can see that. Tony Lippett is having his best year. And that is what needs to happen for us to get a championship.
On facing Nebraska...
Nebraska is a very explosive offense. You have to be able to tackle in space. You have to be lined up right. You have to play to a high tempo. All of us will enjoy this, including our fans, for 24 hours. Then we need to be ready. Everyone needs to be game ready at 8 p.m. on Saturday night. Spartan Stadium will be a good place to be.
On diversity of the offense...
We saw some things and installed new things. 75 percent of what we are is what we have always been. Our guys are all in sync and know the system. We have five guys at wide receiver that are very productive. Last year, we didn't have a lot of identity offensively. I think all of these things were solved and we have developed a lot of confidence over the course of last season that has transitioned into this year. They know where the ball is going to be and where the cut is going to be made, all things that are helping our success.
On the special teams...
Special teams has always been something we have emphasized here. They seem to win games for us at times. The bigger the game, the bigger the impact they can have. Kevin Cronin is kicking off very well and the coverage has been good. Mike Sadler does a good job and punt returns have been solid. We have to continue to make plays.
Wyoming Head Coach Craig Bohl
Opening Statement...
"First of all, we played a really good football team today. They were solid in all phases. Coach (Dantonio) has done a great job with his program and I've watched it through the years and they played really well. There are certainly things that we have to improve on and sometimes it takes a game like this to really give you a pretty good pulse on where we're at as a program. Michigan State, the style of football that they play and how they play is where we eventually want to be and we're a ways away from that. These days aren't fun for anybody, but I don't want to take anything away from Michigan State. I think they're an excellent football team and they played well today."
On the quick start by Michigan State...
"As coaches, the first thing you look at is yourself. There were certainly times that we didn't have the right assignments. But, I also saw a time where they took our 300-pound defensive tackle and he got thrown five yards backward. I think it's a combination of both. Once again, I think Michigan State did some good things and certainly their start was very impressive. I want to credit Michigan State, but we need to own some of that stuff, too."
On falling behind early and how that changed the game plan...
"When you're chasing points, you're going to change somewhat anyhow. Some of it also comes in to when there are certain plays that are going to work and you don't have one of your tackles in there. We've had a little bit of musical chairs at the offensive line position and you're going to have that through the course of a season. We felt like we needed to do everything we could to get back in the ballgame and you're not going to do that consistently by running power plays. There were times our power play worked and some where it didn't work very well. I do know you're not going to beat a team like Michigan State turning the ball over either and not coming up with turnovers. So, a whole lot of work to be done in all three phases; whether it's getting a field goal blocked, rushing defense, passing defense or sacks. There are glimpses of some good things, but we've got to move forward. We can't let one team beat us twice."
Comparing Michigan State and Oregon (Wyoming's previous opponent)...
"Very comparable. As I watched that game closely, it was a very close game. What was different at this juncture of the season, this is a really physical Michigan State team and typically teams get better as they go along when they play a physical style of football. So, I thought they played well today."
On trying to control the line of scrimmage...
"It was really hard. That's the brand of football that you want to play and typically you feel that you're going to match up well on teams like this. When it doesn't happen, I don't want to say it's a wakeup call because I've known the coaches here for a long time and the kind of success that they've had. But, I would have hoped we'd be further along than what we were today. Like I said, we've got a bye week and we've got to learn from it and make improvement and get ready for Hawaii."
On the upcoming bye week...
"We need it. We've played two top-10 teams in a short amount of time and won three very emotional games. That's challenging, I don't care who you are. So right now, we need a bye. We need to get stronger in the weight room, get healed up and get our full compliment of players back."
Michigan State offensive coordinator Dave Warner
Opening Statement...
Going into this game, our idea, our plan, our goal was to establish, more so, our run game, most especially, get Jeremy Langford going. Obviously, I feel like we accomplished that. I feel good about that. Penalties were a different deal. We had nine. Felt more like we had about 29. We'll wait and see that on film. That's a little bit disappointing. Overall, obviously it was a good game. We're ready to move on to Big Ten conference play.
On Brian Allen and Connor Kruse...
I don't focus on the line a whole lot on the line during the game. I'll study it real hard tomorrow morning, but I'm thinking that those guys played pretty well. I know there were some mistakes, as is going to be the case with a freshman and a guy coming off a long layoff as Connor did with his injury. We sure rushed the ball pretty well, and those guys were a big part of it.
On the offensive potential...
It's a situation where we're trying to spread the ball, and we jump up on them pretty well. I try and get the ball to certain guys, so they're getting balls throughout the course of the game. A couple times, we scored quickly. We're not moving the ball around as much as I'd like to, but that's a good problem to have because having a lot of weapons is a good feeling.
On the source of confidence...
We've got a lot of guys back, obviously, from last year. I mean, we've got some little tweaks, but for the most part these guys have been in this offense for two, three, four years. When you talk about some of the misdirection and some of the motions we try to do as far as window dressing, they've done it over and over, so it should be smooth. It's those guys that have that ability to know what the play is, go through that motion and make plays in the end. Guys are executing well.
On making plays versus keeping information from future opponents...
There are two sides when you've got a game like this. Do I save some of these things that I have on the game plan and not show them? Or do you show them and make other teams prepare for them? I'm not sure which...I guess we did a little bit of both today. Those are two different things. I felt coming into today, that we were going to have to run our offense, not hold anything back. That's what we ended up doing more than holding things back.
On Tony Lippett and Keith Mumphery...
With Lippett, obviously he's been playing at a very high level this season. He just looks so different, so confident. Obviously, he played very well last year, but he's certainly a level above where he was last year. We're happy about where he's at and confident that he's going to continue to be a playmaker for us.
Nothing out of the ordinary, trying to get Keith Mumphery the ball. He and (Aaron) Burbridge were sort of splitting reps there at the one receiver position. I really wish we would have gotten the ball to Aaron more. Sometimes, I don't pay attention as much as I should have in there, just ended up dialing up plays for our receivers. I wish Aaron would have gotten the ball more. Keith's play-making; that's what he did.
On calling a number of jet sweeps...
It's something coming in to this game. We felt like we were going to have to open up the playbook. That's been a part of our playbook and there are different ways we get to that play. There are some that look similar. I felt like we would have to utilize those plays today and we didn't waste any time doing so.
On Jeremy Langford 100 yards...
We mentioned coming into today that we wanted to get him going a little bit, get his confidence up and our offense's confidence in him up. Coach Dantonio was part of the deal behind that. He made sure that was what we wanted to do, make sure that's what we were going to do. He went out and got it done for us. That was the plan.
Michigan State associate head coach Pat Narduzzi
Opening Statement...
Obviously, this was another good win. Again, had another chance, with the offense as explosive as they've been the past three, four weeks, to get our guys in the game. Big Ten play starts next week, so I think the guys are revved up for that. We'll move on.
On the safety position...
Kurtis Drummond could be solid all year. He gave one up at the end... I'll have to see the tape to see what happened on it at the end of the half.
As a coach, we like to be perfect. You get mad because you gave up one last week. Those guys work all week to try and make plays. As coaches, you try to stop every one of them, but you can't be perfect. We never will be, as coaches or as players, perfect. We just keep coaching. It's good that our offense was big.
They work all week to get a play that they like against you, work to get the coverage. Sometimes they win; sometimes they lose. Are they perfect? No, but I'm not disappointed at all. I really feel good with where Kurtis is and R.J. (Williamson). Montae Nicholson and Mark Meyers are coming around. We'll see what it looks like they did when they got in there. With our offense eating up the clock, we didn't get as many snaps as we wanted to, which is a good thing.
On the offense's success...
It's huge. We haven't had that. I think this is our eighth season here, but we haven't had the opportunity since I've been here. We've always had a nip-and-tuck game to the end, so (Connor) Cook, (Dave) Warner and Coach (Jim) Bollman have done a great job of really being explosive. We saw that.
I told our guys in double sessions that we're playing against one of the best offenses in the country. I truly believe that. Connor Cook is throwing darts out there. That throw he threw to Tony Lippett, he put it right there even with good coverage. That's the name of the game. It makes us a lot better.
On having `room for error' with a high-scoring offense...
We'll see what happens when we get into Big Ten play. We had to change our mindset defensively as far as that goes. Maybe I should look into it. We did some things on third and long that we don't normally do. We'll see. It's a whole new season.
On Wyoming's rushing plays...
If you watch it, we had substitution errors. We changed the personnel because we thought they changed the personnel. They really didn't, but we saw something that was wrong. I think we got lined up late. I saw the replay up in our box; our three technique didn't play real well on that. They got some movement on our three technique and popped one inside.
Taiwan Jones fit perfectly if you guys are wondering. He couldn't have fit in any better, but there was just a big hole where he fit and he had his gaps. If he opens up his left arm, he might make the tackle. It was something that he wasn't used to seeing. The three technique got moved out of there, he got hit right in the A-gap and our safeties are going to have a hard time making that play.
I didn't have the front I wanted in there. I didn't have the people I wanted in there and you'll see. We did it and then we took them off. That's my fault. I should have called timeout, but I couldn't.
On having personnel with the ability to make adjustments...
He (Jon Reschke) and Taiwan Jones are doing the same. They are all going to make the same calls. There's nothing special that Reschke was doing that Taiwan wasn't. Maybe he had some different adjustments he had to make, we'll see.
On measuring Marcus Rush...
We grade our guys every week, whether they're average, winning or Big Ten Championship. Right now, he's playing like an all-conference defensive end. We're really happy with where he is. He's been good for four years. He's got a ton of starts. That's what we expect out of him. He's gotten better. His fundamentals are better. Coach (Ron) Burton has done a great job in developing his game.
On the development of the defense...
With all the guys who left, we're just about where we thought we'd be and where we should be. You still would like to see shutouts and no big runs, no big passes. We throw up hit charts at halftime of all the stuff they're doing. Like every week, we practice a bunch of stuff that is their favorite play and then they never run that favorite play - I don't know why that is - and (go over) a bunch of formations and plays that they will run once. At halftime, we'll say, `ok they did this formation once.' So our guys are trying to get formation recognition, but they're running 30, 40 formations and one play, one time out of it. It's hard that way when someone's got that much offense in there. Coach Bollman and the offensive coaches do a nice job.
Senior Safety Kurtis Drummond
On whether he is satisfied about the success on defense...
It feels great to win whenever, but the big thing is we still haven't achieved anything. No one is going to get complacent, especially on the defensive side of the ball. We strive for a shutout every week , and we haven't done that yet so we still have a lot of work to do. Those 14 points given up today will leave a bad taste in our mouths. We'll go back to work and fix our mistakes.
On the younger players in the secondary getting an opportunity to play significant minutes...
I think they've come a long way. I see guys just focusing and going out of their way to ask questions. They're trying to learn as much as they can. It's a development process, and they'll continue to make strides. It's good to have them get this experience and playing time.
On the matchup against Nebraska senior running back Ameer Abdullah next week...
He's a great back, but we play against a great back every week when we go up against Jeremy Langford in practice. We've played great backs, and we know how to prepare for them, so we'll do what we do. We'll enjoy this win. Fix the things that need to be corrected and move on.
Junior Safety RJ Williamson
On his assessment of his overall performance today...
I started the game out pretty strong and made some good tackles early. I missed that one on the touchdown, but I'll bounce back. I'll have a good week of practice and come out ready to play Nebraska next Saturday.
We only gave up 14 points today, but giving up those 14 points could have been easily avoided. One of their touchdowns was a missed tackle and the other was a breakdown in coverage. Those things are stuff we practice and will continue to get better on. Overall, though I thought we played pretty well.
On whether the defense this year has fulfilled expectations heading into Big Ten play...
Every year our expectations are high. I set high expectations for myself because I want to be the best. I want to be the best safety in this conference and in this country. I know everyone else on this defense wants to be the best as well. So until that is done our expectations haven't been fulfilled. We need to focus every down and make the plays that we need to make at each position.
Michigan State junior defensive end Shilique Calhoun
On the blocked field goal and special teams...
I think that's something that we focus on day in and day out. We try to capitalize on special teams and we do consider field goals special teams. I was just trying to get in there. I know coach went over it and told us that the biggest thing is to get in low and come up high late. Luckily, it [the football] fell in my position where it hit my wrist and Darian [Hicks] was able to pick it up, gain some yardage, and get some momentum for our offense. Special teams is something that we stress every single week. That's a make it break it type of thing for us. We need to be solid on all aspects and special teams is just one of our focal points.
On successful offense giving defense a room for error...
We don't ever have any room for error when we have a defensive coordinator like coach [Pat] Narduzzi. It is definitely nice to look over and understand that offense is going to score. The offense is going to create plays and make it so that our shoulders are a little bit lighter. Definitely coming into this year and having a lot of playmakers on offense and having our offense click so well so early - it does bring a little sigh of relief for us.
On advice to freshmen with Big Ten season starting next week...
I try to help them understand that each game is important. We're not going to make one game bigger than the other. The biggest thing, no matter what game you go into, you need to do your job first and then play at 100 miles per hour. That's how our defense plays. Try to understand what you need to be doing and do it all fast.
On ability to focus on every play and keep sharp...
Like I said earlier, when you've got a defensive coordinator like Pat Narduzzi he's going to pretty much keep you focused. If it's one or two yards, he's still upset because he thinks they shouldn't have any gain. If anything, they should be in negative yardage. We got out there each and every play and understand that we need to dominate the line of scrimmage. Other than that, we need to dominate as a unit. It's definitely not hard at all to keep focused. With him [Pat Narduzzi] on your back, it's pretty easy.
On mindset going into today's game...
Every game is a championship game to me. This game was a championship game to me. We're trying to define who we are. New season, new players, new guys stepping up, and new leaders. The biggest thing is how we're going to define ourselves each and every season and, not only that, but each and every game. Game by game we're defining ourselves and trying to show people who we are. It's definitely going to be a lot more competition going against a team like Nebraska, but we definitely have respect toward Wyoming because they came in here and they gave it their all.
Michigan State freshman center Brian Allen
On the differences in today's schemes... Personally, I have the same schemes every week, goal-line wise. No matter what is going on behind me, I block my guy and get my guy. When we watch film I don't even know that they're doing what they're doing back there. I just focus on what the offensive line does.
On preparation for Nebraska...
I feel pretty good. Wyoming is a pretty good team and they played Oregon tough. Jacksonville State and Eastern Michigan got our confidence up, but Nebraska will be our first real test in the Big Ten.
On excitement level heading into Big Ten season...
It'll be something similar to the Oregon game. It'll be that mentality going into it. We're playing for the Big Ten championship now, every game. That's the mindset we have to bring to those games.
On first career start...
It's pretty special this early [in the season]. I wasn't really expecting it. My opportunity called, so I had to step up. It's nothing really new because, for the most part, I've gotten in every game. Now, I'm just getting in earlier.
On team leadership heading into Big Ten season...
Whenever we're down or we're screwing up, they're the first people in your ear. There's not really time to slip or take a step back, they're always on us. Connor [Cook] and Travis [Jackson] lead everyone on the team and it's all kind of meshes together.
On personal goals heading into Big Ten season...
Personally, to just get better every week and find something to improve. First week, the run game wasn't really too tough, so I've got to work on that a lot and I'm starting to click on that as we progress throughout the season. We've just got to keep getting better.
Michigan State freshman defensive back Montae Nicholson
On going up against Ameer Abdullah next week...
I respect [Ameer] Abdullah. It will be a dream come true, honestly. I've dreamed of playing big time football like this. I'm going to prepare like I'm starting. During the week, I'm going to practice hard and give it 110 percent. If I play next Saturday, I play next Saturday. If I don't, I'm prepared. I know (Abdullah) is a great back, I've watched him in years past. He's great and it's going to be different playing against a guy like this. He's so versatile. It'll defineilty be a great game going up against those guys.
Michigan State red shirt senior running back Jeremy Langford
On today's win...
It feels good. Now we'll get the ball rolling into the Big Ten season. Offensive line played well and that's what we needed today. We got the running game going and the passing game was great.
On substituting players throughout the game...
They all came out with the mindset that we're going to run the ball today and they did a great job at that. They were opening big holes and I did my job finishing the runs.
On efficiency of today's play...
Today we just came out hungry. We're ready to get the ball rolling into the Big Ten season. Everybody is healthy - we've got Connor Kruse back, so that's good. They [teammates] played hard and hungry today.
On teammates pushing Langford to a 100-yard game...
They're supporting me. Going into the long season we've got in front of us, that's important to you. It gets that confidence rolling. First play of the game, I just wanted to get their confidence up and open holes for me to run through. They did a great job today.
On the confidence level of this offense compared to last season at this time...
We're a lot further ahead from where we were last year. Last year, it was slow. This year, we've got confidence and we've got a lot of veterans back. We continue to play hard with our versatile offense.
On the message Michigan State's running game sends...
It sends a message. Once the Big Ten season starts we're going to have those hard hitting, tough games and we're going to need those extra yards. That's how we ran today and that's how they blocked.
Michigan State senior wide receiver Keith Mumphery
On what it was like to score multiple times today...
It was exciting. Any time you get a chance to score a touchdown, it's exciting. As a skills player, you dream of scoring touchdowns.
On how he decides where to run when handed the ball on jet sweeps...
It's just about being at practice with these guys and trusting that they are going to get the block and trusting your speed. We practice it and we work on it every day so it becomes second nature.
On running the ball like a running back...
It's instinct and its trusting your blockers. In order to break the big run, you've got to trust your blockers.
On the importance of keeping the defense honest...
It's very important when you can mix the game up and stay balanced. The opponent doesn't know what they're going to deal with.
Michigan State junior quarterback Connor Cook
On how it feels going in to the Big Ten season...
It's good. Coach D always talks about handling success and I feel like we've done a great job with that. We're hungry, and we're ready for it. On the biggest factor to this season's success...
Coach D always talks about being game-ready, so I feel like guys are prepared. Leading up to the game and watching so much film, staying after, watching film together. Guys are just focused. Everyone has the right state of mind each and every game and guys are really focused on their tasks and what they're supposed to do. I think we're just game-ready, like Coach D touches on. I feel like that's why we're having fast starts - because everyone is so locked in.
On his first touchdown pass of the day to Tony Lippett...
It was just a bender route. I anticipated him getting in the window and when I threw it, he was covered, but I threw him open and anticipated him getting it. That play is from the long hours of the summer, long hours in the spring, and in practice constantly throwing and throwing to him since I was a freshman. He has taken it to the next level this year, and that's just hard work.
On getting enough work in the early games...
I think Coach D wants to get some of the younger guys some reps because last year, Tyler didn't get many of the reps until later parts of the game to hand the ball off. So he wants Tyler and Damion to get out there just so he's comfortable with our offense and has game reps.
Michigan State offensive guard Connor Kruse
On his targeted return from the injury...
I'm a little early than the target. The target time was next week, but all through the progression, I was fast, with a full recovery. Luckily, I was able to use this week as more of a transition week to get back into football shape, and luckily, I was able to play a decent amount today.
On how it felt to get back out on the field...
It felt great. It doesn't hurt at all, but after halftime, it was a little stiff. I think Coach Dantonio knew that and let me just take a break.
On feeling whether he was conditioned enough...
Our strength and conditioning coaches do a great job. As soon as they got word that I could start, they got me ready. They're constantly working and they do a great job with that.
On the importance of the running game...
It's very important. I was watching Big Ten [Network] last night and they said something about, `is Jeremy Langford going to get 100 yards?' and we ended up with over 300 yards in general. Just to get the running game going in general feels great, and that's what Michigan State is all about. Hard nose football.
WYOMING OFFENSE
Senior Starting Quarterback Colby Kirkegaard
On the physicality of Michigan State...
They're pretty big over there and pretty physical. They're a good football team.
On MSU scoring so many points so early changing the game plan...
I think as an offense, we have to be better. At times we put the defense on a downhill disadvantage because we turn the ball over. As an offense, we have got to minimize turnovers and help (the defense) out by staying on the field a little bit longer.
On what caused the turnovers, bad film, bad execution or something else...
I'll have to see (them) on the film. I take responsibility on the interception; I just overthrew him a little bit. Not really sure know what happened on the exchange with (running back) D. J. (May) but again, I'll take responsibility on that one.
On knowing late before the game about injuries to the offensive line...
It's part of the game; people can go down at any second. I think (junior offensive tackle) Austin Traphagan did a good job filling in. I know that's never easy, getting all the reps the starter might have gotten. We did what we could.
On having a bye week next week...
We were just talking about (the bye week). In a way it sucks because you have to wait two weeks before you play again. It's a pretty bad taste in our mouth after (the game). We have to go into it with a good attitude and know that we have to get better going into that next game.
Junior Starting Running Back Shaun Wick
On his 57-yard touchdown run...
They're an aggressive defense. That's one time where everyone just executed and everything went right. I just went through the hole, and it was clear. I didn't have to do anything; it was everyone else with how we executed that play. We just have to keep on staying consistent and doing that all game long.
On having a bye week next week...
We talked about it in the locker room. We just have to look ourselves in the mirror and figure out who we want to be. We want to be great. We have to keep on going up. We can't go below where we think we are, and there's nowhere to go but up.
WYOMING DEFENSE
Senior Starting Cornerback DeAndre Jones
On the difficulty of playing MSU's offense...
The game plan we put in was great. They didn't show us anything we didn't practice for. We have just got to execute better. We messed up on a couple of things, and that's the couple of things they capitalized on. Everything we practiced over we saw during the game.
On MSU scoring so many points so early...
They're a good team. We didn't expect for it to come out like this, but we knew they were a good team. It was just a grind, a constant grind for us. We expected better things; we expected the outcome to be better than that. It was just a grind the whole time. It was never demoralizing because they're a good team.
On MSU's offense compared to Oregon's offense...
They're definitely different offenses. One is kind of hard-nosed and going to run it right at you, and the other one is kind of like get open, run fast and run past you. It's definitely been an experience playing them. They're two prolific offenses.
Junior Starting Defensive End Eddie Yarbrough
On MSU's physicality on the line of scrimmage...
As far as physicality, they're exactly what we expected. They're a Big Ten team, big offensive linemen. Nothing really caught us off-guard as far as physicality.
On the mindset of the team going forward...
The mindset of this team going forward is we have a bye week. We have a lot of things we need to get better at. One thing is that when we play teams of this caliber, little things end up being exposed into larger things. We got exposed on those little things and they added up. As far as the mentality of this team is we have to get better, take this bye week, use it constructively and get read for Hawai'i, get ready for conference play.
On using this loss as motivation:
One thing my dad always told me is that you learn more from a loss than you do from a win. We're going to take this and look at our mistakes. Across the board, we didn't play our best game. We know that as a team, we know we can play better and that we will play better.
