Post-Game Quotes: Maryland
11/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
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Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio
Opening statement...
Great job by our football team getting to nine wins. That was the goal coming into the football game. We needed to focus on the moment and get that particular W. We have an opportunity to let it sit for 24 hours here and then get ready for Ohio State down in Columbus. All year long we sort of pointed to this game, or a lot of people pointed to this game, so we've gotten to a point where it's like a playoff situation. Whether we were 10-0 going into that game, or 9-1, we were going to control our own destiny. We are to that point. I thought our football team played extremely well on defense - pressuring the quarterback. I think they had a little over 100 yards rushing, but five turnovers, two fourth-down stops. I thought we played well on that side of the ball. We needed to have a football game like that to sort of set the stage for this next week and keep playing well coming out of the football game. Special teams, to me, was as big as anything in this football game. William Likely, No. 4 for them and the possibilities that existed with him. I thought [Jake] Hartbarger performed tremendously. Great punting execution, great coverage by our people in protection, snapping, and then our kickoff team and Kevin Cronin did the job and we covered well down on the kickoff. Those are two big things in a football game. Offensively, hey we didn't score as many points offensively as we have. We had good field position pretty much throughout the day. With that being said, we got the job done to come up with 24 points. Obviously, two big picks by Riley Bullough for the touchdown and another one followed up by Arjen Colquhoun that sets up the field goal at the end of the first half. We played well on offense here. We've thrown the ball well, we've run the ball well, so we would be productive in that area as well.
On quarterback plan...
The plan was that he's our starter and he's going to play, but I also believe that you need to take time at some point in time to bring someone else in and allow them to have the experience. In my mind, in my mind - in Mark Dantonio's mind it was going to be the second series and that's what we did. Now, in addition to that, he got nicked up a little bit in that first series, and so we went with him the rest of the second quarter, and then coming out in the second half though he just didn't have the arm strength to be able to go full go. So, he was the one that said, `Hey, you've got to go with the other guy.' It was either, you can do the job or you can't do the job - I don't think it's anything long term or anything like that, but he couldn't throw the ball effectively, so we needed to make a change at that point. I also felt like it was important to give Damion Terry reps, quality reps with eight minutes to go because he needs, both of our other quarterbacks need to have game experience to be able to go in there with ease when they go into a football game. I think that is very important. They don't stress; they get in there when the game is a little bit on the line and they have a presence. Tyler [O'Connor] did a nice job, two touchdown drives especially on the second series. You know, getting us in the right play and executing in that series coming out in the third quarter. We'll be all right. Connor [Cook] will be all right. I don't think there's any sense that there's long-term things there, he'll probably be able to go on Tuesday and I think he could have gone, but he felt like if he threw it hard, it would set him back a number of days more. I think that was more of an indication, at least, as he talked. So, got to go with that.
On whether Connor Cook was in pain...
My sense was that he just didn't have the velocity that he usually does on the football. That was my sense. Then coming out in the third quarter, I still didn't see that. You got to be able to throw the ball effectively. I think he was functional, but he wasn't what he usually is. He was functional.
On second-half adjustments...
Well, we came out and ran the ball at the beginning of the second half. Those are the points we got. We put the ball on the ground twice, you know, great run by LJ [Scott], but you've got to hold on to the football. It was a great effort, it was an effort play and they clued it off at the very end. It was about a 15-yard run probably, but he's got to learn to hold onto it in those types of situations. We had some drops, which are uncharacteristic. It sort of is what it is. You guys saw it. I can't really go through every scenario, but we had great field position and you'd think that we would have done a little bit more with that. This game is funny, you could be going very well on this end and not playing as well over here. Then it could be completely flipped. The main focus is that we won the football game, we're 9-1, so we advance, we move forward. And the second thing that I think is most important probably as important as anything, is that we played well defensively and we need to play well defensively. That's a confidence thing and the first time I think in a while maybe that they've only had seven points or so, and we did things we had to do and we made plays.
On Connor Cook's ability to play this week...
On a scale of 1-10, I'm a 9.5. I'm pretty confident in him. I think he could have - I think if we would have chosen to run the football, he could have hung in there. I just don't think he had the velocity on his ball that he usually has and I think that was bothering him. That's my personal opinion. I think he was frustrated with that. We went the other direction. I think, in the long run, with Tyler O'Connor and Damion Terry, they need game experience. This was a positive thing, they got game experience, they both made a couple plays, they both probably left a couple of plays on the field, but they made a couple of plays as well, so that was positive too. You take them as they come, and we're a 9-1 football team, so that's the bottom line. It's important we got back up, we came out energized, we maintained that energy throughout and we played hard, and that's all I can ever ask for.
On the secondary...
They're a no huddle football team, and Ohio State is much the same, so we're going to have to roll people in there. We had a lot of three and outs, I felt, so not as - we got guys that got to play. Tyson Smith's pass breakup on the wheel route, played it just exactly like it should be played. Came back in and had the chance to - Grayson [Miller] was out there to start the football game, but we went with a little quicker guy in terms of Demetrious Cox. It was good that Darian Hicks got back out there and got back into the fray of things and I thought that he played pretty well. Arjen [Colquhoun] played pretty well. I thought that Montae Nicholson had a very good game, very solid game. It's tough to say who played well, but can't jump offsides like we - we kept jumping offsides. There's a little bit more to it than just jumping offsides, but you got to see the ball. That can't happen because that sets us behind.
On the defense taking a step forward prior to Ohio State...
That's what I said when I came in here. That was a focus. We came out and finished. We take that into the game. We need to continue to be that team.
On the excess of penalties in the first half...
We told them to look at the football, number one. We're trying to get a jump on the quarterback as he's coming out. He's coming away from the center a little bit and that's drawing them away for whatever reason. They're a hard count team, they're going to bark and they're going to hard count which creates a little bit of an issue. We work it, we coach it, but you've got to execute on gameday. It's frustrating for our guys, but we've got to correct on the sidelines.
On bringing in Tyler O'Connor the second series...
Well, it's the 10th week of the season. We certainly did not want to do it next week. We didn't want to do it next week and we really didn't want to do it last week. We felt like early in the game, we should go ahead and do something. We had to get three and out otherwise we'd get into a drive situation.
On the performance of the running backs in yards after contact...
I thought we did. I thought we got good yards after contact. I thought (Gerald) Holmes ran well. We got Madre (London) back for some meaningful carries. This was really his first time back since the Rutgers game. We'll get better as he moves forward there, Macgarrett (Kings) too and then LJ (Scott), he put the ball on the ground, but he was productive. He's more frustrated than anybody.
On Tyler O'Connor going in...
I was the only person that knew. I just felt like that was the thing to do. Sometimes, you get to be the head coach and do that. I felt like it was good field position and this was the time. There was a reason behind it and that's what we did.
On Kevin Cronin's performance...
I'm not sure. He just keeps it consistent. I thought he played well. I was going to leave him alone and not mess with it.
Maryland Head Coach Mike Locksley
Opening Statement ...
Before I start I want to say that our team's thoughts and prayers are with the families that have been affected by the tragedies over there in Paris. We just played a good Michigan State team, and our guys came with a good effort once again. Defensively, we played well enough to win the ball game. Offensively, we continue to shoot ourselves in the foot. The turnovers continue to be a problem. We have promising drives, but we put the ball on the ground or turn it over in the passing game. Caleb Rowe and Perry Hills are continuing to try and do everything we ask of them. I'm going to keep coaching those guys and they will keep competing. Those two kids continue to fight. They need to make plays, but they show up and put the work in. The lack of execution isn't for a lack of trying. As a coach, I'm someone who works with those guys on a day-to-day basis. We need to get the offense up to the level in which our defense is performing. The kicking game hurt us early. (Lee) Shrader came in and punted for us for the first time in his career. The first couple of punts weren't very good. As long as these guys continue to do things that we ask of them as a coaching staff, I'm going to continue to praise them for their effort, and praise them sticking together through some tough times. We've played five really good teams, and we'll have an opportunity next week with our last home game. I promise you this, the Terps are going to show up next week. We'll show up fighting and mad and I'll get them coached up.
On whether or not Riley Bullough's interception return for a touchdown was the turning point in the game...
All of those turnovers are critical for a team that is really struggling. On the offensive side of the ball, I'd say that the fumble by Wes [Brown], which wasn't really Wes' fumble because Wes never really had the ball. But I would say any turnover that we had was critical because we have very little margin for error. We have to keep working with those guys to not turn it over and give ourselves a chance to win the ballgame. Today we didn't do that.
On whether coaching players out of turnovers is one of the hardest parts of coaching...
Yes, it is. It is because when you step in between those white lines you can't make them make the right reads, it's not a video game. You can't push the button and make them do those things. We just continue to work on it in practice. We do ball security circuit on Wednesday's and are constantly preaching about it. The interceptions today, we were throwing into double coverage. The interception before half was just an egregious interception to begin with because in double coverage you need to throw the ball away. Those two guys, the quarterbacks, they're trying to do everything we ask of them.
On what the general mood of the team is after playing some of the top teams in the conference very tightly ...
Well we have a team of fighters, I promise you that. These guys will not lay down or turnover for nobody. That's what we're developing, that's the mentality that we're going to have. On the defensive side of the ball, they should have quite a bit of confidence. The adjustments that we've made in the last four or five games have given us an opportunity to be in games against really good teams. The offensive side of the ball has kind of been inconsistent. Again, it starts with the turnovers. Once we try and find a way to minimize those things; that's when we need to find a way to try and turn the corner. Like I said, there is a nucleus of players that have had quite a bit of success here and will continue to have success. We're just a few pieces away but we'll keep banging at it.
On the decision by the coaching staff to call conservative plays on offense in the second half ...
That is play calling by doing what your personnel allows you to do. That's what good coaches do. We'll continue to battle and continue to coach guys up. If we need to be conservative, we'll be conservative. It may be conservative in your opinion but I'm just trying to win the ballgame and those players are doing everything in their power to win as well. They're studying it, practicing it, now they just need to step in between those white lines and execute it.
MSU Co-Offensive Coordinator Dave Warner
On if Gerald Holmes got injured following his second touchdown...
No, he didn't.
On if MSU's protection was a reason why Cook was held out of the second half...
We came out in the second half and he was hurting a little bit. They were pressuring and we felt like we were going to be able to run the football and felt we could play it safe and get Tyler in there and get him some experience.
On if players stepped up with Cook out...
I think just overall we were very sluggish today. We didn't start very well, obviously. We scored early but then we went on a drought. Defense played great and got us the ball on the plus-side of the 50-yard line in the first half and we really did nothing with it. We had a nice drive in the second half but you need to do it consistently and I don't think we did that.
On playing Tyler O'Connor in the second series of the game...
It was just a precautionary deal with Connor. Coming into the game, just wanted to make sure that we had him for the duration for the most part.
MSU Co-Defensive Coordinator Mike Tressel
On the importance of today's defensive performance...
Well, football is so much a game of confidence. If you want to be successful, you need to be in situations where you have success and then build on it. The biggest thing, to me, was that the guys did play fast and they did play physical and they did try to dominate. That was the mentality. We leave with confidence, and that's big.
On the rotation of the secondary...
It's a fine line when you get guys that are playing well together and they're gelling and you want to stick with them, but you also know that over the course of the rest of the season we're going to need more guys. When you have the opportunity to get extra guys experience, especially a Monty Madaris, who hadn't had that much experience on defense, or Tyson Smith, a freshman, you need to take advantage of those opportunities. When guys are working together we'll stick with it, but we also need to have guys who are ready to roll.
On how much better he feels about the defense with Ohio State approaching...
Well I've always believed in these guys, first and foremost, and they believe in each other. But, there is something in having confidence and being able to build on some momentum. I thought our defensive front really stepped it up. You look out there on the field and it seemed like they were in their backfield. We talked about playing on their side of the line of scrimmage today and I thought we did that. If we can eliminate a few offsides I think we'll be ready to roll.
Michigan State senior quarterback Connor Cook
On his injury in the first half and not playing in the second half...
I just landed on it funny and dinged it up a bit. Nothing too bad, it was just for precautionary reasons, wanted to get some of the younger guys involved like Damion (Terry) and Tyler (O'Connor). It was a coach's decision and we just wanted to play it safe.
On if the play he got injured on was following a completed pass where he landed on his shoulder and the resulting treatment...
Yeah, it was. There was no popping out of any sort. They looked at it a little bit. I'll be fine to go next week. I'll be good.
On how much his shoulder was bothering him when he came back into the game...
It really didn't affect me at all. There was a little pain here and there, but it was nothing where I couldn't deliver a pass.
Michigan State junior quarterback Tyler O'Connor
On getting in the game for competitive play time...
It was very exciting; not that I was expecting it or anything like that, but it was exciting to be thrown in. I was ready when my name was called. It was great to get that first drive and go down and score, throw a touchdown pass. It all started up front, the o-line and the running backs, they did great moving the ball and we have a good running game. It opened up the passing game and it made it a lot easier on that first drive.
On his approach to the second half...
I was very confident. I was ready to attack; I mean everyone was. We were going to start the game over essentially because it wasn't a very good first half. We didn't move the ball very well. We came out that first drive, granted, it was 11 runs I think, but the guys did very well up front. It's a credit to them. That first drive was crucial to go down and get a score. Not only to score in the first half, but in the second half, which is very big in the game.
On being prepared for more reps during practice in the upcoming week...
I'm very ready. I'm very confident in myself. Today, I'll be honest; I wasn't my best. I've got to play better, given a situation like that. Even the opportunity that happened, where I wasn't ready to go in, I wasn't prepared for me to go in, it was maybe a trial version and I'll be ready to go in case that were to happen. Obviously, praying for Connor (Cook) to make sure he can play next week. I think that it was very precautionary the second half for him not to play, which is very understanding. It made me feel better to know that the coaches had enough trust in me to put the game pretty much in my hands in the second half.
On learning he would go in for his first drive of the game...
I heard it on the headsets. Coach D said, `we're going to give the other guy a shot.' It was kind of random. I was about as caught off guard as you guys were. I mean, maybe it was just a trial version to see if I were ready in case that were to happen.
On the touchdown to Macgarrett Kings...
It really was [like Kirk Cousins going through his reads]. That route off to the side, a little smash route, kind of sat on the hitch and the smash fade wasn't really there. Jamal Lyles was on the over route; he was covered pretty well. I came back outside and Kings had a great route expanding the corner, leaving room for the post. He was the last option, so it's a good thing he was open.
On his run game...
I felt very good. I feel like I'm a strong runner. I don't mind putting my shoulder down, my head down. I think on that quarterback sneak, we got five or six yards on the sneak, which was awesome and then, our run off to the left down in the red zone, getting nine or 10 yards on that play. I'm very confident running the ball. I think I already have a couple rushing touchdowns. If that's what we have to do in the future, if it happens, then I'll be ready for it.
On the offensive performance...
Like I said, that's a tribute to the guys up front. It was nice to have the whole O-line back up and healthy. Getting everyone back on the same page, every year it takes a little bit of time to get an offensive line flowing together and chemistry. I think our guys are starting to feel that way. Then, G (Gerald Holmes), he played phenomenal. There were multiple times he got yards after contact, they had to have been very high. He ran through arm tackles, he put his foot in the ground and he got vertical. Like I said, when you have a running game like that and you don't have to pass. It's great to have that.
On getting into a good rhythm...
Obviously, there was adrenaline. They were the first real snaps of the season at quarterback. I really should've been more loose when I got out there. That's on me. I really didn't settle in and get loose until towards the end of the third quarter. I sailed that sprint-out throw, but after that, I felt very confident. I wish I had more opportunities to throw the ball, but when we're running it that well, it's not necessary. It's nice to take a deep breath and take a look around to see what's happened. I mean, I'll be much more comfortable the next time around, I think.
On if he felt like he could have played in the second half...
I felt like I could have. I felt confident in my abilities and my arm and my health, but Coach D just wanted to play it safe and keep me on the sideline for precautionary reasons.
Michigan State junior linebacker Riley Bullough
On the defense's performance...
After last week, which obviously was a let down on the defensive side of the ball, we were preaching all week to have a statement game. We wanted to come out fast and physical, how "Spartan Dawgs" play defense. We did that for the most part today. Going forward, we've got to keep getting better but we've got to keep that intensity through practice and the rest of the games.
On his interception return for a touchdown and if it changed the momentum of the game...
Yeah, I think it did. A lot of things were happening at that point. I was the hot player on the short side of the field so I didn't have as much field to work it. I read the quarterback, made the catch down the sideline and Darian Hicks made a great block for me, so I was pretty open. Just tried to get in the end zone.
On if having both linebackers blitz confused the Maryland offense...
Yeah, I think it might have too. We were showing our blitz and the quarterback kind of checked it. I think we confused him a little bit, he thought we might have changed the blitz to the other side but we kept it on. I came out and was the hot player so I was able to read the quarterback and make the play.
Michigan State sophomore safety Montae Nicholson
On playing tough defense today, and preparing for Ohio State...
It's extremely important for us. Going into this week, it's a big week for us. We felt like we had to prove ourselves a bit.
On playing his best football...
No, not yet, not in my opinion. You know as a whole we have a long way to go to play our best football, but today was just a start.
On the importance of coming out of today with some confidence...
It was of great importance to us, you know because of last weekend and because of this upcoming week. We wanted to establish ourselves as a defense.
On his performance...
I think I played pretty well today, a lot better than I have previously, making some minor adjustments, just trying to get better.
On how daunting it is facing a team like Ohio State...
We're going to practice this week as hard as we can to try and get ready for them.
Michigan State sophomore running back Gerald Holmes
On how the linemen and running backs needed to make adjustments with lineup changes...
Whoever's in we all have confidence, no matter what quarterback the running game is the same whoever's in. We know we need to get the job done. So we had confidence when talking about O'Connor. We're trying to get our running game better so we run harder with every play.
On the first drive of the second half...
I guess they had confidence. We wanted to make a statement, trying to get our run game back. That's MSU football, that's what we preach all the time. So the coaches wanted to make a statement and we did.
On Gerald Homes making a statement...
I want to just keep doing my part when the coaches call my name, which I've been telling them I'll get the job done. I'm always available.
On the past two weeks being his best football at MSU...
Yes sir. It's the most I've ever gotten so when given the opportunity, you got to make the most of it.
On getting extra yards after contact...
That just comes with the drive. You got to want it. This is Big Ten football, college football, so I feel like anyone in the backfield you have to run hard.
Michigan State sophomore defensive lineman Malik McDowell
On how the team played against Maryland...
As a defense, I felt like we did really good. As a team, we could work a little harder. There's always things we can do better, but felt we played an overall good game.
On the importance of getting a good rush...
Coming from a game not having sacks to this game, I don't know how many sacks we had, but we had a lot. It was really important to come back out here, because last week, as you could see we weren't getting a good rush, and you see what happened.
On needing to step up after quarterback Connor Cook left the game...
As a defense, we always feel like that. We don't put it in our offense's hands, we don't put it in nobody's hands. We going to make the plays ourselves.
On looking forward to Ohio State...
I'm really excited. I'm looking forward to this game. Been looking forward to it all year, truthfully.
Michigan State senior cornerback Arjen Colquhoun
On how the defense played...
(This game) is definitely encouraging. Ohio State's a good team and we believe we have a good team, and we're going to go out there and compete every game. I'm glad the defense got it done. The linebackers, the d-line, the secondary, it was just great.
On needing a big game before Ohio State...
We just had to turn it on. We had an iffy game in Nebraska last week, and the only thing to do is to come out and make a statement. It's a statement game.
On getting an interception...
I needed (an interception). It hurt my soul a little bit last week. Tight game, I could've closed it out. It hurts. I try to make a play and it fell the wrong way. That's football. I felt everyone was just pumped up to get back out there and prove what we're really about.
Michigan State junior cornerback Darian Hicks
On getting back on the field...
I mean I'm a little tired right now, but it felt good. We need three and outs and it's a good feeling when we can do that. We just have to carry that into next week. We're always confident about ourselves - if you weren't confident you wouldn't be playing. We just locked in and paid attention and executed our assignments and the rest speaks for itself. It was good. I really missed being out there, and now I'm back. It's a good feeling. I would say this was probably the best game the defense played. We had six turnovers, and that's big for the defense. All throughout practice and all throughout meetings we were talking about how we need to make a statement in this game. We hadn't really done that this season, so today was the day we made a statement. We know what we have to do for next week. It's Ohio State, it's going to be a good game down there. We all will come together, and will lock in our assignments and execute our techniques.
On the tackle to help Bullough score...
All I saw was Riley [Bullough] catch the ball, he came my way and I was thinking - I looked forward and I was thinking I should just get somebody in the back and ankle-tackle them, but someone happened to appear in my way so I just tried to do something about it.
Michigan State sophomore linebacker Jon Reschke
On the defense overall...
Definitely, we had a very strong defensive performance today, and we played with a lot of energy and a lot of enthusiasm and it paid off in the end. It was huge. We knew as a defense that we needed to have a big week where we were all flying around. We finally had that game that we had been talking about having where we pretty much shut them out other than that first touchdown. It was important for us.
On the Ohio State game...
We have to watch film on that first, we haven't been looking at them, we've been focusing on the teams that we've been playing so far. I'm probably going to watch some film tonight and then all day tomorrow, Monday and then we'll get going on Tuesday. We usually wouldn't watch film tonight, but I can promise that I will be watching it. I think all of us have been looking forward to the next game all season. The taste that we have in our mouths after losing to them last year, it's going to be big. I'm excited.
On stepping up with Cook out...
We felt like we had more weight on our shoulders, we knew we had to possibly make a defensive touchdown, which Riley Bullough did, which was awesome. We continued to step up the rest of the game and tried to really shut them out.
On the past week's practice...
I would definitely say it's been one of our best weeks in practice. Progressively we have been practicing harder and harder and I don't think many teams in the country do that as the season goes on. You know our mentality. We are a tough defense and it pays off on Saturdays when we practice hard during the week. It's going to naturally carry over into this week. I think we are going to bring so much energy to practice every night, it's going to be exciting.
Maryland Player Quotes
Maryland senior Safety Anthony Nixon
On the defense standing tall against Michigan State's powerful offense...
Coach Dudzinski gets us prepared and called a great game for us. We always just want to execute every play
On Michigan State's good starting field position throughout the game ...
We don't worry about the short field. We just go out there and execute, no matter what the field position is.
On what it says about the defense to hold the Spartan offense on multiple possessions on their own side of the field...
We're some fighters. The D-line, the DB's and the linebackers, we all play together and ball.
Maryland junior Quarterback Perry Hills
On whether he is getting frustrated with the team's inability to win despite coming close...
It's frustrating beyond words, it really is. I hate to lose - it's sickening. What I have to do is get better. I don't want to be the one to let my team down.
On whether he felt like he let the team down in today's game...
There were some things that I could have done a lot better. As the quarterback, it's always going to come down to me. So yes, I do feel like I let my team down today.
On whether he thought coming into the game they would be able to win if they held Michigan State to two touchdowns...
We go in each week, thinking this is the one we're going to get. We had a great game plan. The coaches do a very good job of getting us prepared. It just hurts, it really does.
Maryland junior Defensive Tackle Azubuike Ukandu
On becoming a leader of the defense as the season has progressed...
It's good; it's a great feeling. I've been putting in work everyday at practice. It's just good to see that it's paying off on the field.
On how frustrating it is as a defense to come up with stops and yet still lose by two touchdowns...
Our job is to stop the other team from scoring, so no matter where the ball is on the field we need to stop them, and we failed a couple times to do that. They have their job and we have our job. We failed to do our job a couple times.
On the defensive line getting to Michigan State's quarterback throughout the game...
We're all competitive, you know? We always talk about in practice about who's getting there first. It's like a race to the quarterback and basically try and one up each other. It's better for the team that way.
