Post-Game Quotes: Furman
9/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
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Michigan State Head Coach Mark Dantonio
Opening statement...
On the football game, first thing I will say is they all count one. All week long, we talked to our players about Furman coming in here and playing and coach has been in place for six years. Our plan would be there would be some different things that we had not seen, and I think those things were accomplished. I thought we started out pretty good, obviously we started out fast but penalties were a big part of what happened today. We had some pass interference penalties, we had some good goal line stops, some regular stops as well. As you go through the football game we see LJ Scott ran effectively, the yardage I think we had 226 yards or 361 or something like that, but we seemed to keep shooting ourselves in the foot. Two turnovers which I thought could have easily been omitted but never the less we endured with two turnovers. Great play by Andrew Dowell and then after that a great drive by our offense, sort of closing it out with a touchdown pass. Positives from the game I thought were the running game, the ability to run the football, especially LJ with 106 yards. Then also I thought Tyler (O'Connor) played well enough to win, had three touchdown passes with about 190 yards of offense. I don't think there is any question that this is his first game out, there is going to be some mistakes, so probably had a couple timing issues throwing the football. Disappointing that we missed the field goal, but then again we just keep moving forward. We have a few weeks to fix any problems we have and get ready for Notre Dame. I am sure it will be quite the challenge down there, but I go back to what I said before we close it out, sometimes when you let a football team hang around, they hung around because they played well, not because they were a fluke but because they played well. That football team gets stronger and stronger as the game goes and you are sort of trying to stop a little bit of a wave so we were able to do that and close the game out, and I am ok with that and we will learn from it and will move forward.
On how important your leaders are during the game...
Well, they are critical because they kind of keep everybody together. It is chaotic down there, you have 75,000 people, you got things coming at you, you got a no huddle offense, you got option, you got run pass, you got RPO's, which are run pass options, from that you got dive play, you got max protections, two-man routes so the quarterback put the ball in places where their wide receivers could make the play. I thought we were in good position in defense of them but never the less they hit some of those. Then I think the penalties really hurt us. We had numerous times where we were going to get off the field and there is a penalty or there is a first down. They were big penalties; they weren't small penalties of five yards. These were 15 yard penalties that changed the nature of the down and distance and sort of put us behind the eight ball a little bit but some we were able to overcome, some we weren't.
On the win...
You know we came in and did what we had to do I guess to win a football game. Two times in the red zone and then making them kick field goals and then they converted on fourth down plays a couple times. You are never going to show everything the first game I guess, but you better be ready for the second game, we need to be able to get better. Hopefully the second game usually you are little bit more loose, a little bit more experienced but again a great challenge awaits us in South Bend but we've got time.
On not having RJ in the offense...
Well, he is a leader with our wide receiver core, I thought Monty Madaris played well though. He is a senior, and I thought he played very well. He had some big plays, on third down, big run as well. RJ is a playmaker and all of a sudden you force a redshirt freshman on kickoff returns to make that fair and then we had Brandon Sowards go back for punts, but he will be back.
On the penalties from upperclassmen...
Yeah they are frustrating but I think the key to anything is how you handle the disappointment or how you handle some of the things that don't go right for you. So we aren't going to lose our minds over there, we are going to keep coaching and coach the next play, and that is what we did. Some things are out of our control and some things are in our control, and I will have to look at the film to see which is which. I thought our guys came out and played hard, I thought we played aggressively, and we got the win so that is the bottom line at the end of the day.
On why LB Jon Reschke was out...
Furman Head Coach Bruce Fowler
On main takeaways from the game...
"I'm really proud of our guys. If you would have told me before the game that Michigan State was going to have 19 first downs, and we were going to have 18, and time of possession would be fairly even, I would have thought that we'd be right in this game. And we were. That first drive, you know, we got a little overwhelmed. First drive of the year, you get out there and Michigan State pushed us around a little bit. But after that our defense settled down. We had some red zone chances. We missed a field goal and had a couple other opportunities. We didn't finish a couple of our drives. But I was really proud of them. Our guys kept fighting to the end, and we can build on some of that stuff."
On why the game was more even in the second half...
"Michigan State has been really good in the fourth quarter, traditionally. We just started playing a little bit better. LJ Scott just ran through us there in the first drive. We still didn't tackle great all night, but we tackled better after that first drive. Overall, I thought we game-planned and adjusted well. I'm really proud of the way our guys kept their poise. It was really loud down there - in the endzones particularly. Overall, I was just really proud of the ways our boys kept playing."
On Furman QB performance...
"I thought PJ (Blazejowski) did a good job. He was pretty good with the football. That guy made a heck of a play on that interception. I think it was a run/pass option type of thing - PJ decided to throw it, and he made a great play on the ball. Other than that I thought PJ did a good job taking care of the ball. We had a couple of missed snaps, but other than that, we ran the offense well. We handled the clock well. We handled the crowd well. All of those things that you ask a quarterback to do. We don't play in front of 75,000 every week, so it's a little different for our guys. It's a lot different for our quarterback and our center. He handled it really well, I thought he did a great job"
On Furman running game...
"It was a step in the right direction. We ran the ball on the perimeter decent, and got the ball on the outside a couple of times. It was nice to be able to get some yardage in between the tackles. Richard Hayes had to go out in the third quarter, but the two of them together (Hayes and Morehead) were able to give us a little quickness, and it was a step in the right direction. Our offensive line did a good job."
Michigan State Offensive Coordinator Dave Warner
On staying "vanilla" and not having to show a lot, Tyler O'Connor taking a knee at the end and coming out with a win...
Well I'm certainly pleased with a win, but I'm disappointed with mostly the penalties. I heard Josiah Price talking about it. That's certainly a big thing that we need to take care of. We cannot hurt ourselves, whether it be with penalties or with missed assignments, there were a few out there that hurt us.
I think it's just, hats off for Furman, they played very well. But I think we're capable of playing much better and that's something we have to take care of here as we move forward.
What he talked about on the sidelines with his players regarding the penalties...
I'm just speaking from an offensive standpoint, we've got some holes, I think we, the personal fouls - we had two at least.
I'd hope that as we evaluate this film, we won't get to it until Sunday with our team, but I certainly hope that when we sit down and watch this film as an offense, guys understand now the relevance of making sure we don't shoot ourselves in the foot. Hopefully it's a wake-up call, hopefully we learn from it and move forward, and improve and get to the point where we're not doing those things.
On LJ Scott's presence on the field...
I think that he's earned the starting position and I think that he's earned to be kind of the lead guy. He's done that most especially throughout this camp in August.
My plan was to play three running backs tonight, but LJ was playing the majority. I'm shocked that we had 58 plays, I thought that we didn't get that many plays out there. I mean, I'm thinking of six plays in the third quarter.
But, moving forward, LJ is the guy. And those other guys I want to get in there more so than what happened tonight.
Michigan State senior quarterback Tyler O'Connor
On his first start...
I like to think of myself as a perfectionist, and I try to do things 100% right all of the time. But I don't think I did that today. You can't get too low, and you can't get too high as a quarterback - I've learned that over the years. A win is a win and we are okay with this, but we have a lot of things to fix up.
On what he needs to improve on for Notre Dame...
I think the biggest thing is to get comfortable with everyone around me. I think there were some jitters across the offense, and we have to get on the same page across all scenarios. We need to get a feel for how we are going to attack Notre Dame because that is 15 days away and so we have a lot of time for us to figure all of that out. I just really need to get comfortable with everyone - the offensive line and the running backs and the wide receivers.
On the penalties...
I think they added up to about 120 yards. I'm not sure which was offense or defense, but I can count in my head the couple times that we got down to our 30 yard line and then there was a personal foul and another penalty. It's hard for Coach Warner to call plays when it's second and 25, and it's hard for us to clean things up in that situation. Also, a fumble the first play of a series - that put us back in a tough position. Those three drives off of the top of my head, and I'm sure there's more. We get rid of those three plays, and we feel like that would have been three more touchdowns.
On Monty Madaris...
I think you saw speed, and I think you saw a guy that we need to get the ball in his hands as much as possible. He had some hits down the field, and I think for those most part those hits made people miss. He showed the coaches something tonight and we always knew he had wheels, but for him to actually go out there and perform that on the high level and really make some plays - I think you can expect that a little more. Our chemistry is very high. We know what each other wants, but obviously there's a lot to improve this year.
What went wrong on the first touchdown drive ...
I do think there were the two penalties, but that wasn't out offense. We had driven down the field and got to their [Furman's] 30 yard line and then we got that 15-yard penalty. That's not us as an offense.
On staying generic...
Yes. I think it was good and a part of Coach Warner's plan. As an offense we are okay. We are okay with what happened tonight, but we have to erase a few things and put them behind us. We moved the ball, gave some guys some good plays, had a physical offensive line. We are okay with where we are at. A win is a win and we just have to get rid of some smaller errors.
On Andrew Dowell's pick...
I saw it and I think it was extremely important. He is a guy that is very athletic and makes plays and that's what he did there. That was a crucial part of the time and we needed a turnover. We had said that before we went out onto the field. He ended up making a great play and I am excited for him moving forward.
Michigan State senior linebacker Riley Bullough
Adjustments on defense...
irst off, we can't beat ourselves. A lot of those drives kept going on because of penalties and we just can't do that over and over in a game. We have to correct ourselves and we will look at the film and see what we agree with and what we didn't agree with. We will see the film tomorrow and the next day and then go from there.
On his defense...
[Furman] did a lot of things that surprised us that we weren't expecting, but that is football. You're always going to come in with a plan and we felt like we had a great plan. We weren't expecting any of that stuff that they threw at us, but that's football and you have to adjust. We bent a little bit tonight, but we didn't break. I know we have a few things to clean up, but it was the first game so you can expect that.
Did he feel like the defense was flat...
I don't know that we were necessarily flat, but we just needed to find a way to play better. We knew Furman was going to come in with a plan. You can't expect that just because we are a Big Ten team that we are automatically going to punch someone out. That's not how it works. They have guys on scholarship, and they have great coaching, but at the same time our intensity was not as high as it needed to be.
Michigan State senior tight end Josiah Price
His two big penalties early on...
They were pretty critical. It was very frustrating and out of my character. It was out of suit for me to get two penalties. The conversation on the sideline was pretty much that I can't do that. I think if we wouldn't have had those two penalties in the first half we would have scored a little more.
On staying generic throughout the game...
I don't think you really show off in the first game. I think we were just trying to get the lay of the land, and I think Coach D always tries to show some class. We weren't going to try to run the score up which is why we took the knee at the end of the game. I give a lot of credit to Furman. They came in with a pretty good game plan and that really did not help us with the couple penalties. That really killed us. I am not worried. I am excited. Every game counts as one, and this was a win tonight.
Rhythm off after RJ Shelton left and the penalties...
I think we shot ourselves in the foot a lot especially in the first half. We really hurt ourselves with the penalties. I think that was the biggest factor. RJ [Shelton] not being out there also really hurt us, but he will be fine and we'll be fine.
On Tyler O'Connor...
I really don't think there was any difference with the rhythm. Tyler [O'Connor] is a great quarterback, and I think he had a pretty good night tonight. It was fun getting the tight ends in there a couple times. It was fun being in the end zone. It was a fun win and it was fun having Tyler [O'Connor] out there. People can see that he can run this offense and he can do it pretty good.
Michigan State sophomore running back LJ Scott
On how much he expects to play...
I did expect that. I was told before the game I was starting, so I was very aware.
On what his time on the field was like because of the amount he played versus last year...
It made a huge difference. I was able to catch my rhythm. I was hauling it for a while. I was asking for it every time. Once I got us going, then the offense got going. I had to set a tone.
On the disappointment of penalties...
That's what we need to work at. I'm sure we'll pay the consequences for those at practice, the penalties and everything. But as a team it wasn't bad, but you still want to do better.
On what he did in camp...
I just kind of separated myself by paying attention more in meetings. Mentally, really. Just trying to get all the mental reps.
On Tyler O'Connor...
I feel comfortable back there with him. We were communicating on so many different levels. Everything wasn't perfect but I would say, we just have to come better and closer as a team because we were getting three and outs for no reason. There was no reason for that at all, we were killing ourselves. But I say that we have to get better as a team.
On the first drive...
The first drive was good. Like I said, it was errors and it was penalties and there is some stuff that we need to clean up.
Michigan State senior defensive back Demetrious Cox...
On Furman's runs...
As far as the runs up the middle, that's something we're going to have to look at the film. I'm not really sure what was going on there, but we got to take care of that as well. We're just going to get better and move on.
On the effort of the defense...
I mean I really have expectations. You know I knew they were going to have a game plan. We had a game plan. They came out and threw some curves and trick plays and stuff like that. We really just have to keep getting better and keep building and building. I feel like it was pretty decent. Pretty decent. We kept it straight.
On the red zone defense...
I mean everyone gave a lot of effort. I can't ask for anything else. We got out levered on some of those plays, those option plays. But like I said, we are going to get in the film room, correct it and move on.
On the advantages of bye week...
Yeah for sure. You know, always early in the season, we get a lot better going week to week so you know like I said, we're going to get in the film room, see what we can improve on, improve on the little things, and then prepare for Notre Dame.
Michigan State junior offensive lineman Brian Allen
On the play of the offensive line...
I thought we played really well. There were just drives where we'd shoot ourselves in the foot. We'd get something going and we'd bring it back, get something going, and bring it back. From what we saw down there we felt like we were doing a really good job and moving the guys really well. I think the second series of the game was the only series I can remember where we didn't. I think we went three and out that series, but other than that I think that it might have been our only one. I think played well, I think we played tough and guys were finishing, so that's good.
On the play of Kodi Kieler...
I'm going to have to go watch the film. It's hard to watch other guys during the game, but I think I sat out a series and he looked pretty good. He played tackle and center so it's good to get guys out there again and get a feel for guys at different positions.
On the benefit of having linemen that can play various positions...
The ability to jump out from center to both tackles is awesome to have. Just in case things don't go as well or a guy gets tired from a series. But that's not just Kodi it's our whole O-line. Benny McGowan I think he played left guard, center, right guard tonight. A couple guys did that so it's good to get guys in different positions to give guys breaks.
On what needs to be fixed before playing Notre Dame...
Penalties, definitely. One hundred twenty yards I think it was too much if we want to beat those guys. Furman was a good team and they played the whole four quarters, but Notre Dame will be another test and we can't give them that much.
On adjusting to losing so many veteran players...
I think it's our young guys who haven't exactly played with us in games as much, I think it was some of the wide receivers first opportunities to be out there with us and to give them this opportunity tonight is a new thing for them. Having all of the new freshmen here on their first game day. We've got to clean out not just those guys but in the locker room, our mentality before the game. We can't have young guys horsing around, not that they were, but just need to be focused and clean that up because on any given day a team like Furman can come in and play tough. Mentality wise, I think that is part of the penalties, we just need to stay more focused and we'll be better off.
Michigan State sophomore linebacker Andrew Dowell
On his interception...
It was a big play in the game for us. They had just gotten a turnover, which we call a sudden change so the defense was rushed on the field. I got a good tip from my coach, Coach Snyder, and then I was able to make a play on the ball
On how the play developed...
It was my play style, I'm a big play kind of guy. I tried to make a play for my team when my team needed it. So I was in the right position and was able to make it happen.
On his catching abilities in high school...
Yeah I had a few one handed catches (in high school).
On whether the defense was trying to force a turnover...
Yeah, we're always trying to make a play. We had talked about sudden change. The coach said `let's get something, let's make a play. Defense can make a play here' and I was able to make that play for my squad.
On his play overall...
There are some things I need to work on. It was my first collegiate start. I'm always a guy that looks at what I can improve on. So tomorrow when we get together as a team to watch film and I'll be looking to get better for South Bend.
On Dantonio's comment that he is a `100-mile-per-hour guy'...
I'm the kind of guy that even in practice I try to fly to the ball. Even when the ball is thrown thirty yards down field I'm trying to show up in the picture. That's been instilled in me since highschool.
Furman junior quarterback P.J. Blazejowski
On the Michigan State defense..
The offensive line was really great, like they were saying Michigan State has one of the best defenses in the nation, they have All-Americans on their defense, they are huge fast, they're quick, all sorts of things.
On the Furman offensive line...
For our guys to go in there, they protected pretty well and did a little slice and dice every now and then, with Darius (Morehead) and the other backs. They're coming and they're going to be barking. We trust them I trust them and if you guys saw the work that they put in every week you would trust them too.
Furman Running Back Darius Morehead
On the Furman offense...
The offensive line did pretty well, Coach Smouse, Coach Sorrells did a great job of getting it together, we were just able to go out and execute, they were able to stand toe to toe without fouling. That was pretty good.
Furman Linebacker Carl Rider
On the Michigan State offense...
Yeah, we knew coming into this game, Michigan State is known for just pounding the ball right down the middle and really wearing down defenses. I want to tip our hats to our offense for staying out there for as long as they did.
We felt fresh all night, we knew that we might let them pass, but were not going to let them run in between the tackles. And our defensive line did a phenomenal job. Making their fits, and I think we might have fallen short with finishing tackles, and that's one thing we have to work on. But mentally I think we were there, we were in the right places, we prepared for this game, managing tackles and all we did well.
Michigan State senior wide receiver Monty Madaris
Thoughts on his performance and the team's performance overall...
I feel like I had a good night. But I'm not really happy with the way we played as an offense, I feel like we could've played better, I feel like we left a lot on the table. We have a lot to clean up going into Notre Dame we have a whole bye week to figure out what we're going to do, so I feel pretty good. All of our receivers can run the ball, but the reverses, the stuff I did in high school. Honestly, I can play any position that we have, I feel good about it. I'm going to keep addressing how to get better and help my teammates get better. I am very pleased by the defense but I feel like the offense, we could've done better, but a W is a W.
On emerging his senior year like former players Tony Lippett and Aaron Burbridge...
Those are guys who basically paved the way for me. I mean, two Big Ten Receivers of the Year, then me coming into my senior year, that's a year I'm wishing to have.
On the chemistry with senior quarterback Tyler O'Connor...
We came in together so we've been here for four and a half years, so there's a lot of chemistry. I would say our chemistry is about the same, we've always thrown together throughout the years, I mean we came in together like I said. We have a great relationship.
Thoughts on the play of senior quarterback Tyler O'Connor...
He played well, I feel like the interception was probably a misread on his part. But honestly he played good, Tyler played well for his second official start. I would say me, R.J. [Shelton] and Felton [Davis III], were his go-to receivers.
On the start of his senior season...
Michigan State, it's a process here. We have to go through the grind of becoming that top dog and I feel like that's what molds us into the players that we are. We are a family here.
On the importance of the upcoming bye week...
It's a chance for us to get our players back who are banged up, that will help us a lot going into the Notre Dame week.
