Oct. 23, 2007
Opening statement:
"We are facing a very good team, Clemson is a typical good team; big, strong, fast. They have a lot of athletes and they are a good football team. The players had a good workout last night, they are coming off a loss and we have to put it behind us. I was very pleased with how we have practiced under the circumstances."
On the injuries on the offensive line:
"We have to practice to develop the younger kids and yet we can't wear the other starters out, so I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. But I think we can just keep on working, and it's my job to give them a good game plan and hopefully we will be able to execute the best we can."
On the injury status of linebacker Erin Henderson:
"I think he came out of the game a little sore, but I think he is holding up. I thought Erin played better as the game went on, and that's understandable because of the time he had out. I can't say enough about him and how hard he played and the heart he has, I'm very proud to have him on our football team."
On the Clemson offense:
"They are really a solid football team and they are very balanced on offense. Their Quarterback (Cullen Harper) has been playing very well for them, they have two great running backs, and a huge offensive line, and they have wide receivers that are tall. They could present some problems for us."
On the Clemson defense:
"It's kind of like what you see every year from them, they are big, strong, fast, and they have a lot of players. But we have been able to hang in there with them and I plan on being able to do the same this week."
On the play of Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper:
"He doesn't make a lot of mistakes, that's the biggest thing I've noticed from film. He is a very efficient quarterback and he doesn't turn the ball over. He has a lot of weapons to go to, which is a big help."
On the Maryland offensive line:
"We had a very good offensive line with Andrew Crummey and Jaimie Thomas and now that Phil Costa and Jack Griffin have to play every down we are losing are flexibility. We are going to have to start playing some younger kids that have to play one position, and that limits us."
On having to play younger players and walk-ons:
"A lot of it isn't mental. It's physical. I think when I put them into the game they will know what to do for the most part, but it's whether they are going to be able to match up with the people they are going to have to play against. I think this could help us in the future, with younger guys getting more practice and playing time."
On the mood of the team after a tough loss:
"We just have to bounce back like we did after Wake Forest. This is a crucial game that will determine our season. If we can win here and keep on rolling we'll be in a good situation at the end."
On Saturday's loss to Virginia:
"All Saturday and Sunday you think about the game and you think of all the ways you could have done better. But once Monday comes you have to start thinking about the next game."
On Clemson's defense:
"They're really quick. There is a lot of quickness on their defense so we have to just stay with it. A lot like our defense in many aspects so we have to just stick with it and keep up."
On the team's mindset at practice after the loss:
"It's kind of like after the Wake Forest loss. You lose and then you have to bounce back. Our team is really good at that, no one points any fingers and we all come back, learn from our mistakes, and come back ready to play."
On Clemson's offense being a threat to the Terps:
"This is another great opportunity for us to go out there and show people what we are capable of doing as a defense. They have a very good offense, a very capable offense so we have to just go out there and take away what they do best which is run the ball and build off the passing game with the run and they have a great runner with (James) Davis who was also there last year. It's going to be a tough task for us but we are up for the challenge."
On Spiller and Davis being difficult to defend:
"It's tough. (C.J.) Spiller is a speed guy. He is a little shifty in the open field. (James) Davis goes low in the shoulders and tries to get that extra yard when he needs to, but he is also shifty and very fast. They have a lot of similarities but the one thing we are focusing on now is that one has a lot more catches than the other, so we are taking that into consideration."
On being a leader on the team, and feeling the pressure to step up:
"I was brought to the University of Maryland to play football and get an education and I am taking care of the education part as you all already know. The other part of my agreement is to play football, and if I can't play on Saturdays and give it up for 60 minutes for my coaches, my teammates, and myself then I am not holding up my end of the bargain."
On the offensive line injuries:
"That's just part of the game, it comes with the territory when you play football; you get injuries. That's why you recruit younger guys and now a couple of the guys who were going to redshirt are going to have to step in and fill in the roles of the injured players. I have 100 percent confidence that these guys they can step in and get it done so we just have to game plan it and continue to execute."
On running behind the line this week:
"I don't know, that is why we practice and put a game plan together. Like I said, we have to plug some guys into some holes and we are going to see. But that's what we do. We run the ball so we are not going to abandon that part of our game. We are just going to go out there play hard, and play together and we will see what the outcome is."
On changing the game plan:
"The backups are being taught the same game as the starters are, so why change up? They just have to fill those roles we are going to play our game. We are not going to change anything up. We might throw a few wrinkles in here and there, but we are going to do what we do."
Senior Defensive Lineman Dre Moore
On what improvements with the defensive line need to be made:
"We are still giving up too many third downs, especially third-and-long. I think that is what we have to focus on to do better this week."
On magnitude of Clemson game:
"This game is very huge to us. As we get down too many games in the ACC, we are not going to have the chance to come back so we have to come out fighting."
On junior quarterback Cullen Harper:
"He is a very good quarterback in my opinion. He's more mobile than he looks and he's able to work well under pressure. So we just going to have to keep pressure on him and keep him in the pocket."
On offensive injuries putting making defense feel more pressured:
"I don't think we feel any more pressure. We know what we are going to be asked to do and we just have to do it."
