Nov. 16, 2010
On Wounded Warrior Project Partnership:
"The Wounded Warrior Project is something we really support. Both (Under Armour President/CEO) Kevin Plank and I are big believers in doing anything we can to help these people who have done so much for our country, and we are happy to raise some money for them and let them rejoice in their lives. We are very happy to be associated with them."
On Zach Kerr's role and development:
"Well, I was really looking for a guy who would blow somebody up. I wasn't happy with what we were getting from our fullbacks. On a good day, Zach is 330 pounds and he can run a 4.8 [40-yard dash], he's really a strange guy. He is very athletic, very, very powerful.
"We were not happy with kickoff returns, and had to figure out how to help that part of our game. We had to go through people who could help us. Originally they wanted to play [Joe] Vellano but I said no because he is already playing about 75 plays a game, you are not going to play Vellano. I suggested using Zach Kerr because he is playing about 35 plays a game and I think Zach can be better than Vellano anyway. We played him and he's done a pretty good job. As strange as it is, it has helped our fullback situation and given Zach some notoriety. He's playing better on defense, so overall it's been a win-win situation."
On locker room morale and the focus of the team:
"Of course Saturday night was very jubilant, not only for players but coaches as well. We had a good practice last night. On Mondays we discuss what each game means in respect to our season goals, and where we are with our goals. We look at the rankings and the standings in the ACC and how those things impact ourselves and the rest of the season. We do not look at just the score of the game; we try to take something from every play. We had a very good practice last night. Considering it was a Monday night, the players are beat up and sore, there was lots of energy. We did not need to do a lot to motivate them and hopefully today will go just as well."
On scoring more points this season:
"A lot of it's not only offense its special teams and defense too. If you look at those games we've scored points on offense and defense. I think that's helped. Obviously the turnover ratio has been a tremendous factor in our production of points. Also I think we're much better than what we were last year in the red zone. We're scoring touchdowns where last year something always seemed to go wrong when we got in the red zone. Whether it was a negative play or a penalty, you can't have that."
On special teams contributors:
"We have a lot of guys [that have contributed]. Nick [Peterson] does a great job on what we call R & B which is block and return. He's also on kickoff return and he's doing a decent job as a linebacker when he gets in the game. Emani Lee-Odai, LaQuan Williams, Kerry Boykins, they're playing 15 to 20 plays on special teams and probably getting 10 to 12 as wide receivers. It's been one of the reasons for the success of our team."
On whether there was nervousness playing a redshirt freshman at QB:
"Maybe initially. But just seeing him and his demeanor, I think not only he helps the huddle, I think he helps the coaches. He's just kind of a cool guy. `Yeah Coach, I got it, no problem. That one's on me.' And he'll come up with some thoughts. He had a pretty good thought against Virginia and we changed some things around, so he's growing at a very rapid rate right now."
On Florida State's defensive line:
"They do a lot of spin moves. They have a lot of good moves. The biggest thing is they are big. They have one defensive end that's 265 and 6-foot-4 but he's extremely fast.
"When we have two guys playing out of position [on the offensive line] that's a concern for me. They've been hanging in there. [Paul] Pinegar and [R.J.] Dill are playing better than I though they'd play. It's not always pretty. It's a matter of playing with heart and effort.
"I think Danny [O'Brien] is doing a good job of not holding on to the ball for too long and Coach Franklin is putting them in situations where they have a chance. But without their competitiveness and their fight we probably wouldn't be doing this well. We're really going to get tested this week. You're taking two of the premier pass rushers in the conference that we're going to have to defend against."
On how the team is feeling going into the Florida State game:
"It's the same feeling just a different week. Our goal is always to beat the next opponent and Florida State is our next opponent. We are ready and we have a lot of energy because we know what the game means to us and to the university."
On Florida State's quarterback situation:
"We are preparing for both because we don't know which one we are going to play against; it looks like it's a game-time decision for them. I'm looking forward to playing against both of them. I played against (Christian) Ponder two years ago and (EJ) Manuel last year and they are both good quarterbacks. I wish them the best but they are going against a tough defense in us and I can't wait for the game."
On how they are treating this game:
"We are treating this like a playoff game. If we can win one game at a time for two weeks we are in the ACC Championship game. We are treating this as almost a quarterfinal game because we know that we control where we want to go this year."
On playing in an important game:
"This is why I came to Maryland was to play in big games like this. It's what you ask for and what you want to play in as an athlete. We have a lot of big time players and we are ready to go."
On the excitement for the game:
"We are excited and hoping that we get a good turnout this week so we can have a big atmosphere for a big-time game and a good atmosphere for everyone. But at the same time we need to get the win to make the game that much more meaningful."
On the offensive line:
"I think our offensive line has come together now that we have some cohesion there. Playing the same five starters for three weeks has helped us out a lot. They are clicking more and more each week and that sets up everything. I think my chemistry with the receivers is good, better than it has ever been now that I know I have time to throw and where the receivers are going to be. With that we can run the ball and when we can get both of those things going we can be a good offense."
On the potential distractions heading into the game:
"I can see how some people would make it as a distraction if they take the jerseys as more of a social statement rather than what we are playing for. Some of the older more mature guys are making it our job to keep the team focused on the job at hand which is Florida State. It's our best 11 versus their best 11. Its nice to know that it's a black out and what our fans are going to bring to the table, I'm expecting our student section to be crazy and it should be one of our best crowds of the year."
On what the blackout means from a players point of view:
"It gets the fans excited and when the fans get excited we can expect a larger turnout for the game. It's a night game and prime time so we know that Byrd Stadium will be rocking and that gives us something to look forward to play in. It's exciting to see what our crowd can do to help us out."
On Danny O'Brien's play so far this season:
"Danny does an unbelievable job of controlling and managing the game as a quarterback. He is only a freshman but he is playing well beyond how freshmen usually play. He isn't making the freshman mistakes that you see a lot. He has played on the road at Clemson and Miami so I don't think that too much will rattle him. He is a calm kid and pretty level headed so we feel like he will do fine."
On the defense creating turnovers:
"That's one of the things that we always stress and one of our goals every game. We want to go out there and pick the ball off and get some fumbles. Every week we have to come in here and by the nature of Coach Brown's defense there is a lot of pressure and turnovers are one of the things we have to capitalize on."
On what Florida State's offense does:
"They will spread it out and they are going to throw the ball as well as run the ball all over the place. They use a lot of misdirection so we really have to be on top of our keys and stay focused. You can't jump gaps. You have to have everyone play their assignment."
On lessons he has learned from past season:
"You have to keep going. In the past we have felt like we have already accomplished enough. Now we are not satisfied; we are happy with seven wins but we want to keep building off of that and hopefully go to the ACC Championship game."
On the motivation of last year's game versus Florida State:
"Last season still hangs around in the back of our minds and we don't want to let something like that ever happen again. We are playing Florida State who we had an opportunity to beat last year but that's over with and we have an opportunity to come out and beat them this year on our field this Saturday. We are all looking forward to playing this weekend."
On being able to finish out games this year:
"We are a team this year that defines ourselves on our ability to finish games. A lot of the games that we have won we have stepped up in the end; we have had a few breakdowns in the three games that we have lost. We define ourselves on our finishing because last year we weren't able to do that. The Florida State game is a great example of that as in the final minute of the game they came down and scored to beat us. Finishing ball games was a big emphasis in the off season and I think we have done a great job of that this year and we will try to come out and do it again on Saturday."
On Florida State's offense:
"They are a team that possesses a lot of speed and we are going to have to attack them and use our speed to counteract them. They have a lot of good players on their football team from their backs to their receivers along with a very talented offensive line so they are a good football team all around on the offensive side of the ball. We are going to have to go out there and follow our game plan and go as hard as we can."
On the mindset of the team:
"We just have to take it one game at a time. We understand what's on the line but all we can do is focus on what we can control this week and handle our business and everything else will take care of itself."
