Oct. 18, 2011
Opening statement:
"We have another tough one this week down in Tallahassee, Florida. We know it will be loud and a hostile environment. We are looking forward to going down and playing an outstanding football team. They are very athletic and well coached. They are also getting healthy now and they got back on track last weekend. We want to go down and continue to improve in all phases of the game. We are going to work hard during the week to put ourselves in the best position we can be in. We know it will be a tremendous challenge for us as we play Saturday at 3:30 in Tallahassee on ABC."
On Florida State quarterback E.J. Manuel:
"He is a very talented young man. He throws the ball very well and has the ability to run the ball. When you have people who have that ability it puts some more pressure on your defense. It creates matchup problems. If we try to take something away from him it may open up something else so we have to be careful in what we do against a guy like E.J. Manuel."
On sophomore quarterback C.J. Brown:
"Having played the position as well as coaching on defense for a number of years, when you face a guy who has the ability to both run and throw the ball it creates a lot of problems for the defense.
"He is a young man who is very talented, confident and cool under pressure. He has good speed and a good knowledge and command of the game. I have been impressed with what I have seen out of him since the spring in terms of his abilities."
On freshman wide receiver Marcus Leak:
"I think that Marcus (Leak) has done a good job from preseason up until now. He was getting playing time and with football there are going to be injuries. His elevation was more due to an injury factor than anything else. We feel very comfortable playing him. He was number two on the depth chart and now his opportunity has presented itself. Now he has to go in and play as well or better than Kevin (Dorsey) did."
On if Saturday's game against Clemson showed how good the offense can be:
"I thought that we were productive on Saturday. I thought we did some good things. We want it to be even better. I think we can be even more dynamic than what we saw on Saturday."
On junior tight end Matt Furstenburg:
"I think Matt (Furstenburg) is having an outstanding year. He is a guy who is doing a lot of good things. He is blocking and catching the ball. What he did after the catch last week was great. He is one of those guys who goes out and performs. He loves to play and will do anything we ask him to do. We want the tight end to be a big part of our offense. We have been able to utilize him and get him into positions where he can be successful and enhance our offense. He has played very well all year and I have been impressed.
On freshman fullback Tyler Cierski:
"Tyler Cierski has come in as well and done an outstanding job as a true freshman. We can see him getting better and more comfortable. He is getting lower in his blocks and is playing some special teams for us. He is another young man who we think is just going to get better. The more different personnel groupings the more dynamic we can be offensively."
On freshman defensive back A.J. Hendy:
"A.J. Hendy is a local guy who has come in and participated on special teams. He has done a good job and is now a backup safety. We can see the ability he has. He is one play away from being in there at safety but he has been contributing on special teams.
On injuries:
"I didn't want to put anything out but Tyrek Cheeseboro will be out for the year due to surgery. Avery Graham will be out, it looks like he won't need surgery but he will be out. I will update everything else on Thursday. Tyrek we are hoping for a redshirt. If a player doesn't play more than four games in the first half of the season you are eligible for a medical redshirt. Tryek only played in three so we are hoping for the redshirt. The same thing goes for Matt Robinson."
On the three freshmen linebackers:
"Alex Twine is 17 years old. We see a young man getting better. The thing I worry about Alex is with him being a true freshmen coming from Quince Orchard High School, he has been thrown into everything because of his skill and (other player's) injury, and I am worried how he will be able to handle the school work. Lots of things are going on and I wanted to make sure he would be able to handle everything. He has gone out and played well and is getting better.
"I see Lorne Goree getting better with each game. He is a redshirt freshman and has never stepped on the field before. He has been thrown right into the fire but I think he is doing a good job and getting better. He is doing the things that need to be done. He is a true middle linebacker. I think he has the opportunity to grow and get better as long as he keeps focused.
"Mario (Rowson) was a defensive back a year ago. We felt that he was more suited at the STAR position. He still has to get stronger and put on some more weight. He is out there doing some good things but there are some things he needs to improve on. Those kids are giving us everything that they have. We hope that we get Demetrius (Hartsfield) and Darin (Drakeford) back soon. We already have some ideas as to what to do once they get back. We also hope to get Kenny Tate back soon. I know that when Kenny, Demetrius and Darin aren't in there we are getting some valuable experience for some guys who will be in the program for a long time."
Sophomore Quarterback C.J. Brown
On if he was surprised to get the start on Saturday:
"You're never going to be surprised, but I was excited. I've been here working hard doing my thing showing what I can do in practice, and even in the Georgia Tech game. So it got my confidence up, but when [Randy Edsall] came over and confirmed that, I was excited."
On if he ever expected to rush 22 times in his first college start:
"I mean you never can predict that kind of performance. I definitely knew I could do it; I believe in my abilities on the field with that nature, but you can't predict that but I'm glad it happened. It's something defenses have to prepare for."
On if his life has changed over the past week since his successful starting debut:
"I mean not really, you get a little bit more attention, but that's not really going to change the person that I am. I'm not going to go about anything differently than what I have before. The day to day basis isn't going to change for me now."
On where he wants to improve his game:
"After watching the game with the coaches and sitting down and critiquing myself, definitely some of the reads, and with the tempo of the offense we can still go faster. It's scary to think about, but with getting on time with the receivers, the routes, and reading coverage's better we just want to sharpen up and continue to get better."
On Florida State's defense:
"They're experienced. They're fast, they're going to fly to the ball, they're going to pursue and they're going to be a tough defense. We're going to have another tough challenge this weekend."
Junior Defensive Lineman Joe Vellano
On having five freshmen start against Clemson:
"These guys are just getting game experience and it's not taking them so long to get going which I think is huge. They're starting to realize they can play and they're already down, so that's kind of the biggest thing. I think everybody started fast, and they played the way they're capable from the beginning. Every week they're getting better, relaxing out there and realizing they can play which is huge for self confidence."
On if the defensive schemes have changed this year to allow him to have success:
"Yes and no. It's still the same `you have to beat the guy in front of you' kind of way. But we're playing more four down (linemen), considering what we did in the past. We just have to keep working, I've just tried to step up and make some extra plays when I can. A lot of plays I make are just hustle plays running to the ball and stuff like that. Just trying to keep that up."
On Florida State quarterback E.J. Manuel:
"He's a dual-threat quarterback. He's one of those guys where if he breaks through the line you still have to get him down. He's a big guy too, so you're not going to bring him down with arm tackling. He likes to throw the ball, but he can also run. They'll probably show you a little option too, which is another factor you have to game plan in. I'm sure he's ready to go, and we have to get after him."
On the play of freshmen quarterback C.J. Brown:
"He was coming in and making a lot of third-down plays. On the sideline we go defense up on third down, just getting ready but when he's making those plays you get more rest. Especially when you're going against a team like Clemson that tried to (out) tempo you. I think he made a bunch of great plays with his feet, and I thought he did a great job managing the game."
On facing Florida State quarterback E.J. Manuel:
"You just have to make sure you focus on your keys, and be able to contain him because if you don't, he can make big plays. I think as a defense as a whole we have to pay attention to him and make sure we know where he is on the field at all times."
On playing in Tallahassee and the game-day environment:
"My freshmen year I was down there in Tallahassee and it's a great crowd and great atmosphere to play in. I'm excited and I know it's going to be a great ACC game to play. They're expecting a big crowd and they're going to be loud."
On how to ramp up the secondary play:
"I think it just starts in practice. I think last week we had a great week of practice, but I guess it wasn't good enough. We just have to keep coming out and practicing that much harder. "
On staying more consistent on defense:
"Well to be consistent, sometimes the big plays are going to happen, but it's how you react to those plays. If you don't react with the right state of mind, you're not going to be consistent. You're going to dwell on the last play and it's going to affect your play so I think we just have to shake off the big play if it happens and just come back ready to go on the next play."
