COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Postgame quotes following Maryland’s 38-31 victory over Iowa at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium.
Maryland Head Coach Randy Edsall
Opening Statement:
“I’m just so proud of these kids. In terms of how they conduct themselves, how they handle themselves, how they just never say die and keep fighting, keep battling when we have some of our self-induced things out there on the field. That was a great win today against a very fine football team. The thing that I was very impressed with is the fact that we did it as a team. All three phases contributed and did their end. A bunch of guys stepped up that maybe haven’t been playing a whole bunch and it just seems like this group really grasped that team concept, that team pride and they love each other. They want to play hard for each other, they want to do it for each other; and when you have that, you get the results that you got today.”
On the defensive adjustments after the early deficit:
“I don’t know if we really made a whole lot of adjustments. I think we just had guys that really didn’t do their job in those first two series. We just told them ‘guys just do your job, if you do your job we’re going to be just fine’. That’s exactly what they did, they went out there and everybody took their assignment and executed it to the best of their ability. When you do that, we have enough talent to be able to play the way that we played. And really, that’s what it was. It was good to see that.”
On the big play capabilities of wide receiver Stefon Diggs and defensive back William Likely:
“It gets back to the team concept. Guys see things that happen during the game and the guys who have the abilities to make plays basically just do their job and make a couple moves here or there to make things happen. It’s great to have playmakers like Will [Likely], like Stefon [Diggs], like other guys that we have. To have a guy like C.J. [Brown] who got hit in the back and it was really just an upper trap issue there, a muscle issue to come back and do what he did. Perry [Hills] stepping in, who didn’t get any reps really until Wednesday because Caleb [Rowe] went down on Tuesday in practice. To come in and lead us to a touchdown; it’s great when you have guys who can make plays and those guys step up and make plays. I thought Stefon’s touchdown was huge in the game; it was a big momentum boost for us. Will’s pick-six was huge as well. That’s what you want; you want guys to pick other guys up when things happen. We just had to find a way to get that fifth win today, and we got it. We’ll worry about who’s available next week come either Sunday or Monday.”
On the injury to quarterback C.J. Brown:
“I said what I said about C.J., it was an upper trap, it was a muscle issue. We’ll see how he feels, he’s sore. He wanted to go back in and he was cleared through our medical people. I’m sure he’ll be sore, he’ll probably stay in a cold tub down there for probably another three hours before he heads home.”
On the play of quarterback Perry Hills:
“I thought Perry went in and did the things that we needed to do from a standpoint to get us through that period of time to get C.J. back. He didn’t turn the ball over, we got a touchdown. There’s no doubt that he was rusty. When you stand back there in practice and don’t get any reps in because you can only work two guys and he does individual, it’s tough. I commend him for going in there and doing what he did and not turning the ball over and continuing to give us an opportunity to win the ballgame, and that’s what he did.”
On the play of the defensive line:
“I thought our defensive line played pretty well. I thought we got good pressure most of the day. We ended up holding them well under their season average in terms of rushing; we forced them to throw the ball. They threw the ball 56 times. If you go back and try to find out when the last time Iowa threw the ball 56 times I think you’re going to be searching for a while. That’s a good thing; that means we probably held up well in the run game against their offensive line. Again, I think our guys really competed. Rushing the passer is effort and its technique, and I think we got that out of our guys today. Andre [Monroe] has played really well all year. Darius Kilgo is really starting to be a force out there. He’s really upped his game and it’s great to see because he’s a great kid, he’s a senior. Overall, I thought our defensive line played really well.”
On the resiliency of C.J. Brown:
“Today he played the way that he used to play. He never lost confidence when we were down 14-0 as well. It was unfortunate Marcus [Leak] dropped that pass, but I think C.J. understands that the other guys on the team will feed off of him based on how he handles himself and how he presents himself. When you see a guy take a shot like the one he took and then go back in there, you have a tremendous amount of respect for him. He gets criticized, but the guy is a winner and he is going to compete. He went back out there and put everything on the line in order to help his teammates get the fifth win.”
On the team’s numerous comebacks this season:
“We have been doing it too many times this season. We have put ourselves in that hole three times, but fortunately we came back and got this one. It is a group that understands that things will go wrong in a game and that it will not always be pretty, but what you have to do is just keep battling on each and every play. That is what we do and we talk about it all of the time. It seems that the message has been heard and they are going out there and living up to everything that those messages are talking about on a daily basis.”
On Will Likely’s interception return for a touchdown:
“To me, that was the biggest play in the ballgame. We did not have a lot of momentum at that point in time and I was on the sideline hoping we would get a defensive score or a turnover. Will is lovable because he plays and competes. He does not look for the limelight, he did his job and the guy threw it to him and he ran with it.”
On kicker Brad Craddock:
“I think our kicker is the best in the country. I think Brad is just outstanding and I know this is going to get sent back to all of the people in Australia. His fellow countrymen should be very proud of him in terms of how he has come over here to the United States and has adjusted. He is doing the things that he is supposed to do on both the field and in the classroom. He has worked extremely hard to put himself in the position that he is in. I just want everyone in Australia to know that we love him here, he has made himself so much better and they should be very proud of everything he has accomplished. He is a first-class young man who was raised the right way, has the right values and has the right morals. We are very proud to have him with us. If there are any other Australians like Brad Craddock, then I will personally fly over there to take him back to the United States.”
Maryland Players
Quarterback C.J. Brown
On how he is feeling after the game:
“I feel alright. A little sore, a little beat-up, but it feels better after getting that win. Tomorrow might be a different story.”
On his injury:
“It scared me. The whole right side of my back tightened up and locked up. I have to look at the film. I thought it was a little late of a hit. He got me in the top of the head, so my neck and my shoulders are a little tight. I got treatment on it and felt like I was ready to go and went back out there and was able to finish.”
On the emotion of this game:
“It was crazy. To be up that big, and they get the on side, it definitely did not need to be that close. Our defense was able to shut it down at the end and get the ‘W’.”
On winning the homecoming game:
“It was a huge win for us, especially protecting Byrd and winning at home on homecoming. I know we haven’t done that in a couple years. Speaking as a senior, being able to win on homecoming is huge for us. Former alumni coming back, and to be able to be 2-1 in the Big Ten and moving on to the game next week, we feel pretty good.”
On the adversity the team has faced:
“It’s been a rollercoaster. At the same time, we’ve been through situations like this before. It always helps when you’re winning. To be able to come out here today, get the win and only come out with scratches and bruises is pretty good.”
Linebacker Yannik Cudjoe-Virgil
On the pass rush Maryland generated:
“Our coaches always focus on telling us to work on our technique in our pass rush and always getting off the ball, so I feel like that’s why we were effective in our pass rush today.”
On defensive back Will Likely’s touchdown:
“It was a good play. Will is a momentum changer. We really needed him to make that play and he made it for us. All credit goes to Will on that play. He saw the ball and reacted.”
On importance of the game:
“It was real big. We had a chip on our shoulders coming into the game and we just executed and got the win. It was a real good feeling.”
Wide Receiver Stefon Diggs
On falling behind early in the game:
“We got off to a rough start, but it’s good to show that you’re not going to stop fighting and not going to give up, and as a unit, keep fighting and battling through.”
On his touchdown catch:
“I got some real key blocks. We call them big skill, the linemen. We are not just the skill guys. They have some big skills. They got out to make some key blocks in my favor. Marcus Leak did a great job down the field and I just did my job.”
On quarterback Perry Hills:
“He came off the bench and did everything we thought he could. I had him for a while during my freshman year so I have complete faith in him and everybody in the quarterback room that they’ll do what they have to do.”
Quarterback Perry Hills
On playing in his first game in two seasons:
“I’m a little rusty, but I should have prepared better, just through the season with mental reps or getting reps on the field, I should have been taking notes and preparing a little better. Two years is a while, but it’s like riding a bicycle. Once you knock that rust off, everything starts to slow down for you and it starts to get easier.”
On his touchdown pass to wide receiver Stefon Diggs:
“Stefon made an amazing catch. When you have a guy like Stefon out there, you just have to throw the ball in his vicinity and he’s going to come down with it. With the touchdown catch, it was just a little screen pass, and he took it the distance. Having an explosive player out there, anyone would want that on their team.”
Defensive Lineman Darius Kilgo
On Iowa’s offense:
“We were able to figure out what kind of plays they are going to run and make the personnel adjustments. That definitely helped us out throughout the game.”
On the pressure the linebacking corps was able to put on Iowa’s offense:
“Our goal was to get off the ball and be active on the line of scrimmage. I think we did a pretty good job at that.”
On feeding off fellow teammate’s energy:
“There was a lot of energy out there. Even when we came off the field, we wanted to keep the fire going. It was positive energy the whole game, so I definitely think that kept us going.”
On proving the team’s physicality:
“It was a great opportunity for us. We wanted to go into the bye week and this week and have a good week of preparation. Coming into this week I think we had a good week of preparation. We were physical in practice, making plays and not allowing the scout team to run on us. I think that carried over on to the field.”
Defensive Back Will Likely
On his interception returned for a touchdown:
“They were running that play a lot. We knew every time they were in trips, three-by-two, with the back on that side that they were going to run a stick route on that side.”
On importance of his interception:
“It was a big play. We came up clutch as a unit to make that happen. The defensive line put good pressure to make the ball come out quick and I was just able to make a play on it.”
On the game:
“Iowa is a pretty good team and we started off slow. We knew we had to do something to come back. We stayed together, stuck to the plan, and just made plays.”
Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz
Opening Statement:
“It’s a disappointing loss for our football team, but congratulate Maryland. They are a veteran team and well coached. Today wasn’t much fun for us but we got what we deserved. We’ll go back home and see if we can play better next time we’re on the football field.”
On getting what they [Iowa] deserved:
“That’s the reality of the situation. The things that we are known for doing when we play well, I can’t think of one of those things that we did today. When you don’t play as well as you can and you leave the door open, the good teams are going to step right in and they certainly did that.”
On the pressure placed on team throughout the game:
“We have a reputation of being a team that is going to block cleanly, but we didn’t do that today. We tend to defend the run and tackle well but we didn’t do that either. By my count we had five major penalties. So when that happens and you expect to overcome them, it puts a lot of pressure on you.”
On running back Mark Weismen:
“I think even in the last several weeks he has been one of the bright spots on our football team. Mark is what he is and personally, I like what he is and I’m glad he’s on our team. You can count on him.”
On game’s turning point:
“We got off to a very fast start, so that’s the one positive that we can cite today. We took advantage of the situation but, after that, there isn’t much.”
On mental focus of team in regards to penalties:
“We have been doing pretty well and leading the Big 10 in that department. I can’t tell you the cause and I can’t tell you why we were good at it. Today, it just wasn’t there.
On Maryland’s formations:
“They did a good job but nothing out of left field or anything. I don’t think overall it was radical, but they had a couple things. They game planned well and they have a good coaching staff. But really, their execution was good and our’s wasn’t.”
On stopping the run game:
“Two hundred plus yards in two games. One game was a concern, but now two; I’m not going to call it a crisis but I know we’re not going to win moving forward if we can’t stop the run. We are going to play other teams that run the ball well. It’s hard to win games if you can’t stop the rush.”
On feelings of disappointment:
“I don’t want to diminish what they [Maryland] did. They did a great job, they deserve to win, they out played us, they outcoached us; check, check, check, down the list. If we think we can play like that and be successful then we better change our schedule. Clearly that’s not possible at this date so we just have to coach better and play better.”
Iowa Players
Quarterback Jake Rudock
On how difficult it is to try and come back late in the game:
“Anything’s possible. They make it tough; obviously they can drop more guys into coverage. You know their front guys did a good job, it’s possible to throw it on them, but it’s tougher when they’re dropping six guys.”
On Maryland’s pass rush:
“I can do things to help us with that. I can get the ball and make decisions a little bit quicker. But that’s going to happen, I mean you have to give the team credit, but obviously there are things that I can do to help us move the chains a little bit better.”
On Will Likely’s interception:
“Yeah I thought we were running a hitch to get the ball to him real quick, get a couple yards for the first. But it was a bad decision, they were playing cover-2, it was a good job by him and just a bad decision.”
On what changed after the first two possessions:
“Well first the defense put us in a really good position the first few possessions. We kind of shot ourselves in the foot a few times with penalties. I’m not going to beat myself up over anything, you just got to keep working.”
Running Back Mark Weisman
On the comeback:
“Yeah we’re never going to give up. If we did that it would be embarrassing for us. But it’s unfortunate that it had to be like that.”
On his recent touchdown streak:
“Well that just means that the offensive line, tight ends, and fullbacks are really blocking well for me out there. They’re making it really easy for me and all the other running backs out there.”
On cracking the top ten of Iowa’s all-time rushing list:
“Maybe one day, I don’t know. But right now I don’t really care about that. Right now all that I care about is getting wins. The offensive line, tight ends, receivers, fullbacks, they’re doing all the dirty work. So give them all the credit.”
Running Back Damon Bullock
On how the game changed after getting out to an early lead:
“You know our execution, simple stuff. We had some bonehead plays by a lot of people today. But you know as an offense we needed to keep the defense off the field and we didn’t do that today.”
On the late comeback:
“Our team is built to never quit no matter what the circumstance is. Today we almost came back but unfortunately we didn’t.”
Defensive Back Desmond King
On the defense being on the field a lot:
“We had a couple of three and outs on defense and then our offense would get on the field and have some three and outs. But it’s just a matter of time before we have everybody come together as one, but we fell short on that today.”
On the play of Stefon Diggs:
“Diggs, he was a great player today. He had a touchdown on the screen play. I had a couple of chance to check at him, but I wasn’t surprised after studying him last week.”
On the bye week:
“For this bye week we are going to watch film, correct our mistakes and things like that, and just get ready for our next opponent.”
