Tennessee Week Football Media Availability

Head coach Will Muschamp held his weekly news conference Tuesday afternoon. Players who spoke prior to him included Mon Denson, Bryan Edwards, Tavien Feaster, Jovaughn Gwyn, Jaycee Horn, Sadarius Hutcherson, Israel Mukuamu, OrTre Smith, Shi Smith, Donell Stanley and D.J. Wonnum.

HEAD COACH TRANSCRIPT

Will Muschamp | 4th Season

– Got Tennessee in Knoxville on the SEC Network, this game in my time at South Carolina in three years has been decided by 12 points. It’s a hard fought game. We got a lot of respect for the university of Tennessee, their program and what Coach Pruitt’s doing. And we need to expect another four quarter game and we certainly do. The last two games, I think you’ve seen this team make a lot of improvement. You watch the Mississippi State game and you watch the Alabama game, they play well on the line of scrimmage. They’re very physical in how they run the football. They’re very talented outside at the receiver position. They’re playing well upfront defensively. They’re active at linebacker and I think they’re extremely talented in the secondary. And Jeremy does a really good job of that. Obviously, some uncertainty at the quarterback position, but I think they’ve got talent there. Running backs run extremely hard, as I said earlier. You know, Chandler and Jordan and those guys, Eric Gray, is the young man that we recruited. I think they’re offensive played their best ball game last week against Alabama. Got a lot of movement in their running game and did a good job for the most part protecting the quarterback. They’re extremely talented. The receiver position, Jauan Jennings is a guy that I’ve got a lot of respect for. And you’ve seen him compete on the field for their football team. Extremely impressed with him and Marquez Callaway and Palmer and Byrd are all guys that have played a lot of football for them. Dominick Wood-Anderson is a talented tight end for them that we recruited here as well. A guy that we’ve got a lot of respect for. Defensively, as I said earlier, they’re playing much improved up front defensively as far as playing blocks up front and getting pressure on the quarterback. Darrell Taylor, leads ’em in sacks, has been a guy that’s a really good pass rusher. He gives a good edge presence for them. Daniel Bituli at linebacker has been a guy that’s played a lot and a very talented in the secondary. A talented specialist and really good speed. Injury-wise, Rico has got a sprained knee. He is moving around a little bit, I don’t know that he will be available this weekend. But he is moving around, there’s no surgery required. But I don’t know a timetable, but my guess would be probably not for this weekend. A.J. Turner has a little bit of a hamstring and I’ll know more, probably Wednesday on his status for the game. Other than that, we should be fine. And I’ll open it up for any questions.

– [Reporter] Will, you look at a guy like Mon Denson who’s pretty much produced every time he’s gotten the ball. But you know, how tough has it been for him to kind of always be in that waiting game, ’cause here’s always been a couple of guys ahead of him?

– Frustrating, it’s hard to play three backs and he’s certainly been deserving. But another great example of a great teammate that has waited his turn and has been very productive when he’s had his opportunities. He’s been a very productive member of our special teams unit. And we’re extremely pleased with him and we’re excited about him playing on Saturday, there’s no doubt about it and he’ll play well.

– [Reporter] Coach, like you said we’ve seen this Tennessee team get better and better each week. What have you seen is going to be the biggest challenge come this weekend, especially being in Knoxville?

– Well I think they’re playing really well on the line of scrimmage. Like I said earlier, I thought the offensive line probably played its best game on Saturday against Alabama. And, you know, they continue to play well on defense. They gave Mississippi State fits they did a good job against Alabama defensively. They’re very talented on the back end. So I think overall we got to put together four quarters and play well.

– [Reporter] Will, what were some of the concerns that you have addressed with the SEC this week.

– Well, I haven’t really heard from the SEC since Sunday night, so I’m still waiting for a word.

– [Reporter] Was it something that you, was it over the the officiating on Saturday and can you tell us maybe what they said to you on Sunday?

– Well, really I mean as far as my schedule is concerned, when the game was over I come and grade the film. And I go through all three phases, offense, defense and special teams Saturday night. Happened to go home that night that Alabama and Tennessee were on, so I wanted to watch a little bit of that game to get a little flavor of a live copy of the Tennessee, you know, watching them on TV copy. Get up in the morning, you come in and you re-watch our film again in all three phases to make sure we didn’t miss anything. You meet with the offensive staff, defensive staff and the special teams staff. You meet with our entire staff, we had some recruits in. And then we go to a 3:30 team meeting, which I’ll talk about later. And then when I talk, we have a practice and a walkthrough and then we have a 6:30 press conference call with you guys, right. Well, once that happens, we’re on to the next game. So I’ve been totally focused on Tennessee. I jotted some notes down from Sunday that I felt. And then I got a text from Commissioner Sankey Sunday night that they were still in the review process and they’re still working through that, I’m assuming. I know that Coach Tanner has been tirelessly working for us and getting some answers about what occurred on Saturday. And I know he’s representing us in a first-class manner and he’s obviously very upset, as a lot of us are, with some occurrences on Saturday afternoon. So we’re still working through that at this time.

– [Reporter] Will, what have you seen from R.J. Roderick in the time that, since he’s been kind of moved to that starting safety spot?

– You know, R.J.’s played, has really done some really nice things for us. And I think that the biggest thing that I would say, and I would say to you, but I say to R.J. all the time is, consistency in your performance. Down in, down out, consistency in your performance. And those are the things that I think that he could take the next step ’cause I think he’s a really talented guy. He has good speed he has good physicality, as far as tackling and playing blocks. He’s got a really good competitive edge, you know. And I think that sometimes in my mind, and I get a little ahead of myself with R.J., you know, he didn’t play any defensive back ’til he got to South Carolina. He was an option quarterback at Cane Bay High School. And so, there’s a lot of first for him last year and now, as you’re going into this year, there’s a lot of things at the defensive back safety position that are things that are natural. But there’s some things you have to learn. And a lot of his learning was by fire last year. You know, and putting in the situation that he was put into. So again I’m, you know, I’ve been pleased as how he’s continued to progress as the season has gone he’s improved each week and we expect for him to continue to play well.

– [Reporter] Will, it was announced today that D.J. is nominated for the National Comeback Player of the Year. And what does that award say about him, not only as a player but as a person?

– Well, D.J. is as first-class a young man you’ll meet, as far as all of the intangible qualities you want in a son. But just the Wonnum family overall, Dennis Sr. and Consuela, are great people and Dylan, obviously, disappointed for him with Andrew. But it’s a great family and nothing, I don’t know that there’s enough adjectives I have that could describe D.J. Wonnum and the type of young man he is, what he stands for. He’s a really good football player, he’s an even better person. And he’s got great leadership ability and great leadership qualities. He’s one of three people in school history to be elected team captain as a true sophomore. That says a lot about the respect of his teammates and the staff here.

– [Pete] Will, obviously Ryan had some struggles throwing the ball last week. Was the knee a factor in any of that? And how has he kind of bounced back this week or responded this week?

– I thought he looked the best he’s looked on a Tuesday practice since the injury. You know, again, and I think, Pete, let’s be fair here, that wasn’t all on Ryan, you know. There was some things that could have been a fly route on one of the deep balls. I mean there were some things that we could have done better around him. But he’d be the first person to tell you that we need to be more accurate throwing the football. But I thought he had a really good Tuesday practice today. He was sharp throwing the football, bouncing around in the pocket. But as healthy as he’s been, I don’t think there’s any question. But we’re all sore right now. We all got some ailments right now but he’s a competitor and he’s going to battle through it.

– [Reporter] Going back to Rico. How much of a relief was it for you and the staff, and of course him, knowing that it wasn’t as bad as maybe it could have been?

– There’s no question, that guy has been through a lot. He’s even had some very more legitimate injuries than you’d like to have a young man have. And so very, very relieved that he’s not going to have to have surgery and hopefully get him back sooner than later.

– [Reporter] Will, you kind of touched on this already, but what are some of the other things do you think you can do to create more of a vertical passing game? I know it was there at times, it’s just, maybe the, obviously, maybe the wet ball had something to do with that too. But the deep shots, just for some reason, the timing didn’t work out. But what are some of the things that you guys can do to create more of the vertical passing game?

– Well, I think turns and reps. I think that’s the big thing that, you know, we work on deep balls a lot. And then we knew going into that game that they were going to crowd the box, we’re going to have to complete some balls down the field. So I think that just continued turns and reps and with the right guys. And we took two with Shi, I believe, and one with Bryan. We had Bryan on another one, because of protection we couldn’t get it off. But we had some things dialed up in the game. We hit the second play of the game, the flea flicker, it was a well-thrown ball to Bryan. So we certainly have the the capabilities to hit some of those. We hit ’em in practice a lot and we’ve hit them in some games, we just got to be more consistent. And you know, you change the complexion of the game, you hit one or two of those that’s the thing. But we didn’t so that’s the bottom line, it’s a results deal and we didn’t get it done.

– [Reporter] One quick clarification and then a separate question. You are expecting to hear back from the SEC?

– Well, I would hope so.

– [Reporter] Okay, Sadarius Hutcherson, when you got here, 2016 and they said, that guy is an offensive lineman, what did you think, based on his size?

– We started recruiting him when I got here.

– [Reporter] Okay.

– So he was in Huntington, Tennessee between Nashville and Memphis. I would guess he was 230, maybe. He probably could clarify that better than I would be–

– [Reporter] 236, I think is the number.

– 236, wow, six pounds off.

– [Reporter] Not bad, pretty good guess.

– I stink at that stuff.

– [Reporter] You could do the fair thing, you could go to the fair.

– That’s still going on?

– [Reporter] I think so.

– Awesome, yeah. Get some corn dogs and everything, be a hell of a day. But he was a guy that, athletically, jumped out at you on tape. His feet, his athleticism, you know, just was extremely impressive on tape. And that’s the thing, you see his balance, his athleticism and then you got to project. And when you see Sadarius, he’s got wide shoulders, he’s got 10-inch hand, he’s got long arms, I think his arms are 34, 35. So you feel like he had the frame to continue to grow. And we felt like at that time, and Shawn was the offensive line coach, we needed to continue to get more athletic on the offensive line. And certainly took a reach with him a little bit. Certainly, we’ve benefited from that because he’s come in, he bought in completely on the nutrition part of it, on the things that he’s got to do to be successful. And you really got to credit him. He’s done a great job in the weight room. He’s a powerful guy. He had really good lower body flexibility you know, when we when we first recruited him, which I think is always a key, especially in a line of scrimmage player, he played on both sides of the ball in high school. But a guy that’s really dedicated himself to the weight room he understood the things he’s got to do because of the size he was and where he’s got to go. And I do remember when we brought him on his official visit, a couple the kids were like is he a tight end, I’m like, no, he’s going to be an offensive tackle. But sometimes you got to project. You know, there’s a stat, and I’ll get the numbers wrong, like the last four years in the NFL Draft of the first three rounds, none of the offensive linemen that were drafted weighed over 300 pounds when they’re in high school.

– [Reporter] Okay.

– And that’s, you may want to research that, I may be wrong exactly on the stats or the rounds that they talked about, but I remember that jumped out at me the last year in the recruiting process in recruiting offensive linemen. You know, sometimes guys have peaked where they are, their growth potential and they’re not going to improve as they get on campus. So sometimes you’ve got to project a little bit on some guys that have great athleticism, that maybe play on the defensive side of the ball in high school and you’re going to project them as an offensive guy. Now, they don’t want to hear that, most of ’em when you’re recruiting ’em. But, you know, we’ve told several guys in the recruiting process, the only way we’re going to recruit you here is if you’re willing to be an offensive lineman. They tell you no, you move to the next guy. But Sadarius has been a guy that, you know, athletically, length, athleticism, very bright and intelligent and we’ve been very pleased with him.

– [Reporter] How did you find him in Huntington?

– We watched a lot of tape, watched a lot of tape. We went to, well, Shawn Elliott and I went to his high school and we couldn’t find him in the school. And they’ve got an FFA, Future Farmers of America, there.

– [Reporter] Yeah.

– And he was in the back chasing chickens in the barn, it’s a true story. Like a mile and a half of a dirt road to find the guy at the school.

– [Reporter] Kind of like a Rocky thing with the footwork where he chased the chicken?

– No, I don’t know if was like for class or something. I guess they had to put ’em in a cage, I guess, I don’t know, or maybe you can’t put ’em in a cage anymore, I don’t know that.

– [Reporter] I’m not sure, has he made more progress than anybody, in your career, in the weight room? Physically, has he is he come the furthest?

– I don’t know about that, he’s made a lot of progress. I don’t want to say more than anyone, that’d be hard hard to put a figure on that.

– [Reporter] Will, just when you look back at the recruitment process of Jaycee Horn, what stands out? Sort of having gone through that, especially when it came to Tennessee’s role in that?

– Well, I don’t know, I knew Alabama and Tennessee and I guess we were the last three people that he was interested in. You know, I don’t really focus on the other teams in recruiting. I focus on South Carolina and what we need to do to be successful and what we need to do to appeal to a young man to make him feel like South Carolina could be a good situation for him. He was a very easy guy to recruit ’cause he wasn’t a guy that you had to sit there and call all the time and text all the time and do all that sort of business. He was a very low-maintenance guy to recruit. Joe, his dad, was great, his mom was great in the process. They wanted Jaycee to make the best decision for him and they trusted him to make the best decision. And so that’s kind of how things transpired.

– [Reporter] You have to pretty new guards this year. Where have you seen their most growth over the course of the season and how much is having Donnell in between ’em helped to help those guys?

– Well, I don’t think you could ever sell short the job that Donnell does. And he’s been very valuable for us. And in the communication factors up front for both young players I would probably say, John, as much as anything, it’s a calming factor involved in that. As far as getting to the line of scrimmage and ID’ing the front and making the protection or the run game calls or whatever we’ve got going on. I think that both Jovaughn and Jordan Rhodes have both benefited from Donnell, but both have learned to communicate much better up front and making those communications. I think both guys have excelled in run blocking. I think there’s some things in as far as pass protection is concerned that we need to continue to improve on. But I think both of those guys have excelled in the run game as far as run blocking is concerned.

– [Reporter] Will, you obviously went through this last weekend prepping for two quarterbacks. You said that Florida usually doesn’t change what they do no matter who’s in. Does Tennessee have that same, do they change what they do do depending on who’s under center?

– Doesn’t seem like it to me. I think, again, Maurer and Guarantano have played most of the snaps. And Shrout’s played it a little bit, I think 25 snaps for the season. So all three guys are very similar in that right.

– [Reporter] A general question. But when it comes to coaching your defenders how to guard against rub routes, pick routes, whatever you want to call it, what are some of the main–

– Blocking or rubbing?

– [Reporter] Whatever you want to call it.

– Okay.

– [Reporter] What are the main coaching points for those as you’re trying to get ready?

– Well, number one, generally splits is a, you know, the receiver split is an indicator. And obviously we spend a lot of time watching film with our players. And you try to identify tight splits. You try to identify those sort of things where there’s an indication that maybe we’re able to play in and out. Which means we’re going to play based on the break of a receiver, play one in and one out. So we’re playing kind of what I would say, a combo coverage in that situation. Or we’re going to say that based on the split or whoever is on the line of scrimmage, that we want to lock it. And that means we’re going to lock on our receivers and we’re going to stay with who we have based on, the release, doesn’t matter anymore. So those are the things we need to be able to do. But if we’re going to lock it, then you’ve got to fight through the screen. And we always talk in terms of tailpiping the receiver, which means, it’s like playing off man-to-man basketball. As the guy’s running and you’re getting screens, you’ve got to get right behind the receiver and just run through his back as he continues to run through, ’cause if you get on a second level, you will get picked off in those situations. And in in and out situations, you’ve got to be able to leverage the double in and the double out which are very difficult when you’re playing an in and out situation. And that’s what a lot of offenses try to create, a seven cut and an out cut, ’cause the inside guy’s going to have the seven cut and he’s battling from inside out to make the play.

– [Reporter] Then I guess the communication between the two or three or however many guys are involved, communication is a big part in all that on the field–

– Huge, huge part you’ve got to be able to and it’s got to be communication pre-snap wise of us all being on the same page and what we’re trying to do. Yep.

– [Reporter] Will, is there any common thread to the fact that you haven’t lost Tennessee–

– No.

– [Reporter] Since being the coach?

– No.

– [Reporter] Is there ever, I mean do you get any confidence coming in this week that hey my guys, some of my guys know what it takes to be successful.

– No, every week’s a season, new week this week, new season this week.

– [Reporter] Will, we’ve talked a lot about the vertical passing game, but are you pleased with how explosive your offense has been this year and if not, I guess just what’s what’s the reason for it?

– Well, no, I think we’ve missed some things down the field. I think we’ve continued to progress week in week out, running the football. We haven’t been as consistent throwing the football. And that’s something we’ve got to continue to work on. And I think that, you know, we try to, each Sunday we try to narrow some things down. What we do well, what we feel comfortable with doing. And we’ve continued to work on those things. And that’s something that at the end of the day, we’ve got to hit some of the vertical balls down the field. It’s not the lack of we haven’t taken some shots, we have taken some shots. We’ve tried to stretch the field vertical. We’ve tried to create some one-on-ones, Florida, both corners are really good players. You know, they’ve both had some tight covers and some situations. And we got to throw the ball in some tight areas, you know, when you’ve got those covers. So those are things, to me, that we’re certainly more than capable of doing and we need to perform better in those situations.

– [Reporter] I think on Sunday, you mentioned when you were talking about the passing game, the phrase I think used was miss run routes. And I wanted to ask, when something like that happens, is that a communication issue? Is that a reading the defense issue? What sort of happens in those–

– Well, we might have a built in hot based on a pressure and sometimes we don’t always see the hot, whether it’s the receiver or the quarterback. We might have run a route at the wrong depth and suddenly the ball is coming out and it looks kind of funny that the ball was coming out and the receiver’s still maintaining the route down the field. So it might not necessarily been on the quarterback, it might have been on the receiver. So there’s a number of different issues that present itself in the passing game. Whether it’s protection, it could’ve been the route, could’ve been the accuracy of the throw in a lot of situations.

– [Reporter] Will, after Saturday’s game, you talked about how Florida made more of those key plays or I guess game-changing plays than your guys. When you look at the history of the South Carolina-Tennessee series, with so many close games being decided last possession, final minute, is this a week that maybe you stress even more importance to your guys about, hey, be the guy, you could have that one play that could decide the game or win this game for us?

– I say it every week, you know, you got to put yourself in the moment of three, four minutes left in the game, critical third down. We got to stay on the field offensively. We got to get off the field on defense. We’re in the red zone, you know. But always you know play the game in your mind mentally. Put yourself in the moment, to put yourself in those situations. In our time here at South Carolina we’re 14-6 in one score games, that’s really good. You know, it’s making good decisions as players, it’s making good decisions as coaches and we’ve got to continue to do so.

– Will, how have you seen Ryan grow from when he first got on campus and as a freshman sometimes, of course, I don’t think anyone’s really would call him a freshman at this point because he’s midway through the season. How do you continue to help them and get him, continue those teaching moments?

– I think whether it’s the quarterback position or whatever position it is, there’s a lot of firsts these guys go through, a lot of firsts. A lot of seeing this for the first time, seeing this pressure for the first time, seeing this exotic two trap for the first time. So you can’t get enough time to teach. You can’t get enough time to watch film. You can’t get enough time to rep, especially at that position ’cause it affects everybody. And so I think he’s continued to grow and mature. He’s worked extremely hard in the weight room, in the film room on the practice field. He’s got a great competitive edge about himself. And he’ll continue to progress and we’re excited about his future.

– [Reporter] Coach, you guys broke out a little run game wrinkle, I think you ran it on the first play and then I ran it a few other times, I guess. What did you feel made that so effective and we’re you pleased with how it worked out?

– Well, I think, you know, again you go into every week with try to create some different wrinkles in the passing game in the throwing game to take advantage of matchups. And that was a good plan by our offensive staff. It was very successful a run for us in the game. Something that they saw during game preparation that they felt comfortable that they could exploit.

– [Reporter] After Rico went down on the first play of the game last week, how comforting was it to have Feaster over there and to see him have a breakout game like he did?

– There’s no doubt, he’s a very talented guy and Mon is as well. So when you have depth in a position like that, as a coach it makes you feel good to know that you’re going to have quality production at the position, regardless of who’s in the game. And certainly we had that at that position.

– [Reporter] Will, Ryan looked so good against Alabama. Has there been one common thread to where he hasn’t been as good in these past three games, outside of injury?

– No, I think that obviously the knee affected him. You know, again it’s what he’s doing is very difficult. He’s a freshman quarterback in the Southeastern Conference. You go on the road in our league. There’s a lot of difficulty in what we’re asking him to do, and that’s very hard. And so, there’s been more good moments than bad, I can assure you of that. So and we’re expecting even more so as we continue to move forward.

– [Reporter] What has OrTre showed you in the way that he sort of come through and dealt with his injury that he’s had and dealt with maybe slower progress coming back than he might have hoped? And sort of the way he’s still worked with the receivers and I guess, just kind of how he’s kind of dealt with them?

– Well, again it’s you know extremely frustrating he had a very serious injury it was a sublux kneecap which is very painful, number one. And it’s about a six month recovery. But you say it’s a six month recovery but when you’re a skill player in the Southeastern Conference, to get back to your normal speed it takes even more so. And we’ve sort of seen that with him. He’s worked extremely hard for it. It has been frustrating for him, it’s been frustrating for everybody ’cause we need him back to his first year and how he played. And he was a very productive football player for us. And he’s worked extremely hard to put himself in the shape that he was before and play at high level, yeah.

– [Reporter] You mentioned the Sunday team meeting a little bit earlier, I guess. Just what was the message to the team coming off that and is there any kind of residual effects from the Saturday game going into that Sunday meeting?

– No, I mean, I think as much as anything just to know identifying with the players the things we need to do to be successful moving forward. And that’s the kind of things that we hit on. Control what we can control and move forward in the right direction.

PLAYER TRANSCRIPT

Mon Denson | RS Senior | RB

– [Reporter] It’s just after the game, but, again, just how easy is it or tough is it to kind of keep yourself ready knowing that Rico and then Tavien were getting most of the carries early in the year?

– Once again, it’s something I practice on. It’s something coach harps on us about, making sure we ready when our number called. So, that what I was expecting, whenever somebody go down, I just know I got to step in and take over.

– [Reporter] Is it frustrating though to kind of have to wait your turn?

– Not really, cause I know eventually the game we play, it comes with injuries, and I just know I got to be ready.

– [Reporter] Was Rico out there today?

– Yes, sir.

– [Reporter] Do you expect him to be back in the rotation at some point?

– Yes sir.

– [Reporter] What have you seen from Tennessee, I guess, in the film that you have been able to watch, so far?

– The things I’ve seen, I watched a little bit of them Sunday, I just saw that, basically, they’re a hungry team. I saw the game against Alabama, they played a tough game, played it very close. They held them, they basically stopped the run. And, that’s something we do, we run the ball a lot, so I’m looking forward to just focusing on what I need to do.

– [Reporter] Had a lot of success, with that kind of delayed draw, you know, where you hesitate for just a second and then could gash Florida up the middle. Was that just a Florida thing or you guys think that could succeed going forward?

– I think it can succeed going forward. Any game, I think that’s the goal. It’s just mainly just focusing on your read and then whenever a hole opens up just hit it.

– [Reporter] What is the key to that play? I mean you obviously don’t want to wait too long, but is it just waiting for that hole to open?

– I don’t think I can tell you.

– [Reporter] Is it something you think you could succeed in as well as Tavien did?

– Yes sir, yes sir, definitely. Just making sure I’m making the right reads.

– [Reporter] You got some experience in this stadium, what do you expect from this crowd? And, obviously you want to keep that road momentum that you had from Georgia going on, in this game you go into a rowdy crowd there.

– I just expect just being ready for the moment. Whenever it’s my time to go in, just being able to capitalize and take advantage of every opportunity I get.

– [Reporter] Mon, what’s the next step for this offense? What are you guys trying to work on this week heading into Tennessee?

– Just finishing. Just take each game, one game at a time and just being physical. Make sure we’re finishing as a team, each position, so everything clicks.

– [Reporter] In terms of the growth, what have you seen differently from Ryan compared to when he first got here?

– The things I’ve seen, I’ve seen his delivery, his release, his reads, that’s something I’ve seen. His decision-making, that’s the biggest thing that I’ve seen from him coming in from over the summer.

– [Reporter] What’s the toughest thing you think as a freshman? Cause, obviously that position you’re the leader, being able to know, hey you know, guys are depending on me, I’m the quarterback.

– I think at the quarterback position it’s quite difficult. Especially, coming from high school to college. It’s a lot a more plays, it’s a lot a more things you got to focus on and look at. So, I just think that’s probably the biggest thing, especially for a quarterback.

– [Reporter] What’s the biggest difference in the success of y’alls running game this year compared to previous years you’ve been here?

– I think everybody just finishing we’re delivering on the line and getting up to the second level.

– [Reporter] Is that a change in attitude or something Coach Brown brought in?

– Oh yeah, definitely. Coach Brown, he’s hard on us. He wants us to be a physical runner and just run angry. So that’s something we all try to do.

– [Reporter] Did you like what you got out of that wrinkle you guys threw in on counter with the back kind of cutting real hard one way and then swinging back behind the pulling guard?

– Oh yeah, I like all counter runs. Mix it up, inside zone, counters, outside zone. It’s just different wrinkles to the running game.

– [Reporter] How different was that footwork wise and what kind of adjustment was that throwing that in this week?

– It wasn’t difficult, it wasn’t something different. It’s just different footwork and different reads.

– [Reporter] In terms of the blocking, is it the same as regular counter or is it a little different as well?

– I just feel like I can’t answer that.

– [Reporter] Fair enough.

– [Reporter] You’ve talked a little bit about Thomas Brown, but what’s kind of one thing he’s maybe said or taught you guys that’s really stuck with you since he got here?

– Just focusing on finishing. Getting all the lay-ups. If we break make sure we finish our runs. Make sure we finish on contact, run through contact, and that’s something, like, he’s big on. And, he takes that, he takes it like, he treats practice like it’s a game. So, it’s something we all got to be ready for.

PLAYER TRANSCRIPT

Bryan Edwards | Senior | WR

– [Reporter] You seem to be the guy that Ryan has leaned on or you’ve tried to be put yourself in that position. What has your week with him been like to get him to bounce back from that?

– Um, obviously just more work, more throws I mean anytime, you know you’re having a hard time completing passes you just got to throw more. Just get the timing down that’s all.

– [Reporter] Have ya’ll done extra after practice this week?

– Yeah we always usually hit you know the plays that we got up this week that we expect to score on. We always usually hit those after practice on Thursdays and things like that.

– [Reporter] You got a certain number? Is it like we got to hit this 10 times before we leave the field or anything like that?

– Nah ain’t a certain number Just when we feel comfortable with it and it’s good. We like the way it’s looking and that’s it.

– [Reporter] How’s his confidence?

– Like I said you know Ryan he’s never like down you know he’s always up you know we’re communicating very well. So I feel like he’s fine. You know he doesn’t let those things faze him and what other people say about him faze him.

– [Reporter] When you go into a week does B-Mac talk to you about how many deep shots you guys expect to take over the course of a game or is that just game flow?

– Nah it’s kind of just game flow. You know the plays we like and just scheming things up. I want to say it’s a set number.

– [Reporter] You connected on that flea flicker but it was kind of hard to connect on a lot of others over the course of last week. Just what went wrong in those and how do you kind of correct those going into this week against Tennessee?

– Run better routes. Throw better balls. You know that’s about it you just got to keep it simple.

– [Reporter] Bryan you and Shi have obviously been doing your jobs. Is it important to you guys or as a passing game to have a third definite wide receiver?

– Um I feel like anybody who’s on the field has to make plays, you know that’s the standard here. You know if we let you on the field we let you play like one, two, three, four like the ball comes to you make a play.

– [Reporter] Is it good to have a variety? You know between Josh, OrTre, some of the tight ends those kind of guys.

– Yeah of course just so teams can’t you know obviously double team and try to scheme people out of the game. So when you have a lot of receivers they can’t do that.

– [Reporter] I was about to say how much does that help you guys knowing you’re going to get covered a lot and they could be open?

– Obviously everybody knows like teams are going to you know kind of lean to where I’m at. So they’re going to have one on one opportunities and they have to take advantage of that.

– [Reporter] I don’t know if you pay much attention to where you are on the record charts as you go up through this year because you’re getting really close.

– Um yeah I mean I see it you know a lot. So I think it’s like three, three or four more touchdowns Uh couple more catches and a reasonable amount of yards left so yeah.

– [Reporter] Are you guys aware Coach Muschamp’s 7-0 against Tennessee? Never lost to them.

– Uh nah I didn’t know that honestly.

– [Reporter] Coach Muschamp mentioned on Sunday in some of the issues with the deep balls against Florida. There were some misrun routes. What kind of happens in situations like that? Is it you reading the defense differently than Ryan is or just kind of misran a play or what kind of–

– Um I mean it’s really hard for me to explain. Honestly it’s just getting the ball in the right spots and being where you’re supposed to be. I’m wouldn’t say it’s like a read or ’cause I mean a lot of the plays are different. You know different reads, different things to do. So I mean it’s kind of hard to dumb it down and say one thing.

– [Reporter] Is it almost a case of even feel your–

– Yeah it’s just–

– [Reporter] You’re kind of feeling where it is and Ryan’s got to see–

– Yeah we just got to be on the same page kind of. That’s it.

– [Reporter] What kind of coverage does Tennessee like to run from the film you’ve been able to watch?

– Um we haven’t been able to, we’ve kind of been focused on us. Tuesdays usually the days that we run through what we like and things like that. So we’ll probably take a look at Tennessee further in the week. Early you know down the line in the week and go from there.

– [Reporter] What’d they run a lot last year? Do you remember?

– Um you know obviously it’s going to be you know cover one things like that a lot of man to man. You know it’s the same outfit as Alabama and all those other SEC teams so it’s not going to be too complex.

– [Reporter] Would it mean a lot to you to go 4-0 in your career against Tennessee?

– Um yeah I mean I want to win every game I play in So being 4-0 against Tennessee would obviously be good.

– What do you remember about the game in Knoxville last time and kind of the nervous moments maybe watching that goal line stand your defense out there to finish that one off.

– Yeah I mean, last time we were in Knoxville it was a crazy game you know we played at noon. It was a defensive struggle and you know it was nerve wracking. You know hopefully we can you know get the offense going up there in Tennessee this year.

– [Moderator] Anything else?

– [Reporter] At this time of the year does it even seem like Ryan’s a freshman anymore in your eyes and how have you seen him grow since training camp?

– Yeah nobody’s a freshman at this point Everybody’s got games under their belt Everybody’s got a little bit of experience. You everybody’s kind of not a freshman anymore. But he’s obviously grown, taken a lot of steps you know but he’s always been mature like I said. He’s always been like he’s always had it in him. You just kind of see him getting acquainted. You know and just getting comfortable and he’s just trying to you know make it happen.

PLAYER TRANSCRIPT

Tavien Feaster | Senior | RB

– [Reporter] Will’s mentioned that they got to get a lot more going in the passing game. How much more pressure does that put on you guys as the running game to try to you know, soothe that over?

– Not a lot, just going to go out there and do our job. Take it one snap at a time, and just prepare, you know, every week like, you know what I mean? And we been doing.

– [Reporter] You had a lot of success last week early on, that delay, draw kind of play. What’s the key to making that play work?

– Just be patient, and just hit it whenever I get the ball, and just go full speed really.

– [Reporter] How satisfying was that for you personally last week, to finally get the bulk of the carries and show what you can do and have that big game?

– You know obviously I wanted to win but you know, from a personal standpoint I felt pretty good, you know, for what I did, but just got to keep, keep playin, keep movin on from it.

– [Reporter] What kind of mileage did you guys get from that sort of wrinkle you guys threw in on counter, when you guys, when you would kind of cut real hard and then kind of fall the guard back? [Reporter] How kind of effective was that and, and was it, that, was it different for you at all or?

– Nah it wasn’t different, I mean, we practice it every day so I mean, whatever I do in practice usually it translates to the game so, you know, just try to work on it each week and each day, and hopefully have success with it on Saturdays.

– [Reporter] Was Rico runnin around out there today?

– Yes sir.

– [Reporter] How’d he look?

– He’s fine. You know, I don’t know what’s the timetable with him but you know, hopefully we get him back soon.

– [Reporter] As a running back how much have you seen improvement in the team, two guards?

– You know, they been good since day one, since I been here. Week in, week out, you know they getting better and two physical guys pullin around and we makin plays off those guys.

– [Reporter] How confident are you all right now in the running game? It seems like you’re gaining momentum and you’re getting better every, every single week.

– Yes sir, we’re very confident, you know, to put it on the ground how many ever times we need to, to get the job done. So you know, obviously coach believes in our room and you know we go out each week and plan to produce.

– [Reporter] What’s it been like welcoming A.J. back to the running back room?

– It’s been good, you know, he’s been a guy that’s come in and pushed us, you know, a shifty guy, fast. So, good, it brings in more competition.

– [Reporter] How do you stay fresh at this point in the season? Obviously those games start to get more competitive, more intense, just, how do you, how do you stay fresh?

– Just take care of your body. Coach Brown tells us every day our body is our business. So obviously that’s what you got to do, take care of your body, stay fresh and be ready to go when your number’s called.

– [Reporter] Was it a little different with A.J. ’cause he’d been in the running back room with all the other guys, and you actually hadn’t been in the running back room with him since he was on defense before? Was it, was that kind of different, interesting in its own way or?

– Nah. I mean, he’s bringin in more competition, and a guy who knows what to do from a running back standpoint, hopefully he can help us out.

– [Reporter] Tavien, what was your first impression of Mon when you got here?

– Oh he’s a, oh he practices full speed, You know Mon is a great player, you know, you’re gettin a little more opportunity, coming up, so, you know, he’s going to show you what he got.

– [Reporter] In terms of staying fresh whether it’s the quarterback position or anything when you think back to your freshman year, you know and I’m talkin moreso about Ryan right now, what advice can you give a freshman in terms of trying to stay, you know, stay fresh and healthy? Because obviously it’s a learning curve compared to high school.

– Right. Just, just mentally really, thinking back on my freshman year, how long the season, you know, is, of course you start earlier than high school, then end later, but uh, just mentally stay in it, stay locked in and stay focused.

– [Reporter] How have you seen him grow? Because obviously you’ve only been here since August, but how have you seen him grown since training camp?

– I seen him grow a lot. The initiatives he take to lead this team is right, and you know he’s going to be a great player for a long time.

– [Reporter] Tavien how have you tried to be a leader for this team?

– Me, I’m not much really of a rah rah guy, but I try to lead by example. Being early, you know, being on time, just really, being dialed in whenever I step on the practice field, you know, the walk throughs and everything, just trying to stay focused and lead everybody by example.

– [Reporter] I know this is your first year but have the other guys talked about the difference Coach Brown has made in this running backs’ room?

– Nah, no sir. We really just be, you know, focused on the game plan, we really don’t be talking about it, but I’m pretty sure – I’ll ask him, now that you bring the question up I’m going to ask him, but obviously, you know, there’s been improvement.

PLAYER TRANSCRIPT

Jovaughn Gwyn | RS Freshman | OL

– [Reporter] You guys had a lot of success running, kind of that delay draw run play Tavien had a lot of play in, what is the key to that becoming a successful play?

– Just listening to Donell, what he calls, and whatever he calls, just execute it.

– [Reporter] What is your assignment on that play? Are you supposed to block just as you normally would or you do something different?

– It just depends on whatever Donell calls.

– [Reporter] I guess, what’s been the biggest area of growth you’ve seen, I guess, in your first couple starts as, you know, on the line?

– Me personally?

– [Reporter] Yeah.

– Just understanding my footsteps, my assignments, and getting better at learning my plays.

– [Reporter] Sure, any welcome to the SEC moment for you?

– Yeah, kind of sort of just faster, and so like them plays, you got to know ’em, you don’t got time to think.

– [Reporter] Is there a guy you went up against that, kind of opened your eyes to, these guys are actually pretty good at this level, this year?

– There’s been a couple, so, yeah.

PLAYER TRANSCRIPT

Jaycee Horn | Sophomore | DB

– [Reporter] Jaycee, is this game kind of mean anything more to you this week going up against Tennessee?

– Nah, I come in with the same mindset every week. It don’t really mean more.

– [Reporter] What was sort of the process with them and you going through your recruitment?

– Um, I was committed to them when coach Jones was there, and then when he left, I de-committed. And we lost a lot of commitments when he left. So, everybody just chose their own path.

– [Reporter] Is it kind of a weird thing that, had that not happened you might be in Knoxville this week? Instead of down here?

– Nah coach Krantz pick on me a little bit about it, but, nah it’s just another game really.

– [Reporter] Is there anybody on that team that you know? Whether it’s through the recruiting process, or from the Atlanta area that you keep in touch with, or anything like that?

– Um, Quez, and receiver number one. I talk to Bryce a little bit, and Alontae, Warren, I hear from Gunnett. A couple dudes I know on the team, yeah.

– [Reporter] Did you contact any of those guys this week, or leading up to the game or anything like that?

– Nah, not really.

– [Reporter] Do you all realize Coach Muschamp has never lost to them?

– I didn’t know that. I didn’t know that, so hopefully we keep it goin’.

– [Reporter] What have you seen on Tennessee from the tape you guys have been able to watch on?

– They got big, physical receivers outside that can go up and get the ball through contact, you know, Guarantano is real good with his legs, and has the ability to throw the ball, and we’re just preparing for all quarterbacks, ’cause we don’t know who we going to get, so.

– [Reporter] Is it stressful at all, not knowing, kind of, which guys are going to take the bulk of the snaps?

– Not really, not for me, I mean, quarterbacks don’t really depend on too much

– Yeah, focus on the receiver.

– [Reporter] What kind of stands out in your memory from when you played them last year?

– Um, just at how fast and physical they play. Ya know, they play a lot like us, real physical. And they give a lot of effort so it’s definitely going to be a slug match.

– [Reporter] Is there almost a danger factor in this, that they lost to BYU and Georgia early, but they still kind of have that SEC talent level, they’re still a pretty good team?

– Yeah I mean they definitely a good team. We don’t look at who they lost to, ’cause when you turn on the film it’s easy to see that they’re a good team, they shouldn’t have lost those games, so it’s definitely going to be a good game.

– [Reporter] When you flipped on the film from the Florida game, what did you kind of take from the secondary’s performance? What did you see going well? What did you kind of see, you guys maybe need to improve on?

– I don’t think we played that bad. You know there was a few broken plays that they scored on. Fifty fifty balls, it wasn’t really any major mistakes or anybody we left open. Got a little grabby on my interception, so I knew that was comin’ back before I made the pick. But you know, we just got to play through all those calls. And we played it well overall as a secondary.

– [Reporter] On that play, is it just a matter of you’re kind of swingin’ a hand, and his face kind of just catches you right a little or?

– Yeah I mean, I seen him. He came down so I was thinkin’ that he was gettin’ in the run game to block the linebacker, ’cause they do that a lot and he jetted back out so I was just tryin’ to reach for somethin’, and I caught him, but, it happens, just on to the next play.

– [Reporter] And when you talk about, sort of, you play well but maybe they had a few broken plays here and there, is that just kind of a little, sort of those small breaks, those finer things, where if you’re a little faster or someone’s in, ya know, a few steps over, you’re probably in good shape? And just have to, ya know, I guess go a little harder to make up for that almost?

– I mean yeah. I mean it’s football, ya know. They have good athletes, we have good athletes. Like I said, they made the plays and we didn’t, and they made a touchdown they had a fifty fifty jump ball we didn’t make the play on, and dude ran his initial route, and came back and ran another route on a broken play that they scored on. I had a couple PI’s, ya know. It was just broken plays that they were gaining yards on. It wasn’t really anything too serious.

– [Reporter] Would you say you’re pleased with the production you guys have had in gettin’ the ball off people? Think, four picks in the last two games?

– Yeah for the last couple of games, yeah yeah.

– [Reporter] What was the biggest difference I guess? Was there a moment for you guys where you kind of, figured out the best way to get the ball off people, or just was it somethin’ that was just kind of destined to break through after a slow start?

– I think it was really the D-line. You know the team finding out that they can’t run the ball on us, so they got to put in the air, and you just created more opportunities for the secondary, and we’ve been able to, ya know, capitalize off of that.

– [Reporter] I know that everybody runs rub routes, pick routes and stuff like that. As a secondary, how difficult is that to defend and does it require extra communication between you guys when that stuff’s happenin’?

– Definitely, you know, some teams like it when they see you runnin’ a lot of man, gettin’ in tight condensed formations and run, ya know rub routes and pick routes. Ya just got to communicate across the secondary ’cause you usually get mixed up and leave somebody wide open. You don’t want to do that.

– [Reporter] Is there anybody who does those more than other people like you’ve seen this season? Anybody do like, a bunch of ’em?

– Nah, not really.

– I mean everybody did it the same. Georgia did it a little more than anybody. Yeah.

PLAYER TRANSCRIPT

Sadarius Hutcherson | RS Junior | OL

– [Reporter] What do you remember about the camp you attended up here in high school?

– Uh, honestly I ain’t attend a camp.

– [Reporter] Oh, you didn’t?

– No.

– [Reporter] How did you get on the recruiting radar here?

– Oh, well Steve Spurrier and uh Coach Elliott, they found me and uh, there’s more of them there.

– [Reporter] Do you know how they found you in Huntingdon?

– Honestly, no I don’t remember that.

– [Reporter] What do you remember about arriving on campus as a, whatever, 250 pound and thinking these guys are pretty big.

– Aw I was at least 230.

– At least 230?

– Yeah I was like 230 and uh and then as soon as I got on here I just went to work that’s all I remember.

– How much do you eat to maintain 100 pounds of weight gain?

– Well right now I eat regular just at least three times a day but when I was gaining weight I had to eat six.

– [Reporter] I talked to Coach Swenson he said you carried peanut butter and jelly and bread in your backpack in high school.

– Yeah I did.

– [Reporter] How many sandwiches did you make a day in high school?

– Uh probably about 3 or 4.

– Yeah.

– Yeah.

– [Reporter] How long did you do that how long did you carry a jar of peanut butter on you?

– It was at least for like the whole like last semester of high school so yeah I was just carrying it to class so.

– [Reporter] Do you still do that here?

– No I still don’t do it no more yeah.

– [Reporter] Did you do it as a freshman?

– Uh as a freshman yes I did.

– [Reporter] Did you always like the weight room?

– Yes.

– [Reporter] What about it?

– I mean it just kind of like it’s kind of like playing football you know when you see good results you start falling in love with so when you start looking at yourself in the mirror and you start falling in love with yourself then it just takes it all from there and then you start loving it.

– [Reporter] What are your maxes in bench and squats?

– Uh, I mean we do about 225 bench and um I got 38 reps on 225 uh squat I didn’t max out on squats so but I’m pretty sure I’m very highly up there so.

– [Reporter] What’s the most you’ve done?

– The most I’ve done was like my sophomore year it was like 638.

– [Reporter] You decided that was enough?

– Yeah, yeah.

– [Reporter] Technique wise how are you guys supposed to kind of attack those I think it’s like to the quick cut blocking where everyone kind of tries to all 5 linemen kind of try to submarine the defensive line real quick on a quick pass?

– I mean Wolf just tell us to quick set and just you know just try to cut them you know do our best to at least stop their rush a little bit so.

– [Reporter] Are you supposed to kind of get them in the thighs where are you trying to hit them?

– Uh well we’re just taught the way the legal way so I mean that we really just never just just say whatever we need to attack we just try to find our best way to stop their track.

– [Reporter] How would you grade the way you’ve played this year so far?

– Um I’m pretty did pretty well uh I know I can do better but I mean there’s always room to improve.

– [Reporter] Sadarius why is this running game suddenly so much better?

– Um so every day at practice we um we just physical every day in practice uh we just do plays over and over again till we get it right and then ask what happens on Saturdays and then you find good results.

– [Reporter] Does that physicality extend to the running backs as well?

– There’s physicality everywhere across the room.

– [Reporter] What is Feaster as a running back right now?

– Uh Feaster he just very patient guy, knows he’s very patient and then once he sees the hole he’s just shooting up the gap and that’s I mean him and Rico’s are doing well that’s why we love to block for them too.

– [Reporter] On that kind of extra delay counter that you guys broke out against Florida, is life at all different for you or are you guys just as a line blocking kind of standard counter?

– [Reporter] Uh honestly, I don’t know what you’re talking about.

– [Reporter] Uh the running plays where the back kind of takes a real hard cut toward the quarterback and then loops around uh behind a pulling guard.

– I mean.

– I mean yeah I mean that’s just how we got to block man I just I just do my job.

– [Reporter] Tennessee kind of started the season off kind of slow but they’ve been competitive in multiple games against Georgia, Alabama, what have you seen from them?

– Uh, Tennessee’s improving uh we’ll have to watch them guys them guys are very physical, gave Alabama a good game you know them guys are improving every week, Tennessee’s going to be a good team.

– [Reporter] Does that game have any significance to you at all?

– Uh our job is to be physical and our job is to come out and you know first we got to just focus on each day uh fixing our loose ends especially what happened in Florida you know we got to make more plays.

– [Reporter] Do you feel like you guys as am offense can finish as the game gets going later on you know into the third and fourth quarter?

– Uh we just got to practice you know practice makes perfect so just hopefully we have better results in the end.

– [Reporter] Any reason why you think that you guys have had success against Tennessee along these few years?

– Um at the end of the day Tennessee is a great team we know it’s going to be a dog fight each each time we play them guys, them guys are a good team, them guys are a team that you know that I can see them being a great team in the next couple of years so.

– [Moderator] Anything else for Sadarius?

– [Reporter] When you got here did you imagine that 330 pounds and starting left tackle was possible?

– Mmm naw, I didn’t. Naw.

– [Reporter] So what kept you working?

– What kept me working was just my faith you know just getting you know bigger and stronger and you know people will doubt you and uh you just got to prove them wrong and then next thing you know and now I’m up here now so.

– [Reporter] Did anybody come to you at any point and say maybe you’re a tight end? Let’s look at something different maybe?

– Uh naw not really naw.

– [Reporter] And Coach Winston said you walked to school most days?

– Uh yeah I walked to school most days.

– [Reporter] Were you close?

– Yeah yeah I was just right around the corner.

– [Reporter] How much time did you spend in the weight room in high school?

– Uh we didn’t spend as much as now here uh we’d do it like after school and stuff yeah.

PLAYER TRANSCRIPT

Israel Mukuamu | Sophomore | DB

– [Reporter] You see all the national recognition for a good performance of yours.

– It was pretty exciting you know, just able to make plays and I was happy about that.

– [Reporter] Like has practice been like Sunday, Tuesday or whenever you go to the building coming off that Florida loss?

– It’s been pretty good, I mean we regroup, we over that game and now it’s Tennessee.

– [Reporter] Is it harder to get over a game like that with so much emotion kind of in the second half?

– I mean, it’s hard to get over any game when you know you don’t win but that’s what happens. It’s college football. So now we just focus on Tennessee.

– [Reporter] Did you see that explanation of why they didn’t call holding on that play you were running down the field. Did you see it?

– No I still haven’t seen it.

– [Reporter] I don’t know how much film you’ve watched on Tennessee, but just what have you seen from that offense and I guess the film you have been able to watch?

– They like to run the ball a lot. They got three good backs. Number 8 and Number 9. They got big physical receivers outside so we just got to be ready to play on the edges and stop the runs.

– [Reporter] And a variety of quarterbacks too. How do you, kind of, does anyone stick out? Is the other doing something different?

– Well all of them are pretty good. We don’t know which one we going to get this week. So we just got to prepare for all of them. So we’ll just be ready and whoever plays we’ll just game plan on that.

– [Reporter] Facing a running team like Tennessee and you’re probably putting more guys in the box does your role change at all or is it just more man to man one on one on the inside?

– I’m just doing whatever the coach tell me I mean we’re going obviously stop the run, but we just got to be ready on the edges every, every play.

– [Moderator] Anything else?

– [Reporter] You forced I think four interceptions over the last two games. What’s been the reason you guys have been able to get the ball off opponents a little more than you did beginning of the year?

– Just film study and being able to play faster and react and have better eyes and knowing like the route concepts and what’s coming and what the offense is trying to do to us.

– [Reporter] Is a good defensive line helping that?

– Oh yeah. They getting a lot of pressure so they helping us out you know what I’m saying. Getting the quarterback to throw the ball sooner than he wants to. So that’s been key.

– [Reporter] What goes into corraling a broken play where the quarterback breaks the game and is kind of looking downfield what goes into kind of containing that?

– There’s nothing you can really do about that I mean quarterbacks they can get away from linemen so you just got to be able to cover that extra second and cover them twice and I mean things happen. Things go. You got to remember they try to make plays too. Things can go either way.

– [Reporter] Is there always kind of a tricky moment when the quarterback starts turning upfield maybe like he’s going to run and you have to sort of make the choice if you’re going to step up or sit with your guy?

– Well usually we always taught to stay in coverage until he passes the line of scrimmage. So we’d rather him run it for five yards and get a five yard gain than get a 20 yard gain off of throwing the ball.

– [Reporter] What do you see from RJ since he’s been kind of put in that starting safety role?

– He’s a hard hitter. I mean, he’s one of the leaders back there in the secondary. And just proud of him. Proud of the way he been playing.

– [Reporter] Israel, when you guys are trying to defend a pick play or a rub route what’s the, I guess, the biggest thing you all have to do to make sure you’re successful in stopping them?

– Probably just communication. We usually have some switches but this year they just been doing rub routes with the tight ends. So we going to adjust that.

– [Reporter] Just, you were saying, Tennessee’s been doing a lot of those?

– Just

– [Reporter] Just in general?

– Just in general this season. Yes, sir.

– [Reporter] With the communication how hard is that, especially at home when your crowd’s yelling and stuff is it harder to

– Yeah it’s pretty hard. You got to anticipate, I mean. They got one with the screen, but I mean it’s football. You just got to learn how to adjust to what just took place.

– [Reporter] Is there any challenge for you guys with sort of the depth that you guys have at this point because I think you’re down to eight scholarship defensive backs right now or not really?

– I’m not sure. We just taught to go out there, play every game and then whoever’s hurt the next man up we don’t make any excuses.

– [Reporter] As a DB how hard is it to go almost the entire game?

– I really don’t think about that. It’s just play by play. Probably after the game I’m a little sore. But other than that, I mean, we just trying to go out there and make plays.

– [Reporter] Is the approach over these next few games? Like treat them like playoff games because you folks have very little wiggle room when it comes to becoming bowl eligible now?

– We just go out there and try to play every game we trying to win every game. I mean, the focus right now is Tennessee so we trying to get the win on that. And then whoever’s next we’ll play them the same way.

PLAYER TRANSCRIPT

OrTre Smith | RS Sophomore | WR

– [Reporter] – It’s been a long road back, what was it like getting in the endzone last week?

– Uh, refreshing, like, it’s been a while, so like it was good but uh, a win would’ve been better but you know, we’re moving forward so, you know, focusing on Tennessee this week.

– [Reporter] – OrTre you’ve had, you know, not kind of the usual knee injury. Just how long has it taken to get back from that?

– Um, well, all last year well, I had my surgery on October 5th I think of last year, so right now like, during the summer it felt better. Like going into camp was just going so it was aching a little bit. And like I’m just still working on it, you know. Like, it’s healed so, just getting back into things, really.

– [Reporter] – Just how, I guess, is it frustrating at all to know that you’re kind of right there to being what you were?

– Yeah, it’s frustrating ’cause I feel like during the off season I got my weight down and everything, and like you’re still kind of lingering, like certain stuff that, my lower body just lingers. Just getting all that healthy is like my focus right now so I can help the team any way I can.

– [Reporter] – In the passing game you know Bryan and Shi are going to be out there and get their fair share of targets. How important is it to get a third guy? And do you feel you can be that third guy?

– It’s important, but uh, we got a lot of receivers that could be the third guy. Like I said I’m still working on, you know, getting back to a hundred percent so, anything that I can do to help I’m willing to do it. When B-Mac needs me in the game I’ll do what I need to do.

– [Reporter] – Is it a little competition maybe between you, Josh, Chavis, all the other guys?

– I mean it’s always a competition but we just, we just focus on winning right now.

– [Reporter] – What is that like sort of being in the middle but where, you know you’re going to get to a hundred percent but it’s maybe going a little slow than you kind of hoped?

– Um, sometimes it’s frustrating but, like I said the overall goal is to win. So like, if I’m not a hundred percent then, you know, whoever is a hundred percent needs to, you know they need to play.

– [Reporter] – As a receiver, when you guys are running like rub routes or pick plays or whatever, what’s the key to selling it to where it’s not too blatantly obvious that you’re trying to take out a guy?

– Just running full speed like we’re running a route really.

– [Reporter] – How must of those have ya’ll done?

– I can’t really say, I don’t, I don’t know, yeah.

PLAYER TRANSCRIPT

Shi Smith | Junior | WR

– [Reporter] Shi, obviously you and Bryan have been doing what you guys do. How important is it to have a third wide receiver as a target for Ryan?

– I mean we got Josh Vann, and Chavis, and OrTre, so it’s just giving him more confidence back there.

– [Reporter] Is it good to have just, a variety of guys do it, or would you rather have just one guys that-

– Nah, variety, all of us, all of us need to do it. Yes, sir.

– [Reporter] Shi, Coach Muschamp mentioned a few, I guess the word he used was, kind of mis-run routes on a couple of, I guess, the deep balls against Florida. When you kind of watched the film, did you see any of that and when something like that happens, what kind of goes into that?

– I mean, it’s happened, it’s football, we just got to stay up and play the next play. I mean, I got all the confidence in Ryan back there and so, we just got to play the next play.

– [Reporter] Is it a matter of you’re tryin’ to read the defense, and he’s tryin’ to read the defense, and you read it differently, or what kind of feeds to that kind of thing?

– Nah, I just feel like it’s just a missed opportunity.

– [Reporter] Shi, you mentioned confidence, how hard is it to build back confidence when you, I guess, lose it or it goes down as a receiver?

– I mean, you really can’t lose it, I mean you got to stay up, I mean, if the team see you lose confidence, I mean, that bring the whole team down, so you got to just stay up and hold it in.

– [Reporter] Right. How would you evaluate, I guess, Ryan’s performance the last, when he was in there against Georgia and then what he did against Florida this week?

– I really don’t know how to answer that, I really don’t. Sorry.

– [Reporter] Shi, you guys have had some success against Tennessee. Is there a common thread why, common reason why?

– Nah, we just go out and prepare the right way. I mean, we had a good day today and we just go out and have another good day tomorrow. Just keep putting back-to-back good days.

– [Reporter] Have you guys put the Florida game behind you and come into this week with that same confidence?

– Oh yeah, most definite, we came in Sunday, watched film, now that’s behind us, yes sir.

PLAYER TRANSCRIPT

Donell Stanley | RS Senior | OL

– [Reporter] You had a lot of success last week with kind of that delayed draw, you know, where you hold up for a second and Tavien runs it, How difficult does that make your job as a center, or does it?

– I mean, it’s a good, it’s a good complimentary play that, you know, we run and then we pass and, you know, their inside guys are getting up the field so, you know, we let them mix that draw and you know just keep it balanced and stuff we can manage that stuff so we don’t have to draw back and pass, and it, it really helps so.

– [Reporter] What is you assignment on the play, you doing your regular blocking, or do you have to hesitate a bit?

– No I’m just reaching back, really, can’t get too much into it so.

– [Reporter] A couple weeks ago, you had to talk about your, bad history with Kentucky, which you got over, but now it’s your good history with Tennessee in your career. How, how satisfying is that, that you’ve been able to uh, you’ve had success, the team’s have had success with you with Tennessee?

– Yeah, the past, yeah the past few years we had success, but my first two they beat us so, you know I’m 3-2 with Tennessee so, we’ll see where it goes this week.

– [Reporter] How comforting is it to have a guy like Tavien, especially now knowing you might be without Rico for a little bit?

– Yeah I mean, obviously you know where he comes from, and you know, he runs the ball hard and I appreciate everything Tavien does for us, and, you know, he’s a guy just that comes in everyday, does the right thing and, you know it pays off when you watch him out there on the field so, yeah. But knowing we got him behind us, I’m confident.

– [Reporter] Did he give ya’ll a big lift last week? That had to be kind of deflating, for Rico to go down in the fist play of the game, but Tavien steps in and plays the game.

– Yeah you just never know when your number’s called, so you, you always be ready for times like that, that’s why we practice, coach puts us in an awful lot of situations like that, and it’s unfortunate but, hey it’s the game of football so.

– [Reporter] You have the two new guards on either side of you, how have you seen them grow over the course the year?

– Yeah, Javon and Rhodie, I think they’re um, they, from their first starts, I see a lot of progress. A lot of stuff they could work on but, it makes a lot of progress but, those guys, those guys will be the leaders next year so, they’re expected to make big plays and play in big games, and you do know, do well so.

– [Reporter] Does it help them, having you there in the middle, but having been so experienced?

– Yeah I mean, I help them with the good calls but, I give them calls but, no, uh, they execute the blocks so, and that’s completely up to them, I can’t block anybody for them so, you know, we got, we get in double teams a lot and, you know we communicate from guards, tackles and, you know, I start off with the calls so, yeah, I mean, they do it pretty well.

– [Reporter] The communication there was a problem early for you guys, has it gotten better? Is it where it needs to be, still need to improve a little?

– Uh, yeah, I mean yeah, it’s gotten a whole lot better, especially between us but, I know we’re about to play in a loud stadium, and just like Georgia, we need to, we got to communicate, guards got to relay to tackles, and tackles to tight ends, and so on.

– [Reporter] You guys added that um, kind of counter run where the back sort of goes one way then darts behind a pulling guard. For, was that just a take on a blocking scheme you already had in place and, kind of how effected, effective, did you feel that was?

– We just know um, we just, we do plays like that based on what the linebackers are doing. So, we know, if the linebackers following a running back, we can, you know, we can off balance them a lot and we can get puller to you know tie it up, and hopefully we can get the back running one on one, so that’s what we want and get a big play off it.

– [Reporter] Was it a new scheme for you guys or–

– Nah, it’s counter, I mean everybody does counter, that’s just counter, yeah.

– [Reporter] How confident are you guys in your running game right now? It seems like it keeps getting better and better.

– Yeah, we just got to keep on, we got, we just got to keep playing physical we got to do a better job of finishing blocks, I think. A couple of times guys are making the tackle five yards down the field, which could be a even bigger run, but, you know we just got to finish blocks, and you know, just keep getting on the right guys and we’ll be all right.

– [Reporter] What do you expect from this Tennessee team? They’re coming off a loss from Alabama, they’ve been down for a while, they seem like they’re really desperate for a win.

– Yeah, I mean you watched them, their team has got better every game since they played, so we know we going to get their best shot, they want to beat us and uh, you know they want to beat us at home, it’s going to be, it’s going to be a good environment, it’s going to be loud there and I remember there you can’t really hear anything so, we got to be on our A game and, you know, they’re a physical team, they got a good defensive front, and they play physical so, it’s going to be a four-quarter battle.

– [Reporter] You know, you guys have pretty good success against them the last couple of years, is there some kind of common thread in it, that you know, that you guys have put together this winning streak against them?

– Um, no, we just, we just go out and prepare, just for any other game and uh, you know, we play in the SEC, everybody’s going to give it the best shot. We just try to prepare and you know every game goes, in the fourth quarter and hopefully we’re on top of those plays. It’s always a difference of five to seven plays, and hopefully we’re on top of them.

– [Reporter] Being there at the game two years ago, the goal line stand with your defense, what was that like as an offensive player, having to watch that on the sideline? Were you pacing, what were you doing?

– Yeah, that was a good one, because we were on a good drive, and, you know we still could been all in the possession, and it was actually my fault, I missed a cross, cross some by the backers and it put us in fourth down, so, I was, I was kind of like we lost, it was going to be on me so. Yeah I was over there biting my nails and everything, so.

– [Reporter] How did you celebrate that one?

– Oh yeah, oh man.

– [Reporter] What have you seen from Mon, I mean, you know a guy that, you know seems to always have a couple guys up front of him and, you know then there’s numbers calling because.

– Yeah, like anybody else on this team, uh, Mon, he’s getting in there, he’s going to run hard and he’s going to run behind us, and run behind the pass, he’s a hard guy to tackle, and once he hits that hole he’s gone, so.

– [Reporter] You sense any frustration from him, knowing it’s always kind of a wait and see approach?

– Uh, I mean like, I mean it’s natural a little bit, but, you know he’s doing a good job of just being a team player, he wants to do what’s best for the team, and like you said when his number’s called he always produces, so he’s a clutch guy.

– [Reporter] What’s Feaster like as just you know, in terms of what he brings to the team with leadership? I know he transferred in but, having the experience he has, what does he bring to the table?

– Yeah, he’s a guy that, you know he comes in every day and you know and he worked hard, and, you know, he does everything right. And that’s all you ask for. You know the way he runs the ball, his experience, it helps us a lot, especially as an offensive lineman, I appreciate that, so, you know, we just appreciate everything about Tavien.

– [Reporter] Would you imagine, when Sadarius got here, that he would be this size and this strength now? And playing right tackle or left tackle?

– Uh, kind of no and yes because I hosted him on his official, and he was like 236 pounds. You know after that he texted me everyday, he was like “What’d you do to gain weight?” What’d you do to gain weight?” I’m just like “Man I’m losing weight, what you think? “I’m not doing this.” So uh, I mean once he got on campus he gained about 30 more and then he put on some more in the season’s going so. I mean he eats a ton, you should see how he eats.

– [Reporter] Is it still peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?

– It’s everything, everything you can name.

– [Reporter] And he lived with you, ya’ll roomed together.

– Yeah.

– [Reporter] So, you have to feed him?

– Oh yeah, him and D.J. They eat like, I don’t what they eat like.

– [Reporter] So when they said “You’re going to host this guy, you’re hosting an offensive lineman this weekend” and you see a 236 pound guy walk up, what was your first thought?

– Yeah, so when he got there there’s like I seen his picture, and then I seen like, his face like walk in the door, I was like “This can’t be him!” because he was so skinny. And then he had his ankle issue then too, so I was like yeah that’s got to be him, so it was wild.

– [Reporter] And now with where he is, is he a strongest guy on this team?

– Oh yeah, definitely, hands down.

– [Reporter] Do ya’ll know what his max is?

– I don’t know his max, but you could tell we don’t do a lot of maxing, we just do, based on like percentages and stuff and like how fast you can move the weight and all that good stuff but man he moves weight.

– [Reporter] What’s allowed ya’ll’s running game to be as productive this year, or more productive this year than it’s been since you been here I guess.

– I mean I think, any time you do like a running scheme, it’s all about the mindset so, you know we have a good mindset running and we usually perform well. You know, we know we got to be physical and everything so that’s where we want to start.

– [Reporter] Does mindset begin to grow during the off season when ya’ll are lifting or is it something that just kind of picks up?

– Yeah, that’s just the thing, you know coach Muschamp challenge us on a lot, and he does a good job with it. We know what we got to do and he um, you know, he puts us in situations in the weight room that we are motivated, to run the ball and, you know, be physical so. That’s where we stand on that.

– [Reporter] What kind of situations you talking about?

– I mean they put up like signs and stuff and he reminds us we have like shirts and stuff like that and reminds us and everything and you know, wearing those shirts sometimes gets embarrassing so, it just motivates you to do it.

– [Reporter] So what was the most embarrassing?

– Uh, so we had a shirt, I know we had a shirt because we, when we averaged like, like three yards a carry or some stuff like that, we had to wear that around and the defense gave up like a bunch of yards they had to wear that around. And the shirt was like run the ball, or stop the run, or stuff.

– [Reporter] Sorry for being that guy, coming at the end but uh, quick question for ya, in terms of Ryan, what have you seen is his growth now compared to when he first came on campus?

– Oh yeah, I mean when I first seen Ryan, it was, it was during the summer camp and I was just looking at the guy, the way he, you know he communicates to other people, I was like “He’s a natural leader” so uh, and just him and the way he’s playing, for a true freshman and stuff, coming in the situation, and it really just speaks a lot about where he can take this program.

– [Reporter] You think some times when you were a freshman, especially at that position, it’s easy to forget, in terms of being from the outside, it’s easy to forget when you look at the quarterback, you expect him to sometimes do more, how do you, as a freshman, regardless of the position, kind of just handle things in terms of just taking things day by day, getting better?

– Um, I guess, that question was a little bit all over. Yeah, I got to mindset of a chipmunk, I don’t remember a lot of things.

– [Reporter] In terms of just being able to take things day by day, and not, you know cause I think some people look at him and be like “Hey,” you know, “He’s the quarterback, but he’s still a freshman.”

– Oh, so yeah, I mean you just come in, you play and, I mean you’ve been playing this game your whole life so, you just know what you got to do and you know what’s required and you prepare and you practice. And, you know you get put in situations where you have to perform. So, that’s how he looks at it. Yeah.

PLAYER TRANSCRIPT

D.J. Wonnum| Senior | B/S

– [Reporter] How’s your brother doing?

– He doing good.

– [Reporter] Yeah?

– He’s going to get back.

– [Reporter] Obviously Tennessee’s got their own quarterback situation. How tough is it to try to prepare for two guys, whether it be Guarantano or Maurer?

– Uh, you know, you know it has its, you know, pros and cons but you know, at the end of the day, we’ll prepare for both of them. And, uh, come game day, we’ll be ready for both of them.

– [Reporter] They’ve been having a lot of success with kind of that RPO run over the middle or pass over the middle. As a defensive end, how difficult does that make your job?

– Uh, it’s difficult because, you know, you have to play run first, and then, you know, they could pull up the pass so that they run the ball, so, I mean it’s difficult, but you know, we’re going to work on it this week and we’ll be ready for it come game day.

– [Reporter] At your position if you have to cover a receiver a lot in space, does that make you more tired than normal if you have to keep running up and down the field?

– Uh, I mean, sometimes it does, but I mean, uh, the way we practice, I’m rarely tired in the game.

– [Reporter] D.J., you’ve had two good games against Tennessee the last couple of years. Do you ever, when you’re going into a game for the third time, do you think about that? Do you think about the success that you’ve had, does that kind of get you going a little bit?

– Uh, you know, I think about it sometimes but, it don’t really get me going ’cause it’s a new game. I got to do something different I can’t dwell on the past. So, I mean it’s a little motivation but, you know I just got to keep preparing how I’ve been week in, week out.

– [Reporter] Is there any one reason, or anything you can put your finger on that you had so much success against them?

– Um, honestly, I mean honestly, I don’t know, I couldn’t really tell you. I just play my game and the plays present themselves.

– [Reporter] Along the same lines, I mean, you guys have had success over Tennessee the last few years.

– Right.

– [Reporter] Is there some common thread why?

– Um, I couldn’t really tell you. I know we come out and play hard and, uh, the way we practice and the work we put in is the reason that happens.

– [Reporter] What do you remember most about that goal line stand up there, a couple years ago?

– Oh, you talking about, uh, with the, uh, kicker? I remember, you talking about with the

– [Reporter] Tennessee.

– The, uh, field goal?

– [Reporter] No, the last second play.

– [Reporter] The last second play.

– Oh, oh oh oh oh! Yeah, I remember that like I’m trippin’.

– [Reporter] game of the series?

– Oh, yeah, um, I remember that like it was yesterday, man, it was, that was a great feeling, you know, coming from an injury and making that big play. It was, that was a great feeling.

– [Reporter] How stressful was that for the defense to hold them off there at the end?

– Uh, you know, it was stressful, but, you know, somebody had to make the play, and I feel like I stepped up and made the play.

– [Reporter] Did you all ever figure out how they got so many plays off in such a short period of time?

– No, I mean, I can’t really tell you, man that’s just hap – how it happened.

– [Reporter] You seem to remember fighting a holder, though, wasn’t that Tennessee?

– Oh yeah, that was Tennessee. That was my sophomore year.

– [Reporter] Was that, was that one of your weirdest experiences on the field?

– I mean, it was weird, ’cause, you know, I ain’t even, I ain’t honestly didn’t see it coming, but I mean,

– [Reporter] You got experience here. What do you expect from this crowd, and obviously, you want to keep the momentum going on the road that you had, obviously, from Georgia game.

– Uh, you know, just, we gon’ circle the wagon you know, we gon’ get back to playing, you know, Gamecock football, you know, some things we can’t control, um, but at the end of the day we got to continue to play hard and, um, uh, practicing hard and we’ll come up with the victory.

– [Reporter] What happened with that holder, do you remember what, how that played out, what happened?

– Uh, I think I bumped him, or something like that? I think that was what happened, and he got a little sensitive about that. But I don’t really remember.

– [Reporter] How would you describe Jarrett Guarantano as a player?

– Um, I feel like, you know, he he’s a, uh, good quarterback, you know, he has his, his times when he’s coming out and he’s doing big things for his team. But I feel like he’s a good athlete, as well, so, at the end of the day, you know, we got to be able to prepare for him, and be able to come out and play, ’cause, you know, everybody gon’ bring their A game against us, so we got to just be ready to go.

– [Reporter] Does he look any different this year than he has in the past?

– Um, honestly, um, he look, pretty much look the same to me.

– [Reporter] Now, Sadarius had to eat a ton to get the size he is. Does he still eat that much?

– Oh yeah, he eat all the time, man. Peanut butter jellies, two before practice two after practice, super settin’, man, he eat all the time. You know, I was his roommate my freshman year, so, I seen him grow. So, it’s, it’s crazy. It’s cra –

– [Reporter] Is he the guy – have you ever seen anybody grow more than him? Put on more weight, total, than him?

– Oh, nah, I, I’ve, I seen him from day one to today, so I, I ain’t really seen nobody ever put no weight on like that and as big as he is now, it’s crazy.

– [Reporter] Trying to think when he was a freshman.

– Yeah.

– [Reporter] Like home, eating all the time?

– Yeah

– [Reporter] Always peanut butter and jelly?

– Who you talking about?

– [Reporter] Sadarius.

– Oh, Sadarius, yeah yeah yeah yeah. Same thing. I thought you was, you said at home, I thought you think you talk about Dillon for a minute.

– [Reporter] No, no, I was talking about you said you roomed with him.

– Yeah yeah yeah yeah. He’s been like that since –

– [Reporter] How strong a guy is he to play? To face?

– Who, Sadarius?

– [Reporter] Yeah.

– Oh, he’s a, he’s a good dude, ’cause, you know, he’s he’s strong you know, he played guard last year. And he got some pretty good feet. So, run ups against him in practice sets me up for success, you know, on game day, just by play, going against his strength and his feet everyday, that’s what sets me up for success.

– [Reporter] What’s he like in the weight room?

– Oh, he’s the strongest, probably the strongest person I seen, probably ever seen. No joke, he moving that weight. Yeah, he moving that weight.

– [Reporter] How do you all approach this Tennessee team, you know, they’ve been down a few years, but they’re probably going to be, they’re desperate for a win.

– Right.

– [Reporter] You all, what do you expect from them?

– Oh, you know, we’re going to approach them the same way we approach any other team. You know, they they a good team, and they gon’ come out and play with us, so at the end of the day, you know, we got to, you know, we can’t slack off we got to keep going hard, and we got to play hard ’cause they going to come out and play us hard.

– Uh, it means a lot, you know, just the work I put in, you know, coming back from injuries, but I’m not finished. You know, I still got work to do, I still got things to do for my team, so, I mean, it’s a, it’s a good honor, but, you know, I still got more. So, I still got stuff to do.

– [Reporter] Do you look back on last year and think about what it was like sitting out and how frustrating?

– Most definitely. You know, it just made me you know, just makes me want to go harder you know, ’cause sitting out is not a great feeling and, you know, sitting out, and there’s just seeing, like, what it feels, you know to just, just to be in that position. Just makes me want to go harder this year.

– [Reporter] How, how much more does that make you kind of, appreciate the game of football, having to sit out like that?

– Oh, it makes me appreciate it a lot, you know, Um, it kind of wakes me up and motivates me just to go out there and give my best, ’cause, you know, some people can’t really, some people can’t play. So, just doing that is a great feeling.

– [Reporter] Was there a low point, for you last year, just kind of in the rehab process or, when you got hurt?

– Oh definitely, it was definitely a low point. Especially getting back and then getting hurt again. That was, that was a real low point, but, you know, just being out here this year is a great feeling.

– [Reporter] Didn’t you come back against Tennessee last year? Wasn’t that your first game?

– Yeah, that was my first game back last year.

– [Reporter] And that sack at the end, was sort of, sealed up the game.

– Yeah. Yeah, that felt real good, man that felt good.

– [Reporter] You remember that play, and what happened, or anything about that play late in the game, there?

– Oh, yeah, I remember it like, like it was yesterday. Um, it was a three down front, you know, I just, you know, came off the edge, pretty much um, and just made the play for my teammates. It was, it was a great feeling.

– [Reporter] With Tennessee what kind of stands out with their offense, and are they maybe a little unusual with how, sort of, pro style they are in, in kind of a spread era?

– Um, just, you know, they being on RPOs and, um, so, as a defensive line you know, we got to, it kind of slows us down just a little bit, ’cause you know we got to respect the run first, and then quarterback can pull it and throw the ball, so, you just got to be ready for that.

– [Reporter] When you come into a week uh, against a team like Tennessee where you’ve had some success against them in the past, does that give you guys some more confidence and more juice starting the practice week?

– Um, I mean, yeah, it does, but at the end of the day, you know we got to, Tennessee is a good team. They hungry just like we hungry, so they gon’ come out and play they hardest. So, at the end of the day we got to prepare this week and be able to go out and, you know, and deliver on the field this weekend.

– [Reporter] Was it easy to kind of flush last Saturday, because you guys played you know, three tough quarters, and then things kind of got away from you.

– Right.

– [Reporter] Was it easy to flush it?

– Uh, um, no it wasn’t, it was definitely easy to flush it, especially, you know, how the game went but, I mean, it is what it is and we can’t go back, so we got to play the next we got to hold, some more games to play So we just got to continue going forward.