Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Blue Raiders visit Minnesota on Saturday
9/1/2014 12:59:00 PM | Football
Kickoff set for 2:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network
Middle Tennessee Head Coach Rick Stockstill
Opening Statement:
Looking forward to this week. I've talked enough about Savannah State. I am really proud of our players' effort on how we approached that game mentally and physically with the weather, the delay and everything that was involved with that game. I thought our team showed a lot of maturity. I thought we handled the situation in a very first class manner, so I was really proud of our team.
This week is a big challenge for us. We go on the road. I said all along, it's tough to win on the road, especially when you are going to a place that you've never been before. We don't know what it's going to look like and sound like there. I've called coaching buddies that have played there. They say it's a loud environment. We've got to be able to handle the noise. Eastern Illinois had some communication issues with some snaps and everything. We've got to make sure we handle the noise. We will prepare for that this week as well.
Minnesota is an excellent football team. They are coming off back-to-back bowl games. They won eight games last year. They've got some really good players. They are big as you guys would expect. Their defensive end was second in the Big Ten last year in sacks. They are very athletic. Their offensive and defensive lines are big. They do a good job protecting the ball. They are very well-coached. Jerry Kill does a good job with that team. They've improved a lot since he's been there. This is a big challenge for us, but we are looking forward to it. Hopefully, we'll correct our mistakes that we made in our game against Savannah State and go up there and play a little bit better than we did Saturday.
On why the team is competitive against Big Ten opponents:
I think we're competitive against everybody. Sure, we've had some mismatches against some schools that we've played. I don't look at it as competitive against the Big Ten or the ACC. We've had chances to win some games against the Big Ten, SEC and ACC. We've beaten them sometimes and we haven't the others. We are getting better as a program. We are getting better as a team. We are not in awe. We are not going to be in awe in going up there to Minnesota. We'll approach it just like we do any game. I hope we go up and play better than what we did Saturday. If we do that, we'll have a chance to win this game.
On the performance of QB Austin Grammer:
I thought Austin played a nice game. I thought he did a good job. The number one thing he did was protect the ball. I thought our receivers and our offensive line and our backs really had a lot to do with his performance also. I think probably his longest passing play was a little flare route to Jordan Parker. Marcus (Henry) had a nice run after catch on a crossing route. Our offensive line did a really good job in protecting him. He wasn't ever really challenged in the pocket. He was a couple of times and escaped. He did some good things and avoided sacks. You get better every game. That's your goal is to try to improve. Whether you're Marcus Henry, a senior who had a nice game, he's got to get better this week. He's got to come out and have a mindset that he is going to improve and get better. That's not different than anybody else on our football team. That's what Austin has to do. He made some mistakes. He didn't play a flawless game. He's got some areas he can improve. That's one game. We've got to continue to compete. We've got to continue to strike to improve in all areas of our game.
On if some of the playmakers must help make big gains after catch:
We hit three deep balls. Austin (Grammer) hit a deep ball to Devin (Clarke) down our sideline. He hit a deep ball to Marcus (Henry) going the other way. Brent (Stockstill) hit one to Demetrius (Frazier). We had three deep ball completions. Marcus had a run after catch. Jordan Parker had a nice run after catch. It goes with our skill level. I think our receivers and running backs have got the skills to make things happen after a catch. In the running game, you talk about yards after contact. In the passing game, you talk about yards after catch. I think our guys are athletic. You hope they would be able to break a tackle. They are not going to do it on every catch. That's what you strive for. You run your route at the proper depth and hopefully you're athletic enough to make somebody miss and turn it into a bigger gain.
On having unforced turnovers versus Savannah State:
I told our team yesterday, I had a sour taste in my stomach after the game. You win 61-7, but you had a sour taste in your mouth. I think all three of those turnovers were a result of us and had nothing to do with Savannah State. The first one, we made a poor decision on trying to catch the punt. It's not a very good punt on their part. We have to run up and try to get it. We are right on the sideline. It's at midfield. Let it go. If it does take a bounce in favor of them, you are still going to get the ball in good field position. I thought that was a poor decision on our part. The fumble that we had stripped was poor fundamentals. We didn't have the ball tight to our body. It got away from our body and the guy behind him knocked it out. The pass hits the guy in the chest. He tries to run with it before he catches it. Takes his eye off of it, bounces up and they get an interception. Not to take anything away from Savannah State, I thought all three of those turnovers were a result of us not doing the fundamentals that we have to do to be successful.
On the return game:
Reggie (Whatley) didn't get any opportunities. Their kicker did a nice job. He only kicked twice and both of those were in the endzone. Reggie didn't have an opportunity. Reggie will still be back there. At punt returner, we'll evaluate that this week and see how both Ed'Marques (Batties) and Jared (Singletary) do. I believe in competition. We are going to put the guy that gives us the best chance to be successful back there.
On if the defense needs to establish pressure early:
As quick as quarterbacks get out of the ball out of their hands now, it is hard to get sacks. Savannah State did a good job getting the ball out of their hand. It's hard to get there because of the type of offenses people run now. I do believe that you can make the quarterback uncomfortable. You can get around him. You can harass him. You can get him off his spot to where he becomes uncomfortable. I thought our defense did a great job Saturday of harassing their quarterback. I thought he was very uncomfortable in the pocket. It may not show up. You got two sacks, which is really good. There may be games, where you don't have any sacks. But you harassed the heck out of that quarterback. It made him very uncomfortable, which is the same as sacks in my opinion. It's going to be hard because they are awful big up front. Their tight end is 270. Their full back is 255-260. They've got big men up there. We may not be able to get as much pressure on him as we'd like. Hopefully, we will get back there and make him uncomfortable.
On the amount of running backs used last Saturday:
I don't know if the distribution will be the same, but all four of those guys will play. You look at that game and we lost four possessions on offense. There are some possessions that you've lost some potential offensive snaps, where those guys could've gotten a little bit more. Shane Tucker has to carry the ball more than two times. It's just the kind of flow for that game, especially in the second half. All four will continue to play and be involved in the offense.
On getting the running backs touches to help them stay in a rhythm:
I think Jordan Parker is an example, where he gets better as the game goes along. Reggie Whatley is a home run guy. You give him the ball the first carry of the game and the last carry of the game and you are going to get the same result. I don't worry about them getting out of rhythm. It's going to be through the course of each game. This may be a Jordan Parker game. Next week may be a Reggie Whatley game. The type of defenses and personnel you play has an impact of what you are going to do offensively. I don't want to sit up here and say every one of them will get 10 carries a game. There may be a game where one of them carries it 25 times and another one gets only 2-3 carries. All of four of these guys got to play for us to be successful.
On if there is a mentality change for the rest of the season:
We've got a very demanding schedule. I said that last week about opening up with a 1-AA team, especially this year because we are so young. You are starting a first-year quarterback and both guards. Shannon Smith at receiver is the first time he ever played. Terry Pettis played more Saturday than he did all year last year. We had so many guys that had never played before. I thought this year worked out in our favor that we were able to open up with a 1-AA team. You can't fool players. We should win this game, but we've got to approach it with the mentality that this is the most important game on our schedule. Our players did that and I was proud of them for how they approached it. There is nothing bigger than Minnesota right now. This is the most important game. It's the only game we are talking and thinking about. We raised it a bunch out there. I don't know what you could see in the press box, but if you turned on the film there was some violent hits out there. There were a lot of people on the ground. There were a lot of people that got knocked down. Our guys played violent. They played physical. They played tough. They played nasty. I loved the way they played. It might be a little bit harder to knock these guys down because they are 300 pounds and not 270 pounds. We'll approach this game with the same tenacity and same mental toughness that we do for any game.
On Minnesota's size:
They are a man, we are man. They are 330 pounds and we are going to be 280 pounds. That means we've got to strain a little bit harder. We've got to fight a little bit harder and a little bit tougher. Like I said, nobody getting off that plane is going to be scared of them. This dude is 6-6 330 pounds. I've got to find a way to whoop him. That's our mentality. We've got to find a way. That will be our approach.
On the previous meeting with Minnesota:
I probably won't even bring it up. I don't know even know how many players we've got on our team that played in that game. They are a lot better team than 2010 and we are a lot better team than we were in 2010. I don't ever go back. I don't every say we almost beat them. It is two different teams. It doesn't do any good to talk about the past. We've got to get better this week. We can't control how good Minnesota is going to play. All we can control is us. Our objective this week is to get better. Every year, we play somebody from the big five conference. We are not in awe of them. We are confident in ourselves. I've got a great confidence and belief in this team. I know this team believes in themselves too. We've just got to get better. We can't turn the ball over three times and have five false start penalties like we did last week and beat Minnesota. If we do that, close the books right now. No sense in getting on the plane and going up there. You are not going to beat them by turning the ball over and having five false start penalties. We've got to get that corrected and get better this week. Hopefully, we'll go up there and play better.
Senior WR Marcus Henry
On playing a Big Ten opponent this week:
We just look at it as another team on the schedule because at the end of the day we're just going to work on us getting better as a team. We're not really worried about the opponent.
On traveling to a tough atmosphere:
Even if it's their fans or our fans, I like the environment and the loud noise because it gets my adrenaline going.
On worrying about having the mentality to play well on the road:
No I'm not because I know that we're going to go with the right mentality and go up and try to be the best we can be when we play Saturday.
On Austin Grammer's first start:
Austin Grammer had a great game. He threw the ball well and ran the offense like he was supposed to. I feel like he's going to be pretty good this year.
On the new additions to the offense:
We have a lot of confidence in the offense and we have more to offer. I feel we played pretty good this past Saturday.
On yards after the catch:
In our mind as a receiving core, I feel our mentality when we catch the ball our goal is to score every time we catch it no matter if it's to help the quarterback out. It's just a mentality that the receiving core has as a whole. We all feel like if we catch the ball it's just a part of it because we're trying to score.
On having the speed to turn short receptions into bigger gains:
I feel like it just starts with your heart. If you catch the ball and if your goal is to catch the ball and run and do what you have to do, I feel like anybody can do it. It starts with your heart.
On what to improve on from week one:
We need to get better on being more focused, eliminate the penalties and just the small things like that and just keep that edge and just keep that main focus for this week and keep working hard.
On what it would mean to defeat Minnesota:
It would mean a lot to the team, but like I said whoever our opponent is, it really doesn't matter. Our main goal whoever we play is to win. So if it's BYU, a team from Conference USA, it really don't matter. Our goal is just to win no matter who we line up in front of.
Junior LB T.T. Barber
On containing the Minnesota quarterback:
Well as you look at dual threat quarterbacks, like you said they just don't sit in the pocket, they can make something happen. It starts with the defensive line and the rush lane. If they can cut down on creating rush lanes and they can contain him and the secondary and the linebackers are coming up with secondary support, we should be able to keep him contained.
On bringing pressure and doing well without a sack:
It's just something we preach here is about straining and creating pressure and getting him off his game. It's good but getting the sack is straining a little bit more and of course getting the sack is what the defensive line or the linebacker would ultimately want to do, but if we can do as little as create pressure just so he can throw the interception or get a batted ball, that'd be fine.
On the new linebackers getting big hits:
I believe it was the first play of the game Trey Wafford hit the running back or the quarterback and I was like he's ready, and so did Quay (Watt) and (Cavellis) Luckett. They adapted very fast and pretty well.
On getting used to the atmosphere:
You have to focus what your job is and what you have to do to get the job done. I believe looking around and trying to see what's going on around you isn't going to help you win a game.
Opening Statement:
Looking forward to this week. I've talked enough about Savannah State. I am really proud of our players' effort on how we approached that game mentally and physically with the weather, the delay and everything that was involved with that game. I thought our team showed a lot of maturity. I thought we handled the situation in a very first class manner, so I was really proud of our team.
This week is a big challenge for us. We go on the road. I said all along, it's tough to win on the road, especially when you are going to a place that you've never been before. We don't know what it's going to look like and sound like there. I've called coaching buddies that have played there. They say it's a loud environment. We've got to be able to handle the noise. Eastern Illinois had some communication issues with some snaps and everything. We've got to make sure we handle the noise. We will prepare for that this week as well.
Minnesota is an excellent football team. They are coming off back-to-back bowl games. They won eight games last year. They've got some really good players. They are big as you guys would expect. Their defensive end was second in the Big Ten last year in sacks. They are very athletic. Their offensive and defensive lines are big. They do a good job protecting the ball. They are very well-coached. Jerry Kill does a good job with that team. They've improved a lot since he's been there. This is a big challenge for us, but we are looking forward to it. Hopefully, we'll correct our mistakes that we made in our game against Savannah State and go up there and play a little bit better than we did Saturday.
On why the team is competitive against Big Ten opponents:
I think we're competitive against everybody. Sure, we've had some mismatches against some schools that we've played. I don't look at it as competitive against the Big Ten or the ACC. We've had chances to win some games against the Big Ten, SEC and ACC. We've beaten them sometimes and we haven't the others. We are getting better as a program. We are getting better as a team. We are not in awe. We are not going to be in awe in going up there to Minnesota. We'll approach it just like we do any game. I hope we go up and play better than what we did Saturday. If we do that, we'll have a chance to win this game.
On the performance of QB Austin Grammer:
I thought Austin played a nice game. I thought he did a good job. The number one thing he did was protect the ball. I thought our receivers and our offensive line and our backs really had a lot to do with his performance also. I think probably his longest passing play was a little flare route to Jordan Parker. Marcus (Henry) had a nice run after catch on a crossing route. Our offensive line did a really good job in protecting him. He wasn't ever really challenged in the pocket. He was a couple of times and escaped. He did some good things and avoided sacks. You get better every game. That's your goal is to try to improve. Whether you're Marcus Henry, a senior who had a nice game, he's got to get better this week. He's got to come out and have a mindset that he is going to improve and get better. That's not different than anybody else on our football team. That's what Austin has to do. He made some mistakes. He didn't play a flawless game. He's got some areas he can improve. That's one game. We've got to continue to compete. We've got to continue to strike to improve in all areas of our game.
On if some of the playmakers must help make big gains after catch:
We hit three deep balls. Austin (Grammer) hit a deep ball to Devin (Clarke) down our sideline. He hit a deep ball to Marcus (Henry) going the other way. Brent (Stockstill) hit one to Demetrius (Frazier). We had three deep ball completions. Marcus had a run after catch. Jordan Parker had a nice run after catch. It goes with our skill level. I think our receivers and running backs have got the skills to make things happen after a catch. In the running game, you talk about yards after contact. In the passing game, you talk about yards after catch. I think our guys are athletic. You hope they would be able to break a tackle. They are not going to do it on every catch. That's what you strive for. You run your route at the proper depth and hopefully you're athletic enough to make somebody miss and turn it into a bigger gain.
On having unforced turnovers versus Savannah State:
I told our team yesterday, I had a sour taste in my stomach after the game. You win 61-7, but you had a sour taste in your mouth. I think all three of those turnovers were a result of us and had nothing to do with Savannah State. The first one, we made a poor decision on trying to catch the punt. It's not a very good punt on their part. We have to run up and try to get it. We are right on the sideline. It's at midfield. Let it go. If it does take a bounce in favor of them, you are still going to get the ball in good field position. I thought that was a poor decision on our part. The fumble that we had stripped was poor fundamentals. We didn't have the ball tight to our body. It got away from our body and the guy behind him knocked it out. The pass hits the guy in the chest. He tries to run with it before he catches it. Takes his eye off of it, bounces up and they get an interception. Not to take anything away from Savannah State, I thought all three of those turnovers were a result of us not doing the fundamentals that we have to do to be successful.
On the return game:
Reggie (Whatley) didn't get any opportunities. Their kicker did a nice job. He only kicked twice and both of those were in the endzone. Reggie didn't have an opportunity. Reggie will still be back there. At punt returner, we'll evaluate that this week and see how both Ed'Marques (Batties) and Jared (Singletary) do. I believe in competition. We are going to put the guy that gives us the best chance to be successful back there.
On if the defense needs to establish pressure early:
As quick as quarterbacks get out of the ball out of their hands now, it is hard to get sacks. Savannah State did a good job getting the ball out of their hand. It's hard to get there because of the type of offenses people run now. I do believe that you can make the quarterback uncomfortable. You can get around him. You can harass him. You can get him off his spot to where he becomes uncomfortable. I thought our defense did a great job Saturday of harassing their quarterback. I thought he was very uncomfortable in the pocket. It may not show up. You got two sacks, which is really good. There may be games, where you don't have any sacks. But you harassed the heck out of that quarterback. It made him very uncomfortable, which is the same as sacks in my opinion. It's going to be hard because they are awful big up front. Their tight end is 270. Their full back is 255-260. They've got big men up there. We may not be able to get as much pressure on him as we'd like. Hopefully, we will get back there and make him uncomfortable.
On the amount of running backs used last Saturday:
I don't know if the distribution will be the same, but all four of those guys will play. You look at that game and we lost four possessions on offense. There are some possessions that you've lost some potential offensive snaps, where those guys could've gotten a little bit more. Shane Tucker has to carry the ball more than two times. It's just the kind of flow for that game, especially in the second half. All four will continue to play and be involved in the offense.
On getting the running backs touches to help them stay in a rhythm:
I think Jordan Parker is an example, where he gets better as the game goes along. Reggie Whatley is a home run guy. You give him the ball the first carry of the game and the last carry of the game and you are going to get the same result. I don't worry about them getting out of rhythm. It's going to be through the course of each game. This may be a Jordan Parker game. Next week may be a Reggie Whatley game. The type of defenses and personnel you play has an impact of what you are going to do offensively. I don't want to sit up here and say every one of them will get 10 carries a game. There may be a game where one of them carries it 25 times and another one gets only 2-3 carries. All of four of these guys got to play for us to be successful.
On if there is a mentality change for the rest of the season:
We've got a very demanding schedule. I said that last week about opening up with a 1-AA team, especially this year because we are so young. You are starting a first-year quarterback and both guards. Shannon Smith at receiver is the first time he ever played. Terry Pettis played more Saturday than he did all year last year. We had so many guys that had never played before. I thought this year worked out in our favor that we were able to open up with a 1-AA team. You can't fool players. We should win this game, but we've got to approach it with the mentality that this is the most important game on our schedule. Our players did that and I was proud of them for how they approached it. There is nothing bigger than Minnesota right now. This is the most important game. It's the only game we are talking and thinking about. We raised it a bunch out there. I don't know what you could see in the press box, but if you turned on the film there was some violent hits out there. There were a lot of people on the ground. There were a lot of people that got knocked down. Our guys played violent. They played physical. They played tough. They played nasty. I loved the way they played. It might be a little bit harder to knock these guys down because they are 300 pounds and not 270 pounds. We'll approach this game with the same tenacity and same mental toughness that we do for any game.
On Minnesota's size:
They are a man, we are man. They are 330 pounds and we are going to be 280 pounds. That means we've got to strain a little bit harder. We've got to fight a little bit harder and a little bit tougher. Like I said, nobody getting off that plane is going to be scared of them. This dude is 6-6 330 pounds. I've got to find a way to whoop him. That's our mentality. We've got to find a way. That will be our approach.
On the previous meeting with Minnesota:
I probably won't even bring it up. I don't know even know how many players we've got on our team that played in that game. They are a lot better team than 2010 and we are a lot better team than we were in 2010. I don't ever go back. I don't every say we almost beat them. It is two different teams. It doesn't do any good to talk about the past. We've got to get better this week. We can't control how good Minnesota is going to play. All we can control is us. Our objective this week is to get better. Every year, we play somebody from the big five conference. We are not in awe of them. We are confident in ourselves. I've got a great confidence and belief in this team. I know this team believes in themselves too. We've just got to get better. We can't turn the ball over three times and have five false start penalties like we did last week and beat Minnesota. If we do that, close the books right now. No sense in getting on the plane and going up there. You are not going to beat them by turning the ball over and having five false start penalties. We've got to get that corrected and get better this week. Hopefully, we'll go up there and play better.
Senior WR Marcus Henry
On playing a Big Ten opponent this week:
We just look at it as another team on the schedule because at the end of the day we're just going to work on us getting better as a team. We're not really worried about the opponent.
On traveling to a tough atmosphere:
Even if it's their fans or our fans, I like the environment and the loud noise because it gets my adrenaline going.
On worrying about having the mentality to play well on the road:
No I'm not because I know that we're going to go with the right mentality and go up and try to be the best we can be when we play Saturday.
On Austin Grammer's first start:
Austin Grammer had a great game. He threw the ball well and ran the offense like he was supposed to. I feel like he's going to be pretty good this year.
On the new additions to the offense:
We have a lot of confidence in the offense and we have more to offer. I feel we played pretty good this past Saturday.
On yards after the catch:
In our mind as a receiving core, I feel our mentality when we catch the ball our goal is to score every time we catch it no matter if it's to help the quarterback out. It's just a mentality that the receiving core has as a whole. We all feel like if we catch the ball it's just a part of it because we're trying to score.
On having the speed to turn short receptions into bigger gains:
I feel like it just starts with your heart. If you catch the ball and if your goal is to catch the ball and run and do what you have to do, I feel like anybody can do it. It starts with your heart.
On what to improve on from week one:
We need to get better on being more focused, eliminate the penalties and just the small things like that and just keep that edge and just keep that main focus for this week and keep working hard.
On what it would mean to defeat Minnesota:
It would mean a lot to the team, but like I said whoever our opponent is, it really doesn't matter. Our main goal whoever we play is to win. So if it's BYU, a team from Conference USA, it really don't matter. Our goal is just to win no matter who we line up in front of.
Junior LB T.T. Barber
On containing the Minnesota quarterback:
Well as you look at dual threat quarterbacks, like you said they just don't sit in the pocket, they can make something happen. It starts with the defensive line and the rush lane. If they can cut down on creating rush lanes and they can contain him and the secondary and the linebackers are coming up with secondary support, we should be able to keep him contained.
On bringing pressure and doing well without a sack:
It's just something we preach here is about straining and creating pressure and getting him off his game. It's good but getting the sack is straining a little bit more and of course getting the sack is what the defensive line or the linebacker would ultimately want to do, but if we can do as little as create pressure just so he can throw the interception or get a batted ball, that'd be fine.
On the new linebackers getting big hits:
I believe it was the first play of the game Trey Wafford hit the running back or the quarterback and I was like he's ready, and so did Quay (Watt) and (Cavellis) Luckett. They adapted very fast and pretty well.
On getting used to the atmosphere:
You have to focus what your job is and what you have to do to get the job done. I believe looking around and trying to see what's going on around you isn't going to help you win a game.
Players Mentioned
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ATH
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