University of Tennessee Athletics
Postgame Quotes: Mizzou 29, UT 21
November 23, 2014 | Football
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Tennessee Head Coach Butch Jones
(Opening Statement)
"I'm very proud of our kids. They didn't quit; kept hanging in there, kept scratching, kept clawing, but as we all know winning is very fragile. There were too many mistakes in three series in a row. We had third in long and then got roughing the passer. Then we had third and long again and we got a holding penalty. We do a good job of rallying and forcing the field goal then we have a dropped pass and interception. Then third and long in the same series and goes for a touchdown and that's what makes winning so fragile. Again, we will continue to regroup, learn from it, cant turn the football over and everything is magnified against a quality opponent. Missouri is a very good football team and they didn't turn the football over and we had two turnovers. We had penalties that extended drives, which you couldn't do. I thought we were behind the field position battle, particularly in the first half. But, I'm proud of the way our kids scratched and crawled. Again, we started seven true freshmen, never been done here in the history of 118 years of playing football at Tennessee. Four on defense and I thought our kids were resilient but we didn't make enough plays and you can't turn the football over against a good football team."
(On success running the ball)
"We knew it was going to be one of those games, a field position game. They are top in the country, top ten in scoring defense, and up there in total defense. I mean their front seven is the best we've faced all year. We talked about it and sometimes you have one defensive end that you have to prepare for but they have two, and they're very deep and very talented. So, we knew that yards were going to be at premium, we would have to earn every yard that we would get, and we knew it was going to be that type of game."
(On capitalizing on field position)
"You have to take advantage of field position when you get the ball in scoring territory and when you get the ball at mid field at a minus 40, we need to capitalize and come up with some points. We knew it was going to be that type of game that's why we faked the field goal. Patrick Ashford did a tremendous job. It was two players making a play and our kids protecting them. Alex Ellis did a great job at catching the ball and we felt we needed a momentum change there. Points were going to be at a premium because they are a very talented football team."
(On front seven)
"We dropped too many passes tonight. Again, they are a good football team. There's a reason why their record is the way it is. What are they 8 and 2? Now, they are 9 and 2. That's why they are challenging to win our side. They are a veteran group. They have played a lot of football. They had the luxury of playing a lot of man coverage even quarter coverage, which is basically man-to-man coverage. They break and drive on the ball well. We knew that it would be a tight game and knew we would have to earn everything."
(On Jakob Johnson)
"We played our style of defense but I'll know a little more whne I watch the video. I think it's too premature to say and comment on it because from just standing on the sideline, I don't have a very good view. I thought he did do some good things. I thought our defense for the most part did some very good things. Again, it's the third down though. When we work to get ourselves in third down we have to get off the field particularly in third and long situations."
(On Maybin playing Middle Linebacker)
"It was personnel and formation based."
(On Marquez North being out)
"Friday. He will be out for the rest of the year. He tried to go this week. We had an MRI and couldn't go and he will be out the rest of the year."
(On the onside kicks and final plays)
"I saw some resiliency. The ruling was we touched it before ten yards. I'm anxious to go back to the office and see how close we were in the offsides because obviously that's a pivotal call in a pivotal moment. I mean it is what it is. Our kids kept scratching and clawing and showing their resiliency."
(On the secondary in the second half)
"Individual winning is one on one match ups. I thought Todd Kelly Jr. did some very good things filling in. I believe he was the leading tackler in the first half. Overall defensively I didn't think we tackled very well. We didn't run our feet like we normally have. We allowed them to get the second and third effort yards which we take great pride in. I didn't think we ran our feet very well and I thought we didn't tackled very well tonight."
(On the sacks coming from the offensive line)
"I think sometimes when a quarterback runs the football and it's a tackle for loss in college football statistics it counts as a sack. They also take it off your rushing yards. I think some of that was the quarterback keeping the ball. We knew they would be a disruptive front. I mean they are good. We have to do a better job in a lot of areas. We knew we were going to be challenged in this game."
(On what went into the fake field goal play)
"Gut feeling. They had 11 men down on the line of scrimmage. It is something we have had in a couple weeks. We actually ran it against our defense in the bye week. Patrick (Ashford) did a tremendous job. Here is a young man that is a walk-on. He has done a great job and he gets an opportunity in a big time game and delivers a strike. Again, walk-on to walk-on Alex Ellis is as well (a walk-on). I can't say enough about their execution. I love those kids. They give everything for Tennessee."
(On first down production better in the first half)
"Again just didn't get into a rhythm. We were behind the sticks on third down. First down efficiency for us is absolutely critical. We are not a team that can overcome third and long very often. Too many mistakes against a good football team. It's a tribute that we still had an opportunity to be in the game. When you drop balls, turn the football over and can't get off the field on third down its hinders your chances of winning."
(On how to pick the team up one more time)
"They will pick themselves up. I think you saw that today. This is a resilient group of kids. We started seven true freshmen in a SEC game versus a team that may very well represent the eastern division. This is a resilient group. They take pride in their performance. They bring it every day. Hopefully our fans are proud of what they see in terms of their work ethic. They never give up. We could have folded again there. We fought, scratched and clawed for those onside kicks, twice. I love our kids. They are resilient."
(On three or four plays making or breaking the game versus the third quarter)
"No we just spoke about it as a team. The same thing I told you guys, the margin of error is very very small. Winning is very difficult at this level. When you play in the SEC everything is magnified. We can't beat ourselves. Our players understand that. They know the formula for winning. Hey, we got one game and we got a lot to accomplish with this football team. We are not going to hang our head. Shoot, some people didn't even think we would be playing for a bowl game the last game of the year. We got a lot of positive things going on. It hurts. It is disappointing. I'm ready to go back to work right now and so is this football team. We got a lot to play for this week."
(On the communication upfront with Dylan Wiesman)
"I thought for the most part Dylan Wiesman did a very very good job. There were a couple ones but for the most part from what I could see on the sidelines he did some very very good things stepping in for Mack (Crowder)."
(On what to tell the team for this coming weekend)
"It's a one game season. It's all you can (say). We get another chance to play in state. We have to come back and regroup which we will. Be ready to go, learn from this game and what it takes to play winning football. Now we have to go on the road. First and foremost, you can't turn the football over. You can't have untimely mentalities. You have to get off the field on third downs. Stuff that we preach all the time in our football program."
(On Joshua Dobbs in game decision making)
"He has been pretty good at that all year. I will know a little bit more when I watch the video. It is hard to see from the vantage point where we are (during the game). For the most part he has done a good job. There were a couple times he got the ball down on his third progression to Jalen Hurd on some of the swing routes. I will know a little bit more when I watch the video tonight."
(On message to the team for tonight)
"Same message they hear every game about being smart, making good choices, representing their personal brand and the University of Tennessee. I have that message every single time they leave the building whether it is Saturday or Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday."
Tennessee Quarterback Joshua Dobbs
(On what Missouri's defense)
"They were a disciplined defense. We knew that coming in. They did a good job of getting some penetration up front, especially at the beginning of the game, but as the game wore on we did a good job of starting to move the ball, open up holes, offensive line picked it up, receivers picked it up and we but ourselves in a positions to tie the game so that's positive moving forward to Vanderbilt."
(On Missouri's front seven)
"In my limited time I have only seen a couple of front sevens, but they definitely were an aggressive front seven. They did a good job working their hands, good explosive off the ball. We knew that coming into the game. We just have to pick it up, move on and keep our heads up."
(On difficulty running the ball)
"They did a good job of containing me for the most part. I have to do a better job of keeping my eyes up and finding the open receiver when that happens. Just things we need to work on moving forward."
(On Missouri's secondary)
"They did a good job of mixing things up, disguising some coverages, showing it late. They are a good disguise team, showing their pressure late, and bring them some depth. They did a good job disguising them. But when they threw us curve balls, more the most part we managed them and picked them up on the fly."
(On not finding an offensive rhythm)
"They were a good defense. We definitely made some mistakes out there that we have to clean up. We knew coming into the game what was in front. of us. We have to fix the thing that we messed up on tonight and get ready for Vanderbilt. Our dreams, goals, and aspirations are still in front of us. So we got to get to win six and get to a bowl game."
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Tennessee Running Back Jalen Hurd
(On Missouri's front seven)
"I would definitely say that is the best defense that we have played. Tops off to their defensive front. We kind of beat ourselves. There were many times when we were in three-and-out situations. That is something that can't happen as an offense. We have to take advantage of those red zone opportunities. We didn't, but we will fix that going into Vanderbilt."
(On not finding room to run)
"You know, as a running back you're going to have that. I just fight for as many yards as I can get. Offensive line still did a great job, it was just a great team. I still think we played hard."
(On not getting the onside kick)
"It is tough. If we get that ball, we can win the game. We are going to look at that as momentum going into Vanderbilt."
Tennessee Punter Matt Darr
(On stressing the punt game this week)
"All week we were stressing, we knew they had an elusive returner. Kick placement and hang time was going to be a huge factor in containing him. Our punt coverage team did a phenomenal job. He got loose a couple times, we ended up getting holding penalties and the net was great."
(On having a successful day during his last game in Neyland)
"It was great. For my last game in Neyland, to be able to play to my full potential was very rewarding. I am grateful for every opportunity I have had to be able to punt in Neyland Stadium. Tonight was a good way to close it out."
(On senior night)
"I was trying to stay focused on the game and not be too emotional. I knew we had a job to do. It was very special to run through the T for the last time and to see my parents on the sideline. Something I will never forget."
(On moving on to Vanderbilt)
"It is a program week. We all know that if we win this week we are going to extend our season one more game and get to bowl and that is extremely important for us as a team and especially us as seniors. The mindset is to come back tomorrow, go to work and prepare for Vanderbilt next week."
Tennessee Holder Patrick Ashford
(On what the feeling was like before the fake field goal)
"Coach Jones called it in from the sidelines. That was something we had been practicing for the past couple of weeks."
(On thought after getting the call)
"Execute the play. Don't make it a bigger deal than it is. Just find Alex and give him the ball."
Tennessee Defensive Back Todd Kelly Jr.
(On getting the start)
"I just tried to stay relax and remain as calm as I could be. It took a lot of preparation. I had to know all of the calls and all of the checks. I had to make sure the defense was in line because losing A.J. and Brian was a big blow for us. I feel like we did well in terms of lining everybody up."
(On importance of winning next week)
"It is very important. When we came into this season, we said that we were going to go to a bowl game, and now, it is right here in front of us. We will focus this week and hopefully have a great week of preparation."
(On not giving up in games)
"We have great leadership on this team. This was senior night, and I hate that they went out with a loss. We have one game left, though, to make it all right. The senior leadership and sending them out with a win is what motivates us."
Tennessee Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin
(On playing without A.J. Johnson)
"I had just a little bit more communication today, but you know I trust all those guys in this room. You know we hold each other accountable. So, there wasn't too much of a burden placed on one person without him out there, just you know we just all came together and all did our job."
(On the defense committing penalties getting into their heads)
"I mean it's just all about having that snap and clear mindset. You never know what's going to happen on each play, and you know third down, we want to get off the field. That's our objective, but when it doesn't happen, we just have to clear it out our heads and just line up and play more downs."
(On playing Vanderbilt next week)
"Well we want to beat Vanderbilt every year. It's a rivalry game, you know they got us the last two years and we don't like those guys. So, we're going to come out and we're going to play our hearts out. We've got one game to get to a bowl game. The program hasn't been in a while, and we got to get the job done."
Tennessee Defensive Lineman Danny O'Brien
(On the Missouri offense finding ways keep drives alive in the second half)
"You know they made some plays that we didn't on third down and I heard a couple of penalties hurt us too, and that's something you can't get back. That's something you got to work on and you know we'll figure it out this week and get it corrected."
(On the challenge of containing Maty Mauk)
"Yeah you know on film we seen, he would kind of run anywhere, you know he would take it twenty yards back, thirty yards back, it don't really matter. He's just trying to get away from the pressure and you know we had stressed a lot you know all week at our points on the quarterback. So you know just trying to keep him in the pocket and keeping good angles on him and you know we worked a lot of that in practice, and I think we did an okay job of that tonight."
(On not being able to hold Missouri to field goals in the second half)
"I don't think so. You know we're trained as a defense to play like that no matter what situation you're put in. You know, you just got to put your back against the wall and keep them out of field goal range or you know keep them without points. So, we just have to keep grinding."​
Missouri Head Coach Gary Pinkel
(Opening Statement)
"Well, first of all, I think Tennessee's a real, really good football team, and he's done a great job with this football program. I say that, unfortunately, because they're really good and he's continuing to build, so you know, Butch is doing a great job. I'm very proud of our football team. You never know what's going to happen. You know, there's certainly things I'm disappointed in that I think created a lot of the drama at the end of the game. But, I'm responsible to get those things done. You talk about a team that battles and a team that makes plays and works off of each other, and we've been doing it more, probably the last 7-8 weeks, than we had at the beginning. We've matured as a team together. I'm very, very proud of our football team, and you know, it's going to be a quick week, a short week, and it's going to be a big game Friday at Mizzou."
(On defensive line keeping team in game)
"The field position, and I don't have the numbers right with me, especially in that first half, I think they got the ball maybe five times inside the 50 yard line, and except for that one touchdown - the one touchdown was a fake field goal, and they out-executed us on that, which disappoints us - but other than that, they punted the ball and made a couple field goals, it might have been five times they did. If the defense isn't playing, playing like you said, at that level, then you're...so that first half was amazing in terms of providing the kind of play that we needed at that field position. We were struggling. We got the ball offensively, I don't know, maybe four times, five times inside the ten. So, we had those long fields there. Defense did their job like they have been consistently all year. And the offense, I think, played well and really made some big plays at the end to kind of pull away."
(On the importance of Jimmy Hunt's touchdown catch)
"It's momentum. It's a huge momentum play. I mean, mammoth. And that's why big plays...they help control momentum if you make them on offense or defense. Certainly, that was a big play that we needed. I thought it was a good call. They were playing real tight coverage, and we did, on the next drive I think, did it with Bud Sasser, too, and we hit one down the sidelines with him and Maty made some good throws there. So, you know, it was a really good day, but yet things we need to improve."
(On winning ten in a row on the road)
"Well, I think we focus well, and I say that, I would like to think better than we did at times today. I really felt today, that our players were feeling it today in terms of you know, when you get outside yourself a little bit, your focus is leaking a little bit. And then you make kicking game mistakes, you make penalties, a lot of little things that you're not because you're not keeping your focus in line with mental discipline, and it's difficult, I mean, they've had different things they've been going through. I don't want to use the word "pressure," but what they've been going through for several weeks now, we've got to maintain our poise better, and I think that we can certainly end up playing really better than what we did in terms of penalties and kicking. And I'm responsible for that. You can sit there and point fingers all you want, but I'm responsible that we're a good kicking football team, we don't turn the ball over, and we don't get a lot of penalties. We were plus two in turnovers today, which was awesome. That was huge for our football team, and we all know the impact that that has on winning."
(On Markus Golden finally being healthy)
"I don't know, I think he feels a lot better now. I think he was afraid of opening up, that he would pull a muscle and miss four games. That's what he was afraid of , so he was kind of on edge a bit. But those two guys, and all those guys, we had some good play from a lot of defensive linemen today. We went against a very good quarterback and running back and receivers, so there were certainly some challenges out there."
(On a chance at winning another East title)
"I feel - we didn't talk about that in the team room at all. All we talked about is game four against a real good Arkansas team that's coming up on Friday. I mean, that's really what our focus is on. I think that obviously that's what those guys are aware of, thinking about those things really don't help you play better. This isn't the time to be talking about the year and your program and you know, we've got a big game next week and it's game four in December, excuse me, November."
(On the strong defensive and turnover margin in conference play)
"I think that's important, I think all those things are important, without question. I think running the football, I think turnovers, I think playing well on the road, being able to play in this type of environment and execute, I think all those things are critically important. There's a lot of components to winning. I'm very proud of our team and how competitive they are and how they battle."
(On the chaos at the end with the onside kicks)
"Well, I think, you know, if you have a better kicking game, we wouldn't have been in that situation. I think that most importantly, I think they got it right, that's most important. Even if we don't get the ball, you want to get it right, because that's the way it is. I think that as it was explained, and even as I saw on the video, I think they got that right. And when it hit Hunt, they weren't aware that it hit Jimmy Hunt, they also had a penalty, so by them touching the ball we automatically get the ball first down. And then Jimmy Hunt, then they found out that he touched and utilized the penalty. And then we start all over again so....gosh. They asked me afterwards, `how you feeling?' and I said, `sometimes I wonder why I'm doing this for a living.' So it was pretty crazy."
(On struggling to throw ball downfield)
"I think their secondary did a good job and had a lot of good coverage. We tried to run by them because they were playing such tight coverage. I thought that was a good decision on our part. You have to give them credit because they battled. They did a heck of a job. They have a good defensive team and their defensive front is very talented. They were playing without one of their best defensive players too, and didn't see the miss a whole lot. So, I think you have to give them a lot of credit."
(On feeling toward bad offsides call)
"Well, he jumped off sides one time too and that was that. You have to get focused. We call it whistle to snap. You have to get your head right back where it needs to go and whether it's the worst play you have ever made or the best, that's what you have to do. We teach techniques to our players on how to do that. So, we don't just say, "Hey get your head right!" There's techniques we teach them in order to get to use them. I think those things help those players. We need you to get back and not take those problems into the next play. I think we stay pretty positive with them on the sidelines too."
(On Maty Mauk)
"I've really thought the last three or four weeks have been a lot better. He's been on, his accuracy and we had some tight coverage but some balls that were catchable. He's great about that, he just comes right back. He made some big plays out there. He provided, they gave him a chance to throw the football, we had a couple sacks but he made the plays. He has kind of played the past couple of weeks like we all expect him to play every game. For whatever reason, you go through things and you mature. I told him weeks ago, that this will help him get better going through this. He didn't particularly like that but it's the truth, and it truly makes you better."
Missouri Quarterback Maty Mauk
(On Jimmie Hunt rebounding from the offensive pass interference)
"That just comes back to what we do year round, just forgetting what happened and moving on to that next play. Jimmie's one of our best guys at that. He does a very very good job of parking it and just forgetting everything and moving on."
(On the offensive pass interference call)
"The pass interference? I thought there were a few questionable calls, but that's stuff we can't control. We've just got to worry about us and move on from it."
(On what was going through his mind during the onside kick series)
"I mean, that was crazy. I mean, I'm sure none of us have seen something like that happen. I'm just glad we got the ball back."
(On getting a win at Kyle Stadium and Neyland Stadium in consecutive weeks)
"It just shows how hard our guys fight. You know? It just comes back to practice. We've had a tremendous last really three or four weeks of practice, and doing a great job of executing our game plan. We've just got to block that stuff out. Control what you can control, and what we can control is on the field. Executing our plays and our guys did a great job of that tonight."
(On going undefeated on the road in conference play)
"I think the big thing is when you look at third downs and how loud it is in these places that we're going to. Our guys do a great job of, like I said, blocking that out and worrying about what they're going to do on a route. If it's man-to-man, they're going to break them off. They just do a great job of finding that open area so I can get them the ball."
Missouri Defensive Lineman Bud Sasser
(On the success of the passing game)
"I think I kind of stung the offense a little bit. I kind of hurt us a little bit early on. We were able to overcome a lot of those things and be able to push the ball down the field. We're still throwing it down field and that's what we've got to keep doing."
(On if Tennessee's corners playing tight was an invitation to throw down field)
"Yeah, definitely. Especially when a team challenges you, saying they're going to play press man all game, especially with me and Darius (White), we find it a little disrespectful to do that. When they challenge you, you've just got to overcome that and be able to make plays."
Missouri Defensive End Shane Ray
(On playing a game in which lot of teammates contribute)
"It's great, because it's not about me. It's about the team. Regardless of what kind of game I have or what I see as far as blocks or schemes or whatever, if my teammates are doing fine, I'm okay with that. I'm okay with those guys making those plays and going and celebrating with them. So, it's fine."
(On if stats are a fun competition between teammates)
"Always, always. You always want to be that player to have that kind of game. You want every stat that you feel like you earned."
(On how they neutralized the read option)
"We just focused on our keys. Everybody had an assignment. Everybody played their assignment correctly and that's how we shut it down."
Missouri Defensive End Markus Golden
(On why the defensive line was effective as a unit)
"Because we practiced hard. We practiced hard, we did everything our coaches told us to do out there and we just went out there and made it happen like we always do. We just take pride in just playing hard. I told the guys, `Let's get out here and play hard man,' and that's what we did tonight."
(On how critical it was containing Josh Dobbs on zone read)
"It was real critical. Dobbs, he's a good player man. He's going to have a good future. So to stop him tonight and slow him down was great for us, because that's what we needed to do to win the game."
(On what the key was to containing Josh Dobbs)
"Just playing hard, playing hard, playing the d-line the `Zou way. Getting out there and playing how we play in practice, playing how we play all winter and summer. Just getting out there and going hard."
