Colorado Buffaloes College Football Pregame Quote, 10/29/2019

We are already two practices into our UCLA game plan. It has been a few days since we played. What we are doing right now is really building on some of the positive things from Friday night and working to eliminate the negatives. We had a really physical practice today with the pads on. Guys really got after it and attitudes have been really good. The attention to detail, focus, and preparation is very similar to what is was last week. We have asked our guys to step it up and have reminded them what it takes to be a good football team. We reviewed that this morning and showed them some videos that pointed to that. I am very pleased so far in our preparation and our guys moving forward with this game plan.

On The Running Game And Stopping The Run Defensively:

The past several weeks we have been able to run the ball. Our run game has improved every week. Offensive line does a great job and our backs work really hard. They’re very well coached and show a level of toughness. Our run defense has improved in certain areas. We still have to do a better job tackling. When we don’t tackle well, we see explosive runs. We are in the right spot and are in a position to make those plays. I believe the name of the game is hitting and being physical. We are moving in the right direction.

On The Status of QB Tyler Lytle:

I started to smile a bit because I am always teasing Tyler saying, ‘How long are you going to milk this deal?’ He is working to get back. We have confidence in Blake (Stenstrom). We will just have to see as the week goes on with the treatment and rest and recovery. I like our quarterbacks. They are pretty sharp guys and it means a lot to them.

On UCLA’s Run Game:

Their backs are very talented and they run hard. Their O-line is getting better. They are maturing and growing. They have had some continuity. They have really found their stride and have figured out what they can do well.

On Execution:

It is a game of inches. You can always point to, in any game, plays here and there that you think would have made a difference. How do you make those plays? How do you make one more play? It really goes back to the little things; the preparation, attention to detail, sense of urgency, how hard you play, and just the overall execution. The better the execution you get on a consistent basis the better the plays you are going to make. That is how you get those inches.

On If There Is Any Level Of Frustration After The Recent Penalty Troubles:

I try to avoid frustration. It is not productive or helpful. You just have to continue to find ways to get the message across and get those details executed. It can be something as simple as, ‘I am rushing the quarterback and am at the level of the quarterback. I just have to mirror the throwing hand so he has to throw around my hand.’ That makes a big difference. In tackling it could be taking two more steps before I go off the diving board and dive for a guy. It can be hand placement. Having hands inside and at pad level to get a block and sustain a block to not get a holding call. That is a lot of drill work and film study. You show them how they did it wrong and how to do it right. That is what we have to do, continue to find ways to get our guys better. I have seen improvement in a lot of areas. That is encouraging. There is a difference between being disappointed and being discouraged. When I don’t see the execution at the level with which we need to have, I am disappointed but I am not discouraged.

On DT Jalen Sami:

Sami is first off all a great young man. He works really hard. He is low maintenance, meaning he is always where he is supposed to be and doing what he is supposed to do. He is a big guy. He is hard to move and has some really good initial quickness, balance, and body control. He is a young guy. He is active in the middle. He makes our defense better when he is in there and healthy. He can control the middle and command the double team which is important at his spot. He is a really good, young player that is going to get better. We are a better defense and football team when he is in there and is healthy and going good.

On QB Steven Montez Taking Hits:

There is a time and a place for everything. When you need to get down it is time to get down and you slide. You don’t take that hit but sometimes you have to take the hit. I have a lot of confidence in Steven. He competes at a high level. He plays really hard. We ask him to run the ball and he runs it. When he needs to extend plays he tries to extend plays. You never want to see any one of the players get hurt. That is a scary moment.

On Trying To Make A Bowl Game:

Extra practices are huge. That is a huge part of the bowl experience. It is like getting another spring ball. That is really positive. There are a lot of positive things in be able to continue to play. Right now, our focus is on UCLA.

On TB Alex Fontenot:

He has been consistent throughout the season with the opportunities he has gotten. He runs very hard. He has good vision and gets yards after contact. He can catch the football and does well in pass protection. Going back to training camp, we were talking about the depth at the different positions. I said that I thought we had three or four running backs that can really play and can really get the job done. When he gets opportunities he gets it done. He is a dangerous player and can pretty much do it all. He is getting better. He has really good ball security and is a young player. I like it.

On CB K.J. Trujillo:

It is important, mentally, to not get overwhelmed by someone’s talent. You have to use really good technique and have to compete. Belief precedes success. First you have to believe you can make the plays and get the job done. He has confidence and we have confidence in him that he can get it done. He pays attention and it is important to him. He works really hard. He understands that technique is important. He is able to take technique in practice and carry it over into the game. He continues to get better. I am happy with his development so far.

On Helping Players Get Better:

It is difficult to get guys better regardless of the situation. You look on the flip side of it and say you have a lot of success. Everyone is patting you on the back and telling you how good you are and how you have national championship and playoff implications and all of that. Players are on social media and are reading all that stuff. Then you bring them into practice and talk to them about getting better and how it is not good enough and that can be a challenge. The job of a coach is to teach, motivate, and develop players. You have to capture their minds any way you can to get the message across and get them to understand that they have to get better and improve. You are always learning. Look at Tom Brady. I don’t know how long he has been playing but he seems to get better every year. He has had a lot of success. That is really what it is all about. In the game of football, you have to stay on top of it or it can get away from you. If you don’t work to get better you can actually regress quickly and get passed up by other people. Everyone in America is trying got get better. Even when you think you are playing at a high level, at some point you are going to line up against someone who has as good or better talent than you. You better be ready for that. I understand that and our coaches understand that.

It is important that we continue to work with our guys to get them better. We come out on ‘Bloody Tuesday’ and put the pads on and get after it. We go hard and are efficient. The drill work is tough and we go at a fast pace and coach them hard. Our meetings are organized. There is no let up on our end. It then rolls straight into the out of season program and the four quarters program. It keeps going. We are here to change the culture and win football games. We have to be going all out every day as a coaching staff to get this program where we want it and to keep it there. There is no end to it. There is never going to be, ‘we are good enough.’ I don’t care who the player is. I don’t care if it is a first round pick or a freshman walk-on. It doesn’t matter. If you aren’t out there getting better then there is a problem. That is what it takes.