Colorado Buffaloes College Football Pregame Quote, 10/08/2019

Good afternoon, thanks for coming out. Today was really like a Wednesday for us, so we had our pads on and we were able to get out and get some really good work. We had a good physical practice and got a lot of guys a lot of reps. Focus was really good. I’ve been impressed with the way these guys have handled this week so far. As you know, it’s a short week and was a quick turnaround. But the guys have embraced it, we got a lot done in the meetings. Our walk-throughs attitude has been very good. I’m looking forward to taking the show on the road.

On Playing A Power Team Like Oregon:

I like Oregon. I like the way they play football. They’re very sound on offense, they have a good offensive line, they’re strong, and they like to run the ball. They’ve got playmakers at the skill spots and they have an outstanding quarterback. They have very good design. They run a pro style deal, they do a great job with RPOs. Defensively they play very, very fast. And they’re physical. They’re strong up front and they have pass rushers. I like the way their team is built.

On The Key To Winning On The Road:

Our guys play hard, home and away. The difference in winning and losing is really not that much, it’s one play here or there. I know regardless of where we play, whether it’s home or away, I know our guys are going to give great effort and they’re going to be ready to play four quarters.

On Playing In Autzen Stadium:

It’s a tough place to play and they’ve obviously got a good football team, but it’s not going to be a whole lot different in terms of our approach. We use noise in practice for the quarterback, in order to get the execution that we need, we’re going to be poised, we’ve got to be patient, and have great communication. Everybody’s going to have to do their job and trust that the man next to him is going to do his job. We’ve got to compete and play hard, and always play the next play on offense, defense and special teams. Home or away, that’s really what it takes.

On Undisciplined Penalties Against Arizona:

You talk to the players about it, point them out. There’s aggressive penalties and there’s foolish penalties. I talked to the guys this morning about the choices and decisions that we make. And it’s not just during the game, it’s day in and day out in practice, on the field, and off the field. There’s a simple truth. Simple things that have to be done. If I held up an apple and a bag of doritos, it doesn’t take a dietitian to tell you which ones healthier. It’s a simple choice, but then you wonder ‘Well, why aren’t those choices being made all the time? They’re so simple.’ So, that’s where the challenge comes. We put our guys in positions, day in and day out, to make those choices. And there’s consequences for everything that we do. Whether it’s class, or treatment, or being punctual, whatever it is, you either win or you lose. So, when we win, we want to make sure we understand why we win, why we were successful, and then celebrate that. And when we make poor choices, then we want to understand there’s going to be consequences for that and then work to eliminate them.

On What He Learned From Working With Oregon Head Coach Mario Cristobal:

I enjoy working with Coach Cristobal and Bobby Williams also. I was on staff with him for my first job in 1997 at Michigan State with Coach Saban, so he [Williams] and I go way back. He’s been a great mentor of mine over the years. I really like watching Mario coach. He’s very, very intense. He’s a physically imposing guy, he’s got a passion for the game, and he’s a very accomplished offensive line coach. He’s got great leadership ability and his guys always play hard for him.

On Justin Herbert:

I’ve seen a lot of great quarterbacks, either on a team with them or I’ve coached against them. He’s got really good size. He’s got great pocket presence. He’s accurate with the ball. He’s got an extremely strong arm and he’s a good decision maker. I think he maybe has one interception this year. He can make all the throws. He does a good job with the short throws and he’s got a really good touch and accuracy on intermediate throws, and then on deep balls he can let it fly. He has mobility also. I mean, he’s not a guy who’s just looking to run first, but if you don’t have a coordinated pass rush he’s going to step up in the pocket and he’ll run and get a first down. So he’s one of those players that can do everything. It’s going to be hard to to find holes in his game when he moves on to the next level.

On What The Buffs Fourth Quarter Performances Have Taught Him About The Team:

It takes a lot to be able to finish the game and actually be successful and become victorious. The effort part is the standard, and that’s got to be there, no matter what we have to do. We have to make the plays, have the discipline, the execution, in order to be successful. I’m not happy with those guys just giving effort. That’s just standard operating procedure. You can’t play if you don’t play hard and give effort. I mean, why even show up?

On KJ Trujillo:

He’s very coachable. He’s very serious about going about his business. He asked really good questions, he pays attention. He can stay focused for a long period of time, he’s always engaged. He’s not afraid to ask a question and he gets better with repetitions and with coaching. He gives effort, and he strains to get it right. Coaching is just teaching, you gotta teach, motivate and develop. But as you get to know the individual players, you build a relationship with them. Trust and understanding and finding different ways to communicate with guys and get the best out of them to get them better, that’s really the key. You can’t treat everyone the same, but you have to treat everyone fairly.