Sept. 16, 2014
Mason | Duncan & Wynn | Pulley & Ellis | Gameday Central | Game Notes
Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason, wide receiver C.J. Duncan, linebacker Jonathan Wynn, offensive lineman Spencer Pulley and wide receiver Trey Ellis met the media Tuesday to talk about the Commodores’ next game against South Carolina.
Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday at Vanderbilt Stadium. The Southeastern Conference matchup will be televised on the SEC Network.
Head Coach Derek Mason
Opening Statement:
“We are back to work preparing for an extremely tough opponent in South Carolina. Our football team is nursing itself a little bit coming off a long and exhausting game against UMass. We are fairly healthy coming out of the game and we feel good about what we need to do in terms of game plans and formulating plans of a attack versus South Carolina who is a pretty good team to say the least. Coach (Steve) Spurrier is one of the most seasoned coordinators in the country with a football team that is 2-1 at the moment and understand where they are at. They had a great win over the University of Georgia last week and they did it without (running back) Mike Davis. (Brandon) Wilds ran a little wild for them and had a great game. (Quarterback) Dylan Thompson had his best game in terms of formulating an explosive offense and their defense is getting better each week. We have a formidable foe and we are going to have our hands full. We’ll need to prepare and come with our A-game and make sure we understand what we need to do in terms of eliminating our penalties and being focused on our plan of attack. We need to work extremely hard at making sure our execution is at a high level because with a team like this you’ll need to play at a high level.”
Thoughts on South Carolina’s Offense:
“This offense is a two-back offense that is slated to go down hill. Spurrier wants to run the ball. His idea now is about controlling the clock. They want to physically maul you. They have one of the biggest offensive lines in the conference and they do a great job at getting the ball down hill. But more than anything else, they like to impose their will on you. That’s what they do, that’s what they’ve become. Again, he has kept enough of what he has done in the past in terms of the pass offense in order to be explosive because he has playmakers on the perimeter. Much like ourselves, except that they’re further along in terms of their system, he’s pretty good at being able to dial it up on the perimeter and allowing his quarterbacks to find easy access throws as well as seam shots down the field. Identification of personnel formation will tell you a lot in terms of what they are doing. With that being said, you have to go out there, lineup, play and pressure the quarterback and make sure you force the ball down. Any time you face an offense that wants to throw the ball down the field, in terms of a vertical passing game, you have to force the ball down. If you allow the ball to go over the top, then its going to be a long day.”
On the youth and inexperience:
“I can’t say I really anticipated playing as many freshmen as I’ve had to play but that’s a part of college football. We were going to play guys anyway because you still have to formulate depth but now it’s out of necessity. But you adapt and adjust and that’s what we are doing. We’re getting young guys ready to play. They are smart and mature enough, but we have to make it simple enough so they can play fast and find themselves in the midst of being able to learn on the run and grow up real fast. When you’re dealing with young guys it’s always about what they don’t know. The positive with young guys is that they don’t know, the negative is that they don’t know. What you have to do is continue to get these guys to play fast. Keep it simple enough so they can wrap their minds around any adjustments that you have. College football now-a-days is more about adjustments. Everyone has to make in-game adjustments and second half adjustments in order to find ways to be successful. We have to indoctrinate these young guys at looking at film, learning tendencies and understanding structure of offense and defense and how they have to adapt in-game in order to give us a chance for success.”
On the quarterback situation:
“I’m not necessarily saying it’s a two quarterback system. You always have to prepare quarterbacks. Patton Robinette has showed through his play and what he did, not just this last game, but the role he has taken on and the leadership that has come with. We always knew Patton was a competitor in terms of who he his, but it has transcended beyond just being a competitive guy. He’s the guy who can get the guys in the huddle lined up and the guy who is willing to step out in front and say what we need to do and define that role. He has set himself out as the front guy and then what we have to do from there is prepare a backup. The bottom line is we need to find a way to be successful so lets concentrate on what it takes to be successful. We have two different quarterbacks that do two different things, Patton Robinette is our starter.”
WR C.J. Duncan
On gaining comfort with new schemes:
“I do think there is a certain comfort level that is established. We do have young guys, but we don’t make it an excuse. We’ve been working hard these past couple of weeks to rebound and find a rhythm and I think Saturday we were able to do that.”
On differences from game one to game three and adjustments:
“I don’t think it has anything to do with whoever we play. I think it has more with getting ourselves right with a new level of focus; just getting sharp on the details and learning how to prepare for a game; just knowing how much it takes each and every day both mentally and physically to be able to play on Saturdays.”
On first win:
“It gives us come confidence. The biggest thing Saturday was just to get in a rhythm. With three SEC games coming up, it was definitely good to get a rhythm and just take a deep breath. But I think we’re fine and learning each and every day, each and every game. I think we’re only going to get better as the season goes on.”
On role as a receiver:
“I think we have a great receiving corps. I think a bunch of guys have the ability to make plays, but it’s my job to make plays like Saturday. That’s what we take pride in each and every day; working before practice, after practice; that’s all for moments like that. I think in the near future it will show.”
On multiple quarterback options:
“I definitely respect coach’s decision, and I see where he’s coming from. Patton (Robinette) is a great and very vocal leader. I also understand that Wade has a lot of the intangibles that will allow him to play at this level. Whatever decision they make, we support wholeheartedly. Coach Mason has been doing a great job with us; getting us through this time and ready for each and every weekend.”
“There is a lot of talk about the quarterbacks, but honestly we’re just trying to win ball games. Whoever is behind center, we’ll ride with them. Honestly, we’re in a zone where at each position we’re just trying to do our job. Coach Mason talks about getting on a boat grabbing your ore, and just rowing. We’re in that mindset. Whoever he is behind center doesn’t change what we’re trying to do and what we’ve been taught throughout the summer and the spring.”
OLB Jonathan Wynn
On having a young team:
“To me the pros of a young team are that we’re all fresh. We have new personnel on the team and the future looks bright. But also this year right now it will show us growing and developing in the SEC as newcomers. The cons are that we’re still learning in our schemes, growing and developing with new coaches. The new players are trying to step up and play for the team and while we’re doing this we also have older guys who are showing us the way to be able to guide throughout the SEC.”
On redshirt year:
“For most of us coming in as one of the top recruiting classes it was tough on us. When we look back at it now, we’re glad we took that redshirt year. It gave us a chance to grow and develop and get bigger as we play tougher and bigger opponents now. We’re just glad to look back at the fundamentals and techniques we learned last year throughout our redshirt year.”
WR Trey Ellis
On having a key role as a walk-on freshman:
“I was recruited by the staff under Coach Mason and coming in to camp I came in with the mindset of trying to find a role, and that’s what Coach Mason was all about, `find your role’ and with the blocking and the help of my teammates I was able to make some good plays in the game and do my best to fulfill the role.”
On the fake punt and his big return in the fourth quarter:
“With the game of football, it is all about bouncing back. Obviously there are times you’ll make mistakes so I just approached that as `OK that already happened so let it go’ and came back and had field position for the team and tried to help them out.”
On adjustments to college football:
“One of the things getting adjusted to is the speed. It’s the same game as high school, but I feel like it’s a lot faster. Picking up the different concepts that come with college are more difficult such as defensive concepts and offensive concepts. Other than that it’s just the same game, just a little faster.”
On a having a young team:
“As you can tell we have a young team and as C.J. (Duncan) said earlier we’re just grabbing an ore on the boat and rowing and rowing, getting off and attacking whoever we need to and keep rowing. Each and every one of us has a role on the team and we each are working to fulfill that role. “
OL Spencer Pulley
On first win:
“It was great; just like every win is great and ever loss is awful. It was great to get that first win for everyone in the meeting rooms and out at practice.”
Week to week progress:
“I’m very excited about this game. South Carolina is a great team, but I feel like we’re going to have a great week at practice preparing for it. We’ve progressed a lot as a team this week and throughout this season. We’re starting to get to the point where were getting some things going.”
On running game as a source of pride for linemen:
“It had been consistent, but I still don’t think it’s reached its full potential. I think the running game can be even better. And I think as you see the running game progress, you’ll see the whole team progress.”
On the team seeing Trey Ellis in the locker room for the first time:
“The first reaction is `does he know where he is?’ I’ll tell you what he says is completely true. This guy came into camp and really turned some heads. Just forget about his talent; his pure hard work and dedication and the way he came after it every day was really impressive. That’s why you see him out on the field now.”