Oct. 21, 2014
Mason | Pulley & Duncan | Sims & Woestmann | Gameday Central | Game Notes
Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason, offensive lineman Spencer Pulley and wide receiver C.J. Duncan, specialist Darrius Sims and linebacker Kyle Woestmann met the media Tuesday to talk about the Commodores’ next game against Missouri. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. CT Saturday in Columbia. The conference matchup will be televised on SEC Network.
Head Coach Derek Mason
Opening Statement:
“It’s good to be back. We had a great bye week. We had a chance to get away for a little bit and spend some time self scouting and taking a look at where we’re at in the season and giving ourselves a good snapshot of what we are offensively, defensively and on special teams. The information that came back was that we have to get to work. It’s been good to go back last week where we had three good days of hard practices. We retooled some things and looked at our schemes and personnel and got back to fundamentals of hitting, tackling and being able to make sure we can create a competitive environment so we can look to get off to a fast start. We got away for a little bit of recruiting with me and my staff. We got across the country and were actually able to see some of our top recruits. We then did a good job in state in getting across the state of Tennessee. Right now we are in a good place mentally coming off that Charleston Southern game and taking a look at the pluses and minuses and being able to move forward. Sunday was a great work day for us. We came to practice and the guys had the right mindset and we got a lot of work done. We’ve been able to put together consecutive practices where guys are really in tune with what’s happening. Our schemes fit our guys now and we’ve been able to move personnel around and get guys in spots to try to get this second half of the season into the type of season we want it to be. It’s about having a one day, one practice, one week, and one game at a time mentality. We are approaching the second half of the season with a 1-0 mentality and just trying to make sure to get ourselves to Saturday and get ready to play.”
On Missouri:
“We’re going to be facing a great Missouri team coming off a big win versus Florida. Marcus Murphy was a standout in terms of what he did and put on tape. He’s one of the top return guys in the country and we feel like we have one as well. It’s going to be great dual between those guys wearing sixes and who can put points up. That’s going to be an interesting matchup in terms of how that plays out. When you look at Missouri and (quarterback) Maty Mauk and that football team, I know he didn’t have the performance that he wanted but they did a good job in being able to manage the chains and get points where they needed it. I thought their defense played spectacular. You look at (defensive end) Shane Ray, he is one of the top sack makers in the country. He’s unbelievable in terms of being able to come off the edge and creating havoc. They do it most of the time out of a four-man front so that matchup between him and (Andrew) Jelks will be a feature matchup this week in terms of what we look to do and how we have to stand up. Our guys have been challenged as to what Missouri is, they have been a better road team than home team, but this is a team that will be fired up to play us and we’ll be fired up to play them. We are looking forward to the matchup. Coming off a big win, their confidence is high and we have to find a way to pack it up, take it on the road, grind one out at their place and find a way to get it done.”
On the team’s mentality going forward:
“For us, we started the second half of the season the right way in getting the victory against Charleston Southern. I think the energy was good going into the bye week and we are healthier coming out of the bye week. The full focus of this football team is to try and dominate the day, win the day and be about the practice at hand. The only way we can get to where we want to be is to make sure we’re about the training, the men, the mission and making sure we make everyday count.”
On limiting the offensive penalties:
“You coach it out of guys by having referees at practice and that’s what we’ve done. Last week we had referees at practice and we’ll have referees at practice this week. I think the referees make it easy for us to identify the issues that have ailed us. Holding is holding so lets get clarification on what it is and get lined up and have enough guys on the line of scrimmage. Those are the steps that we’ve taken as a coaching staff to make sure that we can be proactive versus reactive. You don’t want those things in games because they really stopped us a week ago from having some extended drives and opportunities to get the ball in scoring position. Anything we can do to maximize your opportunities we’ve taken it.”
Offensive Guard Spencer Pulley
On Johnny McCrary being named starting QB:
“He has always been a guy who can do exceptional things. He’s always been a guy who can extend plays. He can make some great plays. He’s been a young guy trying to get used to it, but I think he has really grown in to the position and to the offense.”
On Missouri leading the SEC in sacks:
“They are great movement guys. They can get off the ball. They are explosive and they are good at moving around, and they are good with their hands. It is something I am pretty excited about.”
Wide Receiver C.J. Duncan
On playing with a mobile QB like Johnny McCrary:
“You are definitely more aware when there is a quarterback who likes to extend the play. We have the scramble drill that we do work on and things of that nature that helps us when it comes to game time situations. It helps our offense and it helps our defense. The longer we stay on the field, it helps our defense as well. It creates possibilities for us on a scoring drive.”
On the possibility of leading the team in receptions:
“Honestly, my focus is on getting wins. That is the main focus right now. If the ball coming my way leads to wins, then I think that would be good for the team, but there are other receivers in our core who can also make plays and do things with the ball once they get it. Catches lead to scoring drives – whoever it might be – hopefully it will lead to us getting a win.”
Specialist Darrius Sims
On the matching up with MU’s kick returner Marcus Murphy:
“I’m just going to play my game. I know I am going to try my best and do everything I can to win and I know he is going to do the same.”
On his current role:
“I am everywhere now. I’m just doing whatever the coaching staff is wanting me to do. Either punting the ball or returning the ball, it doesn’t matter – whatever helps my team win.”
Linebacker Kyle Woestmann
On changes people will see on defense:
“We have a lot of very talented guys up front and I think we are going to try and implement stuff to get a little more of a pass rush out on the field. I think it is going to be a great opportunity to showcase the young guys out on the field and their abilities to really get off the ball and move.”
On what he would like the team’s mindset to be in the second half of the season:
“I don’t want to say, `put the last half of the season behind us.’ We’ve had some unbelievable pains, but also growth from what that has been. I really think there is a lot of potential the second half of the season. As a defensive leader, I’m still looking for our defense to band together as 11 guys on the field and really play a wholesome game. I think we are finally starting to get on track with that. In terms of practice, I think there are guys still learning how to practice, but we’ve also really turned the corner in practice and are having much crisper and cleaner practices.”