Nov. 4, 2014
Mason | Bowden & Weatherly | Duncan & Webb | Gameday Central | Game Notes
Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason, linebackers Nigel Bowden and Stephen Weatherly, wide receiver C.J. Duncan and running back Ralph Webb met the media Tuesday to talk about the Commodores’ next game against Florida. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday in Nashville. The conference matchup will be televised on the SEC Network.
Head Coach Derek Mason
Opening Statement:
“It’s Gator week. It’s time for us to get to the task at hand and prepare for the Florida Gators. Our football team is coming off a good win versus Old Dominion. I thought we played well offensively and were solid on defense and special teams. We are a football team that is just continuing to get incrementally better. We want to make sure we can find things that can give us a chance for success week in and week out. This team has been a fun team to coach. The journey the past 3-4 weeks since the bye week has been really good. The vibe and the energy is good. These guys are invested, focused and we know what the task is at hand in facing a good Florida team that played Georgia extremely well.”
On Florida:
“You look at what they did offensively; it was a change in venue with only six passes thrown with three completed. They ran the ball extremely well. Their two running backs (Kelvin) Taylor and (Matt) Jones both finished in the high 190s. They are a good football team. Defensively, they rank in the upper half of the SEC in terms of what they do. Offensively, they are finding rhythm. They are a team that beat a really good Georgia team and they are coming in here riding a one-game win streak and are going to be ready to go. Our football team is excited to be playing Florida at home so we have to make sure we bring our A-game.”
On the team’s recent offensive success:
“It’s settling in to what we are doing and understanding our personnel, whether it’s our tight ends or receivers. Having a quarterback make a consecutive start in a game really helps when you talk about continuity and just trying to develop rhythm. When you can have some continuity throughout what you are doing, you can create your matchups and you know your matchups are going to be there for you. It makes it easier to game plan around what you are doing.”
On the team’s mentality going forward:
“In the second half of this season, we are going to be about a one game mentality and that’s all you can do. You have to live in the moment. You can’t worry about what’s down the road. We have to take it one day at a time. With a young football team I don’t think you go any further than that. You look at this football team and we’ve got guys stepping on the field, and for them when you start talking about things that are behind their scope you allow their minds to wonder. We just stay in the moment. Our practices have been one day at a time and let’s dominate the day. Let’s talk about what we need to do today and talk about daily goals. Let’s reach those goals on our way to having a good week of practice and let that good week of practice lead to playing the game the way we want to play it.”
On the team’s improvement:
“Every week we are trying to grab five percent. We try to grab one percent each day. Every time we hit the grass we are trying to get something out of that that helps us grow as a football team and I think we are doing that. The gradual improvement is a part of that. I keep talking to our team about it; if we can improve five percent each week coming down the stretch, this football team is capable of doing fantastic things. Let’s just go one week at a time, one day at a time.”
On the quarterback situation:
“We are going to look to have two quarterbacks ready. Johnny McCrary will start and Patton Robinette will be ready to go in. Robinette has a package for him just like Johnny’s, it’s no different. We have a few tricks up our sleeves so we’ll see what happens in this game.”
Linebacker Nigel Bowden
On winning two out of three and if there’s a greater belief in the team:
“We feel that way. Especially since it’s something hard and we want an SEC win, a first SEC win. We’ve also got some pressure on us to get Florida this year again. They are going to come out fighting hard like they did last year.”
On building confidence after the stretch of good play in three games:
“We’re building confidence with each game. Like you said, we played well against Missouri and after this last win, I felt like we played well. There were one or two plays here and there that led to the loss but overall as a defense we’re gaining a lot of confidence as the weeks go on.”
Linebacker Stephen Weatherly
On if it makes it easier knowing what a team will most likely do in terms of offense:
“Not really. We’re going to prepare the same, just put a little more emphasis on the run. But they can still pass so we’re going to prepare the same.”
On how this offense differs from what Vanderbilt has already seen:
“We don’t actually know what to expect, just like Georgia when they came into the game they put probably five wideouts in like they were going to throw the ball most of the game. Then they kind of came out of nowhere and just started running and pounding the ball down the middle and on the outsides.”
On if there’s a greater belief in the coaches:
“Everyone is preparing much harder from this win against Old Dominion. Florida is a great team, a great run offense, like they just proved. Lots of great receivers and it’s going to be a tough game, but we have a lot of faith in our coaches that they’re going to prepare us well and we’re going to get the job done this week.”
On how satisfying the win at Florida was last year:
“Very. Last year was my first year playing. First time for me actually going to Florida and seeing The Swamp. Being able to play in that environment was a lot of fun. I got to see a lot of great athletes in person. Just overall a great experience.”
Running Back Ralph Webb
On whether or not it bothers him that he didn’t get an opportunity to play for Florida being from Gainesville:
“They recruited me. It hasn’t bothered me. It is what it is. I made my decision to come here and still play in the SEC at a great academic institution.”
On if he is more focused on getting the win this week because it’s against his hometown team:
“At the end of the day a win is a win. We are just trying to come out here and get a W. It’d be nice to beat (Florida), but we’re just as focused on winning each and every week no matter who it is.”
On if we should be talking about Vanderbilt’s run game:
“We’re going to come out, utilize our game plan the way the coaches organize it so that’s pretty much all we’re going to do.”
Wide Receiver C.J. Duncan
On the decreased amount of three-and-outs and whether it’s Johnny McCrary’s abilities with the football:
“I think that does have to factor. It helps us a lot in the pass game but also just paying more close attention to details as far as blocking like Ralph (Webb) was saying. When you have a back like Ralph that can get us into good situations on third down, it makes it a lot easier for not only Johnny (McCrary) but the rest of the offense to convert. I think the offensive line has been doing a great job blocking and coach has been on us receivers to make sure we pay close attention to our block.”
On how getting wins changes the energy and momentum of the team:
“It’s always good to win. No one likes to lose. Just the energy at practice is a lot different. The energy before the game, during the game. Now we have the momentum and we feel like we can play with anybody in the country. It’s up to us to do what we’re supposed to do and execute.”
On whether or not it makes a difference winning against SEC teams versus none SEC teams:
“Absolutely not. A win is a win. It is still Division I football. We’re thankful to get the wins we have and we’re looking forward to them even more.”