We had quite a journey over the last 18 hours. I left the press box at 3 a.m. CT last night, and we hit the road for our flight out of Houston at 9 a.m. Hopefully you had a chance to catch Adam and I on the podcast (recorded during that drive). I'll have a few more stories between tonight or (maybe more likely) tomorrow morning, touching on some of what's below.
But here's everything Clay had to say Sunday night in his 18-minute teleconference with reporters:
Opening statement:
"I had the opportunity to not only watch last night's game, but all three games to evaluate where we are. And in watching, I see a team that plays with tremendous effort and tremendous competitiveness. The one thing that stands out on the tape, though, and I visited with our team about it today is the need for more consistent play. Currently right now we're playing inconsistent with our assignments, our fundamental and technique, situational mastery and sometimes even communication. And that's my job. I told them that -- that's my job as a head coach to make sure that their job is effort and to make sure that they're competing at the highest level. My job is to make sure that they're getting the assignments, fundamental technique, situational mastery and communication that is needed on a day to day basis. So I take ownership in that.
"Last night offensively I thought the positive of the night was the progress of the quarterback. I thought his decisions were more decisive than the previous game, I thought he spread the ball around nicely to nine different kids and he looked really confident to me and poised on a night which had a really incredible environment. It was also good to see the chemistry with the wide receivers continue to grow and to improve, and it was nice to get Velus Jones really involved in the offense -- a guy that can be an explosive playmaker for us, not only now but in the future.
"Watching the tape it was obvious to me that we need to handle movement as far as zone pressures when it comes to the run game. To have 10.5 tackles for loss in one game, we just did not take care of movement zone pressures assignment wise and we need to be better and need to be better in a hurry because Washington State brings the same thing this week. Usually when we are at our best is when we're a balanced offense, and that did not happen Saturday. It was heavy pass and limited run game and need to strive for more balance in this upcoming Friday night game.
"Defensively, I thought we gave them a bad draw. Had five drive starts at midfield. I thought the defense did a nice job of getting a turnover with the fumble on one of those drive starts and then limited two of those drives to field goals. We were able to contain the run for the most part with 3.3 a rush, but we really wanted to get to the quarterback this game. We were able to get two sacks by Porter Gustin, who I thought played an incredible game, but we can do a better job of keeping our rush lanes and getting the quarterback down. We allowed him to escape and be able to create downfield.
"Special teams, obviously what stood out was the inconsistency in the punting game as far as kicking. I thought the protection and coverage was there. We just need to hit the ball better. I will credit Reid after a couple shaky punts between him and Chris to come back late and hit two nice ones. I know Bax is going to continue to work with both kids and see who's the most effective for Washington State. The field goal block was disappointing -- that's all I can say. It's a fundamental technique that we use each and every day. Had a rush through the tight end in the wing area and didn't get that lane blocked correctly, and it ended up rather than making it a one-score game and killing some momentum after getting a turnover, a big-play, explosive play on offense, getting ready to cut the score to a one-score game, it goes to a three-score game difference. And I thought that was at the end of the day the turning point in the game and the second half."
"At the end of the day, I believe in this team. I believe that we have the men to compete and win a Pac-12 championship and it's my job as a head coach to make sure we're playing consistent football. I take ownership in that alone. We'll work tirelessly to continue to improve and we look forward to Friday night."
On injuries ...
"Unfortunately, we were afraid that Chase McGrath had an ACL. After an MRI, that is correct. He does have an ACL. He'll have the operation within probably about two weeks. The only good news out of it is because it's within the four-game period he will get his redshirt year back, which will make him a redshirt sophomore for next season. Replacing him this week will be Michael Brown, who came off the same surgery from last year.
"Other injuries that we'll be looking at this week, Malik Dorton suffered a quad contusion, had to come out of the game. We'll be monitoring that. Obviously Jay Tufele had been splitting time with him and will be there available if needed.
"Andrew Vorhees suffered an MCL knee sprain. We'll be monitoring that. If he can not go, we'll have Alijah Vera-Tucker available. And then John Houston had a wrist injury that he fought through. We were spelling him with Levi Jones, who came in and did a nice job. We'll see where that is at, but if he were unable to go Levi would take that spot."
On what he feels is the identity of this team after three games ...
"Right now we're leaning on our defense to keep us in games, and offensively we've got to create more balance. We've had some good run games, and then last night we had a great pass game. What I'm looking for, like I've always said, is balance. I'm looking for a team that can put up 200 yards rushing and 300 yards passing on a night. That's when we've been at our best, and that's the identity we're trying to create right now."
(PART ONE OF TWO)
But here's everything Clay had to say Sunday night in his 18-minute teleconference with reporters:
Opening statement:
"I had the opportunity to not only watch last night's game, but all three games to evaluate where we are. And in watching, I see a team that plays with tremendous effort and tremendous competitiveness. The one thing that stands out on the tape, though, and I visited with our team about it today is the need for more consistent play. Currently right now we're playing inconsistent with our assignments, our fundamental and technique, situational mastery and sometimes even communication. And that's my job. I told them that -- that's my job as a head coach to make sure that their job is effort and to make sure that they're competing at the highest level. My job is to make sure that they're getting the assignments, fundamental technique, situational mastery and communication that is needed on a day to day basis. So I take ownership in that.
"Last night offensively I thought the positive of the night was the progress of the quarterback. I thought his decisions were more decisive than the previous game, I thought he spread the ball around nicely to nine different kids and he looked really confident to me and poised on a night which had a really incredible environment. It was also good to see the chemistry with the wide receivers continue to grow and to improve, and it was nice to get Velus Jones really involved in the offense -- a guy that can be an explosive playmaker for us, not only now but in the future.
"Watching the tape it was obvious to me that we need to handle movement as far as zone pressures when it comes to the run game. To have 10.5 tackles for loss in one game, we just did not take care of movement zone pressures assignment wise and we need to be better and need to be better in a hurry because Washington State brings the same thing this week. Usually when we are at our best is when we're a balanced offense, and that did not happen Saturday. It was heavy pass and limited run game and need to strive for more balance in this upcoming Friday night game.
"Defensively, I thought we gave them a bad draw. Had five drive starts at midfield. I thought the defense did a nice job of getting a turnover with the fumble on one of those drive starts and then limited two of those drives to field goals. We were able to contain the run for the most part with 3.3 a rush, but we really wanted to get to the quarterback this game. We were able to get two sacks by Porter Gustin, who I thought played an incredible game, but we can do a better job of keeping our rush lanes and getting the quarterback down. We allowed him to escape and be able to create downfield.
"Special teams, obviously what stood out was the inconsistency in the punting game as far as kicking. I thought the protection and coverage was there. We just need to hit the ball better. I will credit Reid after a couple shaky punts between him and Chris to come back late and hit two nice ones. I know Bax is going to continue to work with both kids and see who's the most effective for Washington State. The field goal block was disappointing -- that's all I can say. It's a fundamental technique that we use each and every day. Had a rush through the tight end in the wing area and didn't get that lane blocked correctly, and it ended up rather than making it a one-score game and killing some momentum after getting a turnover, a big-play, explosive play on offense, getting ready to cut the score to a one-score game, it goes to a three-score game difference. And I thought that was at the end of the day the turning point in the game and the second half."
"At the end of the day, I believe in this team. I believe that we have the men to compete and win a Pac-12 championship and it's my job as a head coach to make sure we're playing consistent football. I take ownership in that alone. We'll work tirelessly to continue to improve and we look forward to Friday night."
On injuries ...
"Unfortunately, we were afraid that Chase McGrath had an ACL. After an MRI, that is correct. He does have an ACL. He'll have the operation within probably about two weeks. The only good news out of it is because it's within the four-game period he will get his redshirt year back, which will make him a redshirt sophomore for next season. Replacing him this week will be Michael Brown, who came off the same surgery from last year.
"Other injuries that we'll be looking at this week, Malik Dorton suffered a quad contusion, had to come out of the game. We'll be monitoring that. Obviously Jay Tufele had been splitting time with him and will be there available if needed.
"Andrew Vorhees suffered an MCL knee sprain. We'll be monitoring that. If he can not go, we'll have Alijah Vera-Tucker available. And then John Houston had a wrist injury that he fought through. We were spelling him with Levi Jones, who came in and did a nice job. We'll see where that is at, but if he were unable to go Levi would take that spot."
On what he feels is the identity of this team after three games ...
"Right now we're leaning on our defense to keep us in games, and offensively we've got to create more balance. We've had some good run games, and then last night we had a great pass game. What I'm looking for, like I've always said, is balance. I'm looking for a team that can put up 200 yards rushing and 300 yards passing on a night. That's when we've been at our best, and that's the identity we're trying to create right now."
(PART ONE OF TWO)
