Highlights from our latest interviews with players and coaches heading into Saturday's game vs. Arizona ...
Su'a Cravens
--The Arizona offense presents a very unique challenge.
"Run-pass option. Whatever they run, it’s not necessarily a run and it’s not necessarily a pass. They can run their offense with linemen about six yards down the field and they’re still going to throw the ball deep. We just got to be patient when we play them."
--The defense has cleaned up particular mistakes in recent weeks while defending the run.
"Jumping in and out of gaps and knowing your run fits. Once we get that down its going to be hard to run against us. We got a solid front seven. I’m confident in everybody in our defense to make good plays."
Limiting Arizona's run game might be the X factor.
"If we can stop them from running the ball, they’re going to have to open up their pass game. I know they want to run the ball, I know they want to get the ball into (Jerrard Randall’s) hands so we he can scramble around with it. But if we can get them to pass it more than they run it, I think we’ll be in pretty good shape."
Chris Wilson
--The D-line’s biggest changes in regards to defending the run have come from within.
“Just the attention to detail. The guys have really been focused. I wish there was something magical I could say but these guys have made a commitment and they’re being a lot more detailed. When you do things right, it allows you to be physical in the run game. …
"No one likes to be punched in the mouth. You take a lot of pride, when guys are able to run the football, in getting that fixed. They’re good young men. They want to do things right. And they know the standard here. We had to get a new normal.
--The linemen also deserve credit for simply playing better.
“We haven’t had any free agency pickups. It’s repetition, it’s doing it right. You can take a lot of reps, but taking reps correctly is most important. I think that’s what these men have bought into.”
--He says the keys to stopping the run vs. Arizona are fairly basic.
“We got to do a great job with gap integrity. We got to do a great job of being in the right run fits. After that, we have to be able to get off blocks and go make plays. We don’t want to go 1 for 1. We want to create negative plays and then running over and making another play.”
Justin Wilcox
--He has a big goal for the defense moving forward.
“We need to play a complete game. We haven’t done that yet. But I think we’re getting closer, which is encouraging. Guys making strides, showing progress at different positions, which is exciting to see. We expect that to continue.”
Both interceptions last week were aided by pressure on the quarterback.
“Adoree’s was a huge play. We were in a three-deep. The pressure got there. Anthony Sarao, Delvon and Greg Townsend affected the quarterback. The pre-snap disguise was good, so the quarterback had to go through the progression. And then Adoree’ made the play and returned it. So the execution across the board. …
“The second one was a fourth-and-10. Kevon had the awareness of the down and distances and played the route correctly according to where he had help, finished the play and returned it, which was great to see. Again, on that play, Scott Felix, we didn’t hit the quarterback, but we got the tackle pushed into his face. We got him off his spot a little bit. It all works together. It was great to see those guys finish those plays. Team efforts on both of them.”
Chris Hawkins
--He advocates the chippiness between the receivers and defensive backs in practice.
“It’s good for everybody. Great competition amongst one another. They’re mad at us during the week, and they’re ready to take it out on the other team.”
--An interception is a big confidence booster.
“You feel like you’re untouchable during it, and then you just hope that they keep coming. Interceptions, they always talk about tips and overthrows. I was glad (Adoree’) was finally able to get his.
--He thought the pass interference call against him in the Cal game was fair.
“The good thing, they were calling it consistent. It’s not like he called me and didn’t call Jonathan Lockett. We’ve just got to work around those things, try not to be too aggressive.”
--The team is in a good state of mind.
“We’re riding behind Coach Helton. He’s the captain of the ship. We’re all helping him steer it. I feel like we’ve got a great chance to do great things with this team. If Coach Helton keeps leading us the way he is, I feel like we’re going to be unbeatable.”
Su'a Cravens
--The Arizona offense presents a very unique challenge.
"Run-pass option. Whatever they run, it’s not necessarily a run and it’s not necessarily a pass. They can run their offense with linemen about six yards down the field and they’re still going to throw the ball deep. We just got to be patient when we play them."
--The defense has cleaned up particular mistakes in recent weeks while defending the run.
"Jumping in and out of gaps and knowing your run fits. Once we get that down its going to be hard to run against us. We got a solid front seven. I’m confident in everybody in our defense to make good plays."
Limiting Arizona's run game might be the X factor.
"If we can stop them from running the ball, they’re going to have to open up their pass game. I know they want to run the ball, I know they want to get the ball into (Jerrard Randall’s) hands so we he can scramble around with it. But if we can get them to pass it more than they run it, I think we’ll be in pretty good shape."
Chris Wilson
--The D-line’s biggest changes in regards to defending the run have come from within.
“Just the attention to detail. The guys have really been focused. I wish there was something magical I could say but these guys have made a commitment and they’re being a lot more detailed. When you do things right, it allows you to be physical in the run game. …
"No one likes to be punched in the mouth. You take a lot of pride, when guys are able to run the football, in getting that fixed. They’re good young men. They want to do things right. And they know the standard here. We had to get a new normal.
--The linemen also deserve credit for simply playing better.
“We haven’t had any free agency pickups. It’s repetition, it’s doing it right. You can take a lot of reps, but taking reps correctly is most important. I think that’s what these men have bought into.”
--He says the keys to stopping the run vs. Arizona are fairly basic.
“We got to do a great job with gap integrity. We got to do a great job of being in the right run fits. After that, we have to be able to get off blocks and go make plays. We don’t want to go 1 for 1. We want to create negative plays and then running over and making another play.”
Justin Wilcox
--He has a big goal for the defense moving forward.
“We need to play a complete game. We haven’t done that yet. But I think we’re getting closer, which is encouraging. Guys making strides, showing progress at different positions, which is exciting to see. We expect that to continue.”
Both interceptions last week were aided by pressure on the quarterback.
“Adoree’s was a huge play. We were in a three-deep. The pressure got there. Anthony Sarao, Delvon and Greg Townsend affected the quarterback. The pre-snap disguise was good, so the quarterback had to go through the progression. And then Adoree’ made the play and returned it. So the execution across the board. …
“The second one was a fourth-and-10. Kevon had the awareness of the down and distances and played the route correctly according to where he had help, finished the play and returned it, which was great to see. Again, on that play, Scott Felix, we didn’t hit the quarterback, but we got the tackle pushed into his face. We got him off his spot a little bit. It all works together. It was great to see those guys finish those plays. Team efforts on both of them.”
Chris Hawkins
--He advocates the chippiness between the receivers and defensive backs in practice.
“It’s good for everybody. Great competition amongst one another. They’re mad at us during the week, and they’re ready to take it out on the other team.”
--An interception is a big confidence booster.
“You feel like you’re untouchable during it, and then you just hope that they keep coming. Interceptions, they always talk about tips and overthrows. I was glad (Adoree’) was finally able to get his.
--He thought the pass interference call against him in the Cal game was fair.
“The good thing, they were calling it consistent. It’s not like he called me and didn’t call Jonathan Lockett. We’ve just got to work around those things, try not to be too aggressive.”
--The team is in a good state of mind.
“We’re riding behind Coach Helton. He’s the captain of the ship. We’re all helping him steer it. I feel like we’ve got a great chance to do great things with this team. If Coach Helton keeps leading us the way he is, I feel like we’re going to be unbeatable.”
