Highlights from our latest interviews heading into Thursday's game against Washington.
Damien Mama
- -Arizona State had a lot to do with USC's lack of production rushing
“It’s not anything really changing, it was just the scheme that ASU brought. We felt like passing the ball would be a better option. We knew that. So just go with the flow and anyway to get points on the board. As an offensive line unit we definitely want to run the ball more. So we just got to take what we can work with and go from there. Whatever produces the most out of our offense, we tend to go with that. So it felt good airing out the ball and getting it out there.”
- -He wants the run game to be important
“As an offensive line, that’s one thing you want to be a staple, is running the ball. It’s everything everybody needs to work on. Just playing as a unit, all five guys have to work together to move the ball and play as a collective unit.”
- -The OL is better at moving around
“We’re a lot better than we were during spring. And the weight feels good, me and Zach (Banner) are always competing on who can lose weight week to week. It’s always fun.”
- -Mama still has high expectations for the line
“I feel good about our unit. We’re a tight knit group. Just talking to the older guys, they say it’s a room that hasn’t felt like that in a long time. They’ve never felt it since they’ve been there. So it’s just something special and we want to build from there.”
- -They have to challenge pressure teams in the future
“We got to make it work. They can bring whatever they want, we just have to be able to come collectively as an offensive line and just match it or even do better than what they bring.”
- -They’re working to get more physical
“Just on that nine-on-seven drill, it’s a lot of fun getting in with those great linebackers that we have, great defensive linemen and just getting after it. Just being tough guys and battling out.”
Toa Lobendahn
- -ASU deserves credit for a lack of a run game:
“I felt like Arizona State stacked the box a lot and they brought a lot of pressure. When we were doing our runs, it was kind of like interfering with it a little bit but we prepared all week for the pass, to pick it up and we picked it up perfectly. But we just didn’t do a good enough job on containing the blitz on the run. This week on the run, I think we did a really good emphasis on what Washington is doing, they don’t pressure as much as Arizona (State), so its more of a base look, so we’ve been working more on that.”
- -They’re working to get more physical
“I feel like after the first game, we implemented the inside run period, right before our fastball period. So that’s really helped us out, just getting that inside run look that we don’t usually do because we’re a spread team and we’re not always running it inside. But doing it over there on the field, rep after rep, it’s getting us better.”
- -Washington has a good defense
“They’re a really stout D, they have some thick guys in the middle and they have some pretty good, athletic linebackers that can also play the run good. They have a pretty stout defense so we’re excited to run against them.”
- -Moving positions is still fun for him
“I like the challenge, it keeps me on my feet everyday. Got to get better. Playing center this week since Khalil (Rodgers) was out for a little bit. It’s challenging, it keeps me down, it makes me know that I always have stuff to work on.”
- -There are some challenges
“I’m pulling outside and I’m supposed to get the corner and I’m not looking out there because that’s not what I usually do. But yeah, I always have to make sure I’m in tune.”
Damien Mama
- -Arizona State had a lot to do with USC's lack of production rushing
“It’s not anything really changing, it was just the scheme that ASU brought. We felt like passing the ball would be a better option. We knew that. So just go with the flow and anyway to get points on the board. As an offensive line unit we definitely want to run the ball more. So we just got to take what we can work with and go from there. Whatever produces the most out of our offense, we tend to go with that. So it felt good airing out the ball and getting it out there.”
- -He wants the run game to be important
“As an offensive line, that’s one thing you want to be a staple, is running the ball. It’s everything everybody needs to work on. Just playing as a unit, all five guys have to work together to move the ball and play as a collective unit.”
- -The OL is better at moving around
“We’re a lot better than we were during spring. And the weight feels good, me and Zach (Banner) are always competing on who can lose weight week to week. It’s always fun.”
- -Mama still has high expectations for the line
“I feel good about our unit. We’re a tight knit group. Just talking to the older guys, they say it’s a room that hasn’t felt like that in a long time. They’ve never felt it since they’ve been there. So it’s just something special and we want to build from there.”
- -They have to challenge pressure teams in the future
“We got to make it work. They can bring whatever they want, we just have to be able to come collectively as an offensive line and just match it or even do better than what they bring.”
- -They’re working to get more physical
“Just on that nine-on-seven drill, it’s a lot of fun getting in with those great linebackers that we have, great defensive linemen and just getting after it. Just being tough guys and battling out.”
Toa Lobendahn
- -ASU deserves credit for a lack of a run game:
“I felt like Arizona State stacked the box a lot and they brought a lot of pressure. When we were doing our runs, it was kind of like interfering with it a little bit but we prepared all week for the pass, to pick it up and we picked it up perfectly. But we just didn’t do a good enough job on containing the blitz on the run. This week on the run, I think we did a really good emphasis on what Washington is doing, they don’t pressure as much as Arizona (State), so its more of a base look, so we’ve been working more on that.”
- -They’re working to get more physical
“I feel like after the first game, we implemented the inside run period, right before our fastball period. So that’s really helped us out, just getting that inside run look that we don’t usually do because we’re a spread team and we’re not always running it inside. But doing it over there on the field, rep after rep, it’s getting us better.”
- -Washington has a good defense
“They’re a really stout D, they have some thick guys in the middle and they have some pretty good, athletic linebackers that can also play the run good. They have a pretty stout defense so we’re excited to run against them.”
- -Moving positions is still fun for him
“I like the challenge, it keeps me on my feet everyday. Got to get better. Playing center this week since Khalil (Rodgers) was out for a little bit. It’s challenging, it keeps me down, it makes me know that I always have stuff to work on.”
- -There are some challenges
“I’m pulling outside and I’m supposed to get the corner and I’m not looking out there because that’s not what I usually do. But yeah, I always have to make sure I’m in tune.”
