Really excited about the win. Had some players who really played well. Buechele played well again, keeps improving. WRs came in and made some catches. Look at the seniors, loves the way Petey Warrick is playing. Happy to see improvement there. Chris Warren able to get carries and able to run the ball well. Porter had a nice run.
Defensive side, Roach and Hager contained the football, put pressure on the QB, made hits. It's fun to see how the team has come along.
Punting game has been good, Trent Domingue good on his FGs.
Week by week, have to get better. Big challenge going on the road for the first time. Cal will be a big challenge. Have to pack their defense, kicking game, togetherness, have to go compete and play well, play together as a football team.
This is a totally different team than last season. Group of seniors who understand what the mission is and they're carrying the torch. He meets with them on Thursday, delivers the message, and they deliver the message to the team.
The great thing with the offense, Gilbert and the offensive staff doing an unbelievable job. Getting the ball in the playmakers' hands. They're able to run the ball, but can also win outside with vertical routes where WRs are running by DBs. OL also doing a great job of protecting.
You have competition on offense. When you have comp, it forces guys to execute. The other night, with the OL, walked out with a couple starters out to start the game and then had other injuries. You have enough confidence with the guys who are playing, and they continue to prove themselves.
Older guys have done a great job of pulling the younger guys in. Young guys are a reflection of the older players, the whole attitude has changed. They do trust one another, believe in one another. Off and Def believe in each other. Even in kicking game, guys are begging to get on the kicking and punting teams. It's a totally different attitude with this team right now.
The way Heard played in this game, felt they would build on it, was exciting to watch him in the Cal game. Been great watching him this season, scoring two TDs the other night. Each and every day, comes to work and smiles, jokes around. He has a big personality, brings energy to the team. Guys kind of gravitate to him.
Told Shackelford last year when he came in, people don't think he's good enough and Shack said he'd prove it to them. Strong told him not to do anything special, he's plenty good, just be yourself.
Told the coaches on Saturday he wants to see two guys play - Roach and Hager. They play with so much energy, each and every play you're going to get each and everything you have from those two guys. When recruiting them, you look at how they could develop down the road.
All the starters will be back for this week. They could have gone last week if they really needed them. But was good to get the other guys work.
Very concerned with the penalties. They have to be more disciplined. Told players, if you get a penalty in a game you're going to run for it. No need for it, especially the silly fouls.
Davis Webb hangs in the pocket, delivers the ball well. Does a great job of finding receivers, managing their offense. Hard to hit him because he gets rid of the ball quickly. Need to get pressure on Webb this weekend, can't let balls be completed over their head.
On Buechele, he's so calm. Has that quiet confidence about him. He's not arrogant at all, just carries himself the right way. Teammates respect him so much. When you put him in a room, he's going to go around and talk to all of his teammates, doesn't care who they are or what position they play. Has won everyone over. He never makes things about himself, just has a quiet confidence about him, knows who he is, which is really great.
On defense, it's always about stopping the run. Gave up a 57-yarder the other day. In this game against Cal, it will be about yards after the catch. On defense, they're getting better but can still play a lot better. Also, cannot have penalties that extend drives.
Will be interesting to take a young team into a hostile environment. Going to have to play unbelievable defense. Can take the crowd out of the game with unbelievable defense. Have to stay focused all the time. This is a business trip, have to treat it that way. Have to grow up quickly and play well.
With Hager and Roach, they played very well. They were co-champions for the defense after the game for the way they played. On defense, have to stop the run, play physical, that's what they have to do. Not give up big runs and control the line of scrimmage.
The first game against Notre Dame, played dime package. This game, more of run package against UTEP. Just kept blitzing either from field side or boundary. Hager and Roach give you options to show multiple looks with their versatility.
This week, getting guys back. Get to go out to Cal with Connor, with Perkins, knowing they'll be in the line-up.
When playing a good team, you have to be able to win 1 on 1s at the LOS. They haven't done that enough, have had to utilize some blitzes from the safeties. Even if they don't sack him, have to get pressure on the QB and harass him.
On the RBs, Foreman will be back. The backs will rotate out. Got a chance to see Kyle Porter last week, did a really good job. You'll see all three of them this week.
Back in the summer, looked at their goals. One of their goals was to hold opponents to 13 points or less. That's hard to do in today's football. Just have to make sure you get things accomplished each week. Cal is going to move the football, not going to shut them down, but have to have goals in place and have to be able to go meet those goals.
On struggles on the road last year ... it's all about attitude, how they approach the game. The players will look at how the coaches lead, that's how they'll respond. Give the players three things to get done in the game and they'll get it done. Young guys are waiting to see how you lead them, and they'll do what you ask.
This team can always get better. Making progress on offense, moving the ball, QBs are playing well. They have enough athletes surround the QBs now. Defensively, it's all about playing with energy, making stops and getting the ball back. Need to get turnovers. Those will come, those will come from hits and guys being in the right position.
On Poona Ford's penalty, he tells guys all the time if you make a big play, just get back in the huddle.
On Warrick. "I just love Petey, love the way he comes to work." Warrick is going to give you everything he has. WRs are better because they watch the way Warrick and Jake Oliver work. Warrick is so slippery, can get yards after the catch. Has been fun to watch him, what he's doing for the team. Has a great attitude. Says nothing, just goes about his work.
That's it for today.
Defensive side, Roach and Hager contained the football, put pressure on the QB, made hits. It's fun to see how the team has come along.
Punting game has been good, Trent Domingue good on his FGs.
Week by week, have to get better. Big challenge going on the road for the first time. Cal will be a big challenge. Have to pack their defense, kicking game, togetherness, have to go compete and play well, play together as a football team.
This is a totally different team than last season. Group of seniors who understand what the mission is and they're carrying the torch. He meets with them on Thursday, delivers the message, and they deliver the message to the team.
The great thing with the offense, Gilbert and the offensive staff doing an unbelievable job. Getting the ball in the playmakers' hands. They're able to run the ball, but can also win outside with vertical routes where WRs are running by DBs. OL also doing a great job of protecting.
You have competition on offense. When you have comp, it forces guys to execute. The other night, with the OL, walked out with a couple starters out to start the game and then had other injuries. You have enough confidence with the guys who are playing, and they continue to prove themselves.
Older guys have done a great job of pulling the younger guys in. Young guys are a reflection of the older players, the whole attitude has changed. They do trust one another, believe in one another. Off and Def believe in each other. Even in kicking game, guys are begging to get on the kicking and punting teams. It's a totally different attitude with this team right now.
The way Heard played in this game, felt they would build on it, was exciting to watch him in the Cal game. Been great watching him this season, scoring two TDs the other night. Each and every day, comes to work and smiles, jokes around. He has a big personality, brings energy to the team. Guys kind of gravitate to him.
Told Shackelford last year when he came in, people don't think he's good enough and Shack said he'd prove it to them. Strong told him not to do anything special, he's plenty good, just be yourself.
Told the coaches on Saturday he wants to see two guys play - Roach and Hager. They play with so much energy, each and every play you're going to get each and everything you have from those two guys. When recruiting them, you look at how they could develop down the road.
All the starters will be back for this week. They could have gone last week if they really needed them. But was good to get the other guys work.
Very concerned with the penalties. They have to be more disciplined. Told players, if you get a penalty in a game you're going to run for it. No need for it, especially the silly fouls.
Davis Webb hangs in the pocket, delivers the ball well. Does a great job of finding receivers, managing their offense. Hard to hit him because he gets rid of the ball quickly. Need to get pressure on Webb this weekend, can't let balls be completed over their head.
On Buechele, he's so calm. Has that quiet confidence about him. He's not arrogant at all, just carries himself the right way. Teammates respect him so much. When you put him in a room, he's going to go around and talk to all of his teammates, doesn't care who they are or what position they play. Has won everyone over. He never makes things about himself, just has a quiet confidence about him, knows who he is, which is really great.
On defense, it's always about stopping the run. Gave up a 57-yarder the other day. In this game against Cal, it will be about yards after the catch. On defense, they're getting better but can still play a lot better. Also, cannot have penalties that extend drives.
Will be interesting to take a young team into a hostile environment. Going to have to play unbelievable defense. Can take the crowd out of the game with unbelievable defense. Have to stay focused all the time. This is a business trip, have to treat it that way. Have to grow up quickly and play well.
With Hager and Roach, they played very well. They were co-champions for the defense after the game for the way they played. On defense, have to stop the run, play physical, that's what they have to do. Not give up big runs and control the line of scrimmage.
The first game against Notre Dame, played dime package. This game, more of run package against UTEP. Just kept blitzing either from field side or boundary. Hager and Roach give you options to show multiple looks with their versatility.
This week, getting guys back. Get to go out to Cal with Connor, with Perkins, knowing they'll be in the line-up.
When playing a good team, you have to be able to win 1 on 1s at the LOS. They haven't done that enough, have had to utilize some blitzes from the safeties. Even if they don't sack him, have to get pressure on the QB and harass him.
On the RBs, Foreman will be back. The backs will rotate out. Got a chance to see Kyle Porter last week, did a really good job. You'll see all three of them this week.
Back in the summer, looked at their goals. One of their goals was to hold opponents to 13 points or less. That's hard to do in today's football. Just have to make sure you get things accomplished each week. Cal is going to move the football, not going to shut them down, but have to have goals in place and have to be able to go meet those goals.
On struggles on the road last year ... it's all about attitude, how they approach the game. The players will look at how the coaches lead, that's how they'll respond. Give the players three things to get done in the game and they'll get it done. Young guys are waiting to see how you lead them, and they'll do what you ask.
This team can always get better. Making progress on offense, moving the ball, QBs are playing well. They have enough athletes surround the QBs now. Defensively, it's all about playing with energy, making stops and getting the ball back. Need to get turnovers. Those will come, those will come from hits and guys being in the right position.
On Poona Ford's penalty, he tells guys all the time if you make a big play, just get back in the huddle.
On Warrick. "I just love Petey, love the way he comes to work." Warrick is going to give you everything he has. WRs are better because they watch the way Warrick and Jake Oliver work. Warrick is so slippery, can get yards after the catch. Has been fun to watch him, what he's doing for the team. Has a great attitude. Says nothing, just goes about his work.
That's it for today.
