Really proud of the guys and how they responded. Showed a lot of who they can be in not allowing the noise and distractions to inhibit their preparation and correcting mistakes. Thought guys played much more free with much less hesitation. Took a bunker mentality last week and were committed to cutting it loose. Don't hesitate, don't think, just go.
Happy with the direction they're heading. They're nowhere near a finished product. Won the game because they played so hard and they have really good players. That's a start. Now they have to get those good players playing hard and with good fundamentals and technique every single play. With the teams left on the schedule, you won't be able to mask errors like they could on Saturday.
Guys like the feeling of improvement. But they also know they have to go into a hostile environment to play one of the best teams in the country. Going to have to play not just really hard, with talent, have to play very fundamentally sound play after play after play to stay competitive in this game.
At Houston, his wins against ranked teams ... his team believed they were going to be the best-prepared team in those games, played with purpose, which was a love for the guys next to you and your coaches. He had an assistant call him the day after they beat OU, said he'd been at OU 17 years, and told him Houston was the hardest-hitting team he'd seen in 17 years. If you have a coach call and tell you that, you're on to something good. Players have a belief in how hard they train, the purpose for what they play.
They're so far removed from Maryland. That wasn't them. Can't replay that game, so why dwell on it. Any added motivation of how they played two weeks ago is probably wasted energy. Each game poses its own motivation. This one, you're playing one of the best teams in the country, one of the most historical programs, plenty of motivation in this one. Only thing they have to prove is to their teammates.
Nothing new on Buechele other than he's getting better every day. Didn't test him yesterday and won't today. Tomorrow will be a benchmark to see if he can practice.
On Sam Ehlinger ... from the day he met him, Sam's an extremely mature guy. You don't go through what he went through in eighth grade (passing of his father) and not mature quickly. He's a bit of an old soul, very mature for a guy his age. Thinks that is what has allowed him to step into this role a little easier than most.
Challenge of winning on the road is sticking to their routine. Every great player, in any sport, has a routine and does the same thing every day on game day. Thinks if they can make just getting on a plane the only deviation in that routine, then they've succeeded. Have to make it like a home game as much as possible, other than a plane ride instead of a bus ride. Meals, pregame routine will be the same.
Reese Leitao ... not sure how he'll be used yet. He'll practice with the team and not just the scout team since Garrett Gray is hurt. Garrett Gray will not play this week. Is week by week.
Patrick Hudson, still waiting to get MRI results on him.
Jerrod Heard will have a big role this week, maybe even bigger than last week. Hopefully they can get a couple plays off the ground that got stuffed last week. Thinks it's important, whenever Shane gets fully healthy, you'll see Jerrod behind center in every game at some point. When Shane is healthy, he'll go back to practicing with WRs, but knowing he can come in as a change of pace, which is a nice weapon. He's different than most wildcat QBs in that he can throw the football. He's a guy who has played college QB for a couple years. If you put a bunch of guys in the box to stop the run, he's capable of throwing it over your head.
Was good for the guys to see what they're capable of after a game like Saturday. It gives them the confidence and trust in their staff in terms of preparation and game planning ... if they do what they did on Saturday, good things are going to happen. Cut loose, go as hard as you can, and good things will happen.
Has mixed emotions on games like this week's. It's great for fans and the program to have them, but it's a little different when you play nine straight conference games. Makes it a little more difficult. Will play 11 Power 5 teams this year, a lot of which will be bowl teams. Likes Alabama's model of playing the big games at a neutral site each year. But is happy for the fans.
On the 2005 Texas-USC game, doesn't remember exactly where he was, does remember watching Vince and being awestruck. Also remembers how many great players were on the field, the fourth down TD by VY.
QB injuries have slowed them forming a team identity a bit. They're still trying to figure out who they are on that side of the ball. On defense, they took some major strides from a recklessness standpoint ... meaning just going and not overthinking things. Thinks they made some strides there. Made a huge commitment to running the ball last week, but that is who they want to be as well. People saw Shane throw the ball 54 times in the first game, but they were down 20 points in the second quarter. Score and circumstance of that game kind of dictated that. They know who they want to be, can the be that team against really good teams?
Gary Johnson stood out. Did a heck of a job in his first major action. He re-committed himself. He had an ankle injury he was dealing with towards the end of camp, really limited him and he missed a lot of practice. He re-committed himself leading up to SJSU, was good to see him playing well. Holton Hill is playing at a really high level right now. Malik Jefferson is playing really well, playing really good football for them, making plays he should and making plays only he can make. He left a couple plays out there, but is playing well. Jake McMillon goes unsung, but that's a guy Herman wants in his bunker. You want him walking by your side in a dark alley at night.
On Sam Darnold ... Herman recruited him a little bit when he was at Ohio State. He's a really football-smart guy. Can make every throw in the book fro mall different kinds of arm angles. You see his stature and think he can't run, but he can run and is pretty elusive. Really good football team, really talented. Darnold is the gas in the engine.
If Shane is healthy, he has to prove that he's competent in practice, just like any other week. If Shane can throw tomorrow and is fully cleared, he'll go with the 1s, but he has to have a really good practice to make sure he stays with the 1s on Wednesday.
Togetherness will be tested quite a bit in coming weeks, but it also has a chance to bring them together.
On FG kicking ... it is a worry. We're 0-3 with one block and two misses. Thought the two guards handled the internal pressure, which was good to see. But they're going to evaluate where Joshua Rowland is at, make sure some of the other guys are getting quality kicks in practice. The hard part with a kicker, anyone can tell you who the starting kicker should be based on fall camp, where Rowland was very good. Have to get that to translate to game day.
Team grew a bunch from week one to week two. Hopes they continue to grow, can't stay stagnant. Team was much closer, much tighter, much more focused and purposeful in practice this week. Hoping to see that and more in practice this week.
Don't really prepare a freshman like Sam who has been in the program a while much differently than any first-time starting QB. Biggest thing you have to do, you have to "condense." On third downs and certain yardage situations, they decided they had to scale things back and give him "very small bites of the offense" so he can get good at those and perfect those.
On the QB decision ... doesn't have a time frame in mind. Said he'll know when he knows.
On the mental challenge of USC ... "We'll find out Saturday." Feels like they will be ready, not going to leave any stone unturned. They'll be in as good of a place mentally as they can be. Has confidence that they'll respond. They showed him a lot last week, no have to take another step to maturing and beating a top-5 team on the road.
On Jerrod Heard ... doesn't think it's ever too late for him to compete for the starting job. Doesn't know if that's the direction they want to head, because they're still optimistic on the shortness of time for Buechele's recovery. If this think goes on for several weeks, that could change and Jerrod could become more of a full-time QB. A little premature though to consider Heard at QB, but not out of the realm of possibility for him to grow in that role if they need him to.
On TE Kendall Moore ... best run blocker at that position, so they needed him in the game because they were committed to the run game. Played well at times, but did some things that if they show back up against USC, it'll be a bad day. Have to get some things corrected. Mass is important in running the football, that's why he was brought in. Has to do it on a more consistent level, but were pleased with his first action.
Chris Warren ... has done a really good job in the nine months the staff has been there in making sure how long and how physical of a runner he needs to be. There were times in the spring when he had a bullseye on his chest because he ran so upright. He took a lot of pounding because of it. Physicality of his running style, made a lot of improvement there. Still have to clean up some things with his vision and when to hit which hole, but was pleased with his physicality on Saturday.
Feels like they should be an underdog this week. USC had a great season last year. QB as good as any in the country. Skill players, coaching staff and scheme as good as any in the country. USC is definitely the favorite.
On the OL ... he's in a good place. They played better last week, not just because it was SJSU, they played better, played more cohesively. A lot better communication, faster recognition and reaction to movement. Still have a ways to go but was happy with the improvement they've made. Okafor was okay at RT. Nickelson has played well and Okafor has had flashes. Nobody has really separated.
On the QB and if it can be an issue in the locker room ... the locker room wants to win. Players, if you've done a good job of earning their trust, they trust you to do whatever is necessary to win. QB issues has never really crossed his mind. Players just want to win. Starting QB got hurt so they're not at the point of any sort of QB questioning.
That's it for today.
Happy with the direction they're heading. They're nowhere near a finished product. Won the game because they played so hard and they have really good players. That's a start. Now they have to get those good players playing hard and with good fundamentals and technique every single play. With the teams left on the schedule, you won't be able to mask errors like they could on Saturday.
Guys like the feeling of improvement. But they also know they have to go into a hostile environment to play one of the best teams in the country. Going to have to play not just really hard, with talent, have to play very fundamentally sound play after play after play to stay competitive in this game.
At Houston, his wins against ranked teams ... his team believed they were going to be the best-prepared team in those games, played with purpose, which was a love for the guys next to you and your coaches. He had an assistant call him the day after they beat OU, said he'd been at OU 17 years, and told him Houston was the hardest-hitting team he'd seen in 17 years. If you have a coach call and tell you that, you're on to something good. Players have a belief in how hard they train, the purpose for what they play.
They're so far removed from Maryland. That wasn't them. Can't replay that game, so why dwell on it. Any added motivation of how they played two weeks ago is probably wasted energy. Each game poses its own motivation. This one, you're playing one of the best teams in the country, one of the most historical programs, plenty of motivation in this one. Only thing they have to prove is to their teammates.
Nothing new on Buechele other than he's getting better every day. Didn't test him yesterday and won't today. Tomorrow will be a benchmark to see if he can practice.
On Sam Ehlinger ... from the day he met him, Sam's an extremely mature guy. You don't go through what he went through in eighth grade (passing of his father) and not mature quickly. He's a bit of an old soul, very mature for a guy his age. Thinks that is what has allowed him to step into this role a little easier than most.
Challenge of winning on the road is sticking to their routine. Every great player, in any sport, has a routine and does the same thing every day on game day. Thinks if they can make just getting on a plane the only deviation in that routine, then they've succeeded. Have to make it like a home game as much as possible, other than a plane ride instead of a bus ride. Meals, pregame routine will be the same.
Reese Leitao ... not sure how he'll be used yet. He'll practice with the team and not just the scout team since Garrett Gray is hurt. Garrett Gray will not play this week. Is week by week.
Patrick Hudson, still waiting to get MRI results on him.
Jerrod Heard will have a big role this week, maybe even bigger than last week. Hopefully they can get a couple plays off the ground that got stuffed last week. Thinks it's important, whenever Shane gets fully healthy, you'll see Jerrod behind center in every game at some point. When Shane is healthy, he'll go back to practicing with WRs, but knowing he can come in as a change of pace, which is a nice weapon. He's different than most wildcat QBs in that he can throw the football. He's a guy who has played college QB for a couple years. If you put a bunch of guys in the box to stop the run, he's capable of throwing it over your head.
Was good for the guys to see what they're capable of after a game like Saturday. It gives them the confidence and trust in their staff in terms of preparation and game planning ... if they do what they did on Saturday, good things are going to happen. Cut loose, go as hard as you can, and good things will happen.
Has mixed emotions on games like this week's. It's great for fans and the program to have them, but it's a little different when you play nine straight conference games. Makes it a little more difficult. Will play 11 Power 5 teams this year, a lot of which will be bowl teams. Likes Alabama's model of playing the big games at a neutral site each year. But is happy for the fans.
On the 2005 Texas-USC game, doesn't remember exactly where he was, does remember watching Vince and being awestruck. Also remembers how many great players were on the field, the fourth down TD by VY.
QB injuries have slowed them forming a team identity a bit. They're still trying to figure out who they are on that side of the ball. On defense, they took some major strides from a recklessness standpoint ... meaning just going and not overthinking things. Thinks they made some strides there. Made a huge commitment to running the ball last week, but that is who they want to be as well. People saw Shane throw the ball 54 times in the first game, but they were down 20 points in the second quarter. Score and circumstance of that game kind of dictated that. They know who they want to be, can the be that team against really good teams?
Gary Johnson stood out. Did a heck of a job in his first major action. He re-committed himself. He had an ankle injury he was dealing with towards the end of camp, really limited him and he missed a lot of practice. He re-committed himself leading up to SJSU, was good to see him playing well. Holton Hill is playing at a really high level right now. Malik Jefferson is playing really well, playing really good football for them, making plays he should and making plays only he can make. He left a couple plays out there, but is playing well. Jake McMillon goes unsung, but that's a guy Herman wants in his bunker. You want him walking by your side in a dark alley at night.
On Sam Darnold ... Herman recruited him a little bit when he was at Ohio State. He's a really football-smart guy. Can make every throw in the book fro mall different kinds of arm angles. You see his stature and think he can't run, but he can run and is pretty elusive. Really good football team, really talented. Darnold is the gas in the engine.
If Shane is healthy, he has to prove that he's competent in practice, just like any other week. If Shane can throw tomorrow and is fully cleared, he'll go with the 1s, but he has to have a really good practice to make sure he stays with the 1s on Wednesday.
Togetherness will be tested quite a bit in coming weeks, but it also has a chance to bring them together.
On FG kicking ... it is a worry. We're 0-3 with one block and two misses. Thought the two guards handled the internal pressure, which was good to see. But they're going to evaluate where Joshua Rowland is at, make sure some of the other guys are getting quality kicks in practice. The hard part with a kicker, anyone can tell you who the starting kicker should be based on fall camp, where Rowland was very good. Have to get that to translate to game day.
Team grew a bunch from week one to week two. Hopes they continue to grow, can't stay stagnant. Team was much closer, much tighter, much more focused and purposeful in practice this week. Hoping to see that and more in practice this week.
Don't really prepare a freshman like Sam who has been in the program a while much differently than any first-time starting QB. Biggest thing you have to do, you have to "condense." On third downs and certain yardage situations, they decided they had to scale things back and give him "very small bites of the offense" so he can get good at those and perfect those.
On the QB decision ... doesn't have a time frame in mind. Said he'll know when he knows.
On the mental challenge of USC ... "We'll find out Saturday." Feels like they will be ready, not going to leave any stone unturned. They'll be in as good of a place mentally as they can be. Has confidence that they'll respond. They showed him a lot last week, no have to take another step to maturing and beating a top-5 team on the road.
On Jerrod Heard ... doesn't think it's ever too late for him to compete for the starting job. Doesn't know if that's the direction they want to head, because they're still optimistic on the shortness of time for Buechele's recovery. If this think goes on for several weeks, that could change and Jerrod could become more of a full-time QB. A little premature though to consider Heard at QB, but not out of the realm of possibility for him to grow in that role if they need him to.
On TE Kendall Moore ... best run blocker at that position, so they needed him in the game because they were committed to the run game. Played well at times, but did some things that if they show back up against USC, it'll be a bad day. Have to get some things corrected. Mass is important in running the football, that's why he was brought in. Has to do it on a more consistent level, but were pleased with his first action.
Chris Warren ... has done a really good job in the nine months the staff has been there in making sure how long and how physical of a runner he needs to be. There were times in the spring when he had a bullseye on his chest because he ran so upright. He took a lot of pounding because of it. Physicality of his running style, made a lot of improvement there. Still have to clean up some things with his vision and when to hit which hole, but was pleased with his physicality on Saturday.
Feels like they should be an underdog this week. USC had a great season last year. QB as good as any in the country. Skill players, coaching staff and scheme as good as any in the country. USC is definitely the favorite.
On the OL ... he's in a good place. They played better last week, not just because it was SJSU, they played better, played more cohesively. A lot better communication, faster recognition and reaction to movement. Still have a ways to go but was happy with the improvement they've made. Okafor was okay at RT. Nickelson has played well and Okafor has had flashes. Nobody has really separated.
On the QB and if it can be an issue in the locker room ... the locker room wants to win. Players, if you've done a good job of earning their trust, they trust you to do whatever is necessary to win. QB issues has never really crossed his mind. Players just want to win. Starting QB got hurt so they're not at the point of any sort of QB questioning.
That's it for today.
