IAFB Players Utah State

  • last year
Hawkeyes talks win against Aggies
Transcript
00:00 Yes, overall, just kind of your assessment of what took place today.
00:04 I mean, you guys got a win.
00:05 How do you feel about it?
00:06 Yeah, I feel great.
00:07 You always want to go out there.
00:08 That's our goal is always every week to come out there and get a win.
00:10 I felt like we had a great start, and I think that we can continue to learn off of that
00:15 and just come next week ready to go.
00:20 Nine targets from Cade.
00:21 What's been kind of the key to building that chemistry at the new quarterback?
00:24 Yeah, you know, it's just like any quarterback.
00:27 You just want to go out there and be a security guy for a quarterback
00:31 as a tight end, that's what you want to do.
00:33 And just every practice, just trying to get on the same page as Cade.
00:38 It's a great experience, and I'm happy he's here.
00:41 You had those two big third down catches in the drive in the fourth quarter.
00:45 Just can you kind of go through what all you saw in those plays?
00:48 Yeah, so I saw post safety.
00:51 The guy came down, and so I felt like I could win on that route on that first third down.
00:56 And, you know, I tried to get on his toes and then take it high,
01:00 and, you know, it kind of worked out.
01:02 And then on that other one, I just, you know, man to man and got under him.
01:06 And, you know, I just need to finish with the ball in my hand,
01:11 not make it, you know, a mystery at the end there.
01:14 So, you know, I know I caught it,
01:17 so I just wanted to make sure we got the first down and keep the drive going.
01:21 A couple big explosive plays for you and for this offense,
01:24 and especially after last season.
01:26 What does it feel like to reach that gear that's been sort of missing for a while?
01:31 Yeah, you know, I just think that at the end of the day,
01:34 I'm going to go out there and try to do whatever I can to help the team win.
01:36 And, you know, whether that's, you know, blocking or running routes
01:40 and catching them on third down, whatever works.
01:42 You know, I'm just going out there trying to help,
01:44 and, you know, I'm fortunate that I was out there on, you know, two big plays.
01:47 And, you know, you could put anyone there, and they would have made this place too.
01:50 So, I know I'm just happy, you know, to go out there every day and compete.
01:53 What do you think of Cade's performance?
01:55 I thought he played really well.
01:57 You know, it's tough, you know, going out on any new team like that.
02:01 And, you know, he's learned a lot and done a really good job.
02:04 And, you know, I'm proud of him, and I think that he did a good job.
02:08 How about practice reps with him?
02:10 I mean, obviously, he's been dinged up for a bit.
02:12 Getting those practice reps, how important are those?
02:15 Oh, it's so important.
02:16 You know, you win the games during the week.
02:18 And I just think that if you're practicing,
02:21 and that's the most important thing, to be out there at practice every day.
02:24 And, you know, like I said, you win the games during the week.
02:28 So, when you build those reps with them, it's a great thing.
02:31 What did they do maybe defensively that kind of prohibited you guys
02:34 from running the ball the way you wanted?
02:36 You know, I felt like they put a lot of guys in the box.
02:39 And, you know, I felt like at the end of the day,
02:41 we just got to be better finishing our blocks.
02:44 You know, I feel like we did a great job, but you can't always work on it, you know.
02:49 And I just want to go out there and finish those blocks, like I said.
02:53 So, yeah, I think that's all it comes down to is finish.
02:56 Luke, you guys got off to a fast start, second, third quarter,
02:59 just went a little bit stagnant.
03:00 How did you guys kind of regroup and get it back going,
03:02 at least to finish on a strong note?
03:04 Yeah, you know, I think at the beginning of the fourth quarter,
03:07 Mason Richman gave a really good speech, and I think it really sparked a lot of guys.
03:11 And, you know, it fired me up, you know, and that's the drive.
03:14 That was right before the drive, like he said earlier,
03:17 had two third down conversions.
03:19 And so I just think that getting that spark was good, but, you know,
03:23 just trying to continue that through the whole game is what we're going to try to do,
03:26 and we're going to learn from that.
03:28 Third down was a big issue last year, lowest percentage, so definitely yes.
03:33 But does Kade bring you a different element?
03:36 You guys are much more successful on this third down today.
03:38 Yeah, I mean, I think that, you know, it's a whole team.
03:42 You know, I think that if you go out there and not everyone's on the same page,
03:46 and, you know, all 11 guys doing the right thing,
03:48 then you're not going to go out there and convert.
03:51 So, you know, I think that it's just all about going out there, everyone,
03:56 and getting it done.
03:58 You guys relied heavily on, I think, all but 15 plays or whatever,
04:02 we're largely in at least 12, if not 14, on the goal line.
04:07 That's incredible.
04:09 Yeah.
04:10 I mean, what does it mean for the tight end group?
04:12 You've got four tight ends on the team.
04:13 It's awesome.
04:14 When Coach Hodge came in and he wrote up that, you know, that personnel grouping,
04:19 I went straight to the receivers room and tried to find Nico.
04:22 He wasn't in there.
04:23 But I told Vines, I was like, "Come on, Deontay, look at this.
04:25 Get all the receivers out and put all the tight ends in.
04:27 It's great."
04:28 You know, I just think that it's so awesome.
04:32 Everyone in that personnel group deserves to be on the field,
04:36 and I'm just so happy for it.
04:38 You know, it's just awesome.
04:40 What did Mason say?
04:42 You know, he just, you know, anything that they would say,
04:44 just like pick up the tempo, let's go, and, you know, just get us going.
04:48 It was good speech.
04:50 He's generally a pretty quiet guy.
04:52 Mason?
04:53 Mason, yeah, he doesn't strike me as being a demonstrative type of guy.
04:57 Did that fire you guys up even more,
04:59 that he's kind of stepping out of character a little bit?
05:02 You know, I feel like he is pretty vocal.
05:05 You know, maybe he just doesn't show it that much.
05:08 But, you know, in the practices and stuff, he's always pretty vocal,
05:11 and I think that just kind of the timing and where, you know,
05:18 when it happened, obviously the timing when it happened,
05:20 but just going out there and having that time, it was perfect.
05:25 And I think that, you know, it was great at the time.
05:28 All right, thanks, though.
05:30 Thanks, Luke.
05:31 Thanks, Jack.
05:32 16 tackles on 90 days is a big day, 90-plus degree beat.
05:36 It's quite a workload.
05:38 What did you think about how you started it all?
05:40 I'd say I saw a video from Inky Johnson.
05:44 He was talking to some college team, and he said,
05:46 "Expectations are external and the standard's internal."
05:50 And, I mean, I feel like if you put any linebacker that wears a Tigerhawk,
05:55 he would have did the same thing.
05:57 Just trying to live up to the standard, keep the defense moving forward.
06:03 It looks like you almost had an interception.
06:06 I'm going to lose sleep on it.
06:08 I'm going to lose sleep on it.
06:09 Did you read the play before it was happening?
06:11 You were right.
06:12 I was blitzing off the edge, and I saw the back leave,
06:15 so I knew if the back's going out, somebody's coming behind me.
06:19 And what opportunity, you know what I mean?
06:21 I was mad.
06:22 I was mad.
06:24 How did you feel like the defense played overall?
06:27 I feel like we did a good job handling the tempo.
06:30 I mean, these dudes were getting to the line of scrimmage, snapping the ball.
06:34 Usually when they get to the line of scrimmage to see what you're in,
06:37 these guys are just getting to the line of scrimmage just to run a play.
06:40 So, I feel like we did a good job just handling the tempo.
06:44 Everybody got a line.
06:46 Everybody's eyes were right.
06:47 Obviously some things to clean up.
06:49 Obviously a pick six would have helped us if we wouldn't have gave up a field goal.
06:54 But obviously some things to clean up.
06:56 Excited for the guys.
06:57 First time this group, this defense has played together in a real setting.
07:01 So, really, really proud of the guys.
07:04 What did you think of your chemistry with you and Nick Jackson?
07:07 Great communication out there.
07:09 Obviously you plan for something all week.
07:12 We planned for them to bring tight ends, and they didn't bring any tight ends.
07:17 And when they did bring a tight end, it was a big guy who stayed in the core.
07:20 So, the ability just to change what we've been practicing all week
07:24 and communicate.
07:26 I mean, you guys saw on that third down where early in the game he gave up that
07:30 same route.
07:32 They come back to it late in the game, big conversion for him, and he picks it up.
07:37 And that's pre-snap communication.
07:40 He actually told me the play was coming.
07:42 And just examples like that, that's all you can ask for.
07:46 What stood out about DeSean being kind of just in the time leading up to this?
07:50 Really proud of the dude.
07:52 Young guy.
07:53 Obviously they tried, you know, trying with the vertical.
07:57 They rode out to the field to throw a long pass back.
08:01 He stayed on it.
08:03 And that's a play that's not going to show up.
08:05 You know what I mean?
08:06 That play's not going to show up on a PBU or interception.
08:08 But in the defensive room, Coach Parker's watching the defense,
08:11 and he sees a young DB stay patient, stay disciplined, trick play.
08:15 Like, that's all we can ask for.
08:17 I mean, our thing is we're just trying to play disciplined football.
08:20 If you beat us in a one-on-one battle, okay, we can live with it.
08:24 But our eyes, responsibilities, getting behind us, like that,
08:27 we can't go without that.
08:29 So, a young guy who understands the importance of, you know,
08:33 reading your keys is great.
08:35 What play was that?
08:37 Quarterback rolled out.
08:39 I was in second contained, and I ran up to the quarterback,
08:42 and I saw him look away.
08:44 And I thought for some reason I could make the play on the rollout back.
08:47 But he looked back, and it wasn't open.
08:51 And that means DeSean was back there.
08:53 That's all you can ask for.
08:55 You know you're going to get trick plays.
08:57 You know you're going to get gadget plays.
08:58 Those guys had a lot of gadget plays on film.
09:01 Just the amount of bubbles they threw the second halfback pass
09:04 and all that stuff.
09:05 So, just proud of him, really.
09:08 You were mentioning expecting him to come with a tight end.
09:10 Or was there a lot that they did differently from what you were game planning
09:14 for kind of a tough position when they have a changing offensive coordinator?
09:18 Yeah, we expected their senior tight end, number 83.
09:22 He was a big part of their offense on film, obviously.
09:24 So, I mean, we watched every game they had last year.
09:27 He was a big part of that.
09:28 And then they also had 87.
09:30 So, they would pair those two up, really get the run game going with those guys.
09:34 I mean, and 10 personnel.
09:37 We're in the Big 10.
09:38 So, we're not really built for 10 personnel.
09:41 That's why I'm so happy with Nick.
09:43 I mean, just being a linebacker, basically playing -- he was guarding the pass all game.
09:48 I mean, you look at the stat sheet, it's going to say he had a quiet game.
09:51 But, I mean, the guy was in covers the whole game.
09:54 And that's -- as a linebacker, I would rather make tackles than guard people.
09:59 One or two more questions.
10:02 No?
10:03 No?
10:04 All right, Jay.
10:05 Next is Sean, and then we'll have Kate coming in next.
10:06 So, questions for Sean?
10:08 When did you realize that -- or when did you hear that you were going to get the starting nod?
10:12 For like the last previous couple weeks, I've been running with the ones.
10:16 But the week of the game, I found out that I was actually going to start.
10:20 What was that moment like for you?
10:22 I was just ready for my number to be called, just preparing a lot,
10:26 just putting in a lot of work so I'd be ready when that day finally do come.
10:30 That came after your first two plays of the game.
10:32 Yeah.
10:33 Was that a welcome to the game?
10:36 I mean, I'm happy they did.
10:37 It woke me up a little bit.
10:40 You got a little bit demonstrative after a few of the plays that you made,
10:43 especially early on in the game.
10:45 Is that something that you were trying to communicate to the defense that you're
10:48 fired up or just something for yourself or what?
10:51 No, it was just me just being in the moment, a lot of hard work being put in.
10:54 And I finally made a play in the college game, so it was just a lot of excitement.
10:58 You had an interception that will never appear in a real story.
11:02 What did you think about that?
11:05 And then, of course, the letdown of knowing that it wasn't going to count.
11:10 I mean, I made the play, but they caught it back.
11:12 I wasn't really too worried about it.
11:14 I was focused on the next play as long as we got the win.
11:16 That's all I really care about.
11:18 You kind of missed tackle in one play, but the very next play through the
11:21 receiver you got there, tackled.
11:23 How do you respond to that play?
11:24 How do you respond to that?
11:25 I play defensive back as always, next play mentality.
11:28 I can't dwell on that or nothing like that.
11:30 So, once that happened, I just went to the next play.
11:33 Trying to learn Phil Parker's defense can be like drinking a little fire hose
11:37 at times.
11:38 How much have you been able to absorb what he's teaching you
11:42 and how have you been able to apply it?
11:44 A lot of preparation, a lot of film.
11:46 Older guys help me out a lot, you know, so I just look at it a lot,
11:51 watch a lot of film, be on my tablet 24/7 anytime I can.
11:55 And during the game itself,
11:57 what kind of feedback are you getting from the coaches,
11:59 especially in the middle of a performance like that?
12:02 I mean, they got expectations for me, so it's not really a --
12:06 you make a good play, it's on to the next play really.
12:10 It's expectations.
12:12 De'Sean, you and Jay were just flying around out there.
12:14 What did you see from Jay today?
12:18 Great Mike linebacker, fast, physical, just an Iowa linebacker really.
12:25 What all did you just learn from last season?
12:31 Good question.
12:32 A lot.
12:35 You got to prepare a lot to be out there.
12:37 You got to compete a lot.
12:38 It take a lot.
12:40 So, just really mental.
12:43 What changes, I guess, have you made?
12:46 My speed, I see things quicker.
12:49 I can actually play, being less timid, you know,
12:53 not really scared to mess up.
12:56 Xavier said you won the Bullhawks competition for the fall camp.
12:59 What was your fall camp like?
13:02 Making plays a lot?
13:03 Yeah, a lot of plays being made, but everybody was making plays though.
13:10 What did you do well, I guess, in your mind
13:12 to earn this position because Mr. Mariano was a big role?
13:16 Just doing my job and when the ball is in my area, just go get it,
13:20 make the play at the point of attack.
13:22 That's really it.
13:24 You mentioned learning stuff from the forwarder guys.
13:26 Who are some of those guys and what did you learn from them?
13:28 Jay Mar, he helped me out a lot.
13:30 He always in my ear telling me things that he see.
13:33 He's been here for what, four or five years,
13:35 so he see things that I might not be able to see.
13:37 So, he just really put me in his mind.
13:39 I just look at stuff way differently.
13:42 What was it like to go against a spread, really fast tempo team
13:47 in your first career start?
13:49 I mean, they're coming after you, but they're always trying to get as many
13:51 plays in and then throw the ball all over the place.
13:54 It was a challenge, but I mean, I still got to do my job at the end of the day.
13:59 So, it wasn't really nothing too different.
14:01 Our offense run a lot of fat.
14:03 These last couple weeks our offense been giving us real fast looks.
14:06 The scout team been doing a good job at giving us real fast looks.
14:08 So, I feel like I was prepared.
14:11 When Jay was here, he mentioned that Utah State was doing some things on
14:16 personnel that they weren't, that the preparation had been sort of slightly
14:21 different and that was more along the lines of tight ends and stuff.
14:24 Over there on the perimeter, was there anything that you saw today that sort of
14:28 surprised you or was it all closer to what you prepared for?
14:32 Yeah, not at all.
14:33 None of it really surprised me.
14:34 Everything that they gave us, we seen on film.
14:37 Like I said, did a lot of preparation, watching a lot of film.
14:40 So, everything that they really did, we kind of already knew they was going to do.
14:44 Excellent.
14:45 All right, thanks Deshaun.
14:46 Appreciate it.
14:47 Thanks.
14:48 Questions for Kade?
14:49 What was that first pass like?
14:50 Oh, man.
14:52 Gosh, I was so fired up.
14:54 I mean, we had the exact look we wanted.
14:56 And to be honest, I was kind of surprised that that play was called that early.
15:00 I was expecting maybe a play action or something.
15:03 But when, you know, Brian called it and we got the look that we wanted,
15:06 I was just so fired up to be able to hit that.
15:10 And Seth made a great play on it.
15:12 How's the leg?
15:13 You know, it's getting better.
15:15 You know, I knew I wasn't going to be 100% going into this game.
15:18 You know, there's a couple of awkward positions I was put in today.
15:22 But to be honest, I think the O-line really kept me protected today.
15:26 They did a really good job of, you know, I mean, a lot of those plays,
15:29 I was getting into my second hitch.
15:31 And, I mean, they're still known within three yards of me.
15:34 So, it's getting better.
15:36 You know, we'll take a look at it tomorrow,
15:38 and I'm just going to do everything I can to just continue to get healthy.
15:41 There was one play in particular in the third quarter
15:43 where you're scrambling, you make a little bit of a move,
15:46 and then after you get rid of the ball, you're pretty noticeably working on that quad.
15:50 Was that, like, something in particular that was troublesome for you
15:55 or something that you just realized was part of the healing process?
15:59 I mean, that was just kind of like a difficult move.
16:02 I mean, spin moving with a guy on you is just--
16:05 I mean, when you're not at 100%, that's still like a tough move to do.
16:09 So, I mean, yeah, I mean, I'm just going to try and just keep getting better.
16:15 I mean, like there are times that I'm going to be put in a position on the field
16:18 that, you know, I'm going to have to work a little harder
16:20 or put my body in certain positions.
16:22 So, I mean, that's just kind of a part of the healing process that, you know,
16:26 when you have a soft tissue injury, it's just, you know,
16:29 I've got to battle through these things.
16:31 But, you know, the doctors and the trainers feel that it's still safe for me to play.
16:35 I mean, I'm going to do everything I can and just continue to play.
16:38 What was it like throwing a touchdown pass to Eric all again?
16:40 I mean, it was--I mean, the same thing.
16:42 I mean, the amount of joy that we both had when that happened.
16:45 It was kind of a lot different than we practice it.
16:48 Usually we practice it, and he got caught up at the line a little bit.
16:52 They were bringing, you know, a lot of pressures today.
16:55 So, he was able to, you know, clear out there for me,
16:58 and all I had to do was just put an easy ball on him.
17:00 What about just yourself?
17:02 I mean, it's been a long time since you've been in a game,
17:04 and last season you didn't play too much, obviously.
17:07 So, just being back out there, what did it feel like in front of a lot of fans
17:12 and how you responded?
17:14 I mean, we have just the best fan base.
17:17 I was just so excited.
17:19 I mean, I was feeling it when, you know, even in pregame,
17:22 when the student section is already full, and, you know, we're bouncing around,
17:26 we're getting fired up, and we're just warming up.
17:28 And, you know, I think it was a really special moment for me.
17:31 I think for us to have a feel--to be honest, I'm kind of excited that we were able
17:35 to see some adversity for the first time.
17:38 I didn't want it to be, you know, just a cakewalk, and for us to just, you know,
17:43 just see a bunch of success.
17:44 Like, it's important for us as a new group that's trying to connect even more,
17:49 you know, in game situations for us to have to deal with things like that.
17:51 And I think, you know, at the end of the day, you know, we could feel that,
17:55 you know, we need a score on this drive.
17:57 Like, it's been--the defense has been on the field for too long.
18:00 And, you know, for a guy like, you know, Mason Richman to, you know,
18:04 bring the guys up and get us motivated, and for a guy like Luke Lachey to come up
18:08 with just a huge cash when this team needed it most, I think, you know, yeah,
18:13 we struggled a little bit, but I also think there was a lot of good
18:16 that came out of that.
18:17 What was responsible for that stall?
18:19 What's that?
18:20 What was responsible for that stall?
18:22 You mentioned the two drives and then kind of stalling out.
18:25 Honestly, just a lack of execution.
18:27 I mean, I think, you know, we were put in really good positions.
18:31 I think, you know, I needed to do a lot better of, you know--I mean,
18:35 it was my first game in a while, too, and I think, you know, a lot of guys,
18:38 you know, we've--I mean, it's kind of the same thing.
18:40 I think, you know, it's still our first game, and this is our first time being
18:44 out there as a group, and, of course, there's going to be, like, little mistakes.
18:47 I mean, the guys are excited.
18:49 I mean, there's going to be false starts.
18:51 Like, that's stuff that we can clean up, and, you know,
18:54 we're not too worried about those things.
18:56 But I think, you know, as I said, I think, you know,
18:59 this is a really good experience for our team and our offense.
19:02 On the first two drives, I guess, what did you feel like went really well?
19:07 I mean, it was just a high level of execution.
19:10 Every guy on the team was doing their job.
19:12 And, you know, when all of us are--you know, when this offense is hitting on all
19:17 cylinders, that's the product.
19:19 You know, whether it was me or, you know, something that caused us
19:23 to stall a little bit, I mean, we just have to be better.
19:26 And, you know, as I said, some adversity is really good for us.
19:30 What challenges did they present to you guys in the run game?
19:33 What were the challenges they presented?
19:35 You know, they were able to disguise coverage a lot, and I think for them to
19:40 put an extra body in the box, I think, you know, there's a couple different
19:43 fronts that, you know, as playing a new defense in a new team that you didn't
19:47 really have much film on.
19:49 I mean, we're watching film on, like, four different teams from where this
19:52 coordinator has been.
19:53 So, I mean, I feel like a first game is always kind of weird because you're not--you
19:57 don't have actual tape on the team to watch.
20:00 So, I mean, from a run game standpoint, I mean, they're mixing up some different
20:04 fronts.
20:05 I mean, they were even dropping out some guys that we weren't expecting, you
20:07 know, for them to drop out.
20:09 So, I think just a combination of just really, like, kind of a lack of film and
20:14 just, you know, it's our first experience seeing the team in person.
20:17 You know, I think it's going to--you know, we just have to make some
20:20 adjustments, and I think we did.
20:22 You guys really leaned hard on your two, three, four tight ends on certain
20:27 plays, touchdown plays.
20:29 What is it about the tight ends that this team has that can really help take this
20:33 offense to a high level?
20:35 Yeah, I think--I mean, that tight end group is extremely elite.
20:39 We have some of the best players in the country, in my opinion.
20:42 And, I mean, the more that we can have those guys involved, the better position
20:48 this offense is going to be.
20:50 How valuable is it for you, kind of one week, two weeks, three weeks down the
20:53 road, to have this game experience when you haven't had that in a while?
20:57 Yeah, I mean, I think this is great for us.
20:59 You know, the main objective is to get the win, and we did that.
21:02 And I think now a lot of the guys are just really eager, even though, you know,
21:06 we already won the game and, you know, a level of celebration has already begun.
21:10 I think a lot of the guys are really eager to just go out, go back and watch the
21:14 film and get better.
21:15 Two more questions.
21:16 Cade, how important was it that fourth quarter drive after the, you know, two
21:20 maybe stagnant quarters for you guys to really bounce back and show that
21:22 resiliency and just kind of end on a high note for you, just getting back out there?
21:27 Yeah, I thought--I mean, that was the biggest drive of the game.
21:29 And I thought, I think, from an offensive standpoint, for us to be with our back
21:35 against the wall a little bit and for us to, you know, bring it all together.
21:38 And we knew that we had to execute that drive.
21:40 And, I mean, it didn't come easy.
21:42 There were conversions made on that drive.
21:45 There were--you know, we had to break man covers.
21:47 They were bringing the house on a couple plays, and, you know, we answered.
21:50 And I think that showed a lot about what this offense is about and what we can do.
21:54 When you look at the next opponent, it's in state rivalry.
21:57 You've played in in-state rivalry games yourselves.
21:59 Have you heard much about this one?
22:01 Has there been any discussion offseason about what the next team is?
22:06 Yeah, I mean, there's been plenty of discussion that I've had with my teammates,
22:09 you know, especially the guys that are from Iowa.
22:12 And I know how much this game means to us.
22:15 All right, thanks, Kane.
22:17 How did you feel the offensive line did today?
22:19 Yeah, I mean, I felt like compared to last year, I mean, we've just made a big jump, I think.
22:24 And that's just the things we do off the field.
22:26 You know, like I've said this before, just out of camaraderie,
22:28 I felt like today we played a lot more together than, like, past offensive line did.
22:33 It looked like pass protection was really strong today.
22:35 You seemed to prove what worked for you guys collectively.
22:39 I mean, you were by yourself, of course.
22:41 Yeah.
22:42 Just collectively, what do you think kind of helped get that to that area?
22:45 Yeah, I think the thing that we've most improved on is just our communication.
22:48 You know, last year I struggled a lot with, like, communication.
22:50 You know, we had Mason making calls, and, like, I'd have to ask for a call and whatnot.
22:54 But, you know, I see something, and then Mason sees something.
22:56 Like, we're just all on the same page.
22:58 I think we understand that, and that goes from, like, watching the film and things like that.
23:01 But the communication out there, I mean, it was just so much better
23:05 and so much more improved, and I felt very confident each snap
23:09 and what, like, we needed to do.
23:11 And then it was just about getting the job done.
23:12 Several guys mentioned Mason firing you guys up in the fourth quarter.
23:15 What was his message, and what did you think of him getting fired up like that?
23:19 Yeah, I mean, there's a standard for what we do as not only an offense
23:24 but being an Iowa Hawkeye.
23:26 And, you know, the standard is to go out there and give it our all every single play,
23:29 and that's basically what he told us.
23:30 You know, we weren't--you know, there were a couple drives
23:32 we were leaving some things out on the field, and we understood that.
23:35 So, you know, the next drive I believe we had a touchdown with KJ.
23:38 So it was a pretty cool thing.
23:40 I mean, just hearing him, and then, I mean, you have other dudes who chime in too,
23:43 like K. We have such great leaders on this team who are just talking out there,
23:47 you know, giving us pep talks and things like that.
23:49 But, you know, that pep talk, you know, that's basically the gist of it.
23:53 36 rushing attempts for 88 yards total is, you know, not going to blow any doors off.
23:59 Yep.
24:00 Cade mentioned that the Utah State defense was showing some things
24:05 that probably weren't on preparation film.
24:08 So when you're trying to think about how to improve that production,
24:12 do you think today was more about, like, execution or preparation not matching
24:17 what was on the field or what?
24:19 Yeah, I mean, playing the first game it's always kind of hard to, you know,
24:21 see what we're going to get because we never know.
24:23 I mean, they have a new defensive coordinator this year.
24:25 You know, we were watching personnel and things like that,
24:27 and we knew exactly what we were going to run.
24:29 But at the end of the day it is about execution and getting things done,
24:32 and we're going to have to go back and watch the film
24:34 and see the things that we need to improve on.
24:36 Because, I mean, we weren't perfect in any aspect of the game today.
24:38 So we're going to go watch the film tomorrow
24:40 and see what we need to work on and go from there.
24:42 You guys go off to a hot start, like maybe a little bit more stagnant
24:45 in the second, third lesson things out there.
24:47 How important was that fourth quarter drive for you guys to really at least end,
24:50 at least from the first team's perspective, on a strong note?
24:53 I mean, it was very important.
24:54 You know, it was kind of like our exclamation point.
24:56 You know, every time we go out there it's our job to go out there and score
24:59 and help our defense out.
25:00 Because, I mean, what they do, they help us every single game.
25:02 So, you know, if we can get out on the field, you know, help them out,
25:05 go get a touchdown, field goal, whatever it is,
25:07 just put some points on the board, you know,
25:09 it's just going to help us at the end of the day.
25:11 How much of a confidence boost were those first two drives?
25:13 I mean, those were awesome.
25:15 I don't know, the first play I can't even remember what it was.
25:17 And then deep ball to set, that was awesome, you know.
25:20 I'm a big boy, so I like to get off the field when I can.
25:22 Otherwise I'll be dying out there.
25:23 And it was hot too.
25:24 It's like, all right, let's go.
25:26 I was hoping for another one.
25:27 But, I mean, it's awesome.
25:28 It's such a, like, momentum thing, you know, that's real.
25:30 If you have momentum on your side, it really helps.
25:33 And then we went and scored again.
25:34 I mean, it's real.
25:35 So, just seeing that and then just seeing, like, all the guys celebrate.
25:38 I mean, there's nothing better than that.
25:39 That's what you play football for and it was really cool.
25:41 A couple more questions.
25:42 What was it like with Cade in the huddle?
25:45 I mean, how was his mannerisms?
25:47 What did he say, both in adverse situations and then successful situations?
25:52 Yeah, I mean, he's a great leader.
25:53 I think the thing you see most is he's more of a vocal leader.
25:56 And, you know, we see that in the huddle and things like this.
25:58 You know, he's talking to us, what we need to do, snap count, things like this.
26:00 And we had a couple, I think, false starts today.
26:03 And, you know, he's like, all right, let's get back to it.
26:05 And you just got to brush it off.
26:06 I mean, Cade, he's not only, like, a great leader,
26:08 but he's one of my good friends too, which is really cool.
26:11 You know, I think he really loves the offensive line and everybody out there.
26:14 I don't know, just being able to play with him, it's just -- it's different.
26:17 I mean, compared -- from, like, this past -- like, last year to this year for me,
26:21 personally, I think it's maybe because we're closer in age or whatever it is.
26:24 But, I mean, Cade's a good dude, and I love playing with him.
26:27 You talked about how hot it was in the second and third quarter,
26:30 not a lot happened.
26:31 How much is that just -- we're getting tired, it's 90-some degrees out.
26:34 I mean, that's tough in the trenches, I imagine.
26:36 Yeah, it can be tough, you know,
26:37 especially when we're running the ball quite a bit, which we tried to do today.
26:40 But, you know, that's what we prepare for.
26:41 I mean, that's why we train in the summer.
26:43 You know, we're conditioning.
26:44 You know, we're trying to prepare for those moments.
26:46 And we want to use it to our advantage because they were --
26:49 I mean, they were dying out there probably, too.
26:51 So, if we can use that to our advantage, we're going to.
26:53 All right, thank you.
26:54 Hype.
26:55 I was hype.
26:56 Teammates were hype.
26:57 It was a great start.
26:58 Were you worried when they reviewed it, or you knew you --
27:00 I knew I caught it.
27:01 I knew I caught it.
27:03 Did you know that play was going to come to you based on the call,
27:05 or were you just going to settle options?
27:07 Yeah, when it was called, I was like, "It's a touchdown."
27:09 [Laughter]
27:10 For sure.
27:11 It looked like a double -- kind of a double move.
27:13 Yeah, it was a double move.
27:14 Kind of describe your route, if you could.
27:15 So, yeah, I got inside of them, you know, faked out, and then went back up.
27:18 And I felt like him fall behind me, so I was like, "Yeah, it should be going to me."
27:22 So, it did.
27:23 You scored touchdowns in college before,
27:24 but did you hear that crowd blow up the way it did in the Morris Alley?
27:27 It was different.
27:28 I mean, it was really electric, you know.
27:29 It was just a great start to the game, which I felt like really got our team going.
27:33 So --
27:34 What did you think of Cade's performance today?
27:36 He did great.
27:37 I mean, it was a first start for Iowa for him.
27:39 You know, new environment, new team.
27:41 It was just -- it was good for him.
27:43 What was the defense on your touchdown?
27:45 The defense?
27:46 Yeah.
27:47 I mean, did you just leave them for dead?
27:49 Yeah, I guess you somewhere behind me.
27:51 [Laughter]
27:53 Is that sometimes hard to catch one when there's nobody around you?
27:56 Those are normally the hardest, to be honest.
27:58 But you just got to secure the catch.
28:00 I don't know why I fell in the first place, but, yeah.
28:04 I mean, you -- there's no way --
28:06 you're responsible for anything that happened in the past here,
28:09 but, you know, there's some, you know, scar tissue, I guess,
28:12 from fans and everybody else about the offense in the past.
28:16 How important was that, do you think, for everybody collectively
28:19 to get two drives, two touchdowns right off the bat?
28:22 I mean, we knew what we're capable of.
28:24 I mean, we knew he was going to go out there and just, you know,
28:26 shove it down the throat or score, you know, get in the end zone.
28:29 That was our goal.
28:30 So, to just achieve it was a great feeling.
28:32 And, you know, to come out with the win was a bigger feeling, better feeling.
28:35 What all went well during those first two drives?
28:38 And I guess there was a little bit of a lull in, like,
28:40 the second and third quarters after.
28:42 What do you feel like was maybe missing during kind of those quarters?
28:45 I'm guessing execution maybe.
28:48 We really, in those last quarters, I mean, we didn't really do anything that--
28:52 or they didn't do anything to really stop us.
28:53 We were just stopping ourselves, I feel like, you know.
28:55 But the first quarter, you know, it's just the whole game is great protection.
28:59 It was just great.
29:00 It's just we need to execute a little more, but it was great.
29:02 What kind of communication are you getting from Kate during the game
29:06 as it's progressing?
29:08 Just telling me, you know, what he's seeing, what I should be doing
29:12 or what I shouldn't be doing and stuff like that
29:14 or, like, what to look for when I'm out there and stuff like that.
29:17 So it really helps me.
29:19 When you transferred here, chose to transfer here,
29:22 could you possibly have this type of thing in mind,
29:25 second play of the season, maybe a touchdown game?
29:28 I mean, I knew I was going to be scoring touchdowns.
29:29 That was pretty quick, so I'll take it.
29:33 It was your first game in a Hawkeye uniform.
29:34 What did you take away from this game?
29:35 What did you learn?
29:38 I mean, I already knew how the environment was going to be
29:40 and how the fans are and how my team was
29:42 because I've been here since January.
29:44 So it was different, of course, because, you know, first game,
29:48 but I already knew what was coming, and I already expected, you know,
29:51 the atmosphere.
29:53 What was it like in a typical game for you last year, atmosphere-wise?
29:57 A lot less fans, of course, because it's a bigger stage over here,
30:02 but, you know, it's all football, so it's all the same stuff.
30:06 I think earlier this month your wide receivers coach said that you were
30:09 humble, but, like, you knew what you were capable of and, like, confident.
30:14 Where does that confidence come from?
30:17 It's really just, you know, you just got to have a mindset that, you know,
30:20 you just -- you're the best person out there, no one can guard you.
30:23 That's who you have to be as a receiver, I think.
30:25 And, you know, having that mindset can go a long ways.
30:28 How do you develop that mindset?
30:30 I guess playing with confidence, you know, you'll realize that it really does help.
30:35 And, you know, I got my dad telling me stuff like that,
30:38 and my brother and just family members, coaches, just, you know,
30:41 always helping me out, so.
30:44 Have you had a chance to look at your phone after the game?
30:47 Yeah, yeah, I was in touch with my family, you know,
30:49 sending texts back and things like that, you know,
30:52 just looking at the vids and all the cool stuff on the media.
30:56 Was your dad impressed?
30:58 He already knew what the deal was.
31:00 I mean, there's nothing new to him.
31:03 So did you get a chance then to see -- you were saying vids,
31:05 like you saw the video of your play?
31:07 Yeah, yeah.
31:08 What stood out to you, like looking back at it, watching yourself?
31:10 The crowd looked crazy on the vid.
31:12 Like I didn't realize, like it was a lot of people there, a lot of people.
31:16 What's it been like, I mean, your dad was such a great player to grow up,
31:19 you know, with him as your dad, and how has it helped you?
31:23 You know, he helped me a lot develop as a football player, you know.
31:26 But it was just so normal to me that I didn't realize how much of a help he was,
31:30 if that makes sense.
31:31 But, yeah, he was a great help to me.
31:33 How did you separate yourself from him when you're your own man now?
31:37 I mean, you know.
31:38 Yeah.
31:39 You've got the predigree, the genes, but you're yourself.
31:42 Yeah, he kind of allows me to be myself.
31:44 You know, he doesn't ever pressure me to, you know,
31:46 follow in his footsteps or anything like that.
31:48 He knows that, you know, I got it in me, and he just pushes me
31:51 and keeps me confident.
31:53 So they never tried to call you Flipper Jr. or anything?
31:55 Yeah.
31:56 Yeah, Nico calls me Big Flip.
31:58 [Laughter]
32:00 But it's whatever, so.