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00:00 Again, thank you for coming out.
00:02 Really proud of the way our team came out.
00:04 We did not take these guys lightly.
00:06 We gave Richmond a lot of credit.
00:08 It's a winning program.
00:09 They have very good coaching staff.
00:10 We've got some great extreme.
00:11 We already have some good players.
00:14 It was really about us, our execution, and our discipline.
00:19 And we started fast on defense.
00:23 We didn't start as fast on offense,
00:24 but we were ready to get going.
00:26 And we have a lot of players that can make plays.
00:29 Offense, defense, and special teams.
00:31 We just have to continue to get better,
00:34 learn from our mistakes, build on the things that we did well,
00:39 and remain focused.
00:40 We need to get some guys back healthy, because we need
00:43 everyone.
00:45 We're not going to have a 24-hour rule right now.
00:51 I told those guys, and they all agreed.
00:53 We get to get the celebration over in the locker room.
00:56 And I'm sure the locker room watches us on the clock.
00:59 That's all.
01:00 No further questions.
01:01 I was wondering what you thought of Noah's performance.
01:09 The 2-3 and out for the offense overall, like you said,
01:11 didn't start as fast.
01:12 But he obviously was sharp overall.
01:14 He had 15 straight completions to add in the game.
01:16 And just settling into the role he has now.
01:19 Yeah, I mean, outside of that, the slow start,
01:23 which is not all on him.
01:24 That's all on us.
01:29 And obviously, he's a good player.
01:33 He's got some talent.
01:35 He can do a lot of things.
01:37 Saw his ability to run the ball today.
01:41 And he throws a really nice ball.
01:44 He stands in the pocket.
01:45 He's accurate.
01:46 He's got a strong arm.
01:49 And he's going to throw the ball to you up in the air.
01:52 I don't know how many different guys caught balls today.
01:55 But he can read the defense.
01:58 He can get the ball to you up in the air.
02:00 And he's a good leader.
02:01 And he's a team guy.
02:04 He doesn't make excuses.
02:06 And that's what you need in that position.
02:11 Now I'm wondering about Richmond's drive
02:13 at the end of the first half.
02:16 There was the missed tackles on the QB escape,
02:20 the fake punt, and then I think the hold on Brantley
02:26 that kept that drive alive.
02:27 Those are the kind of penalties I
02:28 think that you were kind of pointing
02:30 to coming into this game.
02:32 How have you guys tried to address them,
02:34 both this weekend and after the game?
02:36 Yeah, we'll look at the field and we'll get them addressed.
02:38 We'll get them cleaned up.
02:41 I think we got them stopped there at the end.
02:44 I think they missed the field goal.
02:45 Yeah, they hit it up, right?
02:46 So we got them stopped.
02:47 And obviously those things we need to clean up.
02:51 A lot of your guys obviously know
02:53 what's in store a little bit in Washington, the guys
02:55 that played last year.
02:57 There are a lot of new guys as well.
02:58 I'm wondering what you have seen in these two weeks
03:01 and specifically today that give you
03:03 hope that your guys are ready for what's ahead
03:06 the next week and the weeks to come.
03:08 Hope?
03:09 What do you mean?
03:09 What type of hope are you talking about?
03:11 What gives you confidence that your team is ready for--
03:15 That we can win the game?
03:16 Yeah.
03:16 Well, I mean, we'll have to see if we can win the game or not.
03:19 But we're going to be prepared.
03:22 Like I said, I keep saying we've got some good players,
03:25 offense, defense, and special teams.
03:28 We have the potential to get better.
03:29 We're not as good as we can be yet.
03:32 They're very well coached.
03:34 They've got some good players.
03:35 And we're going to prepare like crazy for the opportunity.
03:39 It's not going to be easy.
03:40 It's going to be a tough game.
03:43 But we're going to show up.
03:45 [INAUDIBLE]
03:47 Tyneal Hopper obviously had his first catch
03:49 as a Spartan, his first touchdown as a Spartan.
03:51 How important do you think that his first confidence
03:53 going forward?
03:53 And do you actually get him involved anymore
03:55 in the offense going forward as well?
03:57 Yeah, Hopdad is a good player.
03:58 He does a good job blocking.
04:01 He's got soft hands.
04:03 And that's why he's here.
04:05 We wanted to add to that Tyneal role.
04:08 And so he had an opportunity.
04:10 And he did his job.
04:12 I think it's good. it's a really good play at all.
04:15 It's good touch.
04:16 Soft hands looking in.
04:18 And he scored.
04:19 And so again, he's another guy that
04:22 can make plays for us in the passing game.
04:24 That's what we see in the three.
04:26 He's also has worked very hard to be a productive blocker
04:30 for us in the run game.
04:33 Now you came into the season and looked like your D-line
04:35 could be a strength.
04:36 I'm just wondering through these first two weeks
04:38 what you thought about that group.
04:39 The opponents are what they are.
04:41 What did you see up front?
04:42 Yeah, Dyeron Reynolds is doing a really good job
04:45 with those guys up front.
04:47 They understand that you have to stop the run to earn the right
04:50 to rush the passer.
04:51 We're all bought in on that.
04:53 And as you can see, we can send four guys out and four guys in.
04:58 And the role the guys are doing, keeping them fresh right now.
05:01 So we've got to stay healthy.
05:02 But I like the way they're playing right now.
05:05 They're training up.
05:06 And they understand they have to do their job first.
05:08 And they need to help out somewhere else.
05:11 And so we need to scout against the run
05:14 so we can create some third along
05:17 so we can get to some of our stuff
05:20 so we can get off the field third down.
05:23 Now the dropped interception and then the two fumbles
05:27 probably caused you to shut out.
05:29 How important is ball security next week?
05:32 And can you win if you're sloppy in that area?
05:35 Ball security is top security.
05:38 [INAUDIBLE]
05:40 Obviously, Nathan had another solid game
05:43 through touchdowns.
05:43 I was wondering about the depth behind him.
05:45 We saw Jaylen lead with a leg injury.
05:49 Jared didn't play again.
05:51 Any update on those guys or Jacoby or--
05:54 I don't have an update yet.
05:56 I haven't talked to Rob.
05:59 So I don't have anything for you right now.
06:01 What do you think about Nathan's performance overall,
06:03 being obviously the lead guy today and carrying the workload?
06:07 I thought he had a strong performance today.
06:09 And I thought he was productive.
06:16 And that is consistent with what we've seen since he's been here.
06:23 Along those lines, you got him into the fourth quarter
06:28 with those injuries with Mangum and Berger.
06:33 Is Nathan the kind of guy that can go the distance,
06:36 a full four-quarter game?
06:37 I mean, I know you guys like to roll guys in and out.
06:39 But is that something that you are concerned about,
06:41 to try and keep him fresh?
06:43 We don't want to leave it up to just one guy.
06:47 But he's in superior condition.
06:50 He's very serious about his training
06:56 and how he takes care of his body,
06:59 what he does in the weight room, and things like that.
07:03 But we need, obviously, more than one back.
07:07 And we expect to get him done this season.
07:11 Coach, freshmen normally don't play a ton of time
07:14 like Jordan Hall does at linebacker.
07:16 What is it that you see in him that he's earned that much playing time?
07:21 Well, he's a good young player.
07:22 He got here in January.
07:24 So he went through the winter conditioning program with us,
07:27 which was about eight weeks.
07:29 And then he went through 15 spring practices.
07:31 And he did a really good job.
07:33 And he was here the entire summer.
07:35 And so he knows the defense.
07:39 And he's been playing on special teams.
07:43 And he's a guy that we feel comfortable with going in the game,
07:48 because he knows what to do when he's out there.
07:50 He's physically capable of making the plays
07:53 with as many of the men when he's out there.
07:57 Steven?
07:58 Yes.
08:00 I saw a lot of the guys on the O-line today.
08:03 Was that about just getting guys reps?
08:04 Was it about wanting to see other guys play better at both somewhere?
08:08 Just why do we see so many guys up front today?
08:11 We have that on the offensive line.
08:13 We still have competition every day in practice.
08:17 We're going to play the best players.
08:19 And we talk before the game about who's going to start
08:23 and who's the next man up.
08:25 So any of those guys that we talk about in the staff meeting before the game
08:29 and say that they could play, I'm comfortable with those guys playing.
08:32 If those guys are not brought up in that conversation in the staff meeting,
08:35 I don't expect to see those guys on the field.
08:38 But anybody that Coach Cash says that these guys could play,
08:43 then it's up to him.
08:45 And I'm comfortable with his decisions to roll those guys in or not.
08:48 Without seeing the film, just what were your initial impressions of that group
08:51 as a whole, again, a lot of guys that we saw in there?
08:53 Yeah, I mean, I thought that they played hard
08:55 and they were getting some confidence as the game went on.
08:59 And I need to see more films of us.
09:04 In the running game, you know what I'm saying,
09:07 in the running game, sometimes it's not the line.
09:13 Sometimes it is the line.
09:14 Sometimes, like today, we didn't get into--
09:17 we didn't spot the right linebacker.
09:21 And then we ran a play and we couldn't block.
09:25 We didn't have the numbers to block the front that they had.
09:28 It was a type of a loss.
09:30 It was just impossible to block because we called the wrong spot.
09:36 Or it's the tight end, or it's the receiver, or the back as they hit the hole.
09:40 So I really have to watch the film.
09:43 But I thought we had-- we were starting to open some holes
09:47 and get better power level and get some push in there.
09:50 We played a lot of guys.
09:53 And so that's a good sign for us because two years ago,
09:58 we were able to play a lot of guys.
10:00 And so it kept the competition high in practice.
10:03 In terms of preparation, it allowed us to get a kick out stretch
10:08 so that we can be strong in the fourth quarter.
10:10 And as you know, you want to be in good shape in those games.
10:14 And those games are going to go down to the fourth quarter.
10:17 [no dialogue]
10:21 Anything else, guys?
10:23 All right, final one.
10:25 Coach, Antonio Gates Jr. has been a touchdown Spartan today.
10:30 How excited are you about his development,
10:32 and what do you think he's going to be adding to the wide receiver room going forward?
10:35 Yeah, you know, last week he did a really good job blocking.
10:39 And the ball just really never made it to him.
10:42 He drew a pass interference call and a low move.
10:45 But he's also a guy who's grown tremendously since his freshman year,
10:50 and he can make plays.
10:52 He's a really good football player.
10:53 He's got good hands, he's got good speed, he's tough.
10:56 He, Glove, Tyrell, they all came in the same class.
11:00 All three of those guys are really good players.
11:02 And so I think his best football is ahead of him.
11:06 As you can see when he came off the sideline,
11:09 his team was really happy for him because he has worked really hard
11:13 to get these opportunities to play.
11:16 All right, Coach, thank you.
11:19 Thank you so much.
11:20 See you next time.