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00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:03 >> Jack, you guys have been obviously running the ball a whole lot lately.
00:07 Can you talk about the quarterback's responsibility in the run game that
00:11 you're not just gonna throw it all the time?
00:15 >> Yeah, I think they put a little bit on our plate as far as in the run game,
00:21 making sure we get to the correct run.
00:23 If we have a run up and it's run into a bad look,
00:28 making sure we change it from a run play to a pass play or change it to a different run.
00:33 So there is a little bit going on mentally up there for us.
00:38 >> Okay, yeah, deep into the strategy.
00:41 What's your guys' secret to winning the coin toss as much as you have?
00:44 >> Man, you shouldn't ask that question.
00:47 >> [LAUGH] >> Yeah, I don't know.
00:49 I actually thought about that when we won it again.
00:54 I think we only lost one coin toss.
00:56 But it's nice to be able to have our defense go out there and
01:00 give a stop and give us a good field position.
01:02 >> Jack, given your experience with Jeff at Purdue, are you a little bit, or
01:09 were you, are you a little bit surprised about the emphasis on the run as much?
01:14 >> Yeah, obviously it's been a lot different for me.
01:18 I've never had to play the quarterback position like this before.
01:22 I've always kinda been throwing the ball a ton of times in the game.
01:26 But hey, it's what we're doing, it's what we're working with.
01:29 I think it's a credit to coach understanding what we're good at and
01:33 what we're doing.
01:34 And he's not one of those guys that says, hey, this is what we do,
01:38 this is how we're gonna do it.
01:39 He's gonna adapt to his players.
01:42 And what's been going well for us this year, and
01:45 obviously the last two years have been running the ball really well.
01:48 But I think that goes to show we practice so many things in the spring,
01:54 the summer, and the fall that we have all these in our bag to be able to pull out
01:59 and use, so it is a little bit different.
02:01 Kinda never expected to go into a game under Coach Brown and
02:06 only throw it 12 times, but- >> [LAUGH]
02:09 >> But that's where we're at.
02:10 >> [LAUGH]
02:12 >> Jack, we're used to seeing teams at
02:14 the beginning of the fourth quarter hold up a four,
02:16 or something that seems kinda standard.
02:19 You guys have kinda taken it to another level.
02:21 What are you doing when that's all going on?
02:25 And there's some coaches getting into it too?
02:28 >> Yeah, obviously I think, especially at home with the Joker and the Thief,
02:33 I think that gets the guys really going.
02:35 And the O-line has started to, I don't even know if they choreographed that or
02:41 how they did that, but it looks pretty good.
02:44 I think it's just, it gets the guys excited, it gets us going,
02:46 it gets the crowd into it.
02:47 I think we feed off the crowd's energy, so I think it's been really good for us.
02:52 Me personally, I'm just kinda jamming along with it.
02:55 I'm not as musically inclined as some of these O-line guys.
02:59 >> [LAUGH]
03:01 >> But yeah, I just try to go out there
03:03 and just, it's a good time with your teammates and stuff too, so.
03:06 >> Jack.
03:08 >> Following the Virginia Tech game, Jeff said, was talking about how Brian Hudson's
03:11 been dealing with some injuries, hasn't been practicing much.
03:13 And so you basically have to hand-pick his leg to get him out of there.
03:16 What does that type of leadership and his performance without practicing all week
03:19 mean to the offensive line as well as the team?
03:22 >> Yeah, I think with Brian going through some stuff,
03:26 he gets a lot of mental reps during the week.
03:29 And it's a credit to the coaches and the rest of the O-line up there,
03:33 knowing that he's gonna put in the time, not just on the practice field, but
03:37 he's gonna put in the time in the meeting rooms.
03:39 Staying out there and watching the film,
03:41 making sure he knows exactly what to do before he gets out there with the limited
03:45 reps he gets.
03:46 And I think it goes to show how tough he is.
03:48 And we got other guys on the team too that I think are pretty tough individuals.
03:53 And they're dealing with some stuff that probably maybe isn't public that, and
03:58 then go out there on Saturdays and play in the game.
04:00 So I think it's a credit to this team and the culture that we have here.
04:04 >> Jack, a burning question on people's minds.
04:08 The mustache is back.
04:10 And I mean, I don't even know how to phrase this question.
04:13 Like what goes behind keeping it or shaving it?
04:16 Like are you gonna keep it?
04:17 What's going on?
04:18 >> I don't know what you're talking about.
04:19 >> [LAUGH] >> I'm just going out here and
04:22 playing football.
04:22 I'm just trying to go out there and do my job.
04:26 And see what's going on out there and throw the ball to the receivers.
04:32 >> Jack, the crowd, the home field advantage.
04:37 It gets loud.
04:38 There's times when you're asking them to quiet down.
04:43 Can you just kind of talk about, I mean, how loud is it?
04:45 What's that like?
04:47 And what's the advantage?
04:49 >> Yeah, I think the crowd does get loud.
04:53 It helps our defense.
04:54 Noticeably for me, I mean, probably I was bad, but noticeably,
04:59 I see a speed off of that.
05:01 Now, when we're on offense, I would like them to be quiet.
05:05 I think they just get excited.
05:06 Sometimes we get a turnover, they're still cheering, they get excited.
05:08 But we gotta be able to get a snap count.
05:12 We gotta use the crowd to our advantage and not let them get an advantage.
05:16 But it just goes to show the excitement that's behind all the fans.
05:20 And we see that and we really appreciate that.
05:23 >> We've also, we've talked a lot about the running game and
05:26 how people don't expect it from Coach Brown's offense.
05:28 The two things we talked about at the beginning of the year were passing and
05:31 trick plays.
05:32 You haven't had to use a lot of those trick plays.
05:35 I know you still practice them.
05:36 Are you like, come on, we gotta use one of these, Coach?
05:38 Or is it nice not to really have to kind of dip into the bag and
05:42 you've got a lot of things left?
05:43 >> Yeah, we still got the trick plays up.
05:46 I think we have ran more than people, I mean, we ran a couple already.
05:52 I mean, coach usually dials up more to a game, but
05:57 I think we've kind of held back a little bit just with playing with some leads.
06:02 Making the play calls not so aggressive where there's a higher chance of
06:07 something going wrong in a negative play.
06:08 But we still got them and
06:12 I think it's good that we haven't shown all the ones that we've used to.
06:15 >> Jack, with all your experience, what can it do for a player like Isaac?
06:21 He talked about a little after the game the other day,
06:23 like just wait for that moment.
06:24 What can it do for him to have a game like that for his confidence moving forward?
06:30 >> I don't wanna speak for Isaac, but I think it can help him for sure.
06:33 I think we all knew in the program that he's capable of doing that.
06:38 So to see him go out there and do that was special.
06:42 And even Maurice, too, Maurice Turner, he's a special player.
06:45 He's gonna be a really good player for this program.
06:48 He's got all that capability as well.
06:50 So just making sure that all those guys are ready and they understand that.
06:54 That's probably one of our better groups on the team is the running back group.
06:57 So it's definitely good for him.
06:59 I think it kinda showed the fans what he's about.
07:04 And yeah, I'm happy for him and he did a really good job this Saturday.
07:08 >> For both of you guys, we talked about the jumper, the thief,
07:13 the home field advantage.
07:14 But I guess just percentage wise or whatever,
07:18 what allows you guys to play so strong at home?
07:21 Cuz you have played, it seems like a lot better at home than on the road.
07:26 >> Yeah, just going back to what I said with the crowd, us feeding off that.
07:33 Being able to make it hard on the opposing offenses and
07:36 then allowing our defense to go out there and play.
07:38 And then giving us good field position to work with makes it easier.
07:42 So I think we've been playing good, confident football at home.
07:45 And we're just gonna have to keep building on that going forward.
07:49 >> Yeah, kind of piggyback off of Jack.
07:50 I think having that home field advantage and having the crowd noise involved, too.
07:54 That kind of played a big role into messing up the offensive snap counts.
07:57 You see a couple times we get them to jump off the ball start a couple times, too.
08:01 So just having a crowd there, big crowd,
08:03 playing compromised football like he said, goes into that.
08:07 >> I guess just kind of following up, Jack,
08:13 what were your first impressions when you heard the joker and
08:15 the thief in that first kind of setting?
08:17 >> It's someone that told me about it.
08:20 I never saw a video or real experience, I just don't know what the song was.
08:25 But just to, it was the first game against Murray, it was cool to see everyone get
08:31 on their feet and get out there and start dancing and
08:36 playing along with the air instruments.
08:39 But yeah, it's something cool and people have told me when they come to the game,
08:44 it was my family and friends have always said,
08:47 that was one of my favorite parts of the game, just seeing that and
08:50 how involved the players are into it.
08:54 And then as well as everyone in the stands on their feet.
08:56 It's definitely something that's really cool.
08:59 >> And there's certainly scheme and control to the defense,
09:07 but also there's kind of a madness to it.
09:10 You guys just seem to be playing like crazy lunatics out there,
09:14 the pursuit of the football, all that kind of stuff.
09:16 Is that just sort of developed with what's happening or
09:20 have you guys made an intentional effort to do exactly that?
09:23 >> I think it's really the intentional effort.
09:25 Coach English always talks about getting to the ball.
09:28 It's one thing to run to the ball, but it's another thing to get to the ball and
09:32 put your face on the ball, all that stuff.
09:34 So I think it's very implemented in practice that we get to the ball,
09:37 we run to the ball.
09:38 And getting to the ball kind of cleans up mistakes too.
09:41 So guys may be misfitting a couple times here and there, but
09:44 I think Coach English has always put in effort,
09:47 put in that get ten hats into the frame mentality.
09:50 It kind of cleans up a lot of stuff.
09:51 [BLANK_AUDIO]
09:57 >> Ben, do you guys defensively, because there's so many bodies,
10:00 there's so many guys, especially on the defensive line, but
10:04 even for you guys with Antonio and you battling.
10:08 When you're in there, do you almost feel like you gotta make a play because
10:11 somebody else is gonna come in?
10:12 Do you gotta take advantage of every opportunity?
10:16 >> With the coaching staff here, they preach too deep.
10:18 Everybody gotta be ready to play.
10:20 So I think they heavily emphasize in getting players ready and
10:24 having Watts, a young guy right behind me, who's a great player.
10:27 Him getting reps, stuff like that, kinda keeps me ready, keeps me prepared.
10:32 I can always take mental reps when he's in the game too.
10:35 So the biggest thing is a lot of us are healthy because we have two deep players
10:40 and we can always rotate and stuff.
10:42 So I don't feel like it's any really competition.
10:45 I need to make a play or I need to do this.
10:47 I just need to do my job, the best of my ability, and
10:49 if a play come my way, then it's time to make it.
10:51 >> All right.
10:52 >> Kinda, I got one.
10:54 Ben, kinda piggybacking off that question.
10:57 How much of a luxury is it and how much confidence do you guys take in the fact
11:01 that this defense isn't reliant on one player, like one lead and
11:05 tackler or whatever to be that guy when you need it to make the play?
11:12 >> It's kind of a good thing.
11:12 It's kind of fun.
11:14 Again, the coaches lead way to scheme up blitzes for different players and
11:18 different practices cuz they know we can all make plays.
11:21 So the biggest thing for us is just to go out there, have fun with each other,
11:25 love on each other.
11:26 When somebody else make a play, tap the hat, get to celebrate with each other.
11:30 And for the most part, it's just been fun.
11:33 It's been fun to learn.
11:34 It's been fun to play.
11:35 It's been fun to just be out there with each other as a defense and
11:38 just put on our best show.
11:39 >> Thank you.