IAFB Players Offense 1111423

  • last year
Iowa offensive players 11-14-23
Transcript
00:00 Big Ten West and make it to Indianapolis.
00:01 So we talked about it at the beginning and I don't know,
00:06 you never wanna see the big picture and look at the end.
00:09 It's one day at a time, one practice at a time,
00:11 one meeting at a time, all that stuff.
00:14 So just going in and hitting our business
00:16 and whatever happens, happens,
00:18 and we'll take care of it then.
00:20 - What do you see from Illinois on film?
00:22 And it's a defense that gave up a lot of points last week.
00:24 Is there stuff that you can maybe take advantage of this week?
00:28 - We know they're pretty much gonna play two coverages.
00:31 It's either gonna be man or cover two.
00:33 So obviously man is they think
00:36 that they could guard our guys.
00:38 And obviously as a receiver,
00:39 you have to take offense to that a little bit
00:43 and prove them wrong.
00:45 So that'll be it.
00:47 - Did this offense take a step forward, do you feel?
00:50 - Definitely.
00:50 - And in what areas and how can you guys build on that?
00:53 - I felt like over the past two weeks,
00:56 we've been taking bigger steps forward
00:58 than we have all year.
00:59 I feel like we found a rhythm
01:02 and just gotta keep the rhythm going.
01:03 But it can't be like a one-time thing.
01:06 Okay, we scored, we put up points, everyone was happy.
01:09 Like, let's take our foot off the gas.
01:11 It's gotta be foot on your throat.
01:13 Like, let's keep going on this thing.
01:15 - What type of threat does Illinois' defense pose to you guys?
01:21 - They're another good Big Ten defense.
01:24 We know every week when we play a Big Ten opponent,
01:27 it's gonna be a tough fight to the end of the game.
01:30 So I feel like every year when we play Illinois,
01:34 they always cause a lot of turnovers.
01:36 Like, they're always punching for the ball
01:37 and get a lot of interceptions.
01:39 So just playing clean football
01:41 is something we'll have to do.
01:42 - How have you been working on that this week?
01:44 - I don't know, I feel like it's something
01:48 we work on all the time.
01:50 It's like, fumbling is like a never event in football.
01:53 Like, you never wanna fumble the ball, so obviously.
01:57 But just like, holding the ball good.
01:59 We do this drill every single day
02:00 where we, people like punch the ball out
02:03 and we all hold the ball.
02:04 So just being extra thoughtful about that.
02:07 - Nico, what's it like watching,
02:08 I know you guys don't wanna go three and up,
02:10 but when you do, you got that guy putting the football.
02:12 What's it like watching that guy do his thing
02:14 over the last few years?
02:16 - Yeah, I mean, he's the best, obviously.
02:19 It's crazy.
02:21 My favorite part though is when we do like the starting,
02:26 whatever, what I would call it,
02:27 like when they announce the starters on the thing
02:30 and they say his name and everyone goes berserk for him.
02:33 I mean, rightfully so.
02:34 The guy comes in there, he changes the,
02:37 I can't think of the word, but,
02:40 we'll be backed up and he'll punt it
02:42 and they'll be backed up somehow.
02:43 It's like, how did that even happen?
02:45 Punts it wherever he wants to punt it
02:48 and it's every single time he does it.
02:50 So, I don't know.
02:53 We're very lucky to have him.
02:55 - Can you talk about his NIL deal
02:57 and kind of what he's doing with that?
03:00 - Torrey's NIL, the count the kicks?
03:02 Oh yeah, that's awesome.
03:03 I'm lucky to be a part of it this year.
03:07 Yeah, it's pretty--
03:10 - How are you a part of it?
03:11 - We're doing like every catch counts pretty much.
03:14 So, I think me, Vines, Luke and Eric did it.
03:20 So, only two of us remaining.
03:22 But, if you guys wanna go bait on my catches
03:26 for the rest of the two games,
03:27 that'd be nice for the kids.
03:28 So, good stuff.
03:31 - Nico, what will Spencer add?
03:34 Spencer Petras, I know you guys are close.
03:35 What will he add to the next program he ends up at?
03:38 - Someone with a lot of experience.
03:43 Someone who's played in a Big Ten championship.
03:46 And what I think most importantly
03:47 is someone who's one of the best leaders
03:49 I've ever been around.
03:51 Spencer's like a person who pushed me
03:56 and got on me in my younger days
03:59 because he wanted to see me succeed,
04:00 which is something I'll be forever thankful for.
04:03 He puts in countless hours every week.
04:08 I feel like he got it rough here from the fans
04:13 when it wasn't rightfully deserved.
04:16 He's one of the greatest teammates I've had ever.
04:18 So, just a great guy in general.
04:21 - I've heard he has an incredible knowledge
04:23 just of the game.
04:24 - Yeah.
04:25 - Do you see that as well?
04:26 - 100%.
04:26 I think he's kind of a nerd with everything.
04:29 Like, we'll be talking and he'll just like
04:32 say some stupid facts about like
04:34 literally random stuff going on.
04:36 I'm like, how do you know this stuff?
04:39 One, and like, I don't care about that.
04:41 (laughing)
04:43 But, he's a great guy.
04:44 I've lived with him for the past six years.
04:47 So, he's like one of my best friends.
04:48 - What kind of roommate is he?
04:50 - He's a messy one, if we're gonna be honest.
04:52 - Wow.
04:53 - A little bit.
04:53 - I wouldn't have predicted that.
04:54 - Yeah.
04:55 No, it's just, it used to be like five of us.
04:59 So, that was when it was like,
05:01 it was a bunch of people messy.
05:03 Now, it's just me and him, so it's a lot better.
05:05 His room was a little dirty.
05:07 He's probably taken out the trash like three times
05:11 in the past six years, but it's no big deal.
05:14 But, whenever he takes the trash out this year,
05:15 we like have a party for him.
05:17 It's like a big deal, so.
05:19 - Well, Nico, speaking of this,
05:21 this team's playing for a Big Ten West Championship
05:23 this weekend.
05:24 It seems like none of these players are talking about it.
05:25 Is that on purpose?
05:26 Is that, do you guys, do you guys mention it,
05:28 talk about it, or?
05:30 - Yeah, you know, Coach Francis talked about it a little bit,
05:32 but, you know, we're just focused on, you know,
05:34 the team in front of us, the next step.
05:35 You know, one step in front of the other.
05:37 The next day, moving forward, you know,
05:39 making sure practice is on point.
05:40 You know, just focus on the game.
05:43 You know, not worry about what comes after
05:44 until we get to after.
05:45 You know, we'll see what happens after, like Saturday night.
05:48 But we're just worried about, you know, 2.30.
05:50 - With that being said,
05:51 everything you guys have gone through
05:52 in the last couple months,
05:54 what would it mean to,
05:56 when all is said and done,
05:57 be a Big Ten West Champion and go back to Indy?
05:58 - Yeah, obviously, you know, it's a big honor
06:01 when you are able to, you know, win the Big Ten West
06:03 and, you know, get a chance to play
06:04 in the Big Ten Championship game.
06:06 It's been a great honor.
06:08 You know, you get a lot of respect for it,
06:10 especially in the Big Ten, you know,
06:11 a lot of tough competition, so.
06:14 Obviously, it'd be a big thing,
06:14 but, you know, we're not gonna be worried about that
06:16 until after the game Saturday.
06:17 - What do you see from Illinois?
06:18 What do you expect
06:19 and what kind of challenges do they present
06:20 on the defensive side?
06:21 - Yeah, they got a lot of man, you know,
06:23 they'll get out of it as well.
06:25 Similar to Purdue, so.
06:27 Got a new defensive coordinator,
06:29 but he's been there for a couple years.
06:30 The original defensive coordinator left Purdue.
06:33 So they're kind of running similar stuff.
06:35 I know Coach Leonard is there now, too, helping out.
06:37 Yeah, they run a couple things,
06:41 but they run it really well.
06:42 Very disciplined team.
06:43 Got a lot of good athletes on the defense.
06:44 - Keep an eye on Johnny Newton.
06:46 You kind of know where he's at throughout the day.
06:48 - Yeah, you know, it's not really my department.
06:49 It's gonna be more the O line,
06:51 but I trust them 100% to their job.
06:53 And so, whatever happens, happens.
06:56 - Awesome, thanks, Mark.
06:56 - Yeah, thank you.
06:57 - Deacon, what did you like the most
06:58 when you went back and looked at the film
07:00 from last week's game?
07:01 - I think it was just seeing the growth
07:03 over the past couple weeks
07:04 and it kind of came out on Saturday.
07:06 And not just me, though, it was just the entire offense.
07:10 You know, seeing us flow like that,
07:12 it was just a good feeling all around.
07:14 - Is that kind of affirming, confidence building
07:16 that the progress is happening?
07:18 - Yeah, for sure.
07:19 I think any time you can see yourself grow
07:21 and see this team grow as a unit,
07:24 I think it's gonna be a confidence boost.
07:26 - Have you had trouble with confidence at all this year?
07:29 - You know, I think earlier.
07:30 Maybe, you know, being a starter, all that's new.
07:34 But having the guys around me that I have
07:36 made it a lot easier.
07:37 - Does it feel like it's built over this season?
07:40 And how does that kind of manifest itself?
07:43 How does it manifest itself in terms
07:45 of you being able to perform?
07:46 - Yeah, I think it's just, you know,
07:48 not forgetting where I started and where I am now.
07:51 And just seeing the difference there
07:53 is definitely just so you know,
07:55 like, okay, when I run out on that field,
07:56 I know what I'm gonna be able to do.
07:58 - What's it been like?
07:59 You seem to have a great personality for this.
08:01 You know, good, bad, otherwise.
08:02 You stand here, you take the questions.
08:04 Where does that come from?
08:06 - I think my family, you know.
08:08 They are very resilient.
08:09 You know, all my sisters, you know,
08:10 they were college athletes.
08:12 Had to do the same things.
08:13 But then also having Spence, Cade, Brian,
08:17 Bud and all of them, you know, helped me through it.
08:19 It's just, you know, next foot,
08:21 next step in front of the other.
08:22 Take it day by day, step by step.
08:24 That's the whole process.
08:25 You know, trusting the process for what it is.
08:28 That's the biggest thing.
08:29 - Have you heard the outside,
08:29 some of the noise, the racket,
08:31 when that comes your way?
08:33 - Yeah, I think it's hard, especially nowadays,
08:35 you know, to ignore everything that comes that way.
08:38 But you know, I'm pretty much off social media.
08:40 Just talking to the ones, you know, my family,
08:42 the ones here, loved ones,
08:44 all of my closest friends that I know and trust.
08:47 That's the biggest thing.
08:48 To me, that's more beneficial.
08:49 I'm just talking to them each day.
08:51 Gives me more time to focus on football.
08:54 You know, just talking with them, so.
08:55 - Spencer entered the portal.
08:57 You've been there.
08:58 Did you give him advice?
08:59 Did you talk to him about it?
09:01 - I didn't know he was gonna,
09:02 I mean, I figured at some point he was gonna enter
09:04 just 'cause, you know, he's an employee here.
09:05 And so now he can't play here again.
09:06 But seeing him, obviously, selfishly,
09:11 I'd like him to stay.
09:13 But you know, I'm happy for him.
09:15 I'm excited for him.
09:16 I think he's gonna do great wherever he goes next.
09:17 You know, I love the guy.
09:19 But yeah, I'm sure I'll talk about it with him soon.
09:22 You know, we do have a game to prepare for this week.
09:24 So I'll probably talk to him this weekend at some point.
09:26 But yeah, I'm excited.
09:28 - I'm not really gonna know until it's,
09:30 until when it's like, I think it's like two o'clock
09:32 or two, 10, maybe 20, 30 minutes out from the game
09:35 on Saturday.
09:36 I'm not really gonna know what it's like
09:38 until I'm out there.
09:38 But yeah, it'll probably be a little different.
09:42 You know, I don't think,
09:43 there's never been an Australian punter
09:44 that's been here for four years.
09:45 So I'm really just grateful to be here
09:48 and I'm grateful for the friendships and relationships
09:50 that I've built with players and coaches.
09:52 And I just hope they know
09:53 that I never wanted to let them down.
09:55 And yeah, I really appreciate them.
09:58 - You came to Iowa knowing, I mean,
10:00 the reason you committed here,
10:01 you could, it was, you know,
10:03 you could make those friendships
10:04 and become a better football player.
10:06 But even then when you committed,
10:07 could you imagine the emotions that you're going through?
10:10 I don't want to presume you're going through emotions,
10:12 but I assume it's a little--
10:13 - No, it'll certainly be an emotional moment.
10:16 You know, I'm gonna have my dad out there
10:17 and yeah, Coach Woods will be there too.
10:20 And the rest of the specialists
10:22 and big guys that I've really enjoyed getting to know,
10:25 especially this year.
10:26 I feel like this is the closest
10:28 the specialist room has been, you know,
10:29 all six of us, we kind of probably talk
10:32 about the wrong things and things like that,
10:34 which is sometimes a good and a bad thing,
10:37 but we really just built strong relationships in that room.
10:39 And it really just comes back to Coach Woods,
10:42 just allowing us to be ourselves.
10:43 And when you can be yourself,
10:46 usually stuff on the field is,
10:48 usually takes care of itself.
10:49 But yeah, I'm just really grateful for the fans.
10:53 And yeah, it'll be a really emotional moment on Saturday,
10:55 but at the same time,
10:56 like we're going out there to win a game as well.
10:59 We'll keep the tears for after the game, hopefully,
11:01 but yeah, we'll wait and see.
11:02 - Did you surprise yourself at all?
11:04 Or is this what you expected when you came here?
11:06 - I didn't know what to expect when I got here, you know,
11:08 when I first got here.
11:09 - Did you think you could be this good?
11:12 - I mean, it's really, I don't know if I'm that good.
11:15 It's really just a matter of opinion to others.
11:18 But a lot of the time I'm just going out there,
11:21 doing what I'm good at, you know,
11:24 not trying to be someone that I'm not,
11:25 and really just trying to make those around me proud
11:28 and put the team in the best position I can.
11:31 And especially this year, you know,
11:32 we've won eight games and there's two left on the schedule.
11:36 And yeah, this week is going to be
11:38 a really, really important week.
11:39 But to answer your question, I really don't know.
11:41 I didn't know what to expect.
11:43 I kind of, like I said, when I first got here,
11:45 I'm going to catch a kick as far as I can,
11:47 have fun if we win a few games, that's all that matters.