Oct. 20, 2009
S Earl Thomas
On if he feels like he is improving every week: I just do what I’m coached to do. Coach Muschamp puts everybody in the right position. It’s up to us whether we’re going to make the plays or not.
On the secondary’s potential: We have a great chance of being good. We’re a long way from where we need to be. We just keep watching film and try to get better every week.
On having personal goals: If you win, then personal accolades come later. We just take it week by week and see what happens.
On giving credit to the defensive line for his success: You always want to credit where credit is due. If it weren’t for the d-line, the secondary guys wouldn’t get jumps on the ball. They rush the quarterback and make him throw it before he wants to throw it. You’ve got to give credit where credit is due.
On Missouri: We watched film on them. They have a good receiving group. They throw the ball around, so we’re going to go out there and see what happens.
On playing hard every week: Everybody learned from last year. One game and you’re out of there. So, we take it one week at a time and we’re not taking anything for granted.
DE Sam Acho
On how he felt starting to work at defensive tackle: Honestly, initially I didn’t know what to think, because I’ve been playing defensive end my whole life and now they’re talking about moving me to defensive tackle, so I was kind of confused. After they explained to me what was going on, I’ll get more chances to rush the passer, I was excited. It was an initial shock, but now I’ll have more opportunities to rush the quarterback.
On how it felt to win in his hometown of Dallas: It’s hard to explain. The main thing was beating OU. That’s a big win. They’re our rivals, obviously Big 12. Then also after that, going home to Dallas my parents were there, my aunt, my uncle, my sisters were there. A lot of family friends I’m sure were either at the game or at home watching the game. It meant a lot to Emmanuel and me to go back home and win in front of the home crowd.
On starting over after each game: Coach Brown and coach Muschamp, all the coaches really emphasize don’t get too hung up over this win, don’t think about it too much. This win really means nothing if you lose the next game. Just because we beat OU doesn’t mean it counts as three victories. It’s one win. We know we have to go back to work and beat a good Missouri team with a great quarterback and a good offensive line. We’ve done a good job of refocusing on our next opponent and make sure we take each day one at a time.
On what he’s seen in Missouri: Their quarterback has a cannon. He can throw the ball. He’s an impressive athlete. Their offensive line does a good job of moving around, pulling and stuff like that, so we have to be ready for that. They have a pretty good receiver as well. That combination will make it interesting to see how we play them this week.
CB Aaron Williams
On his interception against Oklahoma: I got a lot of texts here and there. It still doesn’t seem like a spectacular catch to me. People have talked about it, but now it’s time to get over it and get ready for Missouri.
On the Missouri offense: Missouri has a good quarterback, a sophomore. He’s a good friend of mine. They have really good, tall receivers that can catch the ball and run good routes. They have two good running backs. We’re going to come out and play our game.
On his relationship with Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert: Blaine and I played at the All-American game. He was our quarterback on the West team. We’ve been keeping in contact. I haven’t talked to him yet this week.
On pressuring opposing quarterbacks: We’re going to go after every quarterback, no matter who it is or what team it is. We’re not going to intentionally hurt anybody, that’s not how we play.
On forcing more turnovers so far this season than all last season: That’s been our main goal this year, to have more turnovers. Our goal right now is to at least have three turnovers a game. We’re doing pretty good. Against OU we had five turnovers. If you have three or more turnovers you have a 90 percent win ratio so we’re working towards that. We’ve been stripping and catching balls in practice.
On his sack that injured Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford: It wasn’t on purpose and it was unfortunate that he was hurt. It was a big play, but I would never wish for somebody to get hurt like that. I wish him the best of luck and I send all my blessings to him.
On the possibility of cold weather in Columbia on Saturday night: Get your mind right, that’s all you can really say, and mentally prepare yourself for the weather. We’re not going to focus on the weather. It could be 120 degrees or negative-15 degrees and we’re still going to go out there and play hard.
WR Marquise Goodwin
On his week after the Oklahoma game: It’s been pretty good. Everybody’s been telling me good job.
On his role in the offense: Wherever they put me is whatever my role is. I’m just trying to find my role and do whatever the coaches tell me to do.
On his conversation with offensive coordinator Greg Davis before the Oklahoma game: He asked me if I could handle being in front of that many people, and I said, “Yes sir, I’ve competed (in track and field) in front of 60,000. I won’t get nervous and I’ll just do what I need to do.”
On playing football and running track and field: I love both of them. That’s why I play. You can’t play football and run track without the passion and the want-to. That passion makes you want to come out there every day and try your best.
On his goal for every practice: Just work hard at practice, get game speed reps, focus and just do the little things that you need to do to get better every day.
On if QB Colt McCoy had any advice for the wide receivers this week: Just work hard at practice. There’s nothing really to be said. We all know what we’ve got to do, to give it all at practice, stay mentally focused and go out there and win.
On being named a possible starter at wide receiver: It’s pretty exciting but like I said, wherever the coaches put me is my role. I’m just going to do my best. I just come out and work hard every day and give it my best, that’s all I can do.
|
|
 |
