Sept. 6, 2005
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State Weekly News Conference Quotes
Head Coach Tom Craft
On the UCLA game:
"(I was) clearly disappointed in the difference in the score. We played a lot better than the score indicated. Everybody wants to continue to go back to the streak and the fact that we haven't beaten them in (21) tries. If we look back at history, this was by far one of our best games statistically. We slugged it out with them physically. They have some great playmakers. (UCLA's) Maurice Drew was the difference in the ball game."
"We feel like we came out of the game healthy. I think our team is in good shape. Statistically, we had a clear edge--81 plays to their 53. Time of possession was on our side. We beat them in almost every statistical category except the scoreboard. So there were some encouraging things coming out of that game."
"We looked at our defense in the second half, and they settled down a lot better. I like the play that we got from (linebacker) Freddy Keiaho. He had a terrific game. He was very dynamic. Jon Bailes played his best game in the three years he's been here. Reggie Grigsby was very solid."
On running back Lynell Hamilton's first game action since 2003:
"Lynell ran and got the physical yards Saturday night. He could see that he gets stronger as the game goes on. He really got into a rhythm as far as reading the holes. That's important and he'll just get better. Lynell makes an impact and his presence is very obvious to our football team. And it's great to have (center) Jasper Harvey back. He directs everything up front for us."
On lineup changes this week:
"We're going to have Brett Martin and Russell Allen challenge for the outside linebacker position on one side this week. Over on the other side it will be Andrew Schantz and Joe Martin, so those are couple of little changes. With (offensive lineman) Mike Kravetz, we aren't going to know his availability until Wednesday, (because) he's got a foot injury right now. In his place will be Eric Rouser or Will Robinson.
On keys to the game this week at Air Force:
With Air Force you typically think of them as a wishbone team, and they are with the triple-option. They'll play two quarterbacks against us. They want to throw the ball and be more balanced. It puts a lot of pressure on your secondary and linebackers--the option and the option responsibility itself. We have to take the fullback away - it all starts there. When their fullback gets over 100 yards, their winning percentage is over 70 percent. The quarterback is another priority. We need to manage ourselves differently in regards to who has responsibility for the quarterback and the pitch. We can't keep it the same all the time. Then you have the play-action, and they've become a little more pronounced in the passing game. They have very capable receivers. They looked a lot quicker than Washington did. (The Washington game) was a good win for them. We know we're going to have to stop the triple-option first and then keep our focus in the secondary."
SDSU Quarterback Kevin O'Connell
On the UCLA game:
"I think going into it we had a quiet confidence that we were happy with the game plan and we were ready to execute it. UCLA was a good football team. We knew that going in. They were impressive and really physical. We have to tip our hats to them. We have to take away the positives that we can. We already focused on the negatives yesterday and we've moved on and we're getting ready for Air Force."
On what the offense needs to do going into the Air Force game:
"I think it's a combination of things. We need to control the ball a little, let No. 22 (Lynell Hamilton) do his work and then execute down the field a little more. We were happy with the way our offensive line played against UCLA. We had some great downfield push. We really did execute well against UCLA. We had the couple of mistakes that have already been addressed and we've moved on from that. It's just the consistency in our offense. If we can sustain those long drives and help out our defense, it will keep them off the field because they'll be working hard against that Air Force offense. We're going to focus on getting first downs and moving the chains."
On what he saw from Lynell Hamilton in the UCLA game:
"Just his explosiveness. I'm the quickest guy to hand the ball off and turn and watch because it's fun to watch. It was awesome to have him out there and it was a lift for our offense. Our offensive line was just getting off the football and everyone was fired up. I think we just have to continue to build on that and get (Hamilton) his carries because he is going to do some great things for us this year. He is going to set up a lot of other things for guys in this offense."
On going into the Air Force game after the season-opening loss:
"We were positive about a lot of things that we were able to do against UCLA. That was a good defense and we had tons of time to prepare for them. We were happy. We were able to go out and execute and not make too many mistakes penalty-wise or formation-wise. We executed the procedures well. I think everyone has that same quiet confidence this week knowing that if we just go out and do our thing, we might be able to move those chains, keep the defense off the field and score some points."
On if he is comfortable with the quarterback situation:
"(I'm) definitely (comfortable). I prepare like I am the starter. I get ample opportunities in practice to work on the things I need to work on. I think it's great for Darren (Mougey). It was a close competition in the fall, so he definitely doesn't deserve to sit just because I edged him out a little bit. I'm all for it. I'm for it being spontaneous. It's good for the offense. I think it's a great change of pace. I think the versatility is something that we can use to our advantage and also to give Darren some time and get his feet wet. You never know, he is one play away from being this team's starting quarterback."
On last season's game at Air Force:
"It was a major test of our mental and physical toughness up there (at Air Force). They had a very good defense and likewise, this year it's very fast and very quick. They are strong up front and they have gotten bigger on the line. We took a lot from that game last year. I was really able to feel comfortable that game. Whether is was the outside circumstances of the weather or whatever it was, for some reason we were able to get into a flow in that game and it just rolled on. We (and Air Force) were back and forth all day, the defense was picking us up and then Kirk (Morrison) got that (interception) at the end. That kind of brought our team together. There was a different feel in the locker room after that one and we carried it over to UNLV the next week and into the off-season."
SDSU Running Back Lynell Hamilton
On his first game back since the 2003 season:
"I felt really good about it. It was something that I really needed to get those jitters out. For the team as well, that first game really set the tone for the next game and future ones."
On what was tougher to overcome, physical or mental jitters, in the UCLA game:
"It was more mental, especially having been out (for a year). The speed of the game, physically, was good for me. I'm ready to roll now. This next game I know that the jitters and butterflies are gone. I'm ready for the next game."
On whether he felt he got stronger as the game progressed against UCLA:
"I did (feel I got stronger). I thought the more reps I got, the stronger I got. I thought the offensive line, the more running we were doing, was getting faster off the ball. I think the offensive line is doing really well right now. It really helps."
On playing Air Force for the first time:
"I have never gotten the chance to play against Air Force. I'm really excited to play against them. This team is somewhat of a blue-collar type of team. They play really hard and they have heart. It's going to be a really good game."