University of Minnesota Athletics
Player Quotes - Indiana
10/2/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Quarterback Adam Weber
On Indiana:
“This is a great opportunity for us. This team we’re about to play, they’re on the up and up and they’re having a great season. I think they’re playing for a lot of good reasons this year and it’ll be tough going into their place with all the momentum they have this year. It is a good opportunity for us to get our season going again.”
On the team’s performance against Ohio State:
“It’s kind of a back and forth type thing as we’re watching the film. There’s a lot of good things, but there are also things like when you look at our run game. Some of our drives, it’s just frustrating how we just killed ourselves or we allowed them to make plays and stop us from getting farther down the field. There’s a lot of stuff to work on still but I think we’ll make the improvements and I think we’ll be a better team this week.”
On how the team is improving week to week:
“There are different aspects of it. Our defense really stepped it up last week. Offensive-wise, we’re making some plays we weren’t making before but we’re still making some of those stupid mistakes that will hurt a team. It’s kind of hard to say, but I think we’re getting better overall.”
On the offense and its tendency to produce new plays:
“Dunbar, like he’s said all along, has probably got about a million plays. It's kind of pick and choose depending on what the defense is showing. With Indiana, we might come out with a couple new plays. Ultimately, how good the team is how well you run your basic plays and against Ohio State, we weren’t running our basic plays very well.”
Linebacker John Shevlin
On what fellow linebacker Deon Hightower brings to the defense:
“I think he brings a lot of enthusiasm and a passion for the game. He’s a guy that can hit. It’s not the size of the dog, it’s the size of the bite in the dog. He’s not the biggest guy, but he’ll throw himself out there to help us win.”
On the morale of the senior captains in light of the team’s 1-4 record:
“Our attitude is the same as it was when the season started. The only thing you can do is try to better yourself, help your teammates and help the team better our record. Nothing has changed for me.”
On the team’s opportunity to win some games against Indiana, Northwestern and NDSU:
“I think it’s very important that we accomplish what we need to get accomplished. We’ve got to really come together and start capitalizing on some of the opportunities we have at the end of games and improve upon our record.”
Safety Duran Cooley
On Indiana quarterback Kellen Lewis and the IU offense:
“He can throw it whether he’s in or out of the pocket, so we have to make sure our defensive backs stay in coverage and our linebackers cover everything that’s happening underneath. That allows our defensive line to secure the passing game and the running game.
“Last year, obviously [Lewis] was a younger guy and he’s developed his game a lot. Watching film on him, his game has come a long way and Indiana is actually a pretty good team this year. He’s a pretty good quarterback and he can make some things happen for their offense. Obviously, they have something to play for with their coach passing away.”
On the difference between the 2006 and the 2007 version of the Hoosiers:
“Confidence-wise and everything, they have improved. Like I said, they have something to play for, especially with their coach passing away. The main challenge for us will be matching the intensity that they’re playing with right now.”
On Indiana:
“This is a great opportunity for us. This team we’re about to play, they’re on the up and up and they’re having a great season. I think they’re playing for a lot of good reasons this year and it’ll be tough going into their place with all the momentum they have this year. It is a good opportunity for us to get our season going again.”
On the team’s performance against Ohio State:
“It’s kind of a back and forth type thing as we’re watching the film. There’s a lot of good things, but there are also things like when you look at our run game. Some of our drives, it’s just frustrating how we just killed ourselves or we allowed them to make plays and stop us from getting farther down the field. There’s a lot of stuff to work on still but I think we’ll make the improvements and I think we’ll be a better team this week.”
On how the team is improving week to week:
“There are different aspects of it. Our defense really stepped it up last week. Offensive-wise, we’re making some plays we weren’t making before but we’re still making some of those stupid mistakes that will hurt a team. It’s kind of hard to say, but I think we’re getting better overall.”
On the offense and its tendency to produce new plays:
“Dunbar, like he’s said all along, has probably got about a million plays. It's kind of pick and choose depending on what the defense is showing. With Indiana, we might come out with a couple new plays. Ultimately, how good the team is how well you run your basic plays and against Ohio State, we weren’t running our basic plays very well.”
Linebacker John Shevlin
On what fellow linebacker Deon Hightower brings to the defense:
“I think he brings a lot of enthusiasm and a passion for the game. He’s a guy that can hit. It’s not the size of the dog, it’s the size of the bite in the dog. He’s not the biggest guy, but he’ll throw himself out there to help us win.”
On the morale of the senior captains in light of the team’s 1-4 record:
“Our attitude is the same as it was when the season started. The only thing you can do is try to better yourself, help your teammates and help the team better our record. Nothing has changed for me.”
On the team’s opportunity to win some games against Indiana, Northwestern and NDSU:
“I think it’s very important that we accomplish what we need to get accomplished. We’ve got to really come together and start capitalizing on some of the opportunities we have at the end of games and improve upon our record.”
Safety Duran Cooley
On Indiana quarterback Kellen Lewis and the IU offense:
“He can throw it whether he’s in or out of the pocket, so we have to make sure our defensive backs stay in coverage and our linebackers cover everything that’s happening underneath. That allows our defensive line to secure the passing game and the running game.
“Last year, obviously [Lewis] was a younger guy and he’s developed his game a lot. Watching film on him, his game has come a long way and Indiana is actually a pretty good team this year. He’s a pretty good quarterback and he can make some things happen for their offense. Obviously, they have something to play for with their coach passing away.”
On the difference between the 2006 and the 2007 version of the Hoosiers:
“Confidence-wise and everything, they have improved. Like I said, they have something to play for, especially with their coach passing away. The main challenge for us will be matching the intensity that they’re playing with right now.”
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