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University of Minnesota Athletics
Player Press Conference Quotes - Ohio State
9/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Defensive lineman Eric Small
On the approach to improving the pass rush:
“I don’t think we’re going to change anything. We’ve been working on the pass rush every week and it just hasn’t been working as well as we thought it would. We should be able to get after them this week. I think we’ve been getting better every week. We’ve just got to get more sacks, it’s as simple as that.”
On whether OSU’s balanced offensive attack helps the defensive game plan:
“I think so far we’ve been good against the run. People haven’t really been able to run against us and I think we should be able to do the same this against Ohio State. If they want to pass, they can try to pass; if they want to run, they can try to run.”
On the Coach Withers’ attacking style and whether the team will get back that against OSU:
“Absolutely. We’re not going to try to change our defense just for them. We’re going to do the same stuff we’ve been doing and eventually things are going to fall in our favor.”
On playing a team with the reputation and tradition of OSU:
“It’s going to be fun. I don’t know what they’re ranked right now, but they’re big and they are a big-time program. It’s going to be a great atmosphere and it will be fun to go out there and get after them. Nobody outside this building thinks we’re going to win, so it’s going to be fun. It’s a big game no matter what our record is, it’s Ohio State and they’re huge. We believe in each other as a team and the people in this building believe in us and that’s all we need.”
Cornerback Jamal Harris
On Ohio State:
“It’s a big game, just like every game we play. Ohio State is a good team, so we’ll have to be on our A-game when we play against them because there won’t be any room for mistakes.”
On OSU losing a lot of talent in their receiving corps:
“They did lose a lot of talent, but its Ohio State so they bring in someone new. They still have quite a few players that have stepped up and done quite a few things for their program. Just looking at them so far, they’re still a good team and one we need to focus on.”
On his fumble last week against Purdue:
“I just dropped it. I don’t know how else to put it. I was looking for the guy behind me when I was running and when I turned around, I didn’t have the ball. When I went to switch hands with the ball, I took my mind off the ball and was focused on somebody behind me and I just dropped the ball.
“I was more upset that I let my team down more than anything. I’m kind of hard on myself, but seeing the faces of my teammates, that let me down. I made a mistake, but like I always say, when opportunities come you’ve got to make them. I guess I have to practice what I preach sometimes.”
Quarterback Adam Weber
On playing better in the first half:
“That first series on Saturday is important to us. We’ll try to work this week to find out what makes us [play poorly early in games], and hopefully we’ll be able to figure that out and capitalize on that and play well in the first half against Ohio State.”
On the improved play of the offense in the second half against Purdue:
“It was a little bit faster game and it took me awhile to get used to it. I was a little jumpy out there and it took me awhile to relax, it took our offense awhile to get into the feel of the game. I think it helped having the other guys out there to calm each other down a bit.”
On feeling less pressure against Ohio State as an underdog:
“It only matters what we think; it only matters how we play. With the way our season’s been going, nobody is going to give us much of a chance. That’s okay because Ohio State is a great team and I think that anything can happen in the Big Ten; I think that’s been proven so far this year. We know that if we prepare, if we execute and if we protect the ball, we’ll have a shot.”
On the approach to improving the pass rush:
“I don’t think we’re going to change anything. We’ve been working on the pass rush every week and it just hasn’t been working as well as we thought it would. We should be able to get after them this week. I think we’ve been getting better every week. We’ve just got to get more sacks, it’s as simple as that.”
On whether OSU’s balanced offensive attack helps the defensive game plan:
“I think so far we’ve been good against the run. People haven’t really been able to run against us and I think we should be able to do the same this against Ohio State. If they want to pass, they can try to pass; if they want to run, they can try to run.”
On the Coach Withers’ attacking style and whether the team will get back that against OSU:
“Absolutely. We’re not going to try to change our defense just for them. We’re going to do the same stuff we’ve been doing and eventually things are going to fall in our favor.”
On playing a team with the reputation and tradition of OSU:
“It’s going to be fun. I don’t know what they’re ranked right now, but they’re big and they are a big-time program. It’s going to be a great atmosphere and it will be fun to go out there and get after them. Nobody outside this building thinks we’re going to win, so it’s going to be fun. It’s a big game no matter what our record is, it’s Ohio State and they’re huge. We believe in each other as a team and the people in this building believe in us and that’s all we need.”
Cornerback Jamal Harris
On Ohio State:
“It’s a big game, just like every game we play. Ohio State is a good team, so we’ll have to be on our A-game when we play against them because there won’t be any room for mistakes.”
On OSU losing a lot of talent in their receiving corps:
“They did lose a lot of talent, but its Ohio State so they bring in someone new. They still have quite a few players that have stepped up and done quite a few things for their program. Just looking at them so far, they’re still a good team and one we need to focus on.”
On his fumble last week against Purdue:
“I just dropped it. I don’t know how else to put it. I was looking for the guy behind me when I was running and when I turned around, I didn’t have the ball. When I went to switch hands with the ball, I took my mind off the ball and was focused on somebody behind me and I just dropped the ball.
“I was more upset that I let my team down more than anything. I’m kind of hard on myself, but seeing the faces of my teammates, that let me down. I made a mistake, but like I always say, when opportunities come you’ve got to make them. I guess I have to practice what I preach sometimes.”
Quarterback Adam Weber
On playing better in the first half:
“That first series on Saturday is important to us. We’ll try to work this week to find out what makes us [play poorly early in games], and hopefully we’ll be able to figure that out and capitalize on that and play well in the first half against Ohio State.”
On the improved play of the offense in the second half against Purdue:
“It was a little bit faster game and it took me awhile to get used to it. I was a little jumpy out there and it took me awhile to relax, it took our offense awhile to get into the feel of the game. I think it helped having the other guys out there to calm each other down a bit.”
On feeling less pressure against Ohio State as an underdog:
“It only matters what we think; it only matters how we play. With the way our season’s been going, nobody is going to give us much of a chance. That’s okay because Ohio State is a great team and I think that anything can happen in the Big Ten; I think that’s been proven so far this year. We know that if we prepare, if we execute and if we protect the ball, we’ll have a shot.”
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