Fresno State Athletics
Post Game Quotes
9/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
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Coach DeRuyter Quotes
Opening Statement
"I am really pleased with the effort of our guys today. I didn't think that we started off very well, but we hung in there, and we found a way to win. We were playing a team like Southern Utah that has a lot of fight in them. They are very well coached and I give them credit for playing as well as they did tonight. In the second half I think that we started getting a rhythm in all three phases and started doing things to create some excitement. Offensively we got some things started in the third quarter. Our punt team did a great job getting the ball backed up in the ten. Our defense did a great job holding the other team. I believe that the first punt that we blocked, the offense capitalized on it and went on to score. I thought that was a big momentum boost and then we went out and held them to a three and out. The offense got the ball and went down to score again. After that I think that we had that momentum going like we haven't have in Bulldog Stadium. I thought that that was really a big change for us, and it was good to see our guys rally from those plays. We didn't play perfectly by any stretch and we still have some things to clean up defensively and passing wise. I don't know if it was because Coach Hill was doing the analysis of the game but, I think this was the first time that we have run for more yards than passed since I have been coach here at Fresno State. You're welcome coach Hill that was a little tribute to you. It was a good team win, and I was happy with the way our guys played."
On Kyrie Wilson's Interception
"He was feeling bad about the play where he received the late hit penalty. He told me that he would be able to make up for the call and I challenged him to do that for his team. He was able to do that with that interception. When you are able to make plays on defense that is how you are able to win. That has been a big reason on how we have been able to win in past seasons. Big plays on defense, sparks the offense and I tip my hat off to Kyrie for doing that for his team."
On how the team feels about getting this victory
"We haven't had much fun the first three weeks, guys are pressing a little bit because of the losses. But we have some really good leaders that have stepped up and said I will find a way to win, I'll make plays for you coach. No one was finger pointing but we weren't clicking the right way. Tonight we finally got to the point where we were clicking and guys were playing the correct way. That is what we need to get back to, we have to play our style of football. I thought we had a nice crowd out there, I don't know if they were out there for us or for the fireworks, but I don't care because the crowd was great tonight. Once they settled all in I think that our players got some momentum from them. I really appreciate the crowd coming and the students coming and staying for as long as they did this game."
On Burrell's slow start...
"I don't know, I will have to go look at the tape to see exactly what you're talking about regarding Burrell. I'm sure he'll be the first person to tell you that he wasn't very sharp early on in the game; and that wasn't necessarily all his fault. We have got to start faster than we did at this game. The thing that impressed me was that he didn't get discouraged during the two-minute drill we had at the end of the first half. He just came into the game and took our team right down the field. Then in the second half he did a really nice job capitalizing on field position and finishing drives. I also thought that he ran the ball pretty well and made good decisions which helped us in the run game."
On the reason for putting Burrell in for that two-minute drill...
"Brandon's hand has still been bothering him and the ball wasn't coming off of his hand the way we wanted it to tonight. So, we went with Brian, and Brian has done a nice job with two-minute drill at practice."
On Greenlee playing in the fourth over Connette...
"We decided before the game that we wanted Zack to come into the game if we had an opportunity to get him some reps and see what he could do in a game situation. He got hurt back in camp and so he didn't have very many reps, so we decided that we would give him and some of our younger guys opportunities tonight."
On Considering Greenlee in the QB rotation...
"I thought he did a really nice job out there, you know we will look over the tape and see him play. When it starts to get late in the game, you don't know if the other team has its' second string players in the game. Also, the emotion of the defense is discouraged so it starts to get a little bit easier to get thing done offensively. But Greenlee threw a couple of really nice passes to Da'mari, so that was impressive to see."
On fixing missed opportunities tonight...
"All you can do is work on it, if the same guy keeps dropping then we will have to look at someone else. We are in an accountability based world; we are going to keep working on fundamentals and working drills. We are going to play the guys that make plays. We have a lot of talent on our team, some of it is young with guys that might not know the entire offense, but if those older guys aren't getting it done we're going to find someone else."
On high snaps...
"There were probably about three or high snaps this game. Thankfully they were times where Brian was in the game, because if one of the shorter guys were in there I don't think we would've been successful. Brian did a great job getting the play done. Bo typically does a great job snapping, but tonight he let a couple of them get away from him."
On the problems with rushing early on...
"The team we played limits you in your run game. The way you open it up is effectively throw the ball and have a quick tempo. Once we picked up our tempo we were able to get the defense to spread out and we were able to be more effective inside. We were trying to mix it up early. We were able to get in the counter game run and run more effectively. We had guys break some tackles tonight and get some big yards."
On Shannon Edwards' injury...
"Shannon injured his shoulder and we won't know until tomorrow. He could be fine next week, or he could be completely out, we won't know until we talk to the doctors."
Brian Burrell Interview
On putting up 56 points...
"It feels good. I don't know what it looks like, but it feels good. It feel a lot better then the last couple weeks."
On what was working when he reentered the game late in the 2nd quarter...
"I trusted my receivers, I gave them a chance. (Delvon) Hardaway made a great catch. Harp made some great plays. Just trying to get the ball in our playmakers' hands."
On maybe feeling more comfortable reentering the game after QB switch...
"I wouldn't say so. I realize we haven't been starting off well and that is something that I've been telling myself I need to work on. The whole offense needs to work on. A large part of that is me and I've gotta be better at the very beginning."
On receivers making big plays...
"I've always had confidence in my receivers. I can list about five or six that we have that I have no problem throwing to. I don't really mind who is out there. Of course we have Josh (Harper). We've got (Aaron) Peck. Delvon Hardaway has really been stepping up. Da'Mari (Scott) had a big play at the end. On the inside we have LeKendrick (Williams), Greg (Watson) and Dillon Root, so we are pretty deep at receiver."
On LeKendrick Williams' playmaking...
"He is a playmaker. I know it got called back, but I threw him a little 10-yard bubble route and he took it 70 yards. That feels good as a quarterback to get the ball out to him and let him do everything."
On momentum from Kyrie Wilson's pick-six...
"That was a big play. It gave us some momentum and some juice. I really credit the receivers for the two-minute drive. The offensive line did a great job today. I know I didn't get sacked at all, so they did a great job."
On making plays with feet helping with opening up the passing game...
"I just try to get first downs and touchdowns anyway I can. I don't particularly like running more than throwing or vice-a-versa. I just want to help the team get yards and touchdowns."
Josh Harper Interview
In regards to winning the first game of the year...
"It felt great, it came late, the third game, but it felt great to get into the end zone and even better to get the W."
In regards to how bad the team needed the win...
"The team really needed the win. With conference starting next week we needed the win badly. We had a slow started but ended up getting it going on offense and making plays and having fun out there was the biggest part.
In regards to holes in the secondary of Southern Utah that we were able to exploit...
"They were playing a lot of coverage though, a lot of the holes were open so pass the corner in front of the safety type plays.
In regards to another great game by Delvon Hardaway...
"He is really making big strides and I am proud of him. He is a heck of a talent and he's out there making plays and I am excited for him."
In regards to New Mexico, next week's opponent...
"We are going to expect a tough environment and we are expecting New Mexico to come out and fight. Everyone is starting off 0-0 in the conference and it is up for grabs so we expect them to come out ready to fight and we have to be up for the challenge."
In regards to their confidence level after this win...
"This is huge it's our first win of the season and when you go out there and make plays you remember what you can do and we show each other that we can make plays. And that we can move the ball and defense can make stops and special teams can make plays. It was a real big confidence booster for the whole team."
In regards to his fairly good game against New Mexico last year and how he will improve...
"Just by trying to do what the coaches want us to do and to execute the game plan and make plays when we have the opportunity."
Kyrie Wilson Interview
Breakdown of his Pick-Six...
"The D-line just had a good push up front, and I just dropped back when I saw the quarterback get ready for a pass. I was going to the right place at the right time, and after that, I had some good blocks up front, and ended up scoring."
On making big plays...
"I sensed that it gave us energy and mojo. Everybody was fired up after that big play, and we just all started playing together and playing as a team. That's how we are supposed to play."
On how it felt to get the Pick-Six...
"Oh it feels good. It feels real good because that was my first Pick-Six, and it was a touchdown. I was juiced! I was excited! I was just happy."
On what was going through his mind while waiting for the review of his almost game ejection...
"I was real nervous. I was second-guessing myself like, "Did I really hit him in the helmet?" I just second-guessed myself. They overturned the call, so I was happy with that."
On what it is like to have a targeting call for Fresno State as opposed to against Fresno State...
"It's hard because you don't want to have penalties that will affect where you line up and play. You try to not have penalties like that, so you won't put more pressure on your defense than there already is, especially when we're in the red zone."
