Sept. 20, 2006

Linebackers Coach Mike Cox

On the team's defensive adjustments after the first quarter against Pitt...
"I think we saw a couple things that we hadn't seen, and we got adjusted to it, and made a couple minor changes. Mostly, our guys just settled down and started playing and we were fine."

On keeping Pitt's running game in check...
"We still gave up some plays that we were looking at on film yesterday that we wish we wouldn't have, but I think that we'll get better at that. I thought that our guys up front played pretty well. They controlled the line of scrimmage and kind of made it easier for the guys behind them."

On the play of the linebackers against Pitt...
"Well, they're two solid players. Kaleb Thornhill and David Stanton have done a nice job so far. They work hard. They're self-motivators. I think after watching the film last night, they saw a lot of things that they need to improve on, so we just need to keep getting better."

On Clifton Ryan and the defensive line's play...
"Without a question, Cliff's done a great job the first three games. All the guys have and they keep getting better each week - that's the positive part about it. There's no question that when those guys up front are playing well, then it looks like the whole team is playing well, too."

On Kaleb Thornhill's health and play...
"Well, it's good. He feels better. He's playing faster. He likes to do things right all the time. He's a very smart kid and he'll get better, and I think that he did a great job in the pass defense and also the run defense. He just keeps getting better."

On whether Thornhill had been tentative leading up to the game against Pitt...
"No, I don't think that he's been tentative. There are just times that we have him kind of slowing down a little bit on purpose, not just to be tentative. I think that he needs to cut it loose at times and make plays, but I don't think that he's been tentative at all. I think that he's playing fast, and like I said, on pass coverage he did a great job."

On blitzing linebackers in order to avoid being double-teamed...
"We're going to have to mix it up, especially this week. They have two great receivers and a good quarterback, and we're going to have to do a nice job of playing base defense, and picking and choosing when we want to blitz and when to leave those guys out in coverage. They're great players, so we need to do a good job of mixing it up. If we do come, we're going to have to come with a little more attitude than we have been."

On what the defense needs to do against Notre Dame to take control...
"Well, they do so many things. They run the ball and they have a good running back in Darius Walker. And their quarterback, Brady Quinn, enough said there. They have two great wide outs and their tight end, John Carlson, is very athletic. He's kind of a silent guy, but the tight end makes a lot of plays for them. They have so many weapons and do a lot of things. They're not one-dimensional. They have the ability to throw it and run it. Last week Michigan scored early and changed the complexion of the game a little bit. That's maybe why they started to lean away from the running game, but they run it well. They just do a good job. They're a tough offense."

Junior Running Back Jehuu Caulcrick

On the team's performance in the red zone... "That was our big goal this year when we first came out to practice in our fall camp. The big thing we targeted was getting better in the red zone. It was embarrassing what we did last year, so we are taking great pride in that this year. "

On having Brett Swenson emerge as a solid option in the kicking game this season... "We don't have to put all the pressure on ourselves, we have a great kicker that can come in and make 40 yard field goal look like a chip shot. "

On Notre Dame this week... Of course every football team we have a general dislike for, but they're a big rival for us. We're really excited to play them; we're looking forward to it. We're just going out there and giving it to each other, we're pounding each other, we're getting ready. They're going to be a physical team.

On early season success...
The big thing we have to learn is how to handle success. We can't just go out there and be like 'oh yeah, we're 4-0, we're ranked' and just let it go down from there. We have to keep our poise. That's what championship teams do, they learn how to handle success and that's what we're doing right now. We're not really living off the victories that we have. We enjoy it for that one day, and the next day we're out here getting ready for the next team.

On playing a prime-time game...
In high school in New York we played on Saturdays and we played big games under the lights, so you're all hyped up for that. Coach Stoutland is always joking with me, because he thinks I play my best when it's prime time, under the lights. I can't prove him wrong - every big game like that, we've had a good game.