QUESTIONS FOR DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR TOSH LUPOI, EVAN WILLIAMS, TYSHEEM JOHNSON, STEVE STEPHENS IV, JEFFREY BASSA, BRANDON DORLUS.
Q. The run defense, which again, you guys have a lot of defensive linemen back, several could end up in the league. They have achieved and showed statistically, depending how it goes against the leading running team of America, this may be the most successful run defense. They’ve never been held under 100 yards and you guys could do that. At the same time, the performances against Washington, particularly in the title game did not meet that standard. How do you evaluate and assess what in the big picture which could be unprecedented for the program and not normal for the program, versus in those big moments not getting results you want?
TOSH LUPOI: I think every opponent is its own entity. We attack it. So this opponent is certainly an original entity for us, when it comes to defending a zoned option outfit. So they have a unique mix of having some large individuals, just like the championship game we played where some guys can create movement up front. And they also have the element of an elite perimeter attack with the option scheme. So we won't know until January 1st as far as our preparation, how successful it's going to be. So we're thankful to some of the extra preparation to go through things and trial and error and see some things that we might not like, see some things we do like. You know, bring in some of the things we have done in the past. Both Coach [Dan] Lanning and myself have faced some of these similar outfits. When I was at Alabama, played Citadel, and Coach Lanning at Georgia Tech. We certainly dove into some of those games and preparation going into this one. And pulled from some things that we think might help us. So, again, that will only be to be determined come game day. I think overall, just credit to our players as far as where we've grown in overall total defense, scoring defense, and as you mentioned rushing defense, of all 11 guys understanding a plan of attack, how to build a wall, fundamentals and technique to get this, and the rushing coverage, working together to accomplish that goal of rising to be more of a dominant run defense.
Q. When your best run edge defender goes down six plays in the (Pac-12 title game), that's going to comprise anybody. Is it as simple as when Jordan [Burch] comes out and an injured secondary gets greatly depleted throughout the course of it, that will make it harder to defend.
TOSH LUPOI: It makes it more difficult; however, it's part of the game. It's got to be next man up and you always look yourself in the mirror too. Actually, both games where we played against Washington and not taking away any credit from what they accomplished, what they have done in both games. We didn't complete the game with the starting corner in the game. And you always have to look yourself in the mirror too of what could I have done better to help us or assist us or possibly adjust or call the game differently, to not necessarily put an individual in a compromised position when you are playing against an elite team as they are.
Q. Coach, if I remember correctly, you rolled a lot of corners in first game against Washington, did you not?
TOSH LUPOI: Yeah, yeah, by necessity. We had some individuals go down that started the game, weren't playing the fourth quarter. So you obviously have to do that if someone can't continue.
Q. Are you expecting Jordan [Burch] and Jahlil [Florence] back for this one?
TOSH LUPOI: They are involved every day. So it will be game-time decisions. It's great to see them out there and moving around. So I think they are doing a really good job preparing mentally, not getting all the physical reps, but being out there mentally, having a script in their hand and preparing quarterly.
Q. I'm guessing there was a time you were frustrated in the final four, and now you are here taking on Liberty.
TOSH LUPOI: We are right where we are supposed to be. Very thankful to be here. We've had an awesome overall successful season and now it's just an opportunity to cap it off, to have the opportunity to win 12 games and possibly finish in the top five. There's a lot of things that we have our eyes set on and just trying to approach every day for that possibility going into our preparation, our energy, our attention to detail every day. I think the guys have done a nice job of preparing and, of course, we'll see how that preparation plays out January 1st.
Q. What about Liberty with one of the best offenses. I know Conference USA, they can move the ball.
TOSH LUPOI: Absolutely. They deserve to be here. You know, and it's two great teams going at it. So it's going to be an awesome challenge for us. As far as you bringing up their conference, I certainly don't look at it that way. I think it's special to be undefeated no matter what, and if you look at some -- you really dive into their history and -- I like opponents to do what they did and score 49 points against a New Mexico State team, who dominated Auburn at Auburn. I think it's obvious what their capability is and they got a lot of players that signed elsewhere coming out of high school and now came aboard there via the portal. So to us, it's -- they deserve where they are at. We deserve where we are at and we are excited for the challenge.
Q. The run defense, which again, you guys have a lot of defensive linemen back, several could end up in the league. They have achieved and showed statistically, depending how it goes against the leading running team of America, this may be the most successful run defense. They’ve never been held under 100 yards and you guys could do that. At the same time, the performances against Washington, particularly in the title game did not meet that standard. How do you evaluate and assess what in the big picture which could be unprecedented for the program and not normal for the program, versus in those big moments not getting results you want?
TOSH LUPOI: I think every opponent is its own entity. We attack it. So this opponent is certainly an original entity for us, when it comes to defending a zoned option outfit. So they have a unique mix of having some large individuals, just like the championship game we played where some guys can create movement up front. And they also have the element of an elite perimeter attack with the option scheme. So we won't know until January 1st as far as our preparation, how successful it's going to be. So we're thankful to some of the extra preparation to go through things and trial and error and see some things that we might not like, see some things we do like. You know, bring in some of the things we have done in the past. Both Coach [Dan] Lanning and myself have faced some of these similar outfits. When I was at Alabama, played Citadel, and Coach Lanning at Georgia Tech. We certainly dove into some of those games and preparation going into this one. And pulled from some things that we think might help us. So, again, that will only be to be determined come game day. I think overall, just credit to our players as far as where we've grown in overall total defense, scoring defense, and as you mentioned rushing defense, of all 11 guys understanding a plan of attack, how to build a wall, fundamentals and technique to get this, and the rushing coverage, working together to accomplish that goal of rising to be more of a dominant run defense.
Q. When your best run edge defender goes down six plays in the (Pac-12 title game), that's going to comprise anybody. Is it as simple as when Jordan [Burch] comes out and an injured secondary gets greatly depleted throughout the course of it, that will make it harder to defend.
TOSH LUPOI: It makes it more difficult; however, it's part of the game. It's got to be next man up and you always look yourself in the mirror too. Actually, both games where we played against Washington and not taking away any credit from what they accomplished, what they have done in both games. We didn't complete the game with the starting corner in the game. And you always have to look yourself in the mirror too of what could I have done better to help us or assist us or possibly adjust or call the game differently, to not necessarily put an individual in a compromised position when you are playing against an elite team as they are.
Q. Coach, if I remember correctly, you rolled a lot of corners in first game against Washington, did you not?
TOSH LUPOI: Yeah, yeah, by necessity. We had some individuals go down that started the game, weren't playing the fourth quarter. So you obviously have to do that if someone can't continue.
Q. Are you expecting Jordan [Burch] and Jahlil [Florence] back for this one?
TOSH LUPOI: They are involved every day. So it will be game-time decisions. It's great to see them out there and moving around. So I think they are doing a really good job preparing mentally, not getting all the physical reps, but being out there mentally, having a script in their hand and preparing quarterly.
Q. I'm guessing there was a time you were frustrated in the final four, and now you are here taking on Liberty.
TOSH LUPOI: We are right where we are supposed to be. Very thankful to be here. We've had an awesome overall successful season and now it's just an opportunity to cap it off, to have the opportunity to win 12 games and possibly finish in the top five. There's a lot of things that we have our eyes set on and just trying to approach every day for that possibility going into our preparation, our energy, our attention to detail every day. I think the guys have done a nice job of preparing and, of course, we'll see how that preparation plays out January 1st.
Q. What about Liberty with one of the best offenses. I know Conference USA, they can move the ball.
TOSH LUPOI: Absolutely. They deserve to be here. You know, and it's two great teams going at it. So it's going to be an awesome challenge for us. As far as you bringing up their conference, I certainly don't look at it that way. I think it's special to be undefeated no matter what, and if you look at some -- you really dive into their history and -- I like opponents to do what they did and score 49 points against a New Mexico State team, who dominated Auburn at Auburn. I think it's obvious what their capability is and they got a lot of players that signed elsewhere coming out of high school and now came aboard there via the portal. So to us, it's -- they deserve where they are at. We deserve where we are at and we are excited for the challenge.
