Wrapping it Up: Miami Football Vs Cincinnati Quotes

Al Golden

On the performance of quarterback Brad Kaaya...

“I hope so. He got sacked on the second play of the game, we left a guy unblocked. When that happens, it can get you out of rhythm, and he didn’t do that. He used his feet really well. I thought he saw the field well. I don’t know what he ended up with, close to 300 [yards]. His completion percentage is better. His decisions were better, and he protected the ball. We’re going to need him to protect the ball to do what we need to do this year.”

On what Duke Johnson moving into first place in all-purpose yards means to him...

“It means I should have gave him the gameball inside. Duke, I owe you a gameball. You guys have been covering him for three years. I think the last four games,he’s playing incredible football...playing with such a vengeance, so fast. He’s really being unselfish. We’re throwing him the ball out of the backfield. That’s what he has been doing. He didn’t get as many carries, because we took him out in the third, but we want him to get about 20 carries and four or five catches, and that’s what he has been doing. He’s been doing about 160 to 170 [all-purpose yards] per game for four games now. I’m really proud of the effort that hehas given. He’s finishing runs better. He’s staying inside the guard on his power plays. He’s trusting his tracks on the zone plays. He’s playing good football right now.”

On if the team has more ‘big play’ ability than he expected...

“It’s not more than I thought it would be. I was disappointed the last two weeks in our score on that side of the ball. But I thought the defense was betteron third down today, and did a good job in the first half stopping the run and keeping them out of the endzone. [They] gave us good field position and we con- verted. I thought the kicking game was better than it had been.”

On the contributions of the offensive line in the explosive plays...

“Jon [Feliciano] was obviously better this week, having two weeks now at right tackle. He was good. I think Danny [Isidora] has really been coming on. Nick Linder did a good job. Alex Gall was in there today, Trevor [Darling]...those are the seven we’re going with, of course Shane [McDermott] and Ereck [Flowers].Those are the seven we’re rotating right now. I had to do whatever I could to protect them late in the game. We have to get them out of there.”

On how the coaching staff attacks the number of penalties...

“That’s disappointing. You look at all of them, be honest with them. Some of them clearly were selfish penalties. The ones that you don’t understand, you don’treally cover. That’s a crazy amount of penalties today. I don’t understand it.”

On how he thought his team played defensively...

“We built a big lead, so you play the game differently. You don’t want to give up a big one because you’re sitting there with a 21-plus point lead. I think wecalled it the way we needed to in the third quarter with a big lead, but there is no excuse for the two quick ones they got. It doesn’t matter to me who’s in the game. We had a lot of [second-stringers] that have played good football for us and played a lot of football for us that needed to make a big play there."

On having Make-A-Wish child Carter Hucks with the team this week...

“It humbles you, it brings you back to reality if you start to feel sorry for yourself, start to get down, start to doubt yourself. I thought he would leave anindelible mark on our team during the week, and he did. It uplifted us. I’m really proud he and his family could enjoy us. Duke [Johnson] gave him the gameball acouple of minutes ago. Just a wonderful week for him, and we wish him the best of luck. He’s in our prayers.”

Tyriq McCord, LB

On his acrobatic interception at the beginning of the third quarter...

“I think it took me six steps to realize that I caught it. I remember Denzel [Perrymann] saying ‘go, go, go, follow me.’ I was makingsure that my blocks were set-up, remembering my high school days.”

On his first touchdown in his collegiate career...

“It was an amazing feeling. This was my first pick six. I don’t think in high school I had a pick six. It was great to score for the team. I really cant emphasize what a great feeling it was. You don’t get those opportunities on defense.”

On how the defensive performance today against Cincinnati...

“Overall, we did great. We knew about their passing attack. I went to bigh school with one of their receivers, so we knew abouttheir passing attack. The defensive backs in practice were eyeing the pass, all week in practice. We were happy to make plays onthe ball and cause a little disruption on the defensive line.”

Duke Johnson, RB

On his new record....

“I’m excited but I think my coaches and teammates put me in the best position to get the record. I couldn’t do it by myself. From themoment I stepped on campus each coach, each running back coach, each offensive coordinator, and every teammate that I have hadall played a part in this.”

On promising Carter Hucks that you were going to score a touchdown the first time you touched the ball...

“I told him when I score I was going to give him the game ball.”

On presenting Carter Hucks the game ball...

“He didn’t say much he just smiled, but we look at it as when you’re playing football the only thing on your mind is football andschool. There is so much going on in the real world. There is so much going on, on the outside. With Carter, it is something he is go- ing through, and we just had a great time this week having him around, showing him a good time because when we’re out and we’re smiling and having fun, it’s other people going through stuff. Carter is an example of one.”

Philip Dorsett, WR

On Making Big Plays....

“I just try to take advantage of every opportunity I get because they do not come often, so you just have to make the play when your number is called.”

On Staggering Yards Per Catch Average this Season...

“When the ball is in the air, I just try my best to get it and then after I catch the ball, I just try and score.”

On Emotional Experience of Meeting Carter Hucks...

“He has been a great experience for everybody, from seeing his energy, seeing how he is going through what he is going throughright now, it has been an amazing experience for me and I am at a loss of words. He just wants to live life to the fullest and it is just a blessing for him to have his wish come true.”

Brad Kaaya, QB

On if it was a focus this week to not throw an interception...

“Just taking care of the ball whether it’s proper exchange or good decisions that was a emphasis this week; not turning the ball over in the red zone, that kills drives and momentum.”

On the 79 yard pass to Dorsett...

“I saw in presnap the safety was low he bit on the run fake; we run the ball a lot out of 22 the safety came up and I knew I had Phillip I knew I was about to get hit so I put some air under it and let Phillip run under it.”

On the overall game...

“It feels good, of course there’s a few plays we left out on the field which are some things to work on. I’m never going to be satis- fied, but it was a good day overall for the offense and we’re going to keep progressing.”

Ladarius Gunter, DB

On playing in Blacksburg next week...

“It is my first time going to Blacksburg, at the same time, it is a business trip and I have to get ready to focus on Virginia Tech.”

On the defensive performance overall against Cincinnati...

“I feel that we did pretty well. We have to improve on finishing, but overall, I feel that we did pretty well.