Wrapping it Up: Miami Football Vs FAMU Highlights, Quotes

Game Highlights:

Quotes:

Al Golden

On his satisfaction level with the offensive rhythm…

"I don’t know if I’m satisfied in anything right now. It’s hard to judge, to be honest with you. It’s two games in five days, and now we need to take a deep breath and look at everybody’s body of work in those two games. We have a heck of a football team coming in here next week. We have a team that knows how to win and is aggressive. We have to get healed up and healthy tomorrow, and go back t work on Monday. I can’t wait to get back to work on Monday. I really can’t. I think we’re going to learn a lot about a lot of different guys, kind of set the team moving forward here and get ready to go."

On which key players missed the second half…

"We held Stacy [Coley] out, we held Duke [Johnson] out, we held Denzel [Perryman] out. From there, we took out guys incrementally as the game progressed."

On his evaluation of freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya’s performance…

"I thought Brad made some really nice throws. I think it was unfortunate we snapped the ball three times thinking we had them offside and all three were incompletions, one was an interception. We have to go back and take a look at the tape on that. That wasn’t good there. We liked to keep the ball outside the numbers on the go route. He brought it inside, brought the corner in to play. There were some heck of [good] throws there too. I thought we did a better job protecting them against all the zone pressure we were getting. I think Brad ‘s going to keep making progress and grow. I’m excited about Brad."

On the defensive line playing with more confidence…

"I don’t think there’s any question. The biggest thing was last week, we had 72 or 73 plays, so it’s probably 800 reps, and out of those 800 reps on defense, we only had 15 mental errors. They challenged each other this week to have less than that. They’re really cohesive right now. Everybody is fitting in the right gaps. We let up a couple of deep ones. We have to do a better job playing the ball down the field, but we’re keeping the quarterback in the pocket, we’re tackling better. In both games, I think we tackled better. [On] the defensive line, we’re playing more of those guys and we’re getting more production, for sure."

On the offensive execution on third down…

"I’m going to go back and look at it again. I’m going to go back and look at first and second down again. Protection wasn’t an issue today, clearly. We have to go back and look at the first two games and analyze everything about it. Don’t make any excuses. See what our first- and second-down efficiency is, see what the actual third-and-distance is, what our average is on third down. Are we in too many long yardages? And then go from there. There’s no question we need to improve that."

On if the playbook was opened up for quarterback Brad Kaaya…

"Because we had such a short timeframe, we didn’t really change the playbook. It’s just the way it unfolded. Perhaps if we had gotten down to a lead last week or had converted on those two [drives] inside the 10 [-yard line], it would have looked like a different playbook, but it didn’t. We didn’t add anything really. We just moved everything forward and I think he got a little bit better at some of the things we called."

Brad Kaaya

On how he’s feeling after having his first two college games within a five game span:

"This practice week was tough. It was a rushed practice week. We got back at it Wednesday, so we didn’t have as much time to get plays installed, but I feel that we handled it well and attacked the week."

On evaluating his own performance tonight:

"Pretty good. There were some plays I wish I could have had back. We had a few miscommunications out there that we should get worked on. But hey, I’m not a big stats guy, I’m just a big wins guy. That’s all I care about is wins."

On if he was frustrated from some of the negative plays on what looked to be offsides:

"You can’t just dwell on those plays. You just have got to keep it moving. The referee is not always going to get it in our eyes. You can’t dwell on those plays. You just have got to keep it moving."

Phillip Dorsett

On his 32-yard touchdown catch in the back of the endzone…

"I know I had a post [route], and I thought because of the look they gave, I thought the play was dead. I wasn’t supposed to get the ball on that play. When I saw the ball go up in the air, the only thing I thought was I was going to catch it. No matter where I am, no matter who hits me, just catch the ball."

On where improvements were made by freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya…

"I would say his poise. He looked like he was ready this game. We made a pact as an offense…to not let the defensive players touch him this game. He looked a lot more comfortable back there. We said we were going to rally around him, because he’s our quarterback, and that’s what we have to do."

On the team’s confidence heading into next week’s game…

"A lot more [confidence]. As an offense, we have to keep improving. We made a lot of mistakes, we had some ups and downs this game. I would say more good plays than bad plays. We have to keep going. We have to pass the ball more effectively. I felt like his interceptions this game were not his fault. He’s getting a lot better. I know for a fact he has a lot more confidence in his game now."

Anthony Chickillo

On Thurston Armbrister ...

"He is playing very good football right now. The sack-caused-fumble is the best play in football. I’m so happy for him, he just has to keep it up."

On the defensive the performance...

"I thought we played pretty good at times. They got a couple of plays that we didn’t want them to get, but that’s football and overall I thought we played great."

On the D-Line...

"I think we are playing good football right now.  Guys are locked in, doing their job and making plays because of it. We have got to keep it up. We have a really tough team in Arkansas State coming in next week and they are going to be more than ready for us, so we have to go back to work tomorrow."

Braxton Berrios

On offense improvement from last week and what he would like to see as the season progresses ...

"I think we improved greatly. Like the O-line said, they had a pit in their stomachs, and they practiced hard all week--as well as the rest of us. Going forward, we still have to improve on everything. Nothing is at a 12-game area. We have to keep on working every week, and hopefully we can reach our potential."

On health regarding knee injury back in January ...

"We’ll see. I think I’m back, but we’ll find out."

On working on field with Kaaya in May, June and July ...

"I probably touched the field in June or July. We didn’t have too much going into the summer, but when fall camp started, that’s when we hit the ground running."

Duke Johnson

On the meaning of the game ...

"In some aspects, it was my first home game back from injury. I think it means more to my mom than me, she gathered up a huge crowd, a big fan base to come out and sit in one section for the game but I think it meant more to her than me."

On the offensive performance ...

"I think we stepped up big time from the last week. We still have a lot of things to correct and get better at, but for the most part I think we did a great job. I am just looking forward to next week."

On milestones reached tonight ...

"Just being in the arena with some of the guys is a great feeling alone. Just being compared to a lot of great running backs that came through here is heart felt and I think it is a great accomplishment."

On Where he feels the offense is at ...

"I think we have a long way to go. We have Brad - Brad has a long way to go. He is a freshman, and so does the offensive line starting with the center Shane McDermott, and he is a senior. As a whole we have a long way to go. Every guy has more stuff they can take. Even the guys who are coming off second & third string have more to give and more to give and more to learn. I wouldn't say we are pretty far right now, but we are just getting started and getting rolling."

On if he feels the offensive line was better tonight ...

"I feel it was much better tonight. I think the guys came out with that bad taste from last week in their mouths, and we just wanted to just come out here and play the football that we know we are capable of playing."

On Joseph Yearby...

"It's just great to see a guy come in and work hard and battle. It's the same injury I had coming from high school. He is working hard every day to get better, and better himself to get adjusted to the college game. Today was his first go around, his first taste of college and I think he has done well."

Stay tuned as we bring you more from this contest and preview next weekend's contest Vs Arkansas State as well.