Oct. 6, 2008
Head Coach Gary Pinkel
Opening statement:
"Good afternoon. We're a fairly healthy football team right now. (Junior WR) Van Alexander got in on a few plays last week, and that was good. We're working on hopefully getting him a bit more work as he's coming off of that injury. (Junior DL) Andy Maples has cellulitis, he did not go to the game last week. He's working through that and is doubtful for this week. But, the rest of the team is very healthy. It's probably the healthiest we've been this football season. We're obviously preparing for Oklahoma State right now. They're a very, very good football team, as you all know. They're playing really well on both sides of the ball, they're dominant. They've done a good job of building a good program. They're very athletic, they run well. That's certainly why they're winning. They seem to be certainly a very disciplined football team, also. As you look at them and they're QB Zac Robinson, he's really a good athlete. He runs their offense well. He throws the ball well, his completion percentage is very good. They've just got a lot of great athletes. Their punt returner/receiver (sophomore WR) Dez Bryant, he's as good as there is in the league. And we've got a pretty good one right here. This guy changes football games when he touches the ball. We knew about him when he was in high school and he's obviously just a tremendous, tremendous player. Their running backs are good. They present a lot of problems on both sides of the football. We're going to work hard today as a staff, we've been working since 7 this morning on game-planning. We'll come up with the best plan we can. Our big thing is we just want to have great practices and prepare at the highest level. Last week, I thought practice was at a better and higher level than it had been all year. We need to continue to do that if we want to improve as a football team."
On the importance of time of possession for Missouri's offense:
"I think if you're going to have the offense we run -- up-tempo, fast, attacking -- we're going to throw the ball a lot downfield. You can't be concerned about time of possession. In the Nebraska game, we were sitting there in the 3rd quarter, I didn't want to score any more points going into the 4th quarter, so I'm thinking we've got to change what we're doing. We had about an 8-minute drive there which is really good. Our offense is like that. Bottom line, when you get the opportunity, you have to score. What they (Oklahoma State) like to do is control the clock, they're efficient and they score. It certainly puts a lot of pressure not only on our defense, but on your offense, that when you get the opportunity, you have to take advantage of it."
On the attitude needed to play in a high-pressure environment:
"I just think any time you go in, especially in this league and at this high level, to an away-game environment, like Nebraska, good teams that play well in that environment are the ones that go in with a positive attitude and they're excited. They knew they were going to get booed some places, it wasn't at Nebraska...but I think that's an attitude. We want that players to have that attitude...it allows you to compete and kind of embrace what is happening rather than be a deer in headlights. The first couple of years I was here, it was very diffcult to get our players to think that way. But we've evolved with that."
On Missouri's low penalty numbers:
"I think we have some maturity, that's helping us a little bit. We practiced last week with sound at the highest level, probably more than we've ever done before. I had felt that we hadn't handled the (Edward Jones) Dome quite like I wanted to... We have a lot of returning starters. They've been in the arena and they understand how you've got to lock it down and focus. I was pleased with all the noise and all the checking we did on the line of scrimmage, I thought we did a good job of handling it. We passed that test. As far as overall, part of our plan to win, one of the bullet points is, 'Don't beat yourself with penalties.' One team gets 10 yards in penalties, another gets 100 yards in penalties, that 90-yard difference in field position is huge in a football game. Right now, we're doing well. I think a lot of that is focus and discipline."
On sophomore running back Derrick Washington's breakout performance so far:
"It's not a surprise to me at all. I knew this was going to happen, I just kind of sat back and let it happen. He's a really talented guy. He's mature. He's got a chance to be a high, high level running back. He's only started five games and you see what I see. The good news about him is he's just going to get a lot better...He's a very patient runner, and in our offense you have to be with the different things we do. You have to let things unfold a little bit. He's very natural. He's a very special player. He's a great kid with a great work ethic...I think it's instinct. People say, 'Who's he look like?'...This guy, he's very unique. I don't know what he looks like. All I know is, I like what I see."
On the defense against Oklahoma State's passing and running attacks:
"I think what happens is No. 1 thing, you want to contain the run. Then, our pass efficiency defense is a lot better than our pass defense. Efficiency means yards per catch...I look at that more than I look at stats for pass defense. I think we're improving. We gave up some big plays early that have hurt us. We're concerned, because they can play. They're really good...We'll be tested. No. 1, we'll find out how good we are against the run...That's the tough thing, if you've got a good quarterback that can throw well and great receivers, that's got big play written all over it. It's going to be a real test for us."
Senior QB Chase Daniel
Opening Statement:
"How's everyone doing today? Oklahoma State, they're a great team. They're ranked 17th in the nation. We're going to have our hands full this coming week. What they do on defense is that they present a lot of problems for us. They do almost everything possible in the books from dropping eight to bringing seven so we have to be ready for that. That's how they will present problems to us, they give us a lot of different looks so hopefully we can just go out there and execute."
On facing an offense of equal caliber:
"I think it's going to be a great offensive showdown. Both us teams are very good offensively and both of us are very good defensively too. We're getting a lot better on the defensive side of the ball and so is there team. We're excited about that. We believe we have the better guys but Dez Bryant is unbelievable in his own right and so is Pettigrew and Zac Robinson. Kendall Hunter leads the big 12 in rushing and we never really heard of him before this year. Hes really burst onto the scene and they really trust him in what he does. So it will be a good show for the fans. We don't want it to be a shootout by any means but we feel like every time we touch the ball we want to score. We just have to go out there and be consistent."
On seemingly “screwing up” if the offense doesn't score on a drive:
"I think that's how we feel. We want to score every time, and even if we kick field goals we're like ok…a B maybe. We want A+'s every time, we want seven points every time we step on the field and touch the ball. I don't think we feel like we need to score every time we touch the ball now. Mentally and physically I think we're ready to go."
On TB Derrick Washington:
"He just presents a lot of different problems for defenses. We had some plays that we didn't put in last week for him. He presents a lot of different problems. Anytime you have the leading scorer in the nation on your team you know you're doing something right so he's having a great year so far and hopefully he'll keep it up."
On lessons learned from playing ranked teams:
"We have to play consistent, and focus on one game at a time. I know it gets old but if you don't focus on one game at a time then a trap game can set in. Oklahoma State is not a trap game whatsoever because they are ranked 17th in the nation and they do a lot of great things that can present problems for us. I think last year we learned just be consistent, stay the course, don't get too ahead of yourself, don't look back on stuff that you did because it's over with. You've got to look forward and look to your preparation throughout each day."
On being a target because of increased ranking:
"Everyone wants to knock the number 2, the number 3 team off the pedestal. It seems like every week we're moving up a spot or two in the polls, which is great that's what we want. We also realized that that's just a number and we don't want to get too involved with it. Is it good to be ranked 2 or 3 in the nation? Of course because you get a lot more exposure. The community gets a lot more exposure, you're on TV a lot more people around the nation and MU fans can watch you. I think definitely the target is getting bigger week in and week out and we enjoy that. We don't shy away from it. We know people are going to bring their A games and we have to bring ours as well."
On other QB's talking about the Heisman, and how he's handling the exposure:
"There's not been one mention about it. And handling it just comes with the territory. It comes with being on the number 2 team in the nation. They only point fingers at me well not just me but all my teammates but there has to be someone responsible for it. I guess the media outlets who are picking the Heisman right now pick me I'm just doing my job. I'm just trying to distribute the ball to my playmakers, and those playmakers are making me look good and I'm making them look good as well."
On importance of spreading the ball around:
"It's definitely important for us. That's our number two goal, to distribute the football. If we have one guy with 15 catches and 2 or 3 more with 2 or 3 then that would be a problem. That cause a problem on the football field with matchups because they could say oh they're going to JMac every time. And it causes a problem in the meeting rooms because guys want to get the football. So Coach C has said before that the biggest challenge he faces is keeping everyone happy which is a good problem to have because we have so many high level playmakers and I personally don't lean on anyone I just follow leads and I trust all of my receivers the same."
On the number one offensive goal:
"No turnovers."
On who has the biggest ego on offense:
"No one right now. Honestly. Not one person has said, 'why don't you throw me the football'. They recognize the big goal, and the big goal right now is winning each and every game."
Senior DT Ziggy Hood
On the Oklahoma State offense:
"They're a very well balanced offense. Their quarterback is a great athlete… not only can he run, but he can pass as well. Their offensive line is big and athletic, so I'm pretty sure they can move around and shift just as well as anybody else."
On the attention the Mizzou offense receives:
"If the defense is stopping the other team and the offense is scoring, it may just look like the offense is doing their thing, but it really doesn't matter because everybody is getting the win. We just try to focus on what we can do to better ourselves as the week progresses, and what we can do to put the ball back into the offense's hands so that they can score. We just try to focus on not committing or causing mistakes."
On moving up to #3/2 in the rankings:
"It seems like we've got a bigger target on our chests now that we're up there in the rankings. Right now, though, we're not worried about the rankings because it doesn't even matter yet. By the end of the season, it will matter."
Junior LB Sean Weatherspoon
On Oklahoma State's offense:
"They're putting up points like no other and I think they're one of the most underrated teams in the Big 12. Just from watching film so far, I know they've got a lot of playmakers. One of the guys I know pretty well, [sophomore wide receiver] Dez Bryant, is from the same area I'm from and he's one of their biggest playmakers. They've got a lot of great guys that can make some big plays, but we're a potent offense."
On the increasing pressure each week:
"Every week, you've got to have a better football team, because you're going to be playing a better football team… because everybody's getting better every week. Whenever you play a big time team like Oklahoma State on the national stage on ESPN, it's always good for your program. We've just got to go out there and try to focus and cut down on the little mistakes we've been having so far. It's always good to get that exposure, it helps with recruiting and it helps your school. When things are going well, and it's big time football around here, guys are just a little happier."
Sophomore WR/KR Jeremy Maclin
On Oklahoma State's offense:
"They've got a pretty good offense, with guys like Dez Bryant and Zac Robinson, so they'll be a pretty good task for us. It's fun to have guys on the field like that at the same time, but it's fun every other week too. With Big 12 play everything gets a little bit tougher."
On Oklahoma State's defense:
"We watched them a little bit, they like to try to play a lot of different coverages and confuse you a little bit, but like I've said we have the best offensive coordinator in the nation. Coach C [Dave Christensen] will definitely come up with some stuff for us."
On the team's quick scoring drives:
"We want to score on every play, if possible. I think our offense is kind of designed to score fast, that's the kind of tempo we play with, and it's just us playing our offense the way we do."
On what running back Derrick Washington adds to the team:
"It just gives us balance. He's definitely brought a legitimate running threat to our attack. He helps us out, and we help him out."
Senior TE Chase Coffman
On the high number of players receiving the ball:
"Spreading the ball around is probably the most important thing. It sort of helps this offense get going, because you never know who the ball is going to go to. There are so many weapons that it makes it hard to key in on one guy."
On Mizzou's low number of penalties and low time of possession:
"We're very proud of that fact. It just comes from coaching and leadership… we're a well-disciplined team. Time of possession can't really hurt a team that much, unless you're trying to run the clock out and you need to run it down, which I think we've shown we can do if we need to. Penalties are one of those things that can change a game on fourth down or third-and-long, where if you get a penalty you give the other team a chance to score."
On high school and college teammate Derrick Washington:
"Not much has changed. He's still a very hard worker and a great player. He's out there working his butt off every single day, in the weight room and practice, whatever it takes he's out there working his hardest. I know what he's capable of doing. He showed a little bit last year, but with Tony Temple and all the other running backs, he didn't get as many chances. Being in that starting position now, and getting more carries, with more plays coming to him he's bound to break something."
Sophomore TB Derrick Washington
On the way he looks past defenders while running the ball:
"I think that's just God's gift. It's something that I don't even notice myself doing, but when the defender's coming I'm not looking at him, I'm looking past him at the next guy. I try to make the first guy miss, but I'm looking at the next guy coming, because if I make him miss I've always got to be ready for that next defender."
On the success of the offensive line in creating holes for running backs:
"That's how our running backs like it. Yesterday at our meetings, me, Devon, and Jimmy came to the O-linemen room and told them, 'Good job, you guys… let's keep it up, we love running behind you guys. We hope it's like this every week,' and I think they really appreciated that."
On his stellar numbers this season:
"I love to have the ball in my hands and break a line up. We never know how often that's going to happen, but every time I get the ball, I'm trying to score. I'm liking it right now… it's something I never dreamed of. They told me earlier that I'm leading the nation in scoring—I didn't even know that, that's crazy. It's something that I'm glad is happening, it's unbelievable. I didn't know that I was going to have a season like this, but it's just the beginning and now I've got to keep it up."
On the lack of national attention he receives:
"I feel like I'm kind of under the radar, but I like that. We have some potent weapons on this offense, and you can't stop all of us. I think nobody's really noticing who I am, and I like it… I hope it stays that way, so that I can keep busting things open like last week."