UCF Head Coach Josh Heupel
Opening statement…
“I’m proud of the way the kids played, competed for 60 minutes in all three phases of the game. I thought defensively, we came out, started really fast. (We did) a good job of being dialed in to our assignments early in the football game, gave up a couple of plays as the game unfolded, but overall proud of what they did in seeing the triple option there. Offensively, I thought really overall (we) handled things really well. Structurally, they were completely different than anything they showed on tape the entire season. I thought coaches and players did a great job of adjusting after that first series and finding a way to score some points. Special teams was solid today. I’m proud of the ability to go win one more.”
On communication on offense…
“With not having practiced the looks that they saw and being multiple in their looks as the game unfolded, I thought the communication was really, really good from those guys, starting with (Jordan Johnson). But the offensive line - the five guys up front and then the tight ends all being on the same page and getting a hat on a hat. I thought our running backs did a really good job of running the football north and south. I’m just really proud of the effort of those guys.”
On making adjustments…
“It's not easy. The coaches did a great job of finding the angles, finding a way to get a hat on a hat and then offensively, just being able to adjust the guys up front - quarterback too, with some of his checks. (They) just did a phenomenal job of handling the different structures that they were seeing a little bit different. Obviously we relied heavily on the run game early in football game because of the structure that we were seeing from them.”
On his respect for Navy…
I said this going into the ball game – all the academy schools – but, have a great respect for Navy. Their head coach is as good as there is in the business and they do things the right way. Obviously, what they do for our civilians every single day, what the kids are doing in going there. I have a lot of respect for what they do.”
On limited possessions…
“Structurally we had one position in the third quarter. We get the ball for the second time in the fourth quarter. With what they were playing defensively, structurally, to me it was our best advantage to be in the run game and be with our pass tags off of the run game. I thought we executed our pass tags really well when they were there; when they weren't, we were handing the ball off and had some big runs and had some fours and fives and we'll take those too. When you're playing offensive football, in some respect you have to take what they're giving you. If you've looked at it from up top, they weren't giving us a lot of things down the football field right. That is a light space box and that's why we took advantage of it. The fourth quarter, you look at the seven-minute mark or whatever it might have been. It's a three-possession ball game right there. What you're seeing on the other side, at the end of the day, we’re trying to play winning football.”
On facing Cincinnati…
“At the end of the day if you're doing it right inside of your program, each game becomes bigger. That's what we want. That's the type of program we're trying to build. I have great respect for Cincinnati. We're going to enjoy this one today. We'll move on Cincinnati tomorrow but yeah, we'll stick with our 1-0 mantra.”
On McKenzie Milton…
“Really good. I mean really accurate with the football, great decision maker. The ability for him to adjust to something that had not been seen on tape within the course of the ballgame speaks to his understanding and knowledge of football and he understood why the balls are getting handed off.”
On Milton’s scrambles…
“There were a couple busts that he ended up taking off on. The scramble was drop-eight coverage. There's a lane for him to go pick up or make a big play with his feet too. We'll see what's going to happen when people dropping eight on him.”
On the defense…
“I thought they played really well early. (They) were dialed into their keys and played assignment-sound. As the game went forward, gave a couple of big plays. Busted a couple things. Missed a couple tackles but overall gave us the ability to go win a football game.”
On the running backs…
“(Adrian Killins) ran downhill, had some really nice runs. Otis (Anderson) had had some big plays as well. We ran the speed sweep there in the fourth quarter and he's able to make a guy miss and make a big play out of it. I liked the way all those guys did. Obviously, we can't put the ball on the ground there at the end of the first half, but pleased with the way they performed.”
On being in the playoff conversation…
“I don't get tired of it. We want to be in that conversation. We want to be in it every single year. We're building this program to have sustained success and be at that level every single year. I’m proud of what our kids do, the purpose that they approach every single day when they walk into our building. They'll be excited to go play next Saturday whatever time kickoff is against Cincinnati.”
UCF Junior Wide Receiver Dredrick Snelson
On playing Navy….
“It was pretty awesome. They didn't even talk to me the whole game, to be honest. He didn't say a word to me, the DB that was covering me. He was a pretty poised guy; he just didn't talk to me. I tried to get him out of his game, pretty well composed guy. I think they are all like that. My hat goes off to them. They are excellent guys, great personalities. He talked to me after the game. All-around overall good guys over there.”
On Navy giving their best…
“To be honest, it all feels the same to me. Every team is physical, I feel like we play. We’re going to get their best and they’re going to get our best. Same thing every week.”
On touchdown route…
“Man-on-man coverage, middle of the field, wide open. I just trusted the throw and he told me to just be there.”
On second quarter pass…
“We were running a lot today, which they probably expected. They were waiting on the run so the one time they weren't expecting it, McKenzie hit me over the middle. Executed play call by Coach Heupel. That’s pretty much it.”
On playoff talk…
"We just play every week. Each week we go 1-0. Win streak? I don't talk about that. We just win every week; whoever we put in front of us, we going to beat them. That’s it.”
UCF Junior Quarterback McKenzie Milton
On making plays…
“I mean if they are getting hits for 6, 10, 12 yards, you’ve just got to keep feeding them and we’ve got a stable of them. I think we have the deepest running back group in the country with A.K., Otis, Greg, Taj, Bentavious. Those are guys that can play anywhere. Those guys keep making plays, makes my job a lot easier and makes the coaches and play callers a lot easier, too.”
On playing Navy on Veteran’s Day weekend…
“I think it's always a special feeling playing them, whether it’s last year or this year. I’ve got some good friends from back home that play for the Naval Academy. It's always good to see them. This was a lot of fun.”
On the overall offensive performance…
“I thought we did pretty good on offense. I think they stopped us three times. The first series of the game, the last drive of the half and one time in the fourth quarter. In a game like this, your possessions are minimized. I think we did the most with what we could. We may have left a little out there, but I thought as a whole, the game went well.”
On how UCF wins games…
“A lot of people act like games are easy to win. They're not; the American conference is very good. It is what it is, week-in and week-out. Playing a team like Navy, you only get three days to prepare for something like that. Running triple options, our defense did a great job. It's not easy to win games. But obviously we want to put our best foot forward and that's what we'll continue to do.”
On Navy formation changes…
“They basically played the same defense the whole game. There was a good adjustment. I think they just kind of tried to keep everything in front of us, make us earn everything. The box was light, so we were able to run the ball all game. Hats off to our O-line getting pushed up the line and the running backs for running their butts off.”
On passing Culpepper…
“That’s a huge honor, Daunte is obviously a legend - not just here but, in the NFL, so that’s huge. I’m pretty sure Darriel Mack will probably pass that up when his time comes.”
On Navy discipline…
“Those guys are class act. Starting with their head ball coach, Coach Ken. All those guys are just a reflection of their head ball coach and the way he carries himself. Those are great guys that we played today and they're great young men. They're going to do great things for this country.”
UCF Junior Linebacker Nate Evans
On preparing for Navy’s offense…
“Of course, you get to a select few days to prepare for those guys and they are well discipline. If you're off by an inch on your run fit, it could bust and that happened today, against us. Preparing for them was a challenging preparation week, but we got to it and we came out with this (win).”
On being happy with the win…
“I'm happy with this win, that is really all that matters. Of course, through all aspects of the game - offense, defense and special teams - we have so much room to improve. We’re just going to get in the film room Monday, get back on the practice field and go 1-0 next week. “
On physical games…
“Every game is a physical game. After the game you feel the same way as you would South Carolina State for Navy, you know what I mean. Of course those guys are real physical and they had a big back No. 38. They had some real fast wings too but real physical team.”
UCF Junior Running Back Adrian Killins, Jr.
On the offensive line…
“The offensive line is phenomenal. They come in day-in and day-out and just do whatever they can do to seal the deal and keep McKenzie protected. They make big holes for running backs to spill through so offensive line is great and wouldn’t change them for nothing.”
On the winning streak…
“I'm pretty sure they do realize how hard it is because everyone is at your neck every game. They want to beat you on any given day. To be on this winning streak is pretty cool. At the same time, we know what’s at hand and we’re trying to win championships here.”
On running back depth…
“It’s great because we see it every day in practice. We make crazy plays on the defense and to see it happen on Saturday. We already knew that that play was going to happen, or that run that got bust for a touchdown that was going to happen because we are executing in practice and we're coming to games. We've got a lot of great backs, like I said. I'd be scared as defensive coordinator and defense preparing for us.”
On getting on the field against Navy…
“We were just eager to get back on the field because Navy (was keeping) the ball for a long time and (milking) the clock. We made sure the guys on the sideline were staying hydrated. Keep stretching so that when we get on the field we're not cold and we can move at a fast tempo.”
Navy Head Coach Ken Niumatalolo
Opening Statement…
“Well first off, obviously it sucks to lose again. That’s a really good team though; they have won a ton of games. We didn’t get off to the start we wanted to offensively - that hurt us against a team like that. We had a couple missed assignments and some turnovers, center QB exchange. Our complementary football isn’t too good right now. We had some stops in the first half, and then we couldn’t move the ball. Or we had some boo-boos, self-inflicted wounds. Then we started moving the ball in the second half, but we couldn’t get any stops. Like I said, a lot of that had to do with UCF; they are a good team. McKenzie and them are a machine on offense; a lot of people can’t stop them. I’m proud of our kids. I thought our kids fought to the end. There are no consolation prizes for coming close, but I was proud of the way our guys fought.”
On the offensive rhythm…
“No, it was in the first half too. That had nothing to do with UCF. We dropped a ball on a center and quarterback exchange. The first couple plays we had some missed assignments and you can’t do that against them. Then we started moving the ball, like I said, and then we just needed a stop but we couldn’t get one. That’s hard to do against those guys. Those guys score a ton of points against a lot of people. There’s a reason they’ve been undefeated. There’s a reason they got the national championship. They’ve won a ton of football games.”
On quarterback Zach Abey…
“He started off slow though. That fumble hurt us and then the center/quarterback exchange. Those two plays were critical plays. Those are two possessions that you can’t lose against them. If we get those and we score, we’re right in the game. Against a good team like that, you can’t do that. Unfortunately, Garrett hurt his finger in pregame. It solidified everything that Zach was going to be the guy. I thought Zach played much better in the second half.”
On different defensive look…
“We were trying anything, man. An odd front that a lot of people are playing against great offenses. It’s a 3-3 stack. The majority of the guys in the Big 12 run it. A lot of people run it now against the spread teams. It takes away some of the RPOs when we had the tackle. To play that defense, you have to tackle really good in the secondary, and those guys are hard to tackle. Again, I thought early on we had some stops. We had to get going earlier on offense. If we play like we did in the second half; play like that in the first half on offense, who knows where that game would have been at the end. I think it would have been just exchanging scores. We could have played on a pace that was almost close to us last year. That’s why people say, “we’re off” and this or that. Yeah, we’re off, but we’re also playing good people too. I mean this is the toughest stretch, besides this stretch and the end of last year’s stretch. People say, “well you guys lost 5 games last year.” People don’t even look at the games. They just count 5 losses, but I mean we’re not playing in the Patriot League. We played Memphis that won 11 games last year, Notre Dame, Houston, UCF. It’s the same thing this year. It’s hard to get on track because the competition is so good. People that say that don’t know what they’re talking about.”
On offense in the second half…
“The first half at Houston I thought we played well. People forgot too that we scored 22 points against the No. 3 in the country in one half. Northwestern plays them a whole game and scores 21. Michigan scores 17. We rushed for 200 yards in one half. Like I said, people that don’t really know what they’re talking about make critics, but they don’t know what they’re talking about.”
On safety Sean Williams’ injury…
“He’s a big part of our team. It’s kind of been the nature of this year. It’s a new defense and that guy is huge in that scheme. He’s going to be a guy that’s involved in the run and the pass. He’s the most important guy and then he gets hurt. Maybe some other guys we could have rotated. Then, Evan Fochtman gets hurt. We put in this defense thinking it would be great for Sean and then he gets hurt. Then, your backup quarterback dislocates a finger in pregame. It’s one of those years; we just have to keep rolling. One of those years.”
On the future of the defense…
“We will see. With a lot of the spread guys, we’ll see how this goes. We’ll kind of take a look at it. It’s still a tough team to stop, but I think we’ll look at it. There’s some good and some bad. We had some third downs and find a way to get them off on third downs. We had some opportunities and there was 7 for 11. Early we had a chance to get them off; we missed some tackles. We have to find a way to get them off the field on third down.”
On defense pressuring McKenzie Milton...
“We’re taking away throwing lanes. He’s such a dynamic runner, once he breaks that first line defense. It’s feast or famine. You take away the pass, then he can run it. Then, you try and stay close to the line, he throws it over his head and gets a touchdown. He’s a really good player.”