Please Read: Welcome to the new-look Inside the Gators
Florida head coach Jon Sumrall defensive end LJ McCray, and receiver Vernell Brown III met with the media on Saturday evening to discuss the Gators’ 52-3 win over Campbell.
JON SUMRALL
JON SUMRALL: Appreciate you all being here to cover the game. Happy for our guys to get a win. The goal this week, just like every week, is to be 1-0 at the end of Saturday. We’re 1-0 this week, which I’m pleased with. Some positives. I thought clearly VB in the return game came through when it was really clutch with what he did with the ball in his hands on those two punt returns, the third one that we had the penalty on. He did some really nice things in the return game.
I thought defensively did a better job. Once we settled into the rhythm of the game, that first drive they got us a couple times down the field early throwing the ball, but I thought our guys settled in and played with more confidence at times in the back end.
Really in two situations in the second half, I was pleased that after the muffed punt forced a field goal opportunity, they missed it. With a lot of young guys in the game there at the end, got a defensive stop on the fumble, which I was pleased with, to hold them to three points.
A lot I was not pleased with, to be quite honest with you. Some guys proved maybe in the second half, you get an opportunity to prove people right or wrong, some guys proved us right why they’re not playing right now. We were way too sloppy. I think in the second half we had more penalties in the second half than we have all year prior to the second half. That was really frustrating. If we play like we did in the second half, we’re about to have a real rude awakening. We have got a lot of improvement to do.
While I’m really happy to be 1-0 this week, I’m not real pleased with just maybe where we are from a maturity standpoint, executing at a really high level all the time.
What we’re about to walk into in conference play, we will get absolutely embarrassed if we don’t improve a ton. A lot to be excited about, but a lot to work on. I thought Philo played fairly efficiently, did some good things. I thought our running backs, to be quite honest with you, were subpar, not so much Jadan, but the depth of the room I thought did some things that were not as clean as we’ve asked them to do.
We had a guy go the wrong way on one run, missed a protection call on one. Didn’t really play clean football. A lot to be to be quite honest with you that I’m really frustrated about.
We’ll open it with that.
Q. You mentioned clutch. How did that get the team going? The energy wasn’t great.
JON SUMRALL: Yeah, we were a little sluggish early. I think going and making a play in the return game… Anytime you score on special teams, the percentages of you winning the game goes way up. We scored twice, you almost have to screw it up to lose. Those were both big-time plays.
I think those type of plays, too, gets the crowd involved in the game. That was fun to see VB make those plays and create that momentum for us.
Q. How do you address the second half starts? Unnecessary roughness calls, consecutive drives. How do you address that?
JON SUMRALL: We pulled the guys out of the game as soon as it happened. I talked to ’em. I said, Look, that’s not okay. You can’t put us in first and 25. Not all personal fouls are created the same. What I will say is one of them I felt like was us just trying to play through the echo of the whistle. I’m not going to make an excuse for it. But I’m like there was no whistle blown, so the guy is playing through the echo of the whistle. He doesn’t have eyes in the back of his forehead to tell when the play is over. That was on the one with Rod Kearney. He didn’t know when the play was over.
Maybe he shouldn’t have jumped on the guys is what they’re saying. It’s football. You’re allowed to push somebody in the ground.
We cannot have those things happen. Last week we got to third and goal on the 28 yard line and scored. You get to conference play, you’re in first and 25, I might as well get the punt team ready most of the time. Not all the time, but most of the time. Just go ahead and get them at their spot to get ready to take the field.
Q. We saw the special teams emphasis certainly in fall camp. Curious to see that kind of crystallize, what you saw in some of the blocks.
JON SUMRALL: We spend a lot of time on special teams. I’m very involved in it. Coach Galante does a great job. Our special teams coaches put in a ton of work. Greg McMahon has been a great addition for us. What he does is he meets with some guys one on one, help them understand their job better. Just their little role that they may have within the team.
On both punt returns we actually had blocks called. What we’re trying to do is get them to maybe hold the front guys in longer, knowing that was going to give VB a little bit more room to operate and catch. Sometimes you when you have a punt return on, the guys on the punt protection team read it and get out in coverage fast. When you have a punt block on, it’s holding them in longer.
Sometimes the biggest returns happen on punt blocks, not always holdups. Both of those were more of a block type of look to make sure we put some pressure on the punter, keep the blockers in a little bit longer to protect. But it’s nice to see us execute those plays well and create special teams plays, create momentum. Obviously when you score, it’s a big deal.
Q. You talked about settling into the rhythm of the game defensively. Now two weeks in a row. Is that something that needs to be done as a unit or are there a couple of individuals that can take charge and make sure the defense is ready to roll?
JON SUMRALL: Yeah, sometimes it’s both. Sometimes, like, they made a nice throw and catch on the one to start their drive in the first quarter when they got the ball to start the game.
I went over to our DBs after that drive and I said, Guys, they may catch a pass or two. Do not be afraid to stay down there and challenge them. Do not get cautious. At corner, you’re going to get beat. The other guys are going to make a play. When you get beat, you have to pick yourself up, All right, next play.
That’s what I was most pleased with out of those guys tonight, maybe we didn’t start great, we do need to start faster, it would be nice to get a three-and-out the first drive, we haven’t done that yet, but at the same time you look back-to-back weeks, even though we gave up a first-drive interception, this week forced them to a field goal. Don’t want them to get points, but nonetheless, we didn’t let them in the end zone.
We do need to start a little bit faster, though. Sometimes it’s on a guy to make a play. Your one-on-one matchup, you got to go make the play.
Q. Another big night from Jadan. What did you think of his performance, break another long one?
JON SUMRALL: It’s fun to see him hit that long one. Last year I think his longest was 23 yards. For him to have two in back-to-back weeks that were long ones, it’s fun. I thought he did a nice job. I thought we didn’t maybe provide him as many rushing lanes as we should have up front tonight. I don’t think we played awful with the first group on the O-line, but I don’t think we’re where we need to be yet either. Jadan did some really good things.
Q. A lot of penalties on the O-line in the third quarter. What did you see there? How frustrating was that?
JON SUMRALL: We had a couple of holds and a couple of personal fouls. It’s really frustrating. Like, that was one of the things I was most pleased with in week one, we had four penalties last week. The first half this week it felt fairly clean. The second half, every time you felt like we had an explosive play, there’s another penalty flag, another penalty flag. You can’t do that. The Gators can’t bet the Gators.
When you do that in the games we’re getting ready to go play, we will lose the game. I think we will not give
ourselves an opportunity to win the game. We have to clean a lot of that up.
The good news is our guys owned it. They understand accountability. Every one of them after I brought them over and corrected them, half of them before I came in here, they came to me, Coach, I’m sorry. I am like, Yeah, good, you should be. It’s not okay. It hurts the team.
We’ve got to get a lot of that cleaned up and addressed.
Q. After the first series your defensive line really stepped it up. Would you talk about what they did in the last 90% the game.
JON SUMRALL: I thought they played bigger than last week. Last week was a different challenge because a ton of quick game. Tonight a little bit more some screens, perimeter screens than even last week. I do think you felt maybe the talent gap in the trenches when our defense was on the field. Made more knock-back plays, physical plays, affected the passer a little bit more at times. There were a couple opportunities we missed. Coach White made two really good calls in situations where we knew they were going to spread out. We didn’t contain the edge the right way. That was on us executing a call at a high level that we missed tonight that I was a little bit frustrated with.
I think they asserted themselves a lot better tonight.
Q. I know this is probably something you wouldn’t have even thought of, but there might have been a possibility that your punter might not have gotten into his first game until Auburn. Hostile territory, SEC game. Is that a part of you that’s relieved that he finally got a chance to punt?
JON SUMRALL: I don’t care if we ever punt. But yeah, I do think the operation of the punt team not having worked in the game, you go on the road the first time next week, it’s going to be a hostile environment. They have a great home field there. So for your snapper, your punter, the communication of everybody, it is nice to at least rep it.
But I’d just like to never punt. That would make it even better.
Q. The first three halves, out of 19 possessions, you scored 18 times. How do you describe what you’ve seen in those three halves?
JON SUMRALL: Yeah, I think we found a way to finish a lot of drives, maybe in spite of ourselves at times, put ourselves in some bad situations. Like I said, we have a lot to clean up or those numbers are going to go the other way real fast.
Q. You briefly touched on how some guys proved you right as to why they’re not getting looks on the field. Was that a prior expectation on your end that your depth pieces were going to make their impact in this game? Did that cause that feeling of disappointment?
JON SUMRALL: Yeah, I expect every player on our team when they get on the team is to play to the standard that is a Florida Gator. I don’t care if you’re a first, second or third team player, there is a standard here. It’s non-negotiable. Doesn’t matter how many reps you got in practice, the standard has to be met all the time. I’m not okay with a guy telling me, I’m a freshman. Or, Hey, I only got this many reps in practice.
All of our freshmen have been here since January. They’ve got plenty of reps of every call we’ve got to do it the right way.
I expect everybody that gets in the game to be ready to go play. I told the guys this week, I tell them the truth, on Monday’s team meeting, I said, We should handle this game the right way, like not cruise through it, get some guys some opportunities to go play. Don’t tell me you’re not ready for your opportunity. Like, you should always be ready for your opportunity.
I think maybe some guys learned tonight what readiness looks like isn’t quite where they are.
Q. You mentioned Campbell at times can be a fast team. There was a period to start the second quarter you had three touchdowns in 5 minutes and 33 seconds. When you’re able to control the pace like that, how important is it?
JON SUMRALL: Yeah, I mean, I think being in control of the flow of the game is really important because the momentum shifts that happen within it. Getting off the field quickly on defense matters. Scoring matters. The flow of the game. You have to play complementary football on the offense, defense, kicking game. All have to work together to maybe take the momentum back in the game.
Q. What did you make of Dallas’ performance as well as Aaron there?
JON SUMRALL: I’m sorry, I lost you.
Q. Looked like he was going through all his progressions.
JON SUMRALL: Yeah, I thought Dallas played really well. He went for over a hundred yards, had 104 yards, five catches. Dallas is a really talented player, man. High ceiling. Just going to continue to get better and better and better. I’m excited about where he’s headed.
Philo, I thought he’s played really, really efficient. He’s operated well. He’s been a great leader. He’s communicated at a high level. I think we’re playing good football with him in the game right now. He’s just got to continue to get better.
Q. Sitting here after two games, one-sided performances, what is the message going into SEC play?
JON SUMRALL: We have to get better. Like, I’m a little uneasy with where we are. I think you can win games in the fashion we’ve won them in. It feel guys for everybody. But if we are not really urgent and detailed in our preparation, the outcome next Saturday will not be what we desire.
What’s on my mind is how do we get this team better because where we are right now is not good enough.
LJ MCCRAY
Q. LJ, your first solo sack with the Gators. How good did it feel?
LJ McCRAY: First one felt amazing, I’m not going to lie. I don’t think I can describe it to you right now. Felt really good.
Q. What was Jon’s message on the sideline? He said there was a lot to work on. What was his message to you in the locker room? How do you plan on embracing that message?
LJ McCRAY: He was just stressing that the game isn’t over. Finish, we got a long way to go. A lot of game left to play. We don’t need to let up.
Q. How much did it ignite the team, VB’s punt returns? Sleepy game, he kind of woke it up.
LJ McCRAY: Electric. I mean, he’s an electric player. You heard it in The Swamp. Got pretty loud. The team feeds off of that. It’s important.
Q. Campbell goes down the field, gets all the way into the red zone. After that first drive, what is coach saying to keep the heads up a little bit?
LJ McCRAY: This is not the standard. I mean, he didn’t even have to tell us that. That’s what we already understand. There’s no way they should be moving the ball like this. We knew that. Made the adjustment to fix it.
Q. How do you feel after two games? Coach says he’s feeling a little uneasy, he always probably is, but SEC play coming up. How do you feel going into the first week of SEC play?
LJ McCRAY: I think these two games were good as a defense and as an offense, too, just to kind of get in the flow of things. I definitely think there’s a lot of room for improvement. We’re nowhere near where we need to be. We still need to keep building.
Q. What do you think is the biggest area of improvement needed?
LJ McCRAY: Honestly, to be honest, I think we can improve in almost every area. There’s mistakes all over the field that need to be corrected that won’t fly against better opponents.
Q. You were talking about the standard. In your mind, what is the standard here?
LJ McCRAY: Florida defense. Flying around. Nasty, aggressive. We’re going to play disciplined football. You’re going to know we did it.
Q. Did you have a feeling tonight that the discipline was in and out?
LJ McCRAY: Yes, at times. Yes, sir.
Q. You’re still a pretty young, inexperienced defense. Adjusting to Brad White’s scheme, how has that adjustment been two games in now? How has that aided with the struggles?
LJ McCRAY: I think every team has adjustments, starting early in the season. Coach White definitely does a great job of bringing us back down every weekend, making sure we stay on top of the details. We know as a team we need to be better.
Q. Is there an escalation going into this week knowing you’re about to play nine straight SEC games?
LJ McCRAY: Of course. We know we have SEC ball on the way. No more time to relax and work out the wrinkles or anything. It’s time to put the foot on the gas, keep going.
Q. A really young team. As an upperclassman, how much responsible do you feel to help some of the young guys? Steve was in there making plays. What did you think of him?
LJ McCRAY: We were excited for him on the sideline. We were ready for when he got in. He’s been working for this opportunity. I mean, those young guys have been working. We also help them learn the playbook because we know we’re going to need everybody on the team.
Q. Who came up with the Turnover Club sign?
LJ McCRAY: They told us that that’s what we were doing this season. I’m not really sure the specific person.
Q. How do you feel about it?
LJ McCRAY: It’s lit. I enjoy it a lot.
Q. What do you think about Jeremiah’s play the first two weeks?
LJ McCRAY: I like it. I love it actually. He’s been a guy that’s bringing the energy in the room. He uplifts everybody. We feed off that energy. It’s needed. Thank y’all.
VERNELL BROWN III
Q. (Stream started mid-sentence). You got three scores tonight. Are you ecstatic about that? Are you going to give it to Sumrall?
VERNELL BROWN III: No, man, it’s just a blessing to take advantage of those opportunities. Obviously, I hadn’t scored in a year. To come in a new year, reset, refocus, do you. I’m going out there, doing me. The opportunities are presenting themselves.
Q. What did you see on the first punt return? They almost had you a couple times.
VERNELL BROWN III: I almost don’t count. I almost don’t count, man (smiling).
Q. How did that play unfold?
VERNELL BROWN III: Yeah, as a ball carrier, I think a lot of stuff is just natural. I don’t really think about making moves or I’m about to make this move. It’s more reactive than anything.
I mean, obviously I scored the touchdown, but just credit to my blockers, man. That was amazing. Especially Bailey Stockton at the end holding up the punter. Getting a two for one. That’s amazing. I’m grateful for those guys and appreciate them blocking for me.
Q. From where we sit, a punt return is as exciting as any play there is. From your perspective, what it does for the team, what is your take on it?
VERNELL BROWN III: I mean, yeah, it’s just good, kind of get the crowd going, give us some momentum. Obviously put the ball back in defense hands, them go get another stop for us.
Q. How much of it is instinctive that you’re seeing the field and you’re just anticipating openings out there?
VERNELL BROWN III: Yeah, like I say, I credit a lot to instincts, just having that feel for the game. I mean, I’ve been playing the game since I was five. Obviously the stadiums and the level has changed, but the game doesn’t change. It’s the same stuff I’ve been doing since I was five.
Q. Running to open space?
VERNELL BROWN III: Right, absolutely. Just let’s get a touchdown, go score, find a way to score.
Q. Have you had two punt return touchdowns in a game before?
VERNELL BROWN III: Probably not. Yeah, probably not. Not that I can remember anyway.
Q. Dallas said after the first one he told you, You might be able to get another one. Do you remember that conversation? Was that a goal?
VERNELL BROWN III: Yeah, no, the whole sideline, man. Obviously Dallas said it. Go for another one. Third down, let’s do it, go again. It happens.
Q. Can you walk us through the second one. What did you see? Did you get touched on that play?
VERNELL BROWN III: Good question. Good question. No, just reading the blocks, seeing the field, trusting my guys. I knew where the wall was going to be at. Just following the plan and executing.
Q. Did you think you were going to get a third return?
VERNELL BROWN III: I mean, I’m going for it. Anytime I get the ball in my hands, I think go score. If I get tackled, I get tackled.
Q. You finish with 119 punt return yards, second most in SEC history.
VERNELL BROWN III: Wow.
Q. What does that mean to you?
VERNELL BROWN III: It’s a blessing. The opportunity, just taking advantage of opportunities and credit it to the work and my blocking.
Q. The logo on your shirt there is being defined as being in the zone. Did you feel you were in a zone tonight, that anytime you touched the ball, you knew you could score?
VERNELL BROWN III: Yeah, I mean, absolutely. I feel like that every time I touch the ball, right? Just having that confidence. I put in the work. I’ve been playing the game since I was five. Like I said, the game doesn’t change. I know what I’m capable of doing. I know anytime I get the ball, I feel like I can score.
Q. Thoughts on Aaron’s second game behind center, what you saw from him?
VERNELL BROWN III: Really great player, man. He’s commanding the offense. He’s doing his job. I appreciate him for giving me and the other guys opportunities, putting it in our hands. I mean, all that we can ask for is the opportunities. Ask him to keep doing that, keep having the trust in us, we’ll keep taking advantage of it.
Q. I assume you returned punts in high school.
VERNELL BROWN III: Yeah, yeah.
Q. To have the chance to get one in college, especially after last year, what kind of confidence does this give you?
VERNELL BROWN III: Yeah, I mean, like I said, the game doesn’t change. The levels change. The person across from you may change. I mean, I think my approach is so inward focused that it doesn’t matter who’s in front of me, who I’m playing.
As far as punt return, I appreciate the coaches trusting me to not only return the ball but make good decisions in terms of fair catches, actually returning it. I appreciate that trust. Yeah, I mean, I’m confident.
Q. Back to Aaron. Came in as pretty much of an unknown over the entire country. Came into the locker room as an unknown. How much have you seen the confidence grow in him?
VERNELL BROWN III: Yeah, no, I mean, obviously going into a new situation for him, I mean, a lot of the world was unfamiliar with who he was. But watching film on him as he coming in, I was no stranger to the kind of player he was.
Just him coming and getting to know everybody, embracing the team, being that leader that you look for in a quarterback, it’s amazing. I love that guy, man.
Q. You know your Gator history. Did you know another player had done that before in a game?
VERNELL BROWN III: We was talking about it. I was like I honestly thought it would be Brandon James. Do you know anybody else? No, I didn’t know that.
Q. It was Jacquez Green. Like him, you guys both did it on back-to-back returns. How hard is that to do? You’ve already threatened the special teams unit once.
VERNELL BROWN III: I think it’s as hard as you make it. At the end of the day they punt the ball, you either going to catch and return it or you’re going to fair catch it. If you return it, you go for the end zone.
Q. On the hat trick, have you ever had three touchdowns in game before?
VERNELL BROWN III: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Q. How did it feel to get in the end zone on offense?
VERNELL BROWN III: Yeah man, it’s just amazing. Like I say, the coaches give me opportunities. Me taking advantage of them. Appreciate that trust. I’m excited.
Q. Do you remember Kadarius Toney?
VERNELL BROWN III: Of course.
Q. You’re the first to score three since him, first punt return since him. What do you remember about him as a player?
VERNELL BROWN III: Electric. He was my favorite player when he was here. He was here around the time when my dad was working here. I got a pretty great look at him. He’s one of the players whose highlights I still watch to this day. Great player, great company to be in.
Q. The 219 returning yards is the most in Florida Gators’ history. Talk about what it means to be in the record books, how cool that feels.
VERNELL BROWN III: Yeah, I mean, you putting in the work to make plays. To be able to be in the record book and have something to look back on, hopefully one of the many things to look back on and say, Yeah, I did that. Have your name cemented in the record books, amazing in the legacy to have my father, grandfather, other family members come before me and obviously do their job. Me to continue the legacy while setting a new standard hopefully for the ones that come behind me is a blessing.
Q. How was that high five celebration with Bailey?
VERNELL BROWN III: That chemistry, man. Bailey is my guy, man. Obviously seeing him. I was in flow state, he was in flow state. That chemistry was there. It was great.
Q. Did he say anything to you?
VERNELL BROWN III: We was both jumping around excited. I mean, nothing that I can remember.
Transcripts courtesy ASAP | Videos courtesy GatorVision on YouTube
0 comments