CINCINNATI – Head coach Scott Satterfield, quarterback Brendan Sorsby, and defensive linemen Dontay Corleone and Jalen Hunt met with the media on Tuesday to preview Saturday’s game vs. Bowling Green.
The Bearcats and Falcons will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET at Nippert Stadium in UC’s home opener.
Head Coach Scott Satterfield
Opening Statement
“Good afternoon, guys. First of all, going back to last Thursday night. I was disappointed we didn't get the win. I felt like we played, at times, good enough to go win that game and give ourselves a chance in the last round. Our whole sideline, everybody felt very calm and that we'd go win the game, but we didn't get it done. I thought our guys did a good job. We came back in on Friday, once we got back that afternoon, and went over that game, kind of put it to bed and moved forward to BG. I think that that environment was tough for our offense to operate, certainly with the kind of noise we had. I did think our kids played with great poise and discipline. One thing we focused on in the offseason was being a disciplined team. We had four penalties, all false starts and but other than that, our guys played clean. Thought special teams was very solid, including the first kickoff return that we had, got very good positive yards on that. Thought we covered punts well, knocked down our field goal. So certainly, a positive for us, something we can build off of. Defensively, I thought they played very solid, they played hard. Didn’t give up any big plays. They had the ball for 40 minutes and I thought we did an outstanding job with that. Obviously we would like to get off the field a little bit more on third downs. The other thing would be they had the ball on the ground a couple times and Logan [Wilson] had an opportunity for a pick-six in that game. We have to take advantage of those opportunities defensively so we can try and win the turnover margin, that was huge for us, obviously the difference in the game. The turnovers, the one right before the half and the end of the game. But moving on to this week, BG. Watching their game from last week, their guys played hard, they’re coached well. Coach [Eddie] George and his staff did a really good job. We went back and watched Tennessee State as well. He did some really good things there. Also, these guys will play hard, there’s no question about it. Very physical. Going back to BG last year, they lost to Pen State by a touchdown, Texas A&M by six. They’re not going to be intimidated by coming in here and playing. So, we’ve continued to elevate our play, play with the same intensity, execute better and at a high level. We’re going to go out and play a great game this week.”
On Nebraska’s defensive and disguise coverage on the final drive
“I thought, going into the game, we did not really know what they were going to do on the back end. Thought the strength of their defense was the back end. All the starters that came back. We did not have any timeouts. They were playing a lot of man and two-man trail technique, meaning they are underneath receivers of the two high safety there. It makes it very difficult to complete footballs. I think we had a couple of scrambles that got the drive going. Great play on fourth down, Cyrus [Allen], it was two-man, and the guys undercut him, and he did a great job of pushing out, sort of hitting him, getting the first down. We get a P-I, we get down, and it’s first down on the plus 33 with 41 seconds left, no time outs. We said, let's take a shot. So we wanted to slam and go and pre-snap, it was a one high look. Looks like man free. Right on the snap, the safety is covering our number two receiver. Just run straight back to that, to the deep half of the field. The corner is a hard corner because it's cover two. Goodie is running the slant and go, and as soon as he comes off the corner, he's wide open to get it out there to him, and as he's letting the ball go, he realizes the safety is running back. The guy made a great play, number seven is a good player for them, that disguise is a great disguise and a great play by the safety. We have not seen that, but I thought obviously a great call for them but our thought process was ‘hey, let's throw the slant and go. Either we catch it or nobody catches it, it’ll be 2nd-and-10 and let's go the next down’. Obviously made a great play to end the game right there.”
On how Brendan Sorsby reacts to making mistakes on the field
“I think it's difficult as a quarterback when you make a negative play, you have to forget it. You have to move on. You have to go on to the next play, but that's the last play. So now you have to live with that one until we get out here on Saturday. I thought he did a good job Sunday. Friday, we come back in and watch the film and put it to bed. Obviously, frustration is in the building. Sunday, we went out and practiced, a more extended Sunday practice for us, and I thought we did a really good job going out. The guys practiced hard and really focused on this week. I think you have to put it to bed. You can not dwell on that. Had to learn from it. I thought, it's a great play by them. Obviously, if he had it over, he would have thrown it wider and deeper. And where we catch it? Nobody catches it. But it's something you have to learn from, and you have to move on, so you do not make that same mistake again”
On how far back he looks at film of Bowling Green quarterback Drew Pyne
“No, I don't think you go back that far. I think, obviously, he's playing a lot of different programs. He obviously has a lot of talent, probably a very smart player, in order to start at four schools That's hard to do as a quarterback, to start at this many places and to be able to continue to play. So he certainly got a lot of experience. I'm going to show him anything he has not already seen. He does a really good job at great mechanics, he’s an accurate passer. So certainly a capable quarterback that can do everything they are asking to do. I think they have some outstanding running backs at Bowling Green that really run hard and fast. Week number two, we will see what kind of wrinkles they bring.”
On Brendan Sorsby getting the ball down the field throughout games
“We were 0-for-5 on balls that were thrown down the field last week and I think earlier we had one attempt, [Jeff] Caldwell, we pushed down the field. One of them went for a touchdown. So, I think we will certainly have to pick and choose where we are going to push the ball down the field, for me, I think more completion percentage. We need to get the ball in the hands of these guys. Our guys can run, so get the ball in their hands and let them run. Bowling Green, they certainly show man coverage and Tennessee State had them too last week, so our guys will be challenged. They have to get loose and they have to win some one-on-one matchups and they have to go win plays.”
On rotating running backs Evan Pryor and Tawee Walker
"I thought both made some really good plays in the run game. Evan made some guys miss and got some positive yards. Tawee ran hard as well and got positive yards. I thought that certainly was a positive in the game for us. Offensively, rushed for over 200 yards. I think Nebraska last year finished up eighth in the country in run defense, so they're certainly capable of stopping the run. I think it's a great mix, and we'll see how practice goes this week to see who's going to get those touches...I think all those guys are capable. I mean, Manny (Covey) is capable as well. Manny, I thought, played outstanding special teams. I think he had two and a half tackles in special teams. He was also our punt returner. I think he's really elevated himself in a special teams player, but also believe him as a running back too."
On Thursday's pass blocking and if it affected the aerial attack
No, I don't think so. I thought the pass protection was pretty good. I thought our run blocking was good up front. I thought our offensive line played solid. We had, we had zero tackles for loss or sacks in the run game. I think we had two negative plays, and both were on pass plays, a screen play and then a swing pass to Cyrus Allen. So I thought up front, they did well. I thought they passed pretty well, I think only a couple of times where Brendan just felt like he needed to get out of the pocket on some pass rush. But I think for the first game, and playing against a front like Nebraska, I thought our offensive line did a really fine job."
On defensive line snaps, particularly for Dontay Corleone's 40
"I think he could probably get a little bit more. I think we went back and looked last year, when he was healthy, I was roughly around the same. Jalen Hunt had 41 (on Thursday), which was the most, Dontay, second most at 40. We certainly want to rotate guys in there, because you got to keep them fresh in the d-line for the end of half and end-of-game scenarios. Obviously, you want those guys in in critical downs. We chart everything, and we got these guys wearing the Catapults, so we see where they're at. You know, I think Dontay's got a little bit more in the tank if we need to use them a little bit more, but obviously, we want to play at an optimal level. You don't want to leave some guys out there, and all of a sudden they're at 75 percent (capacity), which is when injuries happen. So we certainly want to keep those guys fresh and rotating and see where we're at as we head throughout the season."
Redshirt Junior Quarterback Brendan Sorsby
On the final play of the Nebraska game
“They had ran the same coverage. It was just a really good disguise on the last snap. Props to those guys, really good play by the safety.”
On teaching himself to move on from frustrating moments
At the end of the day it's football. Mistakes are going to happen. Obviously, you wouldn't like to throw a game-losing interception, but we have 11 games left. Long season ahead, a lot of ball left. So there's no point in letting this mistake at the end of the game drag out into the next week. I'm excited to get back out there with the guys and showcase what we can do.”
On Nebraska’s experienced secondary
“As an offense in general, you would like to be able to throw the ball down the field and have a bunch of explosive plays. They did a good job of making us take everything underneath. I have to do a better job hitting some stuff. We just have to play pitch-and-catch and find a way to move the ball down the field and then get explosives that way. Get them to come down and then take the deep shots whenever they come. But props for those guys in the secondary and their defense as well.”
On his success running the ball vs. Nebraska
“Iowa State last year was very similar. Ran the ball a lot, ran it well, but just couldn't seem to get the ball going throwing it. We just got to find a way to be consistent each week, find ways to get the ball down the field to our guys however that may be. We just have to figure out a way to do it. Obviously it's frustrating as a quarterback, but I need to find a way to overcome that.”
On getting Joe Royer involved down the field
“We have to get all of our guys the ball, especially Joe, as many times as we can. It starts with me being able to deliver a good accurate ball. I need to find ways to get our guys the ball in space and let them go to work.”
On being a leader after the fumble and interception
“There's really nothing else to it other than that. It's football, you're going to make mistakes. Obviously, both of those turnovers were pretty costly in the grand scheme of the game. We have to find a way to move on. We have 11 more games, a lot of conference play. Obviously, all of our goals are still ahead of us, so we have to take it one week at a time and bounce back this week.”
On trying to distribute the ball evenly amongst his weapons
“They're all hungry, and they all want the ball. But we didn't throw the ball that well to anybody. So guys are obviously upset, nobody more upset than me. Sixty-nine passing yards is not up to my standards. So I know the guys’ frustration as well. It wasn't one of those games where I had 400 passing and just one guy was just dominating the stat sheet. There were not very many passing yards to go around last Thursday. We have to find a way to bounce back this week to get some guys going.”
On the atmosphere at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
“It was loud every snap of the game. They really didn't take too many plays off. So, yeah, it was probably number one for me.”
Redshirt Senior Defensive Lineman Dontay Corleone
On playing 40 snaps and expected snap count
“I like to play a lot, but I want to see other guys succeed too. So if I had to play 40 snaps that game, I think it's not going to be every game. It’ll depend on if I had the hot hand that game, or if I’m double-teamed, stuff like that. So it really doesn’t matter about the reps, I still feel good, they took care of me.”
On moving around in different situations
“They put me in different situations. To show my skill set, I can get out of zero and get the quarterback. So this game plan, more of that, and just showcasing more of my skill, but also coach puts me in the right place to succeed.”
On Cincinnati never beating BGSU
“It motivates us to win this week, we’re not just looking past them. They're a very talented team, Hall of Fame coach, they run the ball. We respect our opponent.”
On preparation and progression
“We were looking back on last year, just build on top of that. We have to do our job and keep executing better. So our main focus is to execute.”
Redshirt Senior Defensive Lineman Jalen Hunt
On finally being able to play again after missing last season
“It felt really good. Honestly, it's been a long year, but I took that whole year and just focused on getting better and preparing for this.
On holding Nebraska to 20 points despite their nearly 40 minutes of possession time
“It felt good. In my head, we can be like those great defenses the Baltimore Ravens used to have with Ed Reed and Ray Lewis. Their mentality was to not let anyone score, and if you can’t score you can’t win. That’s our mentality as a defense.”
On competing with the Nebraska offensive line
“I think I did good, but I think I can do better. I am always trying to improve my game, I need to get the quarterback more.”
“He's good to me. We've been talking about off the field, how we can build our chemistry together in general because you never know if the line is going to be on the same page.”
On being compared to former Bearcat Jowon Briggs
“That's a great comparison. When I transferred here I looked up to Jowon Briggs. In practice I was always asking him ‘how can I be better?’ He understood the mental aspects of the game better than anyone I’ve ever played with. Being compared to him is a compliment.”
On defensive depth and experience
“It's good to have everyone back because now we've got depth and experience. Me and Mikah [Coleman], we played multiple years, we played against conferences. So having that veteran aspect on the defensive line, we can give back what we know to the younger guys.”
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