CINCINNATI – Head coach Scott Satterfield, fifth year quarterback JC French IV, sixth year defensive lineman Josh Hough, and junior cornerback Kenny Worthy spoke with the media ahead of Saturday’s game vs. Kansas State.
The Bearcats and Wildcats will face off at 7:00 p.m. at Historic Nippert Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
HEAD COACH SCOTT SATTERFIELD
Opening Statement
“Just a recap about the last game, we did not play great in the first half. But I thought the coaches and players kept a positive composure at halftime. We went out and played a much better second half. I think it was a great game came down to the very end. I love how our guys finished and just kept their composure. I think it would have been really easy to panic at halftime, like a lot of people did on the outside, but they did not. I think our coaches and players kept their composure. We said ‘one play at a time, let's go out, let's execute and let's go try to finish this game.’ We grabbed some momentum, the play of the game was probably that blocked field goal in the third quarter. Once we did that, our offense got the ball and went down and scored. We then grabbed momentum and played really well from that point forward. We created two turnovers there in the second half, which was huge. The goal line stand by the defense was huge. Then offensively, just making some plays there in the second half. It was a big win for us. It is huge to go 3-0. We are now transitioning to the Big 12 play with Kansas State, an outstanding football team. They have done really well as a program over the years. Coach Collin Klein, the new coach, I remember when he used to play. I loved watching him play. He was a running quarterback, and he is a really good guy. I have gotten to know him over the years, and he has done a great job coaching. In his first year as a head coach, his teams were playing really, really good. Outstanding defensive team, probably top five in a bunch of categories defensively, number one pass defense in the country. They have a very aggressive defense, outstanding defensive line, and they are good with going after the quarterback. On offense, probably a lot like when Coach Klein played there, they have a quarterback that can run. Last week he ran over 150 yards rushing. We played him a couple years ago. He beat us with his legs back then as well. He does a nice job in the passing game as well. He has a pretty high efficiency in throwing the football. They are also very good on special teams. They are a solid football team. When you get in the Big 12 play, they are all good. They are all good coaches and good players. We know how competitive it is in this league, so I'm sure this will be another one of those tight games. We are playing at home, which is awesome. It should be a special night at Nippert.”
On how the team has finished games strong, but has struggled to get going quickly
“The goal is to start fast and finish strong. Both halves. But I think in the Boston College game, we came out pretty good in the first half. But the last two games, the second half has been much better. I think you certainly want to finish strong. We talk a lot now about finishing, and how you want to finish these games off. The way we have the last two weeks has been awesome. But we do have to start better. I think it is not something that we talk about, as far as not starting great. We want to start great, but it is just something that coincidentally happened last week. They made some great plays, we obviously did not, and they took advantage of that. They had some great catches on the sidelines, some one-handed catches, over-the-shoulder catches. I think the quarterback played really well for them. Defensively, they did a great job of slowing the run-game down early in the game. There are a lot of things they did that were positive that we did not. But we kept playing and obviously played much better in the second half. Starting off with three points in the second half, we then scored 29. It really was a tale of two halves. Starting off slow will not end well for us. We have to come out and play much better early in the game and finish in the second half.”
On how he plans to adjust to the speed of Kansas State
“They do have some speed. Defensively, they all can run. The middle linebacker is a great player, their safeties can run too. Then if you flip it over to the offense, the quarterback [Avery Johnson] is one of the faster quarterbacks in the country. There are a couple wideouts that can really go as well. They do have a lot of speed, and they are trying to utilize that. Our defense has to do a great job of trying to contain the quarterback, like everybody tries to do. They need to try and shut down the running game. I know that is easier said than done.”
On adjusting to K-State’s new defensive coordinator
“It starts with the defensive line. Two edges rush for guys that are outstanding. They had maybe six sacks last week and a bunch of tackles for loss. Their secondaries also play really well. Again with the defensive line, you do not have to cover as long. Their safeties are down low. Their corners are pretty tight. It is kind of a smothering defense, aggressive, with a fast-flow. He has done a really nice job of what they are doing defensively. Basically we shut everybody down the first three weeks. I think if you look at the stats, it is hard to be getting better than the number one pass defense in the country. That says it all. But they are also not giving up any rushing yards. It is less than 100 yards rushing game too. But I do think it all starts up front. I think their defensive line is very active and aggressive. It will be a great challenge for the offensive line.”
On the offensive line and being tested this weekend
“This will be a great matchup to watch. The normal fans, they like to watch all the skill guys. But this game, it will be the defensive line vs the offensive line. That is going to be incredible to see. The line of scrimmage, particularly when you get in the Big 12 play, Kansas State has been known for having really good lines on both sides of the ball for years. Going back many, many years ago, I think that is how you win a lot of football games. That matchup is going to be something that certainly, if we can live up to what we are supposed to be able to do up front, that can have a huge impact in this game.”
On getting rid of the ball quicker on shorter throws to help establish a rhythm
“It helped a lot. I think we also went back to doing what we do best. We're just staying on rhythm, keep moving the chains with quick throws, just getting the ball out fast. So, I think once we start doing that, we start hitting rhythm.”
On Taran Tyo’s speech to the team at halftime
“He's a great leader. He's one of the best leaders on this team, and I think that helped spark a lot of us in the locker room when he gave his little spiel. I was thankful for that because it kind of helped juice up the whole team.”
On Malachi Henry and his competitiveness
“He's just a competitor. He's just going to keep going regardless if he's playing good or bad. His support and work ethic in the offseason kind of just showed everybody that he's never going to stop, even if he's having not so good of a game. Whether it's catches, blocks, he was all full time. I think his time is coming. He's a really good player. He's going to have a lot of success this year.”
On Kansas State’s defense
“They're very well coached. They have a lot of talent on that defense. I think their staff speak for themselves. They're really getting around to be on point with our preparation and obviously good executor this Saturday.”
On the defense in the second half vs. Miami
“I feel like we started slow, but we just had it coming together until we could beat any team. That's been a start for us. I feel like we could get more dominant.”
On moving to nose tackle and whether he watched any tape of Dontay Corleone
“I watched a little bit of him. He's really strong. I think what sets me apart is that I'm more athletic. I think I'm more agile because I used to play right back. I like watching Dontay. He was something special to watch.”
On Taran Tyo’s halftime speech vs. Miami
“It left a spark on everybody. He fired us all up because he believes in us, and he's one of our captains and leaders, and he just set a fire under everybody's butts, and he just showed up.”
On Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson
“He’s a great quarterback, he has been playing for a while. He has had a lot of snaps, played a lot of big games, lots of great plays. He is just a great player, great leader for his team, he makes the offense go. So we are really going to have to watch him this week and make sure we focus in.”
On the secondary’s play during the first half vs. Miami
“As a whole we needed to focus, we were messing up little things. We made mistakes in the first half, we didn't play very well in the first half. Nothing really changed besides our focusing between the first and second half.”
On his interception last Saturday
“I was just happy to help my team at that moment. I wouldn't necessarily say it was a turning point. In my opinion, I feel like the blocked kick changed the dynamic of the game, changed everyone's attitude. Adding a little bit more hope on our side. I am blessed, and I am really grateful that I leaned on my team in that situation, with the interception.”
On how cornerbacks coach Larry Murphy brings the best out of the position group
“Coach Murphy helps me more mentally. He helps keep me locked in and more focused on days like walk through and practice, when everyone doesn’t want to practice, but we have to, to get ready for the game. Coach Murphy helps me stay locked in.”
On playing at night
“I like Nippert at Night, the energy is unmatched, it's like nothing I have ever been a part of before. Our fans show love every time, they come with full force every time. During the day, it’s about staying calm, not wasting all your energy getting nervous. Staying calm, staying in bed. I also like to watch my friends that play at other schools, before we play if we have a late game.”
Tickets