CINCINNATI – Head coach Scott Satterfield, fifth year quarterback JC French IV, junior running back Cole Tabb, and senior edge rusher Patrick Bauer spoke with the media ahead of Saturday’s game vs. Texas Tech.
The Bearcats and Red Raiders will face off at noon at Nippert Stadium and the game will be televised on FS1.
Opening Statement
“Last week, obviously I was disappointed in how we finished. If you think about the game, the big thing was for me, defensively not getting off the field on third down, particularly in the fourth quarter. I thought our defense played well in the first half. You get to the fourth quarter and we did not play as well. They had two third and nines, and a third and eight that they picked up for a first down. Ultimately that put them in field position to kick a field goal to win the game. I think that was the most disappointing thing. We did not tackle well. Our pass defense was not great. Obviously, in the fourth quarter, we had guys on the field there to make plays, and we did not make them, and they did. That was the difference in the game. I thought our offense played well, put up a lot of numbers and some points, but just not enough to go win the game. This week we have a huge challenge in Texas Tech, but one that we are looking forward to. Playing a Top 10 team here at Nippert Stadium, which is going to be an awesome atmosphere. We’re excited about that, excited about this opportunity. They are a good football team. We have to put together a great week of practice and get some things corrected and be able to go out there and play a great game. Looking forward to hosting these guys.”
On making plans to stop Arizona and West Virginia’s strengths, then dealing with their adjustments
“When you go into games like that, when you have teams that are really good at one thing, you better stop that one thing or it is going to be a long day. We all know that. But I think too, when you do that, then you may be vulnerable or weaker in the other aspect, and so obviously those two contests-that is what ended up happening. As you are going throughout the game, teams start to make an adjustment, maybe you got to make another adjustment the other way to try to get that corrected. Which is a fine line, when you think about that. Going back and looking at this past game there was, like I said, those third downs when we got off the field. We just made some missed tackles there, some misplays that you are off the field. We are not, you do not even talk about the rest of that. If you get off the field right there, then our offense was rolling. Go down then score, you get up two scores; it is not even going to be a game. But I think to answer your question, there is a fine line in there where you have to shift a little bit of the focus, to stopping the other thing that they do not really typically do the best at.”
On punter Max Fletcher and his ability to run for a first down
“He will threaten an edge, and if there is something there, he is going to go get it. I thought it was a great play by him. He has got a great knack of knowing when to kick it. The linebacker happened to be there, but if he was not there, he was going to get the first down. We trust him to do that. I think he is just trying to make a play right there in that situation, which we needed to.”
On playing three Top 10 run defenses over the next three games
“We just got to find ways to move the football. We are playing some outstanding teams coming up. Really good offense and defense. Quite honestly when you are playing a defense that is good at stopping a run, it makes it more difficult to move the ball. You got to be able to throw the football. We know that, but it was good to see our guys throw and catch Saturday. Some big time plays by some of our wideouts and JC [French]. I thought we played it well. Once again, we took care of the football, which is huge to give us a chance in the game. You have to do both. I still feel like you have to find ways to run the football. I think you have to get some tough yards in there. But then at the same time, when it does present itself, we got to be able to throw and catch. We have to do that. We want to be a balanced offense and to be able to do both really well, and so that was good for confidence, and to be able to throw the ball like we did last week.”
On bouncing back after consecutive losses
“I mean, it is a new week. Throughout a season, regardless of what the result on the weekend is, it is a new week. You have to come back strong. You gave to come back confident in your approach. And I think as coaches, we have to come up with a great plan. Our kids have to go execute the plan. We have a great opportunity this week. We are excited about it. We know we are going up against a good football team. They have won a ton of games in the last two years. It is a great challenge for us. But wouldn’t it be awesome to go out there and play great and go get this win? How great would that be? So we have to put together a great plan. Our kids have to go out and execute this week and come out and get fired up. We are playing at our stadium and Homecoming. I mean, what more do you want?”
Injury updates following the West Virginia game
“We had several go out in this past game. It is the first time throughout this season, and we have been fortunate. Josh [Hough] goes out with a lower leg injury. I think he will be back here pretty quickly. I do not know if this week he will be back, but he will be back. I think it was a pretty significant one, but I think it is certainly not something that he will be missing a lot of time for. Jasper [Beeler] went out for a short period of time, came back in. MJ [Cannon] went out. I think he is going to be good to go. MJ [Cannon] is practicing this week. Jasper [Beeler] is practicing this week, so I feel good about those guys. We probably had six to eight guys that ended up going out of that game. I would say the majority of them will be back ready to roll this week.”
On the offense putting up 622 yards at West Virginia
“It was really good that we were able to push the ball down the field. Receivers made a lot of plays, so it's good seeing that as well. The O-line held up really well all day. I thought we had a good, balanced attack. We're going to keep that going forward.”
On Texas Tech’s defense
“They're coached very well. They don't bust very often. They're very sound in their system. They play together as a group. We're going to have to bring our A game. We're really excited for the opportunity for them to come to our house, a Top 10 team.”
On Texas Tech’s linebacker corps
“It presents a big challenge for offenses. When you have a lot of factors that can do that, you know your defense is going to skyrocket in statistics and turn turnovers.”
On recording three touchdowns in a game for the third time this season at WVU
“Definitely surprising, but it's kind of just knowing how we worked throughout the week and knowing not just the game plan, but kind of the idea behind how everyone, like the belief in everyone, who's going to get a job done. I was fortunate enough to find the end zone three times, but it kind of just ended up that way.”
On his improvement in the pass game since coming to Cincinnati
“Coach Pete Thomas, he has a lot of faith in me, and he kind of has talked to me a lot, so I've been able to elevate that part of my game. We work on catches every single day with Coach [Sean Dawkins]. We'll get on the jugs and see some of the other guys. We kind of have a competition where no one wants to be the one to drop a pass or beat tracker targets and incompletions and everything through fall camp. So we want to be a reliable guy, and we want to make sure JC [French] knows he can go to us with the ball. It's definitely a good feeling to be able to put that on display on Saturdays.”
On his confidence as a player
“I think I'm just getting more and more comfortable in the offense and in the scheme. I feel like confidence has never really been a big change. I've always been confident in myself, but I think it's just being more and more comfortable in the offense and then just getting the chances to make the plays.”
On Texas Tech’s defense
“They're a stout defense. They have a lot of belief in their box and stopping the running, forcing us into passing situations. I also think they haven't played an offense like ours with a rushing attack with the depth we have, and also just being able to play at Nippert at Noon and getting with that rowdy crowd. Maybe they have some issues getting calls in, and just the whole environment of playing at Nippert and playing the Bearcats.”
On learning a new position
“I have never played this position before. I came from Illinois State, playing more of a CAT position, but I was still on the line of scrimmage a fair amount. So it wasn’t that hard to transition to playing DOG. I didn’t play during spring ball, because I came in with a torn labrum. I’ve been getting a lot of reps in game, and obviously the more reps you get the better you’ll get at something.”
On how his confidence has grown at UC
“Coming in from an FCS school to the Big 12, you hear the hype and you understand it. A little bit at the beginning of the season is nerve wracking, like the first Big 12 game or the first Power Four game. However, the more reps you get in, the more comfortable you get. Coach [Nate] Woody’s defense is amazing, and he finds people’s skill sets very well and utilizes them.”
On getting back on track after back-to-back losses
“I think we have to have a great week of practice. Last week we had a great week of practice, but tailed off a little bit towards the end. This week our main approach is just having a great four or five days of practice, so we can execute all four quarters again.”
On playing a Top 10 team at home on Saturday
“I am super excited, this is what everyone dreams of as a little kid. Playing a Top 10 team in the country, at home in Nippert with all the fans, you can’t ask for anything else. It's going to be a great time, no matter the outcome. It is going to be a dream come true for me.”
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