[Fuller/MGoBlog]

Wilton Speight and Chris Wormley

Wilton, it seemed like the running game really got going today. Talk about how those guys blocked it up front.

“Yeah, we saw going into the game with the gameplan a big opportunity to slash them in the run game, and the offensive linemen were so happy about that. They came out with the mindset that they were going to beat their guy and win the war in trenches. The running backs saw every hole and helped the passing game out a lot.”

Wilton, we saw more Karan Higdon than we have. What has he been doing to put himself in a position to get that kind of run?

“Well, he came in his freshman camp and then he just got banged up with injuries, and then in the offseason he got mono and then hurt his knee, so he didn’t do spring ball or the entire summer. So, he kind of came into camp not knowing or seeing him for eight months, but he didn’t lose a step. He kept his body in great shape and he’s just a really natural runner that sees the field well.”

When you see your coach going for it on fourth-and-one on the very first drive of the game and wanting to pound it in, what kind of confidence does that give you in what he thinks about the offense?

WS: “Yeah, it’s just cool that he knows that we’ll pick it up. I turned to the sideline after the third down and I do this [rolling motion] and the whole offense is doing the same thing and he kind of gets a grin on his face. I know his mindset is he wants to smash it in for a touchdown too, so it’s cool that we’re all on the same page.”

Chris, six sacks today by the defensive front. You guys really set the tone on that first drive [with] two sacks on that opening drive. Can you just talk about that?

“We knew that Barkley was one of their best if not their best player on the offensive side, so we knew that once we shut down the run we could get to the quarterback with the blitzes and different things that Coach Brown has us do. Those two sacks were huge. Backed them up and set it up for Wilton and the offense to punch it in and score a touchdown and start the game full speed ahead.”

Wilton, mobility-wise today it seems like your awareness around you, you were ducking and dodging. How much from last week or the week before where you were hit a little bit, did you keep that in the back of your mind or where did you make changes this week?

“I didn’t want—that hit I took last week kind of dictated the internal clock I had for the rest of the game, and I didn’t want that to carry over into this game. So, I wanted to hang out in the pocket as long as I could, but when the opportunity was there I knew I needed to make plays with my feet, and I was able to do that.”

[More after THE JUMP]

How would you assess you ability on your feet? Is that something you’ve always been able to do or is that kind of--

“That’s something I think I’ve always been able to do. I don’t like to rely on it; I’d much rather find completions and use my arm, but when I need to pick up a first down with my feet I can do that.”

Wilton, talk about the running game in support of your arm. It was running by committee to an extent, but Smith had a great game.
”Yeah, I think there was one drive—I think it was the third or fourth quarter—where we called the same play like eight times in a row. We would just flip it back and forth, and I started laughing looking at the play call because they’d do the same signal, same number in every time. The linemen were getting so excited because I’d call the same play. I think we were getting like nine or 10 a pop, so when that happens it’s demoralizing, probably, for a defense. I’ve never played defense, but I can imagine that would suck to go through that every single play having someone just run you over. That builds our confidence and probably makes them lose confidence.”

Chris, even though it’s a next-man-up mentality, does it give you a little boost to see Jourdan and Taco back and Mo Hurst playing more?

“Yeah, it’s great. Taco’s one of our best pass rushers [and] Jourdan Lewis is an All-American, so when you have those two in the lineup it makes the defense that much stronger. We’re happy about it.”

Obvioulsy last week the team started off with a rough start. What was the mindset going into the game and the first game of the conference [season]?

CW: “I think the mindset was start fast and don’t let up. I think it might have been 21-zip at one point, and start fast—[Speight whispers that it was 28-0]—28-0, get the offense the ball back as soon as possible, pin them back by their end zone and, especially on the defensive side of the ball, be aggressive, fire out, and have fun.”

Chris, going back to Jourdan for a second, when he’s out there and a quarterback tends not to be targeting his side of the field, how does that help you on the line? Does it make it easier to get into the pocket and get some sacks, make some of that kind of stuff happen?

“Yeah, I think a lot or at least some of the sacks today were coverage sacks. All the DBs, not only Jourdan, do a great job of covering and knowing their assignments, and when the quarterback’s back there for seven [or] eight seconds, it’s a great benefit for the defensive line to get back there and sack the quarterback and make plays.”

Wilton, a couple of guys on the team decided to raise their fist during the national anthem. Was there any internal conversation about that beforehand?

“No, not that I was aware of. I was actually right behind that and I think they kind of all had that conversation right there. I don’t know if they planned it or not, but they’re raising awareness.”

I’m guessing you know what Wisconsin did today. Thoughts about them coming in here next week with probably what will be a top-ten matchup?

WS: “We’re really excited. Obviously any game in-conference is huge, but when it’s a top-ten matchup and they went into East Lansing today and handled their business, so we’re excited to get in the film room tomorrow and start studying what we need to do to accomplish what we want to accomplish.”

Wilton, as specific as you can be, how much has changed with the team and yourself over the span of four games as you would measure it tonight?

“We just—every game we learn from the mistakes and we build on them. We get in the film room on Sundays, we say, ‘Okay, this is what we need to do. This is what we need to do better and this is what we need to keep doing.’ Every game, every week you do that on a Sunday and you get in on a Monday and it’s time for the next opponent.”

Would you say that would probably be most directed at the offensive line at this point in terms of growth over four weeks?

“The whole offense. The offense as a whole, from receivers to running backs—I think, what was it, five different guys scored today—and the offensive line and myself and the rest of the quarterbacks. We’re not going to take steps back. That’s never the goal, and we’re going to keep progressing.”