Texas A&M Postgame Press Conference: Notre Dame

e e e e e e e e e e e e e e all right everybody okay in the back all right coach whenever you're ready yeah um first off hats off to Notre Dame they came in here and they beat us um you there's really no way two ways around it um to the agie fans I thank you uh thank you for showing up tonight thank you for making this a really special day you deserve better and we didn't give it to you and so we'll go back to work and we'll continue to to drive this thing to become the product that you guys want this and deserve for this program to be um you know in terms of the game you know we lost the turnover battle two nothing that's not going to lead to a lot of successful games uh we had some really critical penalties in the first half uh that I thought ended some drives when we we had some things going in the second half in the third quarter we really struggled to get into Rhythm on offense um you know we put the one drive together to tie it and really just could never go out there and get things going consistently and then defensively I thought the way we defended the Run was really poor and so we gave up almost 200 yards rushing um you're not going to win football games in this conference doing that and so we could go figure out how to fix it and get it better so from there questions second row Brent Mike I heard you say during the game that Connor needed to relax uh what does he need to do moving forward after tonight yeah I I just think we got to we got to go back to the tape and we got to figure out uh how to put him in better situations to get him comfortable um you know the the challenge tonight was they were going to play us in man all night and you know so there's not a lot of easy access throws to get him comfortable and get him in Rhythm people are going to have to win to do that um and we just we weren't able to get it going and it seemed like whether it was him missing you know he had a chance to hit Noah on the on the big over route and kind of overshot him by a little bit and got the pick um or guys not getting the separation that we needed to get um it just one way or another we just weren't able to get it done we tried to to do some different things to create some rubs and picks and um that didn't get it going and um yeah just it was really really hard because he was he was not in Rhythm um and and there was nothing easy to get and so we kept trying we kept trying we just couldn't get there front left Olan and then Sam yeah Mike speaking you you spoke about the uh uh run defense off the top of your head just right off the the field do you have any any thoughts any theories what the problem was and especially on that that next to last scoring drive from Notre D went 85 yards yeah I mean there was I mean it was a it was a Litany of things I thought we could have done a better job up front controlling the line of scrimmage for sure uh you know we missed fit some things I think that created some of the large runs um you know there was some some crack replace situations where we didn't show up the way we needed to and then on the two long runs we just missed tackles and and Miss tackles I think on the the first touchdown that got him to the 13 I think we missed three tackles um with guys that were right there and could have down the football we didn't get it done uh and then on the last one we missed the tackle in the hole and the kid scored it through cuz we were in zero trying to sell out to stop the run there so um there wasn't much defense behind the first line so third row on the right Sam Mike what did you think of your offensive line and how it held up against Notre Dame's defensive front yeah you know it didn't feel like the pocket was dirty it felt like we had time to throw felt like we were able to get a little bit going in the Run game not not a ton but we were able to get a little bit run going in in the Run game and so um yeah it certainly felt like that was a little bit more neutral than it was you know them having the complete upper hand second row on left Alex and then down front know knowing you needed to score a touchdown at the end of the game did you feel like you needed to be in passing situations even though you had all three timeouts um well we ran it on the second and 10 to get it to to Fourth and two and then on Fourth and two we called the play that we thought was the best play to get us the first down we certainly felt like coming out in the drive we wanted to kind of get going with the throw game um and then you know again on the second and 10 we or the third and 10 we did run it we got the eight got it down to Fourth and two and we just felt like that fourth and two was was the best way to to get us the two yards and you know we just didn't get it done front row right Travis in the second half the little heavier rotation of wide receivers how much of that was your plan how much of that was just trying to get find a guy who might could get that separation yeah probably a little bit of both you know I think as it as it started to go on and the Heat and the mugginess out there and and you wanted to try to keep guys fresh and then um again you're just kind of trying to find a rhythm of of who can get out there and get the separation that we need to get the thing going know the East cameras caught uh Conor getting sick was that just a matter of the conditions outside or something he brought into the yeah no that just was him he just in the In the Heat of the Moment got a little bit sick and puked and Riley second row on the left coach how was facing Riley again and how did his uh rushing potential affect y all on the defense yeah I mean it it it wasn't fun I knew it wouldn't be um he made made a bunch of Big Time plays he made a play on the third and five he made some runs on the last Drive um he did what he did and and you know made enough plays to win the football game told him I loved them after the game and and you know I'll be rooting for that kid for the rest of his life coach back behind the lights in the middle Tyler could what did you see from Le'Veon Moss tonight kind of what are your expectations of him moving forward yeah I mean I thought again it was a it was a it was going to be a challenging night running the football there was there was going to be seven people in the Box pretty much every single snap and so um you I thought for the most part he he pushed the pile forward um I thought he ran hard um you know we got to try to figure out how to get him a little bit more space to get him going a little bit better um you know but I thought for the most part he he did what we asked him to do staying back on the far right Ben uh coach defensively y'all were you know really good on third down for most of the for all the night two for2 um but they you know did have a couple drives where you know they weren't necessarily third downs but they can you know especially the first and 25 coming out of that hole what did you see that they were able to kind of do to just in those fine moments kind of make those plays when they hadn't necessarily been having that success throughout the night yeah I you know we were we were really really bad off schedule tonight on defense you know second and eight to Second and 10 I think when we go back and watch the film I think is going to be one of the worst down and distances of the night and um you know I think we got to look at what we're doing we got to look at how we're challenging throws I think we got really soft in our coverage and those down in distance um you know almost like you know we kind of got on our heels a little little bit cuz we won first down um and that's the exact opposite of what you should do um you know again we we were aware of it we were trying to get it fixed and corrected we just just couldn't get it done and so um you know ultimately you know but ultimately at the end of the day we had him third and five backed up and had a chance to make a play to get off the field and didn't do it and I think at the end of the day that's the turning point in the game you know we've got him third and five on the 20 yard line um and we don't we don't get them off the field and I think we get them off the field there you know they're punting us and we've got the ball with a chance to go down and win it um we don't make that play and then all of a sudden they get some runs going they get some Rhythm that kid makes a great catch on their sideline and you know next thing you know they're they're lining up in field goal range and so they hit the Run third r on the right Sam and then Alex you're wrap us up Mike going back to Conor getting comfortable how much of that do you attribute to like you said receivers not being able to get the win but also is there some of that attributing to the first live game in a new system and getting acclimated to that yeah I'm sure it's all of it you know when when you go look at it it's going to be you know the plays that we called and and making sure that we're doing the right things to get kids in the right spots to be successful it's going to be Connor delivering the ball in the right spots on time it's going to be receivers creating separation it's going to be the old line protecting you know there's going to be a breakdown on every play that ultimately leads to the success that you're not hatting for and so um you know what I told the guys in the locker room is is um you know you know for us to get this program over the hump we're going to learn we're going to have to learn how to put ourselves in position to play the game the way we need to in those moments and we just didn't do that tonight coach thanks for your time we've got Trey Zoom ready yep thanks guys all right who would like to get us started with questions for tun will'll go front row on the left side to Mark Trey it looked like you guys were able to get some push in a little momentum at times but what were they doing that prevented you guys from consistently getting getting the ball down the field I don't think it was anything that they did I think it was ourselves uh we beat ourselves we weren't consistent um mentally and physically so uh we just got stuff to clean up to make sure that we're the same team every single down we'll go run row back to Alex yeah you guys really committed to the run on that touchdown drive just what was really working for you guys and uh how you felt that that the Run game was going I just think we were focused and we were straining uh as hard as we could and we bought in to hey we're going to get this in the end zone and we just need to do that every single drive we just yeah didn't execute it on the other drives we'll go back behind the lights to Tyler Trey what do you feel like the the biggest takeaway was from U an opener like this that you know you guys are going to you know learn from moving forward you know I think that was a good team uh scoreboard showed that they were the better team but I don't think they were the better team I think we beat ourselves so I think we learned that we have glimpses where we're really good football team but we just need to learn how to focus and strain every single play every single down every single drive to be successful we'll stay behind the lights to Parker and then Alex right here Trey uh coach mentioned that you know he felt like the fans maybe deserved a little bit more from tonight uh does does that kind of add a little bit more sting uh to the locker room I mean is that kind of how you felt right yeah it stings it stings bad but we're keeping our heads up we got a lot of football left this season so it's just time to get to work tomorrow we'll go one more on TV row to Ben and then to Alex uh Trey you talked about you know the you know I know you guys weren't able to like consistently perform at the level y'all want to but it did seem like y'all were able to keep them from you know just completely having a Heyday defensively do is that sort of what kind of gives y'all uh you know insight into the fact that you know this was more us beating us ourselves it's not like they were you know finishing eight nine sacks and just manhandling us yeah right definitely yeah it was just all on us we just beat ourselves there's really nothing else to it second row on the left side Alex yeah just from your perspective what was Connor's demeanor throughout the game had a tough night and just what what what would you what did you say to him as a team captain you know you know things weren't going great the whole time so I just said hey keep your head up keep throwing the ball keep being confident you know and he's a great player and he's going to take us to great places this season so I think he did a great job staying composed throughout the whole game so I can't wait to see what he does the rest of the season all right it looks like that's all we have thank you Trey thank you all e e e e all right tan York will be our final player tonight who would like to get us started with questions for Toran we'll go third row on the right side to Sam hey Toran uh when you look at what happened in the Run game especially as the game go on they start to get chunks of yardage where were the breakdowns in your opinion like the breakdown was me I missed a tackle on the uh the long touchdown of course um I know they ran for 200 yards and I'd probably say three qus that was in the second half you know so we got to lock in more I feel like so saw me at the end of the day man I got to get these guys right we'll go second row on the left side to Alex yeah as they were really marching down the field on that last touchdown drive you know what were what were you just telling your guys out there to try and stop the bleeding I mean we got to get a stop they were trying to run the four-minute drill on us and uh you know they're trying to bleed as much the clock as we did and you see that's why they uh run the clock all the way down to the two-minute warning so you know we just got to get a stop get off the field we'll go back behind the lights on the right side to Ben hey Toran uh even though y'all were you we're doing really well on third down seemed like every time you know a predictable passing situation let's say and you know maybe the crowd kind of anticipating a sack revving up even if yall got off the field after you know short game y'all were having trouble just getting that big Big Splash play and you know and putting those together and it seemed like that was maybe part of some frustration toward the second half as it built up how' y'all try to deal with that I mean we lost the turnover battle two to zero and our number one key to Victory is to win the turnover margin and we lost that tonight so um you know the offense is its own separate deal you know I have my faith in Conor wigman of course but uh on defense we got to get turnovers we got to force it the ball is the game ultimately and we didn't get the ball out tonight we'll stay on TV rad toward the middle to Parker turn in right here uh just kind of talk about the getting pressure on the quarterback uh not not a lot of pressure on Riley Leonard tonight how how do you guys kind of go about fixing that and just getting more penetration I guess into the back field like that I mean obviously affecting the quarterback is a big key to affecting the game ultimately I mean you saw last year we lost our quarterback and had the trajectory of how our season went you know so I feel that you know if we can affect the quarterback feel like we'll be in good hands and we had to take advantage of obviously what was a six career starts and I mean we just didn't do that tonight we just got to get back to the chalkboard and get ready for MCN one more on TV road to Tyler Toran what what do you feel like you learned about your team in this season opener I mean we got to fight I mean we got to fight and uh the fourth key of Victories wi the fourth quarter and we lost that ultimately and uh I take pride in the defense as well so for them running for 198 yards I mean that's no buo and and it starts with me so it'll be fixed one more on TV Road Donna torian as a leader of this locker room what do you say to your guys to kind of compartmentalize this one put it in the past and and move to MCN I mean it's already over I mean you just mean you're going to kill yourself all week if you think about it you try to beat yourself up about it so of course we're going to be our our biggest critics uh of course you know I mean Sunday we watch the film get ready for mcce but I mean the game is over with and we just got to set our Focus right for Saturday we'll go third on the left side and then to Travis torian can you talk a little bit about what communication was like not just between you and your teammates but also uh what it was like using the inh helmet communication how you felt that work tonight I like it I like it a lot it was loud on uh I mean every play cuz we're at cyfield and the 12th man showed up I mean I'm sad that we couldn't get them the victory tonight cuz they showed up and they showed out all week you know of course you saw ticket pool line so I hate to let him down but it's part of the game so just got to get back ready for next week go front row on the right side to Travis yeah Tran just as a as a team as a whole did this feel like an opportunity lost opportunity lost I mean yeah you're on you're on a big stage you have everybody in the world coming to watch this game everybody around the world is probably watching this game tonight and you hate to lose it but if our season goes we think it'll go we'll be back on the stage and I have all the faith in the Texas an mag to be back on the stage who go second row on the left side torian y'all held Notre Dame to 65 yards rushing in the first half but then gave up 133 in the second uh do you think they made an adjustment or was it something else that had that happen lack of focus and and and it starts with me and I'm going to continue to harp on that that it starts with me at the end of the day I mean it was a 50 yard touchdown run because of Miss tackle on my end so I'm ultimately going to take the blame you swing big you miss big you know but it is what it is we got to move on all right it looks like that's all we have thank you torian thank