SDSU FOOTBALL: SEAN LEWIS PREVIEWS FIRST ROAD GAME OF THE SEASON VS. CAL

well morning right uh obviously got a chance to review the tape look at it with the guys and you know there's a lot to be positive about that we can take Confidence from obviously a ton that we need to clean up as well but you know pleased with the way that the defense fought all the way through and the effort that they gave to to the program to the team and position us in a place to win I lots of missed opportunities that we need to capitalize on offensively and again we need to continue to prepare at a really high level and put these kids in the best position to to have success with our process as we go through so that in all three phases you know we can be on the right side of the Ledger against a really really talented Cal team that's coming off a really big win and playing really confident um and again going on the road for the very first time you know with this club and with our outfit and seeing how we respond in you know a hostile environment going up there and how we travel so looking forward to all those opportunities that this week presents and uh continue to grow and learn together as we move through this journey SE question about philosophy and scheduling what do you gain when a group of five goes to play a big boy in a power of five with the OD stack against you from Talent standpoint AAL stand what what's the positive that get an opportunity to compete anytime you get to go compete regardless of who it is where it's at you get to learn you get to grow and you get to come connected as a team and as an organization so this happens to be the opportunity to go on the road and go play a really good Cal team but any chance we get to compete and get to go do that as an organization is an opportunity to look forward to how hard your kids competed against org yeah they fought they fought hard they fought hard all the way through and that's a you know a testament to our staff and a testament to the kids and you know that that's a part of you know our DNA and our culture that we're going to have a mental and physical toughness about who we are and and the way that we compete and I thought the kids did that all the way through the other night when your defenses on the field for that long and that kind of heat do you have to maybe ramp them back during practice the next week just to make sure they can recover yeah I we got to be smart with how we go about the work this week and everything and again it's you know a courageous effort by them for the amount of time that they were out there right I mean obviously you know the inefficiencies that we had offensively because of my play calling and the plan that I put in place I need to do a better job with that as we go forward right so that we're not putting as much stress on the whole organization you know particularly the defensive side of the ball but they fought like crazy and you know up until that that that eight minute Mark in the ensuing Drive in the third quarter right like you know it's a one possession ball game we're in the fight and again we got to maximize the opportunities that presented themselves much earlier on and you know we'll be in a bunch better place as we go forward coach you mentioned that first win that win that they're coming off of what can your team do early to set a tone and make sure that that do lead into this game yeah I mean again it goes back to us starting fast and the only way you're able to do that is to be able to prepare at a really high level right if if we're inconsistent in our preparation you know with everyone in the organization not just the players but staff as well if we're inconsistent in that regard then you're going to have inconsistency in your your results that come on Saturday night right so everything starts in house with us and the way that we prepare and the way that we embrace the tape yesterday the way that we you know are taking care of our bodies on the off day today and handling our school work and then coming in with the right mindset tomorrow morning right to attack the plan to to to digest it and to go execute at a really high level on a Tuesday so that that can happen early on a Saturday as well have you identified anything in particular to the slow starts uh no to me it's more of our preparation leading to it right like the the the the results that come on Saturday are the byproduct about how we go through the week right and so there's days and there's moments where you know we're good in all three phases there's days and there's moments throughout the course of the week where you know we got to you know kind of jump start and and be better as we're going through it all and everything right so I think when you back days consistently through that constant repetition and the the constant uh process of preparing a really high level then that gives you confidence and conviction going forward right so that you know hey when these calls are made we can execute them right and and that you have a a body of evidence through the course of the week that we've executed those calls at a high level right and we're not just hoping that things work out well on a Saturday but you know that they're going to work out well because you've executed them Tuesday through Friday leading into Saturday so you have that confidence to go make those plays last week's preparation did you sense anything that things might be a strugg I mean again like as we go through it collectively together right like the consistency and doing it day in and day out and knowing an understanding that the the level at which we want to win and the level that we're capable of that that takes an effort and an energy and an attitude each and every single day and at times we we show up and we do that the right way at others we don't right and so again we need to continue as we establish our culture and with the 48 new players that we have in here right and as we continue to build this thing the right way right that we know and understand that this is an everyday deal and that's the way that Winners approach it and that we need to work at that high level each and every single day is that where this is a work in progress you've spoken about how getting could take game four or five the second yeah I mean again it's it's in all three phases and everything that we're doing right the the lifestyle that this requires right the the commitment to Excellence that this requires and so yeah that's a that is a a process that takes time that we know we W have happen yesterday like I mentioned you know after the game on Saturday right but to build this thing the right way to do it with a solid foundation and to win you know not only now but for the future long term consistently like we got to understand the habits and the daily disciplines that this requires day in and day out and I'm not going to shortcut that right and put a Band-Aid over different things like we're going to do this thing the right way and build it out so that we can win this year and into the future you said your your game plan you said probably could have been better what do you change with yourself now moving forward yeah as we continue to learn about the players you know that that we have in all three phases of the game just putting them in the best positions to be successful right like knowing and understanding what it is that we do best and you know getting our Playmakers involved earlier right like I was mad at myself that you know it took us to the second half to get lb a Target like he's a guy that can that can change the game and we need able you know to give him opportunities to do that the way that he did sooner in the game so it's things like that right like making sure that again koops gets the the necessary touches that that he requires right so that he can jump start the offense and just you know again making sure that we're dictating on our terms and that you know the defense isn't dictating to us coach how difficult was it for you with the penalties and then you're it's first and 10 then you're behind the chains with the penalties as a play caller how difficult is that from going to first and 10 then you got to look on your sheet you don't probably have a lot of plays for first and 15 or first and 20 yeah I mean it's a challenge anytime that you're off schedule right and we're not winning those early downs and again that's something that again got to self-evaluate first and foremost right because that's been the story for the first half of of last week with week one it's obviously the story you know for the the whole game this past week um and so making sure that we win on those early Downs that were that we in putting ourselves in advantageous situation so that we can be more balanced because you're right like on the call sheet when when you're you know hey second and 20 or third and extra long like there's not a whole lot of calls on that sheet right for those for those D and DS where you can feel good about the the conversion rate and the efficiencies of those calls coach O'Neal hasn't thrown an interception uh how do you coach him to kind of be smart with the football but also takes take those shots and put it into yeah I mean since day one we've talked to all the quarterbacks about what's a what's a good calculated shot versus a highrisk throw I think he knows and understands the difference between those things right and you know understanding the the timing and location that throwing at this level requires but he's valued the football that's something that you know we talked religiously about and again just knowing understanding the difference between hey this is a highrisk throw where we're outnumbered versus no like that's a good calculated shot and we got to give our guy a chance their defense leads FPS with seven interceptions but makes them so good at forcing turnovers they got speed they have length they're they're a connected unit in the back end they're aggressive to the ball they take advantage of those opportunities where they can get hands on the balls and they've been you know they've been interceptions right they they they fly and overlap each other really really well and uh they got great vision on the Queue and you know they really do a nice job especially at the linebacker level both their kids you know zero and 10 they do a really good job melting off of the quarterback's eyes and playing underneath in their Zone coverage and then again when they get their hands on the ball obviously take advantage of it by not just getting pbus but you know game-changing plays and and and flipping the field and you know getting those turnovers we've seen some movement on the left side of the offensive line obviously because of the injury how important will their ability to be able to protect them you know in this game be against a defense that does so rather forc us it's going to be huge it's going to be imperative right we all along you know the games won in the trenches they they are about 7even eight deep up front with really really talented players that have great length great size I think it's a byproduct of you know again the timeline task that coach W Wilcox has put you know into his program I mean with with where he is in the journey and the way that he's built that out you can tell along their fronts especially within you know their their four down and then with their backers there's a certain body type that regardless of who it is you know you can tell like okay that's the shade that's the three Tech that's the rush they all look very very similar they're all explosive they're all dynamic so yeah we're going to have our hands full and we got to rise to the challenge because of the way that we prepare this week so that we're trained and ready for this opportunity that's coming have you ever started the quarterback this young in your head coaching career and in terms of Danny accuracy composure the most impressive things you've seen from somebody so young yeah I mean haven't starten a kid this young ever um and yeah the way that he's carried himself the way that he's you know handled the the environments that he's been in thus far and again the you know the uh all the the the the stress or the the pressure that comes with the position he's he's he's not rattled by it he does a good job with it and again that that's one of the things that you know helped him win the job earn the job and and continue to move through this thing as he continues to grow with it how is he healthwise after getting better yeah I mean he was you know a little bit uh a little bit banged up yesterday obviously from it all and everything and haven't seen him yet today with it being the players day off and we'll continue to move forward through the week and and see how he progresses with it all but again he fought hard you know through everything and thought he did a nice job what did you see in the Cal Au Tes um Cal that's a really good football team in all three phases changed the game in special teams um again the defense is very opportunistic generated numerous turnovers that that changed the game um you know two backs that are Dynamic a group of wide receivers that that can change the game a quarterback that's accurate and values the football um they're solid in all three phases and again are playing with confidence playing with speed and having fun doing it play off that what do you think Cal seeson they put on the San Diego State orans they take uh a defense that's connected that plays really really hard a Young quarterback that's finding way an offensive line that has numerous pieces that are sorting through it right and a special teams unit that uh needs to play at a higher level going on the road little different challenge um how much do you talk to the guys this week about just the process of being on the road hotel rooms curfews all that kind of stuff how much is it a little different Dynamic you're adding now this week I mean a lot of it is that we keep consistent with our with our routine whether we're home or away right I mean we stay in the team hotel when we're here they they they know the the ground rules and you know for how we operate when we're in the hotel and how we go about our business so you know I enjoy going on the road because there's a select group of people that get to come on the trip right everyone that's coming has a certain uh value add and and a really important role that's going to be a part of the trip so it's pretty cool to you know hop on the plane and and and to go do that and excited to do it for the first time you know with this crew in in reviewing the game tape have you identified and can you talk about any things that need to be cleaned up offens they have more success yeah we got to do a great job again put the kids in the best position to be successful with what they do well we got to do a great job you know limiting the penalties that are putting off off schedule we got to do a great job playing pitch and catch and doing the basic things at a really high level right like the fundamentals that we are capable of playing with when we do that connected together as 11 guys good things happen right but right now we're kind of just one piece off as we continue to go and so again that goes back to Rolling our sleeves up and and and doing the work throughout the course of the week to refine those fundamentals and to have those basic skills done at a really high level come Saturday there any commonalities can the penalties snap um yeah just you know to where we got to do a better job with our eyes got to do a better job with our feet so we can wi with our feet and and stay with our approach the proper way so that you know we can be locked in um you know and then again through our communication making sure that we're all on the same page so that no one's playing behind or off schedule um within each given snap how different are Williams and H the two running backs they're both very very talented right I mean and they've both been you know utilized in a lot of different ways um but they both present unique problems with their skill sets and and we got to do a great job tackling either back with all of our talent that we have on our defense there's change in a program that creates a lot of optimism especially in the run and build up to the season then that first loss comes and the in the fan base get frustrated and show those frustrations social media elsewhere what's your reaction or what would you say to the fan base again like regardless of whatever greatness that you're chasing there's going to be adversities there's going to be setbacks there's going to be trials there's going to be tests that you have to pass through right and so we talked to the team yesterday about it to where hey like for everyone that's in the room everyone that's invested in the way that that we have and the fans included right to where the the the greatness that we're looking for is on the side of all the other side of all this adversity and all these tests right and so we're going to put our chin to our chest we're going to do the work and we're going to do it the right way and it's going to be something that our fan base can be proud of in the long hole is there also a little bit of threading needle you come and talk about Astic fast and then have a a shut out does that make it more of a challenge to to create optimism but at the same time what you're trying to do I mean regardless of what happened outside this building like no one's going to put more pressure and more stress or or more expectations on what needs to happen then I'm going to put on myself right and so again like the noise is out there that's fine right like if I wanted to make everyone happy and everyone was good I'd go sell some ice cream and things would be all right right but I mean there's some work that we got to work through that we can be better with and again like I I get it I understand the frustrations right like everyone in this building is frustrated especially offensively with what we just did and we're going to work to get that thing right and and again like Rome wasn't built in the day and like come along for the ride it's going to be worth the ride and and things will be all right what makes Cooper so effective he's not the biggest guy is it just is it the the want to in him that makes him so effective as a running back yeah I mean a big part of it obviously is his confidence and the chip that he carries on his shoulder right and then his you know natural given skill set and that he's worked on you know through his whole career in terms of his short area quickness and his ability to make people Miss he's got unbelievable contact balance and again he's a mentally and physically strong kid that you know has battled through diversity in his lifetime and within the white lines and again really really pleased that you know he's a part of our program and chose to be here with us to look too far down the road but the transitive property of sports is almost impossible for the human brain to remove so if you go and beat Cal it's not just beating Cal on the road it's you beat the team that went to Jordan hair and beat Auburn can that be one of those kind of hang your hat on wins early in a season where you kind of go we can build off of this in a big way I just want to win today and the plan and the process I want to win tomorrow and have a great practice and then whatever comes by the week and how we go through this thing that will come and you know we'll we'll worry about that when we come is there a specific controllable that you're emphasizing this week with the team that control going into this week yeah where are we putting our time where are we putting our energy right like challenge some of the guys you know go look back over the last week and do a Time audit only you can do that within your personal life and where are you spending your time how are you investing your time and where are you maybe wasting your time so you can prepare at a higher level and have even greater confidence to what's going on with the plan right and limit the distractions you know with within your personal life that we all have right so that we can be focused on the task at hand you know when when the moment comes and the ball's kicked off Saturday evening what kind of quarterback is know again really efficient I mean he's completing around 70% accuracy right now values the football um hasn't thrown an interception really feels comfortable in their system knows how to operate it at a high level and distributes the ball really really well to all the Playmakers around them what Danny been through throughout the game day what was the thought you know keep him in at the end to where again like he continued to grow in those moments with all of it right and you know to make sure that the team knew that we weren't going to quit at the end no concern Ian he already a little bit hurt that something else could happen there no I mean again like we had constant conversation after every single possession where he was at what he was feeling not only with him but with the medical team you know and they continued to guide us through it all and we all felt you know all parties involved that hey we're good to go and let's keep attacking this thing the right way expectation to be able to start this we're going to like that's what I'm hoping for right as we move through it and again Contin to see how his body responds as as we move through the week but that's my hope for a Young quarterback what kind of learning experience can that be were things just he's used to have success at every level he had success in the second half the previous week were stuffs just not going right what what do it what can he learn about the game at this level and how he has to maybe change things up yeah I mean it's it's just again about how the the fortitude that's required right to to become your best I mean shoot like there's this guy named pton Manny who I'm pretty sure still holds the record for the most interceptions as a rookie right things didn't go great things ended up being okay for him right now I'm not comparing Danny to to pton Manning or anything like that so don't run with that quote right but it's one of those things where now right like yeah there you go it's it's probably already out right right but it's one of those deals now right where again like through the test through the adversity through the challenges the obstacle becomes the way right so we're going to go through those obstacles together we're going to grow as a family together so that he can become the best version of himself better p man that's what we're going to take out of that quote