MONROE
How well did you feel like the game plan worked against Navy's triple option?
"It worked very well. We held those guys to like 34 yards going into halftime, so we had a good game plan, but we lost the momentum and things started going down and people started going down. We had some turnovers at key points of the game, so we just have to collect some things and do better next week. The defensive line played very well."
Nobody had slowed down Navy on the ground until you did. How much confidence did the defense gain?
"That showed you the spurts that we can have on defense. We can be a great defense. We can be one of the best defenses in this conference, if not in the country, and that showed in 2013. It peaked its head a little bit against that team, but they did a heck of a job. That quarterback was awesome, and their coaches did a good job of adjusting to what we did, but I think the game plan was perfect."
Do you feel like the talent on the defense has been wasted this year with Tulane at 2-5, and how frustrating is that?
"It's not frustrating because I look at it as I'm trying to leave a legacy for these guys to look up to when I'm gone. I'm trying to teach as much as I can, and guys like Taris Shenall and Rod Teamer, those guys are going to be good players at Tulane for years to come."
Are the heads of your defensive teammates still up going into Memphis?
"A lot of guys' heads are up. We've just got to keep Tanner up because of what's going on with him and we have to get behind the offense and just praise those guys and get their heads up. As you can see, this practice was pretty high energy."
The offense played better but could not finish against Navy. Are you encouraged at all?
"Yeah, they had a lot of progress. They moved the ball very well. We had some unfortunate things happen in the red zone in drives where we had momentum. That's how the game goes, though. Things are not going our way this year."
You went out for a couple of plays in the second half and Navy went 45 yards in two plays for a touchdowns. What happened to you?
"I actually had a cramp. I cramped up, and I was trying to get back as soon as possible. That's why I was yelling at the equipment staff, saying come on, let's hurry up. And as soon as I walked in the tunnel, I heard the touchdown. I was like, damn, I can't be out like that."
Memphis has the best offense you've played. What do you have to do to slow Paxton Lynch down?
"He's a great quarterback. He's progressed a lot since last year. We watched the film from last year and he made some errant throws, but if you watch the film from this year he's spot on. They are doing a lot of things to protect their offensive line and what they do, and those running backs are doing a great job, so you can't really key on their pass game because they are going to run the ball on you."
Lynch is a good runner but he's nowhere near as fast as Houston QB Greg Ward. Do you feel better in that aspect?
"Greg Ward is a special runner. He's a receiver playing quarterback, but he can also throw the ball. He's a great athlete. This guy would rather pass the ball, but he has the ability to run it, so that's what makes him so special. That's why he's one of the top players in the draft this year. I think our defensive ends will do a great job because he's not as fast as Greg Ward, so he's not going to get you outside. Greg Ward will go 10 yards backwards and then gain 30 yards forward. That's one thing about him that's different."
MARLEY
Cj called the Navy game one that got away. Do you feel the same way?
"Yeah, definitely. We left some points on the field. We definitely should have won that game. It's just little things here and there we can't give up."
Nobody has done a job on that Navy offense like you guys did that year. There are no moral victories, but how good do you feel about you guys played and the things you accomplished?
"Oh man, if there was no scoreboard it would be perfect. I'm saying that as far as watching our defense play so gap sound and so disciplined, listening to everything the coaches said. They made adjustments on the sideline and it was like we practiced it the whole week. Everything was flowing so smoothly."
How do you keep that going against Memphis?
"We are going to find out Saturday, but I think we got it together. We definitely have it together as a team with the communication, being disciplined, gap sound."
The difference from Navy and to Memphis is as drastic a swing in offensive styles as you can get, right?
"Definitely. Navy ran, ran, ran, and Memphis is going to run it, but they have the best quarterback in the nation, so we definitely are seeing two sides of the spectrum."
Memphis averages 49 points. How much of a challenge is it, and what's the first thing you need to stop?
"You have to take away what they like to do. You can't let them have anything they want, so you have to make them one-dimensional. We have to stop the run and make them one-dimensional and make their best player win the game for them."
What does Paxton Lynch do that other quarterbacks don't?
"He puts the ball right where it's supposed to be every time and he has some legs on him, too. He can run, and he doesn't make a lot of mistakes. He has only one interception on the year, so he's making the right decisions, throwing the ball right where it's supposed to be put, so it's a great challenge for us."
He's not as fast as Greg Ward, the one guy who simply outran your defense. Does that make the matchup easier at all?
"I wouldn't say outrun our defense. I wouldn't go as far as to say that, but Houston's quarterback, his speed is in a different league than a lot of different players. Memphis' quarterback is fast, too, but Houston's quarterback has track speed."
How well did you feel like the game plan worked against Navy's triple option?
"It worked very well. We held those guys to like 34 yards going into halftime, so we had a good game plan, but we lost the momentum and things started going down and people started going down. We had some turnovers at key points of the game, so we just have to collect some things and do better next week. The defensive line played very well."
Nobody had slowed down Navy on the ground until you did. How much confidence did the defense gain?
"That showed you the spurts that we can have on defense. We can be a great defense. We can be one of the best defenses in this conference, if not in the country, and that showed in 2013. It peaked its head a little bit against that team, but they did a heck of a job. That quarterback was awesome, and their coaches did a good job of adjusting to what we did, but I think the game plan was perfect."
Do you feel like the talent on the defense has been wasted this year with Tulane at 2-5, and how frustrating is that?
"It's not frustrating because I look at it as I'm trying to leave a legacy for these guys to look up to when I'm gone. I'm trying to teach as much as I can, and guys like Taris Shenall and Rod Teamer, those guys are going to be good players at Tulane for years to come."
Are the heads of your defensive teammates still up going into Memphis?
"A lot of guys' heads are up. We've just got to keep Tanner up because of what's going on with him and we have to get behind the offense and just praise those guys and get their heads up. As you can see, this practice was pretty high energy."
The offense played better but could not finish against Navy. Are you encouraged at all?
"Yeah, they had a lot of progress. They moved the ball very well. We had some unfortunate things happen in the red zone in drives where we had momentum. That's how the game goes, though. Things are not going our way this year."
You went out for a couple of plays in the second half and Navy went 45 yards in two plays for a touchdowns. What happened to you?
"I actually had a cramp. I cramped up, and I was trying to get back as soon as possible. That's why I was yelling at the equipment staff, saying come on, let's hurry up. And as soon as I walked in the tunnel, I heard the touchdown. I was like, damn, I can't be out like that."
Memphis has the best offense you've played. What do you have to do to slow Paxton Lynch down?
"He's a great quarterback. He's progressed a lot since last year. We watched the film from last year and he made some errant throws, but if you watch the film from this year he's spot on. They are doing a lot of things to protect their offensive line and what they do, and those running backs are doing a great job, so you can't really key on their pass game because they are going to run the ball on you."
Lynch is a good runner but he's nowhere near as fast as Houston QB Greg Ward. Do you feel better in that aspect?
"Greg Ward is a special runner. He's a receiver playing quarterback, but he can also throw the ball. He's a great athlete. This guy would rather pass the ball, but he has the ability to run it, so that's what makes him so special. That's why he's one of the top players in the draft this year. I think our defensive ends will do a great job because he's not as fast as Greg Ward, so he's not going to get you outside. Greg Ward will go 10 yards backwards and then gain 30 yards forward. That's one thing about him that's different."
MARLEY
Cj called the Navy game one that got away. Do you feel the same way?
"Yeah, definitely. We left some points on the field. We definitely should have won that game. It's just little things here and there we can't give up."
Nobody has done a job on that Navy offense like you guys did that year. There are no moral victories, but how good do you feel about you guys played and the things you accomplished?
"Oh man, if there was no scoreboard it would be perfect. I'm saying that as far as watching our defense play so gap sound and so disciplined, listening to everything the coaches said. They made adjustments on the sideline and it was like we practiced it the whole week. Everything was flowing so smoothly."
How do you keep that going against Memphis?
"We are going to find out Saturday, but I think we got it together. We definitely have it together as a team with the communication, being disciplined, gap sound."
The difference from Navy and to Memphis is as drastic a swing in offensive styles as you can get, right?
"Definitely. Navy ran, ran, ran, and Memphis is going to run it, but they have the best quarterback in the nation, so we definitely are seeing two sides of the spectrum."
Memphis averages 49 points. How much of a challenge is it, and what's the first thing you need to stop?
"You have to take away what they like to do. You can't let them have anything they want, so you have to make them one-dimensional. We have to stop the run and make them one-dimensional and make their best player win the game for them."
What does Paxton Lynch do that other quarterbacks don't?
"He puts the ball right where it's supposed to be every time and he has some legs on him, too. He can run, and he doesn't make a lot of mistakes. He has only one interception on the year, so he's making the right decisions, throwing the ball right where it's supposed to be put, so it's a great challenge for us."
He's not as fast as Greg Ward, the one guy who simply outran your defense. Does that make the matchup easier at all?
"I wouldn't say outrun our defense. I wouldn't go as far as to say that, but Houston's quarterback, his speed is in a different league than a lot of different players. Memphis' quarterback is fast, too, but Houston's quarterback has track speed."