As a first-year member of the staff, Alex Golesh says it's been "fascinating" to watch UCF's tempo offense unleash on opponents this season. It's one thing to practice it, but another to see it in action.
Golesh spoke about that and several other topics during a Wednesday conversation with local media, including his thoughts on the upcoming Tulsa game, the development of tight end Jake Hescock, quarterback McKenzie Milton's progress and more.
On the challenge Tulsa's defense presents:
"They're probably more used to the tempo than our previous two opponents. They see that type of offense in practice. They're a different challenge defensively. Totally different scheme. The last time we saw this scheme would have been them a year ago. Really long secondary. Guys that can make plays on the ball. Probably as good of a secondary as we've played. Really physical up front. They play really good defense. They changed schemes a year ago to be able to get more skill guys on the field. It was a challenge for us a year ago. I think the battle has been to come up with a way to attack it and continue to sell to our kids that we've got a great plan. A really physical long unit. Guys that can run, which is always going to be an interesting matchup."
On the contributions of senior running back Greg McCrae:
"Greg has really done an incredible job being a leader. He's taken so many steps since I got here in terms of being a vocal leader, in terms of being a leader on the offense. I think he's a veteran guy with a calm sense of demeanor at all times. It gets chaotic at times with camp. We create chaos on purpose for us on offense for us to function the way we want to play. Greg consistently is the same calm guy on every single snap. I think from a leadership standpoint that's where I think his biggest value is to this offense beyond running the ball and protecting the quarterback.
"It probably took him a minute to come out of his shell being a walk-on, having to earn everything he's gotten, but I think the guys respect the heck out of him for all those reasons. I think any time you get a guy that comes in and clearly earns his stripes. He comes up the rough side of the mountain, so the guys respect the heck out of him. That quiet, calm demeanor is good especially in the running back where there's some personalities and some young guys. He has the cool, calm demeanor, kind of like Coach Tuck. I think he's taken on that personality. When things go haywire, he is that calm voice in the huddle."
On tight end Jake Hescock being involved more in the passing game with a TD vs. ECU and his view of the TEs going forward:
"I think Jake (Hescock) has done a really good job of continuing to develop in his role. I want to keep him involved in the pass game as much as we possibly can. I think any time you can distribute the ball to all five guys it makes you harder to defend offensively. He's done a good job continuing to develop as a run blocker. I think he's played two best games in that regard. He's continuing to develop in his pass protection. We worked really hard as a route runner for him to be able to win. Looking at our point of view, he's been flexed out a bit more in these first two games. He's played in space. Ball hadn't gone his way. There's a lot of really good guys on that offense. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. Down in the scoring zone he's a big strong target. Since I got here, that's been the pitch. Can we count on you down there to make a play when we have to? I think he's done a really good job. I'm really proud of him. I want to get these other guys involved as much as we can. Alec Holler has played some. Zach Marsh-Wojan has played some. Knock on wood, Jake can stay healthy and we can continue to develop those guys. I think his role with what he's been able to do, I think he's done a solid job of helping us open up holes and protecting Dillon. Then when his opportunities have come, he's made the plays on the ball. I think his opportunities will continue to grow. I think DG really trusts him. I think Coach Heupel trusts him. Between those two guys, I think his role in that part will continue to grow. I think people want to see catches. I don't think that's what makes a great tight end. I think a great tight end can be in every situation and every formation and have an outcome in every offensive play. He's done a really good job."
On McKenzie Milton and his progress:
"McKenzie Milton is like a bright sun on a gloomy day. KZ is literally the heartbeat of our offense. Still is. Been a captain these first two weeks for us. There's a sense of energy and confidence and passion that comes from him when he comes out. Since he started practicing with us, you look over and he's got a smile and balls are zipping everywhere. There's a sense of excitement among everybody on offense. I know for me, seeing him play from afar and now seeing him out there is absolutely incredible. Honestly it's humbling in a lot of ways because a lot of people said he shouldn't be out there. It's a credit to him and his perseverance and drive to get back. We're being smart with him. Letting him get comfortable. Doing everything from getting his snap to dropping back to handing the ball off. It's been two years of him being in a football situation. When he's ready, he'll be ready. There's not a lot of pushing him to get ready. To get into a game and win a game for us. When he's ready, he'll be ready. That's not a coach answer or cover anything up answer, it's a true answer. When he's ready, he'll be ready. I think he's 23 (years old). He knows when he'll be ready. When he says he is, we'll be ready to play him. In whatever role that is. I think the fact him and Dillon are so close. You can see every time Dillon comes off the field KZ is sitting next to him. He is that calming voice for Dillon on the sideline. He's been through it. The relationship they have is incredible. It's been really fascinating to watch him grow in that role as well.
"He's physically ready right now in terms of cleared to practice and cleared to have people around him. There's a huge mental side of it as well going through what he went through. To be able to play that position is really hard to play if you're not 100 percent. There's a confidence factor. There's bodies all around you at all times. You've got to move in the pocket. Whenever he says he's ready, the medical staff says he's ready to go, that's going to bring a smile to my face. Right now we've got a really good vibe going on offense. We've got a lot of things we've got to work on, but we're hitting on a lot of cylinders right now so there's not a pressing need to rush him back. I think any time you get somebody who has gone through what he's gone through, you'd rather play him too late than too early so you don't hinder their progress. I think that's where we're at."
On playing a home game in the Bounce House with limited fans:
"I've never seen it not look empty yet, so for me it'll be my first time in there. I've heard incredible things about it, the environment. We played at Georgia Tech two weeks ago with limited fans, but they had crowd noise and the music, I'm upstairs in the box, so for me it looked the same. It sure felt loud down there. This last week, I did think it was really odd beyond just in the stadium. Even driving up in Greenville, driving up to the stadium, there's no students on campus and there's literally nobody anywhere near the stadium. I thought that was really surreal. I don't know the exact word, but it was really weird. Obviously having a limited fanbase allowed in the stadium, I think it will be awesome. I think the gameday environment created by our operations people will be awesome.
"I think our guys are excited about having their families there. There are so many players from Orlando and within a couple hours, so our kids having their parents and loved ones in the stands will be an awesome experience. They have been kind of secluded in this bubble and not been able to see many of their loved ones. Beyond the fans, having their families in the stands and having our families in the stands. This will be the first time my kids get to see our players. They literally have never been to our house, have not been at practice. You're so used to having players over to your house and around your family, so that part has been really odd. I think our guys are just excited to be in a home hotel, be in front of our fans, on our grass, in our stadium. I think guys are really fired up.
"I think there's been a huge pitch this offseason that we've got to go win on the road. We had three losses on the road a year ago. To be able to take these first two, regardless of opponent, to go on the road, put it together and win, fans or no fans, that's been our pitch. That's what's got to change. It wasn't perfect, obviously, but to get a win in college football, to get two and come home and take a deep breath and play an opponent that beat us a year ago, I'm not sure what else you need from a motivational standpoint. That sets up for a pretty good matchup for us."
On whether anything has surprised him in the first two games:
"It's all been new to me in terms of I had no preconceived notions coming into the deal in terms of personnel. Obviously I watched a lot of film this offseason in terms of what we have personnel wise. We spent a lot of time during our time at home trying to make sure we can put these new guys in this offense in the right positions to be successful. Jaylon Robinson, I don't know if he's a surprise, but he's been a really consistent piece. He hadn't played football in two years. Just to see him go out and perform the way he has. I think that would be one guy that has jumped out. Not surprising as much as been able to step in and fill some huge shoes in terms of the yards. The other guy would be Dillon Gabriel. I think so much has been made of his freshman year. I think if you ask Dillon, he'll mention the three losses and what he can do better, the turnovers in those games, to see him come out with the confidence and level of swag that you need to play at that position in this offense at the tempo we play at, surprise is not the word because of the way he prepares, I think more of a true confidence boost to the entire offense. That guy took this offseason to get better and prepare himself for every situation that could come up. Those two guys I would say would be the ones that have shown up. All of the guys are new to me, so it's interesting to see how guys have developed in the last six months. I'd go to bat with those two any time."
On immersing himself in this offense:
"It's been fascinating. The spring is where I felt really anxious, to get into the spring and figure out my role in how I can help get us better. That was when I got here, that was part of the interview process and part of me getting here. How can we improve on the areas we weren't great at last year. I've poured myself into that. Through two weeks it's been really good to be upstairs and help Heup navigate through play-by-play situations. Getting to the next piece that we need to get to. Where they are attacking us and helping him guide us in that direction. I feel like I've been prepared every week in that part of it. It's been fascinating to be a part of it. I thought week one it was fascinating to see the tempo full speed. We practice it, but it's one thing to get out there and be upstairs in the box and see it as you're going through it. It's been fascinating. I've really enjoyed it. I've really enjoyed being around the staff. I really enjoy our kids. On our side of the ball there's a level of confidence and swag where you would say we are the best offense in the country. Those guys believe, practice and prepare like it and play like it. To walk into that culture and try to fit in and at the same time try to find ways to make us better, that's been my focal point. I've really enjoyed it. Like I said when I got here, I've watched it from afar for four, five years now. To be able to be in it and help in my role, continue to get first downs and continue to score in the red zone, it's been fascinating. I've really enjoyed it. Haven't really taken a deep breath yet. It's been a lot of work. Joyful work. I'm sure after the season I'll look back on it and take a deep breath. Maybe get some sleep too."
