UCF defensive coordinator Addison Williams reviews the 44-31 loss at Kansas State and offers his thoughts on facing Baylor this coming weekend.
On the poor run defense vs. Kansas State:
"First and foremost, I want to give Kansas State credit. They're a good football team. Well-coached team with a lot of good players. It's why they won the Big 12 last year. It's certain things we can do better. It starts with me. Different calls in different situations, but also just making sure we're getting lined up correctly and continuing to work on our tackling.
"If you look at it, it was probably two or three runs where we weren't leveraged correctly. That's on me. From a tackling standpoint, we missed a lot of tackles. Just continuing to work the guys through that as well."
On K-State throwing some different looks UCF didn't expect:
"Some of their trap scheme they ran, and they gave it to us three or four times, that was something that had not shown up but one time on film. That's something we'll go back and look at, why those guys thought it would be successful. One of the touchdown runs, it was second and goal from like the nine, they hit us on that one. Other than that, it wasn't a big issue but it was one that we definitely know we'l see moving forward. We've got to get it corrected."
On playing their first Big 12 and whether it played out to how they expected:
"It was great. Obviously we got a taste of it from the team that's the defending champs in the conference. It definitely gives us a measuring stick for what we need to do better, myself included. As a play caller going against those guys, they're really good at what they do. We'll definitely be better moving forward."
On the focus this week:
"(Run defense) is No. 1 and will continue to be No. 1. If you can't make a team one-dimensional, it's hard to play defense and it's hard to call defense. We'll definitely get on that and get it corrected, the run-game portion of it. We'll work on more tackling. Just different looks and making sure we're getting the ball leveraged a little bit better."
On the defensive line play vs. K-State and what more he wants to see:
"It starts up front. Definitely would love to see them get more push. I think a lof of that is on me, putting those guys in better positions which we will do."
On finishing games:
"It's very important. And going back to what Coach Malzahn has said all season, it's going to come down to critical moments at the end of games. As bad as we played defensively, it was 24-24 I think with three or four minutes left in the third quarter. Just that situational football and me putting those guys in the best possible position to get off the field when we have opportunities to at the end of games."
On Corey Thornton getting an interception for the second straight game and his health:
"Corey is one that's consistent. He ran around out there tonight (at practice) so I expect him to be fine. He's a tough guy. He doesn't miss much time. He's a hard worker. I love Corey."
On Baylor:
"They run a lot of stretch. Some that we prepared for last week. We've got to be able to set edges within the defense. They're multiple in their personnel groupings. They'll be in 11, 12, 01, 02. That's going to be a challenge for us, making sure we're able to get lined up for the different personnel groupings and set edges."
On the player response following a loss:
"First and foremost, we have an awesome group of young men. Obviously, they were hurt last night. Just hearing some of the things they were saying, trying to rally the troops even when they were hurt mentally. I think we definitely have a great group of leaders on this team. We talked about some teams can lose a team like that and there's a lot of bickering and talking back and forth in the locker room. There wasn't. A lot of motivation. The guys came out today in meetings and in practice with the right attitude. I expect those guys to respond and obviously us as their coaches have to lead them."
On returning to the Bounce House for their first Big 12 home game:
"I love playing in the Bounce House. Obviously being the first home Big 12 game. It sure is going to be an awesome crowd. They're going to be rowdy and rocking. I think the guys will put on a show for them."
On how the K-State game felt different vs. the AAC:
"It was a different feel, different vibe. Bigger stadium, bigger crowd, packed house. It was a different vibe for those guys. I think seeing that this past week, it's going to be better for us moving forward as a team."
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