UCF's defense came up big in the 36-31 season-opening rally to beat Boise State. After settling down at halftime, the D dominated in the second half, allowing just 87 yards to the Broncos. The defense also helped seal the victory in the closing minutes when Big Kat Bryant flushed out Boise State quarterback Hank Bachmeier, forcing an errant pass that was intercepted by Dyllon Lester.
Following Sunday night's practice, defensive coordinator Travis Williams reviewed the game and also talked about this week's opponent, Bethune-Cookman.
After going through the camp and the anticipation of starting a season, now seeing the end result, what are your initial thoughts of how your team performed against Boise State?
"I thought the guys gave great effort. It was a day of ups and downs. But it was good. It was good to see the guys, see what we need to work on and get better at. Things that we can build off of as well. Overall, I thought it was good."
We've heard a lot about what was said during halftime in terms of what you needed to change. What did you think needed to change from the first half to the second half?
"Just the whole approach. You read things about what happened at halftime or what didn't happen, it's just guys saying, 'Okay, no more. We're gonna go out and play our standard of defense. We're gonna to get to the ball. We're gonna make the tackles we're supposed to make.' It wasn't elaborate deal that went on at halftime. It was these are adjustments, this is what they're doing. Again, we were studying UC Davis 2019, 2018, 2017. They didn't even play last season. You go out there and you really don't know what they're doing, so you need to be good in what you do with adjustments. We were in spots, just got to make the tackles and make the plays we're supposed to make. Get aligned correctly. They were going from empty to unbalanced. So at halftime we said this is how we're gonna stop it and then we went out executed."
How did the team adjust to the speed of the game and how would you grade the tackling?
"We have to get better at tackling to be honest with you. We have to tackle guys. If we get our bodies on them, our hands on them, they've got to get on the ground. We have to be better at tackling. Today that's what we did. We did a tackling circuit. You still teach the fundamentals of tackling. We're not a coaching staff that says get them on the ground or you gotta make that play! We're gonna show you exactly what you need to do. The proper angles. The proper steps. Different things like that to make you a sure tackler. Just showing the guys exactly what they need to do and going through every play and showing them how we can get better. Even on a missed tackle. There was a third and six, we could have made a tackle for four yards and they're kicking a field goal. Well, the guys breaks a tackle and scores a touchdown. It goes from a field goal and now they have six points. Different things like that. Just actually going out there and doing tackling. We've been doing tackling drills. Again, you still have to go out there and rep it every day because it's still a fundamental sport."
What was the dynamic like within the coaching staff for a first game with the coaches in the box and down on the field?
"Every coach plays a role. Upstairs, Addison (Williams) does a really good job. He's very quiet, but very sharp. He has the personnel. They're coming out in 11 personnel, 12 personnel. Coach (Kenny) Ingram is upstairs. He's checking everything. If a run squirts through there, what happens on the blocks. Who was out of their gap and different things like that. Coach (Kenny) Martin is the on the sideline and he's seeing it from the sideline view what's going on. Pretty much watching their ends and the interior at the same time. Then Coach Gibbs is on the field. He's watching the back end. That's everybody's job description. Everybody has a job. When we come off the field, okay, Coach Addison what did you see? Coach Martin what did you see? Coach Ingram, Coach Gibbs? We use everybody's eyes. That's the fun part. We have a lot of guys with a lot of experience that I trust."
What can you take away from this game and build on?
"We thought our defensive line would be a strong suit and leaving the game we feel the same way. We've got to lean on those guys and their ability to cause havoc. They had a really good first game, so that allows us to do some different things. It's always good when your defensive line is clicking. We've got guys up front that we really want to lean on."
For not having played last season, how would you evaluate Kalia Davis' performance?
"I've been trying to tell people about him. I call him gorilla because he just does stuff. He's so powerful. He's a guy I like being around. He loves football. He doesn't say a lot, but when he's on the field and the ball is snapped, he's like a man possessed. He's a guy that Coach Martin is doing a great job with his technique. He was a linebacker and you know the history. Moved to d-end. Then d-tackle. So he's still learning the position. Watching Coach Martin coach him with the fundamentals and the technique is really good. Caoch Martin is a great teacher watching what he does with the interior defensive line."
Can you talk about the contributions of Big Kat Bryant? I didn't hear it, but apparently he did a postgame radio interview, on the play he pressured the Boise State quarterback and forced the interception, he said he recognized the play pre-snap because Minnesota ran the same play against Auburn in the bowl game after the 2019 season.
"That's one thing Big Kat brings is football IQ. He understands the game. Just the playing experience. He's played and seen a lot of football. Very impressed with how physical he played. That's what I was telling the guys. A lot of times people look at sacks, but we had a chance to hit the quarterback a lot and really cause havoc. When the team was running the ball, just how physical he was. He was bringing a physical element to the game. I thought he had a good game. Just his leadership. Football IQ. And experience is always good. He's played a lot of football. We lean on him a lot as one of our leaders."
Another transfer on the defensive line, Ricky Barber, how did he do?
"He played good. He's another guy we lean on. I call him Bear. He's like a Bear out there. He takes double teams. Takes pride in his job. He does a really good job. He can split a double team. He's a guy you can tell Coach Martin had him for two years at the last place they were at. Watching his fundamentals, he's technique sound. He's had a great teacher in Coach Martin. I was really pleased watching him this past Thursday."
What improvement do you want to see from the secondary?
"We don't want to give up explosive passes. We had one for 22 yards and 24 yards, something like that. Really just communication. Continue to communicate and make sure everybody is on the same page. Making tackles we're supposed to make. Again, I have to do a better job of calls too to help them out in the secondary. Just continue to get better. Linebackers continue to get better. D-line continue to get better. Coaches continue to get better. That's the mindset from top to bottom, getting better."
I think you were asked during the spring about your demeanor on the sideline. End of the game, when Dyllon Lester got the interception, I saw you sprinting down the sideline, then Divaad Wilson gave you a hug. Can you describe the emotion of what that was like? Long delay, back and forth, then knowing your defense helped seal the win.
"Just proud of the guys. They have been awesome from day one when Coach Malzahn got here and I came the next day. They have bought into everything we're telling them. We have good kids that want to learn. Bright eyed. They have a 'Coach me, coach' attitude. I'm just happy for them. I'm no different than the parent in the stands jumping around. I jump around at practice. If anybody knows Coach T-Will, they know I'm full of energy. That's just how I am. That's how I was as a player. I love seeing these guys happy and seeing them win. Seeing them get better. That's why I jump around. I'm happy for the guys. They put a lot of work in. I'm just like the dad in the stands, really."
How hard is it to come off the high energy and refocus for Bethune-Cookman?
"It's not hard at all. It's football. We've got to get ready for the next opponent. Only reason I'm talking about the last game is because you're asking me about it. We've already moved on to Bethune-Cookman. We have to get better from game one to game two. We just have to. The good teams, you're going to see a big difference as far as them getting better from week one to week two. That's our main focus. We have a lot of stuff we need to clean up. The last game, if we would have lost the game, there's nothing you can do about it. We won the game, there's nothing you can do about it. You have to move on. That's our focus. Really just focusing on ous because we left a lot of meat on the bone. We can get better in a lot of different things and that's our focus for this week."
What's Anthony Montalvo's status? Was he back at practice?
"He was back at practice. He's a warrior. I'm glad we have him. I love that dude. To answer your question, yes, he was back at practice."
First game obviously as a defensive coordinator. Were there some special people at the game or watching on TV? Any communication from people in your past? Was that a special moment for you?
"It was really good. I got a lot of text messages from coaches that coached me. College buddies. We're in a group chat with 19 of my former teammates. They're always praying for me. I've got another group chat with like five of my high school buddies. Same thing. The support was unreal. So many people were texting. This is a big deal. It was one song I kept listening to. 'Shall Not Want' from Elevation Church and Maverick City. It's a music group. The whole time, the Good Lord equipped me with everything I need so I shall not want. It's just football. Sometimes people make it bigger than what it is. I was an undersized linebacker trying to fight 300 pounders. I had worse days. It's just football. The support was awesome. I was just excited to be out there coaching."
Did you watch any college football over the weekend?
"I was skimming through some games last night. We were in meetings yesterday. We were getting ready for the next opponent. At night, I did skim through some games and trying to see what's going on around the country."
What can you tell us about Tre'Mon Morris-Brash's status?
"He has some stuff he has to do. I just leave that Coach Malzahn."
What did you think about your linebackers for a first game, the three guys who played.
"I thought they played well. We still have a lot to improve on. We watched the film today and went through everything as far as their technique and their alignments, different things like that. Making the tackles we're supposed to make. Communicating. I thought it was a solid day. But we have a lot we can improve on. Which is exciting. I'm excited to coach these guys because they want to be coached. They want to be good. That's always a good thing."
What are you seeing from Bethune-Cookman? I think they put up 28 points in the second half against UTEP.
"Good team. You see it all around college football. You go out there sleepwalking you're going to get your tail beat. We respect everybody we play. They are a good football team that just put up 28 points on the road. They will be hyped up to come in here and play the game. We respect them. We respect their coaches. Every team is going to get our undivided attention. We're looking forward to it."
How would you grade your performance as a coach? How do you want to improve?
"I have to improve a lot. Every week will be an improvement. Just like the players. There's so much you can improve on. My grade, I don't know. I know I have to get better. Just like the players. Grade, that would be a Coach Malzahn question. We all have to get better."
Fans had to stick around for almost three hours to kick off. What did you think about the atmosphere, especially being so late.
"It was awesome. I tweeted something to the fans because the support was unreal. There's a lot of people who don't understand how that helps the team. Looking at the student section, being told they've got to leave and they're not going anywhere. You can still come back because lightning was coming. Just the support, it was awesome. It really was. It was exciting to see. Our guys fed off of that. We've got a young fanbase, which is awesome. They were rowdy. That's really good."
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