The past being in the past, offensive coordinator Brent Key is looking for a better result in the second "one-game season" this Saturday at Stanford. Earlier this week, Key spoke about the matchup and what needs to improve going forward.
Tough week ahead, what's the main focus of this week?
"Leading into this week, it's the same motto we've had all year. Don't look behind you. Don't worry about what's in front of you, just worry about the task at hand and work on that day. We have a huge task in front of us this week going out to Stanford and playing a good football team. The biggest thing is we come off a loss like we did this past week, take the corrections, get the mistakes corrected and move forward. Not look in the past. Use your momentum moving forward to get to the next game."
There's some youth on the offensive line. How do you get those kids to grow up? As Coach O'Leary says, there's only so many sunrises and sunsets.
"Those sunrises and sunsets come in practice. They come with reps in practice, gettings the reps on the practice field so you can put them in all the situations they might come into in the games, so when game time comes they're hopefully prepared."
It seems the passing game with young wide receivers, between Jordan Akins and Tre'Quan Smith, that was a bright spot.
"We've said all along the passing goes as good as your quarterback is. We have a returner at quarterback. Justin has experience. He's been under the fire, played a complete season. Any time you've got a quarterback back, he puts the ball to the guys that are open, makes his correct reads and puts the ball where it belongs, you're able to have a sufficient passing game."
Where is Chavis Dickey? He started last year and haven't seen him.
"He's working his way back into it. He was sick early on and missed some valuable time at the beginning of camp. He missed those reps, from a condition standpoint it's getting back in shape.
I know Dontravious Wilson went out in the last game. Coach O'Leary said there's a chance Taj McGowan plays this week.
"Guys have to step up. If someone leaves the game with an injury, other guys have to come in. Running backs have to share the load instead of one running back the whole game. I expect Taj to come into the game this week and get some of the carries."
What stands out about the Stanford defense and you are concerned about?
"The biggest thing is they're a sound defense. Extremely sound. Very well coached. They're a big physical group up front in their odd, two-gap defense in their base packages. They're physical. Our job as an offense is to sustain blocks and create lanes for running backs and time for the quarterback to throw the football."
How helpful was it to have a longer weekend heading into Stanford?
"I think any time you can get a couple extra days of preparation, especially coming off the game Thursday night, to have some extra time of preparation but also extra time for your body, the 24 hours, 48 hours, extra time for your body to heal up from the previous game."
We just talked to Aaron Evans, and I know him and other players want to redeem themselves. As an offense, I'm sure you all feel you're a lot better than what showed Thursday night.
"No doubt. You're only as good as your last game and your last rep of the practice. We've got to go out this week and put the plan together and execute the plan on Saturday night."
What was your response when you saw how the offensive line and run game looked? There's some experience there with the running game. Were you surprised (by the poor performance)?
"I look forward to the next game of getting those things corrected. Yeah, any time you go out into the field and you're not able to sustain the rush and establish the running game, it's a disappointing for everyone involved, whether it's the running backs, offensive line or coaches."
