John Grass Press Conference Quotes - Georgia Tech Week - Jacksonville State University Athletics

Jacksonville State Football
Weekly Press Conference
September 5, 2017
Georgia Tech Week

Jacksonville State Head Coach John Grass
Opening Comments:
"It was kind of funny not being in here last week doing this and having a week off. This is pretty unusual as you play one and you are off and then you play another one and then another off week. I thought we handled last week pretty well because it was unusual and we were sitting on go on Monday getting ready for an opponent, but you are off. We stayed fresh and worked on our opponent and we worked on cleaning some stuff up after the first week. We needed to continue to work and get better, so it was a productive week. We are still a fresh and healthy football team and we are looking forward to playing this week."

"Watching the game last night, you knew that Georgia Tech would be a quality opponent, an ACC team that won nine games last year and beat Georgia and Virginia Tech last year and had more returning starters that Coach Johnson has had in his tenure there. They are a veteran team and I don't know that I have ever seen a team that rushed it for 535 yards on offense and lost the game. I thought they were very deserving to win that game against Tennessee. I have always tried to watch them a couple games a year and I just admire how they play the game. They play it physical and they block and tackle well, so they do what they do. I think the extra week to prepare helps a little bit and I don't think that a short week for them is a disadvantage or advantage to us because if you ask the players would they want two games in a week or miss two practices in a week? They want to play and their guys will be ready to play on Saturday. They will be ready especially after letting one get away that I think they should have won. You take the two turnovers out of the game and it is probably a blowout.

"I think there were some questions about the quarterback on that team after losing the starter last year, but I think that question got answered real quickly last night against Tennessee. He broke the school record for rushing attempts by a quarterback with 41 and he played really well. We have our work cut out for us, but our guys will be ready to go on Saturday. They really don't look at who we play; it is about how we play. We will see how much improvement we have made from the first game to the second game.

On the keys to stopping the Georgia Tech offense:
"They make you play assignment football and you have to be ready to take the quarterback dive pitch and you have to be sound there. The big thing is not giving up the explosive plays with not taking one of those. They will lull you to sleep because they don't throw it as much, I think they only threw it four times against Tennessee. They block so well on the perimeter and that starts the big plays. You can't give up some explosive plays, so hopefully we will be able to do that. The linemen are really good at getting to the second and third level and they can run. It is about getting folks around the football. They make you play fundamental football.

On the last time he coached against a triple option offense:
"It has been awhile, but I think all of our coaches are very familiar with it. It's not a secret on what they do and how they do it. It is more like here is what we do, here we come and now you have to stop it. You have to line up and be ready to play."

On getting a win against Georgia Tech:
"It means we have Liberty the next game. We want to win every game that we go to play; it will be great to win the game but not devastating if you lose the game. I hope that we play well as a team and the opportunity is there and it is about how well we play. If we don't turn the ball over and sustain drives, play well on defense then I think we will be right there in the game. It is going to be a physical game."

On Bryant Horn's first start at quarterback:
"I thought he played well in his first game. I think was a little nervous before the game and I think getting a game under his belt as the starter; he will become more comfortable. He is a really good decision maker and protects the football. I think he will only get better with time and proud of the way he played against Chattanooga."

On the Georgia Tech defense:
"They are sound in what they do and they are not a blitz-happy team. They blitz in certain situations. They are like their offense; they are going t do what they do. They are an aggressive kind of defense. They do not give up a lot of explosive plays.


Siran Neal
R-Sr. Cornerback
On dealing with the Georgia Tech offense:
"The quarterback is really good and they do a great job of blocking up front and they don't throw the ball a lot. As a defense, we all have to be on the same page and it will be a physical game."

On watching the Georgia Tech-Tennessee Game:
"I watched it with a couple of my teammates. We all watched it and we knew that it would be a good game and a solid opponent. We know that it is going to be a physical game and that is something that our defense loves. We respect them and what they do."

Bryant Horn
R-Jr. Quarterback
On his first start at quarterback:
"I can always do better. There were some small mistakes that you work on and every day at practice you work on that stuff. It is the little things that matter, going through your progressions and executing faster."

On the Georgia Tech defense:
"They are fast and physical and we expected that. I think if we can execute and put it all together then we have a good chance at success on Saturday.

Players Mentioned

Bryant Horn

Siran Neal

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Bryant Horn

Siran Neal

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