Jacksonville State Football
Weekly Press Conference
September 10, 2024 – Eastern Michigan Week
 
Head Coach Rich Rodriguez
 
Opening comments
"I thought even though the score was not what anybody would like here, we made steps getting better on all three phases. I Saw some improvements in some of the schematic, things that our guys were doing, some of the missed assignments that we had in the first game, we didn't have in the second game. Individually, we had a couple guys that that improved their game from game one to game two, so that was all positive. Now we're not happy with the result, of course, but I think overall we did get better and now we have to take it the next step for this one."
 
On Eastern Michigan
"A big, tough, physical team. We knew that last year coming in and it was a very, very physical game. They kind of pride themselves on being big and physical and hard-nosed tough and that's kind of what we saw last year and we're going to see even more of it this year. It's going to be a big challenge, because they're their home opener and night game on the road, so we've got to play better than we did the first two weeks."
 
On improvements he saw in the Louisville game
"We still gave up way too many long drives. We didn't get three and outs, which are a big thing for us, and we still struggling getting that. We gave up some long plays downfield and a lot of times we were there, just didn't make the play and you got to give them (Louisville) some credit for that. There were also once or twice that our eye discipline wasn't as good as it needed to be in the back end. There are also other times where our safeties made some plays near the line of scrimmage, which was good. We missed some tackles as well, which we've got to get better at. The effort has been good and the guys are trying hard. It's not like guys are just easing up and giving up or anything like that. So, as long as the effort is good, the care factor is good, then we got a chance to get better."
 
On the quarterback play
"Tyler (Huff) ran really well, and it was inspiring to watch him even though you don't want your quarterback to lower your shoulder, but he was trying to win the game and make plays. That was pretty inspiring to watch him do that. It's his first year in the system. He's a veteran guy, but his first year with us, so I really thought he took a nice step forward with his play in that game."
 
On EMU's Defense
"I think they have seven seniors starting on defense, so they've got a veteran team defensively, especially up front. I think all their starting defensive linemen starting, are seniors and they've done a good job building that and it's hard to get that with the transfer portal. They've done a good job of retaining some of their some of their key players."
 




















Brock Robey, Sr., OL
 
On leadership on the Offensive line
"I have a little bit of a leadership role being a veteran guy, especially with our position coach. I've been with him for going on five years now, so I knew his system. I knew how to help some of these guys succeed in it and I played a little bit of center last year, whenever our center, Treylen Brown, went down, I'd slide over to center. Treylon and I are great friends. I talked to him at least once every week still. I talked to him to get little feel about what he did last year, how he was successful. We've got some young guys and some new guys in the system. I try to just be the best help I can to them."
 
On Tyler Huff running
"It fires me up. I know some people get a little scared watching the quarterback take a hit, which that's understandable. But I mean, I'm on the field, I'm getting fired up. I'm yelling, hooting, hollering, chasing down the field with him when he takes off and it makes me want to block harder for him."
 
On moving to Center
"I had played one game at center and before I got here at my last school, I played one game. I played a little center in high school, but other than just repping in practice, I hadn't had a lot of other real game experience, so now I am getting game experience.  I'm comfortable there and I've worked my snaps ever since high school, so it was just kind of second nature once I got in that position."
 
 

Antonio Carter, Gr., Safety
 
On last week at Louisville
"We still have things we need to work on, but we definitely took some steps forward and we're excited. Last week, the talk was about the communication on the field. I would say it was much better. It started in practice with the coaches were making sure that was something we made sure we improved on and harped on in practice, and I think it showed in the game."
 
On making the transition to Jax State
"It has helped me become a better player and I think I'm in better shape. The humidity was different here. I'm from Florida, but playing football in the north for a minute was, definitely taking some time adjusting coming back down south."
 
On improvements on defense
"We took a step forward from week one to week two with less missed assignments. Like coach said, we were there a lot of times and we're there to make a play on the ball, but we're not doing it. I think just taking that next step will really help us this weekend and the week's coming."