Postgame Quotes: Florida State
October 28, 2017 | Football
Florida State Head Coach Jimbo Fisher
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JIMBO FISHER: Give B.C. a lot of credit. They lined up biggest in all three phases of the game. They beat us upfront both ways, both offensive and defensive line. They controlled the line of scrimmage. We had opportunities in the first half, didn't match. They hit a nice trick play, moved the ball. We hit one, we get down there and fumble, which I thought was critical in the game on a base hand. Just a hand off that we did the same, not different play, but didn't have that. That was very critical in the game.
The other turnover I thought in the first half, we hit a big play, got back to midfield, just missed a read through the wrong guy, and should hit the outside guy. Those two critical turnovers were very big. Second half were short yardages really hurt. And also, they ran the football. We were able to establish a line of scrimmage, did a good job of pounding it up in there, their backs did a great job of running the football.
We had to do a better job. Gave up a couple third down stops. Even when we had them pinned back, we could have gotten field position back and a chance for points. They made the critical plays in the game that way.
We had the two mistakes in the kicking game. We field a punt too deep, and got pinned on the two which caused the possession. Then ball hit, and should have never fielded it. And turned it over on a punt. All of those three, we had three critical turnovers with the fumble, interception, and the fumble and the point, which all led to points. Missing short yardages in every phase they beat us. Lined up, kicked our tails and outplayed us, outcoached us, and did everything. We've got to do a better job.
Q. What do you say to your team after a loss like this where just nothing went right?
JIMBO FISHER: We've got to quit worrying about what can't happen, and worry about -- okay, you don't throw the ball, you don't do this, we're still worried in my opinion about that, that we're forgetting about the process of how to change it and win the game, go worry about playing well. Can't worry about what can't happen, and what could happen, and what might happen. You've got to change, lineup, and worry about what can happen that you can change and control and move forward.
Q. After the way you guys lost last week, were you concerned?
JIMBO FISHER: No, we had a solid week of practice. On Monday they were a little down. But Tuesday and Wednesday we had the best Wednesday which is like a Thursday we've probably had all year. We had good energy. We executed. Guys were in position and did things well. Boston College kids, we knew they were going to play well. They were going to be excited and come play well. Match their energy. Made a nice trick play. We did too. Down a rate of score, take a sack on first and ten, play action.
If it ain't there, throw it out of the back of the end zone, we're on the five, and just fumble a hand off. We didn't match them. When that happened, it just kept going. We still had another opportunity when we got back to midfield and moved it. They were doing a good job, coming downhill, stacking the box, bringing guys downhill. We knew we had to throw the football a little bit, open up the run, and we had some opportunities and didn't capitalize.
But after the way the guys practiced and went about it, you always worry about it, but they responded well with a good practice. It was not a dead-headed practice week of practice. It was not like that.
Q. Almost seems like when this team goes down, they're not finding a way to come back out?
JIMBO FISHER: Not making the plays. They're fighting. Even on the goal line stand, they're down there to fourth down, it's not that they're not fighting. They're not executing, and that's where we as coaches have to coach better and do better, and get them to understand the plays. You can't make those mistakes. The line is too thin. You can't. And you've got to match that. That's the part of it that we've got to do better.
Q. Three points, what can you do to fix the offensive issues? You guys weren't --
JIMBO FISHER: Not turn it over. We're down there ready for points in the second drive. Got a nice drive. First and five on the five, hard play action. Good time to throw the football. Got to hit it, throw it out of the back of the end zone, that's what we do. And then we have another opportunity. Cross midfield, and we've got to get some field position. We've got to win the field position, and defensively we've got to get some stops and win turnovers and create situations that way. As a team, we've got to do both things. We have to create that.
When James made a couple critical mistakes in a game, he didn't want to, but he did early in a game that hurt us. We've got to coach him through those. What we've got to do, we've got to get the running game when we miss short yardages. They were stacking the run, bring things downhill, playing the run, trying to force us to throw the football. We knew that. Got to do a better job. Designing, calling, everything.
I mean, but you've got to put them in position. When they're in position, they've got to execute. They have to. There is a twofold thing there. We have to execute when we had opportunities early to match and get a good game and move the football.
Because the first half, we had 175 yards of offense. Second half we didn't. We missed short yardage, missed everything. Turned the punt over and we moved the football. We got pinned back once on the two off a bad decision on special teams. But, you know, from that point, we've got to -- when we get down there, we have to put points on the board.
Redshirt Junior Offensive Lineman Alec Eberle
Q. What was the message that Jimbo had for you guys in the locker room after the game?
ALEC EBERLE: I mean, it was a really physical game. Boston College is a heck of a team and they showed up to play. We just didn't play up to our potential and pretty much got outplayed. They just, you know --
Q. Does it seem like when you guys have down moments in games, does it seem like things snowball and you guys maybe get discouraged?
ALEC EBERLE: I don't think so. Our teams always have pretty good confidence. We always tend to bounce back from problems. I think today we just didn't have our game. You know, when you look at a loss, it's more of an I, me thing. What could I have done better as a teammate, as a center, as a captain? You just have to look at it. I don't think I played well enough. I think I should have picked it up and picked my teammates up more, led them out there and done a better job.
Q. Are guys putting too much pressure on some of the big-picture things and not focusing in on the smaller things right now?
ALEC EBERLE: I mean, like the key to our whole season this year is focus on the details, focus on those things. I think it's easy to overlook the little things and the details. We have to do a better job of that. Football is a game of inches, a game of details and little things. We've got to match those inches. Until we do, then things aren't going to go our way. So we've just got to get back to the drawing board and practice and just get ready and really key in and hone in on those little things and details.
Q. What was B.C. doing that was causing you so many issues on defense?
ALEC EBERLE: Nothing. They were a good team. They play hard. They're physical, and they just, they're really well-coached. Hat's off to them, they played a heck of a game tonight. They're hot right now.
Q. Is James, I mean, how is he handling more turnovers in big situations? How is he handling it all?
ALEC EBERLE: With each game James gets more mature and mature. Today is one of those games. The whole time on the sideline he kept saying it ain't over. It ain't over until it's over. Let's go down the field and score, and let's play. Let's do one job at a time. He's got confidence, and that's important as a quarterback, especially being the starting quarterback on a team like our team. I think he's growing up each week and I'm proud of him.
Q. Do you guys need that from other players? Do you need more encouragement, more fight from other players?
ALEC EBERLE: Football's a team game. You could sit here and say that, but at the same time, you shouldn't have to rely -- you should have to rely on each other, but at the same time, if you need someone else to give you juice, then that's not going to work. You need to bring your own juice. You've got to bring your own juice to the party sometimes.
I think we're learning that and we're going to continue to grow as a team, and we've got to keep working and keep practicing.
Q. Do you think there were a lot of guys that weren't bringing the juice? What is the issue?
ALEC EBERLE: Not at all. That's what I'm saying. You can't rely on anyone to bring you the juice. It's football. We love it. The whole team loves this game. It's a team. That's what we do. We're football players. But like I'm saying, you can't rely on someone else to bring that. That's why our team does a good job of bringing it up themselves and they'll continue to do that.
Q. People see the final score and assume that you guys are kind of packing it in. Did you sense that at all from anybody?
ALEC EBERLE: No. I mean, we're never going to lay down. I've been on this team, this is my fourth season. Never once have we quit and never once have we given up. It's not how we practice or how we play. We're going to keep going, keep grinding and keep going until we get our backs off that wall. So I think this team won't lay down. I think we'll keep grinding and play hard.
Q. Are you shocked to where this team is playing right now?
ALEC EBERLE: Yeah, definitely. Starting off the way we did this early in the season, looking at it right now, it's kind of, yeah, it's shocking. But at the same time, you can't reach down and reset. You have to keep pushing and keep grinding and just make the best. Execute one day, one play, one practice, one game at a time. You've got to continue to do that and keep working.
Senior defensive back Ermon Lane
Q. Having one of the best coaches, how does he help you become a better player?
ERMON LANE: He knows everything. He's the coach that knows like offense, defense, special teams. Like the stuff that he tells us to do, it will be right. We've just got to listen and buy in.
Q. Do you think the team's playing not to lose rather than to win?
ERMON LANE: I don't think we're playing not to lose rather than to win. We just need to play as a team on all three phases. Offense, defense, special teams, we've just go to play. We've got a good energy in practice. We've just got to bring that Saturday. We've just got to play.
Q. Why isn't that happening?
ERMON LANE: I don't know. I don't know. I can't even explain it why it's happening. We have good weeks of practice. I don't know.
Q. Do you think it's when sometimes you maybe take a step back or a play doesn't go your way and everybody just kind of feels it and they don't respond positively?
ERMON LANE: I can't say that, because on the sideline everybody tries to keep everybody positive. So when people make plays, we just try to stay positive and go to the next play.
Q. What's the mood like in the locker room right now?
ERMON LANE: After a loss like this, you know it's going to be down. But we've just got to come back tomorrow, link up, and just work on next week.
Q. Do you think the team is still buying in? Everybody's still working hard?
ERMON LANE: We'll see. Only time will tell if a team buys in. But like practice has been going, I feel like we've bought in, but we just, the little things.
Q. Do you think last week's loss kind of carried over into this week?
ERMON LANE: No, that was a whole different attitude of practice. Like we don't even -- after one game, we just go to the next game. We don't worry about the next game. We don't worry about the last game.
Q. Do you think the pre-season hype has affected the team mentally as far as you guys were expected to be so good, and then you've had five losses? Are you expecting like -- are you thinking you should be better? Is that affecting the way you guys play?
ERMON LANE: No, we don't even think about preseason. We don't want to think about the preseason poll and all of that stuff like that? It's just like we've just got to finish, that's all. At the end of the day, we've just got to finish it, play hard.
Q. What is your conversation with the coaches about the receiver?
ERMON LANE: Thursday, well, Wednesday.
Q. Was it with Coach Jimbo or Coach Dawsey?
ERMON LANE: Yeah, it was both.
Q. And I guess what did you take going back to your natural position?
ERMON LANE: Well, I knew everything on the offense. I still know everything on offense. (Inaudible) for me, I've just got to do a lot more running. I had to do a lot more running on Wednesday that I've got to get used to. I've got to get the younger guys better, because I know on offense I've got to teach them the playbook.
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JIMBO FISHER: Give B.C. a lot of credit. They lined up biggest in all three phases of the game. They beat us upfront both ways, both offensive and defensive line. They controlled the line of scrimmage. We had opportunities in the first half, didn't match. They hit a nice trick play, moved the ball. We hit one, we get down there and fumble, which I thought was critical in the game on a base hand. Just a hand off that we did the same, not different play, but didn't have that. That was very critical in the game.
The other turnover I thought in the first half, we hit a big play, got back to midfield, just missed a read through the wrong guy, and should hit the outside guy. Those two critical turnovers were very big. Second half were short yardages really hurt. And also, they ran the football. We were able to establish a line of scrimmage, did a good job of pounding it up in there, their backs did a great job of running the football.
We had to do a better job. Gave up a couple third down stops. Even when we had them pinned back, we could have gotten field position back and a chance for points. They made the critical plays in the game that way.
We had the two mistakes in the kicking game. We field a punt too deep, and got pinned on the two which caused the possession. Then ball hit, and should have never fielded it. And turned it over on a punt. All of those three, we had three critical turnovers with the fumble, interception, and the fumble and the point, which all led to points. Missing short yardages in every phase they beat us. Lined up, kicked our tails and outplayed us, outcoached us, and did everything. We've got to do a better job.
Q. What do you say to your team after a loss like this where just nothing went right?
JIMBO FISHER: We've got to quit worrying about what can't happen, and worry about -- okay, you don't throw the ball, you don't do this, we're still worried in my opinion about that, that we're forgetting about the process of how to change it and win the game, go worry about playing well. Can't worry about what can't happen, and what could happen, and what might happen. You've got to change, lineup, and worry about what can happen that you can change and control and move forward.
Q. After the way you guys lost last week, were you concerned?
JIMBO FISHER: No, we had a solid week of practice. On Monday they were a little down. But Tuesday and Wednesday we had the best Wednesday which is like a Thursday we've probably had all year. We had good energy. We executed. Guys were in position and did things well. Boston College kids, we knew they were going to play well. They were going to be excited and come play well. Match their energy. Made a nice trick play. We did too. Down a rate of score, take a sack on first and ten, play action.
If it ain't there, throw it out of the back of the end zone, we're on the five, and just fumble a hand off. We didn't match them. When that happened, it just kept going. We still had another opportunity when we got back to midfield and moved it. They were doing a good job, coming downhill, stacking the box, bringing guys downhill. We knew we had to throw the football a little bit, open up the run, and we had some opportunities and didn't capitalize.
But after the way the guys practiced and went about it, you always worry about it, but they responded well with a good practice. It was not a dead-headed practice week of practice. It was not like that.
Q. Almost seems like when this team goes down, they're not finding a way to come back out?
JIMBO FISHER: Not making the plays. They're fighting. Even on the goal line stand, they're down there to fourth down, it's not that they're not fighting. They're not executing, and that's where we as coaches have to coach better and do better, and get them to understand the plays. You can't make those mistakes. The line is too thin. You can't. And you've got to match that. That's the part of it that we've got to do better.
Q. Three points, what can you do to fix the offensive issues? You guys weren't --
JIMBO FISHER: Not turn it over. We're down there ready for points in the second drive. Got a nice drive. First and five on the five, hard play action. Good time to throw the football. Got to hit it, throw it out of the back of the end zone, that's what we do. And then we have another opportunity. Cross midfield, and we've got to get some field position. We've got to win the field position, and defensively we've got to get some stops and win turnovers and create situations that way. As a team, we've got to do both things. We have to create that.
When James made a couple critical mistakes in a game, he didn't want to, but he did early in a game that hurt us. We've got to coach him through those. What we've got to do, we've got to get the running game when we miss short yardages. They were stacking the run, bring things downhill, playing the run, trying to force us to throw the football. We knew that. Got to do a better job. Designing, calling, everything.
I mean, but you've got to put them in position. When they're in position, they've got to execute. They have to. There is a twofold thing there. We have to execute when we had opportunities early to match and get a good game and move the football.
Because the first half, we had 175 yards of offense. Second half we didn't. We missed short yardage, missed everything. Turned the punt over and we moved the football. We got pinned back once on the two off a bad decision on special teams. But, you know, from that point, we've got to -- when we get down there, we have to put points on the board.
Redshirt Junior Offensive Lineman Alec Eberle
Q. What was the message that Jimbo had for you guys in the locker room after the game?
ALEC EBERLE: I mean, it was a really physical game. Boston College is a heck of a team and they showed up to play. We just didn't play up to our potential and pretty much got outplayed. They just, you know --
Q. Does it seem like when you guys have down moments in games, does it seem like things snowball and you guys maybe get discouraged?
ALEC EBERLE: I don't think so. Our teams always have pretty good confidence. We always tend to bounce back from problems. I think today we just didn't have our game. You know, when you look at a loss, it's more of an I, me thing. What could I have done better as a teammate, as a center, as a captain? You just have to look at it. I don't think I played well enough. I think I should have picked it up and picked my teammates up more, led them out there and done a better job.
Q. Are guys putting too much pressure on some of the big-picture things and not focusing in on the smaller things right now?
ALEC EBERLE: I mean, like the key to our whole season this year is focus on the details, focus on those things. I think it's easy to overlook the little things and the details. We have to do a better job of that. Football is a game of inches, a game of details and little things. We've got to match those inches. Until we do, then things aren't going to go our way. So we've just got to get back to the drawing board and practice and just get ready and really key in and hone in on those little things and details.
Q. What was B.C. doing that was causing you so many issues on defense?
ALEC EBERLE: Nothing. They were a good team. They play hard. They're physical, and they just, they're really well-coached. Hat's off to them, they played a heck of a game tonight. They're hot right now.
Q. Is James, I mean, how is he handling more turnovers in big situations? How is he handling it all?
ALEC EBERLE: With each game James gets more mature and mature. Today is one of those games. The whole time on the sideline he kept saying it ain't over. It ain't over until it's over. Let's go down the field and score, and let's play. Let's do one job at a time. He's got confidence, and that's important as a quarterback, especially being the starting quarterback on a team like our team. I think he's growing up each week and I'm proud of him.
Q. Do you guys need that from other players? Do you need more encouragement, more fight from other players?
ALEC EBERLE: Football's a team game. You could sit here and say that, but at the same time, you shouldn't have to rely -- you should have to rely on each other, but at the same time, if you need someone else to give you juice, then that's not going to work. You need to bring your own juice. You've got to bring your own juice to the party sometimes.
I think we're learning that and we're going to continue to grow as a team, and we've got to keep working and keep practicing.
Q. Do you think there were a lot of guys that weren't bringing the juice? What is the issue?
ALEC EBERLE: Not at all. That's what I'm saying. You can't rely on anyone to bring you the juice. It's football. We love it. The whole team loves this game. It's a team. That's what we do. We're football players. But like I'm saying, you can't rely on someone else to bring that. That's why our team does a good job of bringing it up themselves and they'll continue to do that.
Q. People see the final score and assume that you guys are kind of packing it in. Did you sense that at all from anybody?
ALEC EBERLE: No. I mean, we're never going to lay down. I've been on this team, this is my fourth season. Never once have we quit and never once have we given up. It's not how we practice or how we play. We're going to keep going, keep grinding and keep going until we get our backs off that wall. So I think this team won't lay down. I think we'll keep grinding and play hard.
Q. Are you shocked to where this team is playing right now?
ALEC EBERLE: Yeah, definitely. Starting off the way we did this early in the season, looking at it right now, it's kind of, yeah, it's shocking. But at the same time, you can't reach down and reset. You have to keep pushing and keep grinding and just make the best. Execute one day, one play, one practice, one game at a time. You've got to continue to do that and keep working.
Senior defensive back Ermon Lane
Q. So how do games like tonight make you persevere and get better?
ERMON LANE: Just got to continue to convert, listen to the coaches, and just come out to win.Q. Having one of the best coaches, how does he help you become a better player?
ERMON LANE: He knows everything. He's the coach that knows like offense, defense, special teams. Like the stuff that he tells us to do, it will be right. We've just got to listen and buy in.
Q. Do you think the team's playing not to lose rather than to win?
ERMON LANE: I don't think we're playing not to lose rather than to win. We just need to play as a team on all three phases. Offense, defense, special teams, we've just go to play. We've got a good energy in practice. We've just got to bring that Saturday. We've just got to play.
Q. Why isn't that happening?
ERMON LANE: I don't know. I don't know. I can't even explain it why it's happening. We have good weeks of practice. I don't know.
Q. Do you think it's when sometimes you maybe take a step back or a play doesn't go your way and everybody just kind of feels it and they don't respond positively?
ERMON LANE: I can't say that, because on the sideline everybody tries to keep everybody positive. So when people make plays, we just try to stay positive and go to the next play.
Q. What's the mood like in the locker room right now?
ERMON LANE: After a loss like this, you know it's going to be down. But we've just got to come back tomorrow, link up, and just work on next week.
Q. Do you think the team is still buying in? Everybody's still working hard?
ERMON LANE: We'll see. Only time will tell if a team buys in. But like practice has been going, I feel like we've bought in, but we just, the little things.
Q. Do you think last week's loss kind of carried over into this week?
ERMON LANE: No, that was a whole different attitude of practice. Like we don't even -- after one game, we just go to the next game. We don't worry about the next game. We don't worry about the last game.
Q. Do you think the pre-season hype has affected the team mentally as far as you guys were expected to be so good, and then you've had five losses? Are you expecting like -- are you thinking you should be better? Is that affecting the way you guys play?
ERMON LANE: No, we don't even think about preseason. We don't want to think about the preseason poll and all of that stuff like that? It's just like we've just got to finish, that's all. At the end of the day, we've just got to finish it, play hard.
Q. What is your conversation with the coaches about the receiver?
ERMON LANE: Thursday, well, Wednesday.
Q. Was it with Coach Jimbo or Coach Dawsey?
ERMON LANE: Yeah, it was both.
Q. And I guess what did you take going back to your natural position?
ERMON LANE: Well, I knew everything on the offense. I still know everything on offense. (Inaudible) for me, I've just got to do a lot more running. I had to do a lot more running on Wednesday that I've got to get used to. I've got to get the younger guys better, because I know on offense I've got to teach them the playbook.
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