Opening statement
“This week is our solute to service -- the men and woman that pay the price for our freedom and we are wearing a uniform to honor them. I tell our players, it’s not about the uniform, it’s about recognizing the sacrifices that they make so we can live in this country and have the freedoms that we have because freedom is definitely not free. It is our great honor to do that this week.”
On Kalen Ballage injury status
“He has a virus, so he is doing better.”
On impact of not having (Kalen) Ballage in the lineup
“Going back and looking at the film, I make one comment; we got their very best game. They played extremely well. It didn’t help us not having him (Kalen Ballage) and not having Renell (Wren). Those things hurt, but basically, they played their very best game and it’s the best personnel we have played against on that night. They got some guys back; (Josh) Fatu, the nose tackle was big for them, he played really well. Porter Gustin helped to get him back. They played absolutely the best that I have seen them play and you have to give them credit. When you look at the film, that’s what really stuck out to me. And obliviously we did not play our best.”
On the limitations of the offense
“We had some chunk yards and some plays, our whole deal was getting behind in the first half. We just weren’t able to make any first downs and you have to give them a lot of credit on how they played and what they did. We weren’t able to run the football and they were, and that was the difference of the game.”
On the physical aspect of the game
“When I went back and looked at the film, my perceptions that night was ‘Golly we didn’t play very good’ and we didn’t, but they really played well. That was by far their best game. I think their skill players are very talented. We have not played a team more talented than them that played at the level they played. I think it is the best team we have played. I can only go by when we play each team. You have to give them credit, they were really outstanding and on the same hand, we were not. We did not play our best game and to play in those games, you have to play your best game. I did think at halftime when we came back out and scored and made it a fourteen-point game, I thought we had a good chance to make a run coming back. You just can’t give that many big plays. There were five that were huge; two big-play run touchdowns and three big-play passes. One of the passes, was a quick out -- we just don’t tackle the guy. We haven’t done that, it has a lot to do with them, as well, we didn’t execute on that play. Then they burn us deep on one play, where it was an error, but it was a slight error. Dasmond (Tautalatasi) just paused and it was just enough for him to get by him. On the third touchdown pass, it looked like we should have intercepted it and he (Sam Darnold) made a pretty fantastic throw. I thought their quarterback played flawless -- you have to get that guy off balance and get some things going for you. The deal was, the two big runs and chunk yardage they would get off run plays. They just were better than us Saturday and we didn’t play well.”
On the frustration of the number of penalties
“I think we have only had three times since I have been here, we had nine or more penalties and that was one of them. That’s all I have to say about that.”
On (Tashon) Smallwood’s penalty at the beginning of the game
“I can’t really say what I think about some of that. Our guys are pretty disciplined when it comes to that and I have been here almost six years, and we have had three times that happened. That’s a part of the game. It’s the way the game works. You can’t worry about things you can’t control. That’s not why we lost the football game -- they outplayed us. That’s why we lost. We are on to the next week.”
On the feeling about the team coming into November
“I feel good about our football team. Were the same team that beat two top-25 teams and one top-five team. We have great character on our team. I think we’re pretty healthy for this time of year, even though we have lost three starters earlier in the year. You have to be healthy going into November, you got to have the right frame of mind and you have to bring it every week. I feel good about our team and where we’re at. We are playing a very good Colorado team that is coming off probably their best game. They are very talented offensively -- big-play capabilities at running back. They’re going to have a really fast tempo. That’s really a challenge. We have a big challenge ahead of us each week. You have to go out each week and play your best game in the Pac-12. It doesn’t matter if its September, October, November, it doesn’t matter. When you are playing Pac-12 games you have to come out and play every week. You have to be at your best because you are going to have teams for whatever reason, they come out, and give their best game so you have to be at your best. It was a tough loss for us, but I think we learned some things and our guys had a great film session. We’re going to have a great practice and we're going to go to work. We have to control the things that are right in front of us. The only thing we can worry about is Colorado. I feel good about the character on our team, and the discipline we have. We just have to push the restart and go to the next week.”
On John Humprey’s injury situation
“Injury got him way behind and then we tried to get him a look at the defense and I think that was too much to do coming off the injury. Then, he’s slowly getting more reps getting back in, but he’s in the rotation.”
On how to determine who carries the flag
“I think Coach (Tim) Cassidy does that. We obviously have one for the state of Arizona. It is always carried by one of our players who are from this state. Then, we have an American flag that we carry. That is carried by different people, such as family in the military that request to do it. It’s just something that we do.”
On Renell Wren's injury update
“I think Renell (Wren) will play. I don’t think we have anybody that won’t play. I think one of the things that was tough last week was not having A.J. (McCollum). I think that was a major factor in the game and I think losing Dasmond (Tautalatasi) was a tough deal too."
On expectation of Colorado
“I think they’re (Colorado) every bit as good offensively. I think the quarterback is very similar. They’re very well coached. There’s not anybody else in this league that I have more respect for than Coach (Mike) MacIntyre. I think he’s done a tremendous job. He’s going to have his guys ready. His guys will play inspired. I think they’re very fast. They’ve had games when they’ve been wide open they’ve just missed -- the timing was off just a little bit. People that have beat them have had to score to beat them. Obviously, they graduated quite a few guys off their defense, especially their front, but they’re still playing extremely hard and a really good football team. Three of the past four teams they’ve lost to in the conference: Washington State, Arizona, and Washington are 19-5. So, they’ve lost to some good people and I think they came off their best game this last week. They’re playing well and they’re pretty healthy as a team. I think the strength of their team last year is defense and the strength of their team this year is their offense. There solid everywhere else and they’re really well coached.”
On Evan Fields play
“He’s just learning. He’s going to be a phenomenal player. He’s really gifted. Obviously, he got a taste of how fast it is and his eyes were pretty big. He’s just a tremendous kid. When he first got in there, he tried to knock people down and you’re not going to knock many people down at this level. He’s just got to be a sure tackler, then the motions, shifts, communication and how rapid that works to change the complexity of what we do defensively. As he learns to make the calls and being the quarterback, he’s going to be a great player for us, no doubt about it. How much he plays and his role is just predicated on how fast he learns."
On Christian Sam’s progression
“Christian’s (Sam) played outstanding as well as D.J. (Calhoun). I thought they both played really well. I think both Christian and D.J. have had their best season as well as J’Marcus Rhodes. I think J’Marcus Rhodes has played really well. We got hurt on both big runs. We should have got the guy down. We were out of our gap in front in one position and they attacked that same spot quite a bit and that was smart of them because they knew we had a guy that was out and they attacked that certain area, but we have to tackle. We had opportunities on both of those one touchdown runs to tackle, and we’ve done that. We haven’t missed tackles like that. You have to give them credit too because the times when we haven’t tackled had been against two really elite running backs and you have to give them credit."
“This week is our solute to service -- the men and woman that pay the price for our freedom and we are wearing a uniform to honor them. I tell our players, it’s not about the uniform, it’s about recognizing the sacrifices that they make so we can live in this country and have the freedoms that we have because freedom is definitely not free. It is our great honor to do that this week.”
On Kalen Ballage injury status
“He has a virus, so he is doing better.”
On impact of not having (Kalen) Ballage in the lineup
“Going back and looking at the film, I make one comment; we got their very best game. They played extremely well. It didn’t help us not having him (Kalen Ballage) and not having Renell (Wren). Those things hurt, but basically, they played their very best game and it’s the best personnel we have played against on that night. They got some guys back; (Josh) Fatu, the nose tackle was big for them, he played really well. Porter Gustin helped to get him back. They played absolutely the best that I have seen them play and you have to give them credit. When you look at the film, that’s what really stuck out to me. And obliviously we did not play our best.”
On the limitations of the offense
“We had some chunk yards and some plays, our whole deal was getting behind in the first half. We just weren’t able to make any first downs and you have to give them a lot of credit on how they played and what they did. We weren’t able to run the football and they were, and that was the difference of the game.”
On the physical aspect of the game
“When I went back and looked at the film, my perceptions that night was ‘Golly we didn’t play very good’ and we didn’t, but they really played well. That was by far their best game. I think their skill players are very talented. We have not played a team more talented than them that played at the level they played. I think it is the best team we have played. I can only go by when we play each team. You have to give them credit, they were really outstanding and on the same hand, we were not. We did not play our best game and to play in those games, you have to play your best game. I did think at halftime when we came back out and scored and made it a fourteen-point game, I thought we had a good chance to make a run coming back. You just can’t give that many big plays. There were five that were huge; two big-play run touchdowns and three big-play passes. One of the passes, was a quick out -- we just don’t tackle the guy. We haven’t done that, it has a lot to do with them, as well, we didn’t execute on that play. Then they burn us deep on one play, where it was an error, but it was a slight error. Dasmond (Tautalatasi) just paused and it was just enough for him to get by him. On the third touchdown pass, it looked like we should have intercepted it and he (Sam Darnold) made a pretty fantastic throw. I thought their quarterback played flawless -- you have to get that guy off balance and get some things going for you. The deal was, the two big runs and chunk yardage they would get off run plays. They just were better than us Saturday and we didn’t play well.”
On the frustration of the number of penalties
“I think we have only had three times since I have been here, we had nine or more penalties and that was one of them. That’s all I have to say about that.”
On (Tashon) Smallwood’s penalty at the beginning of the game
“I can’t really say what I think about some of that. Our guys are pretty disciplined when it comes to that and I have been here almost six years, and we have had three times that happened. That’s a part of the game. It’s the way the game works. You can’t worry about things you can’t control. That’s not why we lost the football game -- they outplayed us. That’s why we lost. We are on to the next week.”
On the feeling about the team coming into November
“I feel good about our football team. Were the same team that beat two top-25 teams and one top-five team. We have great character on our team. I think we’re pretty healthy for this time of year, even though we have lost three starters earlier in the year. You have to be healthy going into November, you got to have the right frame of mind and you have to bring it every week. I feel good about our team and where we’re at. We are playing a very good Colorado team that is coming off probably their best game. They are very talented offensively -- big-play capabilities at running back. They’re going to have a really fast tempo. That’s really a challenge. We have a big challenge ahead of us each week. You have to go out each week and play your best game in the Pac-12. It doesn’t matter if its September, October, November, it doesn’t matter. When you are playing Pac-12 games you have to come out and play every week. You have to be at your best because you are going to have teams for whatever reason, they come out, and give their best game so you have to be at your best. It was a tough loss for us, but I think we learned some things and our guys had a great film session. We’re going to have a great practice and we're going to go to work. We have to control the things that are right in front of us. The only thing we can worry about is Colorado. I feel good about the character on our team, and the discipline we have. We just have to push the restart and go to the next week.”
On John Humprey’s injury situation
“Injury got him way behind and then we tried to get him a look at the defense and I think that was too much to do coming off the injury. Then, he’s slowly getting more reps getting back in, but he’s in the rotation.”
On how to determine who carries the flag
“I think Coach (Tim) Cassidy does that. We obviously have one for the state of Arizona. It is always carried by one of our players who are from this state. Then, we have an American flag that we carry. That is carried by different people, such as family in the military that request to do it. It’s just something that we do.”
On Renell Wren's injury update
“I think Renell (Wren) will play. I don’t think we have anybody that won’t play. I think one of the things that was tough last week was not having A.J. (McCollum). I think that was a major factor in the game and I think losing Dasmond (Tautalatasi) was a tough deal too."
On expectation of Colorado
“I think they’re (Colorado) every bit as good offensively. I think the quarterback is very similar. They’re very well coached. There’s not anybody else in this league that I have more respect for than Coach (Mike) MacIntyre. I think he’s done a tremendous job. He’s going to have his guys ready. His guys will play inspired. I think they’re very fast. They’ve had games when they’ve been wide open they’ve just missed -- the timing was off just a little bit. People that have beat them have had to score to beat them. Obviously, they graduated quite a few guys off their defense, especially their front, but they’re still playing extremely hard and a really good football team. Three of the past four teams they’ve lost to in the conference: Washington State, Arizona, and Washington are 19-5. So, they’ve lost to some good people and I think they came off their best game this last week. They’re playing well and they’re pretty healthy as a team. I think the strength of their team last year is defense and the strength of their team this year is their offense. There solid everywhere else and they’re really well coached.”
On Evan Fields play
“He’s just learning. He’s going to be a phenomenal player. He’s really gifted. Obviously, he got a taste of how fast it is and his eyes were pretty big. He’s just a tremendous kid. When he first got in there, he tried to knock people down and you’re not going to knock many people down at this level. He’s just got to be a sure tackler, then the motions, shifts, communication and how rapid that works to change the complexity of what we do defensively. As he learns to make the calls and being the quarterback, he’s going to be a great player for us, no doubt about it. How much he plays and his role is just predicated on how fast he learns."
On Christian Sam’s progression
“Christian’s (Sam) played outstanding as well as D.J. (Calhoun). I thought they both played really well. I think both Christian and D.J. have had their best season as well as J’Marcus Rhodes. I think J’Marcus Rhodes has played really well. We got hurt on both big runs. We should have got the guy down. We were out of our gap in front in one position and they attacked that same spot quite a bit and that was smart of them because they knew we had a guy that was out and they attacked that certain area, but we have to tackle. We had opportunities on both of those one touchdown runs to tackle, and we’ve done that. We haven’t missed tackles like that. You have to give them credit too because the times when we haven’t tackled had been against two really elite running backs and you have to give them credit."