COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Postgame quotes following Maryland's 37-15 loss to No. 12 Michigan State.
Maryland Head Coach Randy Edsall
Opening Statement:
"I thought we had some opportunities tonight to put ourselves in a position to get a win, but we didn't take advantage of the opportunities we had. Going into the game the one thing we talked about was that we knew we couldn't turn the ball over. We turned the ball over four times, [one] time in the kicking game and [three] times on the offense. You can't do that against a top-15 team and expect to win. We also knew that we couldn't give up the big play defensively and we did that a couple times tonight. We knew we had to take advantage of the opportunities we were going to have offensively and we just didn't get that done tonight. We'll take a look at the film tomorrow with the guys and show them the things they did right and show them the things that they did wrong and work to get better. That's all basically what we can do."
On assessing the team's performance:
"We had a 9-7 ball game with less than two minutes to go in the first half. We are playing really solid defensively and then we give up the big play. We missed the tackle on 1-on-1 and they go down and make it 16-7. I thought we could have gone into halftime at 9-7 or get a field goal and go up 10-9, but we weren't able. Now we go in 16-7 and come back out in the second half and can't get anything going. It's still a 16-7 game and we have the chance to go make some plays and we didn't offensively. Again, there were opportunities there. On some of the other games that we've had, we didn't have those opportunities. It's 16-7 until late in the third quarter, and then we throw a pick-six, when we have a guy in the flat that we should have thrown the ball to. That's the thing that's frustrating about it. It's disappointing. To know that we had opportunities if we executed and did the things that were there for us to take, then we could have put ourselves into a better position to win. That's what's different and that's what's frustrating. Those are the things that I talked to the team about and those are the things we have to do, take advantage those opportunities. If you do that, then you can beat a team like Michigan State."
On Michigan State's defense:
"They beat us up front. We knew it was going to be tough to run. That's the thing they predicate their defense on, put a lot of guys in the box and do that. We didn't do a good enough job getting guys off the ball. We talked about going into the game that we wanted to run the ball efficiently. We knew it was going to be tough to run it and we knew that we were going to have to get some plays in the passing game. They got us physically up front."
On what he saw on C.J. Brown’s pick-six:
“He just made a poor decision. The defender stayed inside and the throw should have gone outside to Amba [Etta-Tawo] on the swing route. He had him and he made a poor decision; he made a poor throw and that’s what I tried to tell him. You can’t predetermine things, you have to read when you get the ball, read it and throw accordingly. He did and again that hurt us in that situation.”
On the defense’s performance:
“It’s always hard to single out anything when you lose. I thought we competed, I wasn’t happy with how the game ended there, but again, I thought defensively we played aggressively, we did a good job, guys executed, and basically did their job. There were a couple times we didn’t, but overall, they were running around and they executed except for one third down play that went for 50 yards there early where we held them to a field goal and then the 62-yard pass play. Again, it’s just a matter of guys executing and then the plays that we didn’t, when they got the big plays, we didn’t execute as well as we needed to.”
On the play of the wide receiver Daniel Adams and the other young wide receivers:
“Again in terms of taking a look, Stefon was suspended so we had to work in another guy at that position inside where he was playing. We just saw some things during practice and we just thought [Adams] would be a guy that could go in and do some things for us and he did. C.J. [Brown] made a nice read on that play and got the ball to the right guy and again when you do those things that’s what happens. I thought Daniel did a good job while he was in there, we’ll have to watch the film to see how he graded overall but I thought Juwann Winfree played well. He goes in and gets after the ball and again he executed the things he was supposed to execute and that’s the thing that’s frustrating, that’s the thing that’s challenging as a coach. When you see guys do it right a number of times but then when you see them do things and you just sit there and shake your head and say ‘Where did that come from?’. That is the thing that’s frustrating as a coach and those are the things you’re working on each and every day to try to get them to do it the right way all the time. When you see them make the right reads, you see them make the right throws, you see them do the right things and sometimes you just scratch your head and say ‘How did he do that?’ and those are the things you figure out as a coach and you get the guys and you make them better; that’s what we have to continue to work on each and every day.”
Maryland Players
Quarterback C.J. Brown
On Michigan State’s defense:
“We knew coming in we were going to have to throw the football. The way we started off and I threw that pick, but we were able to bounce back. But that last one for the pick-six, that one really hurt. I can’t make that read. I can’t make that decision and can’t put our defense that situation. We were playing good, we were in the game, we needed to come back and get a drive together and we weren’t able to do it.”
On the interception return for a touchdown:
“I threw it to the wrong guy. I misread the coverage and I should have threw it to the flat, not the slant.”
On the touchdown throws:
“We felt momentum coming in. We were driving down the field pretty good, moving the ball, had the momentum. We had the fake screen to Daniel [Adams] down the middle for a nice pace. And then at the end, the fade route outside to Juwann [Winfree]. We were able to put some drives together, but unfortunately not enough.”
On the feeling of the team on the sideline throughout the game:
“It was positive. We felt good going into halftime, we were only down a score and a half. We needed to come out. We knew we were going to have the opportunity to come out in the second half and drive down the field on the first drive and it didn’t happen. We wanted to cut it down. Defense was doing a heck of a job. Offense has got to step it up, myself included. I got to play better.”
On Michigan State’s ability to stop the run:
“That’s just their personnel. That’s just the way they play. Bringing the guys in the box and we knew that going in. That’s just the defense they play, man-to-man outside so they can bring numbers in the box so they’re tough to run against.”
On Maryland’s defense being on the field a lot:
“It’s very frustrating. Especially being on the other side of the ball when you’re trying your best to stay on the field. With the three-and-outs we had the turnovers. They were doing a great job when they were on there. Unfortunately it happens, but for the first three quarters, three and a half quarters, they kept us in the game. Offense, myself, really hurt us and we got to pick it up.”
On the emotion of the game with his family:
“I wasn’t really thinking about it. It was just another game. It wasn’t that big of a deal for me. I was just coming out here trying to do my best to get a win and unfortunately that didn’t happen.”
On a missed opportunity to beat a ranked team:
“Yeah, absolutely. Like I said, defense did a heck of a job. Offensively, we got to hold ourselves accountable and we didn’t step up to the challenge today. I feel like the last couple weeks it’s been like that. That’s not how we feel we can produce and we have to fix it.”
On not having Stefon Diggs available:
“He’s a big part of us. But at the same time, he’s one player. Guys stepped up today and filled that role. I don’t think it was a deciding factor at all. We were in the game. We were making plays and we needed more.”
Linebacker Matt Robinson
On not being able to break through:
“We just felt like as a defense we needed to make a big play. We were holding them to field goals at the beginning, but we could never get off on third downs and that’s why they were in the red zone. We couldn’t come up with enough third-down stops.”
On pressing to make big plays:
“Everybody still wants to use good techniques and do their job, but you just want to make a big play. If everyone is thinking that then you have more guys flying around and the sense of urgency is definitely there.”
On feelings about heading towards the end of the season:
“This is the first game I’ve made it all the way through since South Florida so I feel blessed for that. It’s been a bumpy year for me, but I am just enjoying it.”
Running Back Jacquille Veii:
On getting his first start at receiver:
“I felt comfortable in the beginning. I played a little bit tense. It was my first start so I expected that. I just had to get in there and settle down.”
On Maryland’s offense:
“At the end of the day, it comes down to who’s going to execute the best. The defense was battling all day and the offense just couldn’t execute to the best of our ability. Coach [Mike] Locksley drew up a great game plan, but we just couldn’t execute.”
On Maryland’s defense:
“I’m happy for the defense. When they play like that, it excites me and makes me want to work even harder because I know that they’re busting their butts to get the offense the ball.”
Michigan State Head Coach Mike Dantonio
Thoughts on first half performance:
“I was pleased we were winning, I was not pleased with the performance in terms of production. The message to the team was just, ‘hey, let’s go.’ We were our own worst enemy, too many penalties, different things were going on out there. We couldn’t get the ball in the end zone so we had to kick three field goals.”
Thoughts on fan support:
“I think our fans are excited because we had a great showing out here tonight. I told our football team that we were going east and when we go east, every Spartan on the east coast is going to be there, and they were. We have a great following, we have great fans that are passionate.”
On Michael Geiger’s confidence:
“I think his kicks tonight were great for his confidence. Obviously, we would have liked to see him make the 47-yarder but it’s great to see him kick three in a row. He’s a very sure minded guy, he’s got a lot of confidence in himself. He’s just got to keep kicking. He was 15-for-16 last year, so it’ll come.”
On Connor Cook’s touchdown pass streak:
“Great streak. I think we look at records and say that it’s the best ever, but the bottom line is, what did you do today. We probably didn’t throw the ball as successfully as we have in the past. The bottom line for today was that we were able to run the football effectively, bust some big runs in the fourth quarter, and secure the football game. You never know who is going to play well.”
On Damon Knox’s return:
“What you have to remember about Damon Knox is that he didn’t play football for seven months. He thinks he’s ready, but the strength that he had as a football player and athletic ability as a football player, he didn’t use for seven months. You aren’t going to get that back like that just because you start playing at one week. It takes months to get that back but he’s a good football player that is all in. I think he played quite a bit tonight.”
Thoughts about playing in Maryland’s stadium:
“I think it was unique and a great environment. It gave an opportunity for Spartans across the east coast to come to a football game. I think it was a great crowd. This is Maryland’s first year in the Big Ten and it’s only going to get even more exciting as these rivalries begin to take shape.”
On wide receiving production:
“We are deep at the wide receiver position. You saw Keith Mumphrey and Tony Lippett making plays, Macgarrett Kings Jr. had a good game as well as. All those guys came up with some big plays and big catches.”
Michigan State Players
Quarterback Connor Cook
On whether Maryland did anything defensively that they were not expecting:
“Not at all, I think we just didn’t execute. It’s just that simple.”
On whether the conditions affected him at all today:
“Not at all, there was really no wind and no rain, it was just a little cold.”
On the team’s intensity for this game:
“Everybody was pretty into it, pretty hyped. In warm ups everyone was good. I think the guys on the sideline were pretty hyped and brought good energy.”
On if he felt that Maryland’s defense started to wear down:
“I think a little bit. You saw us keep getting more yards on each carry. That was our goal and that’s what we wanted to do in a situation like that and just burn up some clock.”
Offensive Lineman Jack Conklin
On how they were able to start scoring touchdowns in the second half:
“We just needed to finish when we got in the red zone. We didn’t get the running game going as quickly as we needed to. We were able to finish strong but we’ve got to come out hard. We rebounded, got after it, and finished strong.”
On the offense wearing down Maryland’s defense:
“They were really good up front, but we were playing hard football and I think they got a little tired and we started executing a lot better than we did in the first half.”
On if the Ohio State game played a part in the slow start:
“Definitely. We were not executing the way we have been and that’s completely on us. The defense played great and we should’ve scored touchdowns rather than field goals.”
Defensive Back Trae Waynes
On the adjustments they made this week:
"I mean, we just played our defense. We moved me to the boundary, but other than that, we just played our normal defense.”
On them feeling like they needed to make a statement after losing to Ohio State last week:
“Yeah. We knew how we were going to play and we just wanted to get out there and get a win.”
On the team’s moral after the victory:
“We were over that game [against Ohio State] Sunday after meetings. The excitement was probably hard to see from the stands, but on the field, we definitely showed it.”
Defensive Back RJ Williamson
On getting off the field on third down:
“As long as we are not on the field that’s a good thing. Three-and-outs are always a plus. We harp on that and we did a good job today.”
On some of the mistakes made in the secondary today:
“There are some minor things that we could have done better. I mean, I gave up one on that first touchdown. I need to just make plays and focus in on my guy. We need to do a better job at that. There’ are always things we can work on, but for the most part, I thought we played a pretty good game.”
