⚡ CFB Dashboard

Offensive tempo - "We had a lot of production when we went tempo and spread the ball out a little more and got the thing in space."  Identity and confidence - Ability to run the ball, stop the run, cover kicks and play on the perimeter are things that establish identity. "I thought we were better on the perimeter. I was proud of the receivers. I thought they made some plays when their number was called but I thought they blocked so much better." Being able to do that on the perimeter is important to the identity of the football team. "We're making progress but we're nowhere where we need to be." Halftime explosion - "What I did at halftime I should probably start doing at the beginning of the game." Key feels that explosion needs to happen in the pregame to get them going. Going for it on fourth down - That has been the plan. "That's who we are as a football team and that's who I am as leader and the head coach." Key wants to take advantage of having four downs to get a first down. "You've got to be smart. You can't be backed up in minus territory. We plan that out and what we are going to do on fourth." Those decisions are made in advance, but they are also predicated on how the offense has been doing on recent plays. "That's the mentality and we want to carry it with us all the time."   Linebacker rotation and the two freshmen - 'I saw turnovers and an interception. Both of the turnovers were true freshmen coming up and making plays (Speakman and Gamble}. You play the young guys to let them make mistakes and let them learn from their failures. "I was pleased with the young guys." Early in the game they were moving the front too much causing the backers to misfit. "You can't play good defense if you don't set edges and play downhill with your backers." Only had one call when the freshmen were in the game. "There's something to it, right?  Offensive line play - "We had a lot of new faces in there. Line was down three starters. "There were times I thought we should have sustained longer and taken some better angles. All in all, it was a productive day on offense. We have a lot of work to do, and we got a lot of work in this week." Floyd and Reed got their first starts and Samuel went in for the injured Ionata. "We got to get guys healthy, and we've got to get them back."    Special teams kicking extra points - "After the first game we changed probably four guys. We have some issues with the tight end" That was the first thing he planned to watch when he got home. "We got to get back to the basics. We got to retool this thing We have to have a hard reset." It's a determent when they can't take advantage of having one of the best kickers in the country. "There will be a strong overhaul." How do they decide when to put in the backup quarterback - "When you have young guys, the best reps are game reps." Weinke told Key that if they pulled Berto too early he was going to punch them in the face. "You want those guys being able to execute. It's not a black and white answer." It's about the backup being able to go out and execute. "It's a very thin line that you have to tread with." It's a gut feel and also how many reps they think the quarterbacks need. If the starter had a few years starting it would have been different story. Jaiven Plummer - "He had a good catch." They are looking to get him involved in what they do. Starters are playing more to develop a chemistry with Mendoza. Key is looking for him to continue to grow and be sure-handed. Tre Maddox - He was the first captain named this year. "I think people are seeing why now. He's a tremendous value to this football team" Tre is playing running back, fullback, receiver, tight end and special teams. "Great kid, role model and example."