Texas A&M Football
Dustin Harris talks Baylor, Iowa State & mohawk with Jordan K
Jordan Kirkland: Can you evaluate your defensive performance as well as the secondary as a whole this past week against a top 10 Offense in Baylor?
Dustin Harris: “Give all the credit to Baylor; they’re a tough team. Robert Griffin III is a good quarterback. The secondary as a whole played good, but we still have a lot of mistakes that were happening on the field that need to be fixed before this next game. As a defense as a whole, we played good. The offense really stepped up and played good which allowed the defense to play well and with fanatical effort.”
JK: Describe what you felt when you caught the interception in the fourth quarter, and how the defense felt after finally getting a takeaway?
Harris: “It was a blessing. We hadn’t had a turnover in three weeks, and to get that turnover during that game, it really set the tone and shut down Baylor’s offense after that. For us to get that turnover and give it back to our offense who went down the field and scored once again. It puts so much excitement in your heart, and we’re starting to play with fanatical effort, and we’re starting to get turnovers. That turnover is going to start a train of turnovers.”
JK: How much confidence does the secondary feel knowing that right now the Texas A&M run defense is ranked #5 in the nation? Does it take a little bit of the pressure off of you guys?
Harris: "It takes a lot of pressure off of our defense. Our defensive line is amazing. That is one of the reasons why we are 5 in the country in run stop defense. Our front line is amazing. They are getting to the ball, wrapping up and getting the ball carrier on the ground. Our pass rush defense of Sean Porter, Jonathan Stewart, and Steven Jenkins are putting tremendous pressure on the quarterback. During the Baylor Game, that pressure is what allowed me to get the interception. As a defense, we are stepping it up. We still have a lot of things to fix, but we are starting to get back the fanatical effort and Wrecking Crew defense.”
JK: Now that you are halfway through the regular season, what are a few goals the defense has for the second half?
Harris: “We’re still trying to get to that number one spot in the defense, run and passing. We’re top in the country in takeovers. It’s going to take some work, nobody ever plays a perfect game, and we realize that now. What we show in practice film is what we need to show in the game. We have to fix that. We have to fix the problems that we have and play with fanatical effort to achieve all of our goals.”
JK: There was a lot of talk this past week around the university about the upcoming match with Baylor. What was it like to capture such a great win? What was the locker room atmosphere like afterwards?
Harris: "It was a relief. All this talk about Baylor not allowing us to go to the SEC. Yes, they have their rights, but it also wasn’t fair to us. We were out to prove a point, and we did. Everybody said we needed to go out and play our game, play how we know how to play and finish the game off. Have a good style and finish the game off with the win. When we got in the locker room, it was an amazing feeling., just like it always is after a win. Throwing Gatorades on Coach Sherman is so much fun. Being with the team after a big win brings that feeling of we can do this every week. That’s what our goal is, to win every week.”
JK: You are going out of the state for the first time this season to play Iowa State. Is it nerve-wracking to play out of state, and what advice are you giving to the younger guys such as Howard Matthews when it comes to handling the atmosphere and diversity surrounding an out of state Big 12 opponent?
Harris: “I’m always nervous when we leave out of state because you never know what to expect. With these young guys, you just have to be there for them, and tell them it’s just like every other game. Yes, the temperature changes, it gets cold. But you just have to tell them to step up. This is what you’re here to do, you’re playing as a freshman, and you’re getting your opportunity right now. Just like I did my freshman year, you just have to step up. You just need to let them know that you’re there for them, right there behind them, in front of them, and even beside them every step of the way. Tell them to play with their hearts, and as fast and as physical as they have been playing all year.”
The blonde hohawk story… you’re just going to have to listen to it to understand!
Dustin Harris: “Give all the credit to Baylor; they’re a tough team. Robert Griffin III is a good quarterback. The secondary as a whole played good, but we still have a lot of mistakes that were happening on the field that need to be fixed before this next game. As a defense as a whole, we played good. The offense really stepped up and played good which allowed the defense to play well and with fanatical effort.”
JK: Describe what you felt when you caught the interception in the fourth quarter, and how the defense felt after finally getting a takeaway?
Harris: “It was a blessing. We hadn’t had a turnover in three weeks, and to get that turnover during that game, it really set the tone and shut down Baylor’s offense after that. For us to get that turnover and give it back to our offense who went down the field and scored once again. It puts so much excitement in your heart, and we’re starting to play with fanatical effort, and we’re starting to get turnovers. That turnover is going to start a train of turnovers.”
JK: How much confidence does the secondary feel knowing that right now the Texas A&M run defense is ranked #5 in the nation? Does it take a little bit of the pressure off of you guys?
Harris: "It takes a lot of pressure off of our defense. Our defensive line is amazing. That is one of the reasons why we are 5 in the country in run stop defense. Our front line is amazing. They are getting to the ball, wrapping up and getting the ball carrier on the ground. Our pass rush defense of Sean Porter, Jonathan Stewart, and Steven Jenkins are putting tremendous pressure on the quarterback. During the Baylor Game, that pressure is what allowed me to get the interception. As a defense, we are stepping it up. We still have a lot of things to fix, but we are starting to get back the fanatical effort and Wrecking Crew defense.”
JK: Now that you are halfway through the regular season, what are a few goals the defense has for the second half?
Harris: “We’re still trying to get to that number one spot in the defense, run and passing. We’re top in the country in takeovers. It’s going to take some work, nobody ever plays a perfect game, and we realize that now. What we show in practice film is what we need to show in the game. We have to fix that. We have to fix the problems that we have and play with fanatical effort to achieve all of our goals.”
JK: There was a lot of talk this past week around the university about the upcoming match with Baylor. What was it like to capture such a great win? What was the locker room atmosphere like afterwards?
Harris: "It was a relief. All this talk about Baylor not allowing us to go to the SEC. Yes, they have their rights, but it also wasn’t fair to us. We were out to prove a point, and we did. Everybody said we needed to go out and play our game, play how we know how to play and finish the game off. Have a good style and finish the game off with the win. When we got in the locker room, it was an amazing feeling., just like it always is after a win. Throwing Gatorades on Coach Sherman is so much fun. Being with the team after a big win brings that feeling of we can do this every week. That’s what our goal is, to win every week.”
JK: You are going out of the state for the first time this season to play Iowa State. Is it nerve-wracking to play out of state, and what advice are you giving to the younger guys such as Howard Matthews when it comes to handling the atmosphere and diversity surrounding an out of state Big 12 opponent?
Harris: “I’m always nervous when we leave out of state because you never know what to expect. With these young guys, you just have to be there for them, and tell them it’s just like every other game. Yes, the temperature changes, it gets cold. But you just have to tell them to step up. This is what you’re here to do, you’re playing as a freshman, and you’re getting your opportunity right now. Just like I did my freshman year, you just have to step up. You just need to let them know that you’re there for them, right there behind them, in front of them, and even beside them every step of the way. Tell them to play with their hearts, and as fast and as physical as they have been playing all year.”
The blonde hohawk story… you’re just going to have to listen to it to understand!
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