A&M defensive tackles coach David Turner recaps Arkansas game

Key quotes from David Turner interview

“I think it was very important to continue to grow and the maturation of this team. One thing that these guys have been able to do, is take each week as a separate deal and try to get better. Coach Sumlin has done a great job with the message of just getting better each week.  We are about the things that we can control.”

“It was fun to watch the guys play Saturday. They did really well. It was a great environment. Obviously the 12th Man did a great job making it a home field advantage for us. It was a really good job of the guys just playing hard and going out there and doing what we do.”

“We were laughing as a defensive staff. You might go a whole year or two and have six goal line plays. We ran maybe a total of ten, and that’s about two years worth in one day. With today’s offenses very seldom do you get in the goal line situation where they change personnel. We got down there and the guys did a great job of getting their feet in the ground and holding leverage, and not surrendering the touchdown. It was fun to watch and a great and a momentum for us.”

“I’m very proud. I told them after the game in the locker room that I was proud of how they played. The thing with us and with my group I tell them each week as long as you play hard and go out there and give everything you have for each other, I can live with the results.  Nine times out of ten you go out there and do what we did, play hard and through some adversity you come out on the right side of the win-loss column.”

“Obviously I was proud but it’s one week and one game. We have to continue to get better each week. There are a lot of things we didn’t do well in this game, but the fight was there and that is what’s most critical right now.”

“It was definitely a part of the message. Each week on the days off you look at facing from different stuff. The spread, the power game, two back, and one back so it was definitely a part of the message. I don’t think it was something we had to preach a whole lot. They watch film and look at people and study. They know what Arkansas is and what they pride themselves on.”

“The big thing with us is we just had to match the physicality and brute strength. That is what we were able to do Saturday. It was a team effort. It was my guys and the ends and it was the linebackers and defensive backs. It was truly a group effort out there. That’s what we’re trying to get to on a consistent basis. Hopefully Saturday was a step in the right direction.”

“It changes the game. You have an extensive quarterback as well as the run game. A guy like Dobbs who obviously can throw the ball as well, changes the game. As far as the things you can do and some of the calls you can make, and probably more so in the passing game as much as the run game. Now you have a quarterback, if he tucks the ball he can make plays with his legs and extend plays. It really puts a lot on the front and the guys who are rushing.”

“That’s today’s game. When you have a versatile guy that can show so many different dimensions to the offense. There are so many more things the defense has to defend.”

“That’s exactly what he (Armani Watts) is. He’s a guy that doesn’t say a whole lot. He shows up and he’s a hard working guy. He shows up everyday and he works and works on his craft and gets better. He truly enjoys playing on Saturday’s. It’s fun being around him. I think he rubs off on our guys in a positive way. I’m definitely glad to have him on my team.”

“Obviously it says a lot about him (Austin Allen) and his character. The toughness of him and his brother last year, he’s a coaches son. I think that has a lot to do with it. He was raised in a football family and that’s what he knows. I obviously have a lot of respect for him. He took a beating and kept getting up. It’s a physical game and he kept getting up, and it’s a tribute to him.”

“Part of it was he couldn’t let his team down. Those guys were depending on him. When he gets in there he can cause some problems. We gave him time to throw it and he made some great throws. He made all the throws across the field. He’s really a good quarterback.  It didn’t shock me the way we got to him. Sometimes that’s as good as a sack. Sometimes you can make a guy lose a little confidence in his protection and all those things. It was good for us to get to him.”

“For us it’s a never ending process. We have to keep getting better fundamentally, and we have to get better pad level, and get better at our hands, and get a whole lot better pass rushing. We have to be able to generate pass rush with four guys. Obviously our ends command a lot of attention and that should open up some things for us. We have to be able to take advantage of that.”

“My message to the guys never changes. It’s all about each week trying to be 1-0 and each week trying to get better. We have to stack good practices on top of good practices and guys have to continue to work their craft. Hopefully by the end of the year we’re playing our best football. My message to the guys never changes, everyday is a workday and come get better. Listen and learn and continue to work and improve.”

“Well I wish I could say it was because of the things we said. We really didn’t say a whole lot, other than some of the problems that we had. Our formations making sure we have our guys lined up and making some adjustments. Other than that the guys kind of took it upon themselves and got out there and do what we do and see where this thing ends up. I don’t think it was a magic wand or anything we said. They went at it like a workman approach and came out the second half.”

“It was important for us to get off the field that first drive and establish what we had the first half. If they’re going to beat us make them make great plays and make them nickel and dime us down the field. The thing with us in the league is you have to be able to defend the run. That was a big thing with us. If we can just defend and limit the run we should be okay.”