Norvell is here.
Says he's really proud of the football team. "I thought that was a really impressive performance."
"I thought we came out and really had a plan, executed at a high level. Guys are continuing to score in the red zone when we get down there ... third down efficiency is not where we want it to be." Says not turning ball over is a "critical, critical factor in the game."
As for the defense ... "I like the way we're playing. ... I thought our defensive front did an extraordinary job."
Says the punt team was phenomenal. "Alex has been extraordinary, was able to pin them inside the 10 multiple times. ... Our kickoff and kickoff return unit has to continue to improve. That's something that has to be a strength for us."
"We got back home and it's been all focus on this week. It's a huge week for our program. ... this rivalry is one of the great rivalries in all of college football ... it's going to be a great challenge, but a great opportunity for us."
"We've got to have all hands our deck for this game on Saturday and make sure we finish this season the way we want it to be remembered." Says he was happy with practice last night and said there was a great sense of urgency.
On coaching changes at UF and how FSU responds: He says emphasis is on "us." He says they were a little different in their personnel against Missouri on defense. Says there's not enough evidence on what they're going to see on offense and defense that might be different. But adds "you come into this game and nothing is off the table."
On Fuller breaking the rock: Says defense has done a great job. And the consistency they see from the staff, and adjustments they've made as they get to know the football team.
Says he's really pleased with growth and development the defense has seen. Says he had a defensive player in mind that he was going to choose to break the rock, but he had a couple of players come up to him and suggest that Fuller should do it.
On Johnson and Thomas on DL: Says they challenged the defensive front the last week. "We needed them to rise to the occasion, just with what we were trying to do."
Says he had a really good view of the penalty on Darius Washington. He laughed when it was brought up, so it would seem he didn't agree with it. He said he let his feelings be known, because it was such a big play in the game.
On Travis: Says you can see the confidence in him now in the passing game, the progression he's making in the passing game. "We were extremely efficient and effective. ... When you have the success we had early in the season running the football, people are going to make adjustments. ... and it really opens up the offense. I think Jordan has done a really nice job of that."
Says Darius Washington and Jarrett Jackson are "in a much better place than I expected."
"I like seeing our defense finish games. ... I like the way that our guys are playing to finish."
"Akeem Dent such a big play on that fourth down." Says in two-minute drill last week in practice, Dent had a chance to make a play and it actually hit off his hands and into a WR's for a touchdown. ... "These guys are truly growing. ... I do have a lot of confidence in what they'll be able to do."
Says he told his players that they put themselves in a position to be remembered. "I'm excited for what this week holds. ... and our guys feel that, too. There was a lot of bounce (at practice). ... It's all about just continuing to get better, and I think that speaks to the culture we're trying to establish."
On targeting rule: "I hated it for Jammie. ... There was no ill intent. Yes, the quarterback slides late. He's going into make contact. ... If there is absolute intent, that is one thing. When it's a questionable call, it's just so hard. Because you're pulling a game away from a young man with right intentions." He says that if you can judge intent, and it's a dangerous act, then he's all for the auto ejections. But when it's 50/50 he wishes there was a way to keep the player in the game.
Says he thinks they've improved throughout the course of the season. "I definitely think we have improved."
Tougher physically and mentally than they were later in the year.
Says he thinks the team has improved as much in the mentality as anywhere else. The response is better, the guys continue to fight and push and that shows up because of how they train and the expectations of the players.
Norvell goes on a 3-minute rant - a great one - about why he loves rivalries so much. Go watch the video. Hard to recap. And that's it for Norvell.
Kenny Dillingham is up next.
Says Travis played a great game. And he says the relationship between him and Norvell has really continued to grow. "I think that's one of the keys to his growth."
Says there's no question that the players are all growing their football IQs. Said two of the plays he showed the team on Sunday was the details of rub routes. And how much that can matter.
Says they're having more success in man coverage because of that, because of the WRs going and winning one-on-one battles.
"Owning the football (in the red zone) is the most important thing. ... We've done a pretty good job of taking care of the football." Says Jordan has done a good job in the red zone, extending plays, making checks. Says team has confidence in the red zone, and that Travis has confidence because he knows the head coach believes in him.
Says Jordan Wilson defines the program. Because of what he's been through, how hard he's worked, and how much better he's improved.
Says this team has an opportunity to be remembered. "They have a choice to make this week how they want to be remembered."
Says third-down struggles have been different reasons different weeks. "Last week, at the end of the game, we got into 32 personnel, we put the fullback in the game ... we had two penalties on fourth-down conversion. ... We're very, very close this past week to be very effective."
On McClain's catch: Two years here that was the first time we've seen a guy go up and get the football. Go and get it. ... That's exciting to see. A true freshman, on the road, in a conference game ... to go up and make that play. That's something to build on for him."
Says he thought the O-line played well as a whole. It was up and down, but pass pro was pretty good for the most part.
Says he's excited for the rivalry. "It's one of the biggest rivalries in sports. ... The challenge is not them. It's us."
Says they've got to be more efficient this week.
Differences since DC change: "I haven't seen a big difference. ... from a philosophy standpoint it's not going to change. ... "They are super, super athletic. They're big. We're going to have to find ways to get our guys separated from them in man coverage."
Kenny gives his rundown of favorite Thanksgiving dishes.
And that's a wrap for Dillingham.
Adam Fuller is up next.
On breaking the rock: When he called my name, it was obviously a little shock to me ... someone's got to break it. But to hear the players wanted it, I can't tell you what that feels like." Says it was a super proud moment for him. "It was definitely something that was cool."
Said they had a really good sense of what the BC protection was going to be.
Says he doesn't like to put too much into one play, that's not what it's about around the program, but that he's not naive enough to think that Dent's INT can't breed confidence for him moving forward. Says he's excited to see him get back to work.
Says Deloach "is playing really well. ... he's getting better ... and I still think the best is yet to come in Kalen Deloach."
Says McLellion played well, at times, but nobody expected him to play 70 snaps so it started to wane a little bit in the second half. "He's played a lot, but not that significant a role. ...he finished the game well, he made his tackles, the ball didn't find him very much."
On targeting: Says he's for all the safety in the sport. Says he supports all the rules to try to make the sport as safe as possible. ... Says quarterbacks have the upper hand in the open field right now. The rules are the rules and you have to play by the rules.
Says he tries not to assume what the UF offense will look like without Mullen. The players are the players and he's going to try to put his defense in the best position to succeed.
Says Dent "has grown up a lot." And he's been doing the work from Sunday to Friday. He's putting in serious work. "He's come a long way."
Says in good programs, in big moments, the players feel like they've been there before. "We've been best this year when our backs have been up against the wall." ... Says they're not where they want to be yet, but they're fighting to get there.
On QB runs by UF: Says most of them are design. Says they've given up a lot of yards this year by QB scrambles, not QB runs. Doesn't know the percentage.
And that's a wrap for Fuller.
Onto John Papuchis.
On Mastromanno: Says he thought Alex did a great job. .. Field position in that battle of hidden yardage, be able to establish that early in the game ... i thought he did an excellent job and I thought our cover guys did a great job getting down. "I can't say enough good things about the way he's performed. ... He was able to come through really big in that game." Says he was worried that he jinxed him last week when he talked about him not having a touchback since the GT opener last year.
Says the gunners take tremendous pride to go down there and catch the ball inside the 10. Says Pokey was really tired before one of those punts, and Papuchis told him he needed him to make one more play. And he went down and caught it at the 1. Says Douglas has done a great job of forcing fair catches as a gunner.
Says it's great to have two DEs that can rush the passer. "It's a necessity. ... to be able to create pressure with your front four is (really big). I think our guys have embraced that challenge."
On the long kick return: "I don't love the call in hindsight." Said they went deep right into a cross wind. Says they were a little misfit with the lane distribution and that can't happen.
On playing for a bowl: I've been really blessed and lucky in my career to be on a lot of teams that have been really good." But says he may have learned and grown more with this team than any other because of the guys he works with. Players and coaches. "It's a group that has come together as the season has worn on. ... It starts at the top of the organization. The message from Coach Norvell has not changed starting 0-4 and it hasn't changed winning five of the last seven."
On Keir Thomas: Says it's hard to quantify how significant his impact has been. He's a guy that everyone has respect for. He's physical. He works hard. ... He wants to be a really good player. ... Says he's as focused on his mistakes after a good game than he is his successes. "I think he's really aware of the clock that's ticking. He's a guy that I think has enjoyed every minute of being a Seminole ... he's going to do everything he can in his power to make sure we get one more."
Says the success of Thomas/Johnson is beneficial in recruiting HS kids and portal kids. Says they can present that this actually happened. There is real evidence. "I do think it opens up eyes for people who are looking at Florida State as a potential home. ... I do think it's critical."
On UF's mobile QBs: You have to be disciplined. That's going to be the challenge this week.
That's a wrap on Papuchis.
That's a wrap on the press conference.
Appreciate you guys stopping by.
Be well!!!
Says he's really proud of the football team. "I thought that was a really impressive performance."
"I thought we came out and really had a plan, executed at a high level. Guys are continuing to score in the red zone when we get down there ... third down efficiency is not where we want it to be." Says not turning ball over is a "critical, critical factor in the game."
As for the defense ... "I like the way we're playing. ... I thought our defensive front did an extraordinary job."
Says the punt team was phenomenal. "Alex has been extraordinary, was able to pin them inside the 10 multiple times. ... Our kickoff and kickoff return unit has to continue to improve. That's something that has to be a strength for us."
"We got back home and it's been all focus on this week. It's a huge week for our program. ... this rivalry is one of the great rivalries in all of college football ... it's going to be a great challenge, but a great opportunity for us."
"We've got to have all hands our deck for this game on Saturday and make sure we finish this season the way we want it to be remembered." Says he was happy with practice last night and said there was a great sense of urgency.
On coaching changes at UF and how FSU responds: He says emphasis is on "us." He says they were a little different in their personnel against Missouri on defense. Says there's not enough evidence on what they're going to see on offense and defense that might be different. But adds "you come into this game and nothing is off the table."
On Fuller breaking the rock: Says defense has done a great job. And the consistency they see from the staff, and adjustments they've made as they get to know the football team.
Says he's really pleased with growth and development the defense has seen. Says he had a defensive player in mind that he was going to choose to break the rock, but he had a couple of players come up to him and suggest that Fuller should do it.
On Johnson and Thomas on DL: Says they challenged the defensive front the last week. "We needed them to rise to the occasion, just with what we were trying to do."
Says he had a really good view of the penalty on Darius Washington. He laughed when it was brought up, so it would seem he didn't agree with it. He said he let his feelings be known, because it was such a big play in the game.
On Travis: Says you can see the confidence in him now in the passing game, the progression he's making in the passing game. "We were extremely efficient and effective. ... When you have the success we had early in the season running the football, people are going to make adjustments. ... and it really opens up the offense. I think Jordan has done a really nice job of that."
Says Darius Washington and Jarrett Jackson are "in a much better place than I expected."
"I like seeing our defense finish games. ... I like the way that our guys are playing to finish."
"Akeem Dent such a big play on that fourth down." Says in two-minute drill last week in practice, Dent had a chance to make a play and it actually hit off his hands and into a WR's for a touchdown. ... "These guys are truly growing. ... I do have a lot of confidence in what they'll be able to do."
Says he told his players that they put themselves in a position to be remembered. "I'm excited for what this week holds. ... and our guys feel that, too. There was a lot of bounce (at practice). ... It's all about just continuing to get better, and I think that speaks to the culture we're trying to establish."
On targeting rule: "I hated it for Jammie. ... There was no ill intent. Yes, the quarterback slides late. He's going into make contact. ... If there is absolute intent, that is one thing. When it's a questionable call, it's just so hard. Because you're pulling a game away from a young man with right intentions." He says that if you can judge intent, and it's a dangerous act, then he's all for the auto ejections. But when it's 50/50 he wishes there was a way to keep the player in the game.
Says he thinks they've improved throughout the course of the season. "I definitely think we have improved."
Tougher physically and mentally than they were later in the year.
Says he thinks the team has improved as much in the mentality as anywhere else. The response is better, the guys continue to fight and push and that shows up because of how they train and the expectations of the players.
Norvell goes on a 3-minute rant - a great one - about why he loves rivalries so much. Go watch the video. Hard to recap. And that's it for Norvell.
Kenny Dillingham is up next.
Says Travis played a great game. And he says the relationship between him and Norvell has really continued to grow. "I think that's one of the keys to his growth."
Says there's no question that the players are all growing their football IQs. Said two of the plays he showed the team on Sunday was the details of rub routes. And how much that can matter.
Says they're having more success in man coverage because of that, because of the WRs going and winning one-on-one battles.
"Owning the football (in the red zone) is the most important thing. ... We've done a pretty good job of taking care of the football." Says Jordan has done a good job in the red zone, extending plays, making checks. Says team has confidence in the red zone, and that Travis has confidence because he knows the head coach believes in him.
Says Jordan Wilson defines the program. Because of what he's been through, how hard he's worked, and how much better he's improved.
Says this team has an opportunity to be remembered. "They have a choice to make this week how they want to be remembered."
Says third-down struggles have been different reasons different weeks. "Last week, at the end of the game, we got into 32 personnel, we put the fullback in the game ... we had two penalties on fourth-down conversion. ... We're very, very close this past week to be very effective."
On McClain's catch: Two years here that was the first time we've seen a guy go up and get the football. Go and get it. ... That's exciting to see. A true freshman, on the road, in a conference game ... to go up and make that play. That's something to build on for him."
Says he thought the O-line played well as a whole. It was up and down, but pass pro was pretty good for the most part.
Says he's excited for the rivalry. "It's one of the biggest rivalries in sports. ... The challenge is not them. It's us."
Says they've got to be more efficient this week.
Differences since DC change: "I haven't seen a big difference. ... from a philosophy standpoint it's not going to change. ... "They are super, super athletic. They're big. We're going to have to find ways to get our guys separated from them in man coverage."
Kenny gives his rundown of favorite Thanksgiving dishes.
And that's a wrap for Dillingham.
Adam Fuller is up next.
On breaking the rock: When he called my name, it was obviously a little shock to me ... someone's got to break it. But to hear the players wanted it, I can't tell you what that feels like." Says it was a super proud moment for him. "It was definitely something that was cool."
Said they had a really good sense of what the BC protection was going to be.
Says he doesn't like to put too much into one play, that's not what it's about around the program, but that he's not naive enough to think that Dent's INT can't breed confidence for him moving forward. Says he's excited to see him get back to work.
Says Deloach "is playing really well. ... he's getting better ... and I still think the best is yet to come in Kalen Deloach."
Says McLellion played well, at times, but nobody expected him to play 70 snaps so it started to wane a little bit in the second half. "He's played a lot, but not that significant a role. ...he finished the game well, he made his tackles, the ball didn't find him very much."
On targeting: Says he's for all the safety in the sport. Says he supports all the rules to try to make the sport as safe as possible. ... Says quarterbacks have the upper hand in the open field right now. The rules are the rules and you have to play by the rules.
Says he tries not to assume what the UF offense will look like without Mullen. The players are the players and he's going to try to put his defense in the best position to succeed.
Says Dent "has grown up a lot." And he's been doing the work from Sunday to Friday. He's putting in serious work. "He's come a long way."
Says in good programs, in big moments, the players feel like they've been there before. "We've been best this year when our backs have been up against the wall." ... Says they're not where they want to be yet, but they're fighting to get there.
On QB runs by UF: Says most of them are design. Says they've given up a lot of yards this year by QB scrambles, not QB runs. Doesn't know the percentage.
And that's a wrap for Fuller.
Onto John Papuchis.
On Mastromanno: Says he thought Alex did a great job. .. Field position in that battle of hidden yardage, be able to establish that early in the game ... i thought he did an excellent job and I thought our cover guys did a great job getting down. "I can't say enough good things about the way he's performed. ... He was able to come through really big in that game." Says he was worried that he jinxed him last week when he talked about him not having a touchback since the GT opener last year.
Says the gunners take tremendous pride to go down there and catch the ball inside the 10. Says Pokey was really tired before one of those punts, and Papuchis told him he needed him to make one more play. And he went down and caught it at the 1. Says Douglas has done a great job of forcing fair catches as a gunner.
Says it's great to have two DEs that can rush the passer. "It's a necessity. ... to be able to create pressure with your front four is (really big). I think our guys have embraced that challenge."
On the long kick return: "I don't love the call in hindsight." Said they went deep right into a cross wind. Says they were a little misfit with the lane distribution and that can't happen.
On playing for a bowl: I've been really blessed and lucky in my career to be on a lot of teams that have been really good." But says he may have learned and grown more with this team than any other because of the guys he works with. Players and coaches. "It's a group that has come together as the season has worn on. ... It starts at the top of the organization. The message from Coach Norvell has not changed starting 0-4 and it hasn't changed winning five of the last seven."
On Keir Thomas: Says it's hard to quantify how significant his impact has been. He's a guy that everyone has respect for. He's physical. He works hard. ... He wants to be a really good player. ... Says he's as focused on his mistakes after a good game than he is his successes. "I think he's really aware of the clock that's ticking. He's a guy that I think has enjoyed every minute of being a Seminole ... he's going to do everything he can in his power to make sure we get one more."
Says the success of Thomas/Johnson is beneficial in recruiting HS kids and portal kids. Says they can present that this actually happened. There is real evidence. "I do think it opens up eyes for people who are looking at Florida State as a potential home. ... I do think it's critical."
On UF's mobile QBs: You have to be disciplined. That's going to be the challenge this week.
That's a wrap on Papuchis.
That's a wrap on the press conference.
Appreciate you guys stopping by.
Be well!!!
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