Opening Statement: “I have been very impressed with our play in the red zone so far this year. We are five for five, with five touchdowns. We are 29 of 30 on the year, which is one of the best in the country. The only time we didn’t score was on a 4th and 9 in Knoxville with only a few minutes left in the game. Our guys have been almost perfect in the red zone, which is a key component for our team to win games.
Our team was 50 percent on third downs versus their 29 percent. On offense, our champions for the game were Tim Tebow, Brandon James, Maurkice Pouncey, Aaron Hernandez, Louis Murphy, David Nelson, Mike Pouncey, Kestahn Moore, Percy Harvin, Phil Trautwein, Jason Watkins, Chris Rainey. Jeff Demps was graded out over 100 percent for the game and was the Offensive Player of the Game. Phil Trautwein did not have a minus play on the day, so that tells you he played extremely well. I have been very pleased with the offensive lines play. They have always been physical, but their consistency has been solid.
Defensive Champions included Joe Haden and Wondy Pierre-Louis. Also, Ahmad Black, Major Wright, Brandon Antwine. It was also the most significant time Ben has had and it is great to have him back. Jermaine Cunningham and Will Hill were also Defensive Champions. We decided not to name a Player of the Game, because we felt they all played well.”
On the offensive line’s play:
“They are on their game right now. Carl Johnson is still maturing and doing a great job. There’s a chance we get Jim Tartt back, Maurice is hurt, and James Wilson. We are starting to get the depth back that we thought we would have and that group has controlled the game over the last few weeks. You can run the spread, shotgun, west-coast, whatever you like to, as long as you are blocking.”
On the importance of momentum:
“Momentum is about as high a priority as you can have. For example, we wanted to take a shot down field to build up momentum in our last game. I know we won the game, because we blocked two punts and a field goal. The energy a team plays with when those kinds of things happen is outstanding. Momentum in college football is as valuable as anything you can have.”
On Georgia’s balance:
“We are both very balanced. I think we are the top two teams in the SEC statistically, which usually means in America. Why? We are balanced.”
On the coaching staff’s use of statistics:
“We believe in statistics. Statistics are very important. Our game plan, our management of the game, and our recruiting are all based off of statistics. Everything we do is analyzed and the best way to analyze is statistics. Are stats always the bottom line? No, because how can you statistically measure the amount of heart our players have.”
On being on the reverse end of a blocked punt:
“It crushes you. There is no worse sound than the thump-thump of a kick being blocked; especially if we are playing in another stadium. In our mind, it’s hard to equate another play as significant as a blocked punt.”
Florida Quarterback Tim Tebow
On what Georgia week means to him
“Growing up as a kid, this is one of the three biggest rivals, this and Tennessee and Florida State, and this is always a huge game, and being from Jacksonville and getting an opportunity to go to a lot of the games it means a lot. Getting to play in this rivalry, it’s special.”
On having Sunday night practice
I think it’s great. We’ll have tomorrow off, really be able to sit down, grind and study, really be able to put in most of our game plan, 90 percent of it will go in tomorrow. We’ll really be able to grind on that and learn it and know it by the time we go out on Tuesday for practice, and that’s what practice on Sunday really helps.
On not going 100-miles-an-hour all the time
That’s something that is hard for me. I wanted to do that with lifting, with throwing, with everything. I really had to train my mind and my body that I can’t go as hard as I want all the time, in the weight room, on the football field, practicing in the offseason. I need to let my body rest sometimes and just relax. I like to go, go, go, and keep working and getting better. That’s probably the hardest thing I’ve had to learn in college and it’s something I still work on today because I still want to go and do that stuff, it’s just my nature. It’s not like I’ve ever learned and got past it, it’s still something I’ll constantly think about and work on.
On guys working hard after Ole Miss game
I think it was not just playing hard, our team plays hard, but play hard with a focus and a determination of what you’re doing every play. Not just going full speed, but going full speed to dominate. It’s just a different mentality that you have, almost playing with anger somewhat. It’s playing with intensity, it’s playing with passion. You can only go so hard with your natural ability, but the intensity and passion and love for the game and motivation, that’s what takes you to the next level and that’s what we’ve kind of gotten to. You see the whole team jumping around like (against) Kentucky, you see everybody head-butting each other.