Today, we get the stylings of head coach Kliff Kingsbury, LB Micah Awe and DT Kerry Hyder (PDF) in this week's Pullquotes. I very much appreciate getting to TCU in this week's press conference. Kingsbury is initially asked about QB Treyvone Boykin:
Q. Can you talk about the challenge for the defense facing a pretty strong dual-threat in Boykin?
COACH KINGSBURY: It is, yeah. He's a guy, I watched that LSU game as it happened, and he's a guy who jumps out at you when you watch him play. That's one of the most athletic defenses we've played last year when I played against them, and the things he was able to do with his feet and his arms shows you what type of an athlete he is. It's going to be a huge challenge trying to contain him with his arms and his legs.
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Don't forget that Boykin threw for 332 yards against Texas Tech. I'm pretty sure that this was the most that Boykin threw for all last year. Yeah, head a few overtimes to pad those numbers, but that's a lot of yards for Boykin.
Up next is the TCU defense:
Q. Kliff, this arguably is the toughest defense so far this year that you'll be facing. Are you going to make any adjustments on the offensive line to trying to accommodate to that sort of uptick in skill from TCU?
COACH KINGSBURY: Just try to get them better this week. It's going to be a huge challenge. This is by far the best defensive line we'll have faced and one of the best we're going to face all year. Not just Fields. He's a tremendous player, but the entire D-line, and Coach Bumpas is one of the best coaches in America. You turn them on tape, there are no weaknesses; they attack our game. We'll have to play our best game to try to attack Baker.
There's more quotes there about the Horned Frogs, so make sure and go check them out. Up next, Kingsbury is asked about QB Baker Mayfield and his mobility and the ability to keep a play alive:
Q. Can you talk about Baker's mobility and just using that mobility at times?
COACH KINGSBURY: Yeah, as a young quarterback, it's survival mode a lot of times out there, and he did a great job extending plays, keeping plays alive and made some huge third downs with his feet last week. And as he continues to progress in our offense, hopefully, he'll know when to run and when to hang in there and throw the ball, and we're still working through that.
And to get this out of the way, here's Kingsbury discussing QB Michael Brewer:
Q. Do you have an update on Michael Brewer, how he's doing in his recovery?
COACH KINGSBURY: Yeah. He's doing well. That's really all I've got. I talk to Anthony every day, and he updates me and says it's day-to-day, and I expect him to be throwing very soon.
Don't try to figure out the quarterback situation. Later in the presser, Kingsbury said it would be an extended period of time before Brewer is ready. Just kick back and relax.
And I thought that OSR's comments about the play of the special teams was great after the game and here's Kingsbury talking about it:
Q. Your special teams, you mentioned we talked about Kramer early. You've had some good returns and pretty good coverage seems like on punts and kickoffs both. How pleased have you been in special teams overall?
COACH KINGSBURY: It's very exciting. We've made that an emphasis since we got here that our good players are going to play on special teams. So starters play. When we need to develop young guys that step in and take pride in that role. I think our assistant coach has done a really good job. It's led by Coach Haverty, but all the assistants play a role for our team, and so far they've done a good job.
Let's get to the players. Awe is really entertaining and he's also a petroleum engineering major, meanwhile, all Hyder has done is graduate a year early. Let's get to Awe talking about containing Boykin:
Q. What is the key containing Boykin?
MICAH AWE: The key? I mean, I think the key for any, if you just think about players in general, you've got to get in their head somehow. If he is going to run the ball or do what he's going to do we have to make sure we're always in the face, always there. If he's going to get five yards, whatever he does in the air, he's going to earn it. As long as you keep on getting repetitive and being in their face, I think we can do a good job of containing him.
Awe also talks about his style of player:
Q. Have you seen your style of play and how hard and how fast you play, has that become infectious with your teammates?
MICAH AWE: I'm pretty sure they've noticed it. The main thing with that I don't do it with the glory or the fame or anything like that. But I compare it to my high school days. My senior year we were undefeated championship. Once I make a tackle, I get excited. I run to the ball, and I didn't make a tackle, but I get excited too and everyone gets excited. It's a rave out there. Football is entertainment. We're out here to entertain the fans, the media, so might as well have fun because we'll have four or five years and we're out of here. So we're going to do it for the glory to God and be all out, go all out, and hopefully the defense will do that every play and we'll be having fun, you know.
Again, do yourself a favor and read or listen to all of Awe's quotes, he's got some good things to say.
Here's Hyder talking about containing Boykin:
Q. Kerry, do you remember about the game a year ago? It was a challenge for you guys defensively?
KERRY HYDER: Definitely keeping the quarterback boxed in. The running game was doing pretty well that game. They made some big throws down field towards the end of the game. You know, it was a really intense game. Three overtimes. Just one of the most exciting games of the year last year as I remember.
And Hyder talks about playing during a short week:
Q. Particularly being a senior and everything, do you have any message for the guys with this being a short week to adjust your preparation?
KERRY HYDER: They just got to get focused and you really have to put in the work, you know? Guys really need to take some time off and get your legs back. But the thing is you really got to get your work in. Those guys at TCU, I'm sure they're getting ready too, but you've got to be mentally focused and get your mind right for this game because it's two days earlier than usual. But you have to get in the cold tub and get your body right for this game.
I'd also add that the coordinators, Matt Wallerstedt and Sonny Cumbie talk and it's all on video (embedded below) and it's really good. Wallerstedt talks about how his son often sees Awe in the building and sees him as an inspiration. I don't have time to transcript any of it, but I very much enjoyed listening to Wallerstedt and Cumbie while working on this story.