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Coming off a fairly dominant 33-3 victory over the Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday head coach Charlie Strong and players addressed the media Tuesday to recap that game and look ahead to their match up against Tulane this weekend.
Strong on playing well in all three phases:
Charlie Strong to the podium: "You want to play a game in all three phases. We weren't able to do that."
— The Daily Stampede (@StampedeSBN) October 17, 2017
Strong on #16 ranking: "We have a really good football team." "We haven't put a complete game together yet. How good are we?'
— The Daily Stampede (@StampedeSBN) October 17, 2017
While the defense was lights out again on Saturday, the offense left a lot of points on the board, especially in the red zone, and Strong was not happy about that.
Strong pointed out at least three instances where senior quarterback Quinton Flowers missed on deep throws that would’ve jump-started the offense or put points on the board. He has missed on deep throws more this year than I can remember him missing in 2015 or 2016. Something will need to change if the Bulls expect to go undefeated.
Strong on Quinton's body language: "He is never one to point a finger, hes frustrated with himself."
— Dakotah Wilson (@DakotahW247) October 17, 2017
It is clear that teams are trying more and more to rattle Flowers by trash talking to him during the game. And, frankly, he’s taking the bait. He has been constantly responding back, and eventually you begin to be more worried about what’s being said and not on the task at hand.
Flowers said after the game on Saturday that he is missing some of the reads on the read option plays and that’s solely on him to fix.
Defensive Tackle Deadrin Senat on Strong post-game:
Deadrin Senat on Charlie Strong post-game: "Oh he was upset." "That's just the way he is, he doesn't take his medication any more."
— The Daily Stampede (@StampedeSBN) October 17, 2017
(Dumb) penalties have plagued this team early on, and it will come back to haunt them if they don’t wipe them out. The Bulls had 14 penalties for 137 yards. Even the penalties that work out in the end (see Senat’s offside penalty on the play before Auggie Sanchez’s pick six.) A better quarterback will be able to take advantage of those mistakes caused by penalties.
Speaking of Auggie:
Senat on Auggie Sanchez: "Auggie is everything to this program." "We really can't function without Auggie."
— The Daily Stampede (@StampedeSBN) October 17, 2017
Strong on Auggie: "You can count on him. He's going to be where he's supposed to be, he's going to do what he's supposed to do."
— The Daily Stampede (@StampedeSBN) October 17, 2017
If it wasn’t for the likes of cornerback Mazzi Wilkins or defensive end Greg Reaves, Sanchez would be number one on my list of most improved players defensively. He has become a more complete player, more comfortable in this defense. He hasn’t missed many tackles this year and he’s vastly improved in pass coverage, along with the entire defense.
Strong said he no doubt sees Sanchez as a football coach once his playing days are over. I know he’ll be good for a quote or two as a coach.
Injury Update:
Wide receiver Deangelo Antoine was back in action Saturday after missing nearly three games with an ankle injury. He made his presence felt with three catches for a team-high 50 yards and one carry for 12 yards in his return to action.
Antoine on whether it was a high ankle sprain he had: "Whatever ankle sprain it was, I knew it hurt."
— The Daily Stampede (@StampedeSBN) October 17, 2017
Safety Tajee Fullwood missed Saturday’s game, but Strong thinks he’ll be back for Tulane and keeping him out of the Cincinnati game was precautionary.
Strong says Tajee Fullwood has an ankle injury. "We should get him back this week."
— The Daily Stampede (@StampedeSBN) October 17, 2017